Author: Brandon Peoples

Authorities say no injuries were reported following an apartment fire in Junction City Wednesday afternoon. The Junction City Fire Department says crews responded to a fire on the outside of an apartment building at 1541 Ash Street that also spread to the second and third story apartments and into the attic. Five families were displaced as a result of the fire. They’re being assisted by the American Red Cross. A cause had not been determined by Wednesday evening. The fire remains under investigation.

An expansion project for the Islamic Center of Manhattan is one step closer to being put into place. The Manhattan Urban Area Planning Board approved a request Monday to replat two lots as a one-lot subdivision. The Islamic Center plans to construct a new community center on the property. According to the proposal, the plat will limit access to two existing driveways on Hylton Heights Road and eliminate the existing driveway on Claflin Road. The plat will dedicate “no access” across the site’s frontage on Claflin Road and add an additional 10 feet of right-of-way along Claflin. To view the…

Individuals and families who utilize Manhattan’s public recreation centers are now required to pay for admission. New membership fees went into effect Tuesday and are available on a monthly or annual basis. Aaron Stewart, director of Manhattan Parks and Recreation, said the move is necessary to offset some of the department’s rising expenses. “The rec centers were recovering right about 25% with all of the rentals, and that’s still very much a piece of the cost recovery for those facilities,” he said. “We were just trying to capture about another 10% to get it to about 35%. That’s where these…

Authorities appear to be close to announcing an arrest in the case of a June 13 arson incident at the Manhattan Walmart. During an update to the Pottawatomie County Commission on Monday, County Attorney John Paul Washburn said he planned to meet with the lead detective on the case later in the day to review surveillance footage. “They’ve got someone identified and the detective is certain it’s this person,” he said. “I want to watch the video myself because of the information I’ve already reviewed, just to make sure that I’m not missing anything, so I can feel confident that…

Manhattan city officials will host a pair of public input sessions this week to gather feedback on a potential redevelopment project along the city’s riverfront. A private local group worked for several years on a plan to improve accessibility to the Kansas River. John Verssue, city planner with Manhattan Community Development, said the city is putting the project into a public planning framework through the parks and recreation department’s Move MHK comprehensive plan. To view the full article visit theMercury.com. Click here for more local news.

The National Job Corps Association was allowed to continue its operations after a federal judge on Wednesday granted a preliminary injunction to stop the U.S. Department of Labor from shutting it down. Melissa Graf is the executive director of Life Skills Connection, an organization that contracts with Job Corps in other parts of the country. She said the decision allows programs like Flint Hills Job Corps in Manhattan to continue operations, at least for now. “While not permanent, the national injunction is a significant milestone because it allows all campuses to stay open while the entire litigation process plays out,…

City commissioners on Tuesday received a comprehensive overview of Manhattan’s utility rates, budget planning and property valuations, with city staff outlining the city’s financial health and future challenges. Director of public utilities Kevin Niles is recommending a 3% increase in water and wastewater rates to keep up with rising costs, fund critical maintenance and avoid any sharp rate hikes in future years. “We starting to see a divergence where expenses are projected to rise faster than revenues without additional rate adjustments,” he said. “We recommend the 3% increase to close the gap and maintain financial balance.” To view the full…

More than two dozen arrests have been made in connection to a year-long investigation into the distribution of methamphetamine and fentanyl within Junction City and Manhattan. According to a Tuesday news release from the Junction City Police Department, 28 warrants were executed out of Geary County District Court on June 16. Six individuals from Manhattan were arrested in connection, including Daizha Brooks, Jalisa Carson, Cody Dodge, Donnithan Jones, Angel Morgan and Brittanie Vaughn. The remaining 22 arrests involved individuals from Junction City. Those arrested include Samantha Arnold, Justin Beckham, Stephanie Boyer, Patricia Campbell, Abigayle Franklin, Rickey Gasson, Britteny Hall, Danielle…

Pottawatomie County health officials are increasing efforts to fight against opioid overdoses. At Monday’s county commission meeting, the health department’s community health educator Jenny Ebert, described a new initiative the department started, placing boxes containing naloxone in easily accessible public spaces. “You pick that box up and it gives you step-by-step instructions on a 60-second video how to start naloxone if someone is in opioid distress, from pharmaceutical or illicit opioids,” she said. “It gives you start to finish (instructions), to call 911, how to administer the nasal spray, how to put them in the recovery position and wait for…

A new housing development on Moro Street is moving forward after city officials on Tuesday unanimously supported a resolution and economic development agreement with Midtown Holdings, LLC. The developer is planning an $800,000, five townhome project at 716 Moro called “Moro Flats.” The project will receive $80,000 in the form of a workforce housing sales tax grant and a property tax abatement for 10 years, totaling a little over $10,000 annually. Manhattan Director of Community Development Stephanie Peterson says the abatement will be based on performance. To view the full article visit theMercury.com. Click here for more local news.