The Flint Hills Regional Council has announced the hiring of Austin Masters as the Community Development Manager. He will be working on economic development issues, including workforce development and site selection tools in order to serve the municipalities and counties of the regional organization.

Masters has previously worked as the Community and Economic Development Intern for the USDA Rural Development.

Currently, Masters serves as the Conservation Project Manager for Kansas Land Trust. In that position he has assisted the Executive Director in performing organizational responsibilities such as donation management, donor interaction, and non-profit operational requirements.

Masters earned a Master’s Degree in Urban Planning at the University of Kansas. He will begin employment with the Flint Hills Regional Council on June 1,2016.

Tuesday Showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 11am. Some of the storms could be severe and produce heavy rainfall. High near 82. South wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Tuesday Night A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. South wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Wednesday A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 87. South

wind around 10 mph.
Wednesday Night A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 67. South wind around 10 mph.
Thursday A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 86.

One of the largest annual gatherings of Kansas high school students is set to begin in early June as more than 2,000 FFA members, agricultural educators and supporters converge at Kansas State University for the 88th Kansas FFA Convention.

The convention will open Wednesday, June 1 and run through Friday, June 3.

WABAUNSEE COUNTY Three Run for the Wall riders were injured in an accident just after 8 a.m. on Monday in Wabaunsee County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a large group of the riders were traveling together eastbound on Interstate 70 three miles north of Alma.

A 2004 Kawasaki driven by Jimmy Sherman, 64, Gallup, NM, started braking hard and swerved to the right.

A 2011 Harley Davidson driven by Paul G Lubbers, 45, West Fargo, ND, swerved to the left.

All motorcycles were trying to avoid each other and either swerved or laid the motorcycles down including a 2015 Harley driven by Richard D. Hildreth, 60, Daytona Beach, Florida.

Sherman, Lubbers and Hildreth were transported to Stormont Vail.

All were wearing helmets, according to the KHP.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) – A man accused of conspiring in a foiled plot to bomb a Kansas military base on behalf of the Islamic State group has pleaded guilty to conspiracy.

Alexander E. Blair changed his plea to guilty Monday in a Topeka federal court.

Prosecutors say Blair helped 21-year-old John T. Booker in his plot to plant a 1,000-pound bomb at the Fort Riley military base to aid the Islamic State group. Blair admitted in court that he loaned Booker $100 to secure a storage space for the explosives and failed to inform law enforcement of the plot.

A court document states that Blair decided to change his plea because he believed that the government had collected enough evidence to convict him.

Approximately 120 graduates attended the Project Graduation party for the class of 2016 Sunday evening into early Monday morning at Junction City High School.

According to the coordinator, Dana Wiegand, there were more than $2,800 in gift cards to local retailers that ranged from $10 to $20 given out during the event. They were for businesses ranging from Walmart and Dillons to Subway and Sonic.

A thank-you was issued to Pizza Hut who supported the event with a donation of the pizza.

There were numerous activities for the graduates to participate in, ranging from basketball and volleyball to dodge ball. The graduates departed at approximately 4 a.m.

The Geary County Sheriff’s Department has reported that Deputies worked three single vehicle non-injury accidents.

–The first one was reported at 8:17 p.m. Sunday involving a female juvenile driving a 2005 Mazda 6 on K-244 Highway. The vehicle left the roadway and struck a guardrail.The driver was not injured.

–Deputies responded to I-70 eastbound about eight miles east of Junction City. Michael McGinley, Darlington, MO, was driving a 2009 Nissan Murano when a deer entered the roadway. McGinley was unable to avoid striking the animal. The accident was reported at 2:20 a.m. on Monday. McGinley was not injured.

–Deputies responded to K-57 mile marker where Robert Hull, Junction City, was northbound in a 2011 Kia Forte when the vehicle struck a deer. McGinley was not injured. The accident was reported at 3:44 a.m. on Monday.

The Junction City Military Affairs Council breakfast is Thursday ( May 26 ) at 7:30 a.m. at the Courtyard by Marriott convention center.

Reservations are needed.

The cost of the breakfast is $12 per person, payable by check or cash at the door, or online at the Junction City Area Chamber of Commerce website at info@jcacc.org.

To make a reservation you can also call the Chamber at 785-762-2632.

MANHATTAN, KAN. – A Manhattan man died in an accident just after 4p.m. on Sunday in Riley County.

The Riley County Police Department reported a 1995 Honda motorcycle driven by Richard Harrison, 71, was traveling in the1300 block of South Scenic Drive at the intersection of Fort Riley Boulevard.

The driver lost control of the motorcycle. It left the roadway and hit the traffic roundabout median.

Harrison was transported to Via Christi Hospital where he was died.

The accident remains under investigation, according to Riley County Police