URGENT – FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS

RILEY-POTTAWATOMIE-JACKSON-JEFFERSON-DICKINSON-GEARY-MORRIS-WABAUNSEE-SHAWNEE-DOUGLAS-LYON-OSAGE-FRANKLIN-COFFEY-ANDERSON-

…RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM CDT THIS EVENING
FOR STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES

…RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 9 PM CDT TUESDAY FOR
STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES

…FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING FOR STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TOPEKA HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG WARNING…WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 9 PM CDT TUESDAY. A FIRE WEATHER WATCH HAS ALSO BEEN ISSUED. THIS FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING.

A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM CDT THIS EVENING.

* WIND…SOUTHWESTERLY AT 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH.

* HUMIDITY…MINIMUM HUMIDITY VALUES ARE EXPECTED TO BE BETWEEN 15 AND 25 PERCENT IN THE AFTERNOON.

* IMPACTS…THE WEATHER CONDITIONS MAY LEAD TO EXTREME FIRE  BEHAVIOR. ANY FIRES THAT DEVELOP WILL LIKELY SPREAD FURIOUSLY  AND BURN INTENSELY.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW…OR WILL SHORTLY. ALL OUTDOOR BURNING SHOULD BE AVOIDED THIS AFTERNOON.

A number of Fort Riley related topics were touched on when Garrison Commander, Colonel Andrew Cole met with recently with the Flint Hills Regional Council.

–It’s not definite, but the new Irwin Army Community Hospital that is two years behind schedule could open late this summer.

–There are some law employment numbers in certain specialties on post. Examples include childcare, medical support assistants, firefightersm and air traffic controllers. Officials are making a prescence at hiring fairs to advertise jobs on post.

–Future construction planned on the installation will range from building maintenance to a new Infantry Patrol Battalion Course in 2021.

–Demolition of approximately 160 older homes on the installation be initiated by Corvias Military Living in the June – July 2016 time frame.

MANHATTAN – A Manhattan man was sentenced on Monday for his role in car accident in May of 2014 that took the life of an unborn child.

Ryan Routson, 33, Manhattan, appeared in Riley County court.

He was found guilty on charges of felony aggravated battery, vehicular homicide and possession of drug paraphernalia in connection with the crash.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2002 Jeep Liberty driven by Routson was southbound on Tuttle Creek Terrace, failed to stop at a stop sign and hit a 2003 Volkswagen Golf driven by Megan L. Hartford, 32, Manhattan, that was traveling westbound on U.S. 24.

The impact caused the Jeep to roll onto its side in traffic.

Routson and Hartford were transported to the hospital in Manhattan.

During testimony, Hartford explained that she was admitted to the labor and delivery wing of the hospital and notified that evening that her 22-week-old unborn child had died.

Judge Stutzman sentenced Routson to 12-months in the Riley County Jail for the charge of vehicular homicide and 6 months in Riley County Jail for the charge of possession of drug paraphernalia. The two sentences will run concurrently (at the same time) as the charge for vehicular homicide. He will also serve 14 months of probation with the Secretary of Corrections for the charge of aggravated battery.

UPDATE:

A pizza delivery driver was robbed at gunpoint early Monday morning in Junction City.

Jeff Childs, JCPD Detective Lieutenant, said no one was injured. “Pizza delivery driver was making a delivery. Upon reaching the residence, got out of his vehicle and while approaching the residence was confronted by a suspect with a gun.”

Childs reported that money and pizza were taken from the driver. The robbery suspect, who is believed to be a male subject, was wearing a mask. The robbery occurred about 12:20 a.m. at Riley Manor Circle.

Childs said if the public has information contact the JCPD or the Crimestoppers TIPS line. There have been no arrests at this point.

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Junction City police have reported a robbery occurred early Monday morning at Riley Manor Circle.

Police received the report at 12:23 a.m.  No injuries were reported.

We will update with more details when those become available.

The Junction City Police Department will be conducting DUI Saturation patrols throughout the city on Friday night and early Saturday morning ( March 25-26 ).

According to Captain Dan Breci, there will be five additional patrol cars on the streets to detect and deter drunk driving.

The patrols are designed to identify intoxicated drivers. Those motorists stopped for traffic violations who are suspected of intoxication, will be given an on-site field sobriety test. Confirmed impaired drivers will be arrested.

The purpose of the patrols, according to Breci, “Is not to harass motorists, but to increase overall motorists safety.”

The Geary County Sheriff’s Department has reported that deputies responded to accident calls over the weekend.

–One involved an injury accident at mile marker 148 on US-77 Highway Sunday evening. Kristen Helmer, Wichita, was southbound in a Honda Civic when she swerved to miss an animal, causing the vehicle to leave the roadway. She lost control of the vehicle and it overturned.  Helmer complained of head and neck pain, was evaluated by Junction City Fire / EMS and refused transport.

–Deputies responded to I-70 about ten miles east of Junction City Sunday morning where a 2015 Freightliner was involved in an accident. The S. O. reported that John R. Thomas, Pisgah, Alabama, was driving the Freightliner when he lost control of the vehicle and the truck and trailer rolled onto their sides. They came to rest blocking both westbound lanes of traffic. There were no injuries. The trailer was carrying carpet.

–Deputies responded to mile marker 83, K-177 Highway for a non-injury accident Saturday night. Randy Stranghoner reported that the driver’s side front wheel of his 2002 Jeep Liberty had fallen off while he was traveling northbound on K-177.

With the warm air returning to the area, fire weather concerns increase, according to the National Weather Service of Topeka. South winds are expected to become strong by early afternoon between 20 and 30 mph, gusting up to 40 mph. Combined with the dry air in place, critical fire weather conditions exist today with outdoor burning being strongly avoided.

Similar conditions are expected on Tuesday with the Fire Weather Watch in effect. Temperatures are on a rollercoaster this week with readings jumping into the 60s today, 70s and 80s Tuesday and Wednesday before dropping back into the 40s on Thursday.

Rain chances return Wednesday evening and Thursday, mainly north of Interstate 70.

Today: Breezy…warmer…sunny. Highs in the upper 60s. South winds 15 to 25 mph with gusts to around 35 mph.

Tonight: Breezy. Not as cool. Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 40s. South winds 15 to 25 mph shifting to the southwest 10 to 15 mph with gusts to around 25 mph after midnight.

Tuesday: Warmer. Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 80s. South winds 10 to 20 mph with gusts to around 30 mph.

Tuesday Night: Breezy. Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 50s. South winds 10 to 25 mph with gusts to around 35 mph.

Wednesday: Windy…cooler. Mostly sunny with slight chance of rain showers and isolated thunderstorms. Highs around 70. Southwest winds 10 to 20 mph with gusts to around 30 mph increasing to west 20 to 30 mph with gusts to around 40 mph in the afternoon.

Wednesday Night: Windy. Much colder. Mostly cloudy with snow likely…possibly mixed with rain. Lows in the lower 30s. Chance of precipitation 60 percent.

Thursday: Much cooler. Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 40s.

Thursday Night: Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 20s.

Friday: Not as cool. Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 60s.

Friday Night: Mostly cloudy with slight chance of rain showers. Lows in the upper 30s.

Saturday: Mostly cloudy with a 40 percent chance of rain showers. Highs in the mid 50s.

Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy in the evening then becoming partly cloudy. A 30 percent chance of rain showers. Lows in the mid 30s.

Sunday: Mostly sunny with slight chance of rain showers. Highs in the mid 50s.

Fort Riley was one topic during the Flint Hills Regional Council meeting in Grandview Plaza on Friday. There was a report and questions answered by Garrison Commander Colonel Andrew Cole.

Some of those included:

–$1.8 billion dollars was spent on training facilities and infrastructure between 2010 and 2015. Garrison Commander, Colonel Andrew Cole reported that there are some other new projects.

–The post is reaching out to the National Guard and reserve partners. Just shy of 24,000 soldiers will train at Fort Riley this year, mainly at Camp Funston.

–The latest number for total direct economic impact of Fort Riley was calculated at $1,584, 227, 256.

–Impact Planners are working with a combined number of 2,093 troops being  eliminated from the post total due to the inactivation of the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team and the Army sequestration cuts.

–And eight single soldiers have opted to live with another soldier roommate in what was formerly family military housing on post. Those soldiers, in some cases may have family members living elsewhere where the BAH, Basic Allowance for Housing, is being used to provide support.

RILEY COUNTY – Sunday was a busy day for fire crews after almost 300 acres burned in Riley County.

The Riley County Fire Department responded to a report of illegal burning on Adams Street in Fairmont park, a 70 acre fire North of Randolph on Roybler Road, a 30 acre grass fire in the 10000 block of Anderson Avenue and a telephone pole on fire on Barton Road near Leonardville,
According to Pat Collins, Riley County Emergency Management Director,

At one point, the Riley County Police Department responded to the fire on Anderson Avenue to shut down traffic due to smoke blowing over the roadway.

There was also a rekindling of a suspicious fire on Fancy Creek Road that burned around 80 acres, and a 100-acre fire that burned a barn on West 60th Avenue, according to Collins.

No injuries were reported. Cause of the fires have not been released.