Author: Brandon Peoples

The Riley County Extension, along with Kansas Farm Bureau, the Small Business Development Center and SPARK are planning for the third annual Rural Revitalization Conference later this month. The event focuses on local entrepreneurship and providing information to prospective new business endeavors. This year’s event is Wednesday, Feb. 22 at the Randolph VFW/Senior Center and will run from 9:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. The morning lineup includes speakers from the Small Business Development Center, USDA Rural Development, Gov. Kelly’s Office on Rural Prosperity. Following a lunch catered by the Farmhouse Restaurant of Olsburg and Riley, local business owners will share…

The Riley County Police Department is seeking the public’s help identifying a man wanted for questioning about a theft of nearly $2,800 in merchandise from a Manhattan retailer. Surveillance photos shared on RCPD’s Facebook page show an older white man and what appears to be a red Chevrolet Silverado in the Menards parking lot. According to police, the suspect loaded the stolen items into a cart then into the truck. Several big ticket items were reported stolen Sunday, including Snapper and Generac generators, a vinyl sliding window, a Bosch impact wrench and a WaterBoss water softener. Anyone who can help…

A third person is now charged in connection to the February 2022 death of a Fort Riley soldier. The Riley County Police Department says 27-year-old Edward Wright, of Junction City, was arrested Tuesday on a Riley County District Court warrant for first-degree murder and three counts of aggravated assault. The charges were brought by the Riley County Attorney’s Office for Wright’s involvement in the homicide of Joshua Wardi outside an Aggieville bar. Wright is being held in the Riley County Jail on a $500,000 bond. His arrest comes one month after police arrested 24-year-old Jordan Prather, also of Junction City…

Four candidates have emerged to become the next assistant superintendent at Manhattan-Ogden USD 383. An announcement from the district is expected at the Feb. 15 school board meeting, according to Michele Jones, USD 383 director of communications and public safety. Michael Couch, Nathan Downs, Jennifer Gatz and Catherine Wilson interviewed for the upcoming vacancy last week. The person selected will replace Eric Reid, who is being promoted to superintendent July 1, upon the retirement of the incumbent Marvin Wade. Couch currently serves as superintendent and principal for the Kickapoo School in Powhattan, Kansas, and is a former superintendent at Marysville…

Longtime K-State Innovation Partners President and CEO Kent Glasscock has announced his retirement, after more than 20 years of service. K-State Innovation Partners is responsible for commercializing and facilitating collaboration between the university, industry and communities through corporate engagement, technology commercialization and economic development. “Kent’s vision for Innovation Partners has had a truly significant impact on K-State’s relationships and community partnerships,” says K-State president Richard Linton. “Through his leadership, K-State has partnered with countless industry and community groups, added hundreds of jobs to the Kansas economy and put the university in a great position to be a next-generation land-grant university.”…

A Wamego woman was among three arrested on drug charges this past weekend in Jackson County. The Sheriff’s Office says 45-year-old Patricia Nichols was pulled over Saturday in the southbound lanes of Hwy 75. Officers found what was believed to be cocaine, methamphetamine, two 9 millimeter handguns in addition to other drug paraphernalia. Nichols was arrested for distribution of stimulant, criminal use of weapons, possession of opiates and possession of drug paraphernalia. Two others were arrested on similar charges, including 46-year-old Sheila Walker, of Topeka and 27-year-old Marques Cates, of El Dorado.

The 21st Judicial District Nominating Commission has selected Jeremy Larchick to fill the vacant magistrate judge position in Riley County. Larchick will start in the position upon his swearing-in. A date for that ceremony hasn’t been announced. Larchick is currently the chief of claims and hospital administration for the Department of the Army at Fort Riley. He’ll fill a vacancy created by Judge James Kepple, who retired in November to become Manhattan’s municipal judge. After serving one year in office, Larchick will stand for a retention vote in the next general election. The 21st Judicial District is composed of Riley…

A Junction City woman turned herself in Monday almost two months after allegedly abducting three children from their custodial father. The Junction City Police Department says Jeana Foley was arrested on a warrant charging her with three counts of aggravated interference with parental custody. She had been wanted since Dec. 21. Police say 6-year-old Rosie, 5-year-old Camden and 3-year-old Genevieve were all recovered by JCPD safe and unharmed. Foley is being held at the Geary County Detention Facility. Police say no further information is being released.

Arraignment for a Fort Riley soldier accused of murdering a fellow soldier in Aggieville one year ago has been continued into late March. Tremelle Montgomery, 20, appeared in court Monday via Zoom from the Riley County Jail, two weeks after being bound over for a possible trial later this year. Montgomery’s attorneys Brenda Jordan and Lora Ingels requested a minimum 45 days as they prepare to enter mediation with prosecutors toward a possible plea agreement.  Judge John Bosch scheduled the continued arraignment hearing for March 27. Montgomery faces seven total counts, including that of first-degree murder in the death of…

Interviews are scheduled this week as the USD 384 Blue Valley Randolph School Board searches for its next Superintendent. Agenda documents shared on the USD 384 website show current Superintendent John Cox announced his resignation to the board at its Dec. 12 meeting. His resignation is effective June 30. The first of four closed-door meetings this week will take place tonight at 6:30 p.m. The board will review applications this evening before hosting three candidate interviews Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 6:30 p.m. in Randolph. Cox was hired by the district in February 2020, following the retirement of Brady Burton, who led the…