The rainy weather has resulted in the Legacy Community Church cancelling their Easter egg-stravgaza that had been scheduled for Saturday.

Again the event has been cancelled.

RILEY COUNTY – A Manhattan woman died in an accident just before 11p.m. on Friday in Riley County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2011 Honda CRV driven by Shelly J. Moore, 50, Manhattan, eastbound on U.S. 24 three miles west of Manhattan.

The vehicle left the roadway, struck an embankment, vaulted, overturned landing on its roof.

Moore was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to Irvin-Parkview Funeral Home.

She was properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

FORT RILEY, Kan. (AP) — Officials say Fort Riley’s long-delayed new hospital is one step closer to opening and could do so by the end of July.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers officials told U.S. Rep. Tim Huelskamp’s office that since Wednesday, the Army has been able to begin using the facility while the remaining construction is completed.

The Corps says the following 120 days are allotted for initial outfitting and transition, including finishing touches, such as installing fixtures and equipment.

If all goes according to schedule, the building will likely open for patients in mid- to late July.

The Corps didn’t immediately respond to the Manhattan (Kan.) Mercury’s (https://bit.ly/1XJTAky ) request for comment.

The new Irwin Army Community Hospital was most recently set to open in January, but officials held back the date after pre-final inspections revealed a list of deficiencies.

MANHATTAN– Law enforcement authorities in Riley County are investigating an alleged kidnapping.

Just before 11:30 p.m. on Thursday, police in Manhattan received an emergency call about a woman who had been dragged by her vehicle after attempting to flee an attacker who was not known to her.

Police responded to the 500 block of Richards Drive in Manhattan and found that several bystanders were assisting a 19-year-old woman who had received non-life threatening injuries. She was treated and released, however, the injuries were significant. This victim’s personal information has been withheld due to the nature of this crime.

Officers found that sometime after 11:00 p.m. the woman was approached by an unknown hispanic male while she attempted to start her car while in a parking lot on Richards Drive.

This suspect took her mobile phone and forced her to move to the passenger seat of her vehicle. The man then sat in the driver’s seat and began to drive out of the parking lot, according to police.

At that time the 19-year-old victim attempted to flee her vehicle, however, was unable to completely exit through the passenger side door and fell to the ground while a portion of her body was still inside. She was dragged for approximately 800 feet while the male suspect traveled south on Richards Drive and then west onto Fort Riley Blvd. when she was able to free herself. Bystanders then tended to her and contacted police. The suspect fled the scene and law enforcement later recovered the vehicle in the Redbud Estates neighborhood.

 

The Riley County Police Department is currently seeking information on the unknown heavyset hispanic male suspect who is said to stand between 5 feet 6 inches and 5 feet 10 inches. He has a medium accent and possible facial hair. This suspect was last seen wearing a maroon shirt with black shorts and thick black framed glasses. He was wearing black shoes and a baseball cap (white front and a black back) at the time of this crime.

If you have information about this suspect or this investigation please contact the Riley County Police Department or the Manhattan Riley County Crime Stoppers. Those using the crime stoppers service can become eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000.00 while remaining anonymous.

RCPD encourages the community not to apprehend this suspect as he may be considered dangerous and potentially violent. To report suspicious activity please contact RCPD at 785-537-2112 or 911 in an emergency.

The Junction City Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors has elected Stan Hambright to serve as vice chairman for the coming year. He is the Human Resource and Safety Manager for Bayer Construction, and is also the Secretary – Treasurer of that corporation.

Hambright is looking forward to the chamber board vice chairman’s service. “I’ve always been active in servant leadership within the community. This is a big position, but I think I’m ready for it and I’m looking forward to the challenge.”

The Vice Chairman for the Chamber Board moves up to become the Chairman the next year. Maureen Gustafson is the chair this year.

Other officers elected include Mike Harris as secretary and Ty Arneson as treasurer.

 

URGENT – FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS
357 AM CDT FRI MAR 25 2016

CLOUD-CLAY-RILEY-OTTAWA-DICKINSON-GEARY-MORRIS-
357 AM CDT FRI MAR 25 2016

…FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM CDT THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH EARLY THIS EVENING FOR GUSTY WINDS…LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND CRITICAL FUELS FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TOPEKA HAS ISSUED A FIRE WEATHER WATCH…WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM CDT THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING.

* WIND…SOUTH-SOUTHEAST WINDS 15 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 30 MPH.

* HUMIDITY…MINIMUM HUMIDITY WILL RANGE FROM 18 TO 23 PERCENT.

* IMPACTS…ANY FIRES THAT DEVELOP WILL LIKELY SPREAD RAPIDLY.  OUTDOOR BURNING IS NOT RECOMMENDED.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A FIRE WEATHER WATCH MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE FORECAST TO OCCUR. LISTEN FOR LATER FORECASTS AND POSSIBLE RED FLAG WARNINGS.

The Geary County Sheriff’s Department has reported that Deputies responded to the intersection of 6th and Webster in Junction City for a two vehicle accident Thursday night.

A Junction City police officer was operating a Chevrolet Tahoe west bound on 6th Street with lights and sirens to conduct a traffic enforcement stop. As the Tahoe entered the intersection a Ford Explorer driven by Carlitta Mays, Junction City, entered the intersection and was hit on the driver’s side causing the vehicle to roll on its roof.

One occupant of the Explorer was transported to Geary Community Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

The 4-H / Senior Citizens Building fundraiser will be Saturday evening, April 2, at the facility at 1025 South Spring Valley Road in Junction City.

There will be a catered dinner from 6-7 p.m, entertainment by cowboy poet and self proclaimed “Poet Lariat” Ron Wilson, and both silent and live auctions. Tickets are $13.

A quilt made by Sherry Strauss will be among the live auction items. Other items include pies baked by Geary County 4-Her, several gift baskets and numerous other items.

Proceeds from the fundraiser will go towards building improvements and upgrades.

Tickets are available at the Geary County Extension Office, 119 East 9th in Junction City, the Geary County Senior Citizens office, and from Building Committee members. For more information contact the Geary County K-State Research and Extension Office at 238-4161.

MINEOLA, N.Y. (AP) – Lawmakers in New York and Connecticut are renewing efforts to halt the planned sale of Plum Island.

The 840-acre island off the eastern tip of Long Island houses the government’s only lab studying infectious diseases that could imperil the U.S. livestock industry. A new lab, NBAF,  is being built in Manhattan. Kansas and plans call for Plum Island to be sold.

New York Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand (JIHL’-uh-brand), along with Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal and others have introduced legislation that would halt the sale of the land to the highest bidder.

Among those who have mused about possibly buying the island is GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump.

The lawmakers say it should be considered as a possible national park. They want federal officials to study alternatives to auctioning the property.