Author: Brandon Peoples

Pottawatomie County authorities are seeking information about a recent theft of a camper. According to the Sheriff’s Office, the camper was taken sometime between June 25 and July 20 in the 11000 block of Legion Drive in St. George. The camper is described as a 2010 Salem 27-foot bumper pull camper, two tone white and grey in color with the word SALEM across the front. Anyone with information on the stolen camper should contact detective Darrin Stewart at the Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office at 785-457-3353 or leave a tip at ptsheriff.com.

Wine enthusiasts took part in a new event Saturday morning at the Riley County Fair. Officials from Highland Community College in Wamego hosted the inaugural Winemaking Workshop. The college operates the local 456 Wineries. Viticulture and Enology Program Director and 456 Wineries Manager Scott Kohl says he was pleased to talk to a handful of wine enthusiasts. Brew Brothers Hops and Sprockets donated a wine kit for Saturday’s workshop. Enology instructor Nicole Clark says anyone interested in learning more about wine making as a career can take advantage of Highland’s upcoming classes this fall. Kohl says Highland’s Introduction to Enology…

More schools across Kansas and the nation are shelving mascots, symbols and nicknames that use Native American imagery. It’s likely the pressure will only continue to mount for schools like Manhattan High School to revisit its own use of “Indians” as its nickname. On Friday, Major League Baseball announced the Cleveland Indians will re-brand in 2022 as the Cleveland Guardians. The team’s new name references the Guardians of Traffic, eight Art Deco sculptures at the ends of the city’s Hope Memorial Bridge. 67th District Rep. Mike Dodson, of Manhattan, says the major issue is whether the intent of those using the…

A Maryland man once listed on the Riley County Most Wanted list is now in custody for his alleged connection to a December 2017 attempted aggravated robbery case in Manhattan. According to the Riley County Police Department, 60-year-old David Lee Gollahon was extradited from Baltimore, Maryland Thursday and booked on a failure to appear charge. Bond is set at $200,000. Gollahon is currently serving a 13 year prison sentence on federal charges of armed bank robbery and brandishing of a firearm. Gollahon was convicted in 2020 for his role in two separate Baltimore bank robberies from early 2019. Gollahon is…

The agencies that oversee Aggieville and Downtown Manhattan businesses will receive financial assistance from the city for the remainder of the year due to ongoing transient guest tax (TGT) revenue shortfalls. As part of Tuesday’s consent agenda, city commissioners approved a $39,000 request from Downtown Manhattan and a $30,000 request from the Aggieville Business Association to continue operations for the remainder of 2021. City Manager Ron Fehr explains how the city kept those businesses afloat last year during the peak of COVID-19 disruptions. Fehr says Aggieville was able to recoup those funds through the federal CARES Act while Downtown MHK…

The grandmother of a 5-month old baby injured last week in a suspected child abuse incident has set up a GoFundMe page for the boy and his mother to cover medical expenses. The mother reportedly has no car, medical insurance and had recently moved to Manhattan from Colorado, about a month ago. During the morning hours of July 15, baby Lunix was found unconscious and unresponsive at the home of the mother and her roommate. He was eventually life flighted from Manhattan to Kansas City with severe injuries, consistent with shaken baby syndrome. The injuries include a brain bleed, a…

Riley County health officials are amplifying messages to residents to get vaccinated. Last week, the health department identified more than 100 new cases of COVID-19, and at the time seven were hospitalized with symptoms. This at a time when cases of the Delta variant have also been rising both nationally and locally. According to the most recent White House/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report, Riley County is classified as an emerging COVID-19 hot spot. Data from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment shows roughly 40 percent of Riley County’s population is vaccinated. Health Department Director Julie Gibbs says…

Pottawatomie County commissioners received an update Monday on maintenance at the old courthouse building in Westmoreland. The building, which has sat vacant for close to a decade sustained water damage over past couple months. Noxious Weed Department Director Tim Eisenbarth spoke about the building during his monthly facilities update. Dehumidifiers continue to run in the basement, which will be off limits to an upcoming group tour Friday morning, the second such tour in the past two months. Commissioner Dee McKee says she’d prefer the building not become a frequent destination for tourists. McKee says a grant with the Flint Hills…

A Manhattan man is jailed after police say he battered at least one and threatened others during an incident Saturday evening. According to the Riley County Police Department, 32-year-old Sergio Moreno was arrested and charged in connection for attempted aggravated battery, domestic battery and criminal threat. Police listed a 21-year-old female, and two males, aged 26 and 32 as the victims. Moreno is alleged to have shoved the female victim, then struck one of the two men with a closed beer can and threatened him with a knife. Moreno is jailed on a $10,000 total bond.

The application deadline for those wanting to be part of the next Flint Hills Regional Leadership class (2021-2022) has been extended to Saturday, July 24. The program is held annually and involves residents wanting to become more engaged with the community and be able to tackle challenges facing the region. The goal of the program is to motivate traditional and non-traditional leaders by teaching 21st century leadership skills. This is done through information, dialogue and hands-on experience. Those wanting to apply can visit fhrlp.org. There, you can follow instructions to upload an introduction video with an application. The Flint Hills…