Author: Brandon Peoples

Manhattan City Commissioner Aaron Estabrook will lead the Manhattan Housing Authority. The agency’s Board of Commissioners announced Estabrook as its new Executive Director Monday, replacing Joann Sutton, who announced her retirement late last year after 33 years. In a news release Monday, MHA Commissioner Kennedy Clark, who chaired the search committee, said Estabrook’s “aptitude for innovative approaches to complex problems is important for us moving forward.” Estabrook most recently worked as Business and Community Liaison for Flint Hills Job Corps and said he’s excited for the new challenge, noting the Housing Authority’s “unique opportunity to grow as a resident-centered organization…

Just four new coronavirus cases were identified over the weekend in Riley County. In addition, 57 people were added to the COVID recovery list Monday. Ascension Via Christi continues to care for one positive patient, but no patients are currently in the Intensive Care Unit. Local Health Officer Julie Gibbs told county commissioners Monday there are 64 active cases throughout the county. “Our percent positive stayed steady at about 2 percent the week before last, the same as it was the week prior. However, I’m happy to say we’ve been below 5 percent for the past month, so that’s good…

A Manhattan man facing a host of criminal charges including an alleged October kidnapping and battery against a 25-year-old woman has reached a plea agreement with prosecutors. At a Riley County District Court hearing via Zoom Monday, the attorney for 26-year-old Aaron Lewis informed Judge John Bosch that an amendment to that document needed to be signed by Lewis. The judge in turn set the case for a 1 p.m. Zoom hearing March 8, where Lewis is expected to enter a global plea that satisfies that case and six other pending cases against him. Lewis is charged in the October…

Riley County Commissioners have given the Next Generation 911 committee direction to move forward naming, renaming and in some cases, renumbering private roads in unincorporated parts of the county. The goal is improving safety for emergency services, who may be called out to certain parts of the county that don’t match up with its numbering grid and could cause a delay in someone getting help. County Clerk Rich Vargo said Thursday it’s a contentious issue for many residents, tied to emotions and a resistance to change. “At some point in time, everyone needs to be brought up to the same…

Riley County health officials confirmed eight new COVID cases Friday and 12 more recoveries. Just one patient was being treated at Ascension Via Christi, but no patients are in the ICU. Altogether, there are 117 active COVID cases. The health department has now fully vaccinated over 3,200 people and seen close to 5,400 receive at least their first dose. Phase 3 of the vaccine distribution is expected to get underway next week, giving shots to residents 18 to 64 with severe health conditions. Earlier in the week, Riley County reallocated 400 doses from its supply to neighboring Pottawatomie County to…

Fort Riley is deploying an additional task force to help support national COVID-19 vaccination efforts. Approximately 120 soldiers from the 1st Infantry Division’s 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team are headed to Miami, Florida to support a state-run federally supported Community Vaccination Center. The soldiers deploying include medical personnel and support staff. Teams will be capable of administering up to 3,000 vaccinations per day. A similar team deployed Feb. 19 from Fort Riley to Dallas, Texas where they’re supporting vaccination efforts at the Cotton Bowl. Additionally, the 1st Sustainment Brigade has 44 soldiers supporting FEMA vaccination efforts in New York, New…

Census data from the 2020 collection might not be known for another two months. At Monday’s Intergovernmental Luncheon, U.S. Census Bureau regional spokesperson Emily Kelley said collection efforts are continuing and that the bureau hopes to have state level counts available to the public in the spring. “Our target date right now is April 30, 2021.” said Kelley. “I know previously before COVID-19 happened our deadline would have been a December 31 of 2020 to the present but we have had that deadline moved because of COVID.” Specific numbers pertaining to the region won’t be available until much later. A…

Riley County Police are seeing a rise in thefts of catalytic converters. Police say it’s likely due to the more than quadruple rise in the price of palladium, a precious metal found in catalytic converters. Thieves can remove these elements from a vehicle’s exhaust system in less than one minute and sell it for up to $1,000 apiece. Hybrid vehicles, such as the Toyota Prius with low emissions, use more palladium and the part is also more easily accessible due to its location on the vehicle. RCPD recommends the following: *parking in a garage or well lit area. *engrave your…

Pottawatomie County Public Works officials will soon begin dust mitigation efforts along some of the more well-traveled unpaved county roads. The 2021 Dust Control Program will consist of both a county and residential spray program. The county program will treat approximately 10 miles of heavily traveled roads and it alternates yearly, according to Interim Public Works Administrator Dustin Newman. “The county spray for the 10 miles is mainly for safety. We get on some heavily traveled roads and try to treat the intersections and spots people might have trouble with,” he said. The residential program is an option where residents…

A Manhattan woman was killed Wednesday in a 7 vehicle crash along Interstate 70 in Topeka. The Kansas Highway Patrol says the crash happened around 4:30 p.m. Wednesday near the 3rd Street exit. A semi truck carrying large metal pipes was eastbound on I-70 when it lost its load into the westbound lanes. One of the metal pipes struck the side of a Ford Expedition, then landed on top of a Kia Forte. The Highway Patrol says a fourth vehicle could not stop and struck the back of the Kia, as it spun and crashed into the outside concrete rail.…