Author: Brandon Peoples

Commissioners on Tuesday approved the purchase of cloud service software and design implementation services with Oracle Permitting and Licensing (OPAL). “The idea here is that we’re trying to create a customer portal where all of that is in one place,” said Assistant City Manager Jared Wasinger. “So the members of the development community or an individual who’s trying to do a small improvement at their home, they don’t need to know where to go, they just need to go to this one place.” The new system will include an online portal that guides users through permit requirements or obtaining licenses.…

Geary County officials on Monday unanimously approved a request from the Convention and Visitors Bureau to fund repairs at the Milford Nature Center’s butterfly house. The attraction, which draws visitors from across the region, sustained significant roof damage from a recent snowstorm. Assistant CVB director Rick Dykstra informed the Geary County Commission that the nature center is receiving no other public funding to make the necessary repairs. “I think it’s very important we get it back up, hopefully before spring (ends),” he said. “It’s an investment in Geary County’s tourism, educational resources and just our well-being to have that re-established.”…

Heavy rain fell overnight in portions of northern Riley County, leading to some Wednesday morning road closures, according to officials with Riley County Emergency Management. A bridge on Kansas Avenue, west of the City of Riley, remains closed until further notice after sustaining some asphalt damage from overnight storms. Officials said Public Works is assessing the damage, but hasn’t determined how long the closure could be in place. Blue River Hills Road is also closed at the low water crossing. County officials said Wednesday that closure would remain closed until flood waters recede. Elsewhere, in Clay County, Emergency Management officials…

A Topeka-based manufacturing company cleared the first hurdles on Tuesday, as it looks to expand into Manhattan. City commissioners unanimously advanced an economic development application and incentives package for PTMW, Inc., which plans to lease a speculative industrial warehouse facility in east Manhattan. Morgan Padgett, PTMW’s senior vice president of accounting, told commissioners Tuesday, the company builds pre-fabricated metal enclosures, used in critical infrastructure, such as power delivery or generation and energy storage. To view the full article visit theMercury.com. Click here for more local news.

All modes of severe weather will be possible across the region Tuesday evening into early Wednesday. The National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center has placed the Manhattan area in an enhanced (level 3) risk for storm development. Large hail and damaging wind gusts will be the primary hazards, but tornadoes cannot be ruled out in some of the strongest storms. There is higher confidence for large hail and tornadoes for areas south of I-70. Any isolated storms that develop in the enhanced risk area will have the greatest severe threat during the evening hours. The National Weather Service in Wichita…

No injuries were reported Monday morning after a car fire north of Manhattan. Firefighters from Riley County Fire District No. 1 were dispatched around 7:20 am to the 7400 block of Tuttle Creek Blvd, less than a mile south of the four mile corner. According to Deputy Chief Jake Konrardy, the Ford SUV had heavy fire throughout but an initial cause has not been determined. The fire caused a brief closure of the highway and reduced traffic to one lane during the morning commute as crews cleared the scene and began their investigation. The scene was turned over to the…

Three people were injured in a fiery crash Saturday afternoon on Interstate 70, near Junction City. According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, a pickup rear-ended an SUV that had stopped in traffic in the outside westbound lane, about a mile west of the K-18 interchange, due to a bottleneck caused by road construction. The crash caused both vehicles to spin out and into the north ditch. Two of the three people involved in the crash sustained serious injuries, according to the online crash report. They included 43-year-old Thomas Little, of Idaho Falls, the driver of the SUV; and 22-year-old Rayce…

City officials will consider on first reading an economic development agreement with PTMW, a metal fabrication company. The company intends to enter a lease agreement with Flint Hills Ventures, LLC, which owns a warehouse facility under construction at 1105 Kretschmer Drive. PTMW is requesting a 10-year tax abatement and an incentive package that includes a $760,000 performance-based job creation grant. The company intends to employ 146 full time workers in the first five years, at an annual wage above $40,000. The company is also seeking a $250,000 equipment investment grant, paid out in full if the company can show evidence…

A Tecumseh man was taken into custody earlier this month on a Riley County District Court warrant alleging felony breach of privacy. Adam Hoobler, 23, was arrested in Shawnee County on March 22, according to Friday’s RCPD arrest report. An online criminal complaint accuses Hoobler of secretly recording a victim while they were “nude or in a state of undress.” The incident is alleged to have occurred on or between Aug. 1, 2022 and May 31, 2024 in Riley County. He is additionally charged with a misdemeanor count of unlawful acts concerning computers. Hoobler was released from jail after posting…

Fans gathered outside the Ice Family Basketball Center Thursday morning as the Wildcats departed for Spokane, Washington to play in the program’s first Sweet Sixteen since 2002. Beverly Stewart has been a season ticket holder for eight years and says she’s looking forward to Saturday’s game against No. 1 USC. “We’ve had so much fun with this team,” she said. “We just need to send them out with another V.” Fans Mike and Donna Miller say they go to every women’s basketball game and have admired the team’s grit and toughness. “When Ayoka (Lee) was out and to see the…