Author: Brandon Peoples

A 23-year-old Manhattan man continues to recover after being seriously injured last Friday in a head-on crash on the Anderson Ave. overpass along Seth Child Road. Austin Gano was life-flighted to KU Medical Center. According to a GoFundMe page, established by his partner, the crash left Gano with internal bleeding, a ruptured spleen, a fractured wrist and a broken pelvis, leaving him unable to walk, likely for an extended time period. So far, more than $1,100 has been raised. Those wishing to give can follow the above link in this story.

Riley County home owners should be receiving their 2023 Change of Value Notices in the mail this week. County Appraiser Anna Burson noted that many residents will see significant increases in their home’s valuation. Burson says the Appraiser’s Office does not determine how much residents will pay in property taxes. The Change of Valuation Notice mailers also include a form that can be sent to the Appraiser’s Office to schedule an informal appeal, but property owners must do so by March 27. For more information, call the Appraiser’s Office 785-537-6316.

Riley County officials are planning an informational meeting early next month to discuss the future of the Keats Sewer Benefit District. Commissioners created the district in 2018 after more than 51 percent of affected property owners signed a petition. “After several years of analyzing options, costs, and funding mechanisms, the County sought to move forward with sanitary sewer collection and pump to the City of Manhattan Wastewater Treatment Facility,” said Amanda Webb, Director of Riley County Planning & Development. Rising costs, material delays and labor shortages have prompted Riley County to move toward a community lagoon option instead. Webb says a…

A former Manhattan restaurant owner has been sentenced to 24 and a half years in prison on two counts of rape. Robert Iacobellis appeared in court Friday as Judge Kendra Lewison sealed his fate, granting a motion to depart to the grid, sentencing him to 147 months on both counts, to be served consecutively, for a total of 294 months. The 64-year-old entered into an Alford plea in April 2022, maintaining his innocence but admitting to prosecutors that evidence would likely result in a guilty verdict if brought to trial. The sentence was agreed to by both parties as part…

A Manhattan woman is back in custody following a probation violation. The Riley County Police Department says 23-year-old Therriana Pittman was arrested Thursday night at the Short Stop convenience store on Tuttle Creek Blvd. The probation violation stems from a Valentine’s Day arrest where police seized over 300 suspected fentanyl pills and marijuana from her vehicle. Pittman was charged in that incident with possession and distribution charges, as well as being a felon in possession of a firearm. She remains jailed on a $50,000 bond.

Update: Friday 4 p.m. One person was life flighted from an injury crash early Friday morning on Seth Child Road at the Anderson Ave. overpass. According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, two vehicles were involved in a head on collision just before 6:30 a.m. when a northbound Toyota Corolla crossed over the center line, striking a southbound Dodge Durango. The crash report states 23-year-old Austin Gano, of Manhattan, sustained serious injuries and had to be air lifted to KU Medical Center in Kansas City. According to the Riley County Police Department, Gano had to be extricated from his vehicle. The…

Former Kansas State University milling specialist Mark Fowler died at his Manhattan home Monday. He was 52. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at College Avenue United Methodist Church. Fowler, who grew up on a family farm near Emporia, joined the U.S. Wheat Industry in 2017 and was Vice President of Global Technical Services. He worked for K-State for 12 years, becoming associate director at the IGP Institute in the university’s Department of Grain Science and Industry. After leaving K-State, he worked for Farmer Direct Foods and later U.S. Wheat. Vince Peterson, President of US Wheat Associates issued the…

More details were shared Wednesday evening at a special USD 383 school board meeting ahead of the board’s annual winter retreat, regarding security incidents that occurred last week at Anthony Middle School and Manhattan High School. USD 383 Superintendent Marvin Wade says at Anthony, an unauthorized entry occurred Thursday when a staff member was greeting students coming into the building. Some students came around that area and an individual came in with his hoodie pulled up, and walked into the building. The individual, later identified by police as 22-year-old Samuel Osenga, was issued a no trespass for all district buildings.…

A Rock Creek High School musician will perform his state and national award winning composition this week at the Kansas Music Educators Association annual conference, held in Wichita. Aiden Levendofsky lives in Manhattan and is a sophomore pianist, who has been composing music for four years. He tells KMAN about the process he took for the award winning which required a lyrical component, finding inspiration from a poem titled “There Will Come Soft Rains,” by Sara Teasdale. Levendofsky’s composition netted him wins at the National Association for Music Education Student Composition Contest and later the KMEA state competition in the…

The Riley County Police Department is investigating a theft from G. Thomas Jewelers totaling almost $27,000. According to a police report, filed Tuesday, three women came into the store acting like they were purchasing items, asking for them to be wrapped. During wrapping, the suspects slipped the items off the counter. They then left the store to retrieve identification for the purchases but did not return. Police say four rings, a pair of earrings and a bracelet were all stolen, resulting in an approximate loss of $26,800. Anyone with information can contact RCPD or Manhattan Riley County Crime Stoppers. A…