MANHATTAN — Firefighters responded to 711 Allison Avenue at 2:28 a.m. on Tuesday for a report of an apartment fire. Crews found a three-story apartment building with fire showing from a third-floor balcony. according to Deputy Fire Chief Ryan Almes.

The occupants of the building were notified by police and were able to exit the structure before firefighters arrived.

The fire reached a second alarm before it was contained.

The building is a three-story 12-unit apartment building. and the fire appears to have started on a third-floor balcony and the damage occurred mostly to the exterior and attic areas of the building.

Investigators determined the fire cause to be accidental. The fire is believed to have started due to improper disposal of smoking materials.
The loss is estimated at $30,000 to the structure and $2,000 to the contents. The owner is listed as Francis Properties, with the resident agent being listed as Patrick Lee of St. George.

by Hali Rowland, Riley County Police Department

MANHATTAN, KAN. – The man convicted in the shooting of a Riley County Police Department Officer was sentenced to 50 months in prison yesterday.

Mark Harrison, 38, of Manhattan was found guilty of attempted voluntary manslaughter last month. He was previously convicted of criminal damage to property in the same June 2018 case that started as a domestic dispute but turned into a standoff with an armed barricaded subject. Prosecutors say Harrison fired 33 shots during the 3-hour standoff. Sergeant Pat Tiede was hit by one of the bullets, but later recovered in the hospital.

“It is a serious matter whenever an officer is attacked and injured in the line of duty. Sergeant Pat Tiede was ambushed and shot in the line of duty while trying to assist a family in crisis. I ask our citizens to pause and remember that police officers are here to serve you, to protect you, and to hold others who prey on you accountable for their actions,” Riley County Police Department Director Dennis Butler said. “An attack on a police officer is an attack on you and your community. This should never be taken lightly–even when the officer survives and returns to duty. I am thankful that Sergeant Tiede’s family remains intact and that he has chosen to resume his service to the citizens of Riley County. Your continued support will ensure that Riley County remains a safe place to go to school, work and call home.

We ask that you please respect the Tiede family’s privacy at this time. The Tiede’s are moving forward with life, focusing on the future, but thank those who supported them during this process.

The Junction City Community Baseball Club “Brigade Classic” golf tournament will be held at Rolling Meadows Golf Course on Sunday.

This will be a four-person scramble with prizes awarded. The registration fee is $75 per person or $300 per team. It includes green fees, a cart and lunch. Registration begins at 8 a.m. with a shot gun start at 9 a.m. For more information 785-375-1483.

The tournament supports Junction City Brigade baseball.

Governor Laura Kelly signed Senate Bill 128 into law on April 10th, changing the number of safety drills K-12 schools in Kansas must perform each year from 16 to nine.

Senate Bill 109 passed in 2018, and schools were required to change the number and type of drills conducted during the school year. The change required schools to conduct nine crisis drills, four fire drills and three tornado drills during the school year. The change was positive in bringing crisis drills to schools, but the total number provided to be overwhelming for many school districts.

With that in mind the State Fire Marshal’s office noted that Senate Bill 128 was introduced to reduce the number of drills required for schools. Now schools will be required to conduct at least two tornado drills ( one in September and one in March ), three crisis drills and four fire drills per school year.

Crisis drills should reflect events that have a potential to occur in your school and can include, but are not limited to things such as a water main break, earthquake, missing student hazardous spills, intruders, active shooters or medical emergencies.

The new law went into effect July 1st, 2019.

The Geary County Commission will meet in a budget work session at 2 p.m. Wednesday. The governing body is preparing the proposed 2020 county budget.

There will be free school supplies, food and more at the Back to School Bash that will be hosted by Community Outreach Ministries.

They have announced that this event will be held on Saturday, August 10th from noon to three p.m. at 117 East Third Street.