Author: Brandon Peoples

A Manhattan felon is jailed on new charges in Riley County. According to its activity report, Riley County Police Department say a 25-year-old woman reported Wednesday that a suspect kidnapped and injured her. The suspect was identified as 25-year-old Aaron Lewis. Officers arrested Lewis in connection to several charges including aggravated kidnapping, aggravated domestic battery, domestic battery, violation of a protection order, interference with law enforcement, criminal trespass and aggravated intimidation. He’s also charged with seven counts of failure to appear. Lewis is being held on a bond of $63,750. Lewis has previous convictions for burglary, criminal threat and domestic…

The Rural Education Center in the Kansas State University College of Education has received its largest grant in history to improve distance learning. The $451,480 Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) grant will be administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utilties Service and will support the center’s Rural Enhancement of STEM Education through Tele-Presence (a.k.a Project RESET). With the grant they will expand an innovative robot distance learning program. K-State College of Education Dean Debbie Mercer shared details Wednesday on a Zoom conference call about the Center’s Project RESET. “Through Project RESET, we partner with 20 schools and supply…

A ninth Riley County resident has died after having tested positive for COVID-19. The Riley County Health Department confirmed Wednesday that the 72-year-old man died Wednesday after testing positive less than two weeks earlier, on Sept. 25. Health officials say he was not associated with any outbreaks in the county. The ninth death comes as Riley County added just four new positive cases since Monday’s report. Ascension Via Christi is monitoring one COVID positive patient. As of Wednesday afternoon, active cases totaled 134, with 1,794 listed as recovered. The health department reminds those showing symptoms or who is a close…

Pottawatomie County Commissioners on Monday approved a $40,000 cap on funding for small business grants, through its federal CARES act allotment. Businesses that have incurred expenses as a result of the coronavirus pandemic can apply up to that amount. That leaves the county with just under $435,000 available to those businesses. That’s approximately $118,000 more than what officials had recommended, with the previous $25,000 per business cap. County Operations Officer Andrea Umscheid says businesses that qualify would have until the end of the year to apply through a straightforward process. “With the grant program, they’re not having to submit all…

First responders from the Riley County Police Department, EMS and Manhattan Fire Department hosted a modified version of National Night Out Tuesday. Led by RCPD, the event aims to bring the community together. Officers served up hamburgers and hot dogs to go while residents drove thru Hulburt Arena and posed their emergency vehicles for display. Officer Rachel Pate says the event, while different from years’ past still accomplished its goal. “We’re really happy to get to see everybody again. I know we had to do it a little differently with a drive thru and walk through with masks and gloves…

Fort Riley says it is contacting property owners near Marshall Army Airfield seeking permission to test drinking water quality in wells along those properties. The wells may have been impacted due to operations at the Army installation. Testing will look for concentrations of Perfluorooctanoic acid and Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid. They’re part of a larger group of chemical compounds known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances or PFAS. PFAS are used in aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF), a critical firefighting agent used to quickly suppress petroleum fires at airports and military installations. AFFF has been used at Fort Riley. PFAS are also found in many…

Pottawatomie County authorities are searching for a suspect in a recent alleged aggravated assault. The incident was reported Friday evening just after 9 o’clock near the intersection of Kelly and Allen Lane in St. George. Police from the St. George Police Department, Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office and Kansas Highway Patrol searched for over two hours but were unable to locate him. The man is described as 5 foot 10 inch white man in his mid-to-late 30’s with facial hair, glasses, weighing about 170 pounds. He was seen that night wearing a hat, khaki pants, and a dark (possibly green) shirt.…

Riley County Police are seeking the public’s help after a motor vehicle struck a pedestrian Sunday near downtown Manhattan. Police say the incident happened shortly after 4 p.m. Sunday near the intersection of North 6th and Leavenworth Street. A Ford F-150 pickup struck 34-year-old John Schum of Manhattan as he was crossing the street. He was transported to Ascension Via Christi for treatment of minor injuries. RCPD says the driver fled the scene and has not been identified. They’re asking anyone with information to contact RCPD or Crime Stoppers. Doing so could result in a reward up to $1,000.

School is in session Monday at USD 378 Riley County Schools. The district was recently notified that a grade school staff member there tested positive for the coronavirus. Those who were close contacts of the individual, meaning they spent 10 minutes or longer with the staff member, are being personally notified by the school administration. Close contacts are directed to remain in quarantine until the health department notifies them of their virus status. The district says if district residents did not receive a call from Principal Teresa Grant or Assistant Principal Jared Larson, their students were being allowed to return to…

2:30 p.m. Saturday update The man shot by Riley County Police early Friday, after an hours long standoff, has died. Lawrence Police announced that 41-year-old Jarred Kemp died from his injuries Saturday morning. He was being treated at a Topeka hospital. No other details have been released by LPD, who are investigating the case. Body worn cameras were activated during the incident and that footage is being reviewed as part of the ongoing investigation. The two officers who shot at Kemp have been placed on administrative leave, as per RCPD policy. Their names have not been released. It’s unclear if…