Police say they caught two burglars in the act last night, attempting to steal from Woods Lumber Co.
Officers on patrol saw a truck parked by the company with a man outside the truck. They believed a second male had left the area.
Officers made contact with Claude Mangel Jr. age 60 of Arkansas City by the truck outside the business.
Items inside the storage area of Woods Lumber were located by the gate in which Claude Mangel's truck was parked. Officer learned that a second suspect who was at the scene with Claude had entered the business by climbing over the fence.
Officers contacted the key holder and officers from the Arkansas City Police Department and Kansas Highway Patrol searched the building finding a male subject identified as Bradley Nichols age 34 of Arkansas City inside the building.
Both Claude Mangel Jr. and Bradley Nichols were arrested for Attempted Burglary and transported to the Cowley County Jail were they are currently being held.
(This story is posted on the site. Police notes have been posted.)
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Thanksgiving dinner with Dotty
I completely forgot to mention what happened at the end of the city commission meeting Tuesday night.
Commissioner Dotty Smith invited everyone in Arkansas City to come to the senior center on Thanskgiving Day, for dinner, starting at 3 p.m.
She said she came up with idea while trying to plan for her extended family, which is too large for her house.
She ended up reserving the senior center, and decided to make it a community event.
She said people are already getting involved. Turkeys have been donated, as well as some other items.
If you would like to get involved with helping, contact her through City Hall.
Commissioner Dotty Smith invited everyone in Arkansas City to come to the senior center on Thanskgiving Day, for dinner, starting at 3 p.m.
She said she came up with idea while trying to plan for her extended family, which is too large for her house.
She ended up reserving the senior center, and decided to make it a community event.
She said people are already getting involved. Turkeys have been donated, as well as some other items.
If you would like to get involved with helping, contact her through City Hall.
Poll, live blogs
Please vote in my poll at left. Just want to see what you all are doing with the site and blog. Unlike some sites, you do have the option to say you don't like it. (Sorry, couldnt resist.)
Also, I am getting the live blogs cranked up. I have Jerry Campbell of the cowley clean air group tonight. We should be on around 8, maybe earlier. Check back to be sure.
Also tomorrow night, I will have Mark Austin on. He is a local native who lives in Europe, working as a missionary. I thought that might be fun.
I am looking for people who were born here and moved on and had success. I hope to live blog with them eventually.
Also, I am getting the live blogs cranked up. I have Jerry Campbell of the cowley clean air group tonight. We should be on around 8, maybe earlier. Check back to be sure.
Also tomorrow night, I will have Mark Austin on. He is a local native who lives in Europe, working as a missionary. I thought that might be fun.
I am looking for people who were born here and moved on and had success. I hope to live blog with them eventually.
Wednesday update
Lots of new stuff on the site.
New city commission story.
They put off changing the elections to make it more likely that there will be a primary. The argument is that it gets people more involved. Maybe, but it still seems like a lot of effort and usually you are just eliminating one person from the running. Ok, you can call me a naysayer this time.
Food page is updated. Our columnist writes about growing up gardening, and about making your own ketchup. Also a recipe for Okra. Some people are still trying to convince the world that okra is an edible plant.
Sports page is also updated. I am getting press releases from K-State and KU now. For the hardcore fan, there will be some useful nuggets in those.
Remember the Cowley volleyball team opens its home season tonight. It's a new era with a new coach and an almost new team.
Also, I posted an email from the arts council. They are looking for input for PrairieFest, and will have a meeting Thursday night. For those of you that criticized the festival last year, now is your chance to be heard. They do want to be responsive to the public, so stop by.
Another update for Walnut Valley Festival has also been posted. Its getting closer. I am going to camp this year, and will be live blogging from time to time.
New city commission story.
They put off changing the elections to make it more likely that there will be a primary. The argument is that it gets people more involved. Maybe, but it still seems like a lot of effort and usually you are just eliminating one person from the running. Ok, you can call me a naysayer this time.
Food page is updated. Our columnist writes about growing up gardening, and about making your own ketchup. Also a recipe for Okra. Some people are still trying to convince the world that okra is an edible plant.
Sports page is also updated. I am getting press releases from K-State and KU now. For the hardcore fan, there will be some useful nuggets in those.
Remember the Cowley volleyball team opens its home season tonight. It's a new era with a new coach and an almost new team.
Also, I posted an email from the arts council. They are looking for input for PrairieFest, and will have a meeting Thursday night. For those of you that criticized the festival last year, now is your chance to be heard. They do want to be responsive to the public, so stop by.
Another update for Walnut Valley Festival has also been posted. Its getting closer. I am going to camp this year, and will be live blogging from time to time.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
City tables election change
City commissioners put on hold a measure Tuesday night that would have potentially changed the way elections are run for city commissioners.
After some discussion at the regular meeting, Mayor Jay Warren suggested tabling the matter so more information could be gathered.
Previously cities were to have two candidates per seat available, and if they had more than that, the list was pared back to two per seat with a primary. The magic number was seven for Arkansas City to have a primary.
The law was then changed to a 3-1 ration, meaning that there would have to be 10 candidates in Arkansas City to have a primary. The law was changed because some smaller cities objected to the cost involved.
Electronic voting has lowered the cost significantly, so the state now allows cities to revert back to the old system, which is what the measure Tuesday night would have done.
City Manager Steve Archer said the cost would be around $1,000. Previously, without electronic voting, cost could go as high as $8,000 or more.
Commissioner Dotty Smith said even $1,000 was too high, and she said the city should save money and not have a primary if it does not have to. She noted that often it is just one person being eliminated in a primary.
She said there were eight candidates last time, for three seats, and there were no problems.
Archer said a primary gets more people involved in the election process. He said more people tend to vote when there is a primary before the regular election.
City Attorney Tamara Niles said it could split up the vote if there were too many people, and those most people liked best might not win.
The matter was tabled. Primaries are normally held in February, and elections for the city are held the first week in April.
For the rest of the story, visit the website's CITY page,
After some discussion at the regular meeting, Mayor Jay Warren suggested tabling the matter so more information could be gathered.
Previously cities were to have two candidates per seat available, and if they had more than that, the list was pared back to two per seat with a primary. The magic number was seven for Arkansas City to have a primary.
The law was then changed to a 3-1 ration, meaning that there would have to be 10 candidates in Arkansas City to have a primary. The law was changed because some smaller cities objected to the cost involved.
Electronic voting has lowered the cost significantly, so the state now allows cities to revert back to the old system, which is what the measure Tuesday night would have done.
City Manager Steve Archer said the cost would be around $1,000. Previously, without electronic voting, cost could go as high as $8,000 or more.
Commissioner Dotty Smith said even $1,000 was too high, and she said the city should save money and not have a primary if it does not have to. She noted that often it is just one person being eliminated in a primary.
She said there were eight candidates last time, for three seats, and there were no problems.
Archer said a primary gets more people involved in the election process. He said more people tend to vote when there is a primary before the regular election.
City Attorney Tamara Niles said it could split up the vote if there were too many people, and those most people liked best might not win.
The matter was tabled. Primaries are normally held in February, and elections for the city are held the first week in April.
For the rest of the story, visit the website's CITY page,
Developing news
This is not exactly breaking news, but maybe its developing news.
The round-a-bout, or traffic circle, on the bypass has fallen behind and will be a couple of weeks before it opens.
It was originally scheduled for Sept. 4. Now they are saying Sept. 20. They are blaming rain late in the summer.
City Manager Steve Archer is hoping to get the state secretary of transportation to come down for an opening ceremony. There will likely be some sort of ceremony and grand opening regardless of whether the state official shows up or not.
The skateboard park is coming right along. Cement is being poured this week. They are saying it will open on the 18th with a grand opening.
Third thing concerns tonight's meeting of the city commission. They are going to change election rules so that there will be a primary before the general election. Used to be you had to have nine candidates to have a primary to cut it down to six. There are three candidates each election.
Archer said this is being done to encourage more people to participate in the process. They believe as a result, more people will run, and there will be more interest in the elections.
It will take a super majority, meaning four of five have to vote for it.
Only four items on the agenda tonight, so may be a very short meeting.
The round-a-bout, or traffic circle, on the bypass has fallen behind and will be a couple of weeks before it opens.
It was originally scheduled for Sept. 4. Now they are saying Sept. 20. They are blaming rain late in the summer.
City Manager Steve Archer is hoping to get the state secretary of transportation to come down for an opening ceremony. There will likely be some sort of ceremony and grand opening regardless of whether the state official shows up or not.
The skateboard park is coming right along. Cement is being poured this week. They are saying it will open on the 18th with a grand opening.
Third thing concerns tonight's meeting of the city commission. They are going to change election rules so that there will be a primary before the general election. Used to be you had to have nine candidates to have a primary to cut it down to six. There are three candidates each election.
Archer said this is being done to encourage more people to participate in the process. They believe as a result, more people will run, and there will be more interest in the elections.
It will take a super majority, meaning four of five have to vote for it.
Only four items on the agenda tonight, so may be a very short meeting.
prariefest seeks input
The folks who are putting on PrarieFest are looking for public input. Here is your chance to be heard.
Thursday, Sept 3, at 7 p.m., there will be a public meeting on PrairieFest.
The meeting is for all citizens who would like to come and give their input on PrairieFest 2010. The meeting will be at the Arts Council offices at 110 S.
Summit. Although this festival is organized by the Arts Council, it is
still a community fest, in which our citizens should have ownership.
Carla Brake and Teresa Swope-Hatfield are directing the event this year and want all the
input we can gather from the people of Ark City.
Thursday, Sept 3, at 7 p.m., there will be a public meeting on PrairieFest.
The meeting is for all citizens who would like to come and give their input on PrairieFest 2010. The meeting will be at the Arts Council offices at 110 S.
Summit. Although this festival is organized by the Arts Council, it is
still a community fest, in which our citizens should have ownership.
Carla Brake and Teresa Swope-Hatfield are directing the event this year and want all the
input we can gather from the people of Ark City.
city commission tonight
City commission, 7 p.m., today, city hall
1. There will be hearings for six possible dangerous structures in the city. These properties could eventually be torn down. The properties are at : 505 N. 7th.; 219 S. 8th St.; 508 S. 7th St.; 319 North D Street; 1320 South K Street; 507 E. Van Buren.
2. Select delegates to the league of municipalities annual meeting.
3. Consider charter ordinance relating to primary elections and general elections for city commissions. This would make it more likely that there would be a primary election.
4. Consider instituting a 2-hour parking zone around 100 block of East Central. This is around the Osage. Residents park on the street instead of the parking lot, and some local businesses have objected.
Those are the only agenda items.
1. There will be hearings for six possible dangerous structures in the city. These properties could eventually be torn down. The properties are at : 505 N. 7th.; 219 S. 8th St.; 508 S. 7th St.; 319 North D Street; 1320 South K Street; 507 E. Van Buren.
2. Select delegates to the league of municipalities annual meeting.
3. Consider charter ordinance relating to primary elections and general elections for city commissions. This would make it more likely that there would be a primary election.
4. Consider instituting a 2-hour parking zone around 100 block of East Central. This is around the Osage. Residents park on the street instead of the parking lot, and some local businesses have objected.
Those are the only agenda items.
Tuesday morning update
Good morning.
Cop notes are posted. That will end the August file.
Ive added a couple small gadgets to the web site. You may now send emails telling people about the site from the homepage. You may also now comment on the site, on the homepage.
I want that to be more for comments about the site. Let's have general discussions on the blog.
I am still looking for people to write and send in pictures.
I went to the soccer game last night. Was a really good crowd there.
City commission is tonight. Might not be as much fun as the soccer game. :)
More later as the day develops.
Cop notes are posted. That will end the August file.
Ive added a couple small gadgets to the web site. You may now send emails telling people about the site from the homepage. You may also now comment on the site, on the homepage.
I want that to be more for comments about the site. Let's have general discussions on the blog.
I am still looking for people to write and send in pictures.
I went to the soccer game last night. Was a really good crowd there.
City commission is tonight. Might not be as much fun as the soccer game. :)
More later as the day develops.
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