A serious accident occurred involving multiple vehicles Saturday afternoon at around 1:30 p.m. between exits 299 and 301 near Marshall Army Airfield. The accident resulted in traffic being backed up all the way to Junction City.
There are no details at this time but we will have more information as it becomes available.
Motorists should avoid the area if at all possible.
Updated Monday afternoon:
Police have identified the deceased 44 year old male found on a front porch in the 27-hundred block of Elm Creek Drive. Jay Henning was the deceased subject in the shooting. An autopsy is scheduled for Tuesday in Topeka. No foul play is suspected at this time.
As previously reported, shortly after 5:30 Sunday night, the Junction City Police Department responded in reference to a subject with a gunshot wound to the head.
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(Posted 5:30 a.m. Monday)
The Junction City Police Department is investigating the death of a 44-year-old man, reported shortly after 5:30 Sunday evening. JCPD responded to the 2700 block of Elm Creek Drive in reference to a subject with a gunshot wound to the head. Officers located a 44-year-old male deceased on the front porch. His name is being withheld pending notification of family.
A death investigation is underway and the public is not believed to be in danger.
A Friday accident at the junction of Interstate 70 and U.S. 77 in Geary County sent a Geary County Sheriff’s deputy and a Manhattan man to the hospital.
According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, the accident occurred at about 12:30 Friday afternoon when a 2001 GMC 1500 driven by 25-year old Derek Leis of Manhattan when it pulled in front of a Geary County Sheriff’s vehicle a 2008 Ford F-150 driven by Deputy Megan Landry of Junction City Landry was attempting to make a traffic stop with lights and sirens activated while traveling Northbound on Highway 77.
Landry was reportedly not wearing a seatbelt while Leis was said to be properly restrained according to the State Patrol.
Both drivers were transported to Geary Community Hospital to be treated for injuries that were not thought to be life-threatening.
No citations had been issued as the result of the accident.
A federal jury in Topeka Tuesday delivered guilty verdicts against four defendants charged with trafficking crack cocaine in the Junction City and Manhattan areas, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.
During trial, prosecutors presented evidence that in late 2012 and early 2013 agents of Kansas Bureau of Investigation and detectives from the Junction City Police Department investigated a large crack cocaine trafficking organization in Junction City and Manhattan. The organization was led by defendants Albert Banks and Anthony Thompson, who acquired the drugs from three different suppliers and sold the drugs to distributors who resold them on the streets.
The jury returned guilty verdicts against:
Albert Dwayne Banks, 33, Junction, City, Kan, count one (conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine), count eight (distributing crack cocaine, count 11 (distribution crack cocaine), count 12 (distributing crack cocaine), count 15 (distributing crack cocaine) count 16 (distributing crack cocaine), count 17 (distributing crack cocaine).
Johnny Lee Ivory, III, 29, Topeka, Kan., count one (conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine), count 19 (possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine), count 20 (unlawful possession of a firearm following a felony conviction).
Martye Madabuti Madkins, III, 34, Junction City, Kan., count two (distributing crack cocaine), count four (distributing crack cocaine).
Anthony Caryle Thompson, 33, Junction City, Kan., count one (conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine), count three (distributing crack cocaine), count five (distributing crack cocaine), count six (distributing crack cocaine), count seven (distributing crack cocaine), count eight (distributing crack cocaine), count nine (distributing crack cocaine), count 10 (distributing crack cocaine), count 13, distributing crack cocaine).
Defendants Zachary Carlyle Patmon and Otis Dean Ponds were acquitted.
Sentencing is set for Sept. 28.
The crimes carry the following penalties:
Conspiracy: Not less than 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $10 million.
Distribution: A maximum penalty of 20 years and a fine up to and a fine up to $1 million on each count.
Unlawful possession of a firearm: A maximum penalty of 10 years and a fine up to $250,000.
Grissom commended the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, the Junction City Police Department, the Geary County Attorney’s Office and and Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony Mattivi for their work on the case.
Courtesy: KHP trooper Ben
The sine die session of the Kansas Legislature is over, with the group approving the postponement of a property tax lid until 2018. KMAN’s Cathy Dawes spoke with St. Rep. Sydney Carlin of Manhattan just moments after the vote:
John T. Booker
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) A 20-year-old Topeka man accused of driving a vehicle loaded with what he thought were explosives to Fort Riley won’t attend an upcoming hearing in his case.
John T. Booker Jr. was arrested April 10 near Junction City as part of an FBI operation that included two informants to whom authorities say Booker detailed his plans to join the Islamic State terrorist group and die in a suicide bombing mission at Fort Riley.
Booker has pleaded not guilty to charges of attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction, attempting to damage property by means of an explosive, and attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State.
The Topeka Capital-Journal reports (http://bit.ly/1SQHGny ) court documents show Friday that Booker has waived his right to appear Monday at a case hearing.
Willliam Cordray
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Michael Brooks, 22, of Manhattan was arrested on Wednesday at approximately 9:30 PM while at the Riley County Police Department. Brooks was arrested on a warrant for probation violation which carried “no bond.” His original offense was listed as distribution of marijuana.
If maintenance of roadside vegetation is a basic function of local government, then the state of Kansas can add that to the growing list of basic functions it’s struggling to fund — or worse, isn’t choosing to.
Riley County Noxious Weed Director Dennis Peterson told county commissioners Thursday morning the county’s contract with the Kansas Department of Transportation is on hold and because of that, johnsongrass — a nuisance weed that spreads quickly and can grow up to 8-feet tall — is out of control on K-18 between Manhattan and Junction City.
A sample photo of johnsongrass. Johnsongrass has overtaken K-18 between Ogden and Manhattan, but a contract hold with the Kansas Department of Transportation has Riley County’s hands tied in dealing with the plant. (Courtesy photo)
Typically the contract awards $7,000 every year to Riley County to take care of roadside vegetation along the county’s 125 miles of state highway, such as K-18.
But with the contract on hold and Peterson nervous about the dollar amount it will be worth due to possible cuts — he said it used to be a $12,000 contract a few years ago — a worst-case scenario of the county suing KDOT could be on the table.
“The only other option is that state statute allows the county to send legal notices to other government entities, but you have to be willing to stand behind that if they won’t do it,” Peterson told commissioners. “And if we have to go do the work and they refuse to pay the bill because there’s no budget, the only thing you can do is take them to court and sue them over it.
“That’s not something past county commissions have wanted to do with other government entities.”
Commissioners Robert Boyd and chairman Ron Wells weren’t against the notion.
“I’m up for it,” Boyd said.
“I’m up for it, if it comes to that,” Wells said. “But I’d rather not.”
“I hope it doesn’t come to that,” Peterson said.
Peterson said delays for the KDOT contract have been the norm the last three years, but he would like to spray the johnsongrass along K-18 sooner rather than later.
“K-18… the johnsongrass is terrible,” he said. “But we can’t start (spraying) till we hear from them. And that’s what we want to start on next.
“But it’s getting harder and harder to get funding and cooperation to do it.”
Riley County Commissioners Ron Wells, left, Bob Boyd and Ben Wilson.
And even if KDOT gets the funding to Peterson tomorrow, he said there’s enough johnsongrass to spray it wouldn’t take long to use up those funds in their entirety.
“If they have the same funding for (this) year, at $7,000, we could spend all that in the next two to three weeks spraying the johnsongrass on K-18,” he said. “It’s that thick. There’s places where that’s all that’s growing out there.
“It’s already headed now, and it’s going to go to seed if it’s not taking care of soon.”
Peterson said the biggest danger concerning johnsongrass is when it goes to seed and gets into water drainage areas that lead to crop fields and pastures.
Johnsongrass can easily take over fields and can also be dangerous to horses and cattle under certain weather conditions if eaten in high quantities.
Peterson said the plant spread after KDOT bought land that had johnsongrass on it for a borrow pit to be used during K-18 construction. A borrow pit is a construction term for a piece of land used to obtain dirt for surrounding projects, such as a highway.
“I told them if you take dirt out of that you’re going to spread johnsongrass from Ogden to Manhattan,” he said. “And they said, ‘Well this is where we’re going to get the dirt and we’ll deal with that later.’
“Well, now it’s time to deal with that. And they’re not wanting to.”
Due to heightened security concerns centered on the Fourth of July holiday, Fort Riley is limiting visitors to those with authorized sponsors.
Installation leadership appreciates understanding as we do everything in our power to protect our people and their guests.
For more information, contact the Visitor Control Center at (785) 239-2982.
Information about being a sponsor is available on the Fort Riley website at http://www.riley.army.mil/Units/GarrisonCommand/EmergencyServices/AccessInformation.aspx.
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Chairman of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee for Consumer Protection and Data Security, today responded to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) announcement that more than 21 million Americans inside and outside the federal government had their personal information stolen as part of a second massive OPM data breach. This figure is in addition to the 4.2 million individuals who were impacted by the OPM data breach made public in June. The personal information that was compromised includes Social Security numbers, military records, veterans’ status, security clearance forms, fingerprint data, residency and educational history, employment history, information about immediate family and other personal and business acquaintances, health insurance, criminal and financial history, address, birth date, age, gender and race.
“We finally heard some refreshing honesty this week about the true scope of the OPM data breach when FBI Director Comey testified before the Senate, ‘it is a huge deal.’ Underscoring his statement is today’s revelation that 22 million Americans had their sensitive personal information stolen in a second OPM data breach – five times more than the administration and OPM have led us to believe. As the number of impacted Americans continues to rise, the OPM Director’s statement that she does not ‘believe anyone [at OPM] is personally responsible’ is even more difficult to stomach.
“The fact is all the warning signs were there. OPM was aware of the persistent issues – including three data breaches in 2014 that should have served as stark warnings that the personal data of millions of federal employees was being targeted by hackers. Yet, there is little evidence that any action was taken by OPM. This lack of response has put federal workers, the American people, and – most importantly – our national security at risk. It is far past time for OPM and the Administration to provide full information to Congress and the American people, and for those responsible to be held accountable.”
Cat Cans Portable Services of Manhattan this week announced the purchase of Chapman-based Kansas Pumping Services. The purchase is the latest acquisition for Cat Cans which in 2012 purchased AAA Septic out of Ogden.
The purchase allows Cat Cans to be the leading provider in the region for Portable Restroom Rental, Car Wash/Mud Pit Pumping, Food/Grease Trap Pumping, Septic Tank Pumping Installation and Repair.
With the purchase, Cat Cans service area now includes Manhattan, Wamego, Junction City, Riley, Clay Center, Chapman, Abilene, Salina and other communities in Northeast Kansas.
Darryl Manco
A Herington man was flown to a Salina Hospital Monday, after the car he was driving was struck by another vehicle.
Geary County officers responded to the intersection of US77 and Old Highway 40 on Monday night, after Philip Major of Manhattan, turned from Old Highway 40 onto US77. Major struck Jeremy Purkepyle of Herington, as he traveled south along the road.
Purkepyle was flown to Salina Regional Hospital with leg injuries.
On May 7th, 2015, the Junction City Police Department in cooperation with the US Marshal’s Service put out a press release to local media outlets requesting assistance from the public in locating a Federal Fugitive Heidi Lynn Webster. The JCPD was notified by the US marshals Service that Webster was arrested Thursday in Urbana, Illinois by members of the Marshal’s Service.
No Further Information has been released.
