Author: Brandon Peoples

A Utah man is jailed following a Thursday chase that began in rural Pottawatomie County and ended in Manhattan. According to a release from Pottawatomie County Sheriff Shane Jager, a 911 call was received just after 11:30 a.m. from an individual working on the Belvue bridge on Schoeman Road when a black Honda reportedly almost ran over construction workers. Deputies were alerted to the reckless driver and began a pursuit on Hwy 24 near Wamego. The chase continued westbound until the vehicle struck tire deflation devices near Hopkins Creek Road in rural St. George. The vehicle continued westbound until the…

As mail in ballots continue to be counted at the local level, one legislative candidate is not ready to concede just yet. Craig Bowser trailed incumbent State Sen. Tom Hawk Election Night in the race for Senate District 22 by 332 votes. As of Thursday that margin increased to 348, with Hawk at 14,785 and Bowser at 14,437. Mail in ballots continue to be counted through Friday, which is the deadline for any ballots to be received at the County Clerk’s office so long as they are postmarked no later than Nov. 3. Ballots postmarked after that will not be…

No injuries were reported following a small kitchen fire was reported inside a Manhattan townhome Thursday. Members of the Manhattan Fire Department responded around 9:30 a.m. to a two-story townhome at 2528 Candle Crest Circle showing light smoke. The fire, on the stovetop, was extinguished within five minutes. The occupants of the home were able to exit unharmed. Loss was estimated at $8,000 to contents and another $3,000 to the building, which contains eight townhomes. The unit with the fire was the only one affected by the fire. The cause was ruled accidental due to a box being placed atop…

Manhattan voters have approved a 0.5 percent citywide sales tax measure. The extension was passed by a landslide margin on Tuesday, with 11,138 voting in favor and 7,212 voting against. City manager Ron Fehr tells KMAN that passing this initiative will help the city pay down some of its debts. “We’ll have the new revenue stream that will take care of those pledges and so we can start focusing on other priorities in recovery efforts right away with some of the proceeds that are currently in reserve,” he said. The initiative calls on city government to use 70 percent of…

State Sen. Tom Hawk has clinched re-election in the 22nd District, which encompasses Riley, Clay and Geary counties. Hawk edged out Republican Craig Bowser by 332 votes, holding a 51 to 49 to percent margin Tuesday night. The final was 14,573 votes for Hawk and 14,241 votes for Bowser. “There is a victory and I guess you only have to win by one vote. There’s still absentee ballots to come in and so we’ll see what that does. Most of the time it remains a wash, but you never know. I’m going to remain humble,” he said. Hawk won with…

Riley County firefighters had their hands full Tuesday with as a grass fire burned nearly 800 acres according to Emergency Management Director Pat Collins. Collins says the cause of the fire is unknown but believed to have started on the Konza Prairie near I-70 in Geary County around 3 p.m. It eventually crossed into Riley County. It took close to five hours to bring the fire under control. Collins tells KMAN there were about 20 trucks and some 30 to 45 firefighters from both counties as well as members of the Konza Prairie Research Department. No injuries were reported. A…

Update 4:45 p.m. Wamego High School will in fact switch to a hybrid learning model as a result of rising numbers of students in quarantine. The hybrid model will be adopted for at least the next three weeks. Superintendent Tim Winter confirmed to KMAN late Tuesday afternoon the district’s decision after the high school saw its number of quarantined students rise from 13 Friday to 62 on Monday. The increase in quarantines were a direct result of three positive student cases within the high school. At least two dozen students reportedly were feeling ill on Monday. The high school is…

Junction City High School Principal Melissa Sharp has been suspended with pay following an incident last month involving a student wearing a hijab (a head covering worn in public by Muslim women). The board’s decision Monday was unanimous (7-0). Board President Rina Neal issued the following statement. “The board of education has thoroughly reviewed the results of the investigation concerning the incident at Junction City High School. An acting principal will be appointed. We will use this as an opportunity to rededicate our efforts to create an inclusive environment for all. We appreciate your support of our students and school…

Here’s what’s at stake for local and state races Tuesday. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tune in to News Radio KMAN and follow NewsRadioKMAN.com Tuesday night for election results. MANHATTAN Voters are weighing in on a proposed .05 percent sales tax extension beyond 2022. RILEY COUNTY Republican Greg McKinley of Riley is up against Democrat Fanny Fang for the 2nd District seat currently held by Marvin Rodriguez, who was defeated in the primary. Republican John Matta of Manhattan is taking on Democrat Kathryn Focke for the District 3 seat currently held by Ron Wells, who…

One-third of all registered Pottawatomie County voters cast their ballots early for the general election. A total of 5,610 ballots had been received Monday as advanced voting wrapped up for the 2020 cycle. That more than doubles the 2016 figures which saw 2,451 advance vote in person or by mail. County Clerk Nancy McCarter says her office saw 2,307 walk-in voters and have received 3,303 of the 4,008 mail ballots returned (82%). The numbers equate to 33 percent of the nearly 16,887 registered to vote in Pottawatomie County. Monday was Election Worker Appreciation Day. Commissioner Pat Weixelman read a proclamation.…