Author: Brandon Peoples

Riley County confirmed 15 new positive coronavirus cases Monday along with 41 additional recoveries and no active hospitalizations. The news came on the first day of Kansas moving to Phase 5, opening vaccine eligibility to anyone 16 and older. Riley County has received Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines, which can only be administered to those 18 and older. Only the Pfizer vaccine, which is not locally available yet, can be administered to 16 and 17 year olds. As of Monday, over 6,000 Riley County residents have received the first dose of vaccine. Over 9,400 are now fully vaccinated, according…

A petition to incorporate the City of Green Valley in southwestern Pottawatomie County has been deemed invalid by County Clerk Dawn Henry. She with the legal advice of County Counselor John Watt listed several reasons, including maps shown to petitioners the boundaries not matching, as well as failing to list he quantity of land embraced, platted and unplatted. Several residents, including Timber Creek homeowner Darla Thomas, voiced opposition to the petition. Developer Dave Nelson says most in the area are happy with the status quo. Resident Jenny Benson says the small number of petitions are not representative of the growing neighborhoods.…

Two suspects believed to have been involved in a Topeka homicide were arrested Sunday in south Manhattan. Topeka Police say 28-year-old Devonta Miller of Topeka and 21-year-old Harlee Borders of Marysville were taken into custody after Riley County Police followed up on a tip given to TPD. Both were arrested without incident. The two are charged with multiple counts stemming from a shooting in Topeka Friday night that killed one person and injured two others. The incident was reported in the 3100 block of Southeast Bryant in Topeka shortly before 10:30 p.m. Friday. Two people were found suffering from gunshot…

A Manhattan restaurant sustained damage early Sunday morning from a fire. Manhattan firefighters were called out to Taco John’s Sunday morning around 5 a.m. and found smoke showing from the roof. The fire reportedly reached a second alarm before it was contained. Firefighters extinguished the fire within 30 minutes. The restaurant, which opened in 2014, sustained an estimated loss of $300,000 to the structure and an additional $300,000 to the contents inside. The fire department says one firefighter suffered a minor injury and was treated and released from Ascension Via Christi. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

A former Manhattan concrete company operator has been banned from doing business in Kansas. Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt said in a Friday news release that Douglas Bell III, doing business as Custom Concrete Contractors, was permanently banned after failing to honor a two-year warranty on the installation of an entrance and driveway for a consumer and failing to perform work on a project after being paid. In addition, Bell has been ordered to pay more than $13,500 in restitution to two consumers in Shawnee County and was fined $100,000 for violating the Kansas Consumer Protection Act. Shawnee County District…

Phase 5 of the state’s vaccination prioritization will take effect Monday in Kansas. Gov. Laura Kelly says that will open up vaccine distribution to anyone in Kansas aged 16 and older. Kansas becomes the eighth state to make vaccines available to all adults, joining Alaska, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Utah and West Virginia. The move comes as Kansas begins to receive more vaccine from the federal government. In a news release Friday, Gov. Kelly urged all Kansans to get the vaccine, saying it was crucial to getting “back to normal.” As of Friday, 35 percent of all Kansas adults had…

An incorporation petition has been submitted to the Pottawatomie County Commission by residents living in the Blue Township area, east of Manhattan. The petition, submitted March 21, would establish the City of Green Valley in southwestern  Pottawatomie County with a northern boundary along Junietta Road, a southern boundary primarily along the Hwy 24 corridor and the east-west boundary would go essentially from Lake Elbo Road to the Big Blue River. County Clerk Dawn Henry and County Counselor John Watt will present the results and validity of the petition to the County Board of Commissioners Monday. No action is expected. The…

Firefighters battled a house fire near Leonardville Thursday evening. Riley County Fire responded shortly before 8 p.m. to a fully engulfed home near Hwy 24 and Barton Road. Everyone inside reportedly got out safely but the home sustained extensive damage and is a total loss. Two family pets perished in the fire. The cause of the fire has not been determined and the state fire marshal has been called in to investigate. Barton Road reopened overnight after crews worked for several hours to extinguish the fire. Further details are pending.

The Kansas Board of Tax Appeals ruled in favor this week of the Manhattan Home Depot store on its 2018 appraisal from Riley County. In its summary judgement, the board ruled Riley County must refund over $150,000 to the home improvement retailer, which appealed its appraisal using the hypothetical lease fee value approach (or dark store theory), which argues big box stores should be valued as vacant. Riley County Appraiser Greg McHenry says it’s the first time the county has lost such an appeal. “We came away from the hearing thinking it went very well. Our attorney did a great job.…

An Ogden man has been arrested in connection to a series of rapes. Riley County Police have charged 18-year-old Phillip Daniel Smith with one count of aggravated indecent solicitation of a child under the age of 14 and two counts of rape. According to an investigation, the alleged incidents occurred between August 2020 and February 2021. RCPD listed two victims who are now 13 and 15. Smith is jailed on a $500,000 bond. The investigation is ongoing and police are not releasing any further details.