Author: Brandon Peoples

Motorists should plan ahead if their commute has them coming in or out of Manhattan along Hwy 24. Pottawatomie County began work on several projects Monday, resulting in a long commutes home for many going east out of Manhattan. Among them is the Green Valley Road/Hwy 24 intersection project, which will see a longer, two lane left turn onto Green Valley Road from the highway, an improved intersection at Powers Lane and a frontage road north of Farmers State Bank. That entire project is expected to wrap up Aug. 1. Construction crews are also beginning work on Dempsey Road between…

A flashlight vigil is being organized by Manhattan community members Friday to protest hate crimes against Asian American and Pacific Islanders. Former Riley County Commission candidate and Asian Market owner Fanny Fang is leading the vigil following the March 16 shootings at Asian women-owned spas in Atlanta, Georgia which left eight dead including six Asian women. Fang says the minority communities were already on edge due to a perceived rise of xenophobia against the community when the pandemic began. The vigil will remember those lives lost and the opportunity to hear from guest speakers. It will take place from 6…

Authorities in Pottawatomie County are investigating an armed robbery that took place early Monday morning at the Short Stop convenience store in Westmoreland. Deputies arrived on scene shortly before 6 a.m. and learned that an individual entered the store, displayed a firearm at the store clerk and demanded money. According to Undersheriff Doug Adams, the suspect left the store with an undetermined amount of money and merchandise. No injuries were reported. The suspect is believed to have fled the scene with an accomplice in a blue passenger car with a black painted hood and black painted roof. The vehicle is…

Phase one of the Kimball Avenue reconstruction project gets underway Monday and will include some noticeable adjustments to the commute for residents in northwest Manhattan. City officials says the eastbound lanes of Kimball from Candlewood to K-113 Seth Child Road will be closed, with traffic shifted north, one lane each way, in the westbound lanes. The entrance to Cico Park via the Candlewood entrance will be closed until further notice as will Wreath Avenue southbound from Kimball to the K-113 southbound on-ramp and the left turn lane onto Kimball from the northbound K-113 off-ramp. Work will take between six to…

Update – 7 a.m. Friday The Kansas Highway Patrol is continuing to investigate after a pedestrian was found dead on eastbound I-70 near Fort Riley Thursday morning. Investigators believe he was walking eastbound and was struck by one or possibly more than one vehicle, near the fogline slightly east of mile marker 302. The man’s body was discovered around 5:15 a.m. Thursday. The agency says several attempts have been made to identify the unknown vehicle or vehicles and are seeking assistance from the public to help locate any vehicle that may have left the scene of the crash early Thursday…

Riley County has rolled out a new program to schedule COVID vaccines. The new software will allow individuals to select a 30-minute window that best fits within their daily schedule to receive a shot. In the past, eligible vaccine recipients could only select one hour intervals. Only those who registered with Riley County will be notified of available appointments. Appointment eligibility notifications and instructions will be sent through Everbridge and only those who receive a notification will be able to set an appointment. Anyone unable to make an appointment will have their name kept on the list and they will…

One person was hospitalized following a Thursday morning fire near 5th and Bluemont Ave. The Manhattan Fire Department says firefighters were dispatched just before 10:30 a.m. but found a single-story home with no visible flames or smoke. Fire crews determined that the fire was extinguished prior to their arrival. One occupant who was home at the time was transported by Riley County EMS to Ascension Via Christi. The owner of the home is listed as Ramona Riniker. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Loss is estimated at $100.

Fort Riley officials say the Henry Drive reconstruction project has been pushed back to late next week. The project, initially planned to begin on March 22, will now begin March 26. It runs from Smoky Hill Road to Ray Road and calls for a closure of this portion of Henry Drive until November. Traffic will be detoured around Marshall Army Airfield. The Henry Access Control Point and Visitor Control Center will remain open through the project. Henry Drive provides access to Fort Riley from I-70, via Exit 301

Riley County officials reported 19 new positive coronavirus cases and 16 additional recoveries Wednesday, but says Ascension Via Christi has no COVID patients currently in its care. Vaccines continue to roll out with boosters being given to those in Phase 2 who were vaccinated on or before Feb. 17. Beginning next week Riley County, in accordance with KDHE will start vaccinating those in Phase 3 and 4. So far 6,073 residents are fully vaccinated. Nearly 6,200 have received their first dose. WellHealth continues to offer free saliva-based testing daily except Sundays at 419 Holiday Drive through May 21.

The Manhattan Regional Airport will soon be resuming its flights to Chicago. The airport announced that starting May 6, travelers will be able to fly directly to O’Hare from Manhattan via American Airlines. It will include a daily morning flight departing from Manhattan and a daily return flight in the evening. The flight schedule was put on hold back in the summer amid COVID-19 restrictions. Flights to and from Chicago can now be booked online at flymhk.com.