Author: Brandon Peoples

Wamego’s annual Tulip Festival returns this weekend, one of the community’s biggest tourism draws each year. More than 160 craft vendors will set up inside Wamego City Park, including about 20 food vendors, a petting zoo and bouncy houses. There will also be a new family fun area with interactive activities. Wamego Area Chamber of Commerce Event and Tourism Coordinator Tiegan Kreider says there will also be plenty of live entertainment throughout the weekend. Tulips will also adorn the community, including throughout the park. The Tulip Festival runs 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.…

“We’re here. We believe you. We support you. It’s not your fault.” That was the message Kathy Ray delivered to a gathering outside the Riley County Courthouse Thursday over the noon hour. The executive director of The Crisis Center Inc, was one of several from the Flint Hills Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) to give remarks at the event, held in recognition of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, which is recognized in April. Ray says the team is working on responses and a number of efforts in the community to ensure victims and survivors feel supported throughout the process. “That they…

Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach is suing the Biden Administration over its listing of the wild, colorful lesser prairie chicken under the Endangered Species Act. Kansas joined Texas and Oklahoma in the suit which says the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service broke federal law by failing to adequately consider pre-existing and voluntary measures to protect the birds and ignoring the role of rainfall’s impact on the prairie chicken population. The suit also alleges the designation is unconstitutional and restricts personal property rights of Kansas landowners. In a statement, Kobach says the listing will make drilling new oil wells in western…

The Riley County Planning Board/Board of Zoning Appeals earlier this week unanimously recommended denial of a proposed electrical substation in the Ashland Township near the Konza Prairie Biological Station. More than 90 people, including nearby landowners and other residents attended a Monday hearing, many voicing opposition, citing proximity to a nearby cemetery, the preservation of the scenic area near the Konza Prairie and other factors. The board concurred, noting the proposal doesn’t fit criteria of its Vision 2025 Comprehensive Plan, most notably a section that outlines agricultural preservation and rural character. Board member Diane Hoobler was on the 2009 task…

Congressman Tracey Mann met with constituents Tuesday at the Wefald Pavilion in City Park, part of his ongoing listening tour across the Big First district. Among the topics he highlighted were the debt limit and an upcoming showdown on the matter between Republicans and Democrats. The Congressional Budget Office projects that if the current $31.4 trillion debt limit remains unchanged, the government’s ability to borrow using extraordinary measures will be exhausted between July and September, with the U.S. in danger of defaulting on its debt obligations. Mann says he’s optimistic that President Biden will meet with House Republicans at some…

The Kansas Court of Appeals has affirmed that the City of Manhattan pay close to $30,000 in attorney fees to a local couple following their successful lawsuit over a damaged mailbox. The decision was published April 7 and can be in the document below. The case stems from a December 2019 incident involving a city-owned snowplow that struck a stone mailbox, cracking its base. Marti Wickham and William Franz successfully sued the city and in November 2021 were awarded approximately $3,200 for the mailbox and roughly $10,000 for attorney fees. The city agreed to pay for the mailbox but were…

Two people accused of killing a Junction City couple last month are now in custody in Geary County, following their extradition from Michigan. The Junction City Police Department says 33-year-old Steven Pierce and 29-year-old Kallie Peters are both jailed on bonds of $1.5 million. The pair were located March 19 by the Michigan State Patrol in Saginaw County, about two hours northwest of Detroit. Both are charged with two counts of felony murder, two counts of aggravated robbery and one count of felony theft in connection to the deaths of 80-year-old Roland Krissman and his wife, 75-year-old Valerie Krissman. The…

The City of Manhattan plans to close both inside lanes of Highway 24 near the intersection of Levee Drive as work begins on intersection improvements to accommodate its new Joint Maintenance Facility. City Manager Ron Fehr briefed Pottawatomie County commissioners on the project Monday, saying that work will begin on April 17. Complicating matters is an upcoming Kansas Department of Transportation maintenance project from Excel Road west to Manhattan Town Center. Fehr says the KDOT project was initially to begin toward the end of May, however he says it may actually start sooner. The city’s intersection improvements, which will include…

Riley County officials shared information Monday on a pair of wildfires that burned over 3,500 acres last week. The first happened Thursday in the area of Halls Ravine Road, north of Randolph where a prescribed burn became out of control, burning private land and igniting flood debris on U.S. Army Corps of Engineers property. Close to two dozen volunteers with Riley County Fire District No. 1 responded, with mutual aid provided by Waterville and Manhattan Fire Departments. A total of 1,500 acres burned. Riley County firefighters also responded Friday to Tabor Valley Road in the southeastern part of the county…

A weekend fire at Riverchase Mobile Home Park is under investigation and authorities say it may have resulted from children playing with a cigarette lighter. Crews from Riley County Fire District No. 1 were dispatched to the structure fire around 4 p.m. Saturday at Lot 29. Arriving firefighters found a small garden shed fully engulfed, which was quickly contained, but not before doing some limited damage to adjacent homes, which included melted vinyl siding from radiant heat. Damage is estimated at $10,000. No injuries were reported. The property is owned by Riverchase Mobile Home Park. The Riley County Police Department…