Author: Brandon Peoples

A Junction City High School athletic trainer was arrested Friday following an investigation into sexual crimes. Junction City Police say 29-year-old Brandon Martino faces charges of sexual exploitation of a child and promoting obscenity to minors. No further information was released. Police are asking anyone with information to submit tips to Crime Stoppers or call the police department at (785) 762-5912. USD 475 Geary County Schools said in a statement Sunday that Martino has been suspended from all duties pending a completed investigation.

At a virtual town hall with faculty and staff Friday, Kansas State University President Richard Myers reiterated the university has no plans to adopt a controversial policy that would make it easier for university executives to dismiss faculty without initiating the process of declaring a financial emergency. The one-year policy was unanimously adopted Jan. 20 by the Kansas Board of Regents based on financial damage to K-State and the five other state universities during the COVID-19 pandemic. “We value tenure and we always will. Tenure is an important part of how we operate at Kansas State University. We have no…

A Junction City man accused in a May robbery and kidnapping is now jailed in Riley County. According to its Friday arrest report, RCPD have charged 22-year-old Walter Wadford on four total counts including two for aggravated burglary, one count of aggravated robbery and one count of kidnapping. An online criminal complaint, filed in late August, alleges Wadford robbed a man at gunpoint on May 22 at his apartment in the 1800 block of Claflin Road. He allegedly kidnapped the victim and burglarized the apartment. Wadford is being held on a $35,000 bond.

Riley County health officials confirmed 48 new positive COVID-19 cases Friday along with 32 additional recoveries. It was the fourth consecutive report with new cases under 100. Ascension Via Christi also continues to care for seven positive patients. Two remain in the Intensive Care Unit. Active cases totaled 311. While the final January data for new cases won’t be known until Monday, through the first 28 days of January, Riley County logged 958 new cases and 10 additional deaths reported since Dec. 30. In the past six months, according to data from the health department’s daily case count, the two…

The Riley County Health Department hopes it can expand its reach of free COVID testing within the county. Director and Local Health Officer Julie Gibbs tells KMAN they will be increasing efforts in the month of February. “We actually have a traveling clinic that will be offering free testing events outside of Manhattan, and what we determine are underserved populations in Manhattan, through the month of February,” she said. Saliva-based testing through WellHealth continues at CiCo Park and will be also offered through the mobile clinic. “We will be in Keats, this upcoming Monday (Feb. 1), from 10 a.m. to…

Manhattan’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Task Force met for the first time Thursday, in a virtual format. The 25-member task force is made up of community members from several organizations and entities with a goal of giving recommendations for the community to strengthen opportunity, find what barriers exist that may be stalling some of that access and advocate for potential policy changes at the city level. Task Force Co-Chair Tanya Gonzalez spoke about the goals Thursday. “What does your organization, what does your group of people, the folks that you work and interact with on these issues, see as what…

The Flint Hills Breadbasket is hoping to tackle hunger in a big way. The annual Souper Bowl food and fund drive takes place Saturday, Feb. 6, the day before the NFL’s Super Bowl LV. Former Riley County Attorney and event organizer Bill Kennedy says collection efforts will be done differently than in years’ past. “We will be set up at the Flint Hills Breadbasket at 905 Yuma Street to accept food, looking for food of all kinds,” he said. Volunteers traditionally are set up in front of the Manhattan grocery stores to collect food, but this year are asking donors…

The Riley County Emergency Operations Center has selected Pottorf Hall in CiCo Park as its new location for the COVID-19 vaccination clinic. The move comes following parking and congestion concerns with its previous location last week. Health Department Clinical Supervisor Aryn Price says the new location should help for a smoother process to administer those shots. “We ask that everyone that is notified to receive the vaccine, arrive at the CiCo Park pool parking lot at the corner of Wreath and Robinson. That specific address is going to come out when you are notified,” she said. Price says members from…

A long-time icon in the Manhattan business community Burke Bayer passed away Jan. 20 at the age of 98. Bayer served in the U.S. Army during World War II, serving in Germany and the Philippines as a 1st Lieutenant and was involved in veterans activities as a member of the American Legion. He served on various fundraising committees and helped coordinate the annual Manhattan Veterans Day Parade. Bayer was also instrumental in fundraising and construction for the World War II Memorial at McCain Auditorium. After his military service, Bayer rejoined his father Henry at Bayer Construction. He was involved in…

One of the two leading economic pillars of the Manhattan area and Flint Hills Region is Fort Riley. The region’s largest employer remains among the top employers in Kansas as well, according to the latest Fort Riley annual Economic Impact Summary. In 2020, Fort Riley’s financial impact to the region rose to $1.8 billion, topping the eight-year record of $1.7 billion. Garrison Commander Colonel Will McKannay says this year’s report reflected great work of regional communities to hire and retain veterans. “It’s my strong conviction that Fort Riley is an important part of the Flint Hills region and the state…