Author: Brandon Peoples

A pair of Manhattan organizations have been awarded more than $85,000 in grants to provide services for crime victims. The Office of Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt announced Wednesday that The Crisis Center received just north of $53,000 to recruit, train and supervise volunteers to assist professional staff who provide in-person, around-the-clock crisis intervention services, as well as a safe shelter for sexual and domestic violence victims in the center’s five-county region. Sunflower CASA has also been awarded more than $18,000 to provide supervised visitation and monitored exchange services to children and their non-residential parents; $10,000 to support the CASA…

An Illinois man convicted earlier this year for assaulting his former girlfriend two years ago at a Manhattan hotel, to the point she sustained temporary hearing loss, has been sentenced to 30 years in prison. Isain Lopez, 26, was sentenced Tuesday by Riley County District Court Judge Kendra Lewison to 272 months on his conviction of aggravated kidnapping. He was also sentenced to 41 months on a conviction of robbery, 32 months for aggravated battery, 12 months for aggravated domestic battery and six months for a conviction of criminal threats. Judge Lewison ordered the sentences to be served consecutively, for…

As developers continue to work on planning for residential areas around Oliver Brown Elementary School, some guidance was given to the Pottawatomie County Planning and Zoning staff about how some of that should continue. County Planner Stephan Metzger indicated that a developer is trying to plan for how to design a subdivision east of where Junietta Road ends past Moody Road. Planning staff recommended against a Junietta Road extension to Lake Elbo Road in favor of more cost-effective routes to be prioritized instead. Metzger cited two viable reasons for not extending the road. While the road may not be necessary…

No injuries were reported after a tractor caught fire Tuesday afternoon near Leonardville. Volunteer crews with Riley County Fire District No. 1 were dispatched around 1:30 p.m. to a rural area near Fairview Church and Walnut Creek Roads. Upon arrival, they found a John Deere silage chopper tractor fully engulfed in flames.  Seven volunteer firefighters on three apparatuses extinguished the fire with an hour and crews managed to keep it from spreading to nearby fields.  A damage estimate wasn’t immediately available, but the tractor was a total loss.

A Manhattan man convicted of killing two men will spend the next 32 years behind bars. Montrell Vassar was sentenced by Riley County District Court Judge John Bosch Monday, to 387 months in prison for his role in the shooting deaths of 23-year-old Javon Gray and 19-year-old Skylar Havens. The pair were gunned down from behind in October 2020 in the 700 block of Allison Ave. during the course of a robbery. As part of a plea agreement entered last month with prosecutors, Vassar had agreed to also pay more than $6,700 in restitution. According to Deputy Riley County Attorney…

A status hearing for Robert Iacobellis was held Monday, as the defendant appeared yet again without counsel, weeks after dismissing his court-appointed attorneys. Iacobellis, who stands charged with 27 counts of sexual abuse involving four individuals, informed Judge Kendra Lewison that he has been unable to secure funding to hire Lawrence-based attorney Christopher Joseph. He says he had secured half of the $50,000 needed, but then learned the price had doubled to $100,000. Iacobellis said he has two people, including a family member, helping secure funding for the costly legal battle, but indicated that the price tag may be out…

A new permanent monument on the grounds of the Kansas State Capitol will recognize Gold Star Families. The monument was unveiled at a Friday ceremony, with Gov. Laura Kelly, Executive Director of the Governor’s Military Council Lt. General Perry Wiggins, as well as State Senators Tom Hawk and Jeff Longbine on hand. The monument honors the families of more than 6,500 fallen service members who died while serving in a time of conflict. Gov. Kelly thanked the legislature for passing Senate Bill 330, which allowed for the memorial’s construction, saying it fulfilled a challenge by late Marine Corps Warrant Officer…

Max Stanard’s interception in the closing minute sealed the victory for the Class 6A No. 1 Manhattan Indians over No. 4 Washburn Rural Friday night 28-25 at Bishop Stadium. The victory marked Manhattan’s third win this season over a ranked opponent. For Manhattan, it also marked a win over the only team to beat them last year during the regular season. The contest saw a number of penalties on both sides of the ball, some early special teams gaffes by both teams. Manhattan won the turnover battle, coughing it up on a fumble in the red zone in the third…

Health officials say Riley County has moved into the substantial incidence category for COVID-19 after recording 61 new cases for the week of Sept. 10th through the 16th. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment noted the incidence rate was 82.2, which was enough to lower Riley County from high to substantial, based on cases per 100,000 people. Along with the improved numbers, no hospitalizations were noted Wednesday and no additional deaths have been reported. The Riley County Health Department continues to administer COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer, Moderna and Novavax and also has ample supply of the new bivalent (by-VAY-lent)…

The long-time director of the Manhattan Convention and Visitors Bureau has announced plans to retire in the new year. Karen Hibbard announced Wednesday she’ll depart the Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce in February, after 26 years of service to Manhattan. During her tenure as CVB Director, Manhattan has seen significant additions to its convention and tourism segments, including an expanded Manhattan Conference Center and the addition of the Flint Hills Discovery Center and Blue Earth Plaza. Her office also oversees the Class 2A state high school basketball tournament each March at Bramlage Coliseum. “I have had the fortunate opportunity to…