Author: Brandon Peoples

More changes are coming to administrative leadership within the Riley County Police Department. During his department briefing to the Riley County Commission Thursday, interim RCPD Director Kurt Moldrup noted that current Administrative Captain Josh Kyle is retiring from RCPD at the end of the year. Captain Kyle has been with RCPD since 1991, when he was hired as a police officer. Most recently, Kyle had been one of three finalists for the RCPD director position. A retirement reception for Kyle will take place at 11:30 a.m. on Dec. 30 at Pottorf Hall. Other RCPD staff retiring at the end of the…

The operator of a crude oil pipeline that ruptured last week in a rural part of Washington County says it has reopened all of the pipeline except for the stretch in Kansas and northern Oklahoma that includes the spill site. Canada-based T.C. Energy said in a statement Wednesday night that its Keystone system has restarted operations from Canada to southern Nebraska and from there to south-central Illinois. It also is operating the pipeline from northern Oklahoma to the Gulf Coast. The Dec. 7 spill forced the company to shut down operations and dumped about 14,000 barrels of heavy crude into…

A small fire was quickly extinguished at a Manhattan apartment complex Wednesday evening. The Manhattan Fire Department says firefighters were dispatched around 7:30 p.m. to 1832 Claflin Road. Crews found a small smoldering fire on a deck of the apartment complex, quickly gained access and extinguished it. Residents were able to exit without injury. The fire department says the fire caused an estimated $10,000 in structural damage and displaced five occupants. The fire was determined to be accidental.

A Manhattan woman has been charged in connection with causing a Sunday night crash near the intersection of Tuttle Creek Blvd. and Allen Road. According to RCPD, 30-year-old Crystal Jaimez was arrested Tuesday evening on two counts of aggravated battery: DUI, for being under the influence at the time of the crash. The Kansas Highway Patrol, which investigated the crash, stated Jaimez failed to stop at a red light, causing the crash when it struck a turning SUV at around 9:30 p.m. Sunday. The crash report indicated both drivers were unharmed. It also indicated the SUV had two juvenile passengers,…

Nearly a week after a massive oil spill from the Keystone pipeline in rural Washington County, officials still don’t know what caused the failure, resulting in over 14,000 barrels of crude oil to flow into Mill Creek, near the Kansas-Nebraska border. Clean up activities continue, with the Environmental Protection Agency saying it had recovered nearly 2,600 barrels of liquid from the scene, most of it an oil-water mixture. Just 435 barrels of oil have been recovered directly from the ruptured pipeline. A Reuters report Tuesday said Washington County officials have been told it will likely take weeks for the cleanup…

Gov. Laura Kelly was in Westmoreland Tuesday to announce more than $40 million will support 33 local and off-system bridge projects across the state in fiscal year 2024, including one in rural Pottawatomie County. Joined by Transportation Secretary Julie Lorenz and Pottawatomie County Commission Chair Pat Weixelman, Gov. Kelly highlighted the local project along Armstrong Road over Vermillion Creek, just northeast of Havensville. It’s one of just two in the area that crosses the creek. “Without it, locals would have to drive a long way out of their way to get home. But the bridge was built in 1910 and…

Riley County Law Board members have unanimously approved a contract for incoming Riley County Police Department Director Brian Peete. The decision came during a special meeting of the board Monday. Salary details and contract length weren’t immediately available, though KMAN has filed an open records request seeking that information. Peete’s contract begins with RCPD on Dec. 30. Peete, 47, becomes RCPD’s sixth director, succeeding Dennis Butler, who retired in February. He comes to Riley County after serving two years as police chief in Montpelier, Vermont. Originally from Chicago, Peete is also a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and has…

A Salina man with past criminal charges in Riley County was jailed over the weekend on several outstanding warrants. According to RCPD, 28-year-old Aaron Noonan was arrested Friday on a warrant for probation violation, stemming from his arrest for conspiracy to commit aggravated robbery. The charge comes from a November 2019 incident where Noonan allegedly robbed a man at gunpoint in the 400 block of Fremont Street. Noonan was additionally charged with failing to appear in court, for alleged violations of drug and weapons charges stemming from a September 18 incident in the 700 block of Colorado Street. He was…

A police pursuit in Geary County ended in a fiery crash, with no serious injuries reported. The Kansas Highway Patrol says shortly after noon Sunday, officers were pursuing an eastbound Toyota Avalon on K-244. The vehicle failed to negotiate a left hand curve, crossed the centerline and struck a guard rail, overturning in the north ditch. It then caught fire. Authorities say 43-year-old Brad Briand, of Junction City, was transported to Geary Community Hospital with a possible injury and a complaint of pain. He was later released from the hospital and taken to Geary County Jail where he faces numerous…

Fall commencement ceremonies were held at Kansas State University over the weekend. K-State President Richard Linton delivered the commencement speech to the Graduate School  Friday afternoon at Bramlage Coliseum. During his speech, Linton shared a picture from when he completed Graduate School at Virginia Tech. Oliver Brown Elementary fifth grade teacher Sally Lopez Gurrola offered sentiments to the College of Education undergraduates. A 2021 graduate of K-State, Lopez-Gurrola is currently working toward her Master of Science in Instruction and Curriculum.  Lopez-Gurrola told graduates they should not be afraid of failure in the next endeavors after graduation. The university says over…