The Wildcat Watershed area working group met for the first time last night to discuss mitigating flood damage, and providing a more robust alert system in time of flooding. The meeting’s agenda included an overview of the flooding, damage assessments, best management practices, and then goals for making improvements. City Planner Chad Bunger defined some of the terms utilized in analyzing flooding issues which included Flood fringe, floodway, and the one-percent annual chance floodplain. The meeting caused some spirited debate about what had actually caused the flooding, and possible solutions to those issues. After ascertaining some of the key issues…
Author: KMAN Staff
Despite battling triple digit temperatures for much of last week, the Riley County Fair still produced record numbers in sales. County extension director Jennifer Wilson was on hand at Thursday’s Riley County Commission meeting to recap the weekend’s events. Wilson credits the vendors who purchased space on the fairgrounds. “We had a record year for commercial and organizational booth spaces,” Wilson said. “I commend those who stuck it out through everything.” The $9,670 generated from booth sales will go to fairground improvements. Although overall attendance numbers were down compared to last year, Wilson came away impressed with how the fair…
A tentative agreement has been reached involving Manhattan/Ogden USD 383 teachers. Associate Superintendent Bob Seymour tells KMAN the group of negotiators met Wednesday afternoon, coming to a tentative agreement, that still needs to be ratified by teachers and the school board. Seymour described the agreement as involving vertical and horizontal movement, meaning there’s additional money on the salary schedule as you step down for years of service and as you move over for more education. Local NEA representative Usha Reddi says under the circumstances the teacher’s association bargaining unit will take this back to the teachers for possible ratification on…
A Manhattan man has been arrested by Riley County Police on rape charges. 52-year-old Carlton Howard is being charged with 2 counts of rape and 1 count of criminal restraint, and 3 counts of indecent liberties with a child. The alleged victim is a girl under 14 years of age who knows the suspect. According to RCPD the incidents have been taking place in the northeast section of Manhattan for the last 2 to 3 years, but went unreported until this month. Bond has been set at $100,000.
Members of the state legislature are making rounds to address the upcoming redistricting in 2012. Several gathered early Wednesday evening at Fiedler Hall on Kansas State’s campus including members from both Republican and Democratic parties. Mike O’Neal, State House Representative from the 104th District and Chairman of Congressional Redistricting, gives KMAN the statistics from the 2010 Census that play an important role in the redistricting process. The Big First District neads to gain nearly 58,000 for an ideal number, the third district needs to lose about 54,000, the second district is 3,200 under ideal with the fourth district 6,900 over…
I-70 is re-opened once again after yet another incident that closed a 25 mile stretch for several hours Wednesday. the incident began when a Trooper patrolling Interstate 70 near milepost 339, near Maple Hill, stopped the driver of a 2004 Southwind 32 foot motor home for driving erratically. During the contact, the driver, who was later identified as 45 year old Paul Berry of Canton, Michigan, barricaded himself in the motor home, stated he had a weapon and was going to kill himself. The Trooper requested assistance and other law enforcement officers responded to the scene. I-70 was closed from…
The Riley County Health Department is still adjusting to life as a county-only entity. Wednesday’s Health Board meeting did produce positive discussion regarding the department’s new status. Health Board Administrator Charles (Chuck) Murphy conveyed to board members that the city of Manhattan is planning on chartering out of a state statute that requires both parties in a joint operation to split assets evenly should the agreement dissolve. The city is planning on turning over reserve funds, vehicles, and buildings to the county. The search to find Murphy’s replacement continues. As of Wednesday, the health department had received 23 total applications,…
The Manhattan – Ogden school board had a special meeting tonight to continue their discussion of the budget. Lew Faust, Director of Business Services, went through three options for the board to consider. Option 1 would have a Mill Levy Capital Outlay at 4, Option 2 would be at 5.3 and Option 3 would be at 6. There was discussion and a fourth option was proposed to increase the LOB. But, no action was taken. The board will review all four options at their August 3 meeting and make a decision then.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) The Kansas Highway Patrol has reopened eastbound Interstate 70 west of Topeka following a long standoff with a man barricaded inside a recreational vehicle. The 25-mile stretch was closed in both directions a little after 8 a.m. Wednesday. Eastbound lanes were opened shortly after the man was taken into custody around 3:30 p.m. Officials expected to open westbound lines quickly. The patrol had closed the highway to protect motorists in case of gunfire. No details about the man were immediately released. The same stretch of interstate was closed for nine hours Monday after troopers stopped a motorist…
A Manhattan area rancher is one of 16 people named to the Governor’s new Council of Economic Advisers. Jan Lyons, who has also been involved with the National Cattelman’s Beef Association, says she’s looking forward to the challenge. she is part of a family operation raising Angus Cattle in the Flint Hills of Kansas on McDowell Creek Road and at another ranch near Alta Vista. She has participated in the Kansas Livestock Association and the Kansas Beef Council. The new council will be asked to coordinate strategic planning and economic development. It also is expected to evaluate state policies and…