The following is a summary of arrests, citations by the Riley County Police Department. Those arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

KEVIN DEWAYNE ROBINSON, 26, Manhattan, Failure to Appear; Bond $6000

David Moreno photo Saline Co.

LINDALE JARMONE CHANEY, 35, Manhattan,Uniform Criminal Extradition Act; Arrest prior to requisition; Held without bond

DALTON JAMES AMARO, 28, Manhattan, Failure to Appear; Bond $500

DAVID MARTINEZ MORENO, 36, Salina, Probation Violation; Bond $5000

ERIN TRENT BOYKIN, 23, Junction City, Attempted murder in the 1st degree; In the commission of a felony, Criminal damage to property; Without consent value < $1000 Aggravated assault; Use of a deadly weapon Criminal discharge of firearm; Recklessly at occupied dwelling; Bond $50,000 

SARA MARIE BENNETT, 23, Manhattan,Domestic battery; Knowing or reckless bodily harm to family/person in dating relationship; Pottawatomie Co. Sheriff

CITATION REPORT

WANDA ANDERSON, 62,  MANHATTAN, KS WAS CITED WHILE AT ANDERSON AVE & SUNSET AVE IN MANHATTAN FOR NO PROOF OF MOTOR VEHICLE LIABILITY (19-200) ON JUNE 4, 2019 AT APPROXIMATELY10:07 PM.

DOMINQUE BROWN, 35,  MILFORD, KS WAS CITED WHILE AT MADISON RD & CAVALRY RD IN RILEY FOR FAIL TO YIELD STOP OR YIELD SIGN (08-1528) ON JUNE 3, 2019 AT APPROXIMATELY10:15 PM.

GRANT KOHLMEIER, 26,  MANHATTAN, KS WAS CITED WHILE IN THE 2300 BLK ANDERSON AVE IN MANHATTAN FOR SPEEDING (7-33) ON JUNE 4, 2019 AT APPROXIMATELY 1:45 PM.

AMY MOLSTAD, 21,  MANHATTAN, KS WAS CITED WHILE IN THE 2300 BLK ANDERSON AVE IN MANHATTAN FOR SPEEDING (7-33) ON JUNE 4, 2019 AT APPROXIMATELY 4:37 PM.

CHASE CHRISTENSEN, 19,  MANHATTAN, KS WAS CITED WHILE IN THE 200 BLK TUTTLE CREEK BLVD IN MANHATTAN FOR NO PROOF OF MOTOR VEHICLE LIABILITY (19-200) ON JUNE 4, 2019 AT APPROXIMATELY 5:41 PM.

GLENN THOMAS II, 21, MANHATTAN, KS WAS CITED WHILE AT PILLSBURY DR & ZEANDALE RD IN MANHATTAN FOR DEFECTIVE BRAKES (08-1734) ON MAY 30, 2019 AT APPROXIMATELY11:45 AM.

CLAUDIA MORELLO, 22,  MANHATTAN, KS WAS CITED WHILE AT N 9TH ST & BLUEMONT AVE IN MANHATTAN FOR NO PROOF OF MOTOR VEHICLE LIABILITY (19-200) ON JUNE 4, 2019 AT APPROXIMATELY10:19 AM.

MIKELLE MOSIER, 30,  MANHATTAN, KS WAS CITED WHILE IN THE 500 BLK MCCALL RD IN MANHATTAN FOR FOLLOWING TOO CLOSELY (8-47) ON JUNE 3, 2019 AT APPROXIMATELY 5:27 PM.

TINESHIA SMITH, 35,  MANHATTAN, KS WAS CITED WHILE IN THE 700 BLK N 4TH ST IN MANHATTAN FOR NO DRIVERS LICENSE (19-192) ON JUNE 3, 2019 AT APPROXIMATELY10:45 PM.

SUE BOSLER, 67,  TELL CITY, KS WAS CITED WHILE IN THE 2400 BLK KIMBALL AVE IN MANHATTAN FOR SPEEDING (7-33) ON JUNE 4, 2019 AT APPROXIMATELY10:20 AM.

MANHATTAN — The U.S. Department of Agriculture has launched operations in support of the National Bio and Agro-defense Facility, or NBAF, from offices in the K-State Office Park.

The USDA’s Agricultural Research Service and Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service join 16 partner tenant companies at the office park. These tenets strengthen Kansas State University and its land-grant mission by advancing the educational experience, innovating in their industry or serving as a technical supplier to the university.

The USDA is ramping up its workforce for running NBAF with a goal to hire 80% of the operational staff by August 2020. The world-class facilities available to K-State Office Park partner tenants and proximity to Kansas State University will assist in making this intensive hiring strategy possible in Manhattan.

As part of its NBAF planning, USDA APHIS is leading the NBAF Scientist Training Program to build the necessary technical and subject matter expertise to support the Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory at NBAF, aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/nbaf-scientist-training. This program identifies students who want to work at NBAF. As program fellows, the students receive tuition and a stipend to pursue research and academic development in laboratory-based fields of study such as microbiology, virology, diagnostics and bioinformatics.

By occupying office space in the K-State Office Park, the USDA has the capacity to host the fellows in the program’s first research symposium this summer. The fellows, almost half of which are Kansas State University students, will have the opportunity to train to their specific scientific objective and professionally network in person with USDA lead personnel.

Persons interested in exploring jobs related to NBAF and USDA can log onto usajobs.gov. The USDA will be hiring for roles encompassing scientific research, facility management, administrative, veterinary processes and animal care, engineering, information technology, safety, and health and environmental systems.

MANHATTAN, KS – For more than 5 years, Girls on the Run of the Flint Hills has provided life-changing after-school programming to girls ages 8-13. Today, the organization—whose evidence-based curricula is known for being both fun and effective—is announcing a new program designed to be offered during school breaks called Camp GOTR.

Launching in summer 2019, Camp GOTR by Girls on the Run with support of Hayden & Kohlmeier Orthodontics will provide a one-of-a-kind opportunity for girls to develop self-confidence and learn life skills they can use now and as they grow. Girls will enjoy building friendships in an exciting and inclusive setting that includes interactive games, being physically active, and expressing creativity through arts and crafts and storytelling. Led by caring and qualified Girls on the Run coaches, this week-long camp combines the best of the Girls on the Run program with all the fun of camp.

“Over the years we have heard from girls and families alike that they would love to see Girls on the Run offer a camp program”, said Candice McIntosh, council director of Girls on the Run of the Flint Hills “We are thrilled to now offer Camp GOTR, an exciting addition to our list of programming options. Camp GOTR provides a tremendous opportunity for girls who may have not yet experienced the magic of Girls on the Run, as well as an opportunity for girls to continue to enjoy our program beyond the school year.”

The program is designed to address physical, emotional, and social development in 3rd through 5th grade girls through fun and engaging lessons. Using an intentional curriculum that incorporates small and large group games, physical activity, interactive workshops, and individual reflection, girls learn valuable skills to help them build meaningful and positive connections with others.

Camp GOTR is open to rising 3rd – 5th grade girls and will be offered June 10th-June 14th at Northview Elementary School.

REPUBLIC COUNTY — Two people were injured in an accident just after 9:30a.m. Thursday in Republic County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2002 Honda Accord driven by Bertha E. Hill, 82, Belleville, was merging onto U.S. 36 eastbound from U.S 81.  A 2015 Chevy Silverado driven by Amanda L. Strnad, 37, Munden, was eastbound on U.S. 36.

The vehicles collided.

Hill and and a passenger Beth M. Hill. 57, Belleville, were transported to Republic County Hospital. Strnad and a child in the SUV were not injured.  All four were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY
Salina Post

ABILENE — Hundreds of people, including more than 60 World War II veterans, Rosie the Riveters, and labor camp survivors were in Abilene on Thursday morning to mark the 75th anniversary of D-Day.

The ceremony was on the grounds of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum, and Boyhood Home, in front of the statue of Eisenhower. It was an appropriate location as Eisenhower, who was the Supreme Allied Commander during World War II, on June 6, 1944, led the Allied Forces in the D-Day invasion of Normandy, France. The invasion, code-named Operation OVERLORD, has been called the greatest invasion in human history and led to the downfall of Adolph Hitler and his Nazi strangle hold on Europe.

General Richard Myers, USAF (Ret.), the former chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff and current president of Kansas State University, gave the keynote address.

Myers recognized veterans in the audience and noted that 43 million men and women have served in the U.S. armed forces, and of those more than 650,000 have died while serving.

Myers praised Eisenhower and called him a role model.

“The more I studied this man as a young Air Force officer, the more I thought, ‘wow!’ what a great role model,” Myers said. “His character had many great traits that stood out to me, among them a real sense of humility, of selfless service, and his acceptance of responsibility.”

Myers said that Eisenhower’s work in the pre-war days at the Pentagon working for General George Marshall on the war plan, was indicative of his aforementioned character traits. While his peers and friends were leaving for commands in Europe, Eisehower, stayed behind, Myers said.

“If you’re a military person, you want to be a great warrior. That’s what you’re trained to be and that’s what you want to be, so he really wanted to be with them,” Myers said. “But he was told by General Marshal, ‘no. We need you here because you’re such a great planner.’ And he didn’t quibble at that.”

Eisenhower, Myers said, made up his mind that if that was where he was needed, that was where he would serve.

“That’s the selfless service I just talked about,” Myers said.

Myers noted that it wasn’t much later that President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Marshall appointed Eisenhower Supreme Allied Commander the nation saw again on D-Day what Eisenhower was made of.

“Today we come together to remember the 75th anniversary of D-Day, the day that would mark a turning point in the war, as the Allied armies began the final chapter to liberate the millions of innocent people living under the tyrrany of Nazi oppression,” said Col. Tom Murtha, 2/1 Armored Bridge Combat Team Commander.

“While the First Infantry Division, my division, played a critical role in the invasion, losing 316 soldiers on Omaha Beach, the immense joint and Allied operation on land, at sea, and in the air represented the culmination of years of planning and preparations,” Murtha said. “This tremendous burden of command of this operation rested solely on the shoulders of General Eisenhower. There was no school, there was no doctorate to prepare him for that level of command. It was General Eisenhower’s genius of command, his talent for organization, his infectious motivation that set the tone for the operation.”

Murtha also recognized the World War II veterans on hand, saying “This brave generation secured the blessings of liberty for the generations to follow. The world would be a darker place indeed, if not for their sacrifice and victory. There is no measure of thanks that we can offer for their incredible service, but we can honor them by continuing to defend the ideals that make our nation great.”

Mary Jean Eisenhower, the general’s graddaughter, said the heartland of American was a part of who her grandfather was.

“He loved it so much, in fact, after he had done his World War II duty and decided to run for president, he came right here to announce that he was going to run for president,” she said.

“His humble Abilene roots are what gave him the ability and the compassion for the troops and his love for this great country,” she added.

Myers and Murtha laid a wreath at the foot of the statue of General Eisenhower. They were joined by the Allied Forces Detail made up of:

• Col. Tom Bolen (USA)
• Col. Peter Little (United Kingdom)
• Col. Olivier-Pierre Marchand (France)
• LTC Stephen Gallagher (Canada)

Not only did the Abilene High School Women’s Select Chorus sing the National Anthem after the presentation of colors by the 1st Infantry Division from Fort Riley near the beginning of the ceremony, but they also sang several patriotic songs later in the event.

The World War II veterans and Rosie the Riveters were asked to stand and be recognized. Additionally, the list of those Kansans known to have died in the D-Day operation was read and a bell was rung with the reading of each name.

The invocation and the benediction were given by Fort Riley Chaplain Col. Shmuel Felzenberg.

The ceremony concluded with a 21-gun salute and the playing of Taps.

Afterward, Marvin Ledy, Abilene, an Army veteran of World War II who was in attendance at the D-Day ceremony Thursday with his wife, Lois, said he was honored to have been recognized for his service to the country.

“This is about the greatest thing in my life to be recognized for the service that we did. It was a long, long struggle, but we made it. I made it and I didn’t get hurt,” Marvin Ledy said.

 

 

 

 

 

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Motorists will once again be able to travel between Pottawatomie and Riley Counties via highway K-13 beginning on or shortly after June 10, 2019.  To maintain public safety, pedestrians and non-motorized traffic will be prohibited between Dyer Road (located in Pottawatomie County) and Tuttle Cove Road (located in Riley County).

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City District has completed replacement of the bridge deck over the spillway structure at the east end of Tuttle Creek Dam.  This marks the first time the bridge will be open to public travel since February 2018.

The Kansas Highway Patrol closed the portion of K-13 across the dam crest for the past two weeks, amidst safety concerns for increased vehicle and pedestrian traffic associated with high lake levels and releases.  To maintain public safety, pedestrian and non-motorized traffic will be prohibited on or along highway K-13 once the roadway is reopened to motorized traffic.  Parking, stopping, or standing of vehicles along K-13 will likewise be prohibited.

Parking areas along highway K-13 will be closed once the roadway reopens to discourage pedestrian traffic.  Visitors wishing to view the lake, spillway and releases are directed to the following areas:

• Observation Point, located off Tuttle Cove Road on the west end of the dam – offers views of the lake, tower and stilling basin (locally known as the ‘tubes’)
• The Spillway Overlook, located off River Pond Road between the spillway and the dam – offers views of the spillway
• The Spillway Cycle Area, located off Dyer Road downstream of the spillway – offers views of the spillway
• Outlet Park, located off Tuttle Creek Boulevard downstream of the dam – offers limited views of the stilling basin

Parking may be limited due to increased traffic.  Visitors are reminded to park in designated spaces to reduce congestion and potential for accidents.  Roadside parking along Dyer, Tuttle Cove, and River Pond Roads is strictly prohibited and motorists are subject to fine and tow.

An evacuation order for the River Pond Area of Tuttle Creek State Park (located below the dam) is expected to be lifted in conjunction with the reopening of K-13, as lake levels are forecasted to continue to fall.  Reopening of the River Pond Area to the public will be limited as Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism staff continue to address ongoing flood impacts resulting from increased releases from the lake.

The following is a summary of arrests, citations by the Riley County Police Department. Those arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Justin Allen Freed, Sr. has previous convictions for Aggravated Assault and drugs, according to the Kansas Dpt. of Corrections

JENNIFER MICHELLE CALLAHAN, 25, Manhattan, Possession of para w/intent tomanufacture/plant/cultivate controlled substance, Possession of opiate, opium, narcotic or certain stimulant, Use/possess w/intent to use drug paraphernalia 1 into human body;Bond $7000

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Supreme Court has unanimously overturned the conviction of a man who killed an insect exterminator in February 2008.

Howard Barrett photo KDOC

The court ruled Friday the case against 61-year-old Howard Barrett should be returned to Riley County for a new trial.

Read the ruling here.

Barrett beat and fatally stabbed 48-year-old Thomas James, who was doing extermination work in Barrett’s apartment in Leonardville.

His attorney argued that Barrett, who is schizophrenic, felt irrationally threatened by James.

Barrett was convicted in November 2014 of second-degree murder but appealed, saying jurors should have been instructed they could find him guilty of imperfect self-defense voluntary manslaughter.

The Court of Appeals ruled that error was harmless because Barrett’s second-degree murder conviction nullified a possible manslaughter conviction.

The Supreme Court disagreed, saying the jury could have reasonably convicted Barrett of manslaughter.

The following is a summary of arrests, citations by the Riley County Police Department. Those arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Jesse Sanders photo Shawnee Co.

RICHARD LEE BURNS, 30, Manhattan, Driving under the influence of drugs/alcohol; 2nd conviction; blood/breath .08 >; Bond $1000

By NOMIN UJIYEDIIN

The Kansas Department of Corrections will be spending millions on housing state inmates in private prisons and county jails.
CREATIVE COMMONS-CC0

The state spending review panel is freeing up some of the money the Kansas Department of Corrections asked for to place inmates in county jails and private facilities. Prison officials say it’s a last resort.

Desperate to relieve the strain on state prisons that are already over capacity, officials appealed to the State Finance Council to spend about $10 million on contracts with outside facilities to house as many as 400 inmates.

All that money is in the state budget, but the Finance Council, which includes top legislative leaders and the governor, only agreed to unleash $4.4 million at a meeting Wednesday. They expressed concerns about the quality and safety private prisons out of state.

“Conditions could be worse there,” said Senate President Susan Wagle, “than what we have in Kansas.”

Roger Werholtz, who retired from his second stint as corrections secretary less than a week ago, returned to the Statehouse to make the case for the spending.

He told the panel that the money will cover the housing, food, and basic medical costs for 160 inmates. But, speaking with reporters later, he said it won’t be enough to alleviate the effects of overcrowding.

“The major issues for which we need beds did not get resolved,” Werholtz said. “I don’t know what they think is going to happen with these folks.”

Corrections officials say there’s been a spike in violent incidents and that access to healthcare, counseling, and job training for inmates is inadequate. Inmates are being swapped in and out of solitary confinement because there’s not enough space. Maximum security inmates are being double-bunked, with two inmates in one cell. Staff are overworked.

The department still wants another $5.47 million for contracts to cover an additional 200 prison beds at outside facilities. The Finance Council decided to schedule a meeting at a later date to consider that spending.

The Department of Corrections began taking bids for prison bed contracts from out-of-state prisons and Kansas county jails in May.

Werholtz told the council that department staff had visited a private prison in Arizona that had submitted a bid. The department declined to specify to reporters the location or the company that owns that prison.

A spokesman for private prison company CoreCivic would not confirm the officials had visited one of its prisons in Arizona, but did confirm that the company had bid for contracts in Kansas.

But the legislative leaders on the Finance Council want the corrections department to put inmates in county jails first.

“At least let’s do that,” Denning said, “before we go the private route.”

Werholtz said the corrections department was already prioritizing housing inmates in Kansas’s county jails because they’re closer and easier to manage, but the jails don’t have the space to alleviate much of the crowding at state prisons.

“We’re then passing our overcrowding problem back to the county jail,” he said. “That’s going to be the consequence.”

Interim Corrections Secretary Chuck Simmons said the department received bids from four county jails located in Kansas, and had developed contracts with three: Cherokee, Wilson and Kiowa Counties. The department already has contracts with jails in Cloud and Jackson Counties.

Gov. Laura Kelly said contacting with private prisons isn’t the ideal solution, but that Kansas is out of options.

“We don’t have much of a choice at this point.” she said. “I am really, truly, very concerned about staff safety and inmate safety.”

As a condition of releasing the funds, the Finance Council is requiring the Department of Corrections to keep open a cell block at the El Dorado Correctional Facility. The department wanted to close the block to reduce strain on corrections officers, many of whom work double shifts for days on end.

“We are absolutely burning those staff out and it’s not sustainable,” Werholtz said. “We’re having to lock people down right now because of their violent behavior, instead of working with them to change that violent behavior.”

Kelly declared a state of emergency at that prison in February. Werholtz said staff there had worked more than 2,000 double shifts since. But the panel still argued that every block at the prison should remain open.

“We need a commitment from the administration that they’re going to be open at this time,” said House Speaker Ron Ryckman.

The council also nixed the spending of $3 million to reduce crowding in the women’s prison by moving 120 inmates to the state’s juvenile facility.

It did, however, authorize spending $9 million to raise the salaries of the state’s overworked prison staff and $4.5 million to pay for Hepatitis C treatment for inmates.

Werholtz warned that the strain on the prison system could get worse as the prison population is projected to grow by hundreds of people over the next decade.

“We’re either looking at increasing costs or changing policy,” he said. “There’s going to have to be a substantial change in sentencing policy.”

Nomin Ujiyediin reports from Topeka for the Kansas News Service. You can send her an email at nomin at kcur dot org, or reach her on @NominUJ

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas health officials say every county in the state is at moderate risk of West Nile virus infections.

KDHE image

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment said Friday no human cases have been reported as of May 25.

The virus can cause fever and other symptoms. About one out of 150 infected people develop swelling of the brain or brain tissue that in some cases can cause death. The virus cannot be transmitted from human to human.

The health department says people should remove standing water from their property. To avoid being bitten, people should wear insect repellant, long sleeves and pants, especially at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active.

The following is a summary of arrests, citations by the Riley County Police Department. Those arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

ETHAN CREGAN, 19,  MANHATTAN, KS WAS CITED WHILE IN THE 700 BLK BLUEMONT AVE
IN MANHATTAN FOR NO DRIVERS LICENSE (19-192) ON JUNE 5, 2019 AT APPROXIMATELY 6:08 PM.

ANTHONY GEORGE, 21, , FT RILEY, KS WAS CITED WHILE IN THE 3400 BLK FORT RILEY BLVD IN
MANHATTAN FOR MAXIMUM SPEED LIMITS (08-1558) ON JUNE 6, 2019 AT APPROXIMATELY 7:54 PM.

TREMOND BURTS, 21, FT RILEY, KS WAS CITED WHILE IN THE 5500 BLK FORT RILEY BLVD IN
MANHATTAN FOR MAXIMUM SPEED LIMITS (08-1558) ON JUNE 6, 2019 AT APPROXIMATELY 8:39 PM.

REGINALD FLOWERS, 25,  FT RILEY, KS WAS CITED WHILE IN THE 5500 BLK FORT RILEY BLVD IN
MANHATTAN FOR MAXIMUM SPEED LIMITS (08-1558) ON JUNE 6, 2019 AT APPROXIMATELY 9:10 PM.
M

AGGIE MCGUIRE, 23, RANDOLPH, KS WAS CITED WHILE IN THE 400 BLK POYNTZ AVE IN
MANHATTAN FOR IMPROPER BACKING (14-117) ON JUNE 5, 2019 AT APPROXIMATELY 5:15 PM.

DYLAN HIGGINS, 19,  MANHATTAN, KS WAS CITED WHILE IN THE 1500 BLK N SETH CHILD RD IN
MANHATTAN FOR SPEEDING (7-33) ON JUNE 6, 2019 AT APPROXIMATELY 9:05 AM.

MIKAELA SELLERS, 21,  OGDEN, KS WAS CITED WHILE IN THE 400 BLK FIFTEENTH ST IN
OGDEN FOR FTY RIGHT OF WAY ENTER ROAD (160) ON MAY 31, 2019 AT APPROXIMATELY11:57 AM.

IRAN ALTAMIRANO, 20,  MANHATTAN, KS WAS CITED WHILE IN THE 600 BLK N
11TH ST IN MANHATTAN FOR POSSESSION OR CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL BY MINOR (4-3(B))  FOR URINATING IN PUBLIC (22-3) ON JUNE 7, 2019 AT APPROXIMATELY 1:47 AM.

AKRAM KARIMI, 40,  MANHATTAN, KS WAS CITED WHILE AT WREATH
AVE & DICKENS AVE IN MANHATTAN FOR FTY RIGHT OF WAY STOP/YIELD (159) ON JUNE 6, 2019 AT
APPROXIMATELY 5:40 PM.

PEYTON LAZZO, 21,  MANHATTAN, KS WAS CITED WHILE IN THE 1400 BLK ANDERSON AVE IN
MANHATTAN FOR CELL PHONE-TALKING/HAND FREE (14-126.3) ON MAY 6, 2019 AT APPROXIMATELY 7:01 PM.

DONALD LANGLEY, 22, MANHATTAN, KS WAS CITED
WHILE IN THE 1400 BLK ANDERSON AVE IN MANHATTAN FOR CELL PHONE-TALKING/HAND FREE (14-126.3) ON JUNE 6, 2019 AT APPROXIMATELY 7:24 PM.

RILEY COUNTY— Law enforcement authorities are investigating the theft of electronics from Best Buy in Manhattan in the 300 Block of Tuttle Creek Boulevard.

Photo courtesy RCPD

Authorities want to speak to two individuals seen on security cameras and are asking the public to help identify them. according to a social media report from the Riley County Police Department.

If you have any information, do not attempt to apprehend the suspects, contact RCPD: (785) 537-2112 or Crime Stoppers: (785) 539-7777. Submit a tip: https://bit.ly/2wJ15Db 

( L-R ) Comedians Steve Martin and Martin Short

The lineup for the 2019-2020 McCain Performance Series at Kansas State University has been unveiled.

UYpcoming attractions will include comedy kings Steve Martin, Martin Short and Ken Jeong; recording greats Travis Tritt, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Bobby McFerrin and Kool & The Gang; and Broadway hits “XRENT,” Finding Neveraland,” “The Color Purple” and “Beautiful – The Carole King Musical.” There will also be classic literature with stage versions of “1984,” “The Odyssey” and the children’s book “Ann of Green Gables” as a ballet.

Holiday time will include special celebrations with the Oak Ridge Boys Christmas Tour and Jane Lynch from “XGlee” and Kate Flannery – Meridith from “The Office” with “A Swinging Little Christmas.” The McCain series will also offer shows kids will enjoy including the prehistoric smash “Dinosaur World Live!” an the wizardry of “Puff The Magic Dragon.”

Season tickets are on sale, with discounts available for those who subscribe to seven or more events. Single tickets will be available starting Monday, August 5. To get priority seating join the Friends of McCain with a season ticket order of seven or more events by Friday, June 28.

Tickets can be purchased at the McCain Auditorium box office or by calling 785-532-6428.

(MANHATTAN, KS – June 10, 2019) The High Water Advisory has been lifted for areas downstream of Tuttle Creek Lake along the Big Blue and Kansas Rivers effective immediately.  Releases at Tuttle Creek Dam have been reduced to 12,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) as of June 10. The US Army Corps of Engineers anticipates that the Tuttle Creek Lake level will continue to fall and release rates will likely be lowered to 3,000 cfs by the end of this week. These release amounts are not expected to cause any flooding downstream.

“We’re not out of the woods yet,” Pat Collins, Emergency Manager for Riley County said. “Any large amount of rain can impact the Tuttle Creek Lake level. We encourage people to stay alert and aware.”

Collins said 1128 feet is the “critical trigger” for implementing emergency preparedness and precautionary measures. Officials in Riley County, Pottawatomie County, and the US Army Corps of Engineers will continue to monitor the situation closely.

Scattered showers and storms are expected in the area over the next several days. The weather pattern later in the week and into the weekend indicates that up to two inches of rainfall is possible.  The threat of flash flooding in Downtown Manhattan also decreases as river levels decline and space becomes available for water to move through the storm sewer system. However, large amounts of rainfall can always cause flash flooding, and the potential for flooding of the Big Blue River, Kansas River, Downtown Manhattan, and Wildcat Creek still exits.

As river levels decline, riverbank stability will continue to be a danger. Riverbank soils are saturated and large sections can detach and fall into the river at any point. People are advised to use extreme caution near rivers and avoid riverbanks. Officials in Riley and Pottawatomie Counties will meet later this week to determine whether public access boat ramps can safely be reopened for the weekend.

The Flood Information Hotline will be deactivated on Tuesday, June 11, but information will be available to the public on the City of Manhattan website at www.cityofmhk.com/flood, on Facebook at ManhattanFloodUpdates and on Twitter@updatesflood.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Gov. Laura Kelly is seeking a major presidential declaration for public assistance for 63 Kansas counties recovering from record rainfall and severe weather.

Kansas Governor Laura Kelly flying over flooded Kansas last month-photo office of Kansas Governor

The declaration would cover damage from record rains and numerous tornadoes beginning April 28 through May. The Public Assistance program helps pay for restoration of public infrastructure and other damage caused by the severe weather.

The request filed Monday follows one Kelly sent in May seeking a federal disaster declaration. That provides federal money for shelter management, water rescues, human services support and other needs.

The following counties are listed in Monday’s request:

Allen, Anderson, Atchison, Barber, Barton, Bourbon, Butler, Chase, Chautauqua, Cherokee, Clark, Clay, Cloud, Coffey, Comanche, Cowley, Crawford, Dickinson, Doniphan, Douglas, Edwards, Elk, Ellsworth, Ford, Franklin, Geary, Gray, Greenwood, Harper, Harvey, Hodgeman, Jefferson, Kingman, Leavenworth, Lincoln, Linn, Lyon, Marion, Marshall, McPherson, Meade, Montgomery, Morris, Nemaha, Neosho, Norton, Osage, Ottawa, Pawnee, Phillips, Pottawatomie, Pratt, Reno, Rice, Riley, Rush, Russell, Saline, Sumner, Wabaunsee, Washington, Wilson, and Woodson.

GEARY COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal stabbing and have a suspect in custody.

Vondra Brown -photo Geary County

Just before 9:30p.m. Monday, police responded to the 100 Block of East Vine Street in Junction City, according to a media release. At the scene, police found 55-year-old Eddie Starks of Junction City with a stab wound. EMS transported Starts to a Topeka hospital where he died.

Police arrested Vondra Brown, 49, Junction City, on requested charges of 2nd degree murder. Police released no additional details early Tuesday.

The following is a summary of arrests, citations by the Riley County Police Department. Those arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Michael Sullivan -photo Shawnee Co.

MICHAEL MARCEL CHARLIE SULLIVAN, 43, Lawrence, Forgery; Making or altering a written instrument; unknown convictionProbation Violation and Theft by deception; Value $1,500 to $25,000; Bond $10,000

KIMBERLY DAWN WILLIAMS, 48, Manhattan, Failure to Appear; Bond $500

JARMAN DEON MORGAN, 41, Manhattan, Domestic battery; Knowing or reckless bodily harm to family/person in dating relationship; Bond $1000

MANHATTAN — Two positions key to the success of Kansas State University’s strategic enrollment management efforts will be filled by experienced administrators on an interim basis while national searches are conducted.

Emily Lehning, Ph.D. photo courtesy KSU

Charles Taber, provost and executive vice president, has announced the appointments of Emily Lehning as interim vice provost for enrollment management and Mary Hale Tolar as interim vice provost for student success. Both Lehning and Tolar will begin their new jobs June 30 and report to Taber.

“These previously announced positions are key to the university’s strategic enrollment management, or SEM, structure,” Taber said. “Both Drs. Lehning and Tolar have indicated they will not be candidates for the permanent positions. I want to thank them for their willingness to provide the leadership, stability and the balance needed in a time of major transition while we complete the national searches now underway for both the vice provost for enrollment management and vice provost for student success.”

Lehning, who currently serves as associate vice president for student life and director of New Student Services, has been involved with the recruitment of high school and transfer students to K-State since becoming assistant director of New Student Services in 2001. She was promoted to assistant dean for student life and coordinator of New Student Services in 2005, became assistant vice president for student life and director of New Student Services in 2008 and was named associate vice president for student life and director of New Student Services in 2015.

Lehning has been involved with several key student retention and success programs and initiatives, including freshman and transfer enrollment and outreach, which have helped K-State retain its status as the No. 1 choice of Kansas high school seniors; the creation and leadership of K-State First, the university’s first-year student experience program; securing funding to create Wildcat Warm-up, the extended orientation program; and serving as project lead on the $20 million renovation of the historic East Memorial Stadium into the Berney Family Welcome Center, which houses the Career Center and New Student Services. She also helped secure funding for the university’s CliftonStrengths program and the K-State Challenge Course. As New Student Services director, Lehning supervises staff of K-State’s campus visits program and orientation and enrollment program, All-University Open House and other major campus recruitment events.

Mary Hale Tolar-photo courtesy KSU

In her role as interim vice provost for student success, Tolar, the director of the Staley School of Leadership Studies, will provide leadership in the student retention, success and progression areas of SEM. This will include working with the university’s advising community and advancing the Student Success Collaboration Initiatives. For a list of units under the vice provost for student success, go to k-state.edu/2025/initiatives/sem/structure/index.html.

Tolar joined K-State in 2006 as associate director of the School of Leadership Studies, leading community service, service learning, nonprofit leadership and student engagement efforts on campus. She also directed the Coffman Leadership Institute. She was promoted to director, after serving as interim director, of the Staley School in 2009 and earned tenure and promotion to associate professor in 2014. Tolar’s accomplishments as the school’s director include completing the privately funded $11 million construction of the Leadership Studies Building; raising more than $11.3 million for the school as part of the Innovation & Inspiration Campaign for K-State, exceeding the initial goal of $3 million; establishing a $2.5 million endowed chair; and helping the school be a host site for the Mandela Washington Fellows program through the U.S. Department of State. In addition, Tolar has served as one of four scholars nationally to develop and launch The New York Times in Leadership online education resource since 2012.