The Riley County Law Board heard Monday from two members of a working group that is discussing recommendations and ideas for what’s termed “fair and impartial policing”. Four members of the police department, four from the Manhattan – Riley County Coalition for Equal Justice and Law Board member Dr. Be Stoney comprise the working group. RCPD Captain Josh Kyle said the group’s formation can be traced back to community discussions that began in 2015. CEJ member Dr. Lorenza Lockett noted the group’s recommendations include calls for leadership. Butler said he was pleased that the batch of recommendations were similar to…
Author: KMAN Staff
Emergency declaration The Pottawatomie County Commission voted Monday to end an emergency declaration that has been in place since March 2020. The county health officer and all three commissioners were in favor of the move, including commissioner Greg Riat. Emergency Management director Jennifer Merrow says the county has not had to order any personal protective equipment (PPE) for a while. However, she says it is still in line to get a shipment of PPE this week from the North East Kansas Healthcare Coalition. A panel of mostly Republican state senators allowed the statewide order to expire on June 15. This…
Riley County commission approved to authorize the bond issuance for Meadowlark Hills. The Manhattan City Commission approved the issuance of up to $50 million in Industrial Revenue Bonds for Meadowlark last week. County Counselor Clancy Holeman says there is no fiscal impact on the county. Holeman says the statute for the bond states this bond applies to the county as well in certain circumstances. County Clerk Rich Vargo says this bond could also be a potential tax burden to the taxpayers, which is why it was brought to the county as well. Meadowlark is expecting to close on the bonds…
The Riley County Law Board Monday approved a three-point-five-seven percent increase in the Police Department’s budget for fiscal 2022. The budget of nearly 23-million dollars passed on a 5-2 vote, with Riley County Commissioners John Ford and Kathryn Focke voting against it. The board earlier had approved use of coronavirus relief funds from the federal government to fund pay increases of two-percent starting July 1st. RCPD Captain Josh Kyle, also noting that a cost-of-living increase of one-percent was included in the proposed budget. He says one aid in keeping the budget in line is tracking overtime costs. RCPD Director Dennis Butler…
Skeletal remains located along the Mitchell and Cloud county line in April have been identified as a 40-year-old man from El Dorado. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation said Monday the remains were those of Waylon Fort. The investigation into Fort’s death did not indicate any foul play. Officials say DNA from his remains were compared to probable family members. Findings are being turned over to both the Cloud County and Mitchell County Attorney’s Office for review.
WICHITA, Kan. — A splash park at a wildlife attraction in the Wichita area has closed after health officials reported illness concerns and several families said their children became sick after visiting the site. Tanganyika Wildlife Park’s Director Matt Fouts said in a Facebook post that he decided to close the attraction after discussions with the Sedgwick County Health Department. He said the park in Goddard is working to fix a filtration system problem with the splash park, according to The Wichita Eagle. “The splash park is a new adventure for us animal people, and it was an issue we…
WICHITA, Kan. — A Kansas police officer is in critical condition and the person who fired at officers is dead after a shootout in Wichita, authorities said. Two police officers were checking on the welfare of a 32-year-old woman and her 13-year-old daughter at a home in south Wichita around 10:15 p.m. Saturday when the shooting began. Police said the woman reported having a physical fight with her boyfriend before officers arrived, but she thought the man had left. Wichita Deputy Police Chief Jose Salcido said officers found the man, 28-year-old Tyler Hodge, hiding in a shed in the backyard…
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — A carjacking suspect has died after an exchange of gunfire with police in Kansas City, Kansas, authorities said. Police did not identify the suspect who was killed on Sunday but said he was a 25-year-old man. Police said the armed carjacking happened Thursday in Kansas City, Kansas. The victim told police he was giving the suspect a ride when the man pulled a gun and demanded the vehicle, a Ford Expedition. Officers in Kansas City, Missouri, on Sunday spotted a vehicle that matched the description and a pursuit began. The pursuit went into Kansas City, Kansas,…
The following summary of calls for service/reports filed by the Riley County Police Department is a portion of those received by police. Some names, addresses, and case details are withheld to follow local, state, and federal law as well as in an attempt to protect community members from being victimized further. Those arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. MANHATTAN, KAN. – Officers filed a report for theft in the 5500 block of Skyview Dr. in Manhattan on June 18, 2021, at approximately 4:28 p.m. Officers listed Hertz Rental as the victim when it was reported…
Monday’s guest was Riley County Historical Museum Curator of Design Allana Parker joined us to discuss famous Riley County residents and visitors. Notable people included Martin Luther King Jr., Johnny Cash, U.S. presidents and TV and film stars.