TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) The Kansas Bureau of Investigation says the number of methamphetamine labs in the state increased dramatically between 2010 and 2011. The KBI says the number of meth lab reports increased from 143 in 2010 to 204 last year. Kansas law enforcement reported 24 meth lab incidents in the first three months of this year. The Lawrence Journal-World reports Cherokee and Montgomery counties lead the state in reports this year with six and five incidents, respectively. Experts say the number of methamphetamine labs has risen across the nation. They attribute the increase to the popularity of methods that…
Author: KMAN Staff
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) Wichita City Manager Robert Layton says he is disappointed that the union representing the city’s firefighters is seeking the resignation of Fire Chief Ron Blackwell and two other fire department administrators. The union says its members want Blackwell and Deputy Chief Ron Aaron or Division Chief Billy Wenzel to resign. But Layton said on Monday that he has complete confidence in the administrators. The Wichita Eagle reports Blackwell responded in a statement that he hoped the union would focus on working together with administrators to provide effective fire services. Union president Matt Schulte says one of the…
PITTSBURG, Kan. (AP) Pittsburg State University has received a $1.2 million gift to renovate John Lance Arena. The money comes from Pittsburg State graduates Alan and Roberta Whetzel. He played basketball and she was a cheerleader. They met on a Pittsburg State basketball trip in 1958. The Whetzels went on to teach and coach. Later, they founded an electronic business supply company based in Wichita. The school says the couple’s gift will allow it to move quickly on the first phase of a multi-stage project to renovate the Weede Athletic Complex. One goal is to create an indoor event center.
HAYS, Kan. (AP) Officials of a northwestern Kansas county are looking into overcrowding at their jail, and whether the facility should be replaced. Ellis County Administrator Greg Sund told The Hays Daily News that he’s asked for proposals from jail consultants to address overcrowding at the jail. Proposals from three consultants will be presented Wednesday to the county commission’s group on space needs. Sund said consultants could help the county decide how a new jail could be financed, including sales tax or a property tax. Costs for the jail have been estimated at $1 million to $5 million. But Sund…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) The Kansas Senate is preparing to debate a bill redrawing the districts of its members, an issue that has caused a bitter dispute among majority Republicans. Some GOP conservatives believe the bill is designed to protect the Senate’s current Republican leaders by averting primary challenges to some incumbents. The measure on Tuesday’s agenda draws at least three conservatives out of the districts of the moderate incumbents they plan to challenge. Supporters of the plan argue that they drew the lines where they made sense, without considering where challengers lived. Backers of the plan also say alternatives are…
If you need to transfer titles, or do other administrative work with your motor vehicle you may be out of luck for a few days. Starting today until May 7th, the Riley County Motor Vehicle office along with the rest of the state, will not be handling transactions. “The system is down state-wide to convert all of our records and get us up-and-running in the new system,” Riley County Treasurer Eileen King says. The only services that remain active in the Motor Vehicle office relate to the collection of motor vehicle taxes. For more information on the new vehicle management system,…
Though the half-cent sales tax was passed back in 2002, Riley County did not start collecting revenues for the tax until 2004. Today, the county has taken in over 10.6 million dollars in tax collections. County budget & finance officer Johnette Shepek says that money has since been allocated to culvert, bridge, and asphault overlay projects. “The total sales tax dollars spent on these project equal $10,196,889,” Shepek says. “The total cost estimates of these projects is $19,043,532.” The money will be used for 35 new projects throughout the county. To see a complete list of both past and future projects, visit rileycountyks.gov
Incidents A recent store inventory provided a suspicion that led to a report of shoplifting. Target Employee, Heath Needham (28), reported $1,030 worth of items were taken from the store. During a recent inventory, four TV’s appeared to be missing. When reviewing the surveillance tapes, it was discovered that two suspects had stolen the TVs on the 25th of April. The suspects managed to throw one Apex 26″ TV, two Samsung 22″ LED TV’s and one Samsung 26″ LED TV into a cart and walked out the front door. —- An early morning tirade leaves a fraternity with $1,300 in damage.…
A couple of injury accidents were reported in Riley County Monday, sending two people to the hospital. The Kansas Highway patrol reports Sharon Fletcher, 66, of Junction City and Kevin Black, 51, of Manhattan were taken to Mercy Regional Health Center following separate accidents. Fletcher was injured when the 2007 Buick she was driving was westbound on I-70 shortly before three in the afternoon. The Kansas Highway patrol reports Fletcher was reaching for something in the vehicle, lost control, crossed the median and went into the eastbound lanes, entering the south ditch and striking an embankment. A passenger in her vehicle…
Sharpshooting guard Zach Nelson gave Manhattan High fans many thrills during a trip to the 6A state tournament in 2010. After an outstanding two-year career at Cowley College, Nelson will continue his college career at Friends University in Wichita. Nelson was selected as one of the year’s most outstanding student-athletes at Cowley as he carried a 3.64 GPA. Nelson tied for second on the Tigers with 30 three points shots made this season, and averaged 3.9 points per game. Cowley advanced to the Region VI title game before losing to Seward County, and ended their season with a 24-10 record.