Author: Brandon Peoples

1st District Congressman Tracey Mann was the featured guest at the Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce Military Relations Committee Luncheon, held Wednesday at the Manhattan Conference Center. The first-term Republican Representative spoke on the two things he believes has led to continued inflation, quipping at the Democrat-led Inflation Reduction Act, signed by President Biden last month. Rep. Mann also spoke to Biden’s executive order forgiving up to $20,000 in student loan debt to borrowers, calling it a shifting of debt to other taxpayers. Mann says he believes the process for students borrowing money for college should become more market driven and says…

Officials in Geary County are investigating a Sunday burglary at a Junction City business, involving multiple suspects. According to the Geary County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded Monday in reference to a burglary with damage to property. Authorities say several individuals entered a locked business property at 1729 North Monroe Street in Junction City. Damage was reported to the building along with stolen property. Through an investigation, deputies identified seven suspects, including 18-year-olds Kody Duncan and Brianna Spitzer, of Junction City. Both were charged Tuesday with burglary, damage to property and contributing to a child’s misconduct. Additionally, five other Junction City…

A Wednesday morning crash in southwestern Riley County sent three people to the hospital. Officers responded to the scene of a crash shortly before 6 a.m. near E. Riley Ave. and Fort Riley Blvd. near Ogden. Arriving officers found a transit van, driven by 47-year-old Jada Conley, of Centralia, had rear ended a pickup, driven by 38-year-old Benjamin Risher, of Manhattan. Risher and two passengers from the van were transported to Ascension Via Christi, for evaluation of possible minor injuries.

Riley County saw 149 new COVID-19 cases last week, according to state and local health officials. As for vaccines, the Riley County Health Department says it has Pfizer, Moderna and Novavax vaccines available at its clinic located at 2030 Tecumseh Road. However, the bivalent doses of Pfizer and Moderna vaccines have not yet arrived, though should be sometime later this month. In its weekly update Wednesday, the health department noted that the incidence rate for new infections is at 200.7. The data, provided by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, keeps Riley County in the high incidence category. Two…

A Wamego man is charged in connection to a 2021 overdose death involving fentanyl. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation and Wamego Police Department says 20-year-old McKaine Farr knowingly distributed counterfeit oxycodone tablets laced with fentanyl, which caused an overdose death of 21-year-old Jayson Ebert in September 2021. Farr, who was arrested Tuesday, is charged with alleged distribution of a controlled substance causing great bodily harm or death. The charge is a level 1 person felony. Farr remains in custody in the Pottawatomie County Jail. Authorities say the investigation is ongoing.

A new status hearing has been scheduled for a 37-year-old woman accused of intentionally starting a fire in July that caused roughly $60,000 in damage at a Manhattan residence. Mahbooba Babraksai appeared Tuesday in Riley County District Court, via Zoom, in front of Judge William Malcolm. During the hearing, her attorney Andy Vinduska noted he still has videos to review for discovery, but is nearing completion of that. His request was to continue the case for a status hearing at the next available date. Judge Malcolm then set the case for a new status hearing at 1 p.m. Oct. 4.…

Public hearings will take place ahead of Wednesday’s USD 383 School Board meeting, in anticipation of the board adopting its proposed $149 million budget (see below) for fiscal 2023. Up first is a hearing to show the district plans to exceed the revenue neutral rate, followed by a public hearing on the overall budget, which includes a 60.605 mill levy, calculated from over $46 million in taxes to be levied in property taxes. The local option budget percentage in the recommended budget is 33 percent. While expenditures went up $20 million, the mill levy decreased nearly a mill from 2022…

Riley County Police have released more details from a weekend alleged robbery in Manhattan. In its Tuesday activity report, RCPD says 21-year-old Courtney Harris, of Junction City, was charged with aggravated robbery after reportedly stealing cash from a 19-year-old man early Saturday morning at an apartment in the 1400 block of College Ave. The incident led to a fight and as officers arrived, they witnessed Harris running away. He then jumped over a second-story railing and ran from officers but was detained shortly after in the immediate area. Police say Harris was transported to Ascension Via Christi for treatment of…

The Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce has announced finalists for its upcoming Business Awards luncheon. Finalists for business of the year: McCownGordon Construction, Midwest Concrete Materials and Ultra Electronics ICE. Finalists for small business of the year: Anderson Knight Architects, Manhattan Running Company and TimberCreek Veterinary Hospital. Finalists for women/minority owned business: Andrews & Associates Counseling, MHK Play Studio and T&M Concrete. Finalists for entrepreneurial spirit award: Back 9 Development: TJ Vilkanskas, Blueville Nursery: The Westervelt Family and One Egg Group: Evan and Andrea Grier. Finalists for tourism/hospitality award: Flint Hills Discovery Center, Liquid Art Winery & Estate and the Midwest…

Each year the City of Manhattan plays host to state high school basketball in Class 2A, but a second state tournament has been secured, book-ending both weekends of Spring Break for hoops fans. Officials with the Manhattan Convention & Visitors Bureau have secured a basketball and cheerleading tournament for Special Olympics, the weekend of St. Patrick’s Day (March 17 and 18). CVB Executive Director Karen Hibbard says they’re estimating some 800 Special Olympic athletes will descend on Manhattan for the event. Hibbard says her office is getting the word out early, in order to ensure those who can volunteer are reached…