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Fort Riley man dies in motorcycle accident

Motorcycle smallGEARY COUNTY- A Fort Riley man died in an accident just after 10:30p.m. on Sunday in Geary County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2014 Suzuki motorcycle driven by Edward I. Ablang, 29, Fort Riley, was northbound on U.S. 77 two miles south of Junction City.

The driver failed to maintain a lane of traffic. The motorcycle went off the roadway into the east ditch. It overturned several times and ejected the driver.

Ablang was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to Penwell-Gable Funeral Home.

He was wearing a helmet, according to the KHP.

Court officials say errors revealing juvenile records fixed

Riley County Court
Riley County Court

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Riley County District Court officials say they have fixed errors that made confidential juvenile records available on public computers at least 20 times since 2013.

The Manhattan Mercury reports the records included arrest affidavits, details about probation violations and juvenile detention reports that were left unsealed on courthouse computers accessible to the public.

Many of the records included Social Security numbers and dates of birth for children as young as 13.

A spokeswoman for the agency that oversees the state’s courts says the data breech may have violated a Kansas law that bans public disclosure of most law enforcement and court records pertaining to juveniles.

Riley County Clerk of Court Kathy Oliver says the records were left unsealed because of human error.

Update on Federal Grant for Flint Hills Regional Council

fhrc smallThe Flint Hills Regional Council will use a $294,000 federal grant from the Office of Economic Adjustment of the Department of Defense to hire a consultant to evaluate the economic impact on surrounding communities of the reduction of military forces that have occurred the past couple of years.

The information was provided by the Council’s director Gary Stith. “Manhattan and Junction City were notified that they would be eligible for a grant like this and the two cities agreed that it made more sense to work on this together versus each one of them applying for a grant. They asked OEA to work with us, the Flint Hills Regional Council on this grant. ”

Stith said he signed off on the agreement on Friday, and the grant funding actually began on December first.

The Council has a request for proposals that has been sent out to consultants for this project. The Council’s Jennifer Jordan will administer the grant and work with the consultant. Assistance will be sought from staff of different jurisdictions around the post, and there will be community meetings during the process so public input can be received.

Stith said they want to see the impact on housing, retail services, jobs, and they will ask the consultant to evaluate the impact should there be any future reductions. “We’re not speculating that there will be necessarily but the consultant can then look at what kind of impact there might be from future reductions,and then make recommendations to us about how to mitigate the impact of those things.”

Once those recommendations are received the Council could return to OEA to seek another grant to help establish mechanisms to reduce impacts that might occur in the future.

Stith estimated the timeline on the initial grant funded study to be about one year.

County Officials to Meet With Legislative Delegation

geary countyGeary County Commissioners and department heads will spend of their Monday meeting with area state legislators.

The Commission will have a working lunch at noon with the legislative delegation to discuss the 2016 Kansas legislative agenda. Elected officials and department heads will meet with the legislative delegation at one p.m. at the Geary County Office Building.

KSU to spend $6M more than original budget on student union

photo KSU
photo KSU

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Kansas State University is set to spend $6 million more than originally budgeted for the renovation of its student union.

The Manhattan Mercury reports that the Kansas Board of Regents approved a request Wednesday to increase the project’s budget from $25 million to $31 million.

University students voted for the renovations in 2013 to update the food services and provide additional space for student lounges and study space. The increase in budget allows for changes to the building’s dining services.

The budget increase also allows $2.1 million for the renovation and replacement of the union’s roof and exterior windows.

Student privilege fees and university resources will fund the renovations.

City Took No Action on Request to Waive Paving Requirement

junction city symbolThe Junction City Commission took no action this past week on a request to waive the paving requirement for a new youth wrestling facility.

City Manager Allen Dinkel noted the Bramlage Family Foundation is putting a youth wrestling facility in the 900-block of East Fourth Street.  “Our parking lots in the city by code have to be either asphalt or concrete. They requested to go to rock or to millings. The Commission took no action, and basically are saying it has to be asphalt or concrete.”

A 48-stall parking lot is proposed for the project.

 

2015 Year of Change for Post

fort riley plainThe Executive Director of the Governor’s Military Council John Armbrust feels 2015 was certainly a period of change for Fort Riley.

Armbrust stated he felt it was positive. “I think we have worked our way through it. There are some places we’re still working through that. But I expect that we’ve seen in 2015 continues in 2016 in terms of units deploying, the activity here on Fort Riley is going to have to be at a very high tempo.” Armbrust added, “I think that we just have to in the communities as a state keep working with them and understanding that tempo, and understanding how we might be able to help them achieve that mission better.”

During the past year there were multiple deployments, major changes in the leadership of the 1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley, and another big issue involved concern about the impact of budget sequestration on the post.

Four-Day Weather Outlook

National Weather Service of Topeka: A weak cold front Sunday will bring a chance for drizzle and rain showers during the late afternoon and evening-mainly over eastern Kansas. Mild temps and dry conditions return next week.FileL (58)

Today: Sunny. Highs in the lower 50s. Southeast winds 5 to 15 mph. Gusts up to 25 mph in the afternoon.

Tonight: Breezy. Not as cool. Partly cloudy in the evening then becoming mostly cloudy. Lows in the upper 30s. South winds 10 to 15 mph increasing to 15 to 25 mph after midnight.

Sunday: Breezy. Mostly cloudy. Highs in the upper 50s. Southwest winds 15 to 25 mph with gusts to around 35 mph.

Sunday Night: Colder. Partly cloudy with slight chance of rain showers. Lows in the upper 20s. Northwest winds 10 to 15 mph. Gusts up to 30 mph in the evening.

Monday: Cooler. Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 40s. West winds 5 to 10 mph.

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

Tuesday: Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 50s.

Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy. Lows in the mid 30s.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 50s.

Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 20s.

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

Thursday Night: Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 30s.

Christmas Day: Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 50s.

1st ID Band and Junction City Community Band Pack C.L. Hoover Opera House

There wasn’t an empty seat to be found at the C.L. Hoover Opera House Friday night for the annual 1st Infantry Division Band and Junction City Community Band Holiday Concert.

Because the Opera House did not sell any tickets for the free event patrons were encouraged to show up early, and HOLIDAY CONCERT TWOthose who listened were able to find a seat.

“I think you noticed that at 6:30 or 6:45 it was already so full,” said SPC Lawrence Evans, Pianist with the 1st ID Band and Producer of the Holiday Concert.

The concert has something for everyone to enjoy, as SPC Evans explained.

“There’s multimedia, there’s video, there’s music, there’s laughter, there’s comedy, not like standup comedy but there’s bits, you’re going to laugh at Santa Claus he’s got some funny jokes.”

Ultimately Evans said that the concert is an opportunity for the 1st ID Band and the Junction City Community Band to thank everyone and wish them happy holidays.

The concert will be held again Saturday night starting at 7:30 p.m., it is free of charge and you are encouraged to arrive early in order to guarantee a seat.

Police identify suspect after reports of lewd behavior

Capture

Update 1:45 p.m. – According to the Riley County Police Department, the suspect pictures has been identified and additional details are expected to be released.

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MANHATTAN– Law enforcement authorities in Riley County are investigating numerous lewd and lascivious behavior reports involving an unknown suspect, according to a media release.

Kansas State University Police Department and Riley County Police Department have say the suspect has approached female victims and either touched himself or exposed himself inappropriately.

The man is described as a medium in complexion black male of average height and weight, has short braid style hair and may have a light beard.

The individual in the photo has been identified as a person of interest in these incidents and police are asking for the public’s assistance in identifying him.

Officers are currently seeking information about these crimes and ask that anyone with tips or information on the suspect’s identity contact the Manhattan Riley County Crime Stoppers at 785-539-7777 or online

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