RILEY COUNTY —A Kansas inmate who walked away from work release in April is back in custody, according to the Riley County Police Department booking report.

Just after 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Austin Swafford, 34, was arrested in the 1000 Block of South Seth Child in Manhattan. He had originally been held in Riley County on a probation violation, according to the RCPD arrest report.

On April 26, police in Beloit reported Swafford’s disappearance, that he had “ties to Beloit, the Mitchell County area and that the public should not approach him.

Riley County records indicate Swafford may have turned himself in. The arrest occurred at the police department in Manhattan. He is being held on a $1500 bond.  Police had no additional information on Swafford.

MANHATTAN — Thomas Lane, a highly experienced student affairs administrator, will become Kansas State University’s new vice president for student life and dean of students.

Kansas State University President Richard Myers announced the appointment of Lane, who currently serves as associate vice president for student affairs and dean of students at Missouri State University. His appointment follows a national search to replace Pat Bosco, who is retiring after nearly 50 years of service in student life administration at the university.

Lane will join Kansas State University on July 14 and brings more than25 years of experience in student life administration to his new job.

“We are excited to have found someone of Dr. Lane’s caliber for this vital position at K-State,” Myers said. “His broad experience in student life administration will serve him well as the top advocate for Kansas State University students while he plays a key role in ensuring and enriching their development and success.”

Lane will provide executive-level leadership, strategic planning, oversight and coordination of all units in the Division of Student Life, which include the Office of Student Life, Housing and Dining Services, Recreational Services, K-State Student Union, Career Center, Lafene Health Center, Counseling Services, Academic Achievement Center and many other key services and programs essential to student success. He also will provide leadership for the development and implementation of high-quality and student-centered approaches to support student success in nonacademic dimensions of student university experiences, and he will respond to student crises and issues and concerns, among many other duties.

“I am truly humbled and excited to be joining the K-State family,” Lane said. “During my time on campus, it was clear to me the university is deeply committed to students’ personal and academic success. I am greatly looking forward to working with students, faculty, staff, administration and alumni in ensuring a Wildcat student experience that is welcoming, inclusive and changes lives for the better.”

Lane has been in his current position at Missouri State University since June 2015. He joined the university in 2005, serving as assistant dean of students and director of the student union. He was promoted to assistant to the vice president for student affairs in 2008 and became the assistant vice president for student affairs in 2011, serving until his appointment as associate vice president for student affairs. Before joining Missouri State, Lane served as associate director of the student union and activities at Minnesota State University Moorhead, where he initially was assistant director of operations. He also has been a coordinator with Visitor and Information Services at Illinois State University.

Lane earned a bachelor’s degree in communications in 1991 and a master’s degree in educational administration in 1995, both from Illinois State University. He earned a doctorate in educational leadership and analysis in 2010 from the University of Missouri, where he serves as an adjunct assistant professor in the educational leadership cooperative doctoral program.

UPDATE:
Flash Flood Warning

Flood Statement
National Weather Service Topeka KS
548 AM CDT Thu May 23 2019

...The Flood Warning continues for the following streams in Kansas...

  Cottonwood River near Emporia affecting Lyon County
  Marais Des Cygnes River near Quenemo affecting Franklin and Osage
  Counties
  Neosho River near Emporia 3nw affecting Lyon County
  Neosho River Near Neosho Rapids affecting Lyon County
  Smoky Hill River near Junction City affecting Geary County

...The Flood Warning continues for the following streams in Kansas..
  Big Blue River near Blue Rapids affecting Marshall County
  Black Vermillion River at Frankfort affecting Marshall County
  Chapman Creek near Chapman affecting Dickinson County
  Fancy Creek near Randolph affecting Riley County
  Marais Des Cygnes River at Ottawa affecting Franklin County
  Neosho River at Burlington affecting Coffey County
  Neosho River at Leroy affecting Coffey County
  Pottawatomie Creek at Lane affecting Franklin County
  Republican River at Clay Center affecting Clay County
  Saline River at Tescott affecting Ottawa and Saline Counties
  Salt Creek near Ada affecting Ottawa County
  Smoky Hill River near Abilene Sand Spring affecting Dickinson
  County
  Smoky Hill River near Enterprise affecting Dickinson County
  Solomon River near Niles affecting Dickinson...Ottawa and Saline
  Counties

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Safety Message...Do not drive into flooded areas. Shallow flowing
water can wash a car from the roadway. Also, the roadbed may be
washed out under the water.

As of early Wednesday afternoon there were some road closures in Geary County due to high water.

They included Kansas Falls Road, Pressee Road, Zumbrunn Road and in Milford Houston Road and Auld Road.

Tri-County Road south of Highway 13, Purcee Road and Clarks Creek Road have all reopened.

The Corps of Engineers released information Wednesday that put the Milford Lake level at 116528 feet, more than 20 feet aboce multi-purpose elevation.  The current release is only 25 cubic feet per second because the Corps is having to hold water due to flooding on the Missouri River.

Milford Lake is currently at 57/7% of the flood pool.

Tuttle Creek Lake north of Manhattan is releasing 200 cfs and is currently at 75.8% of the flood pool.

 

 

TOPEKA —The National Weather Service survey crews have completed their work reviewing tornadoes from Tuesday.

The first tornado reported occurred at 4:32p.m. in Dickinson County and was rated and EF1, according to the National Weather Service.  The tornado produced peak winds of 105 miles per hour and traveled over 7 miles.

The second intermittent tornado in Dickinson and Geary Counties that passed northwest of Junction City has been rated EF0. It was estimated 150 yards wide and traveled approximately 17 miles, according to the National Weather Service.

Just after 7p.m., an EF1 tornado was reported southwest of Oneida in Nemaha County. It traveled approximately 3 miles, according to the National Weather Service.

An EF3 tornado also was reported in Nemaha County at 7:20p.m. It had maximum winds of 140 miles per hour and traveled almost 6 miles.

The National Weather Service also reported an EF2 tornado in Jackson County just after 6:30p.m. Tuesday along with an EF0 tornado north of Topeka that is responsible for tree and power line damage.

The Crossroads of Leadership Shade Shelter dedication was scheduled at 5 p.m. Thursday in Heritage Park. The Chamber of Commerce has announced that due to the weather forecast the dedication will be rescheduled at a date to be determined.