Author: Brandon Peoples

The Manhattan-Ogden School Board unanimously approved some significant changes to its Pandemic Response Plan Wednesday, including the disbanding of its medical advisory committee. “We’ve reached the point where our default now is no longer being closed and are there opportunities to open. It’s more of a default of let’s open things up unless you have a good reason why we can’t,” said Dr. Marvin Wade, USD 383 Superintendent of Schools. It also means the district will no longer update its COVID-19 data dashboard, following suit with the Riley County Health Department, which has changed its data collection. Wade says an…

A wildfire scorched at least 1,500 acres Wednesday in areas of northern Riley and Pottawatomie counties. Crews worked well into the night to contain the fire with assistance also called in from the Kansas Forest Service. The fire began in the Fancy Creek area near Carlson Road which also hopped into Pottawatomie County, including areas of Mariadahl and Shannon Creek Roads as well as Booth Creek road north of Highway 16. The latter was reportedly brought under control late Wednesday night. At one point at least two Riley County structures had to be evacuated according to authorities, but no structural…

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…