EMPORIA, Kan. — Authorities have identified two people found dead after a mobile home fire near Emporia as a man and woman in their 60s. Deputy Jody Meyers of the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release Thursday that 67-year-old Jerry Wiley and 61-year-old Mary Ann Wiley were found inside the home on Jan. 16 as firefighters extinguished the blaze. Their cause of death remains under investigation.
Author: KMAN Staff
MARION, Kan. — A series of four small earthquakes have shaken central Kansas. The Kansas Geological Survey says all of them were centered in Marion County. They ranged in magnitude from 2.5 to 3.4. The threshold for damage usually starts at 4.0. The first was reported around 11:45 p.m. Tuesday and the last around 7 p.m. Wednesday. Kansas began seeing a spike in earthquakes in 2014 that were blamed on wastewater injection wells from oil and gas production. The number of quakes began tapering off after oil prices dropped and regulations were enacted. A recent uptick in tremblers is under…
STOCKTON, Kan. — A northwest Kansas man has been sentenced to life in prison for killing his wife who was a correctional officer. Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt said in a news release that 37-year-old Alifonso Eduardo Garcia, of Plainville, won’t be eligible for parole for at least 50 years under the life sentence imposed Wednesday. Jurors in Rooks County found Garcia guilty last month of first-degree premeditated murder in the March 2018 death of 24-year-old Alexis Diane Garcia. Kansas Department of Corrections officials said she had been an officer at the Norton Correctional Facility’s satellite unit in Stockton. Her…
WICHITA, Kan. — Authorities allege in a federal indictment that a man threatened to burn government employees with battery acid. The Wichita Eagle reports that Roland Keith Vandenberg was indicted Tuesday in federal court on one charge of assaulting, impeding, intimidating and interfering with employees of the U.S. government or one of its agencies. The charge alleges Vandenberg made the threat last month. Court documents don’t identify what government agency the employees worked for or where exactly the incident took place. The case originated in Sedgwick County. The misdemeanor charges carries a fine of up to a year in prison.
On Thursday’s edition of In Focus we spoke with Linda Teener with the UFM Community Learning Center. We also spoke with Duane Sherwood with a preview of the Lions Club biscuit and gravy feed. And finally we spoke with Liz Nelson with the Riley County Senior Center.
Kansas State University Police are investigating a report of lewd and lascivious conduct which is alleged to have occurred Wednesday in the K-State Student Union. Police say a male victim reported an unknown male suspect revealed his genitals in the men’s restroom. No further information is available. The case remains an ongoing investigation. K-State Police urge any witnesses to call them at 785-532-6412. Tips can also be submitted to the silent witness website or through the Live Safe app. RCPD can also be reached at 785-537-2112. K-State police encourage students, faculty and staff to be aware of surroundings and use…
The T. Russell Reitz Animal Shelter is celebrating Super Bowl Sunday with an adoption drive Friday and Saturday. Director Deb Watkins says they are trying to find “Ma-Homes” for the adult dogs and cats at the shelter. The adoption fee will only be 50 dollars. “The $50 is a great value for an adoption. These animals are micro-chipped, vaccinated and de-wormed and of course spayed and neutered. I have a special place in my heart for these senior animals. They’ve seen a lot in their lives and they deserve to have a loving home,” Watkins said. One of the dogs who…
Manhattan is looking at strategies to fund multiple projects the city has in the works following the recent sales tax ballot question failure in November. Voters rejected a 0.3 percent sales tax hike 4,187 to 3,359 that Manhattan officials hoped would help cover the costs of projects including improvements to the levee, Aggieville redevelopment, reconstruction of the Manhattan Regional Airport runway, street and sidewalk overhauls around Kansas State University and a new city maintenance facility. The estimated price tag comes in at $170 million, with a gap of $70 million in funding if the city wishes to complete all of…
On Wednesday’s edition of In Focus we spoke with Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce President Jason Smith. We also spoke with Deb Watkins with the Animal Shelter to preview the adoption event on Friday.
WICHITA — A Kansas woman has been charged with embezzling from the U.S. Postal Service while she was an employee. The U.S. attorney’s office announced the charge against 37-year-old Kimberly Kirchner, of Atlanta, Kansas, on Tuesday in a news release. The crime is alleged to have occurred this year and last year in Cowley County. If convicted, she faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000.