Author: Brandon Peoples

The Boys and Girls Club of Manhattan has a new CEO. Hannah Coash has rejoined the Manhattan team after 14 years of experience with the Boys & Girls Club across three clubs. Her career began with the Manhattan chapter in 2008. Coash fills the role previously held by Trent Jones, who left the organization in January. Development Director Melissa Soldan had filled the role on an interim basis. The local Boys & Girls Club chapter offers before and after school programs, as well as some summer programming at 11 club locations in Manhattan and Wamego.

A Junction City woman is charged in federal court with theft. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Topeka says 27-year-old Chelsea Pulse has been charged with single counts of embezzlement of the mail and delay of mail as well as two counts of theft of the mail. The U.S. Postal Service is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara Walton is prosecuting.

A Fort Riley soldier has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Topeka for his alleged role in a romance scheme that netted approximately $150,000 in fraud claims from at least 25 individuals. The U.S. Attorney’s Office says 24-year-old Innocent Ugwu, of Fort Riley, is charged with five counts of wire fraud, five counts of laundering monetary instruments and one count of procurement of citizenship or naturalization unlawfully. Court documents say the scheme happened for an undetermined amount of time up until January 2021. Ugwu is accused of conspiring with others to defraud money from individuals in the United…

Memorial Day services are planned across the area Monday. The 1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley will conduct the annual ceremony at 11:40 a.m. Monday at the Post Cemetery at 193 Huebner Road. The observance honors the men and women who died while serving our country. Outgoing Fort Riley Garrison Commander Colonel Will McKannay will speak as part of the ceremony. He and Command Sgt. Major Speichert will place a wreath in honor of those who have died while serving in the armed forces. The ceremony is open to the public, but those without a Department of Defense ID card…

Riley County Police are investigating a report of damage at the Eisenhower Baseball Complex. Police say an unknown suspect damaged the maintenance shop door, a score box and a restroom with graffiti sometime this week. It was reported to police on Tuesday. The estimated total loss associated with this case is about $500. Tips can be submitted to RCPD or Crime Stoppers.

Riley County Police are investigating a case of credit card fraud that involved several thousands of dollars worth of unauthorized purchases. According to RCPD’s Activity Report, officers listed Bank of America and a 66-year-old man as victims Wednesday, when it was reported the man’s credit card information was stolen online with approximately $13,000 worth of fraudulent charges originating from Indiana and Florida. Anyone with information can contact RCPD or Crime Stoppers.

A former Manhattan man, with active warrants accusing him of sex crimes involving a minor, was found dead earlier this month in Nevada. The Riley County Police Department confirmed that 40-year-old Joshua Briggs, of Las Vegas, was found dead May 12. The local coroner’s office reported Briggs died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. A complaint had been filed in November, alleging five counts of rape and a single count of aggravated indecent liberties with a child, occurring between August 2018 and June 2019.

Ongoing levee construction is prompting Manhattan city officials to close an additional section of Linear Trail beginning June 1. Portions of the trail have been closed through the first phase of the project between South Manhattan Ave. and US-24. Assistant Director of the Manhattan Parks & Recreation Department, Wyatt Thompson explains what the second phase closure will entail. “So they’ll be closing the segment from the Blue River Bridge there at Highway 24, north and west to Casement Road,” he said. Thompson says the city strongly requests people respect the closure for their own safety, as well as that of…

Manhattan Area Habitat for Humanity will hold a groundbreaking ceremony Friday morning as it celebrates its 31st home construction project. Similar to a home project built in 2021, the home once completed will have the ability to produce as much power as it consumes through high-performance design and the use of solar panels. Officials say it’s a transformative step for housing affordability as it will help reduce the costs for all homeowners. A number of partnering organizations are assisting Habitat with the design and build as the next step in a workforce housing initiative. That includes Fort Riley Home Builders…

Governor Laura Kelly has directed flags to be flown at half-staff throughout the state of Kansas until sundown on Friday in honor of the 19 children and two adults killed in the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas Tuesday. Local reaction was gathered from educators throughout Riley and Geary County. USD 475 Superintendent Dr. Reginald Eggleston. Blue Valley USD 384 Superintendent John Cox… In a statement, the Riley County Police Department says “there are no words to describe the emotions we are all feeling after hearing the news. We will continue to do everything in our power…