Author: Brandon Peoples

A coin flip was held at Monday’s Riley County Commission meeting to break a tie in the election of the Grant Township Clerk. Travis Shanahan, the current clerk finished with 19 votes in the Nov. 8 election. So did Riley County resident Larry Noble. Riley County Clerk Rich Vargo explains that a coin toss, while rare in local elections, has happened before. Vargo pulled out a large coin, tossed it into the air, as Shanahan called it. And with that Noble was officially elected as the new Grant Township clerk. He’ll assume the office in January.  Riley County Commissioners previously…

Riley County health officials say cases of the flu are presenting earlier this year than any of the past 13 years. The health department noted in a Facebook post Monday that data so far indicates the 2022 flu season will be severe, based on indicators from across the globe, including Australia, where a lot of H3N2 flu cases have already been seen. This strain is particularly concerning to elderly individuals and young children. As flu comes into focus, the health department also warns that COVID-19 cases remain a high concern as the county is back in the substantial incidence rating,…

Authorities in Junction City say one person died in a mobile home fire early Monday. According to a release from the Junction City Fire Department, firefighters were dispatched to 948 Grant Ave. shortly before 1 a.m. to a mobile home fully engulfed with fire at lot 381. Firefighters found one person dead inside the home. The Kansas State Fire Marshal was called in to investigate and remains the lead agency on the investigation. The cause has not been determined. The identity of the deceased individual has not been released pending a completed investigation. No first responders were injured. Multiple agencies…

It took two overtimes for the Manhattan High football team to  battle back to gain their first lead in the Class 6A state championship and it took a defensive stand on the next series to preserve their first state title since 1988, as they defeated the Trailblazers of Gardner-Edgerton 21-20. Much like it has all season, MHS relied on its defense to preserve the win, on a goal-line stand on a 2-point conversion that failed on an afternoon where both sides of the ball were tested in the trenches. “Our defense stepped up, got some stops, got some turnovers. Our…

Update Monday 8:45 a.m. Riley County Police provided an update Monday on an injury crash that occurred late Thursday into early Friday morning near Seth Child and Anderson Ave. Police say a passenger car, driven by 25-year-old Jesse Orona, of Manhattan, was northbound on Seth Child in the insde lane and crossed into the outside lane, hitting the rear of an SUV driven by 21-year-old Sabrina Reyes, also of Manhattan. The crash caused Reyes to veer right, strike the guard rail and roll several times. Her vehicle came to rest upside down on an embankment near the shoulder. Orona lost…

Pottawatomie County officials held a work session Monday, to discuss how the county will divide population into five districts, now that voters have approved expansion of the board from three to five seats. Two new commissioners will come aboard next year. County Counselor John Watt says the county’s preference is to have that occur in the November 2023 general election. “Because a special election will cost the county and arm and a leg. The state doesn’t help with all of that, it’s a county cost,” he said. According to the 2021 census, Pottawatomie County’s population was just slightly over 25,000…

A Maryland man, formerly of Junction City, convicted last year of kidnapping and strangling a woman in 2017, has been sentenced to more than 50 years in prison. Judge Kendra Lewison on Thursday sentenced 60-year-old David Lee Gollahon to 620 months in prison, consecutive to his federal prison sentence, stemming from a pair of 2019 bank robberies in Maryland. His convictions include charges of aggravated kidnapping, aggravated burglary and attempted aggravated robbery. According to Deputy Riley County Attorney Trinity Muth, Gollahon went to the Scenic Valley Inn where he reportedly gained entry and encountered employee Debra Ring, grabbed her and threw…

One person is behind bars after a stabbing incident in Junction City Sunday, which left one person with serious injuries. Junction City Police say 47-year-old Alexius Mims is charged with attempted murder and aggravated battery. Officers were called out to a residence in the 400 block of West 18th Street at around 7 a.m. Sunday. The victim, 31-year-old Rollin McClam, of Junction City, was transported to Geary Community Hospital, and later transferred to Stormont Vail Hospital in Topeka where he was listed in critical condition. Police say the incident remains under further investigation and that there are no additional suspects…

A Topeka woman was killed early Sunday morning following a crash near St. Marys. The Kansas Highway Patrol says a Honda Accord, driven by 22-year-old Alexis Ward was traveling westbound on Highway 24 near Pleasant View Road at around 6 a.m. Authorities say her car left the roadway to the right, over-corrected, then crossed the middle lanes and went off the roadway to the left. The vehicle then rolled after over-correcting again and she was thrown from the vehicle Ward was pronounced dead on scene. According to the crash report, she was not wearing a seat belt.

Riley County Police say a Riley County teenager accused of burglarizing the Ogden Casey’s store early Thursday morning is facing additional charges, stemming from a string of similar burglaries dating back to late October in town. Estevan Rochin, 16, was arrested Thursday on charges of burglary, interference with law enforcement and criminal damage to property, after police responded to an alarm call at the store around 2 a.m. Thursday. RCPD noted in Friday’s activity report that Rochin, has also been charged with additional counts each of criminal damage to property and burglary in connection to break-ins at the Casey’s store…