RIVERTON — A Route 66 destination in southeast Kansas is receiving a cost-share grant from a federal preservation program that is expected to end this fall. The Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program awarded Nelson’s Old Riverton Store a $2,500 matching grant to upgrade its exterior. The Joplin Globe reports the Riverton store opened in 1925, one year before U.S. 66 was designated. Originally intended to last 10 years, the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program was extended for another decade in 2009. It is set to expire in October. Bill Thomas, chairman of the Road Ahead board of directors, said supporters…
Author: KMAN Staff
TOPEKA — Kansas’ child welfare agency has drafted guidelines urging foster parents to allow LGBTQ kids in their care to “express themselves as they see themselves.” The move has riled conservatives a little more than a year after the state granted legal protections to faith-based adoption agencies that do not place children in LGBTQ homes. The Department for Children and Families issued its draft guidance in mid-July, six months after Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly took office. It called for foster homes to recognize LGBTQ children by their preferred identities. Conservatives saw it as a directive meant to reshape foster families’…
Officers filed a report for criminal damage to property in the 400 block of Moro St. in Manhattan on August 2, 2019, at approximately 8:50 AM. Officers listed a 79-year-old man from Manhattan as the victim when he reported an unknown suspect broke out the basement windows to his apartment. The estimated total loss associated with this case is approximately $500.00. Police ask that anyone with information please contact RCPD or the Manhattan Riley County Crime Stoppers. Using the Crime Stoppers service can allow you to remain anonymous and could qualify you for a cash reward of up to $1,000.00. Officers…
Monday’s show featured a discussion with RCPD PIO Hali Rowland about The National Night Out. We also spoke with Manhattan Parks & Rec Community Relations Officer Melissa Kirkwood, T. Russell Reitz Animal Shelter Director Deb Watkins, Recreation Supervisor for Events Ryan McKee about Pet Poolooza. In the final segment we spoke about Clear the Shelters.
Rain didn’t deter residents from coming out to learn more about some local services Saturday. Despite having to cancel outdoor activities, the eighth Everybody Counts event pressed on Manhattan’s Douglass Community Recreation Center. The event offered free health screenings, food assistance and clothing distribution. Event chair Deb Nuss explains the importance of having this event. “We know that a significant percentage of our population are vulnerable. This is an opportunity to provide them service that they may not be able to access otherwise,” Nuss said. Dr. Doubek and Dr. Hoke from Stonecreek Family Physicians provided free school physicals. Riley County…
A longtime Manhattan businessman at the center of a rape investigation is behind bars. According to a release from the Riley County Police Department, detectives made a probable cause arrest of 60-year-old Robert Iacobellis Friday. He’s charged with rape and aggravated indecent liberties with a child. Iacobellis is being held in the Riley County Jail on a $500,000 bond. Due to the nature of the alleged crimes and the ongoing investigation, RCPD says no additional information is being released at this time. Iacobellis is the longtime owner of Bob’s Diner in Manhattan.
TOPEKA — Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly has signed an executive order aimed at ending a long-standing “border war” with Missouri over existing jobs in the Kansas City area. But the order that Kelly issued Friday suggests the truce may be shaky. Kelly’s order pledges that Kansas won’t use economic development incentives to lure existing jobs across the border in the Kansas City area. Missouri Gov. Mike Parson signed a law in June pledging the same for his state. Kelly’s order notes that local governments in Missouri still can offer more generous incentives than those in Kansas and says she might…
Riley County commissioners reviewed the county’s mill levy history dating back to 1998 at their meeting Thursday. The report not only included the mill levies from 1998 to 2019, but the factors that went into those levies as well. This was presented by Budget and Finance Officer Tami Robison. She says the two highest valuation changes were in 2007 and 2008, were they increased more than 52 million in those two years. She then used this information to calculate the mill change, dollar change, and the dollar change per household for the prior year. Between 1998 and 2019, 10 of…
Friday’s show featured a discussion with Manhattan Convention and Visitors Bureau Director Karen Hibbard. We wrapped up the Riley County Fair and livestock auction as well as the wheat harvest with K-State Research and Extension’s Greg McClure. Patrick Burch, Fort Riley Installation Anti-terrorism Officer spoke to us also about August being Anti-terrorism Awareness Month.
LAWRENCE — Lawrence officials say heavy rainfall has forced its wastewater treatment plant to shut down, diverting sewage into the Kansas River and nearby streams. The Lawrence Journal-World reports Thursday that the exceptionally heavy rainfall caused equipment failure at the Kansas River Wastewater Treatment Plant. The city shut down the plant for repairs. The heavy rain began Wednesday evening and continued Thursday morning. The National Weather Service forecast a chance of rain remaining into Saturday morning. The city is advising the public and their pets to avoid contact with any floodwater in low-lying flooded areas because of potential contamination. The…