Work was under way Friday morning to remove the semi-tractor trailer rig that overturned adjacent to Interstate 70 near the Marshall Army Airfield in Geary County Friday night.

Four people in a passenger van that were hit by the semi were taken to Geary Community Hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. The drive of the semi was not injured.

The severe thunderstorms that rolled through Junction City and Geary County Thursday evening left damaged trees on 11th Street and Grant Avenue and left hundreds of residents without power.

As of 9:30 pm Westar Energy was reporting up to 475 customers were without power in the downtown area from Clay Street to Monroe Street and Sixth Street to 16th Street. That included the downtown area going west to and including the Dillons Food Store. Factoring in all outages more than 500 occurred in Junction City.

Wind gusts of 59 mph and pea sized hail was  reported at the Marshall Army Airfield on Fort Riley. Wind gusts of 65 mph were also reported two miles east of Abilene.

Garry Berges, Geary County Emergency Management Director, said there were 50-60 mile per hour winds in different parts of the county. ” I had different people out watching the weather for us. We were limited because a lot of our people that would normally be out spotting…our law enforcement, some of our volunteer firefighters were out there helping work the accident.” There was a three-vehicle accident on I-70 near the Marshall Army Airfield that sent four people to Geary Community Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Berges stated pea size to a little larger sized hail fell in different locations. As of late Thursday evening he reported that authorities were unable to determine any severe damage.

The Severe Thunderstorm Watch that had been in effect until 10 pm has been extended and is now in effect until 2 am. That watch does include Geary, Riley, Morris, Wabaunsee, Clay, Pottawatomie and Dickinson Counties.

 

MANHATTAN — On Thursday, Sep. 17, Kansas State University will renew its seven-years-and-counting university-to-military community partnership with the 1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley at the K-State-Fort Riley Partnership Renewal Business Meeting. Media are invited to attend. Kansas State University President Kirk Schulz and Fort Riley’s Maj. Gen. Wayne Grigsby will renew the institutional partnership in an on-campus ceremony beginning at 4 p.m. Sep. 17 in the Tadtman Boardroom at the K-State Alumni Center. The two leaders will meet and briefly discuss the partnership before signing a resolution.Following the signing at 4:45 p.m., Schulz and Grigsby will be available for interviews. Several university administrators and a majority of the Fort Riley leaders will attend the ceremony, which marks the fifth partnership renewal between both institutions. In April 2008, former university president Jon Wefald and former 1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley commanding general Maj. Gen. Robert E. Durbin established a formal institutional partnership between Kansas State University and the 1st Infantry Division at Fort Riley. The agreement was designed to serve as a model military-to-university community partnership. It is the first and only comprehensive partnership of this nature. “K-State’s partnership has been and will remain the flagship program of our expanding military and veterans enterprise,” said retired Army Lt. Col. Art DeGroat, executive director of military and veterans affairs at Kansas State University and lead agent for the program. “Collectively, this partnership advances K-State 2025 and Fort Riley 2020 strategic goals. Individually, it is enhancing our peoples’ lives — both in the military and in our campus community.”

Junction City Fire / EMS personnel responded to the Century Link building at Sixth and Jefferson Streets late Tuesday morning where a construction worker who was working on top of the building was injured.

According to Fire Department Captain Don Stremming the employee of Premier Contracting of Kansas City, Kansas was on the roof removing metal flashing from the side of the building near the roof.  The metal flashing came in contact with nearby high voltage lines and the employee, whose name is not known, suffered electrical burns to his right arm.

The male employee, was reported in critical but stable condition at the scene. He was taken by ambulance to exit 313 on Interstate 70 to meet a Life Star helicopter for further transport to the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City.

The Junction City Police Department is reporting the arrest of three juveniles on alleged charges including 121 counts of Damage to Property and Conspiracy to commit damage to property.

According to the press release after developing a lead from a patrol officer, two 17 year olds and a 16-year-old were arrested. After executing search warrants, four BB guns, BBs and air canisters were located and collected.

A preliminary estimate of total damage on these charges is around $30,000.

The Juveniles are being detained at the Juvenile Detention Center pending first appearance. Possible additional charges may be pending.

Earlier Tuesday the JCPD reported that they responded to more than 100 cases of vehicle windows being shot out with a BB gun over the weekend.

The cases were located all over Junction City, and Grandview Plaza also had 22 reported cases with the same type of damage. This type of damage has also been occurring over the last couple of weeks at residences as well as businesses.

Millie Fink’s was recognized for her efforts to get a segment of the Butterfield Trail in Dickinson County added to both the Kansas and National Registers of Historic Places. She was selected to serve as the grand marshal for the Labor Day parade in Chapman.

Fink said Butterfield Trail was a stage coach and freight line in the mid-1860’s from about 1864 to 1866,  that was part of the Smoky Hill Trail…part of the national transportation network to the gold fields in Cherry Creek, Colorado and on to California.

“In Dickinson County is comes in on Old Highway 40, crosses the Rocky Riffle bridge, through Chapman, up over the Indian Hill cemetery, and back into Highway 40 going toward Abilene. You can still see the ruts in the area near the cemetery. Fink noted she you can walk in the ruts, adding she is about 5’4 and on her they are about hip-deep in some places. “The lucky part of is that the elements have not erased them because of being plowed. They’re in the pasture, and the water flowing down has kept those pretty much open. ”

Fink’s submitted the application that resulted in the state and national registry designation for the trail.

On her experience as parade grand marshal Fink called it a lot of fun. “It was hot but I saw a lot of people that I hadn’t seen for awhile, lots of little kids…it was a lot of fun.” Fink rode in a horse drawn Black Horse Hitch carriage from Munson Angus Farms that was driven by Ben Bennett.

Kansas State Football is one step closer to completing the Bill Snyder Family Stadium Master Plan as they have officially cut the ribbon on Phase III of the Master Plan, the new Vanier Football Complex and North end zone seating.

The $65 million complex provides a new Student-Athlete Enhancement Center, an 18-000-square-foot Olympic-quality Strength and Conditioning Center and a new sports medicine and recovery facility with state-of-the-art hydrotherapy and recovery pools.  There is a new football-shaped locker room which is more than twice the size of the previous space.

The new north seating bowl in the stadium includes enhanced sight lines, ADA seating, the new Carl and Mary Ice Video Board and is connected to the current west-side stadium concourse for access to entrance gates and stadium concessions and restrooms.

John Vanier, said during the ribbon cutting that the new complex is important to him and the rest of the Vanier family and that it’s for the student athletes.

“I want to our student athletes for the dedication that they have to their respective sports, and to their education. Especially for the way that they represent this University, because this is all about them. This is all about the students,” said Vanier.

The second part of Phase III includes a new structure to be built on the northeast corner of Bill Snyder Family Stadium. The proposed new northeast corner will connect the east-side concourse to the new north end zone section, thus achieving the BSFS master plan goal of a 360-degree concourse and fully enclosing the stadium.  Other new elements of the structure will include visiting team locker space, training and officials areas, plus additional future office space as well as a new video board that will match the huge screen erected on the northwest corner this past spring, furthering the department’s commitment to offering the Best Fan Experience in the Big 12.

 

MANHATTAN, KAN. – In the early morning hours of September 4^th, 2015 a series of Robberies and a Theft were reported in the central portion of Manhattan.  In two of these incidents the suspects were armed with a handgun.  Riley County Police Officers set up a perimeter in the area and subsequently became involved in a foot pursuit of a suspect who was last seen running onto the KSU campus.  KSUPD was alerted and began a search of the area.

That led to a lockdown of the KSU campus in Manhattan for about four hours. The lockdown was later lifted and classes began at 9:30 a.m.  on Friday.

• At approximately 1:45 AM the Riley County Police responded to a report of a Robbery in the 1000 block of Kearney Street.  Kathleen Banning, 21, was the victim of a Robbery which involved 1 unknown black male.  The suspect used force to take multiple miscellaneous items from the victim before fleeing on foot.  The suspect was of medium build and was wearing a dark in color plaid shirt and dark pants.  No injuries were listed as a result of this incident.
• At approximately 2:10 AM the Riley County Police responded to a report of a Theft in the 900 block of Fremont Street.  John Brekke, 21, was the victim of a Theft which involved 2 unknown black males.  The suspects took a cellphone from the victim before fleeing the area on foot.  One of the suspects had a muscular build and was wearing a dark shirt.  No injuries were listed as a result of this incident.
• At approximately 2:44 AM the Riley County Police responded to a report of Robbery in the 1600 block of Osage Street.  Cody Kohler, 22, and Nathan Becker, 22, were the victims of a Robbery which involved 2 unknown black males who were armed with a handgun.  Multiple miscellaneous items were taken from the victims before the suspects fled the area on foot.  The suspects were described as being of medium build.  One was wearing a dark in color shirt and one was wearing a light colored t-shirt.  No injuries were listed as a result of this incident.
• At approximately 2:45 AM the Riley County Police responded to a report of a Robbery in the 300 block of 16^th Street.  Ransom Gardiner, 22, was the victim of a Robbery which involved 2 unknown black males who were armed with a handgun.  Multiple miscellaneous items were taken from the victim before the suspects fled the area on foot.  The suspects were described as being of medium build.  One was wearing a dark in color shirt.  No injuries were listed as a result of this incident.

Detectives are currently seeking information about this crime and ask that anyone with tips contact the Manhattan Riley County Crime Stoppers at 785-539-7777 or online atwww.ManhattanRileyCountyCrimeStoppers.com. Crime Stoppers is an anonymous service and could qualify you for a cash reward of up to $1,000.00.

 

Update: MANHATTAN- Law enforcement authorities in Riley County continue to investigate several overnight robberies.

Just after 2 a.m,. the Riley County Police Department reported they received at least three reports of males approaching pedestrians on foot and demanding their property.

In two of these incidents the suspects were armed with a weapon. These incidents occurred in the central portion of Manhattan.

Riley County Police Officers set up a perimeter in the area and ultimately were involved in a foot chase of a possible suspect who was last seen running onto the KSU campus. KSUPD was alerted and began a search of the area, and the Kansas Highway Patrol also responded to the area.

At this time the RCPD continues to actively investigate these incidents; however, it appears that the suspect(s)  left the immediate area.

 

 

Update:

Kansas State University officials report that the lockdown at the KSU Manhattan campus has been lifted. Classes and activities will resume at 9:30 a.m.

Students and employees should report for class and work by that time.

Update:

The Associate Vice President for Communications and Marketing at Kansas State University Steve Logback said the search for a possible armed suspect is continuing on the Manhattan campus. “Classes are delayed until further notice, ask employees not to come to campus as well.” Logback said around four a.m. a possible armed suspect was seen on the south side of the Manhattan campus. K-State police, Riley County police, and Kansas Highway Patrol are involved in the search.

Update:

Manhattan Christian College is now on lockdown as well as the KSU campus. KSU officials report that there was an armed robbery near campus early this morning ( about four a.m. ) and the suspect was believed to be heading toward the campus, prompting the lockdown.

—–

KSU President Kirk Schulz has announced that there will be no classes until officials receive the all clear from K-State police.

Riley County police are assisting in this case as well.

MANHATTAN- Kansas State University officials report they are looking for possible armed suspect last seen on the south side of campus.

School officials report there was an armed robbery near campus and the suspect was believed to be heading toward the campus.

School officials are working to determine what to do about early classes. There are no barriers blocking drivers or students from entering campus at this time.

Student and Employees are being told not to come on campus until an all clear is given.

Check the post for additional details as they become available.

The search is continuing for the possible armed subject on Manhattan campus. Please stay inside and lock your doors until further notice.

— K-State (@KState) September 4, 2015

   

Possible armed suspect last seen south side of campus. Light skinned black male wearing dirty white shirt and shorts. Shelter in place. — K-State (@KState) September 4, 2015

As a result of blue green algae samples collected on Aug. 31, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment has recommended that Zones A and B at Milford Lake be listed in a “Watch” status and Zone C remain in a “Warning” status.

That means the southern two-thirds of the lake will be upgraded to a watch, and designated beaches operated by the Corps of Engineers and Milford State Park will be re-opened for the Labor Day weekend.

According to R. J. Harms, Operations Project Manager, for the Corps of Engineers, cell counts improved dramatically in Zones A and B last week while sample results from C at Timber Creek and the City of Wakefield remain high with elevated blue green algae cell counts and toxin levels.