Author: Brandon Peoples

Riley County Police have filed two rape reports in Manhattan. According to its Wednesday activity report, RCPD says charges were filed Tuesday. The first case lists a 16-year-old female victim and a 16-year-old male known to her as the suspect. The second case also involves a 16-year-old female and an 18-year-old male known to her as the suspect. It’s unclear if the cases are related. Police have released no further information.

A work session focused on paving county roads was held Monday, following the Pottawatomie County Commission’s regular meeting. Two of the county’s priority roads under consideration for widening and paving Elm Slough and Salzer roads, both of which are northwest of Wamego. Commissioner Dee McKee says the county is trying to decide if a 3 inch chip and seal is the best approach and how to pay for it. “Our county requirement is six inches of asphalt on a firm bed helping to pay that share of the road. So we’re talking about developers putting in roads and how to…

Blue Township resident Judson Jones used to live in a remote section of Pottawatomie County at the northeast corner of the Green Valley Road/Junietta Road intersection. But today, his home at 8801 Junietta Road is surrounded by housing developments. Junietta Road is now paved east to where the road curves north and becomes Moody Road. Jones says as the area becomes more developed, the township lacks an adequate road system to handle the additional traffic. “I’ve had seven accidents in front of my house that I’ve turned into the Sheriff’s department and said somebody hit my house again today, somebody…

Riley County Police Department Director Dennis Butler says the Minnesota jury got it right in convicting former police officer Derek Chauvin of murder and manslaughter in the death of George Floyd. Butler says work to improve police relations among minority communities, who may feel threatened by law enforcement is ongoing. “For us to turn our heads the other way when crime is occurring, or we have information that crime could occur because it’s occurring in a certain part of the community or involving certain people, is irresponsible and we won’t do that,” he said. Butler says how officers respond to…

Nearly $1 million was raised Thursday during the ninth annual Grow Green Match Day. The annual 24 hour fundraiser for the Greater Manhattan Community Foundation saw an unprecedented $979,000 donated during the 24 hour online giving period. The total surpassed last year’s donations by more than $210,000. Nearly 4,500 individual donor gifts were pledged during online giving, which also was a slight increase from last year. The total will be pushed further thanks to a 50 percent match on donations up to $10,000 per agency, thanks to the Howe Family Foundation. Shepherd’s Crossing raised the most at just over $70,000.…

The USD 320 Wamego Board of Education met early Thursday during a special meeting, which included four executive sessions, lasting up to an hour. No action was taken afterward. The executive sessions were regarding non-elected personnel matters and were the first time the board has met since Wamego High students staged a walkout last Friday in support of girls basketball coach Brian McIntosh. Superintendent Tim Winter hasn’t commented on the issue, citing non-elected personnel matters. However, when asked directly, the Manhattan Mercury reports he Winter confirmed McIntosh is still employed as the team’s coach and middle school athletic director. The…

Sen. Roger Marshall and other Republican colleagues are ditching their masks while working at the Capitol. Marshall says mask mandates should go away as more people become vaccinated. Speaking on the Fox Business Channel Tuesday with Neil Cavuto, Sen. Marshall said he believes mask mandates are causing more people to avoid getting vaccinated, despite being about 90 percent effective in preventing COVID infections. “Because they feel like they’re being tied to this mask thing, that we’re not being rewarded for getting the vaccine, we should be able to get rid of the masks. As long as Dr. Fauci keeps preaching…

A Kansas City, Missouri man has been sentenced on federal charges for his role in a September 2019 attempted armed robbery and drug deal in the Manhattan High School parking lot. 21-year-old Dallas Srivisay was sentenced Monday to 96 months in federal prison and three years of supervision. He was convicted on charges of possessing a firearm during a drug trafficking incident and discharging a firearm on school property. According to U.S. District Court of Kansas documents, an investigation revealed a botched drug deal took place Sept. 12, 2019 in the high school parking lot when 20-year-old Francisco Valdez-Garibay of…

A new principal has been named at Junction City High School. The USD 475 school board announced Tuesday the hiring of Merrier Jackson, whose served as the school’s interim principal since November. Jackson took over following the indefinite suspension of former principal Melissa Sharp, after a student complained Sharp asked her to remove her Islamic head scarf, known as a hijab, while walking in the school hallway. “I’m excited about the leadership and school improvement experience Ms. Jackson brings to the district and Junction City High School,” Superintendent Dr. Reginald Eggleston said. “She is student-focused and will work collaboratively with…

A former Manhattan city commissioner says she intends to file for a seat on the USD 383 Manhattan/Ogden school board. Thrive! Flint Hills Executive Director Jayme Morris-Hardeman announced her intent to file with the Riley County Clerk’s Office Wednesday. In a news release Tuesday, Morris-Hardeman said she believes the district is facing many important issues. Those include diversity, equity and inclusion for students and staff; allocation of resources in times of uncertain state funding; a re-evaluation of service delivery following lessons learned during the pandemic and a need to continue addressing class sizes. In addition to work with Thrive, Morris-Hardeman…