Author: Brandon Peoples

Riley County Police arrested a 39-year-old Manhattan man Wednesday on a felony warrant listing multiple charges. Daniel Raymond Reyes is charged with eight total counts, including flee and elude, driving while suspended, criminal threat, stalking, interference with a law enforcement officer and two counts of violating a protection order. He’s also charged with failing to appear. According to an amended online criminal complaint, filed in mid-October, Reyes is accused of threatening a woman Aug. 30 and violating a protection order. He’s also accused of fleeing police on Sept. 11 after additionally being charged that day with stalking the victim and…

The pilot of a small aircraft escaped serious injury early Wednesday after making a crash landing near the Colby airport. The Kansas Highway Patrol says the crash was reported around 2:30 a.m. in a field about a half-mile east of Colby Municipal Airport. A Beech fixed-wing multi-engine airplane was taking off from the airport when the front wheel dolly did not detach from the front wheel. When the pilot got into the air, he noticed it was still attached and called the fire department. While firefighters were en route, the right enginge failed and the pilot had to conduct what…

Riley County fire crews worked through much of the day Wednesday containing grass fires near Leonardville, thanks to strong southerly winds that gusted over 50 mph at times. The first call came in around 11:15 a.m. near Lasita Road and Kansas Highway 82. Riley County Police and area fire crews evacuated some residents in a rural area southwest of Leonardville as a result, but they were eventually able to return to their homes. There were no reports of any structural damage. A short time later, another fire was reported further north near May Day and Wohler Roads. That fire burned…

Riley County Police say a 29-year-old man is charged with animal cruelty after intentionally killing another person’s pet fish. Taylor Morris was arrested in relation to the Tuesday night incident in the 2800 block of West 61st Ave. Officers listed a 39-year-old male as the victim. Police allege Morris put detergent in the fish tank causing all of the coral and fish inside to die. He also is accused of stealing miscellaneous items from the victim, totaling close to $3,800. In addition to the animal cruelty charge, Morris is also charged with criminal damage to property and theft. He remains…

Fire danger remains high across the region following three straight days of strong winds and warmer temperatures. Forecasters say Wednesday is expected to be the windiest day of the week with wind gusts expected up to 50 mph at times. Red Flag Warnings are posted in the area along with a wind advisory and extreme fire danger according to the rangeland fire danger index. Riley County Fire Chief Michael Regal says Monday Riley County Fire was especially busy fighting fires both north and south of Manhattan. “We assisted Geary County in a grass fire they had that was set off…

Pottawatomie County health officials hope federal money will allow them to upgrade much of its infrastructure going forward. Health Department Director Leslie Campbell presented an application request to the county commission for a $221,000 federal COVID-19 ELC Expanding Infrastructure grant. Campbell proposed several items including $25,000 for temporary staff for case investigation and $10,000 to create a mobile vaccine clinic. “The idea would be to take one of the transportation buses that are going to go out of service, retrofit it with a table, make sure the benches work the way they should so people can come into there, get…

9:30 a.m. Tuesday update Riley County Police have identified the victim in Monday’s fatal crash along Anderson Ave. in Manhattan. According to police, 37-year-old Jason Bly, of Manhattan, was westbound in a 2000 Toyota Celica in the 1800 block of Anderson just after 10:30 p.m. when his vehicle crossed over traffic and struck a retaining wall. Bly was pronounced dead on scene. Police have released no further details as the crash remains under further investigation. Police are asking anyone who witnessed the crash to call 785-537-2112. Original story 5:30 a.m. Tuesday Riley County Police say one person was killed following…

Some residents in the St. George area will have to find new access points to Hwy 24 as a bridge replacement project begins next week near the intersection of Blackjack Road.. The Kansas Department of Transportation plans to start the replacement project March 16. Traffic south of the highway along Blackjack will not be able to access the highway. Traffic along the highway also won’t have access to Blackjack Road. Pottawatomie County Commissioner Dee McKee says the project is going to cause significant traffic headaches. “I don’t know why they’re closing Blackjack. That I never envisioned, because it’s a continuing…

Manhattan firefighters made quick work of a small fire at Edwards Hall just before 6:30 a.m. Deputy Fire Chief Ryan Almes says the fire was contained to one room, in the northeast corner of the building. Smoke damage was found throughout the wing of the building, which holds offices for Human Capital Services and the University Police Department, as well as the Division of Public Safety. Firefighters brought the fire under control within 10 minutes. No injuries were reported. The cause has been ruled accidental due to an issue with the building’s HVAC unit. Loss is estimated at $15,000 to…

A Topeka man arrested over the weekend in Geary County is charged in connection to past sex crimes in Dickinson County. According to the Geary County Sheriff’s Office, 20-year-old Christopher Hyde was arrested Sunday afternoon on I-70, about two miles east of Junction City. Hyde is charged with rape, aggravated criminal sodomy, aggravated indecent liberties, electronic solicitation and aggravated indecent solicitation of a child. Online court records allege the incidents are alleged from July 2019 involving a 14-year-old victim. Hyde was booked into the Geary County Jail but released later in the day on bond. No further details have been…