Author: Brandon Peoples

MANHATTAN — Local officials are pushing to get more people prepared in the event of flooding in Riley and Pottawatomie counties. On KMAN’s In Focus Tuesday, Riley County Emergency Management Director Pat Collins informed us that while there’s no cause for alarm with the water levels at Tuttle Creek Lake, it is a good idea now to take action to prepare yourself if you’re in a flood plain. Water levels Tuesday rose to 1,123.36 feet at Tuttle Creek Lake, more than 48 feet above normal pool. Outflow has been hovering at 200 cubic feet per second since last week’s heavy…

MANHATTAN — Riley County Chief Judge Meryl Wilson of the  is retiring next month after more than two decades of service in the courts. Wilson began work as a District Judge of the 21st Judicial District on April 18, 1997. Prior to that he was in private practice in Manhattan from 1974 to 1997. He became the Riley County Chief Judge in 2012. Wilson graduated Kansas State University in 1971 with a Bachelor’s of Science in History. He received his Law Degree from Washburn in 1974. Wilson’s last day as judge in the district court is Friday, June 14, six…

WESTMORELAND, Kan. — A wet spring has taken its toll on the roads in Pottawatomie County. High water levels at Tuttle Creek Reservoir have inundated several county roads with water over the last two months. Public Works Director Peter Clark spoke about recent flooding during the Pottawatomie County Commission Monday. In particular, he says last week’s heavy rains impacted numerous county roads including the bridge over the Vermillion River on Jim Creek Road. Gov. Laura Kelly added Pottawatomie County to a growing list of Kansas counties under a state of disaster declaration. That went into effect on May 10 and…

MANHATTAN — A 50-year-old Manhattan man accused of having sex with a minor made his first court appearance Friday. Thomas Ray Adams appeared via video conference from his jail cell to hear the charges read by Riley County District Magistrate Judge James Kepple. Adams is charged with one count of rape of a child under the age of 14 and aggravated criminal sodomy involving a child under the age of 14. Each count carries a maximum penalty of life prison with a minimum 25 years sentence, and up to a $500,000 fine. The incidents are alleged to have occurred between…

Friday’s guests were Manhattan Fire Department Assistant Chief Brad Claussen, Deputy Building Official Darren Emery and Deputy Fire Marshal Ryan Courtright discussing Building Safety Month. We also spoke with Thrive Flint Hills Executive Director Jayme Morris-Hardeman and youth volunteer Keith Schnug about the Thrive’s mission as a nonprofit organization in the community.

OGDEN, Kan. — A vendor fair fundraiser is planned Saturday for a Manhattan-based youth AAU track and field team. Just Watch Elite Track Club consists of athletes aged 6 through 18 who compete at events nationwide. The goal of the organization is to get kids active and involved. Director Kimberly McGhee says the entry fee is $150 which covers the AAU membership and other items to be involved with the team. The funds raised at Saturday’s event will help to offset those costs. A total of 41 vendors will be on hand Saturday at the Ogden Community Center from 10 a.m. to 4…

Junction City Police are seeking the public’s help identifying a motorcyclist who was involved in a high speed chase earlier this week. Police are trying to identify the sport motorcycle, the two riders and/or owners based on photographs from the Wednesday pursuit in and around Junction City. The sport motorcycle is black with no markings, no visible license plate, and has a short, low hanging, exhaust pipe. The riders were a white male and a white female. Information can be provided to the JCPD at 785-762-5912 or Crime Stoppers at 785-762-TIPS (8477).

MANHATTAN — An investigation continues into the shooting incident outside the Kansas State University Foundation Building Thursday morning. No injuries were reported. Kansas State University Police completed their preliminary investigation and the scene was released for normal activity at around 12:30 p.m. A short time later, Kansas State University Police say the victim showed up at the Riley County Police Department headquarters. RCPD spokesperson Hali Rowland tells KMAN that person was interviewed by police and information was then relayed to campus police, which Kansas State University Police confirm. That person’s vehicle had two visible bullet holes in the windshield. According…

MANHATTAN — The Manhattan Fire Department responded just after midnight Thursday to a shed on fire in the Northview neighborhood. Firefighters arrived to find the 10-foot-by-10-foot shed in the 2100 block of Mike Place fully engulfed. Fire spread to the adjacent mobile homes. The shed fire was contained within five minutes, although crews had to remove siding and skirting from both mobile homes to ensure it was extinguished. Both homes were occupied at the time of the fire with no injuries reported. A pet rabbit died in the shed fire. The fire damaged the shed and both mobile homes. Loss…

After several days of rain, the outlook for the end of the week looks encouraging for the Manhattan area. Still, some rivers and streams remain high including the Kansas River which is in a flood warning until Friday afternoon. At 6 a.m. the stage was 17.62 feet, just slightly under flood stage which is 18 feet. Minor flooding is forecast. The river is forecast to rise above flood stage this afternoon then fall below flood stage Friday morning. Flood warnings on Wildcat Creek were lifted late Wednesday night. A flood warning also continues for Fancy Creek at Randolph until Saturday…