Author: Brandon Peoples

A former Riley County Jail employee is facing multiple charges of trafficking contraband into a correctional institution. Agents with the Kansas Bureau of Investigation arrested 24-year-old Ashley Britt around 9:30 a.m. Friday at 2025 Little Kitten Ave on a warrant listing eight total counts of trafficking contraband into the jail. According to the KBI, the Riley County Police Department requested the agency to investigate Britt in October after she reportedly provided contraband to an inmate. When RCPD became aware of the allegations, Britt was placed on administrative leave, but later resigned. During the investigation, agents discovered Britt provided contraband to…

Riley County officials will move back into the Courthouse Plaza East building at 115 North Fourth St. this week. Since July, the building has undergone a refurbishment, including replacement of windows and a remodel of the commission chambers. The county commission and planning board/board of zoning appeals meetings temporarily relocated to the health department’s Family and Child Resource Center at 2101 Claflin Road. To view the full article visit theMercury.com.

An investigation is underway after a Manhattan man reported his car and cell phone were stolen. Riley County Police were notified Sunday afternoon after the alleged incident in the 900 block of Moro Street. The next morning, police arrested 21-year-old Isabella Counts on charges of criminal damage to property, criminal deprivation of property, computer unlawful acts and criminal deprivation of property. Counts was jailed on a $6,000 bond but was no longer in custody as of Tuesday morning.

Property valuation appeals are trending down this year according to the latest report from Riley County appraiser Anna Burson. During her report to commissioners on Thursday, Burson said the county received 432 informal appeals following the mailing of change-of-value notices in late February, with 359 tied to residential properties. “Honestly this number as a whole appears slightly down, but again still kind of where we would typically expect it,” Burson said.

A biomanufacturing company focused on cattle health solutions is relocating its global headquarters from Fort Collins, Colorado, to Wamego. Axiota Animal Health announced Tuesday that the company’s decision formalizes a longstanding presence in Wamego, where it operates manufacturing, research and development and scientific operations for products used by cattle producers in more than 30 countries worldwide. “From here, we’re developing and producing technologies that help cattle producers around the world improve herd health and productivity,” CEO William Weldon said. “Leveraging our location within the Kansas City Animal Health Corridor and our longstanding relationship with Kansas State University allows us to…

Riley County commissioners on Monday finalized the 2026 non-fund capital improvement projects, approving $1.2 million worth of equipment purchases and facility upgrades. Budget and finance officer Brittany Phillips noted the county plans to tap its American Rescue Plan Act funds to help pay for the CIP projects. “I’m showing right now that we’re going to need to use a little over $600,000 of the CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act) funds — we still have emergency management renovation going on in Keats,” she said. “I do have an estimate on the EMS headquarters that we have probably one…

Federal officials began the second demonstration period for water injection dredging at Tuttle Creek Lake following a delay earlier this month. The Kansas City District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced the second phase started on Thursday. The project had been postponed after a fuel cell broke away from a barge in Tuttle Creek Cove on March 15 and became submerged, leaking an undetermined amount of diesel fuel into the lake. The incident occurred two days before the demonstration period was scheduled to begin. The dredging phase will continue through April 4. To view the full article visit theMercury.com.

Riley County is moving forward with a pair of grant applications for Community Corrections. Director Megan Lewis informed the county commission on Monday that her department is seeking a three-year Bureau of Justice Assistance grant that would help expand services for people in intensive supervision and recovery court. “That would cover the wages as well as the drug testing supplies and increase our client access to direct services — things like housing, dental, medical, prescription, vision,” she said. To view the full article visit theMercury.com.

Federal officials said there is still no timeline for when the second phase of the dredging project at Tuttle Creek Reservoir will begin. The project was scheduled to resume March 17, but delayed indefinitely as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and contract workers clean up a diesel spill after a fuel cell broke off a barge and became submerged. The fuel cell was recovered late Wednesday evening, but not before spilling a still-undetermined amount of fuel into the lake. In a statement Friday, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Kansas City district chief of public affairs Diana McCoy said releases…

Riley County commissioners agreed to proceed with filling its public information officer position following the resignation of Vivienne Leyva, effective this Friday. During Monday’s meeting, human resources director Elizabeth Ward asked the commission for direction on whether to immediately refill the position or temporarily shift duties while the job remains vacant. She noted the role evolved significantly since its creation in 2021 after the COVID-19 pandemic put a spotlight on the need for crisis communications with the health department. Ward said the job description may need to be reviewed before hiring someone new. “It’s evolved quite a bit with Vivienne…