Author: Brandon Peoples

The Riley County Health Department has identified nine new COVID-19 cases and three additional recoveries in the past week. Health officials say there are 16 known active cases in the county. An additional death was verified through the Office of Vital Statistics last week, showing a 101-year-old patient who tested positive for COVID-19 on Jan. 11 and passed away Feb. 9. Her passing was the 80th COVID related death in Riley County. Ascension Via Christi was caring for one COVID-19 patient Wednesday. Riley County COVID-19 Statistics for April 6, 2022 Active cases: 16 Positive patients at Via Christi Hospital: 1…

A 9-year-old Junction City boy is recovering after an accidental shooting Tuesday. Junction City Police were called out around 7 p.m. Tuesday to the 2000 block of North Wind Drive where they found 9-year-old Terrance Resto suffering from a gunshot wound. He was stabilized and transported to Geary Community Hospital and then air lifted to Wesley Medical Center in Wichita. As of this (Wed) morning, police said Resto was stable in responsive following treatment. An initial investigation concluded the injury was a result of Resto and his 11-year-old brother playing with a firearm when it accidentally discharged. Police are encouraging…

Kansas State University President Richard Linton has appointed search committees to lead national searches for two vacant cabinet-level positions. The search for the university’s next chief financial officer and vice president for university operations/chiefs operations officers, formally merges the CFO and COO positions into one. The national search will be co-chaired by VP for Research David Rosowsky and College of Business Administration dean Kevin Gwinner. The search for the next vice president for communications and marketing follows the retirement of Jeff Morris last month. Co-chairs of that search committee include K-State Alumni Association President and CEO Amy Button Renz and…

Riley County Police are investigating after a car was stolen from a local car rental facility Tuesday morning. Officers filed a report for theft, criminal damage to property and criminal trespass, listing Hertz Rental & Lewis Automotive Group as well as a 32-year-old man as victims. Police say an unknown suspect broke into a lock box and stole nine sets of keys, then a gray 2022 Dodge Charger. The vehicle was later found unoccupied in Springfield, Missouri. The estimated loss was totaled at over $46,000. Police also filed a report for a stolen motorcycle later in the day, in a…

As Sunset Zoo prepares to unveil its Expedition Asia exhibit Saturday morning, a special guest has been announced for the festivities. National Geographic Photo Ark founder and photographer Joel Sartore is scheduled to attend Saturday’s ribbon cutting. The Photo Ark is an ambitious project committed to documenting every species living in the world’s zoos, aquariums, and wildlife sanctuaries. It not only archives a record of those species, but also creates a platform for conservation efforts. Expedition Asia is the first part of an overall Master Plan for Sunset Zoo. The zoo’s trust helped raise more than $2.1 million for the…

A Pottawatomie County commissioner says the Belvue Bridge may need to close in the near future due to its deteriorating condition. Pat Weixelman, the current chair of the board, shared his concern during commissioner comments Monday, after saying he noticed some truckers still crossing the bridge despite concerns of its current weight limitations. “There’s going to come a point on that bridge here, I think sooner than later, that we’re going to have to put a road closed sign on it. If these people can’t respect what we’re doing keeping light traffic going across it, there’s a time where we…

Manhattan has found its next Director of Community Development. Stephanie Peterson, who currently serves as Executive Director of the Flint Hills Metropolitan Planning Organization, has been hired to fill the position and will start on May 9. She will succeed Eric Cattell, who retired in March. Peterson will oversee the city department which administers different aspects of development, land subdivision, long-range and current planning and housing and zoning issues within Manhattan. Peterson joined the Flint Hills MPO as Transportation Planner in 2013, shortly after its designation by the State of Kansas. It provides a regional forum to coordinate transportation planning…

Firefighters responded to a house fire Sunday afternoon in southwest Manhattan. The Manhattan Fire Department says crews were dispatched shortly before 12:30 p.m. to 2911 Dondee Drive. Upon arrival, firefighters found light smoke showing from the rear of the single-story home. Crews searched the home for occupants and extinguished a stove fire that had spread into the hood and to the outside of the structure. The fire was put out within 10 minutes. One occupant was evaluated on scene by Riley County EMS for smoke inhalation. That person and five dogs got out of the home prior to firefighters arriving…

As the hospitality industry continues to rebound from the past two years of slow activity, those who market Manhattan as a meeting destination are out promoting its offerings. Members of the Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce and Convention and Visitors Bureau hosted the “Oh Manhattan Road Show” at the KSU Olathe campus Thursday, an opportunity to showcase why Manhattan is a great place to host events. CVB Executive Director Karen Hibbard says some meeting planners aren’t aware of what Kansas has to offer beyond Lawrence. “Kansas is a great place to enjoy and certainly we want them to choose Manhattan,…

A Manhattan businessman who operated a concrete company is now banned from doing business in Kansas. According to a release from Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt’s office Thursday, Douglas L. Bell III, doing business as Custom Concrete Contractors, LLC, was permanently banned for violating a 2021 consent judgment that alleged violations of the Kansas Consumer Protection Act. Shawnee County District Judge Mary Christopher ruled Wednesday that Bell was in contempt for failing to abide by the provisions of the 2021 judgment, including the payment of $13,606.55 in restitution to two Shawnee County consumers. He was also fined $40,000 in penalties…