Author: Brandon Peoples

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…

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…