Author: Brandon Peoples

Former Manhattan Mayor Wynn Butler appeared in Manhattan Municipal Court Tuesday morning with his attorney for the first time since his May 8 arrest for an alleged DUI crash into a liquor store. The 72-year-old entered a plea of not guilty, despite RCPD claiming in its May 9 arrest report that Butler’s blood/alcohol content exceeded the legal limit. The incident caused over $1,000 in damage to the Candlewood Liquor Store. No injuries were reported. Butler resigned from the commission the next day. A status hearing in the case is now scheduled for 4 p.m. on June 26.

Memorial arrangements are set for a Manhattan chiropractor who died unexpectedly last week. Dr. Greg Postier was the owner of Postier Chiropractic, near 3rd and Bluemont Ave. in Manhattan. Postier was vacationing in Colorado when a “tragic accident” occurred May 14, according to a social media post by the company Monday. Further details have not been released, but the 38-year-old, who was known to be an avid outdoorsman and catfishing champion, died while partaking in a fishing trip. Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. A memorial service is scheduled for 2 p.m. Friday at Rock Hills Church, located…

Manhattan High School’s class of 2024 was celebrated Sunday afternoon at Bramlage Coliseum. MHS Principal Michael Dorst welcomed the gathering and during his remarks quoted a book titled Fish, about the fishmongers at Pike’s Place Market in Seattle, Washington about how they find a daily joy in what they do, tying it back to the graduating class. Over 400 students were candidates for diplomas. and many of them reflected on the past four years and what the future has in store. Student Body President Allina Dougherty shared a message with her fellow graduates. Many of the graduating seniors are looking…

Groundbreaking for Kansas State University’s new Global Center for Grain and Food Innovation was held Friday afternoon east of Weber Hall. The new facility will allocate 30% of space for on-site collaboration between public resources and private enterprises and will provide an overall modernized facility for the K-State Department of Grain Science and Industry, which specializes in milling, baking, feed and pet food. The center is the final and largest piece of the $210 million K-State Agriculture Innovation Initiative, which includes funds raised from state, private and university funds.  “It’s an historic day. It’s a transformational day for Kansas agriculture…

Riley County Police have released more details following a drug-related arrest early Thursday morning. Michael Curtis Skillern-Lewis, 29, of Manhattan, remains in custody after police charged him on probable cause offenses, including distribution of heroin, distribution of an opiate, flee or attempt to elude, and possession with intent to manufacture. According to a Friday release, an RCPD officer attempted to force a traffic stop shortly before 3 a.m. Thursday, but the driver fled. A short time later, the officer located the empty vehicle parked in the 1300 block of North 11th Street. Officers then located a backpack in the middle…

Riley County Police are investigating an alleged incident of aggravated arson in Ogden. Officers filed a police report Thursday night in the 100 block of 8th Street after a suspect reportedly poured gas onto a vehicle and set it on fire, shortly after 8 p.m. The fire then spread to another vehicle and a nearby mobile home, which sustained minor damage. No injuries were reported. Two men and a woman were listed as the victims. Police have not yet announced any arrests. Riley County Fire District No. 1 and Manhattan Fire Department both responded. Damage is estimated at around $82,000,…

Tuition appears to be on the rise again at Kansas higher education institutions. The Kansas Board of Regents on Wednesday heard proposals from all six four-year universities for 2025, including Kansas State, which is proposing a 2.8% hike, amounting to roughly $139 per semester. This after last year’s increase of 5%. President Richard Linton says doing so would generate about $5.5 million in additional revenue across all campuses. Linton says applications are up and the university expects an increase in student enrollment this fall. Delays with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) haven’t given university officials any concrete numbers…

Riley County Police are investigating after a Manhattan man was arrested on a host of drug-related offenses early Thursday morning. The arrest report shows 29-year-old Michael Lewis is charged with three alleged counts of distribution involving heroin and other opiates, as well as a charge of fleeing and eluding. RCPD says the investigation into his arrest began late Wednesday night. Further details surrounding the arrest are pending from RCPD.

Gov. Laura Kelly has requested additional funds for disaster relief following the April 30 tornado in Westmoreland. The governor, on Wednesday, sent a letter to the Small Business Administration requesting a disaster loan declaration for Pottawatomie County. The letter requests that the SBA provide assistance in the form of SBA disaster loans. If approved, a disaster declaration would make low-interest, long-term loans available to homeowners, renters and businesses. Officials with the Kansas Division of Emergency Management noted that to qualify for such a declaration, the State of Kansas must show at lest 25 homes or businesses suffered major damage, with…

Former Riley County Schools Superintendent Brad Starnes has announced his candidacy for the State Senate. Starnes, a Republican, will challenge Democrat Usha Reddi for the 22nd District seat. He’ll be looking to flip a Senate seat that has been in Democratic control since 2012, under former Sen. Tom Hawk, who retired at the end of 2022. Reddi was appointed to serve out Hawk’s remaining term. In a Wednesday release, Starnes cited his 43 years of service in public, parochial and private education, including 15 years with USD 378 both as a high school principal and superintendent as reasons he’d be…