Author: Brandon Peoples

Two people were killed in an early morning motorcycle wreck near Council Grove Dam, including a member of the popular local band The Box Turtles. Max Byram and a passenger, Jordan Kelly were riding on Dam Road about a mile north of Council Grove around 12:30 a.m. According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, Byram failed to negotiate a curb and struck a nearby guardrail. Byram who was 28 and Kelly, who was 20 were both ejected. Neither were wearing helmets. In addition to being a part of The Box Turtles, Byram was one of three mayoral candidates in Council Grove…

An Olsburg man was injured early this morning after being struck by a car in Manhattan. According to the Riley County Police Department, 67-year-old James Baugh was crossing the street in the 2400 block of Claflin Road shortly after 12:30 a.m. Baugh, who was in a wheelchair, was transported to Ascension Via Christi in critical condition and later transported to Stormont Vail in Topeka for treatment of his injuries. The driver, 19-year-old Nathan George, of Junction City, was not cited.

An associate professor in Kansas State University’s Department of Electrical Engineering alleges in a federal lawsuit that he was discriminated against due to a disability. Sanjoy Das, of Manhattan, filed the suit Friday in federal court. Das, who lives with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), claims in court documents that he requested reasonable work accommodations as allowed under the Americans with Disabilities Act, but was denied. Das claims he incurred work-related stress and a new anxiety disorder because of the denial of accommodations and was retaliated against for complaining about such discrimination. According to the suit, a department head granted…

A Junction City man is jailed in Riley County after police say he strangled a woman and damaged property. According to Tuesday’s Riley County Police Department activity report, 28-year-old Brandon Lee Gibson is alleged to have strangled a 28-year-old woman Monday night while she was holding a baby. The report also alleges Gibson damaged a Macbook computer belonging to the woman, causing over $1,000 in damage. Gibson is charged with aggravated domestic battery, domestic battery, criminal damage to property and aggravated child endangerment. Gibson remains confined on a total bond of $10,000

6 a.m. Tuesday update The Kansas Highway Patrol has identified the victim in Sunday’s fatal crash on Highway 77 near Randolph. According to the online crash report, 38-year-old Adam Samuelson, of Randolph, died after his car was struck by an eastbound semi truck which ran a stop sign at the intersection of Hwy 77 and Green Randolph Road. Samuelson’s vehicle was driving northbound on 77 and was struck on the driver’s side. The crash led to a roughly 2 hour closure of the highway Sunday morning. The semi driver, 81-year-old Russell Peterson, of Randolph, was not injured. 11 a.m. Monday …

The vaccination rate for residents in Pottawatomie County remains at a slow pace despite a growing number of new COVID-19 cases over the past few weeks. During her monthly update to the commission Monday, Health Director Leslie Campbell noted the county had 38 active cases, one hospitalization and 34 confirmed deaths as of Friday’s report. Despite rising cases, most have been spread out throughout the county, according to Campbell, who dismissed previous reports by WIBW-TV that the county had active clusters. A cluster includes five or more cases at a locality. Campbell says they are vaccinating on average about 20…

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…