Author: Brandon Peoples

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…

The Kansas Board of Regents on Friday announced the 25 member search committee for the next president at Kansas State University. The committee is chaired by K-State alumnus and retired BNSF Railway CEO Carl Ice, who was named chair in June. The committee also includes former U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, K-State Athletic Director Gene Taylor, Manhattan City commissioner and former mayor Usha Reddi as well as Kevin Lockett, a former K-State and NFL football player and businessman. The committee also includes K-State Foundation Board of Directors Vice Chair Mary Vanier as well as Steel and Pipe Supply Chairman and Flint…

School supplies were collected Saturday outside Walmart for the annual Stuff the Bus event to benefit the USD 383 FIT Closet. Volunteers from Konza United Way, K-State Credit Union and Manhattan Broadcasting greeted shoppers as they dropped off donations. K-State Athletic Director Gene Taylor says student athletes from the men’s and women’s basketball teams, as well as football and baseball players also volunteered their time for the effort. Konza United Way CEO Tara Claussen says volunteerism was up this year and included local Boy Scouts as well. The community came out and supported the event, with some dropping off bags…

A Manhattan man is behind bars following allegations he abused an infant. According to the Riley County Police Department, 20-year-old Gerald Hartman III was arrested Thursday on single counts of child abuse and aggravated battery. An online complaint alleges Hartman knowingly shook a baby. The infant was transported to Ascension Via Christi in stable condition for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. Hartman appeared in court Friday, where Judge James Kepple set bond at $100,000 after prosecutors stated the 5 month old child sustained injuries consistent with shaken baby syndrome. The public defender’s office is being appointed to represent Hartman in…

A Salina man is jailed in connection to a November 2019 aggravated robbery in Manhattan. According to the Riley County Police Department, Lee Dennis Noonan was arrested Thursday on a warrant for two counts of aggravated robbery and one count of aggravated kidnapping. He is jailed on a $150,000 bond. Noonan is being connected in a Nov. 9, 2019 alleged robbery in the 400 block of Fremont Street. A 31-year-old male victim reported two masked suspects robbed him at gunpoint. Police arrested Aaron Michael Noonan the same charges last September. Joseph Trevail was arrested in August 2020 in connection to…