RILEY COUNTY —  Law enforcement authorities are investigating two men from Alabama on drug allegations.

Just before 6p.m. Wednesday, police arrested Stephon Hussey, 33, of Huntsville, Alabama and Virgil Koppenheffer Jr., 37, of Moulton, Alabama in the 1000 block of El Paso Lane in Manhattan, according to the Riley County Police Activity report.

Hussey is being held on a $7,000 Bond for alleged possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana. Koppenheffer Jr. is being held on a $6,000 Bond for alleged of possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.

In March of 2017, Koppenheffer was the driver of a vehicle involved in a fatal crash in Wabaunsee County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2013 Toyota Prius driven by Madison C. Connally, 23, Ellsworth, was eastbound on Interstate 70 two miles east of Paxico.

The vehicle hit a 1999 Chevy Cavalier driven by Koppenheffer that had run out of fuel and was stopped partially in the left lane of the Interstate with one occupant outside attempting to push the vehicle out of the roadway.

A passenger in the Chevy Tammy J. Patterson, 41, Junction City, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Connally, Koppenheffer, a passenger in the Chevy Keturah P. Anderson, 32, Moulton, AL, and Michael W. Smothers, 40, Junction City, a passenger in the Chevy but  outside attempting to push it out of the roadway were transported to Stormont Vail in Topeka.

 

K-State News and Communications Services
Division of Communications and Marketing

MANHATTAN— Kansas State University Associate head football coach Sean Snyder has reached out to the community and others to say thank you following the death of his son Matthew.

On social media Wednesday night, Snyder said, “Wanda and I want to share our deepest thanks for the love, thoughts and prayers that so many of you have shared with our family.”

pic.twitter.com/sBbDg2C2q4

— Sean Snyder (@coachseansnyder) February 8, 2018

Matthew Snyder, 22, died January 17.

“He always had a big heart, a desire to help others, and to have fun. We will forever miss him,” Snyder added.

Kansas Governor Jeff Colyer will make stops in multiple cities on Saturday, including Junction City.

Colyer will be at Bob’s Coffee, 714 North Washington, from 1 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

He will also stop at the Bluestem Bistro, 1219 Moro Street, and Varsity Donuts, 704 North Manhattan Avenue,  in Manhattan between 2 p.m. and 2:40 p.m..

Colyer has other visits planned to Leavenworth, Atchison, and Wamego on Saturday.

The Geared Up Dads is a fatherhood initiative in Junction City. According to the president of the organization, Alex Tyson, it was an initiative started through the auspices of the Delivering Change organization.

Tyson said, “They saw the need for a fatherhood group to work in the communities. Our job is basically get information out to fathers that will help provide more stability to the mother. That way her and the child can be healthy.

Members of the Geared Up Dads organization attended the Junction City Blue Jay and Lady Jay basketball games Tuesday night at the Shenk Gym. During an interview on 1420 KJCK, The Talk of JC, Tyson said Geared Up Dads meet on a Wednesday one time per month at the Martha K. Hoover Women’s Health Center at Geary Community Hospital. They usually develop new schedules for upcoming training and events.

A $10,000 grant has been awarded to the Flint Hills Regional Council for a regional marketing program called Flint Hills Communities to Call Home. The project will create a website and printable materials about living options in the region. There are 26 communities within Geary, Morris, Clay, Pottawatomie, Riley and Wabaunsee counties who are participating in the program.

According to the release from Regional Planner, Janna Williams, individuals who are considering moving to the Flint Hills will be directed to the website or provided materials about the diverse communities throughout the region. The information provided will include median home prices, drive time to major employment centers and local amenities. Fort Riley, Kansas State University, regional Chambers of Commerce and local businesses in the region can direct new residents and employees to the website.

 

POZNAN, Poland – A Fort Riley Soldier died Feb. 4 while deployed to the Joint Multinational Readiness Center near Hohenfels, Germany.

First Sgt. Nicholas S. Amsberry, 34, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, was found near the train station in Parsberg, Germany. The discovery was reported to the German police and Parsberg emergency medical services who pronounced him dead at the scene. Amsberry was serving in a nine-month deployment to Europe in support of Atlantic Resolve. The exact cause of death is currently under investigation.

Amsberry, originally from Mesa, Arizona, entered the Army in 2003 as an infantryman. His current assignment was with Company B, 1st Combined Arms Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, 2nd ABCT, 1st Inf. Div., since May 2017.

“Our deepest sympathies go out to the family of 1st Sgt. Nicholas Amsberry,” said Lt. Col. Peter Moon, commander, 1st Bn., 18th Inf. Regt. “We know the death of a family member is an immeasurable loss. It’s a loss shared by Soldiers across our formations. He was a highly respected leader in our organization, and he will truly be missed. We will continue to be there for his family and his Soldiers throughout this difficult time.”

Amsberry deployed to Europe in September 2017 as part of Atlantic Resolve, the mission of which is to demonstrate U.S. commitment to the collective security of NATO allies and partners, conducting bilateral training and multinational exercises in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Germany, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria.