Author: Brandon Peoples

COVID numbers continue to climb locally, with the Riley County Health Department Wednesday confirming 161 new infections and 176 more recoveries since Dec. 29. The health department is monitoring 206 active cases while the percent of positive test results rose to over 14 percent for the week of Dec. 26. Ascension Via Christi was caring for 23 COVID-positive patients Wednesday. The health department says it’s the second highest number hospitalized locally since the start of the pandemic. The hospital has 16 patients on the medical floor and 7 in its Intensive Care Unit. Those seven ICU patients are all on…

Updated 2:30 p.m. Wednesday Wamego Police are investigating an apparent accidental shooting that occurred Wednesday morning around 8:30 a.m. Emergency responders were dispatched to 105 E. Valley Street. Scanner traffic indicated a 2-year-old child got a hold of a gun in the home and shot the 31-year-old woman, presumed to be the child’s mother, in the right shoulder/upper chest area. Wamego Police later confirmed that the adult woman was injured after the child discharged the weapon. The woman was reportedly conscious when paramedics arrived on scene. She was then transported by Pottawatomie County EMS to Stormont Vail Hospital in Topeka…

Pottawatomie County commissioners are hoping to correct some issues within its Public Works Department in 2022. During Monday’s departmental update, Commission Chair Greg Riat took issue with the fact that some residents are catching structural deficiencies on bridge maintenance on some structures before public works crews are even aware. Assistant Public Works Administrator Lance Forgy admitted to Riat they are supposed to be reviewing structures routinely, in addition to its contracted inspectors, even though that isn’t always the case. While he agreed with Commissioner Riat’s assessment, Forgy noted the county used to have a dedicated position to cover some of…

Geary Community Hospital in Junction City plans to close its Intensive Care Unit no later than Feb. 1. In a release Monday, the hospital’s Director of HR & External Relations, LJ Baker, stated that due to a national COVID-19 exacerbated nursing shortage, as well as fiscal situations beyond the hospital’s control, they are no longer able to effectively operate an ICU. A deliberate and phased transition and closure is planned by the hospital. GCH is working with multiple hospitals in the state and region to help identify bed and facilities required for treatment of patients. While the ICU will be…

Fort Riley has announced a reinstated mask requirement on post temporarily amid growing concerns for transmission of new COVID cases following the holidays. Commanding General D.A. Sims stated in a release Monday that everyone, regardless of vaccination status, must mask up in all indoor spaces on the installation, as well as all outdoor spaces when six feet of social distancing is not possible. Exceptions include being alone in an office behind closed doors, as well as eating and drinking and for identification purposes as well as accommodating persons with disabilities. The new requirement is in place for two weeks, with…

Pottawatomie County will pay more than double its annual allotment to the Flint Hills Regional Council, following a 2 to 1 vote by the county commission Monday. The council, in an effort to retain its designation as the Flint Hills Economic Development District, approved a rate hike for its 24 member municipalities in November, from 60 to 90 cents per-capita, based on 2020 Census data, rather than 2010 data, which it had based dues on previously. The council estimates that doing so will allow the council to pay off its debts from a previous line of credit and become financially…

Masks are again the center of debate as both the City of Manhattan and USD 383 implement changes to mask policies to start 2022. For the school district, a special meeting has been called for 5:30 p.m. Monday where board members will consider a recommendation from Superintendent Dr. Marvin Wade, to implement a temporary return to a district wide mask requirement inside all indoor USD 383 facilities, regardless of vaccination status through Jan. 21. The district previously amended that requirement in October, allowing the high school and the district office, to relax its mask requirement to mask optional. With the…

A Manhattan man was arrested Friday in connection to an April 2021 investigation into an opioid-related overdose. Riley County Police officers took 28-year-old Austin Dowling into custody on a warrant for the distribution of controlled substances causing great bodily harm. The alleged substances are said to be Oxycodone and Fentanyl. Officers stopped Dowling after he was identified while driving near the intersection of Valleywood Drive and Barnes Road.  He’s been charged with two counts of distribution or possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, distribution of a controlled substance, distribution of a controlled substance causing great bodily harm, and…

Following revised guidance from the Centers for Disease Control on the isolation and quarantines for COVID positive individuals, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment has followed suit. For the general population, those with lab-confirmed COVID-19 infections, regardless of vaccination status should stay home for five days. Those with no symptoms or with symptoms resolving after five days who are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medications, can leave the house, according to the latest guidance. Individuals are advised to continue to wear a mask around others for five additional days, upon release from isolation or…

A jury trial will begin next week for a Manhattan man accused in a 2019 murder during an attempted robbery. Richard Goens is one of four co-defendants in the murder of 23-year-old Tanner Zamecnik, who was shot and killed Nov. 1, 2019 in the 1400 block of Cambridge Place. According to court testimony from past hearings Goens is alleged to have fired the fatal shot in the botched robbery. Goens’ trial is set to begin Jan. 6. Goens and co-defendant Shamar Sutton are each charged with first-degree murder, attempted aggravated robbery, aggravated battery, aggravated assault and criminal discharge of a…