Author: Brandon Peoples

Riley County fire officials say a wildfire scorched over 700 acres of land near Carlson and Rosehill Road by Tuttle Creek Lake this past week. Crews from Riley County Fire District No. 1 were called out Sunday for reports of a large outdoor fire and worked until Monday evening to fully contain it. No structures were lost and no injuries were reported. The burned area was located near Swede Creek and the abandoned town of Cleburne. The cause of the fire is undetermined and officials says the burned land included both public and private property. In a release from the…

For the fourth year in a row, Fat Tuesday was celebrated by Pawnee Mental Health with pancakes. The organization put on its annual Pancakes for Pawnee event in a drive thru fashion outside Early Edition’s west location in the Candlewood Shopping Center. Executive Director Robbin Cole… “This is one of the events that we host every year that helps to cover the costs of really necessary mental health services and substance abuse treatment services for members of our community who don’t have the ability to pay for them,” she said. Nearly 200 pre-orders were submitted ahead of Tuesday’s event. Volunteers…

Kansas State University will no longer require face coverings indoors at its three campuses, effective Wednesday. In a release Tuesday, university officials stated they will still strongly encourage masking but won’t require them based on the updated guidance released last week by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The mask requirements continue for university shuttles due to US Department of Transportation policy. The CDC is using COVID-19 community levels to help communities determine what prevention steps are needed. Riley County, Saline County and Johnson County are all at medium risk levels, where face masks are not required. The university…

Pottawatomie County commissioners have agreed to cover a nearly $26,000 gap in funding to the St. Marys Fire Department, caused by a change up at the state level for assessed utilities. The result, which county officials say the state plans to correct in fiscal year 2023, led to a $6 million drop in valuations for properties around the Jeffrey Energy Center, in what is now the former Fire District No. 1. The county has an annual agreement with the city fire department to provide service to the rural area surrounding St. Marys. County Clerk Dawn Henry says the county received…

Fort Riley troops deployed to Europe are likely to be there for an extended period of time amid the Russian forces moving through Ukraine. According to military newspaper Stars and Stripes, the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team and the 1st Infantry Division is deployed in Poland, Romania and Latvia on a mission to deter Russian aggression in the region. Their 9-month tour, which had been slated to end within weeks, has ultimately been extended. No timeline for the extension has been announced, with Army officials saying it will only be for as long as they are needed. The Pentagon has…

An accidental fire at Meadowlark was quickly controlled by the Manhattan Fire Department over the weekend. Firefighters were dispatched Saturday afternoon to the retirement community for a report of a fire alarm with a smell of smoke. An investigation determined the smoke was coming from a dryer fire in the basement. The fire was controlled by the building’s sprinkler system and crews finished extinguishing the fire. Loss was estimated at approximately $12,000 in total to the structure and contents. No injuries were reported. The cause was listed as accidental due to overheating of material in the dryer.

A former College Hill preschool nurse accused of sex crimes involving an underage victim has been formally charged with 19 total counts, including rape, aggravated criminal sodomy and aggravated indecent liberties. Joshua Penabaz made his first court appearance Friday, a week after a police investigation led to his arrest. The 44-year-old appeared via Zoom as Riley County Judge James Kepple read each of the charges, which include 8 counts of rape, 7 counts of aggravated criminal sodomy and 4 counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a child. Online court records show the alleged crimes occurred on multiple occasions between 2009…

The Manhattan Fire Department says overloaded electrical circuits led to a house fire Thursday night. Crews were dispatched just after 9 p.m. to 2087 College View Road. Upon arrival, visible smoke was showing from the building’s roof. The fire was contained within 20 minutes. According to the fire department, there were multiple space heaters plugged in which caused the overload on the electrical system. Both of the home’s occupants got out safely and were not injured. Total loss is estimated at roughly $50,000. The fire department reminds the public of the following safety tips regarding space heaters: Keep all combustible…

The long-time appraiser for Riley County has passed away. Greg McHenry, who spent more than three decades in the appraising industry, including the past 18 years in the Riley County office died Thursday. He was 60. According to his LinkedIn page, McHenry worked as Deputy Riley County Appraiser from 2003 to 2006 before being elevated to County Appraiser, which he held for the next 15 plus years. He also spent six years as the Clay County Appraiser and was a business specialist prior to that. Most recently, McHenry also served as president of the International Association of Assessing Officers (IAAO)…

Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the two US Senators from Kansas have called on the Biden administration to provide additional aid to Ukrainian allies and punish Russia’s economy with severe, crippling sanctions. In a statement Thursday, Sen. Jerry Moran called the Russian invasion “an avoidable tragedy”, placing the blame squarely at Vladimir Putin: He goes on to say that “While this moment underscores the need for our allies to contribute more to NATO’s defense, the United States’ commitment to our NATO obligations cannot be in doubt.” Sen. Roger Marshall stated that “It’s time for the White House and our NATO partners to…