A Caterpillar Work Tools employee in Wamego who was arrested on a criminal threat charge in March will have a preliminary hearing on April 18 at 3:30 p.m. Erik Billis was taken into custody after making a threat against co-workers on social media. Reports indicate Billis made a threatening post on Facebook, saying he had officially snapped and mentioned going on a shooting spree at his place work. Pottawtomie County Attorney Sherri Schuck told KMAN his bond was modified over the state’s objections to $20,000 during a status hearing Tuesday afternoon. It was previously set at $25,000. If Billis is…
Author: KMAN Staff
TOPEKA — A Topeka racetrack owner doubts his property will survive if the property tax bill remains high, saying that the facility faces “hundreds of thousands of dollars” in repairs. Owner Chris Payne declined an interview with The Topeka Capital-Journal, but instead relayed information through his attorney, Wes Carrillo. He says Heartland Park Topeka has deteriorated quickly in the last few years and now has cracked tracks, broken water pipes, perforated roofs and piles of garbage. Payne estimates that Heartland Park would need to net a profit of $27,000 monthly, or $324,000 yearly. He says that with an annual tax bill of…
In this edition of In Focus, Cathy Dawes catches up with Manhattan City Manager Ron Fehr and Mayor Karen McCulloh.
TOPEKA — Authorities in Shawnee County, Kansas, are investigating the death of a man whose body was found in Lake Shawnee. Sheriff Herman Jones says someone in a sailboat spotted the body Monday afternoon about 25 yards from a yacht dock and summoned authorities. A wildlife park department worker put a boat in the water and retrieved the body. The man’s identity was not immediately released.
POTOSI, Mo. — Authorities in eastern Missouri are searching for a former football player for Washburn and the University of Kansas. The Missouri State Highway Patrol posted a missing person’s report that said 24-year-old Brandon Kyle Bourbon has been missing since Saturday. Washington County Sheriff’s Capt. Zach Jacobsen said Tuesday that Bourbon’s family last saw him Saturday evening in the Potosi area, where his family lives. He says Bourbon’s car, a silver minivan, is also missing, and that Bourbon’s phone is off. Bourbon played football for Kansas until 2014, and transferred to Washburn for the 2015 season. Jacobsen says since leaving…
Dr. Jill Biden, wife of U.S. Vice President Joe Biden and Second Lady of the United States, is in Fort Riley Tuesday and will be available to media Wednesday, according to a press release from post. As a part of the Month of the Military Child and as part of her Joining Forces initiative, Biden, a lifelong educator and military mom, will participate in several events in support of military children’s education. Biden is visiting Fort Riley to meet with active duty service members, military spouses and military-connected students and their teachers. During the visit, Biden will highlight the educational partnership between…
MANHATTAN, KAN. – On April 4, 2016 at approximately 5:30 PM officers with the Riley County Police Department responded to the intersection of Marlatt Ave. and Seth Child Road in Manhattan for a report of an injury vehicle collision. Police found that prior to their arrival a 2008 Toyota Prius driven by Brian Coles, 56, of Manhattan traveling west through the intersection with Seth Child Road collided with a 2003 Chevy 2-door vehicle driven by Shane Rengstorf, 25, of Riley, Kansas. This collision caused both drivers as well as a 14-year-old passenger in the Toyota Prius to be transported to…
K-State’s Executive Director of Military and Veterans Affairs, Arthur DeGroat has issued comment following the death of a veteran student. As previously reported by KMAN, Jacob Horton was found dead in a parking lot on the university’s main campus Saturday, after sustaining a self-inflicted gunshot wound. DeGroat issued the following statement to KMAN: “This is a most tragic event for our K-State family–especially our student-veteran community. Jake, like all veterans on our campus are very special people who have voluntarily served their country during war and chose Kansas State University to further their education and begin new lives. Too many of…
HOUSTON (AP) Ryan Arcidiacono grew up outside of Philadelphia as a Villanova fan, and then played more games than any else ever has for the Wildcats. In his last game, with his last pass, he became a national champion and a Final Four MVP. The unselfish point guard was dribbling toward the basket with clock winding down and defenders closing in when he heard Kris Jenkins screaming toward him from behind. Arcidiacono then passed the ball to his open teammate, whose 3-pointer beat the buzzer for a 77-74 victory over North Carolina on Monday night. The Pennsylvania kid born nine…
In 2015 Riley county was able to proudly hold the title of “healthiest county in Kansas,” unfortunately, that is no longer the case. A March study by the Kansas Health Institute ranked the county 14th in overall health. Jenna Fiscus, Health Educator with the Riley County Health Department, shared the numbers at Monday’s Riley County Commission Meeting. Fiscus said the county may have not deteriorated in actual health, but other counties may have gotten better. Riley county has some positive statistics to note, such as falling below the state average on obesity rates and infant mortality. Unfortunately, Riley county also…