SALINA- A Fort Riley teen was injured in an accident just before 11p.m. on Sunday in Saline County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1992 Nissan Pathfinder driven by Austin T. Wright, 18, Fort Riley, was northbound on U.S. 81 five miles north of Salina.

The driver fell asleep and the vehicle entered the center median. The driver woke up, overcorrected and the vehicle come back onto U.S. 81. The driver then lost control of the vehicle. It entered the center median again and overturned.

Wright was transported to Salina Regional Medical Center. He was properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

The National Weather Service has issued a fire weather warning or red flag warning from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday.

The watch area covers multiple counties including Geary, Dickinson, Riley, Clay, Pottawatomie, Wabaunsee, Brown, Jackson, Jefferson, Shawnee, Cloud, Ottawa, Washington, Marshall, Douglas, Morris, Lyon, Osage, Franklin, Coffey, and Anderson counties.

South and southwest winds are expected to be sustained between 20-30 mph with gusts around 30-40 mph through the afternoon. The minimum relative humidity values are forecast to be between 22 and 29 percent.

Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly.

Mary Louise Stahl has announced that Acoustic Junction is scheduled Saturday, Oct. 24 at 7 p.m. at the McDowell Creek Community Center in Geary County.

The event is free. To get there travel I-70 to exit 307, and go three miles south on McDowell Creek Road.

Performers this month include Chris Biggs, Quittin’ Time, The Grateful Dudes, Dave and Jan, and Men of Dubious Character.

A Kansas State University alumnus and one of the longest-serving presidential press secretaries in history is receiving an honorary doctorate from Kansas State University.

Marlin Fitzwater, who served as assistant to the president and press secretary for Ronald Reagan from 1987 to 1989 and for George H. W. Bush from 1989 to 1993, will be honored at K-State’s Graduate School commencement at 1 p.m. Friday, Dec. 11, in Bramlage Coliseum. He will also serve as the commencement speaker for the ceremony.

The awarding of the honorary doctorate follows the approval by the Kansas Board of Regents. it is one of the highest honors the university can give. Fitzwater will be awarded the honorary doctorate and also will receive a medal at the commencement ceremony.

“Marlin Fitzwater is a political figure that I and millions of other Americans remember well throughout some of our nation’s biggest historical moments,” said Kirk Schulz, Kansas State University president. “We want to honor his distinguished career in both Kansas media and national media as well as his ties to Kansas State University, wherein he returned as a speaker for the Landon Lecture series in 1996. It is through the leadership of such distinguished alumni that will help Kansas State University be recognized as a Top 50 public research university by 2025.

Fitzwater grew up on a small farm near Abilene. In 1965, he earned his bachelor’s degree in journalism from Kansas State University. In 1965, Fitzwater was named the Outstanding Male Journalism graduate.

Fitzwater is the only press secretary in history to be appointed by two U.S. presidents.

In 1992, Fitzwater received the Presidential Citizens Medal, the nation’s second highest civilian achievement award.

The El Nino weather pattern that is expected to hit Kansas this winter could impact the area a couple of ways.

Mary Knapp, Kansas State Climatologist explained that it will depend on where the boundary of the two weather systems sets up.

Anything south of the boundary will see slightly warmer than average temperatures, but will see more moisture.

“But on the backside of that you’ve got the cold air coming in from the Canadian plains and that can be very cold and dry,” said Knapp. “Where that boundary sets up, are we going to see temperatures in the teens and no snow while say somebody down in Wichita or Emporia is seeing temperatures in the upper 20’s and seeing six or eight inches of snow?”

While the state is still in its autumn weather pattern it’s to early to be able to better predict where the boundary will set up.

The November outlook for the region is calling for a more neutral pattern which means equally likely to be drier, colder, or wetter.

A 22-year old Fort Riley soldier, Cyjay Echon, Junction City,  has waived his preliminary hearing in Geary County District Court on charges of Child Abuse and Aggravated Battery involving an eight-month old infant victim.  His arraignment in District Court is scheduled for Nov. 13.

Junction City police were contacted by Children’s Mercy Hospital in May concerning a three-month old infant who had been taken transported there from Geary Community Hospital. The JCPD confirmed an arrest warrant was sought and granted for the arrest of Echon, who was arrested by Kansas City, Missouri police.

The case is now in Geary County District Court.

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Echon is also charged in District Court in a second case on Sept. 18 on suspicion of Stalking and Violation of a Protection Order.  A status check hearing is scheduled Oct. 27 on those allegations.

There will be a Red Cross blood drive at Junction City High School on Monday, Oct. 19.

The hours are 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. in the Fiffe Gym.