Riley County volunteer firefighters responded to several out-of-control fires this past weekend, though county officials noted greener vegetation and recent rains helped firefighters extinguish them quickly and prevent further spread. Among the weekend fires, one utility tsk vehicle was destroyed in a seven-acre burn north of Manhattan, and another, unpermitted burn resulted in a citation [...]
Registration opened Monday for the 8th annual Camp Kindergarten hosted by the Riley County Health Department and USD 383. It’s open to children eligible to start kindergarten this fall and will be held at Lee Elementary School in Manhattan. The camp is free and the deadline to register is April 30. Applications are available in [...]
Severe weather moved through the area Wednesday night causing bouts of heavy rain and hail in the area. Ping pong ball to golf ball sized hail was reported near Olsburg and similar reports were seen near Milford where egg sized hail was reported. Elsewhere, quarter to half dollar sized hail was reported from Grandview Plaza [...]
Riley County officials say an estimated 300 acres burned in a Tuesday wildfire northeast of Randolph. That fire was 90% contained as of Wednesday morning, with crews performing “mop up” and monitoring conditions by midday, according to Public Information Officer Vivienne Leyva. Strong winds spread embers from a large fire burning on the Pottawatomie County [...]
The Riley County Board of Commissioners signed a disaster declaration today, April 18th, activating disaster emergency plans to combat a wildfire burning in a northern section of the county. According to a news release, “The declaration was issued because the fires near Indian Hill Road and Mariadahl Road imminently threaten to cause wide-spread or severe [...]
The Riley County Law Board considered the first draft of the Riley County Police Department’s proposed 2024 budget during their Monday meeting. RCPD Administration Captain Brad Jager presented the proposed Budget 1, which includes the addition of a recently proposed general counsel position. Jager also presented proposed Budget 2, which has a realized cost of [...]
The Riley County Police Department says an investigation is underway following the death of an inmate confined at the Riley County Jail this weekend. Corrections Officers located 38-year-old Laura Pearce unresponsive in her cell just before 8:30 a.m. Saturday. According to an RCPD news release, officers immediately began lifesaving measures. Riley County EMS was dispatched [...]
Gov. Laura Kelly has issued a verbal declaration of disaster emergency, due to wildfires across Kansas. The declaration allows the state to preposition assets for faster response to any fires that develop. Resources including aviation will be available and prepared to respond quickly to any requests for assistance. Extreme dryness has developed in many parts [...]
“We’re here. We believe you. We support you. It’s not your fault.” That was the message Kathy Ray delivered to a gathering outside the Riley County Courthouse Thursday over the noon hour. The executive director of The Crisis Center Inc, was one of several from the Flint Hills Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) to give [...]
The Riley County Planning Board/Board of Zoning Appeals earlier this week unanimously recommended denial of a proposed electrical substation in the Ashland Township near the Konza Prairie Biological Station. More than 90 people, including nearby landowners and other residents attended a Monday hearing, many voicing opposition, citing proximity to a nearby cemetery, the preservation of [...]
