Author: Brandon Peoples

The Riley County Health Department on Wednesday confirmed 42 new cases of coronavirus since Monday. The total number of active cases is 267, with 1,582 recovered and eight deaths, for a total of 1,857 since the pandemic first presented locally in March. Statistics show 78.5 percent of the total cases since March have involved residents aged 18 to 24. Females have accounted for 52 percent of total cases while males have made up the other 48 percent. Males have accounted for seven of the eight total deaths. Officials noted Wednesday that Ascension Via Christi was caring for three COVID positive…

With in-person shows on hold through December, McCain Auditorium is announcing a new live stream event series called McCain Connected. The series is a collection of curated shows available online, most of which will be free of charge. A few will require a ticket be purchased to view the show. Some of the events planned will take place live on the McCain stage or at other locations around the world. Some will be prerecorded and made available exclusively to the McCain audience. Six events are currently scheduled. The first will be Wayne Goins and the Jazzdemic Orchestra, performing at 7:30…

For the first time in six weeks, the percent of individuals testing positive for the coronavirus in Riley County has fallen below 10 percent. The health department says for the week of Sept. 20, that rate fell to 9.6 percent, with 108 total cases. It was the fourth consecutive week that the rate decreased after reaching a peak of 34.3 percent in late August. Health Department Director Julie Gibbs. “We are happy to see that number back down from 30 percent back down to 10 percent. It’s come down significantly,” she said. Gibbs also says K-12 schools aren’t seeing many…

A Westmoreland agricultural producer is among four selected to receive USDA funding to help develop new products and expand his operation. Roy Garrett is receiving a $38,100 Value-Added Producer Grant from USDA Rural Development. Garrett is starting a wine production company and has an existing vineyard and has degrees in enology and viticulture from Highland Community College. Project funds will be used to rent a space at the college winery business incubator and tasting room and provide supplies, packaging and marketing. Elsewhere, a $250,000 grant is being awarded to KC Pumpkin Patch, LLC in Olathe to expand production and distribution…

A full-scale exercise taking place at Manhattan Regional Airport will include some traffic adjustments Tuesday. Airport Director Jesse Romo says the exercise is to test emergency responders’ abilities to respond to an aircraft incident. It’s scheduled from 2 to 4 p.m. Tuesday on the airport property near Wildcat Creek Road. A portion of Wildcat Creek Road will be closed between the business park and Skyway Drive, as a result, with limited access for residents. During the exercise, officials will use a mock aircraft, fuselage and manikins. Due to COVID-19, only emergency responders will be participating — including Manhattan Fire, RCPD,…

Junction City Police have arrested a 19-year-old man in connection to a weekend homicide. Michael Chavez was booked into the Geary County Detention Center on the charge of 2nd degree murder. According to Lt. Cory Odell, officers were dispatched Saturday night to the 500 block of West 7th Street in reference to a welfare check. When they arrived, they found the body of Carolina Almendarez Marquez. Police say the woman was related to the suspect. An autopsy has been scheduled Chavez is awaiting a first court appearance. Bond is set at $1 million.

Riley County Police are investigating a report of shots fired early Monday morning in the 2400 block of Hobbs Drive. Officers arrived on scene shortly after 5 a.m. and found a 19-year-old male victim, suffering from a gunshot wound. He was transported to Ascension Via Christi for treatment of his injuries. Officers remained on scene for several hours. It is an active investigation. No suspect has been arrested. Anyone with information is asked to contact RCPD at 785-537-2112 or Crime Stoppers at 785-539-7777.

Two people escaped serious injury Sunday after wet roads led to a crash on Interstate 70 near Junction City. According to the Geary County Sheriff’s Office, an SUV driven by Carniecia Robinson of Manhattan hydroplaned in the eastbound lanes. The vehicle crossed the median and struck a westbound SUV driven by David Feist of Lenexa. The incident happened just before 1 p.m. near mile marker 302, just west of the K-18 junction. The Sheriff’s report lists the accident as a non-injury crash, but says both vehicles were reported as totaled.

Riley County saw many more coronavirus patients added to the recovery column Friday, in large part due to increased availability of contact tracers to conduct follow-up interviews. Friday’s report showed 352 additional recoveries while also accounting for 73 new positive cases. The health department says with fewer new cases to call, contact tracing staff have been able to reach out to existing patients in order to confirm recovery. Most of the recovered patients in Friday’s report were diagnosed in mid-to-late August. Patients are considered recovered when they meet the following criteria outlined by the CDC: 10 days since symptoms first…

A 37-year-old man is jailed after police say he attempted to start a fire on another person’s property in Manhattan. According to the Riley County Police Department, officers were called out Thursday evening to a disturbance at a mobile home in Redbud Estates. Police arrested 37-year-old Jason Melton in connection to one count of attempted aggravated arson, one count of criminal trespass and two counts of aggravated assault. Police listed a 25-year-old man and a 22-year-old woman as victims when Melton went on to their property without permission and tried to start a fire. Melton remains jailed on a $50,000…