Author: Brandon Peoples

Thanksgiving was held at Fort Riley, with some notable adjustments this year due to COVID-19. Meals were served Thursday afternoon to soldiers at the Devil’s Den and Whitside Dining Facilities, with several safety protocols in place, including tents set up outside the facilities. Culinary Specialist Sgt. Gabriel Bailey. “We were estimating for about 1500 personnel to be in the building  and due to COVID and having to stay six feet apart we wanted to ensure we had enough seating available for the Soldiers that is why we implemented the tents outside and seating outside as well,” said Bailey. The meal,…

Updated COVID-19 case numbers were not immediately available Wednesday from the Riley or Pottawatomie County Health Departments. Riley County did release its weekly percent positive rate for the week of Nov. 15 through Nov. 21, which remained about the same as the week before at 16 percent, with 419 testing positive out of over 2,600 total tests. The two week average also is hovering is just above 16 percent. The health department says it say 793 people test positive out of just over 4,900 tests between Nov. 8 and Nov. 21. Ascension Via Christi continues to care for eight positive…

Students and non-students seeking rental properties in the Manhattan area now have an easy to use, free online option to find housing. The new website is called MHKHousing.com and is entirely student run through Collegian Media Group at Kansas State University. The site, which officially launches in January, offers an extensive, consolidated online catalog of off-campus housing. Collegian Advertising Assistant Manager Dominique McGlynn says it’s a great tool for those needing housing, but not ready to view a property in person amid the pandemic. “Not being able to tour the homes or to have that accessibility that you had once…

Authorities in Pottawatomie County say a number of vehicles were burglarized in the early morning hours Monday in and around the small community of Emmett. Sheriff Shane Jager says a total of seven reports were taken and some of the stolen items included firearms. The total loss from the burglaries is estimated at $1,800. A passenger vehicle was identified in the area at the time of the burglaries. A photo of that car is available at NewsRadioKMAN.com. Anyone who may have information regarding these burglaries, or who can identify the vehicle owner is asked to call Detective Rob Gordon at…

The Riley County Commission is proceeding with a new countywide mask mandate taking effect at 11:59 p.m. Tuesday. The mandate, part of Local Health Order 19 requires face coverings or masks be worn over the mouth and nose in any public space in Riley County, defined as any indoor or outdoor space or area that is open to the public. This does not include private residential property or private offices or work spaces that are not open ot customers or public visitors. Masks are not required in outdoor public spaces if a distance of six feet can be maintained. Riley…

A new campus building will bridge cultures for years to come at Kansas State University. A virtual ribbon cutting was held Friday to officially unveil the completion of the $6.4 million Morris Family Multicultural Student Center. Among the attendees was K-State President Richard Myers. “To all of our students, I would say this space is for you. May it be an inclusive space where you are empowered to find your voice as well as academic success. That’s all wrapped into this structure,” he said. Lead donor Jim Bob Morris, a K-State alum says the center is a hub for all…

A Milford man is jailed in connection to an alleged rape and aggravated assault in Geary County. According to a release from the Geary County Sheriff’s Office, a female victim was receiving treatment at the hospital after reportedly being shot and raped in the 9700 block of Quarry Road early Thursday morning. Junction City Police later found the suspect, identified as Darien Manning, in the 100 block of East 10th Street, about two hours later. Manning has been charged with aggravated burglary, aggravated battery, aggravated assault, aggravated kidnapping, rape and violation of a protection order. Further details about the alleged…

One person sustained a minor injury Wednesday following a three vehicle crash north of Manhattan at the intersection of US 24 and Kansas Hwy 13. According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, the crash happened just after 5 p.m. when the driver of a pickup attempted to make a left turn onto Hwy 24 from KS 13 and did so in front of a westbound Toyota Camry. The accident caused the Camry to go into a violent spin into the eastbound lanes where it was struck by another pickup. The driver of the Camry, 64-year-old John Bosch of Clay Center was…

The USD 383 school board meets Wednesday night, faced with more tough decisions as COVID-19 cases continue to surge in the community. While not currently on the agenda, it’s highly anticipated the board could consider bringing a motion to transition the district out of hybrid learning to full remote after the Thanksgiving holiday. Superintendent Dr. Marvin Wade announced earlier this week that plans are already in place to do so for the shortened school week next Monday and Tuesday, in an effort to deep clean all school buildings. If approved, it’s uncertain how long a full-remote schedule could potentially be…

Researchers at George Mason University’s Center for Evidence-Based Crime Policy shared results at Monday’s Law Board meeting of an eight-year evaluation of crime analysis in Riley County. The program is called the RCPD Laser Point Program and focuses in on roughly 10 hot spot street blocks where crime has been known to takes place frequently. It involves 15-20 minute patrols at those locations one to two times per shift and stresses visibility and encourages foot patrol, public contacts and problem solving as well as managerial tracking of activities. Chris Koper is one of the researchers on the project and says…