Author: Brandon Peoples

A Manhattan man’s collection of Kansas City Chiefs memorabilia is now the Guinness World Record holder for the largest collection in the world. Curt Herrman, who began collecting random Chiefs items following the team’s win in Super Bowl IV at the age of 9, has grown his collection, now known as the ‘Chiefseum’, to a record-setting 1,110 total items. “When I got the first world record, almost two years ago, the record was 642. Since then, I’ve had people sending me stuff, giving me things and so now it’s doubled (in size) in the last two years,” he said. The…

Weeks after a man was found in an Aggieville alley with severe head injuries, Riley County Police say they’ve arrested a suspect who they believe is responsible. Jordan Owens, a 25-year-old from Fort Riley was taken into custody Wednesday afternoon for aggravated battery. He’s accused of punching a 23-year-old man Aug. 28. Fort Riley’s Criminal Investigation Division assisted in the investigation. The victim was later found in the alley behind Tate’s Bar in the 1100 block of Moro Street by a group of people who brought him to the emergency room at Ascension Via Christi. The man was later transported…

Officials have confirmed that the new bivalent doses of the Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines arrived Tuesday at the Riley County Health Department. They will be available to the public starting Thursday. Individuals 18 and older are eligible for a single booster of the Moderna bivalent, if it’s been at least two months since completion of the primary vaccination or the most recent booster dose with any authorized or approved monovalent vaccine has been received. Individuals 12 and older are eligible for a single booster of the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine bivalent, if two months have passed since competing the primary…

Pottawatomie County commissioners on Monday discussed a need for more communication between its board and the Planning and Zoning Board moving forward. The two entities have been busy working through conditional use permits for a number of rock quarries, outdoor wedding venues and working through developing possible regulations for solar farms. At Monday’s meeting, Commissioner Pat Weixelman suggested the two sides need to be able to meet more often, suggesting more frequent joint meetings. Typically the two boards meet at least once a year. County Planner Stephan Metzger suggested that could be a possibility, though expressed some hesitation. Metzger plans…

A court date for two former Wamego teachers accused of unlawful sexual relations with a former student came and went Tuesday with no new developments. It’s now continued to later this fall. Pottawatomie County Attornery Sherri Schuck tells KMAN it’s nothing unusual, as the state and prosecution await KBI to complete searches on digital and electronic devices belonging to 51-year-old Allen and 55-year-old Deborah Sylvester. Once the investigation is completed, that evidence will then be presented to the defense. As a result, the next scheduled status hearing in the case will be 10 a.m. November 15 in Westmoreland with Judge…

Two new charges have been filed against a former Manhattan-Ogden paraeducator charged with numerous counts of child sex crimes. An amended court complaint filed online Monday show 33-year-old Aaron Zachry is charged with two new counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a child stemming from two separate occasions in 2019. The new charges bring Zachry’s total count up to 37. Overall, he now faces eight counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a child and 29 counts of sexual exploitation of a child. Those other crimes are alleged to have occurred in 2020 and 2021. Zachry was arrested in June 2021…

Manhattan area businesses were recognized Tuesday at the annual Business Awards, hosted by the Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce. A total of 16 businesses were recognized at the event, held over the lunch hour at the Manhattan Conference Center. Midwest Concrete Materials took home Business of the Year. The company played a key role in developing the site that will be the future home of Scorpion Biologics. Owner Chris Eichman shared remarks at Tuesday’s event. The Small Business of the Year Award went to Anderson Knight Architects, a company founded in 2002 by Tracy Anderson and Dan Knight. Anderson thanked…

Senator Jerry Moran joined a group of Kansas State University officials Friday in touring Shellenberger Hall, the future site of the Global Center for Grain and Food Innovation. The Kansas Board of Regents in 2020 approved $5 million in startup funding from the legislature for K-State to create a new Institute for Global Food, Health and Biosecurity. The College of Agriculture plans to eventually demolish Shellenberger, creating a modernized facility for future ag students. Going forward Moran says he’ll be seeking opportunities for federal funds and other avenues to aid K-State’s efforts. Moran says some students may choose against coming to K-State because…

Riley County officials say a brush fire reported near Randolph kept firefighters busy Thursday, scorching an estimated 30 acres of private property. Firefighters were dispatched around noon Thursday to the 9600 block of Windy Hill Road and contained the fire. Windy conditions reignited the fire later in the day, prompting a second response before the fire was fully contained. No structural damage was reported. One civilian was injured in a crash involving an ATV and a Riley County Fire District No. 1 firetruck responding to the fire. RCPD says 62-year-old Steven Salzman, of Leonardville was transported to Ascension Via Christi…

Following completion of the study phase of the Riley County Public Safety Headquarters project, the commission has approved a request to use a Construction Manager at Risk procurement process moving forward. “We feel that it will serve public interest by providing substantial savings in time and/or money over the traditional design-bid-build process. By doing this process, we’re not playing favoritism to any particular contractor,” said John Ellerman, Riley County Public Works Director. A public meeting will be held Sept. 29 as the next step in the process. “It’s important to start the process directly and see it all the way…