Author: Brandon Peoples

A St. George family was displaced following a Wednesday mobile home fire. Firefighters from several agencies, including Pottawatomie County Consolidated District Number 1 were called out around 4:30 pm. to the 500 block of Maple Street. “When crews got on scene there was heavy smoke and flames showing. Nobody was home at the time. The cause remains under investigation,” said Jared Barnes, Chief of the Pottawatomie County Fire District. He says Louisville and Wamego Fire also were dispatched, but Louisville ended up diverting to a nearby grass fire. The home is a total loss.

A Riley County firefighter was recently presented the Harold Bellman Award, the highest honor presented by Riley County Fire District No. 1. John Wienck, a second generation winner, was recognized at the fire department’s annual awards banquet in January. Known for having a positive attitude, Wienck was recognized for his firefighting skills, but also for leadership in training new volunteers. He’s also actively involved in various community roles as a cattle producer, farmer and a member of the Riley County Planning and Development Board. His father Ivan Wienck also won the award in 2003. Wienck issued the following statement after…

Manhattan Public Works crews are continuing to patch potholes. That’s City Engineer Brian Johnson speaking with KMAN Wednesday afternoon. He says roughly 300,000 pounds of patch material was put onto Manhattan roadways in January. When temperatures are so cold the bonding material being used, doesn’t adhere to existing potholes but should improve as temperatures continue to warm up. City officials noted Wednesday that the southbound lane of Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd is closed until further notice from Colorado south to Fort Riley Blvd. The outside eastbound lane of Bluemont Ave. from Juliette east to the 4th Street roundabout is…

Manhattan City Commissioners appear to have enough support for a potential resolution backing Medicaid expansion. During the city manager’s briefing Tuesday, commissioners discussed whether getting into the state’s political fight is in the city’s best interest. City commissions in Emporia and Russell have considered similar resolutions. City Attorney Katie Jackson says some legislators have hinted that if more municipalities showed support, it might push legislative leadership to at least allow for debate Commissioner John Matta says he thinks the city commission should stick to matters that affect city business and not get involved in the state’s partisan political battles. Commissioner Susan…

A Monday hearing on a new bill that would establish an Education Funding Task Force, while eliminating a Special Education Task Force is being met with some criticism from education officials. House Republicans have continually expressed frustration with the cost and academic effectiveness of the current school funding formula. House Bill 2594, which is tied to the plan, would grant the GOP power to appoint six of 11 voting members of the task force as well as control over who chairs the panel. Ann Mah, of Topeka, who serves on the state Board of Education, shared concerns with the proposed…

The Kansas Supreme Court released an order Monday to reinstate electronic filing requirements in the state’s district courts. The order takes effect Wednesday, requiring attorneys and other e-filing users to electronically file in cases that exist in the Kansas Courts eFiling system, except for appeals to the Court of Appeals or the Supreme Court. The order also requires all new cases to be initiated through the e-filing system, except appeals made to the Court of Appeals or Supreme Court. Since regaining access to the Kansas eCourt case management system in mid-December, district courts have been updating it with new cases…

A St. George man was hospitalized following an injury crash in Manhattan. It happened just after 10:30 Monday in the 300 block of East Poyntz between a passenger car and an SUV. RCPD says 61-year-old Robert Bellinder was transported for treatment of non life-threatening injuries. The other driver, 21-year-old Erica Arnold, of Wamego, had no listed injuries. She was cited for an improper right turn.

Snow events this month proved to be costly for Pottawatomie County Public Works. During his update Monday, Public Works Administrator Tim Eisenbarth noted the month saw 726 overtime hours worked at a cost of over $28,000, using approximately 3,500 gallons of fuel and 104 tons of salt-sand mixture. He says the little downtime crews did have this month was usually spent pulling each other out of the snow along with private citizens and delivery trucks. He says road conditions remain rough across the county. The conditions may have done a number on roads, but it also depleted some of the…

An Ogden man has been identified as the suspect in a Riley County rape investigation. The Riley County Police Department says 26-year-old Jacob Thompson was arrested early Friday in the 200 block of East 9th Street in Junction City on a probable cause offense of rape. The incident was reported to police Thursday, when two women told they were sexually assaulted by the same male suspect. An online criminal complaint alleges the incident from Jan. 24. According to the Kansas Department of Corrections, Thompson has two previous convictions for burglary. He remains jailed on a $250,000 bond.

Congress continues to work through short-term budget discussion in Washington, D.C. as it looks to avoid yet another possible government shutdown. Kansas Congressman Jake LaTurner joined KMAN Friday and says Republicans are continuing to press the Biden administration on some key policy issues, including a secure southern border and stopping the flow of human trafficking and drugs. LaTurner says Republicans have a plan and are standing firm on it as he says they believe a majority of the American people are with them on this issue. He says Republicans remain adamant about cutting the $33 trillion deficit, and says continuing resolutions “are a terrible…