Falcon Land LLC, a company planning a feedlot northeast of Riley, said in a letter Thursday they have decided not to move forward with the project. Founders Jacob Hagenmaier and Dan Thomson said in the letter their goal was to unite and give back to the community. “Being good neighbors and community members is core to our values,” they wrote. “As such, we’ve made the voluntary decision to not to move forward with our investment in this location but hope to find opportunities with progressive agricultural communities that share our values to build future leaders and opportunities.” To view the…
Author: Megan Moser
Neighbors say they are not happy about a proposed cattle feeding operation near the town of Riley. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment last week issued public notice that Falcon Land LLC has filed for a federal water pollution control permit to start a “confined animal feeding operation” (CAFO) on its property at the southeast intersection of 8400 Road and Union Road. The proposal is for a facility with up to 999 head of cattle. By state law, it’s not a feedlot if it’s below 1,000 animals. Operations with more than 1,000 animals at one time require additional measures…
A Fort Riley unit is preparing for deployment to Europe, officials confirmed Wednesday. The 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, known as the Devil Brigade, will replace the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, as part of a regular rotation of forces to support the United States’ commitment to NATO allies and partners, according to a statement from Army officials. “True to the division’s mission, the Devil Brigade maintains a ready force posture and deploys in an expeditionary manner to build and sustain readiness, deter adversary aggression, and reassure regional allies,” said Maj. Guster Cunningham III,…
Champion Teamwear plans to close its Manhattan operation, according to multiple sources with knowledge of the situation. Champion officials declined to comment and didn’t respond to email, but sources say the company, which includes the headquarters of that division as well as a production facility, is set to close later this year and move some operations to a similar facility in Johnson County. The company has not announced plans or given a timeline for the change. To view the full article visit theMercury.com. Click here for more local news.
A Chinese company owns 160 acres of farmland just a mile and a half from Fort Riley as the crow flies. Is that a problem? President Donald Trump thinks so. The land is three parcels near I-70 in Geary County, according to records obtained by The Mercury. The plots are unassuming — some fields, greenhouses, outbuildings and a small house. But the company that owned the land since 2002, Syngenta Seeds, is part of a corporation with a net worth of $30 billion and was involved in a number of lawsuits, including a class-action claim over genetically modified corn seeds…
By Megan Moser Despite complaints from some residents that they were blindsided about the amount of their special taxes, Manhattan city commissioners on Tuesday approved levying special assessments for 14 benefit districts in Manhattan. These are areas in which work was done to improve a district, and now the city government is levying special assessments against the benefiting properties. The sites are Candlewood Shopping Center turn lane street improvements; The Highlands at Grand Mere, Unit Two — sanitary sewer, street, and water; Stagg Hill Golf Course waterline improvements; Elijah Addition — sanitary sewer, street, and water; Henry Addition — sanitary sewer,…
Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., on Thursday advocated for Kansas and for his home base of Manhattan during the confirmation hearings for U.S. secretary of agriculture nominee Brooke Rollins. Moran was one of several senators on the Senate Agriculture Committee asking questions of Rollins, who is Trump’s pick to lead the Department of Agriculture. Moran brought up the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility, the federal animal disease lab in Manhattan. The USDA oversees that lab. The full story can be read at The Mercury. For more local news, click here.
By Megan Moser The five puppies dumped in a laundry basket in a Popeye’s parking lot are safely snuggled in some blankets in one of the kennels at the local shelter, officials said Monday. Animal control found the six-week-old puppies abandoned in freezing-cold temperatures Sunday and said they were investigating who was responsible. Prairie Paws Shelter staff named the pups Gumbo, Chocolate Chip Biscuit, Chicken Dipper, Popcorn Shrimp and Coleslaw. To view the full article visit theMercury.com.
Riley County clerk Rich Vargo wants voters to know that their elections have never been more secure. He spoke to The Mercury on Tuesday, a week before Election Day, in the recently renovated Elections Department space. That project has provided more space for elections personnel, and it means no other departments are in the same area when elections staff are working with sensitive information. In fact, visitors are buzzed in to the office, and they would have to go through a second secure entrance to get access to the employee area. To view the full article visit theMercury.com.
Kansas Republicans are saying that a post made by House Democratic candidate Kim Zito in 2020 contains “racist language.” The Kansas Republican House Campaign Committee put out a statement Wednesday after the Kansas Black Republican Council brought attention to the post. In a Facebook post dated Nov. 9, 2020, Zito is describing a scene shortly after the presidential election when Democrats were celebrating Joe Biden’s win in Triangle Park. Attendees said some people driving by were yelling obscenities at them. To view the full article visit theMercury.com.