HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The most visible security for the Kansas State Fair may be the drone that is flying above the grounds thanks to Kansas State University, but that has worked in concert with the other measures to make this a safe fair for the over 100,000 people that attended so far from Friday, Sept. 6 to Sunday Sept. 8.

One of the concrete barriers set up for emergencies actually got caught on a Hutchinson Fire apparatus trying to turn into the fairgrounds Monday morning for Emergency Management day at the fair. That happened around 8:45 a.m. Monday.

"It looked like they turned a little too soon, got the tire of the truck caught and they stopped it, immediately," Schulz said.&nbsp;

The drone, in particular, was a help on the first night of the Fair.

"One of the situations we were told of yesterday was where we had two medicals up in the grandstand during Wynonna," Schulz said. "We had a little child and I think, a lady, one on each side. We were able to actually get the drone so that they could tell exactly, for the paramedics, where to go. They were able to pinpoint, go up about five more rows, that's where she's sitting. Those kinds of things have helped us immensely."

Lt. David Golden also told the fair board at their meeting on Monday that they have an ongoing case regarding brandishing firearms on the fairgrounds where the cameras helped them find an abandoned weapon before anyone could pick it up and that had they not had the camera access, it could have taken them much longer to get that situation resolved.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1695157318556.png" alt="File Photo Kansas State Fair" />
 <figcaption>File Photo Kansas State Fair</figcaption>
 </figure>NICK GOSNELL Hutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. — The most visible security for the Kansas State Fair may be the drone that is flying above the grounds thanks to Kansas State University, but that has worked in concert with the other measures to make this a safe fair for the over 100,000 people that attended so far from Friday, Sept. 6 to Sunday Sept. 8.One of the concrete barriers set up for emergencies actually got caught on a Hutchinson Fire apparatus trying to turn into the fairgrounds Monday morning for Emergency Management day at the fair. That happened around 8:45 a.m. Monday."It looked like they turned a little too soon, got the tire of the truck caught and they stopped it, immediately," Schulz said.&nbsp;The drone, in particular, was a help on the first night of the Fair."One of the situations we were told of yesterday was where we had two medicals up in the grandstand during Wynonna," Schulz said. "We had a little child and I think, a lady, one on each side. We were able to actually get the drone so that they could tell exactly, for the paramedics, where to go. They were able to pinpoint, go up about five more rows, that's where she's sitting. Those kinds of things have helped us immensely."Lt. David Golden also told the fair board at their meeting on Monday that they have an ongoing case regarding brandishing firearms on the fairgrounds where the cameras helped them find an abandoned weapon before anyone could pick it up and that had they not had the camera access, it could have taken them much longer to get that situation resolved.

K-State drone helping with security at the State Fair

Every Friday and Saturday from approximately 11 PM-2:30 AM, RCPD will restrict traffic on Moro St and 12th St. (&nbsp; (shown in purple)

Use the open roads (shown in green) for traveling in or out of Aggieville during these times. A new ride share zone will be set up in front of Chipotle. RCPD will have marked patrol units at the Moro/N Manhattan Ave intersection and on 12th St at the alley between Laramie and Moro.&nbsp; 

The Handi-Corner parking lots will be closed after businesses close.  While this is a lot of new information, these changes are for the safety and security of all Aggieville patrons during peak hours&nbsp; &nbsp;

Riley County police issue a reminder:Every Friday and Saturday from approximately 11 PM-2:30 AM, RCPD will restrict traffic on Moro St and 12th St. (&nbsp; (shown in purple)Use the open roads (shown in green) for traveling in or out of Aggieville during these times. A new ride share zone will be set up in front of Chipotle. RCPD will have marked patrol units at the Moro/N Manhattan Ave intersection and on 12th St at the alley between Laramie and Moro.&nbsp; The Handi-Corner parking lots will be closed after businesses close. While this is a lot of new information, these changes are for the safety and security of all Aggieville patrons during peak hours&nbsp; &nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1725898306886.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

Aggieville traffic reminder for Friday - Saturday late nights

RILEY COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on drug allegations.

Just before 7:30p.m. Friday, police arrested 53-year-old Brandale Williams of Junction City, in the 1300 block of Laramie Street in Manhattan, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.

 Williams was jailed on requested charges of possession of an opiate/opium/narcotic/certain stimulant and use/possess with the intent to use drug paraphernalia into the human body. He is no longer in custody after meeting the requirement of the $6,000 bond.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718376090522.jpeg" alt="Brandale Williams from an earlier drug arrest in Geary County" />
 <figcaption>Brandale Williams from an earlier drug arrest in Geary County</figcaption>
 </figure>RILEY COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on drug allegations.Just before 7:30p.m. Friday, police arrested 53-year-old Brandale Williams of Junction City, in the 1300 block of Laramie Street in Manhattan, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report. Williams was jailed on requested charges of possession of an opiate/opium/narcotic/certain stimulant and use/possess with the intent to use drug paraphernalia into the human body. He is no longer in custody after meeting the requirement of the $6,000 bond.

Junction City man accused of drug crimes in Manhattan

RILEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a home invasion burglary in Manhattan.

Just before 10a.m. Saturday, officers filed a report of aggravated burglary, criminal trespass, and violation of a protection order in the 2100 block of Northview Drive, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.

A 29-year-old woman reported a known suspect entered her home without permission and in violation of an order of protection.&nbsp; Jake Lindsey, 38, of Manhattan, was arrested on requested charges that include&nbsp;aggravated burglary, criminal trespass, and violation of a protection order.

Lindsey remains jailed without bond, according to the RCPD.

RILEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a home invasion burglary in Manhattan.Just before 10a.m. Saturday, officers filed a report of aggravated burglary, criminal trespass, and violation of a protection order in the 2100 block of Northview Drive, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.A 29-year-old woman reported a known suspect entered her home without permission and in violation of an order of protection.&nbsp; Jake Lindsey, 38, of Manhattan, was arrested on requested charges that include&nbsp;aggravated burglary, criminal trespass, and violation of a protection order.Lindsey remains jailed without bond, according to the RCPD.

Manhattan man accused of home-invasion burglary

RILEY COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating an alleged battery involving a jail deputy in Manhattan.

Just after 3:30p.m. Friday, officers filed a report of battery of a corrections officer at the Riley County Jail, according to the Riley County. Police Department activity report.

A 36-year-old corrections officer reported a 39-year-old inmate spit on the officer.&nbsp; The RCPD released no additional detail.

RILEY COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating an alleged battery involving a jail deputy in Manhattan.Just after 3:30p.m. Friday, officers filed a report of battery of a corrections officer at the Riley County Jail, according to the Riley County. Police Department activity report.A 36-year-old corrections officer reported a 39-year-old inmate spit on the officer.&nbsp; The RCPD released no additional detail.

RCPD investigates alleged battery of jail deputy

By&nbsp;MARCIA LOCKE K-State&nbsp;Communications and Marketing

Bacterial pneumonia and sepsis are leading causes of hospitalization and death. Researchers in Kansas State University's Division of Biology have discovered that dysfunction of the body's immune response to bacterial infection may be part of the problem.

Pankaj Baral, assistant professor of biology, and Prabhu Raj Joshi, doctoral student in microbiology, are studying how nervous and immune system crosstalk, or bilateral signaling, impacts the body's ability to fight pneumonia caused by the Gram-negative bacteria known as carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae, or CRKP.

The researchers published their study, "Lung-innervating nociceptor sensory neurons promote pneumonic sepsis during carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae lung infection," in Science Advances, a member of the Science family of journals.

CRKP bacteria are the most common cause of hospital-acquired lung infections and are a major contributor to fatal pneumonia-induced sepsis, or pneumonic sepsis, among hospitalized patients. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention considers CRKP and other Gram-negative bacteria an urgent public health threat and states that an alternative non-antibiotic treatment for Gram-negative pneumonia and pneumonic sepsis is essential.

Baral and Joshi's study investigated the role of neuroimmune signaling in bacterial pneumonia, focusing on lung-innervating nociceptor sensory neurons — neurons that mediate pain — during lung infection with CRKP.

Normally, the sensory nervous system protects the body by sensing and responding to noxious stimuli. However, the study showed that during lung infection by CRKP, the sensory nervous system is detrimental, and lung-innervating sensory neurons, meant to defend against pneumonia and sepsis, seem to be the culprit.

"Our study showed that nociceptor activation and pain sensations, normally considered critical defense mechanisms, actually enhance CRKP infection and pneumonia lethality," said Joshi. "So, we think that CRKP might employ nociceptor neuron activation to establish infection and cause severe disease such as sepsis."

This discovery could help scientists develop a non-antibiotic sepsis treatment that targets nociceptor neurons or blocks their receptor signaling pathways.

In fact, the team is collaborating with researchers at the University of Kansas to perform high-throughput screening of small molecules to identify the most potent chemical inhibitors of nociceptor signaling for use as a therapeutic treatment for Gram-negative pneumonia and sepsis.

Baral's research has received funding from the National Institutes of Health, the American Lung Association, the American Heart Association and Kansas State University's Johnson Cancer Research Center.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1725888550071.jpeg" alt="Pankaj Baral, assistant professor of biology, and Prabhu Raj Joshi, doctoral student in microbiology, study the role of neuroimmune interactions in bacterial pneumonia and sepsis. They recently published their findings in Science Advances. Photo Courtesy K-State" />
 <figcaption>Pankaj Baral, assistant professor of biology, and Prabhu Raj Joshi, doctoral student in microbiology, study the role of neuroimmune interactions in bacterial pneumonia and sepsis. They recently published their findings in Science Advances. Photo Courtesy K-State</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;MARCIA LOCKE K-State&nbsp;Communications and MarketingBacterial pneumonia and sepsis are leading causes of hospitalization and death. Researchers in Kansas State University's Division of Biology have discovered that dysfunction of the body's immune response to bacterial infection may be part of the problem.Pankaj Baral, assistant professor of biology, and Prabhu Raj Joshi, doctoral student in microbiology, are studying how nervous and immune system crosstalk, or bilateral signaling, impacts the body's ability to fight pneumonia caused by the Gram-negative bacteria known as carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae, or CRKP.The researchers published their study, "Lung-innervating nociceptor sensory neurons promote pneumonic sepsis during carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae lung infection," in Science Advances, a member of the Science family of journals.CRKP bacteria are the most common cause of hospital-acquired lung infections and are a major contributor to fatal pneumonia-induced sepsis, or pneumonic sepsis, among hospitalized patients. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention considers CRKP and other Gram-negative bacteria an urgent public health threat and states that an alternative non-antibiotic treatment for Gram-negative pneumonia and pneumonic sepsis is essential.Baral and Joshi's study investigated the role of neuroimmune signaling in bacterial pneumonia, focusing on lung-innervating nociceptor sensory neurons — neurons that mediate pain — during lung infection with CRKP.Normally, the sensory nervous system protects the body by sensing and responding to noxious stimuli. However, the study showed that during lung infection by CRKP, the sensory nervous system is detrimental, and lung-innervating sensory neurons, meant to defend against pneumonia and sepsis, seem to be the culprit."Our study showed that nociceptor activation and pain sensations, normally considered critical defense mechanisms, actually enhance CRKP infection and pneumonia lethality," said Joshi. "So, we think that CRKP might employ nociceptor neuron activation to establish infection and cause severe disease such as sepsis."This discovery could help scientists develop a non-antibiotic sepsis treatment that targets nociceptor neurons or blocks their receptor signaling pathways.In fact, the team is collaborating with researchers at the University of Kansas to perform high-throughput screening of small molecules to identify the most potent chemical inhibitors of nociceptor signaling for use as a therapeutic treatment for Gram-negative pneumonia and sepsis.Baral's research has received funding from the National Institutes of Health, the American Lung Association, the American Heart Association and Kansas State University's Johnson Cancer Research Center.

K-State biologists' discovery could help treat fatal, drug-resistant pneumonia

According to Postal Regulatory Commission data, roughly 83% of first-class mail arrived on time in Kansas and Missouri in the first three months of 2024. That rate was the sixth worst of the 50 postal districts in the country.

By&nbsp;<a href="https://www.stlpr.org/kavahn-mansouri">Kavahn Mansouri</a>St. Louis Public Radio |&nbsp;

For days, Amy Gholson tracked a shipment of baby turkeys she ordered from an Ohio hatchery. She kept tabs online as the birds began the more than 500-mile trip to her home near St. Charles, Missouri, via the U.S. Postal Service.

The 10 birds needed to arrive in two days to ensure they’d survive the trip. It was late March and temperatures were still low, making the speed of the delivery more crucial than usual. But the baby turkeys, or poults, hadn’t even left Ohio when progress halted.

“I was going to be able to watch these babies digitally, basically, and they went to the Cleveland distribution warehouse, and they stayed there and stayed there,” Gholson said.

Postal Service delays have become more persistent in the years following the pandemic and a new&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/usps-mail-slowdown-postmaster-louis-dejoy/" target="_blank">10-year plan was put in place by Postmaster General Louis DeJoy</a>&nbsp;aimed at ending losses in the billions of dollars a year. Slowing delivery is integral to the plan.

For days, the poults Gholson ordered remained at the Cleveland warehouse. By the time the shipment arrived, three days overdue, she knew what to expect inside the package marked “live birds.”

“I had already assumed they were dead. Our beloved mail lady just set a box of dead birds outside of our garage,” Gholson said. “I got home. I mean, you know what the situation was. A silent box is a dead box.”

Gholson said that inside the package, the fledgling turkeys were as “stiff as rocks.”

This wasn’t the first time that Gholson and her family received a Postal Service shipment of dead or dying birds. Once, after a delivery arrived during a cold spell, they warmed towels in the microwave, bundling the chicks inside the heated towels in hopes of saving them. Only four of the 10 in that shipment survived, and the chicks now roam the Gholsons’ backyard farm.

The Gholsons are a 4-H family, having participating in agricultural programs for years. They have a tradition of showing animals at the St. Charles County Fair, where Evie, now 18, planned to show the turkeys in that doomed March delivery. In the 4-H community, families talk about receiving shipments with dead birds all the time, said&nbsp;Amy Gholson.

In 2020,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-08-20/thousands-of-baby-chicks-die-in-mail-in-latest-postal-imbroglio" target="_blank">more than 4,800 chicks died in a single Postal Service shipment to a Maine customer.</a>&nbsp;And the problem has persisted far past the height of the pandemic as concerns mounted about the future of the Postal Service and its performance since DeJoy’s plan kicked off in 2021.

The Midwest Newsroom interviewed four hatchery owners and four backyard farmers in different parts of the U.S. who all say they’ve seen a marked increase in deaths while baby birds are in transit with the Postal Service over the past year.

One hatchery owner described 2024 as “hell” for shipping birds and said customer complaints over shipments arriving with more dead birds than usual are on the rise.

It is hard to know just how many Postal Service shipments of birds arrive at their destinations too late for survival.

In response to a records request from the Midwest Newsroom, the Postal Service said that after a “diligent search,” it could not locate any documents referring to the total number of animals that die while in transit with the Postal Service. The response stated the agency does not compile or track that sort of information.

Delivering birds through the mail is a longstanding practice in the U.S., and hatchers who spoke to the Midwest Newsroom said it’s an effective way for hatcheries to make money, with customers ranging from large-scale operations to backyard farmers.

A hatchery can make anywhere from a few hundred dollars to more than $1,000 per shipment, depending on the breed and number of birds.

In an email to the Midwest Newsroom, communications specialist Mark Inglett said the Postal Service has worked for more than 100 years with hatcheries to “safely transport mail-order chicks seamlessly.”

“The U.S. Postal Service is one of just a few carriers that ship live animals, and we have established procedures for the safe handling of live animals,” the email read. “When properly packaged and labeled, these live parcels are given special handling outside of our normal automated process.”

The hatcheries and buyers interviewed by the Midwest Newsroom said that special handling hasn’t saved their animals.

The Postal Service declined a request for an interview.

Kelly Warren owns and operates Cocktown Funky Orpingtons in Lillington, North Carolina. She breeds Orpington chickens, which are popular as show birds. The small business relies heavily on shipping birds.

Warren estimates she’s lost at least a third of the birds she’s shipped this year to delays and other problems. A recent shipment saw her lose 80 chicks worth about $800. When birds die in transit, Warren has to refund her customers’ money.

“One box last week arrived three days late,” Warren said. “The whole box was dead. All I could do was get my shipping costs back. I lost the rest of it out of pocket.”

Warren said the Postal Service shipping delays greatly impact her business, which relies mainly on customers far from her rural North Carolina location.

“Some breeders are lucky enough to have enough (local customers) to get by. I don't,” Warren said. “All of mine are everywhere: California, Maine, New York, Nevada, Wisconsin, Washington. You name it, I ship there. So it kind of kills me.”

Not all bird deaths happen during transit, Warren said. One shipment arrived in time at a customer's local post office. But, she said, the customer reported the box of chicks had been left out on a loading dock during a thunderstorm. By the time the customer arrived to pick up the shipment, the chicks were dead.

“The babies were drenched,” she said, while sharing photos with a Midwest Newsroom reporter. “They were dead. The box was soaked. There’s nothing you can do about it.”

A statement from the Postal Service said its guidelines require delivery of poultry within 72 hours of hatching. All birds must be shipped using Priority Mail Express or Priority Mail services, which are designed to meet specific timing standards.

Tracy Brown Kelly owns a small hatchery near Warren's called Satin and Silk Ranch. She said she’s completely stopped shipping her chicks because of Postal Service problems. Now she relies only on local buyers to sustain her hatchery.

“We've been shipping for a very long time, and we rarely have any death or loss when we ship chicks,” she said. “But this year has been a nightmare, and it's not just me and Kelly; it's everybody.”

Hatcheries that rely on shipping chicks, poults and other live baby birds to customers have no choice but to use the Postal Service. Neither FedEx or UPS offers the service. However, FedEx planes are used to transport live birds across the country when needed as part of an agreement between the Postal Service and FedEx.

Blaze Baxter, who operates Bad Baxter Farms in Pottawatomie County, Okla., stopped ordering animals through the mail in 2017 after boxes full of ducks showed up at her farm looking like they were “used as pinatas.”

Of the 200 birds in the box, only 20 survived the journey. She remembers her mail carrier crying as she delivered the package.

Baxter decided she and her family would hatch and raise their own chickens to avoid more birds dying while in Postal Service transit. But in early August, roughly eight years after the failed shipment, she took a chance, placing an order for 10 ducks from a hatchery in August. She said she’s still beating herself up about it.

“I made the mistake and decided to try and trust the Postal Service one more time and completely regretted it,” Baxter said.

On the second day of tracking her shipment, she saw the package had made its way to California and stalled. From there, she knew what she would find when her shipment arrived. Only two of the eight ducks survived the trip.

“I told my post office lady last week that that would be the last time she’ll see me picking up birds from her,” she said.

Baxter isn’t the only person raising ethical concerns about the shipment of baby birds. Animal safety advocacy group&nbsp;<a href="https://www.upc-online.org/" target="_blank">United Poultry Concerns</a>&nbsp;and other organizations have called for the end of the long-standing tradition, calling it a cruelty to the animals.

In a 2020 post on its website, United Poultry Concerns said newborn chicks&nbsp;<a href="https://www.upc-online.org/pp/winter2020/urge_usps_to_stop_shipping_baby_chicks_and_other_animals.html" target="_blank">“quietly” die while in transit with the Postal Service.&nbsp;</a>

“Recent postal service changes have caused many thousands more baby chicks to suffer and die in transit,” a post by the group read. “Shipment of live birds and other animals through the Postal Service is one of the many hidden cruelties inflicted on chickens and other animals.

In July, the Postal Service inspector general’s office conducted an audit in the Kansas City region. The audit concluded that mail delays have been caused by a lack of management oversight and staffing shortages.

The audit also found that employees were&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article290342734.html" target="_blank">skipping important steps in the processing and transportation</a>&nbsp;of mail and that management allowed such practices to persist.

Further mail delays may be ahead for rural communities as a new Postal Service plan announced in late August aims to shave even more costs from its operations.

<a href="https://about.usps.com/newsroom/usps-operational-improvements-08-21-2024.pdf" target="_blank">Part of that plan includes overhauling logistics,</a>&nbsp;a move DeJoy said could increase slowdowns in mail deliveries, especially in rural areas where delivery could take an additional 12 to 24 hours.

It’s a decision that’s drawn the ire of customers and lawmakers.

U.S. Rep. Sam Graves of Missouri said complaints about the mail are a top concern for his constituents in the northern third of the state, which is largely rural. He told the Midwest Newsroom that mail delays and delivery problems are among the most common complaints his office receives, especially from rural communities and farmers.

“Other members of Congress all over the country are getting the same sort of complaint,” Graves said. ”It is something that the government should do, and should do well. And right now, it's not being done well at all.”

Graves blamed management at all levels of the Postal Service, noting that local mail carriers are caught in a system that’s working against them.

“It's just a huge management problem,” Graves said. “(Postal Service management) is not doing the job when it comes to doing what it is that they do, and that is getting the mail out to the post offices so it could be delivered on time.”

Graves, U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver and U.S. Rep. Mark Alford, also of Missouri,&nbsp;<a href="https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/reps-cleaver-graves-alford-introduce-pony-act-hold-usps-accountable" target="_blank">introduced the Pony Up Act to Congress to offer consumers protection from mail delays</a>. If passed, the act would require the Postal Service to pay late fees incurred due to delayed delivery service.

The Gholsons’ story didn’t end with a package of dead turkeys. The Ohio-based breeder they ordered from sent a new package that arrived on time and with all 10 birds alive and well.

Evie Gholson can’t forget the dead turkeys that arrived in March.

“It’s not fun,” she said. “You have to sort through the box and see which ones are stiff and which ones are floppy, essentially. There’s only so much you can do.”

Evie Gholson showed one of the replacement turkeys at the St. Charles County Fair in July.

“It makes me very happy,” she said of her nameless bird. “She’s not too big. She’s just the right age. She can walk around well and I can pick her up. It’s perfect.”

Isa Luzarraga contributed to this report.

This story comes from the Midwest Newsroom, an investigative journalism collaboration that includes&nbsp;<a href="https://www.iowapublicradio.org/" target="_blank">Iowa Public Radio</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/" target="_blank">KCUR</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/" target="_blank">Nebraska Public Media</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://news.stlpublicradio.org/" target="_blank">St. Louis Public Radio</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.npr.org/" target="_blank">NPR</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1725638081548.png" alt="Evie Gholson, 18, speaks about her Broad Breasted White turkey while showing the bird to judge Mark Cunningham on July 24 at the St. Charles County Fair in Wentzville. The turkey was a replacement bird after the one ordered died in transit while in the hands of the U.S. Postal Service. Brian Munoz/St. Louis Public Radio" />
 <figcaption>Evie Gholson, 18, speaks about her Broad Breasted White turkey while showing the bird to judge Mark Cunningham on July 24 at the St. Charles County Fair in Wentzville. The turkey was a replacement bird after the one ordered died in transit while in the hands of the U.S. Postal Service. Brian Munoz/St. Louis Public Radio</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>According to Postal Regulatory Commission data, roughly 83% of first-class mail arrived on time in Kansas and Missouri in the first three months of 2024. That rate was the sixth worst of the 50 postal districts in the country.</h2>By&nbsp;<a href="https://www.stlpr.org/kavahn-mansouri">Kavahn Mansouri</a>St. Louis Public Radio |&nbsp;For days, Amy Gholson tracked a shipment of baby turkeys she ordered from an Ohio hatchery. She kept tabs online as the birds began the more than 500-mile trip to her home near St. Charles, Missouri, via the U.S. Postal Service.The 10 birds needed to arrive in two days to ensure they’d survive the trip. It was late March and temperatures were still low, making the speed of the delivery more crucial than usual. But the baby turkeys, or poults, hadn’t even left Ohio when progress halted.“I was going to be able to watch these babies digitally, basically, and they went to the Cleveland distribution warehouse, and they stayed there and stayed there,” Gholson said.Postal Service delays have become more persistent in the years following the pandemic and a new&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/usps-mail-slowdown-postmaster-louis-dejoy/" target="_blank">10-year plan was put in place by Postmaster General Louis DeJoy</a>&nbsp;aimed at ending losses in the billions of dollars a year. Slowing delivery is integral to the plan.For days, the poults Gholson ordered remained at the Cleveland warehouse. By the time the shipment arrived, three days overdue, she knew what to expect inside the package marked “live birds.”“I had already assumed they were dead. Our beloved mail lady just set a box of dead birds outside of our garage,” Gholson said. “I got home. I mean, you know what the situation was. A silent box is a dead box.”Gholson said that inside the package, the fledgling turkeys were as “stiff as rocks.”This wasn’t the first time that Gholson and her family received a Postal Service shipment of dead or dying birds. Once, after a delivery arrived during a cold spell, they warmed towels in the microwave, bundling the chicks inside the heated towels in hopes of saving them. Only four of the 10 in that shipment survived, and the chicks now roam the Gholsons’ backyard farm.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1725638174393.png" alt="A market chicken is displayed ahead of being judged in July at the St. Charles County Fair in Wentzville. Brian Munoz/St. Louis Public Radio" />
 <figcaption>A market chicken is displayed ahead of being judged in July at the St. Charles County Fair in Wentzville. Brian Munoz/St. Louis Public Radio</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>'Hell' for bird shipments</h2>The Gholsons are a 4-H family, having participating in agricultural programs for years. They have a tradition of showing animals at the St. Charles County Fair, where Evie, now 18, planned to show the turkeys in that doomed March delivery. In the 4-H community, families talk about receiving shipments with dead birds all the time, said&nbsp;Amy Gholson.In 2020,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-08-20/thousands-of-baby-chicks-die-in-mail-in-latest-postal-imbroglio" target="_blank">more than 4,800 chicks died in a single Postal Service shipment to a Maine customer.</a>&nbsp;And the problem has persisted far past the height of the pandemic as concerns mounted about the future of the Postal Service and its performance since DeJoy’s plan kicked off in 2021.The Midwest Newsroom interviewed four hatchery owners and four backyard farmers in different parts of the U.S. who all say they’ve seen a marked increase in deaths while baby birds are in transit with the Postal Service over the past year.One hatchery owner described 2024 as “hell” for shipping birds and said customer complaints over shipments arriving with more dead birds than usual are on the rise.It is hard to know just how many Postal Service shipments of birds arrive at their destinations too late for survival.In response to a records request from the Midwest Newsroom, the Postal Service said that after a “diligent search,” it could not locate any documents referring to the total number of animals that die while in transit with the Postal Service. The response stated the agency does not compile or track that sort of information.Delivering birds through the mail is a longstanding practice in the U.S., and hatchers who spoke to the Midwest Newsroom said it’s an effective way for hatcheries to make money, with customers ranging from large-scale operations to backyard farmers.A hatchery can make anywhere from a few hundred dollars to more than $1,000 per shipment, depending on the breed and number of birds.In an email to the Midwest Newsroom, communications specialist Mark Inglett said the Postal Service has worked for more than 100 years with hatcheries to “safely transport mail-order chicks seamlessly.”“The U.S. Postal Service is one of just a few carriers that ship live animals, and we have established procedures for the safe handling of live animals,” the email read. “When properly packaged and labeled, these live parcels are given special handling outside of our normal automated process.”The hatcheries and buyers interviewed by the Midwest Newsroom said that special handling hasn’t saved their animals.The Postal Service declined a request for an interview.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1725638240710.png" alt="Evie Gholson, 18, listens to instructions ahead of showing a series of birds in July at the St. Charles County Fair in Wentzville. Brian Munoz/St. Louis Public Radio" />
 <figcaption>Evie Gholson, 18, listens to instructions ahead of showing a series of birds in July at the St. Charles County Fair in Wentzville. Brian Munoz/St. Louis Public Radio</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Left on a loading dock</h2>Kelly Warren owns and operates Cocktown Funky Orpingtons in Lillington, North Carolina. She breeds Orpington chickens, which are popular as show birds. The small business relies heavily on shipping birds.Warren estimates she’s lost at least a third of the birds she’s shipped this year to delays and other problems. A recent shipment saw her lose 80 chicks worth about $800. When birds die in transit, Warren has to refund her customers’ money.“One box last week arrived three days late,” Warren said. “The whole box was dead. All I could do was get my shipping costs back. I lost the rest of it out of pocket.”Warren said the Postal Service shipping delays greatly impact her business, which relies mainly on customers far from her rural North Carolina location.“Some breeders are lucky enough to have enough (local customers) to get by. I don't,” Warren said. “All of mine are everywhere: California, Maine, New York, Nevada, Wisconsin, Washington. You name it, I ship there. So it kind of kills me.”Not all bird deaths happen during transit, Warren said. One shipment arrived in time at a customer's local post office. But, she said, the customer reported the box of chicks had been left out on a loading dock during a thunderstorm. By the time the customer arrived to pick up the shipment, the chicks were dead.“The babies were drenched,” she said, while sharing photos with a Midwest Newsroom reporter. “They were dead. The box was soaked. There’s nothing you can do about it.”A statement from the Postal Service said its guidelines require delivery of poultry within 72 hours of hatching. All birds must be shipped using Priority Mail Express or Priority Mail services, which are designed to meet specific timing standards.Tracy Brown Kelly owns a small hatchery near Warren's called Satin and Silk Ranch. She said she’s completely stopped shipping her chicks because of Postal Service problems. Now she relies only on local buyers to sustain her hatchery.“We've been shipping for a very long time, and we rarely have any death or loss when we ship chicks,” she said. “But this year has been a nightmare, and it's not just me and Kelly; it's everybody.”Hatcheries that rely on shipping chicks, poults and other live baby birds to customers have no choice but to use the Postal Service. Neither FedEx or UPS offers the service. However, FedEx planes are used to transport live birds across the country when needed as part of an agreement between the Postal Service and FedEx.Blaze Baxter, who operates Bad Baxter Farms in Pottawatomie County, Okla., stopped ordering animals through the mail in 2017 after boxes full of ducks showed up at her farm looking like they were “used as pinatas.”Of the 200 birds in the box, only 20 survived the journey. She remembers her mail carrier crying as she delivered the package.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1725638310582.png" alt="Evie Gholson, 18, holds her 3-year-old rooster Napoleon III ahead of showing the bird in July at the St. Charles County Fair in Wentzville. Brian Munoz/St. Louis Public Radio" />
 <figcaption>Evie Gholson, 18, holds her 3-year-old rooster Napoleon III ahead of showing the bird in July at the St. Charles County Fair in Wentzville. Brian Munoz/St. Louis Public Radio</figcaption>
 </figure>Baxter decided she and her family would hatch and raise their own chickens to avoid more birds dying while in Postal Service transit. But in early August, roughly eight years after the failed shipment, she took a chance, placing an order for 10 ducks from a hatchery in August. She said she’s still beating herself up about it.“I made the mistake and decided to try and trust the Postal Service one more time and completely regretted it,” Baxter said.On the second day of tracking her shipment, she saw the package had made its way to California and stalled. From there, she knew what she would find when her shipment arrived. Only two of the eight ducks survived the trip.“I told my post office lady last week that that would be the last time she’ll see me picking up birds from her,” she said.Baxter isn’t the only person raising ethical concerns about the shipment of baby birds. Animal safety advocacy group&nbsp;<a href="https://www.upc-online.org/" target="_blank">United Poultry Concerns</a>&nbsp;and other organizations have called for the end of the long-standing tradition, calling it a cruelty to the animals.In a 2020 post on its website, United Poultry Concerns said newborn chicks&nbsp;<a href="https://www.upc-online.org/pp/winter2020/urge_usps_to_stop_shipping_baby_chicks_and_other_animals.html" target="_blank">“quietly” die while in transit with the Postal Service.&nbsp;</a><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1725638364261.png" alt="A young Broad Breasted White turkey sits in its cage in July at the St. Charles County Fair. Brian Munoz/St. Louis Public Radio" />
 <figcaption>A young Broad Breasted White turkey sits in its cage in July at the St. Charles County Fair. Brian Munoz/St. Louis Public Radio</figcaption>
 </figure>“Recent postal service changes have caused many thousands more baby chicks to suffer and die in transit,” a post by the group read. “Shipment of live birds and other animals through the Postal Service is one of the many hidden cruelties inflicted on chickens and other animals.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1725638422462.png" alt="Evie Gholson, 18, adjusts her first-place ribbon after showing her Broad Breasted White turkey in July at the St. Charles County Fair in Wentzville. Brian Munoz/St. Louis Public Radio" />
 <figcaption>Evie Gholson, 18, adjusts her first-place ribbon after showing her Broad Breasted White turkey in July at the St. Charles County Fair in Wentzville. Brian Munoz/St. Louis Public Radio</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>‘A huge problem’</h2>In July, the Postal Service inspector general’s office conducted an audit in the Kansas City region. The audit concluded that mail delays have been caused by a lack of management oversight and staffing shortages.The audit also found that employees were&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article290342734.html" target="_blank">skipping important steps in the processing and transportation</a>&nbsp;of mail and that management allowed such practices to persist.According to Postal Regulatory Commission data, roughly 83% of first-class mail arrived on time in Kansas and Missouri in the first three months of 2024. That rate was the sixth worst of the 50 postal districts in the country.Further mail delays may be ahead for rural communities as a new Postal Service plan announced in late August aims to shave even more costs from its operations.<a href="https://about.usps.com/newsroom/usps-operational-improvements-08-21-2024.pdf" target="_blank">Part of that plan includes overhauling logistics,</a>&nbsp;a move DeJoy said could increase slowdowns in mail deliveries, especially in rural areas where delivery could take an additional 12 to 24 hours.It’s a decision that’s drawn the ire of customers and lawmakers.U.S. Rep. Sam Graves of Missouri said complaints about the mail are a top concern for his constituents in the northern third of the state, which is largely rural. He told the Midwest Newsroom that mail delays and delivery problems are among the most common complaints his office receives, especially from rural communities and farmers.“Other members of Congress all over the country are getting the same sort of complaint,” Graves said. ”It is something that the government should do, and should do well. And right now, it's not being done well at all.”Graves blamed management at all levels of the Postal Service, noting that local mail carriers are caught in a system that’s working against them.“It's just a huge management problem,” Graves said. “(Postal Service management) is not doing the job when it comes to doing what it is that they do, and that is getting the mail out to the post offices so it could be delivered on time.”Graves, U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver and U.S. Rep. Mark Alford, also of Missouri,&nbsp;<a href="https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/reps-cleaver-graves-alford-introduce-pony-act-hold-usps-accountable" target="_blank">introduced the Pony Up Act to Congress to offer consumers protection from mail delays</a>. If passed, the act would require the Postal Service to pay late fees incurred due to delayed delivery service.<h2>Blue-ribbon bird</h2>The Gholsons’ story didn’t end with a package of dead turkeys. The Ohio-based breeder they ordered from sent a new package that arrived on time and with all 10 birds alive and well.Evie Gholson can’t forget the dead turkeys that arrived in March.“It’s not fun,” she said. “You have to sort through the box and see which ones are stiff and which ones are floppy, essentially. There’s only so much you can do.”Evie Gholson showed one of the replacement turkeys at the St. Charles County Fair in July.“It makes me very happy,” she said of her nameless bird. “She’s not too big. She’s just the right age. She can walk around well and I can pick her up. It’s perfect.”The turkey earned a blue ribbon.Isa Luzarraga contributed to this report.This story comes from the Midwest Newsroom, an investigative journalism collaboration that includes&nbsp;<a href="https://www.iowapublicradio.org/" target="_blank">Iowa Public Radio</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/" target="_blank">KCUR</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/" target="_blank">Nebraska Public Media</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://news.stlpublicradio.org/" target="_blank">St. Louis Public Radio</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.npr.org/" target="_blank">NPR</a>.

U.S. Postal Service slowdowns are so bad, baby birds are dying in transit

Join the Flint Hills Discovery Center (FHDC) and&nbsp;hundreds of thousands of people from all over the world for International Observe the Moon Night on Saturday, September 14 from 5:30-8 p.m. There is no cost to attend this fun all-ages event. Guests will learn about lunar science and exploration, take part in celestial observations while looking through telescopes, and participate&nbsp;in fun activities.Ongoing activities:

Participate in fun hands-on learning with K-State Department of Physics and FHDC educators:

Enjoy presentations by the KAO,&nbsp;Chris Sorenson, and local astronomy enthusiasts:

"We are excited to partner with the K-State Physics Department and the Kansas Astronomical Observers to bring an International Observe the Moon Night event to the Discovery Center", says Sally Dreher, Curator of Education. "With experts, hands-on learning, telescopes, and, hopefully, cooperative weather, we will join hundreds of thousands of people from around the world to view the moon!"The first 50 youth (under 17) will receive a free goody box full of space-themed fun from the KAO and everyone can enter to win a free telescope and children's books (must be present to win).Guests are asked to&nbsp;enter through the front doors. FHDC exhibits will not be open during this time.&nbsp;Learn more about International Observe the Moon Night at the Flint Hills Discovery Center at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://cityofmhk.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e92cc4cc1e09dc1dafa7ba9da&amp;id=bd3ea87dee&amp;e=ae94a9aa01">www.flinthillsdiscovery.org/moon</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1725726681322.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Flint Hills Discovery CenterJoin the Flint Hills Discovery Center (FHDC) and&nbsp;hundreds of thousands of people from all over the world for International Observe the Moon Night on Saturday, September 14 from 5:30-8 p.m. There is no cost to attend this fun all-ages event. Guests will learn about lunar science and exploration, take part in celestial observations while looking through telescopes, and participate&nbsp;in fun activities.Ongoing activities:<ul>
 <li>Kansas Astronomical Observers (KAO) will have an inflatable planetarium on loan from Fort Hays State University. Climb in for a one-of-a-kind cosmos experience.</li><li>Learn more about NASA's Artemis Program through a series of videos.</li><li>Observe the Moon through multiple telescopes on the Prairie Garden Terrace.</li>
 </ul>Participate in fun hands-on learning with K-State Department of Physics and FHDC educators:<ul>
 <li>Light experiments with lenses &amp; mirrors</li><li>Gravity demonstrations</li><li>Experience space in a new way through&nbsp;The Space Around Us&nbsp;tactile books</li><li>Telescopes 101 - learn how to use a telescope and practice looking through one with a telescope from the KAO</li>
 </ul>Enjoy presentations by the KAO,&nbsp;Chris Sorenson, and local astronomy enthusiasts:<ul>
 <li>Origin of the Moon</li><li>Features of the Moon</li><li>History of International Observe the Moon Night</li><li>and more!</li>
 </ul>"We are excited to partner with the K-State Physics Department and the Kansas Astronomical Observers to bring an International Observe the Moon Night event to the Discovery Center", says Sally Dreher, Curator of Education. "With experts, hands-on learning, telescopes, and, hopefully, cooperative weather, we will join hundreds of thousands of people from around the world to view the moon!"The first 50 youth (under 17) will receive a free goody box full of space-themed fun from the KAO and everyone can enter to win a free telescope and children's books (must be present to win).Guests are asked to&nbsp;enter through the front doors. FHDC exhibits will not be open during this time.&nbsp;Learn more about International Observe the Moon Night at the Flint Hills Discovery Center at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://cityofmhk.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e92cc4cc1e09dc1dafa7ba9da&amp;id=bd3ea87dee&amp;e=ae94a9aa01">www.flinthillsdiscovery.org/moon</a>.

International observe the moon night at Discovery Center

Riley County police have announced that the Flint Hills Volunteer Center is hosting the 9/11 Day of Remembrance on Sunday September 8th from 3:00 – 6:00 pm at the Manhattan City Park. “This year, our goal is to honor and respect those who serve and protect through a day of service” said Lori Bishop, Executive Director.

In 2002, family members of those killed and injured on 9/11 joined with first responders and others to create “9/11 Day” to annually and forever encourage all Americans to remember and pay tribute on the anniversary of the September 11, 2001, attacks through acts of service, including volunteerism, and to keep Americans’ promise to “Never Forget.” On Sunday local first responders will be inside the Wefald Pavilion to give away 400 pairs of shoes to elementary school children in grades K-5. Children will have the opportunity to interact with first responders and armed forces members. 

Additionally, Fort Riley will have a static display consisting of EOD bomb robot, and suit,&nbsp; MP display such as military working dogs, patrol car, and soldiers with some equipment.

The Riley County Police Department will host a picnic inside the Pavilion at 5:00 pm that is free and open to the public to the first 250 guests. Hosts and sponsors include Flint Hills Volunteer Center, Kansas Volunteer Commission, Volunteer Kansas, Flint Hills Veterans Coalition, Briggs Auto, Manhattan Military Relations, Parker Hannifin, Bank of the Flint Hills, Armed Forces Community Foundation, Greater Manhattan Community Foundation, and Chase Life Chiropractic.

Riley County police have announced that the Flint Hills Volunteer Center is hosting the 9/11 Day of Remembrance on Sunday September 8th from 3:00 – 6:00 pm at the Manhattan City Park. “This year, our goal is to honor and respect those who serve and protect through a day of service” said Lori Bishop, Executive Director.In 2002, family members of those killed and injured on 9/11 joined with first responders and others to create “9/11 Day” to annually and forever encourage all Americans to remember and pay tribute on the anniversary of the September 11, 2001, attacks through acts of service, including volunteerism, and to keep Americans’ promise to “Never Forget.” On Sunday local first responders will be inside the Wefald Pavilion to give away 400 pairs of shoes to elementary school children in grades K-5. Children will have the opportunity to interact with first responders and armed forces members. Additionally, Fort Riley will have a static display consisting of EOD bomb robot, and suit,&nbsp; MP display such as military working dogs, patrol car, and soldiers with some equipment.The Riley County Police Department will host a picnic inside the Pavilion at 5:00 pm that is free and open to the public to the first 250 guests. Hosts and sponsors include Flint Hills Volunteer Center, Kansas Volunteer Commission, Volunteer Kansas, Flint Hills Veterans Coalition, Briggs Auto, Manhattan Military Relations, Parker Hannifin, Bank of the Flint Hills, Armed Forces Community Foundation, Greater Manhattan Community Foundation, and Chase Life Chiropractic.( Cover photo - Pixabay )

9/11 Day of Remembrance

<a target="_blank" href="https://cityofmhk.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e92cc4cc1e09dc1dafa7ba9da&amp;id=d2b7f147e5&amp;e=8c33f27c6f">Sunset Zoo</a>&nbsp;in Manhattan will celebrate&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://cityofmhk.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e92cc4cc1e09dc1dafa7ba9da&amp;id=fdcaecf3aa&amp;e=8c33f27c6f">Grandparents Day</a>&nbsp;on&nbsp;Sunday, September 8&nbsp;with free admission for all grandparents with a paid admission.

Bring the family to the zoo and enjoy hands-on activities, treats, and the animals.

<a target="_blank" href="https://cityofmhk.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e92cc4cc1e09dc1dafa7ba9da&amp;id=f94b948e79&amp;e=8c33f27c6f">Meadowlark Hills</a>&nbsp;supported of this fun-filled day!

<a target="_blank" href="https://cityofmhk.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e92cc4cc1e09dc1dafa7ba9da&amp;id=d2b7f147e5&amp;e=8c33f27c6f">Sunset Zoo</a>&nbsp;in Manhattan will celebrate&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://cityofmhk.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e92cc4cc1e09dc1dafa7ba9da&amp;id=fdcaecf3aa&amp;e=8c33f27c6f">Grandparents Day</a>&nbsp;on&nbsp;Sunday, September 8&nbsp;with free admission for all grandparents with a paid admission.Bring the family to the zoo and enjoy hands-on activities, treats, and the animals.<a target="_blank" href="https://cityofmhk.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e92cc4cc1e09dc1dafa7ba9da&amp;id=f94b948e79&amp;e=8c33f27c6f">Meadowlark Hills</a>&nbsp;supported of this fun-filled day!

Celebrate Grandparents Day at Sunset Zoo

The City of Manhattan’s recently reorganized Department of Public Utilities has received several state and national awards recently for excellence in&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://cityofmhk.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e92cc4cc1e09dc1dafa7ba9da&amp;id=a3eeeabc93&amp;e=8c33f27c6f">wastewater treatment processes</a>.

Manhattan was selected as the 2024 recipient of two awards this year from the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://cityofmhk.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e92cc4cc1e09dc1dafa7ba9da&amp;id=551927af42&amp;e=8c33f27c6f">Kansas Water Environment Association</a>&nbsp;(KWEA). The City received both the Class 5&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://cityofmhk.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e92cc4cc1e09dc1dafa7ba9da&amp;id=910466df5f&amp;e=8c33f27c6f">Wastewater Treatment Plant Award</a>&nbsp;(for plants that process more than 5 million gallons per day) and the Outstanding Biosolids Management Program.

Randy DeWitt, the City’s assistant director of public works for water and wastewater and Environmental Compliance Manager Abdu Durar along with Senior Biosolids/Lift Station Technician Daniel Tidwell, received the awards on behalf of the City at an&nbsp;August 27&nbsp;awards luncheon in the Grand Eagle Ballroom at the Wichita Hyatt Regency Hotel.

The City’s Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) also was honored by the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://cityofmhk.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e92cc4cc1e09dc1dafa7ba9da&amp;id=669a105219&amp;e=8c33f27c6f">National Association of Clean Water Agencies</a>&nbsp;(NACWA) during a&nbsp;July 24&nbsp;ceremony during NACWA’s 2024 Utility Leadership Conference in Buffalo, N.Y.

City releaseThe City of Manhattan’s recently reorganized Department of Public Utilities has received several state and national awards recently for excellence in&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://cityofmhk.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e92cc4cc1e09dc1dafa7ba9da&amp;id=a3eeeabc93&amp;e=8c33f27c6f">wastewater treatment processes</a>.Manhattan was selected as the 2024 recipient of two awards this year from the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://cityofmhk.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e92cc4cc1e09dc1dafa7ba9da&amp;id=551927af42&amp;e=8c33f27c6f">Kansas Water Environment Association</a>&nbsp;(KWEA). The City received both the Class 5&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://cityofmhk.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e92cc4cc1e09dc1dafa7ba9da&amp;id=910466df5f&amp;e=8c33f27c6f">Wastewater Treatment Plant Award</a>&nbsp;(for plants that process more than 5 million gallons per day) and the Outstanding Biosolids Management Program.Randy DeWitt, the City’s assistant director of public works for water and wastewater and Environmental Compliance Manager Abdu Durar along with Senior Biosolids/Lift Station Technician Daniel Tidwell, received the awards on behalf of the City at an&nbsp;August 27&nbsp;awards luncheon in the Grand Eagle Ballroom at the Wichita Hyatt Regency Hotel.The City’s Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) also was honored by the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://cityofmhk.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e92cc4cc1e09dc1dafa7ba9da&amp;id=669a105219&amp;e=8c33f27c6f">National Association of Clean Water Agencies</a>&nbsp;(NACWA) during a&nbsp;July 24&nbsp;ceremony during NACWA’s 2024 Utility Leadership Conference in Buffalo, N.Y.

Manhattan Public Utilities honored with three awards for wastewater treatment excellence

Riley County police are responding to citizen anxiety about an armed young man walking through the Manhattan community .

During a Town Hall meeting in the City Park, RCPD Director Brian Peete addressed the topic and responded to questions. He noted that police are working with federal and state authorities on the case involving the armed man to determine what options, if any are available. This is an open carry state. "The Department will always protect and not infringe on the constitutional rights, the federal constitution or state constitutions, but that being said we are limited in what what we can or cannot do as far as our interactions with this person who is armed." Peete added that this is the time for people to reach out to their personal delegations to make their opinions and ideas known.

The Police Director confirmed that RCPD has had multiple direct communications with this armed individual. "One of the things frequently said is that we have to observe that individual's right to carry his firearms within the community." Peete said he wants to do everything to protect the community. He noted the young man is walking around town with a loaded rifle. 

Peete advised the public to continue to call 911 so police are aware where the person is located and they are also seeing if they can engage with him to see if they can talk to him and determine if community resources can be brought to help and what his personal motives are. "As to again what your personal motives are and all these types of things and try to get him to understand the effect it is having." Peete said that they have to look out for how this affects businesses and K-State especially.

The RCPD Director reported that this man has been no trespassed from K-State grounds and is not allowed to be anywhere on the property at K-State." He added that the RCPD is monitoring this closely. "K-State PD has had communications with this particular individual and he is fully aware of that."

Peete liked one idea generated by a question, that as people call in the location of this individual are police telling the community that they are aware of this armed individual at a location. "Just so the public is aware so they just&nbsp; don't want to be around that, then the public is aware of that."&nbsp; Peete called it a good point and said he thought it would be something authorities would have a good discussion about.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1725725736107.jpeg" alt="RCPD Director Brian Peete speaking during a livestreamed Town Hall meeting in City Park . ( RCPD livestream )" />
 <figcaption>RCPD Director Brian Peete speaking during a livestreamed Town Hall meeting in City Park . ( RCPD livestream )</figcaption>
 </figure>By Dewey TerrillLittle Apple PostRiley County police are responding to citizen anxiety about an armed young man walking through the Manhattan community .During a Town Hall meeting in the City Park, RCPD Director Brian Peete addressed the topic and responded to questions. He noted that police are working with federal and state authorities on the case involving the armed man to determine what options, if any are available. This is an open carry state. "The Department will always protect and not infringe on the constitutional rights, the federal constitution or state constitutions, but that being said we are limited in what what we can or cannot do as far as our interactions with this person who is armed." Peete added that this is the time for people to reach out to their personal delegations to make their opinions and ideas known.The Police Director confirmed that RCPD has had multiple direct communications with this armed individual. "One of the things frequently said is that we have to observe that individual's right to carry his firearms within the community." Peete said he wants to do everything to protect the community. He noted the young man is walking around town with a loaded rifle. Peete advised the public to continue to call 911 so police are aware where the person is located and they are also seeing if they can engage with him to see if they can talk to him and determine if community resources can be brought to help and what his personal motives are. "As to again what your personal motives are and all these types of things and try to get him to understand the effect it is having." Peete said that they have to look out for how this affects businesses and K-State especially.The RCPD Director reported that this man has been no trespassed from K-State grounds and is not allowed to be anywhere on the property at K-State." He added that the RCPD is monitoring this closely. "K-State PD has had communications with this particular individual and he is fully aware of that."Peete liked one idea generated by a question, that as people call in the location of this individual are police telling the community that they are aware of this armed individual at a location. "Just so the public is aware so they just&nbsp; don't want to be around that, then the public is aware of that."&nbsp; Peete called it a good point and said he thought it would be something authorities would have a good discussion about.

Riley County Police Director responds to public concerns about an armed individual

(Riley County, KS – September 6, 2024)&nbsp;At 10:15 AM on Friday, September 6, Riley County Fire District #1 was dispatched to reports of a structure fire at 5512 High Meadow Circle, near Tuttle Creek Lake. Upon arrival, responders found black smoke coming from the garage of a single-family home.

RCFD#1 volunteer crews aggressively attacked the fire and were able to extinguish the blaze within 20 minutes. No injuries were reported.

“A working smoke detector alerted the resident of the fire in its early stages of development which allowed for timely notification to the fire department and the quick response and knock down of the fire,” explained Fire Chief Russel Stukey. The Kansas Fire Marshal will conduct an investigation to determine the cause of the fire, following standard protocol for all structure fires in the state. Foul play is not suspected. 

Total damages are estimated at $90,000 including damages to the structure, one vehicle, and the contents of the garage. The property owner is listed as Susan Brown of Manhattan..

A total of 15 volunteer firefighters responded on 5 apparatus. They extinguished the fire within 20 minutes and remained on scene to perform mop up and monitor conditions.“I also want to highlight the crucial role a closed door plays in fire safety,” Deputy Fire Chief Doug Russell explained. “Keeping the door between your home and garage closed, as well as sleeping with bedroom doors closed, can make a life-saving difference in an emergency. I strongly urge everyone to adopt these simple but effective precautions.”

By Vivienne Leyva(Riley County, KS – September 6, 2024)&nbsp;At 10:15 AM on Friday, September 6, Riley County Fire District #1 was dispatched to reports of a structure fire at 5512 High Meadow Circle, near Tuttle Creek Lake. Upon arrival, responders found black smoke coming from the garage of a single-family home.RCFD#1 volunteer crews aggressively attacked the fire and were able to extinguish the blaze within 20 minutes. No injuries were reported.“A working smoke detector alerted the resident of the fire in its early stages of development which allowed for timely notification to the fire department and the quick response and knock down of the fire,” explained Fire Chief Russel Stukey. The Kansas Fire Marshal will conduct an investigation to determine the cause of the fire, following standard protocol for all structure fires in the state. Foul play is not suspected. Total damages are estimated at $90,000 including damages to the structure, one vehicle, and the contents of the garage. The property owner is listed as Susan Brown of Manhattan..A total of 15 volunteer firefighters responded on 5 apparatus. They extinguished the fire within 20 minutes and remained on scene to perform mop up and monitor conditions.“I also want to highlight the crucial role a closed door plays in fire safety,” Deputy Fire Chief Doug Russell explained. “Keeping the door between your home and garage closed, as well as sleeping with bedroom doors closed, can make a life-saving difference in an emergency. I strongly urge everyone to adopt these simple but effective precautions.”

Structure Fire Near Tuttle Creek Lake Contained to Garage

Riley County police have announced that a Community Safety Town Hall will be held at the Larry Norvell Band Shell in the Manhattan City Park at 10 a.m. Saturday. The Town Hall will also be live streamed on The Riley County Police Facebook Page.

RCPD Director Brian Peete&nbsp;will address community members regarding recent safety concerns in the area.

Riley County police have announced that a Community Safety Town Hall will be held at the Larry Norvell Band Shell in the Manhattan City Park at 10 a.m. Saturday. The Town Hall will also be live streamed on The Riley County Police Facebook Page.RCPD Director Brian Peete&nbsp;will address community members regarding recent safety concerns in the area.

Community Safety Town Hall is scheduled

On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with&nbsp;Ms. Wheelchair America&nbsp;Tamara Blackwell.

<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GBIy1dfbVY4?si=k3AZxslDQdFrhyJr" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with&nbsp;Ms. Wheelchair America&nbsp;Tamara Blackwell.

🎤Forward Ever: Ms. Wheelchair America Tamara Blackwell

Riley County police said on September 2, at approximately 4:29 PM, corrections officers at the Riley County Jail discovered an unresponsive inmate.

EMS was alerted and responded to the scene. Despite immediate CPR efforts, the inmate, Michael Smith, 51, of Manhattan, was pronounced dead. The next of kin have been notified.

Iin May, Smith was arrested on requested charges that included Use/possess w/intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body; Possession of opiate, opium, narcotic or certain stimulant; Criminal trespass; Remain in defiance of order by order, according to the RCPD arrest report.

In accordance with department policy and state statute, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) was notified and responded to investigate. The KBI investigates all deaths that occur in Kansas prisons and jails unless the inmate who dies is being regularly attended by a physician, or the death is ruled natural by autopsy.

Riley County police said on September 2, at approximately 4:29 PM, corrections officers at the Riley County Jail discovered an unresponsive inmate.EMS was alerted and responded to the scene. Despite immediate CPR efforts, the inmate, Michael Smith, 51, of Manhattan, was pronounced dead. The next of kin have been notified.Iin May, Smith was arrested on requested charges that included Use/possess w/intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body; Possession of opiate, opium, narcotic or certain stimulant; Criminal trespass; Remain in defiance of order by order, according to the RCPD arrest report.In accordance with department policy and state statute, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) was notified and responded to investigate. The KBI investigates all deaths that occur in Kansas prisons and jails unless the inmate who dies is being regularly attended by a physician, or the death is ruled natural by autopsy.

Inmate Death at the Riley County Jail

RILEY COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just before 10p.m. Wednesday in Manhattan.

A 2015&nbsp; Ford Edge driven by Reagan Hazell, 23, Manhattan, was southbound on N. 3rd Street when she stopped at a stop sign, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report. As she proceeded forward a bicycle, ridden by Caindre Worthington, 32, of Manhattan, entered the crosswalk and the two vehicles collided. 

EMS transported Worthington to Via Christi for treatment of minor injuries.

RILEY COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just before 10p.m. Wednesday in Manhattan.A 2015&nbsp; Ford Edge driven by Reagan Hazell, 23, Manhattan, was southbound on N. 3rd Street when she stopped at a stop sign, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report. As she proceeded forward a bicycle, ridden by Caindre Worthington, 32, of Manhattan, entered the crosswalk and the two vehicles collided. EMS transported Worthington to Via Christi for treatment of minor injuries.The RCPD released no additional details.

Manhattan woman injured after bicycle, SUV accident

The remains of a missing 1st Infantry Division Soldier have been returned home after 105 years.

During World War I what began on July 16, 1918, the Aisne-Marne offensive would last for nearly a month. Three days after it began U.S. Army Pfc. Charles McAllister of Seattle, Washington, who at the time was serving with I Company, 3rd Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, of the American Expeditionary Force in France, was reported missing in action. He was twenty-three.

In McAllister’s case, with help from the Washington State National Guard, sufficient anthropological, dental and circumstantial evidence was obtained. Using this evidence, the DPAA and the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System were able to make positive mitochondrial and nuclear DNA matches.

McAllister’s remains were officially identified on April 15, 2024, exactly 105 years, eight months and 27 days after he was reported missing. Soon after, he was sent home to Washington.

“It was great that we were able to finally get him home,” said Kevin McAllister, a relative of Charles.

Pfc. Charles McAllister was buried in Acacia Memorial Park and Funeral Home with full military honors in Seattle, Washington, on Aug. 21, 2024.

When his remains were finally returned to his hometown of Seattle, a service, honoring the sacrifices made by all those who willingly volunteered to serve and fight a nation’s wars, was conducted.


(U.S. Army photos by Sgt. Charles Leitner)

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1725628481883.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>U.S. ArmyThe remains of a missing 1st Infantry Division Soldier have been returned home after 105 years.During World War I what began on July 16, 1918, the Aisne-Marne offensive would last for nearly a month. Three days after it began U.S. Army Pfc. Charles McAllister of Seattle, Washington, who at the time was serving with I Company, 3rd Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, of the American Expeditionary Force in France, was reported missing in action. He was twenty-three.In McAllister’s case, with help from the Washington State National Guard, sufficient anthropological, dental and circumstantial evidence was obtained. Using this evidence, the DPAA and the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System were able to make positive mitochondrial and nuclear DNA matches.McAllister’s remains were officially identified on April 15, 2024, exactly 105 years, eight months and 27 days after he was reported missing. Soon after, he was sent home to Washington.“It was great that we were able to finally get him home,” said Kevin McAllister, a relative of Charles.Pfc. Charles McAllister was buried in Acacia Memorial Park and Funeral Home with full military honors in Seattle, Washington, on Aug. 21, 2024.When his remains were finally returned to his hometown of Seattle, a service, honoring the sacrifices made by all those who willingly volunteered to serve and fight a nation’s wars, was conducted.
(U.S. Army photos by Sgt. Charles Leitner)

Over 100 Years Later, Remains of WWI Soldier Return Home 

MANHATTAN — Foghat and Starship featuring Mickey Thomas are both set to take the stage at Kansas State University's McCain Auditorium at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 20. Both bands will appear separately on the same evening for a double helping of '70s and '80s rock.

&nbsp;Foghat music has been featured in the video game "Guitar Hero III" and the movies "Dazed &amp; Confused" and "Top Gun: Maverick." Whether audience members discovered the band from the video game or movies or first heard them on the 1972 debut album, fans know Foghat is the real deal.

Mickey Thomas' soaring voice propelled Starship through the decade of the '80s, and his soulful and compelling vocals established him as one of rock music's most recognizable stars. Initially a continuation of Jefferson Starship, the group was renamed Starship in 1985 and went on to record three No. 1 hit songs, including "We Built This City," "Sara" and "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now." Their hit "It's Not Over 'Til It's Over" became Major League Baseball's theme in 1987.

Tickets are available online at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://mccain.k-state.edu/">mccain.k-state.edu</a>, at the ticket office in the McCain lobby from noon to 4 p.m. Wednesdays through Fridays or by phone at 785-532-6428 during the same hours. Tickets for youth 17 and younger are half price for this show. Discounted tickets to this show are also available for K-State faculty and staff, seniors age 62 and older, and members of the military. Original IDs will be required to obtain discounts — third-party, photocopied or web-based IDs are not accepted.

MANHATTAN — Foghat and Starship featuring Mickey Thomas are both set to take the stage at Kansas State University's McCain Auditorium at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 20. Both bands will appear separately on the same evening for a double helping of '70s and '80s rock.&nbsp;Foghat music has been featured in the video game "Guitar Hero III" and the movies "Dazed &amp; Confused" and "Top Gun: Maverick." Whether audience members discovered the band from the video game or movies or first heard them on the 1972 debut album, fans know Foghat is the real deal.Mickey Thomas' soaring voice propelled Starship through the decade of the '80s, and his soulful and compelling vocals established him as one of rock music's most recognizable stars. Initially a continuation of Jefferson Starship, the group was renamed Starship in 1985 and went on to record three No. 1 hit songs, including "We Built This City," "Sara" and "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now." Their hit "It's Not Over 'Til It's Over" became Major League Baseball's theme in 1987.Tickets are available online at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://mccain.k-state.edu/">mccain.k-state.edu</a>, at the ticket office in the McCain lobby from noon to 4 p.m. Wednesdays through Fridays or by phone at 785-532-6428 during the same hours. Tickets for youth 17 and younger are half price for this show. Discounted tickets to this show are also available for K-State faculty and staff, seniors age 62 and older, and members of the military. Original IDs will be required to obtain discounts — third-party, photocopied or web-based IDs are not accepted.

McCain Performance Series presents double bill of legendary rock bands

Auditions for the Junction City Little Theater production of Dracula are set for Sept. 8 and 9 from 6-8 p.m. at the C. L. Hoover Opera House.

You can journey to London, England's foggy streets and Transylvania's dark mountains where Dracula's castle awaits. Men and women of all ages are invited to audition for&nbsp; roles in this legendary tale of terror.

Be prepared to cold read from the script. There will not be any callbacks so you only need to attend one night.

The show is scheduled during the first two weeks of November.

By Dewey TerrillLittle Apple Post&nbsp;Auditions for the Junction City Little Theater production of Dracula are set for Sept. 8 and 9 from 6-8 p.m. at the C. L. Hoover Opera House.You can journey to London, England's foggy streets and Transylvania's dark mountains where Dracula's castle awaits. Men and women of all ages are invited to audition for&nbsp; roles in this legendary tale of terror.Be prepared to cold read from the script. There will not be any callbacks so you only need to attend one night.The show is scheduled during the first two weeks of November.( Cover photo - Pixabay )

Auditions are scheduled for Dracula

Effective Sept. 9, the Konza Prairie Health Center in Manhattan will be provide clinical services at 222 N. 6th St. and be co-located with Via Christi Weight Management services.&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp; At the new, larger location, Konza will add an in-house pharmacy&nbsp;to existing medical, dental, and behavioral health services.&nbsp; This expansion will more than double the organization’s capacity to meet the community’s growing needs, adding another medical provider, dental provider, and behavioral health providers. The clinic will also feature expanded service hours, open 8:00 AM-6:00 PM Monday through Thursday, and 8:00 AM-2:00 PM Fridays.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The move was made possible through a strategic collaboration between Konza and Via Christi Manhattan.

Konza also has locations at 36 Grant Ave. in Junction City and 111 E. 5th in Chapman.

By Dewey TerrillEffective Sept. 9, the Konza Prairie Health Center in Manhattan will be provide clinical services at 222 N. 6th St. and be co-located with Via Christi Weight Management services.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; At the new, larger location, Konza will add an in-house pharmacy&nbsp;to existing medical, dental, and behavioral health services.&nbsp; This expansion will more than double the organization’s capacity to meet the community’s growing needs, adding another medical provider, dental provider, and behavioral health providers. The clinic will also feature expanded service hours, open 8:00 AM-6:00 PM Monday through Thursday, and 8:00 AM-2:00 PM Fridays.&nbsp;&nbsp;The telephone numbers are:Clinic Phone:&nbsp;785-320-7134Pharmacy Phone:&nbsp;785-706-9833The move was made possible through a strategic collaboration between Konza and Via Christi Manhattan.Konza also has locations at 36 Grant Ave. in Junction City and 111 E. 5th in Chapman.

Konza Prairie Community Health Center in Manhattan moving to new site

A Kansas Department of Transportation resurfacing project is scheduled to begin on U.S. 24 in Pottawatomie County on Monday, Sept. 9, conditions permitting.

The project will take place on the eastbound lanes of U.S. 24, from approximately Excel Road to Columbian Road near Wamego.

The active work zone will be reduced to one lane and will have a 16-foot width restriction. Each median crossing in the corridor will temporarily close while work takes place on them. All lanes will be open during non-working hours.

Work is expected to be complete within one week, conditions permitting. Crews will work during daylight hours and on Saturday, Sept. 14, if necessary.

Vance Brothers Inc. of Kansas City, Mo., is the prime contractor on the $490,000 project.

By Kate craftKDOTA Kansas Department of Transportation resurfacing project is scheduled to begin on U.S. 24 in Pottawatomie County on Monday, Sept. 9, conditions permitting.The project will take place on the eastbound lanes of U.S. 24, from approximately Excel Road to Columbian Road near Wamego.The active work zone will be reduced to one lane and will have a 16-foot width restriction. Each median crossing in the corridor will temporarily close while work takes place on them. All lanes will be open during non-working hours.Work is expected to be complete within one week, conditions permitting. Crews will work during daylight hours and on Saturday, Sept. 14, if necessary.Vance Brothers Inc. of Kansas City, Mo., is the prime contractor on the $490,000 project.<figure>
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Work to begin on eastbound U.S. 24 in Pottawatomie County

RILEY COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating an alleged computer crime in Manhattan.

Just before 5p.m. Wednesday, officers filed a report of theft/unlawful acts concerning computers in the 500 block of Richards Drive, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.

&nbsp;Four Points by Sheraton reported an estimated $20,000 had been stolen through hacking by an unknown subject through fraudulent credit card transaction that started in July and extending through August. 

Anyone with information can contact&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rileycountypolice.org/287/Crime-Stoppers">Crime Stoppers</a>. Using Crime Stoppers allows you to remain anonymous and could qualify you for a cash reward of up to $1,000.

RILEY COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating an alleged computer crime in Manhattan.Just before 5p.m. Wednesday, officers filed a report of theft/unlawful acts concerning computers in the 500 block of Richards Drive, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.&nbsp;Four Points by Sheraton reported an estimated $20,000 had been stolen through hacking by an unknown subject through fraudulent credit card transaction that started in July and extending through August. Anyone with information can contact&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rileycountypolice.org/287/Crime-Stoppers">Crime Stoppers</a>. Using Crime Stoppers allows you to remain anonymous and could qualify you for a cash reward of up to $1,000.

Manhattan hotel lost $20,000 in alleged computer hack

On Aug. 18 at approximately noon, deputies from the Geary County Sheriff’s Office took a report of an alleged physical altercation that took place on Milford Lake (Nudie Beach), Geary County Kansas on Aug. 17.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1725531791535.png" alt="Diedrich photo Geary Co." />
 <figcaption>Diedrich photo Geary Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>On Aug. 18 at approximately noon, deputies from the Geary County Sheriff’s Office took a report of an alleged physical altercation that took place on Milford Lake (Nudie Beach), Geary County Kansas on Aug. 17.In a news release the Sheriff's Department said during the investigation into this physical altercation, it was learned Kurtis Geisler of Leonardville&nbsp; was at the beach with family and friends. The investigation revealed that threats of harm and a physical altercation had taken place between Geisler and another subject, identified as 42-year-old Ryan Diedrich of Randolph. During the investigation and speaking with several witnesses it was learned Diedrich had attempted to drown Geisler by holding him underwater, before being pulled off by witnesses. Geisler sustained minor injuries that were later medically treated.On Wednesday, Sept. 4 at 3:39 p.m. Ryan Levi Diedrich was taken into custody on the allegations of Attempted Murder (2nd Degree) and Criminal Threat and is currently being held at the Geary County Detention Center without bond, pending his first appearance.

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