Author: Brandon Peoples

A Riley family has been displaced following a house fire Wednesday afternoon. According to the City of Riley Fire Captain Jay Holmes, the home in the 100 block of Bird Dog Drive was fully involved when firefighters arrived on scene shortly after noon Wednesday. The residents all got out safely, but the house was a total loss. A total of 30 firefighters including Riley, Keats, Leonardville, University Park and Tuttle Creek stations battled the blaze. The Kansas State Fire Marshal’s Office was also involved in the investigation. Riley County Fire District No. 1, RCPD and Riley County EMS also responded.…

A Manhattan firefighter has become the latest first responder to test positive for COVID-19. The Manhattan Fire Department says the firefighter started showing symptoms while off duty after a known exposure outside of work and is currently isolating at home. The firefighter reportedly did not make contact with other emergency personnel or the public in the course of their duties, according to the department’s investigation. Contact tracing is underway through the Riley County Health Department. The firefighter’s name is not being released, for privacy purposes. Last week, a Riley County EMS technician, who was asymptomatic, tested positive. The health department…

Labor Day weekend will be silent in Boomtown. The Wamego City Commission voted Tuesday to cancel the 2020 fireworks show which had initially been postponed in late June from the traditional Independence Day celebration to Sunday, Sept. 6. City officials cited the numerous local outbreaks and upcoming school year as reasons to err on the side of caution with public health safety in mind. Show officials, in a statement, said there was no easy or socially distant way to hold the event of its magnitude which is likely to attract a large crowd from outside the Wamego area. Officials said…

Two additional COVID-19 outbreaks have been identified in Riley County. The Riley County Health Department and Kansas Department of Health and Environment said Tuesday that the first is associated with the Phi Delta Theta fraternity in Manhattan, where 13 fraternity members have tested positive. The second outbreak is associated with the Blue Valley USD 384 district office in Randolph. A total of seven people including staff members and school board members have tested positive. Six of those patients are Riley County residents. The health department has instructed fraternity members and managers to follow deep cleaning and disinfection procedures as well…

The Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office says a second person involved in a fatal rollover crash in rural Havensville Sunday has died. Sheriff Shane Jager identified the two individuals as 19-year-old Quinton Norris of Onaga and 18-year-old Keaton Blaske of Havensville. Both were ejected from the vehicle after it rolled several times along Hwy 63 north of the Hwy 16 junction. Investigators say Norris died on scene and Blaske died Tuesday at a local hospital. The accident remains under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call the Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office at 785-457-3353 or leave a tip on the Crime…

Leaders from Kansas State University are pleading with students and community members to take personal responsibility to avoid another university shutdown due to COVID-19. A joint statement from President Richard Myers, Provost Charles Taber and Vice President for Student Life Thomas Lane warns that if the guidelines aren’t followed K-State could be forced to shut down, similar to last spring, calling it an uncomfortable truth in the time we live in. The statement cited the example from the University of North Carolina, which shut down Monday after just one week, due to emerging COVID-19 outbreaks. The statement continues by saying…

A Manhattan restaurant owner facing 26 charges of sexual abuse against three minors will wait a bit longer to move forward with a trial. During a hearing Monday via Zoom, Judge Kendra Lewison continued the case against Robert Iacobellis to 11 a.m. Sept. 1. The change was made to give time for a hearing on a motion to quash a subpoena filed against the Kansas Department for Children and Families put forward by Iacobellis’ attorney Lora Ingels. She was interested in protective orders, which she argued the defense is legally allowed to obtain, with the court ultimately allowed to decide…

Riley County Commissioners, acting as the board of health Monday, went against the recommendation of the local health officer, and tentatively approved Local Health Order No. 18 with a modification to remove the 2,000 capacity limit. The order which takes effect Tuesday, and will be in place until rescinded or superseded, will essentially allow K-State to bring fans into Bill Snyder Family Stadium for football games this season. Commissioners were hesitant at first to agree, but ultimately were persuaded by Athletic Director Gene Taylor who stated the university’s mitigation plan is extensive and will help keep fans safe. “The one…

A Riley County judge has found probable cause to try one of four men charged in the November 2019 shooting death of 24-year-old Tanner Zamecnik. Jaylon Hitsman faces five total charges including first-degree murder and criminal discharge of a firearm at an occupied vehicle. He additionally faces charges of aggravated assault, aggravated battery and attempted aggravated battery. Zamecnik was killed Nov. 1 in an attempted robbery over marijuana. The 20-year-old and his brother Dylan Hitsman along with 29-year-old Richard Goens and 45-year-old Shamar Sutton are each facing similar charges. Sutton signed an agreement last month to testify in exchange for…

After a weekend with students flooding Aggieville bars and restaurants, Riley County Health Department Director Julie Gibbs is hinting at more possible restrictions to protect public health, including closures. Local health order No. 17 restricts mass gatherings to 50 or fewer unless approved through an application process in writing 14 days prior through the health department. Any person violating any provision of local health orders or failing to comply with the requirements faces a fine of up to $100 if convicted for each offense. Gibbs says she’s working with the Riley County Police Department to address violations. She says violators…