CHAPMAN — Residents in northern Kansas are cleaning up the damage from an EF4 tornado that ripped through the rural area earlier this week. Tom and Janet Whitehair’s Dickinson County home was among about 20 homes damaged or destroyed by the half-mile-wide tornado that was on the ground for about 90 minutes Wednesday night. No serious injuries or fatalities were reported. Whitehair told the Topeka Capital-Journal he and his wife are “lucky to be alive.” The National Weather Service says the tornado had wind speeds up to 180 mph. Most of the damage was in Dickinson County, but two homes were also…
Author: KMAN Staff
Thursday storms in the area produced high winds, tornadoes and lots of rain. So much rain, in fact, that a woman was temporarily stranded in her car in high water, KMAN learned Friday morning. KMAN visited with Riley County Emergency Management Director Pat Collins Friday morning and the interview can be heard here: KMAN also spoke with National Weather Service Meteorologist Bryan Baerg in Topeka:
Mr. Kevin Logan will be interviewing for the position of superintendent for Rock Creek USD 323 BOE today. Mr. Logan is the third of three candidates who will be interviewed for the position. Mr. Logan is currently serving as principal at Lyons Middle School and has served in that position since 2008. Previously, Mr. Logan served as a teacher and coach at Palco High School and Hesston High School. Mr. Logan holds a B.S. in Industrial Education from Fort Hays State University and a M.S. in Educational Administration from Fort Hays State University. Mr. Logan’s Schedule for May 27th 11:00-12:00…
Riley County has a new health department director. Jennifer Green, a student at the University of Oklahoma’s College of Public Health, will start in August after graduating from her program with a doctorate in public health. Green will replace interim director Lisa Ross, who took over for after former director Brenda Nickel left the job in December. Riley County commission chairman Ben Wilson officially introduced Green to the Riley County Public Health Advisory Council during a council meeting Wednesday. Before attending the University of Oklahoma, Green finished her bachelor’s and master’s degree at Baylor University. Green has done research on public health in…
Homes and trees in Wamego suffered damage Thursday afternoon after severe weather — including reports of tornadoes in the area — hit the town. Louisville and St. George reported similar damage. There are no reports of any serious injuries. The full extent of the damage is unknown at this time. There are reports of 1,200 people without power in the Wamego/Louisville area. The Wamego Police Department informed KMAN that police officers, sheriff’s deputies, fire fighters and other emergency responders observed the wall cloud as it traveled over south-central Wamego and an apparent tornado touched down in the area. While damage…
TOPEKA — A top Kansas legislator is drafting a letter to federal officials promising resistance to a recent directive on accommodating transgender students in public schools. House Speaker Ray Merrick circulated a copy of the letter Wednesday to fellow House members to give them a chance to sign on. Merrick spokeswoman Rachel Whitten said the Stilwell Republican intends to send it June 2, the day after the ceremony formally adjourning the Legislature’s annual session. The letter questions whether President Barack Obama’s administration has the authority to require public schools to allow transgender students to use restrooms and other facilities associated with their…
CHAPMAN — Cleanup is expected to begin after a tornado that officials say stayed on the ground for about 90 minutes damaged or destroyed about 20 homes in rural northern Kansas. Dickinson County fire district one chief Paul Froelich told The Associated Press early Thursday that crews have completed secondary searches of the damaged properties. He says no injuries or fatalities have been reported from the tornado that swept through a 23-mile stretch of rural Dickinson County late Wednesday. He says residents had plenty of warning ahead of the storm, which likely attributed to the lack of injuries. He said…
A 34-year-old Ogden man was arrested at the Riley County Police Department on May 25, 2016 at approximately 4:20 PM. David Huffman was arrested on a warrant for the offenses of theft (X2), making false information, burglary (X3). He was given a bond of $10,000.00 which was listed on the warrant from Pottawatomie County. Law enforcement filed a report for the offense of unlawful sexual relations on May 24, 2016 at approximately 12:25 PM for an incident that occurred last year. Police noted that the victim, a female under the age of 18, and a male suspect in his 30s…
Many restaurant patrons in the Aggieville area may have noticed a CSI van on Bluemont Avenue Wednesday night at about 7:15. KMAN asked Riley County Police Public Information Officer Matthew Droge about it and this was his response: “There was a search warrant conducted last night, however, no arrests were made. The search warrant was in relation to an investigation outside of Manhattan in Riley County. Since the investigation is ongoing, I’m not at liberty to release many more details on the case… I can say that as a result of this investigation the general public shouldn’t have any increased…
Mrs. Jean Rush will be interviewing for the position of superintendent for Rock Creek USD 323 BOE today. Mrs. Rush is the second of three candidates who will be interviewed for the position. Mrs. Rush is currently serving as the school superintendent in the USD 363 Holcomb, KS school district and has served in that position since 2011. Previously, Mrs. Rush served as a school superintendent in USD 342 McLouth and, prior to that, as an assistant superintendent for USD 309 Nickerson-South Hutchinson. Mrs. Rush also served as curriculum specialist for the Educational Services and Staff Development Association of Central…