RILEY COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities continue their investigation of a weekend shooting that sent two people to the hospital.
Crime scene tape in Manhattan early Saturday during the investigation –image courtesy WIBW TV
Just before 2:20 a.m. Saturday, the Riley County Police Department Dispatch Center received a report of shots fired in the 2300 block of Tuttle Creek Blvd in Manhattan.
According to a media release form RCPD, an aggravated battery report was filed listing two 24-year-old men from the Kansas City area as victims.
Both victims were life-flighted to Stormont-Vail in Topeka and were reported in stable condition on Monday.
The victims and suspects were not known to each other. RCPD personnel have been in contact with one person of interest. Authorities have not released names of the victims or the person of interest.
Police ask that anyone with information contact the Riley County Police Department or the Manhattan Riley County Crime Stoppers. Using the Crime Stoppers service can allow you to remain anonymous and could qualify you for a cash reward of up to $1,000.00.
Last week was turn around week at the State House. Turnaround is considered the halfway point of the legislative session. Bills that have passed across the Senate chamber will now go to the House to be considered and bills passed across the House floor will come to the Senate for consideration.
Some of the bills of interest to our Senate District that passed this week are:
SB 67 passed out of the Senate this week. SB67 establishes the Unclaimed Life Insurance Benefits Act. If an insurance company (insurer) shall preform a comparison of its insured’s and force policies, contracts, and retain asset accounts against a death master file, on at least a semi-annual basis, by using the full death master file once and thereafter using the death master file update files for future comparison to identify potential matches of its insured’s.
SB 15 revises the definition for “service-connected” as that term is used to determine death and disability benefits in the Kansas Police and Fireman’s Retirement System. Under current law, service-connected causes for death and disability benefits include heart disease, lung or respiratory disease, cancer and will add blood borne pathogens. This bill passed unanimously.
The Senate passed SB105 authorizing a city to determine the start date of a regular term of office for a city officer by resolution of the city. In law regarding city elections, the bill would require the start date be on or after December 1 following certification of the election and no later than the second Monday in January following certification of the election. If the city does not establish an alternative date, the bill would specify such term would begin on the second Monday in January.
SB 71 passed the Senate, which reauthorizes the Postsecondary Technical Education Authority by repealing the statute specifying sunset date of June 30, 2019. The bill would also require the TEA to make an annual report to the Legislature on the performance of its functions and duties.
School Board Elections: SB7 passed and would amend current law regarding the timing of appointing a replacement school board member, timing of elections of officers of a local board of education; the date local school district board officials take office, and the timing of an election to change the method of election or voting plan for school board members. SB7 also requires the first meeting of the Board of Education to be on or after the second Monday in January or at a later meeting if so determined by the Board at the first meeting, rather than in July.
Passing the Senate was Sub SB130 that amends law concerning advance ballots and associated signature requirements. The bill requires a county election officer to try to contact each voter who submitted an advance-voting ballot without a signature or with a signature that does not match the signature on file and allow the voter to correct the deficiency before the final county canvass.
I would like to thank Jay Smith and Jaelyn Daily for paging for me last week.
Thank you for allowing me to serve the 40th Senate District and please feel free to email or call me at [email protected] or 785 296-7399 or 785 899-4700.
Sen. Rick Billinger, R-Goodland, is the Kansas state senator for the 40th District, which includes Cheyenne, Decatur, Ellis, Gove, Graham, Logan, Norton, Rawlins, Sheridan, Sherman, Thomas, Trego and Wallace counties as well as portions of Phillips County.
Kathryn Joan (Peacock) Hertel was born April 4, 1953, in St. Francis, KS, to Neal & Florence Peacock.
She spent most of her life in Bird City, KS, graduating high school in 1971, and then later choosing to raise her 2 children, Adrien and Lyn, in the same area where she grew up. Later, she welcomed Lyn & Matt’s daughters, Amanda and Amie, and loved showing them all the places where their mom grew up. She particularly enjoyed attending their sports events through junior high and the start of high school, often being teased by the local crowd that she was wearing the wrong color when the Bulldogs came to town to play the Cougars.
She worked at Cheyenne County Hospital in St. Francis for 38 years, retiring in 2018. She was known throughout the area for her crafty abilities; many families have welcomed a baby with one of her blankets.
Kathy passed away March 1, 2019 in Oberlin, KS, at the age of 65, after battling multiple health problems. She is survived by her loving family and friends.
A graveside memorial service will be held Monday, March 11, 2019 at 2:00 P.M. in the Bird City Cemetery, with refreshments being served at the Bird City Senior Center immediately after. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be sent to Lyn Cheney, 36533 Road A, Rexford, KS 67753, or in care of The Bank, PO Box 169, Selden, KS 67757. Condolences may be left at www.paulsfh.com
The Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism recently announced that 37 of more than 360 deer have tested positive for the fatal disease since the beginning of the fiscal year.
Chronic wasting disease causes brain lesions in deer, elk and moose.
The agency’s wildlife disease coordinator, Shane Hesting, says that most of the CWD-infected deer were killed by hunters in southwest Kansas. He says there’s also been an increase in prevalence of the disease in the northwest over the past several years.
Hesting says the department hasn’t detected the disease in eastern Kansas, but it doesn’t mean CWD is absent from the area.
Former Hays High School star and Kansas State University quarterback Alex Delton is in the hunt for playing time as the next signal-caller for the TCU Horned Frogs.
Smoky Hills Public Television is excited to announce that Curious George is coming to Russell! This FREE family event will be at the Dream Theater in Russell on Tue., March 19 at 1 p.m.
Children are invited to meet and take pictures with Curious George. Following the meet and greet, you can grab your popcorn and watch a movie! There will also be gift bags for the first 500 kids.
“We are excited to once again bring our Family Fun Day back to the Russell community,” said Tricia Flax, Smoky Hills Public Television Events Coordinator. “This year we will have Mark Popp, the Balloon Twister, on hand to entertain the kids before the movie! Don’t miss out on this great event, Curious George is excited to meet you and your family!”
Family Fun Day is an educational and entertaining event that Smoky Hills Public Television puts on approximately 4 times a year across central and western Kansas. SHPTV brings a special PBS character to visit and FREE books and educational gifts are distributed to those children in attendance.
This program offers mutual support for those who are healing from an adult loss in their lives such as a spouse, parent, sibling, or friend. This group gives emphasis to the particular needs and situation of each individual by sharing the strengths and knowledge that each person brings to the group. Many resources are available to the group through the CFLE library.
When: Tuesday, March 19, 2019 5:30 p.m.- Dinner: Thirsty’s Bar & Grill | 2704 Vine St., Hays
7 p.m. –Guest Speaker: “Anxiety, Depression, Grief & Loss” presenter: Ken Windholz. MS, LCP, LMLP at Center for Life Experience, INC., 205 E. 7th St., Suite 257,(Hadley Center) Hays
This program provides support for immediate family members who are healing from the death of a child in their lives where parents, grandparents and siblings can connect with others who understand the journey toward healing after the loss of a child. The group focuses on identifying each individual’s personal strengths in helping them chart their healing journey according to their own situation and needs.
When: Thursday, March 14, 2019
7:00-8:30p.m- Gathering Center for Life Experience, INC 205 E. 7th St., Suite 257,(Hadley Center) Hays
This program offers family members and friends of those who have lost a loved one to suicide a place to connect with others who are dealing with this highly specialized grief recovery process.
When: Wednesday, March 13, 2019 5:30 p.m. Dinner- Gutch’s Bar & Grill | 109 W. 7th St., Hays
7 p.m.- Gathering Center for Life Experience, INC, 205 E. 7th St., Suite 257,(Hadley Center) Hays
When: Wednesday March 27, 2019 5:45 p.m. Dinner- “BROWN BAG” at: Center for Life Experience | 205 E. 7th St., Suite 257,(Hadley Center) Hays
7 p.m. –Gathering
*Supervised Childcare available
For more info: Ann Leiker – Coordinator – Call/Text 785-259-6859 Email: [email protected]
The Kansas Dept. of Agriculture was selected for a USDA Rural Business Development Grant to host a business development workshop in Hays on Wed., March 20, 2019.
Jon Schallert will present a workshop titled: “Transform Your Business into a Consumer Destination.” The workshop will provide small businesses and communities with the business principles and tools needed to reinvent their business or community into a consumer destination.
The schedule for the day will include:
Keynote Session: 8:00 a.m.—11:15 a.m.
Lunch: 11:15 a.m.—12:30 p.m.
Marketing Roundtable: 12:30 p.m.—2:00 p.m.
The workshop will be held at the Fort Hays State Memorial Union, 700 College Drive.
The workshop is provided at no cost to attendees and lunch will be provided. Registration can be found at: https://bit.ly/2St1X7t.
