Author: Brandon Peoples

TOPEKA, Kan. — Nine Kansas counties have been approved for addition to the Federal Emergency Management Agency disaster declaration including Riley County. FEMA notified the state this week that President Donald Trump had approved Governor Laura Kelly’s request to add those counties to the declaration for the incident period between April 28 and July 12. Heavy rains caused rivers and lakes to rise with several locations still inundated with water. That included Tuttle Creek Lake, which reached near capacity May 31 at a level of 1,135.88 feet. Gov. Kelly said in a release from the Adjutant General’s Office Thursday that…

There’s no shortage of talent at the 2019 Riley County Fair. Activities opened Thursday and continue through July 29. News Radio KMAN has been speaking with local 4-H youth showing a wide array of projects. Many of them say 4-H has been a major benefit to shaping who they are today. Chanaye Parker Manhattan High Junior Chanaye Parker is in her ninth year with Riley County 4-H. She has projects entered in foods, photography and art. For the last three months she’s also been caring for a lamb which she says she’s showing at this year’s fair. Parker says shearing…

Riley County Police are attempting to locate a 33-year-old Manhattan man who eluded police after a pursuit in Manhattan. The department says they attempted to perform a welfare check on Jesse Sexton after a request from family who are concerned for his safety. Sexton fled police on a motorcycle. Witness reported seeing the motorcyclist fleeing past Marlatt Elementary School late Thursday morning. Officers called off the pursuit. Anyone with information should contact RCPD at 785-537-2112 or Riley County Crime Stoppers at 785-539-7777.

Thursday’s program opened with a preview of the Kaw Valley Rodeo with announcer Racer Botkin. We also spoke with Riley County Seniors’ Service Center Director Jami Ramsey and new program coordinator Liz Nelson about events coming up in August. Lastly, Robbin Cole, Executive Director of Pawnee Mental Health discussed STARS Camp, Presenting Pawnee and a campaign to be launched in October for the organization.

Following nearly two hours of interviews Wednesday, the 21st Judicial District Nominating Commission has sent the names of four nominees for district judge on to Governor Laura Kelly. Gov. Kelly has 60 days (Sept. 22) to decide who will fill the vacancy left by Chief Judge Meryl Wilson, who retired June 16 after more than two decades on the bench. The 21st Judicial District is comprised of Riley and Clay counties.  The four nominees are Amy Bipes of Manhattan, legal assistance attorney with the Office of the Staff Judge Advocate at Fort Riley; Riley County District Magistrate Judge James Kepple…

WESTMORELAND, Kan. — A Wamego woman convicted of mistreatment of a dependent adult was sentenced recently in Pottawatomie County District Court. According to the Office of Attorney General Derek Schmidt, 54-year-old Jana Paczkowski was sentenced July 18 to 24 months of supervised probation with an underlying sentence of 12 months in the Kansas Department of Corrections. She was also ordered to pay $11,100 in restitution to the victim in addition to a $500 fine and $613 in court costs and fees. Judge Jeff Elder presided over the case. During a May trial, a jury found Paczkowski guilty of one felony…

Wednesday’s program featured Thrive! – Flint Hills Director Jayme Morris-Hardeman previewing their upcoming Thrive in the Heat bike ride fundraiser Aug. 17 and ongoing need for volunteers. USD 378 Riley County Schools Superintendent Cliff Williams and Blue Valley High School Principal Marion Mazouch joined us to highlight enrollment schedules and a potential maintenance bond coming up in USD 378.

The field of candidates continues to grow for the 2020 U.S. Senate race in Kansas. That race could soon include a Manhattan City Commissioner. Earlier this week, speaking on KMAN’s In Focus, Mayor Pro Tem Usha Reddi confirmed she is considering a possible Senate run for the seat occupied currently by Pat Roberts. Reddi, a Democrat, would face an uphill battle as no Democrat has won a Senate seat in Kansas since the 1930s. The current field of Democrats includes former U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom, former U.S Representative Nancy Boyda and retired court services officer Robert Tillman. State Sen. Barbara…

Longtime Kansas Senator Susan Wagle has become the fourth Republican to enter the 2020 U.S. Senate race in Kansas. Wagle is the current Kansas Senate President and has nearly three decades of experience in both the Kansas House and Senate. She filed the paperwork with the Federal Election Commission Tuesday, according to a report from the Kansas City Star. The Wichita Republican was expected to officially announce her campaign Wednesday. Wagle was first elected to the Kansas House in 1990 and made the jump to the Kansas Senate in 2000. She launched an unsuccessful campaign for lieutenant governor alongside Jim…

WESTMORELAND, Kan. — The Pottawatomie County Commission is inching closer to having its 2020 budget finalized for submission. The proposed budget for 2020 was approved for publication last week, with a projected mill levy at 28.246 mills, compared to 29.983 mills in the 2019 budget. “We’ve had increased valuation, so we took that into consideration and went to where the tax lid would allow,” Pottawatomie County Commissioner Dee McKee said Tuesday on KMAN’s In Focus. During Monday’s commission meeting, the board discussed the public works budget and appropriations moving forward. Public Works Director Peter Clark informed commissioners that the proposed…