Pottawatomie County authorities are investigating a pair of injury accidents that occurred early Thursday morning.

Deputies responded around 6:50 a.m. to a report of a rollover accident near Highway 99 and Kerr Road, north of Westmoreland.

According to a release from Sheriff Doug Adams, the driver, 21-year-old Trevor Harbolt, of Frankfort, was transported by Pottawatomie County EMS to a local hospital for non-life threatening injuries.

About 10 minutes later, at around 7 o’clock, deputies responded to a separate crash report near State Lake Road and Junietta Road in Blue Township, after a motorcycle struck a cow.

The driver, 60-year-old Chad Olson, of Manhattan, was transported to a local hospital, also with non-life threatening injuries

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The focus centered around employee wages, departmental funding and tax rates. County staff have proposed a 4% cost-of-living adjustment for all county employees. After discussion Monday, county commissioners reached consensus to exclude themselves from the COLA and address their compensation separately.

“If the commission feels that there’s a need to increase the salary, I would do it as a vote and come up with a number,” said Commissioner Merl Page. “I don’t want it built in, something that’s hidden in 50 some pages.”

Key changes in the budget include adjustments to departmental funding, such as moving a personal property clerk out of the appraiser’s office, adding a GIS technician, and shifting some fire supervisor costs to the consolidated fire fund.

To view the full article visit theMercury.com.

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A man was arrested late Wednesday evening after following his ex-wife in a car from the St. George area to the Wabaunsee County Courthouse.

37-year-old Jaron Taitano was taken into custody but was released on Thursday.

The incident leading to his arrest began shortly before 10 p.m. Wednesday when his ex-wife reported the car she was driving was being followed by Taitano. Wabaunsee County officers were alerted to the situation when the woman called 911 while driving south on K-99 from Pottawatomie County into Wabaunsee County.

Taitano’s ex-wife continued driving into Alma and was met in the county courthouse parking lot by Wabaunsee County Sheriff’s units and Alma police officers. He was booked in jail in connection with assault, stalking and reckless driving.

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Notable Arrests:

• Jason Marcus Wilhite (18, Manhattan, KS) – Arrested for DUI, leaving the scene of an accident, failure to perform duty, driving too fast for conditions, and transporting an open container. His bond was set at $1,000.
• Kaiden Derek Daniel (23, Wamego, KS) – Charged with failure to comply with a lawful order and being an intoxicated pedestrian in the street, with a $500 bond.
• Brittany Diane Conard (27, Manhattan, KS) and Leslie Leeann Young (26, Manhattan, KS) – Arrested on multiple charges, including burglary, theft, criminal damage to property, and criminal trespass. Conard’s bond was set at $32,000, while Young’s was $8,000.
• Cassandra Potter (52, Manhattan, KS) – Taken into custody for two counts of probation violation, with a total bond of $18,000.
• Clayson Creed Joyce (22, Manhattan, KS) – Arrested for attempted domestic battery, with a $3,000 bond.
• Dustin Dean Tarver (26, Topeka, KS) – Taken into custody in Pottawatomie County for shoplifting under $1,500.

Additional Charges:

Other individuals were arrested for offenses such as violation of protection orders, failure to appear in court, and probation violations.

Anyone with information can contact Crime Stoppers. Using Crime Stoppers allows you to remain anonymous and could qualify you for a cash reward of up to $1,000.

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By Annie Wolfe/Times of Pott County

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Kansas State Police responded to a crash in Pottawatomie County shortly before 5 p.m. on Independence Day. A 1999 Cessna single fixed-wing aircraft was traveling northbound on Runway 36 at Wamego Airport, when a miscommunication occurred.

During an attempt to perform a short-field takeoff, the 22-year-old student pilot misheard his 65-year-old instructor, causing the plane to continue on the ground. Despite applying brakes, the aircraft continued its momentum, going beyond the runway into the grass. The plane eventually came to rest in a corn field. The owner of the Cessna was able to remove the aircraft from the field. Neither pilot was injured.

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There’s no shortage of young professionals in Riley, Pottawatomie, and Geary Counties. But the Junction City, Manhattan, and Wamego Chambers of Commerce took on the challenge of choosing 15 professionals to recognize for making a difference in their communities. 

They must first be nominated to be considered for the recognition; be at least 18 but less than 40 years of age; and work in the Greater Manhattan area. About 100 nominations were made. Each nominee was asked to complete an application which outlined achievements in their profession, and the work they’ve performed for the community. Jason Smith, President and CEO of the Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce, remarked how honored the committee is to recognize such a distinguished group for their inaugural 15 under 40 class. 

The winners will be recognized at a special reception in their honor on Jan. 12 at 4 p.m. at the Manhattan Conference Center. They include Doug Barrett, Summer Ott Dierks, Sheila Ellis-Glasper, Casie Hartwich, Marc Kent, Blade Mages, Catherine McKinley, Tammy Melton, Jayme Minton, Weston Moody, Rebecca Robinson, Kate Ryan, Jeff Sackrider, Katie Seay Ashley Urban 

To attend the reception or register for the retreat, go to:  https://business.manhattan.org/events 

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Two new superintendents are taking over at Rock Creek and Wamego Public Schools this fall.

Both made their debut appearance Wednesday on KMAN’s In Focus. Current Lansing High School Principal Rob McKim was hired Jan. 31 by the Wamego School Board. The Kansas native has spent most of his life involved in education.

McKim will begin training with the district June 14 before his official start date of July 1. He says at first, his goal is to listen and learn about the district and the community. He says in order to help foster an effective learning environment he’ll work on emphasizing the importance of creating connections between students and administrators throughout the schools.

McKim is succeeding interim superintendent Greg Mann, brought on by the USD 320 school board last year following the abrupt resignation of former superintendent Tim Winter, who now works with Geary County Schools.

Joan Simoneau will finish up her current duties as superintendent and elementary principal at USD 369 Burrton before stepping into her role at USD 323 Rock Creek Schools. While not originally from the Midwest, Simoneau did earn her teaching degree at the University of Nebraska and has spent all but one year of her educational career in Kansas.

Simoneau says Rock Creek is a vastly different district than Burrton, primarily due to its rapidly growing student population. She says she’s already anticipating what that will mean for her as superintendent.

She also stressed plans to emphasize the importance of open communication in order to continue maintaining the district’s success.

Simoneau succeeds Kevin Logan, who had been with the district since 2016, but was hired as the next Hesston USD 460 superintendent.

Simoneau begins her duties officially with Rock Creek on July 1.

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