Author: Brandon Peoples

The Riley County Police Department says it’s investigating two straight nights of reported gunshots being fired into the air at house parties east of campus. According to police, no injuries have been reported with any of the incidents and it’s unknown whether the incidents are related. The incidents reportedly occurred between the 600 and 1000 blocks of Bertrand Street between 11 p.m. and 1 a.m. Saturday into Sunday Separately, police are also looking for information related to a report of shots fired around midnight Saturday in the 800 block of Thurston Street. Unlawful discharge of a firearm is a class…

Authorities in Texas have arrested a 46-year-old man in an investigation into allegations of rape and aggravated criminal sodomy involving a minor over an eight-year period. According to the Riley County Police Department, Michael James Tschantz was arrested in Naples, Texas on a Riley County District Court warrant for five counts of rape of a child under the age of 14. The crimes are alleged to have occurred in Ogden between 2004 and 2012. The victim in the case is now 21. Because of the nature of the crime, no further information is being released. Police are continuing to investigate…

Kansans learned quickly this past week just how vulnerable the power grid is. An unusually strong winter blast forced consumption rates of electricity, gas and water to skyrocket, forcing utility companies into rolling power outages, at the request of the Southwest Power Pool, the grid that covers 14 states primarily in the Great Plains, including Kansas. 51st District Rep. Ron Highland of Wamego joined KMAN Friday morning during his legislative update. He says it’s apparent energy companies can’t rely too much on renewable energy just yet. “The wind turbines, when it gets really cold can’t turn, they turn off and…

Riley County health officials on Friday confirmed an additional COVID-related death The 76-year-old woman tested positive Feb. 3 and died Wednesday, marking the 33rd COVID-related death in Riley County. The health department also confirmed 10 new positive cases and four additional recoveries since its previous report. Ascension Via Christi is caring for two positive patients in the Intensive Care Unit. In terms of vaccine numbers, Riley County has fully vaccinated 1,831 residents and seen 4,886 who’ve received their first round of shots. The county has received more than 18,000 requests for vaccines for all phases. WellHealth saliva based testing is…

Severe weather season is just around the corner and the National Weather Service is once again looking for volunteer spotters. Starting next week, the Topeka office will host the first two of seven planned virtual spotter talks. The talks are being held in this fashion due to the ongoing pandemic. The shows will last around one hour and will touch on similar topics of past presentations, including severe thunderstorm structure, features and safety. Registration is open at the National Weather Service Topeka website by clicking on the 2021 Storm Safety and Information Show Schedule link. The talks are open to…

Kansas State University is trying to keep a positive outlook when it comes to recruitment efforts. At Wednesday’s Board of Regents meeting, K-State President Richard Myers shared statistics showing freshman in-state admissions are up a half percent at all campuses for the upcoming fall semester while out-of-state admissions are up nearly 15 percent. Myers says while those numbers are impressive, how many of those will actually become enrolled for the fall is yet to be seen. “We’re ahead of ourselves for next fall right now but we’ll be getting close to the writing the check point here shortly. This is…

The Manhattan Fire Department had a busy day Wednesday, responding to three structure fires within a span of 12 hours. Firefighters were dispatched shortly before 9 a.m. to 2905 Hickory Court, in southwest Manhattan, after the report of smoke coming from inside a single-story home. Fire was located beneath a fireplace in the ceiling cavity between the main floor and basement and contained within 15 minutes. Loss is estimated at $15,000 to the building and $2,500 to contents. The cause was ruled to be accidental due to a fireplace issue. ———– Crews were called out to 1200 Ratone Street at…

The Riley County Law Board voted 5-2 Tuesday to approve a modified employment agreement with RCPD Director Dennis Butler. Butler, who reached his two-year work anniversary on Dec. 31, was awarded his merit increase for 2020 following an annual evaluation by the Law Board. Board Vice Chairperson Robert Ward read the motion at Tuesday’s meeting: “In as much as Director Butler has met the conditions of his employment contract and is being awarded the merit increase earned by receiving an acceptable annual performance evaluation since his last annual performance evaluation of December 31, 2019, he will move from step F to…

Aggieville businesses and Riley County Police are preparing for a second consecutive year of no Fake Patty’s Day festivities. During Tuesday’s Riley County Law Board meeting, RCPD Assistant Director Kurt Moldrup said the general consensus among Manhattan merchants is that it won’t occur. “Basically due to COVID times, the situation we’re in with the university not having a Spring Break it’s just not conducive to the natural growth of Fake Patty occurring,” he said. Moldrup says they’re hoping this will start a trend of the event going away altogether but says RCPD will be ready for any pop up parties…

The Manhattan Regional Airport is among 75 Kansas airports to receive federal funding to help respond to and prepare for impacts of COVID-19. More than $10 million was designated to the airports, including over $1.1 million to Manhattan. Funds can be used for janitorial services, cleaning and sanitation as well as operational expenses. Sen. Roger Marshall said in a statement Wednesday “community airports are essential to not only our transportation infrastructure but the continuation of business in many of our rural communities.” Funding comes from the Consolidated Appropriation Act and Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriation Act passed in December…