Author: Brandon Peoples

The COVID-19 cluster reported at the Pottawatomie County Justice Center includes the department’s top official. Pottawatomie County Sheriff Shane Jager confirmed to KMAN Friday he too tested positive for COVID-19 recently. Jager says he’s doing well, despite losing his sense of smell. He will come out of isolation Saturday. The Justice Center cluster was identified Tuesday after the health department confirmed at least five people affiliated with the Justice Center had contracted COVID-19. Upon that announcement, the Justice Center was closed to the public. It remains closed. Health officials also announced contact tracing interviews linked several staff members who tested…

A Manhattan man was killed Thursday in a rollover crash on Interstate 70 southeast of Manhattan. The Kansas Highway Patrol says 44-year-old Shane Lingenfelter was westbound on I-70 near mile marker 319 around 6:30 p.m. when, for an unknown reason, his GMC Sierra pickup left the roadway, struck a tree, rolled and then struck a second tree. The truck then rolled into a creek, coming to rest on the driver’s side. Lingenfelter, the lone occupant in the truck, was pronounced dead on scene. The crash report says he was not wearing a seat belt.

Manhattan City Commissioners were presented on Tuesday with a less than promising look at revenues impacted by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The city’s anticipating a drop in all 2020 revenues, with sales tax trending down 3 percent year-to-date compared to the previous two years. Assistant City Finance Director Rina Neal highlighted some of the key areas where the city has saved on expenditures in the general fund since the spring, including cuts to travel, parks and recreation, public works and a hiring freeze. “The total savings and revenue offsets are about $3.5 million, which is about 90 percent of what…

K-State’s Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer Bryan Samuel and K-State President Richard Myers thanked participants of Tuesday’s KSUnite virtual sessions which focused on diversity and inclusion. Perspectives were offered from a diverse group of scholars who shared experiences in the fourth annual event. President Myers told the Kansas Board of Regents Wednesday it was unfortunate that despite all the good, the event was not without some disruption. “Unfortunately we got Zoom-bombed by the ‘usual suspects.’ We were able in the chat to shut those down very quickly, but not before a couple comments were made that were just disgusting,” he…

A Manhattan man now faces first-degree murder charges in the deaths of two people at a west Manhattan residence last Friday. The Riley County Attorney’s office announced the formal charges Wednesday against 19-year-old Montrell Vassar. The charges were upgraded from the initial second-degree murder charges announced by Riley County Police over the weekend. In addition, Vassar has also been charged with possession of stolen property. The formal complaint, filed Wednesday in Riley County District Court, alleges Vassar acted with intent and premeditation in the killings of 19-year-old Skyler Havens and 23-year-old Javon Gray. It also alleges Vassar stole a handgun…

A former Manhattan High student has died after an apparent drowning Tuesday at the Wamego Aquatic Center. Thomas “Wyatt” Balman, a 2018 graduate of MHS, and a member of the high school swim team was identified from an email sent out to USD 383 staff Wednesday. Wamego City Manager Stacie Eichem confirmed the report to KMAN and stated the incident occurred at the facility’s indoor pool. The Aquatic Center is closed until further notice, pending a complete investigation. Wamego Police continue to investigate and were in the process Wednesday of interviewing people who were in the pool at the time…

Pottawatomie County health officials say several staff members who tested positive at the county’s Justice Center have been linked to a funeral in Manhattan this past weekend. Contact tracing has revealed several staff members who tested positive attended a funeral Saturday for one of a long-time coworker who recently passed away. Anyone who attended that funeral or has been at the Justice Center within the last 14 days are encouraged to monitor their health for COVID-19 symptoms. Those who feel sick should seek healthcare and ask to be tested. The Justice Center remains closed to the public. 3 p.m. Tuesday…

Manhattan firefighters battled a weekend house fire which reached a first alarm before it was contained a short time later. The Manhattan Fire Department was called out to 2411 Brook Lane around 11 a.m. Saturday. Crews arrived to find a garage in a single story structure on fire. Everyone inside exited the building prior to firefighters arriving on scene. Crews searched the home and removed two pets, one of which was treated on scene for smoke inhalataion. No other injuries were reported. Damage was estimated at $60,000 to the building and $25,000 to the contents. The cause of the fire…

Two people are dead and one person is in custody following a shooting in Manhattan Friday. Riley County Police say 19-year-old Montrell Vassar is jailed on two counts of second-degree murder. Police were alerted to shots fired in the 700 block of Allison Ave. shortly before 5:30 p.m. Friday. Bond has been set at $500,000. Police say no other arrests are anticipated. Police say the two men found dead at the scene were known acquaintances of Vassar. They were identified as 19-year-old Skyler Havens and 23-year-old Javon Gray, both of Manhattan. Police continue to investigate and are not releasing any…

Spooktacular, the annual Sunset Zoo Halloween celebration, will go on this year with some changes implemented to keep trick-or-treaters safe. The event typically draws in thousands of children with their families over a weekend. Marketing and Development Officer Melissa Kirkwood tells KMAN it will look a little different this year. “We will do some crowd control, so we are extending our time frame to more of a two-hour activity during several evenings that last week of October,” she said. Candy will be pre-bagged rather than at candy stations. Trick-or-treaters will receive the candy as they exit the zoo. Dates for…