Author: Brandon Peoples

A new director and curator of the Riley County Historical Museum has been announced. Katharine Hensler will start in the position May 31. Hensler will oversee the organization’s mission to educate the public on the history of Riley County. She’ll also stand as a Department Head of Riley County Government, advocating and supporting historic preservation in all forms, according to a Thursday release from the county. Hensler’s resume includes work for the Division of Cultural Resources at the Kansas Historical Society, Inventory Analysis for Fort Riley. She also has been Executive Director of the Harbor History Museum in Gig Harbor,…

Kansas State University is rolling out a plan to increase compensation for its faculty and staff. In his first major act as president, Dr. Richard Linton announced Thursday a 2 percent across the board increase for benefits-eligible faculty, unclassified and university staff in fiscal year 2023. This will apply to those hired on or before Dec. 1, 2021. (See here who is and isn’t eligible under this plan). Additionally, those employees will be eligible for merit raises based on performance evaluations, made possible with university funding that will support an additional 3 percent merit pool allocation provided to university units.…

After numerous delays in the courts over the past two years, a Manhattan man charged with killing two people will face a jury trial late this summer. Riley County Judge John Bosch on Monday set a jury date for Aug. 30 for Montrell Vassar, who faces two counts of first-degree murder and possession of stolen property in the October 2020 deaths of 19-year-old Skylar Havens and 23-year-old Javon Gray. Prosecutors have alleged in previous hearings that Vassar, who knew the two men, acted with pre-meditation, noting the two men were gunned down from behind. Vassar’s attorney is Chris Biggs. Deputy…

A trial for a Manhattan man accused of murdering his ex-wife is scheduled for this fall. At a Monday arraignment, Judge Kendra Lewison set an Oct. 31 trial date for 27-year-old Kamahl Bobian, who is charged with first-degree murder in the death of 27-year-old Shanell Bobian on Sept. 25 in the 400 block of South 12th Street. The trial is expected to last five days. Kamahl Bobian faces possible life imprisonment for the murder charge, with the possibility of parole after 50 years. He also is charged with violating a protective order and a burglary charge. He remains jailed on a…

Three people were injured Tuesday following a crash near Tuttle Creek Blvd (US-24) and Hwy 13. The Kansas Highway Patrol says an eastbound SUV was attempting a left turn onto Hwy 13 when it failed to yield and was struck by a westbound pickup hauling a trailer. The two vehicles collided and came to rest on the north shoulder of Hwy 24. Two of the passengers in the SUV sustained serious injuries. According to the crash report, 16-year-old Micah Uga, of Manhattan, was transported by Life Star helicopter to Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City. The other passenger, 18-year-old Wyatt…

A pair of men are at the center of a purported cookie store-related crime from earlier this month. Riley County Police are seeking the public’s help identifying one of two suspects, who police say may have pulled a lever on a breaker box causing a power outage to Insomnia Cookies and the Kountry Attic near Aggieville. Security camera still images show two young men walking in the alleyway behind the two businesses around 1 a.m. on May 1st. Police believe one of the men, seen wearing a gray shirt, is responsible for causing the outage. Both businesses were reportedly without…

Red Cross blood drives are happening in Manhattan and Junction City today through Thursday. A lot of empty appointment spots exist. Red Cross Account Manager Kristi Ingalls was on the KMAN Morning Show Tuesday to highlight the need for blood. Here’s a list of this week’s blood drives: Manhattan drive at Pottorf Hall in CiCo Park Tuesday: Noon to 6 p.m. Wednesday: 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Junction City drive at the Municipal Building (700 N. Jefferson) Wednesday: 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Both drives will be offering free $10 electronic gift cards to…

The Pottawatomie County Commission has tabled a decision on a pair of conditional use permits for wedding and event space in a rural area near Rock Creek High School. Nearby residents are concerned with the high volume of traffic, noise and light pollution the proposals could bring with it to an area that’s in a rural setting. The first request involves a tract owned by Greg Ferkol at Myers Valley and Loux Roads. The second is from Steve and Deb Swoyer nearby on Loux Road, which multiple property owners have opposed, including resident Faith Peirsol. “An entertainment venue is not…

The Riley County Law Board announced Monday it is beginning the search for the next director of the Riley County Police Department. The job posting will go live next week, with the Law Board accepting applications starting May 24. Screening of applications will immediately follow the posting of the job and continue until the position is filled. Law Board Chair Linda Morse stated Monday that “experiences throughout the country in the last several years demonstrate the importance of carefully selecting the best person to lead the Riley County Police Department.” She says their goal is to hire someone respected and…

An arrest and formal charges are anticipated following an early Friday morning shooting along Kansas Highway 150 in Chase County. According to a release from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, the Chase County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call shortly after 6 a.m. from a man who reported a passenger in their vehicle had been shot. Deputies and Kansas Highway Patrol troopers arrived a short time later and found a 33-year-old Emporia man suffering from a gunshot wound to his right hip. He was transported to Newman Regional Hospital in Emporia, where he was treated and released. After KBI agents…