Author: Brandon Peoples

After a record 17 clues, the hunt for the G. Thomas Jewelers- Godfrey’s Range and Tactical Supply Jingle Bell Rock, officially came to an end Wednesday morning. Joel Moldrup and Ashley Porter were among a group of six individuals who located the rock and will share in the prizes as a result. Moldrup explains where the clues led them. “So technically it was my sister-in-law Brianne Porter that found it, but it was on Linear Trail off Anderson Ave. in between two timbers, underneath some leaves. Moldrup says he and his pregnant wife hurried over to locate his sister-in-law, who…

The Kansas Department for Children and Families raised more than $23,000 during its annual Hope for the Holidays gift drive this year. According to a release from the state agency, it collected gift cards, monetary donations and greeting cards to provide to young adults who have gone through the foster care system and otherwise might not receive a gift. DCF collected gift cards instead of physical gifts this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The program, which was started 15 years ago in the Manhattan area, saw five gift cards totaling $2,400 from Seven Dolors Catholic Parish and over $4,000…

The Riley County Police Department anticipates about $1.2 million in unused personnel funds as it closes out the 2020 budget cycle. RCPD Capt. Josh Kyle presented end of year expenditures Monday to the Riley County Law Board. He says the department projects money will be available based primarily on the fact that a number of open positions remain unfilled. While the deficits in the communications center have stabilized, Kyle says corrections now has several vacancies. “As a result, we currently have 13 open positions and that’s fairly typical for RCPD on any given month and so an overwhelming majority of…

A Texas man, formerly from the Manhattan area, will not face any additional hearings in an alleged attempted rape and kidnapping incident. At a Dec. 4 hearing Riley County District Court Judge John Bosch approved a motion from prosecutors to dismiss the case against 42-year-old Sean Morgan without prejudice. As a result, all charges against him have been dropped. Morgan had previously been accused of attempted rape and aggravated kidnapping of a then 27-year-old victim in 2015. He also had previously been charged with rape and aggravated criminal sodomy in a 2018 alleged incident with a then 25-year-old victim. Morgan…

The Riley County Health Department has confirmed 71 new COVID-19 cases since Friday and is now monitoring 290 active cases. Health officials also confirmed 198 additional recoveries Monday. It also says 12 positive patients are now being monitored at Ascension Via Christi. Two of those patients are on ventilators. Testing has increased significantly since late last week. The health department says more than 1,000 came out between Thursday through Saturday either for the free nasal swab or saliva tests offered at CiCo Park. That testing continues through the end of the year. The health department has also received the first…

Authorities in Pottawatomie County say a poaching incident took place on Dec. 14. A whitetail doe was shot with a rifle from the roadway on Marten Road, just east of Hwy 99, about 8 miles north of Wamego. Game wardens with the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism are asking for the public’s assistance as they investigate. Tips can be submitted to the Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page or via the Crimestoppers link at ptsheriff.com.

Riley County confirmed 98 new positive COVID cases Friday along with 24 more recoveries. The county health department says there are now 417 active cases, a 74 case jump since Wednesday. Ascension Via Christi is caring for nine positive patients and one patient under investigation. Four of the patients are in the Intensive Care Unit. Free drive-up, saliva-based testing is now offered daily except Sundays and holidays at CiCo Park from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. For more information, visit gogettested.com/kansas. The health department says free test kits for people without symptoms will soon be available to local organizations and…

Pottawatomie County health officials confirmed 57 new COVID-19 cases Friday and 63 more recoveries. The county health department, which previously said it would no longer be tracking active cases, says it worked with KDHE to create a report with those figures. As of Friday it was tracking 94 active cases, including six hospitalizations. The number of pending cases will no longer be available on the county COVID updates. The county has totaled 908 COVID-19 cases since March, including three deaths.

A Manhattan man is jailed in connection to the murder of a 2-year-old child. The arrest came following a Dec. 1 homicide investigation where the Riley County Police Department responded to a critically injured 2-year-old boy at Ascension Via Christi Hospital. The child died later that day. According to the police, 21-year-old Gage Anderson was arrested Thursday on the offenses of 1st degree murder and child abuse. Anderson and the boy shared a home in Manhattan. Anderson remains jailed on a $500,000 bond. Police are not releasing any further information due to the ongoing investigation.

K-State President Richard Myers says the university plans to continue efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19 when students return next month for the Spring semester. Speaking Wednesday to the Kansas Board of Regents, Myers noted the university didn’t get the desired student turnout for asymptomatic testing, which had been offered through Lafene Health Center. “Even with incentives, there weren’t as many takers as we’d like so we’re going to take it to the student union, to residence halls to where the students are, and hopefully get more people to participate in that program so we can stop an outbreak…