Author: Brandon Peoples

Riley County commissioners have pushed back its decision to either uphold, restrict, or lessen the governor’s statewide mask ordinance to next week. That means the governor’s executive order remains the order residents must follow in public places, at least through the weekend, and presumably for the next week. Riley County Health Officer Julie Gibbs recommended the commission uphold the governor’s executive order or adopt a more restrictive mandate. Gibbs cited an influx of young people testing positive recently and surges tied to Aggieville and K-State. The commission opted to wait for input from municipalities including the City of Manhattan, which…

Junction City police have identified the woman found dead June 26 in an empty storage unit. Police say 52-year-old Tina Bennett of Junction City was identified through fingerprint comparison. She had initially been reported as missing June 20. Her cause of death is undetermined, but police say foul play is suspected. Police first reported the incident in a Monday news release. JCPD Capt. Trish Giordano says Bennett’s body was located in a storage unit in the 2300 block of N. Jackson Street. Anyone with information on this case is urged to call Crime Stoppers at (785) 742-8477 or online through…

Face masks won’t be required in public spaces in Pottawatomie County. The Commission in a rescheduled meeting Thursday, opted out of Gov. Laura Kelly’s executive order mandating masks, instead passing Local Health Order No. 7. The new order includes guidelines from the Health Officer “strongly recommending” the use of masks and other safety items when social distancing cannot be maintained. The County offices will also strongly recommend the wearing of masks, and will have them available for those who do not have one. The county says private businesses retain the right to make the wearing of masks mandatory for their…

The Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office says a hitch camper, valued at $13,000 was recently stolen from a storage unit in St. George. According to Sheriff Shane Jager, the theft was reported Wednesday from Blackjack Road Self Storage. It’s believed the theft occurred about 10 to 14 days ago. It’s described as a white 2010 Escape 15 foot bumper type hitch camper. Anyone with information is urged to call the Sheriff’s Office at 785-457-3351 or leave a tip with Crime Stoppers through ptsheriff.com.

TOPEKA — Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt has provided guidance to law enforcement and prosecutors on the enforcement of wearing face masks in the state. Schmidt says the guidance, updated earlier guidance and reflects changes to the Kansas Emergency Management Act. The amendments include changing the violation of an emergency order issued by the governor from a Class A misdemeanor to a civil violation, which is enforceable by a lawsuit filed by the county or district attorney. Schmidt says law enforcement officers may not arrest or detain a person in violation of an emergency order. Schmidt also says individual counties…

Governor Laura Kelly has officially signed the executive order mandating masks be worn in public settings and places where six-foot social distancing cannot be maintained. Executive Order 20-52 begins Friday and remains in place until formally rescinded or until the current State of Disaster Emergency expires, whichever occurs first. Situations where masks will be needed include: *When residents are inside a public space or are in line to enter one *When obtaining services from the healthcare sector in settings like hospitals, pharmacies, medical clinics, laboratories, physician or dental offices, veterinary clinics or blood banks *Waiting for or riding public transportation,…

The Pottawatomie County Commission will meet Friday to determine its course of action regarding Gov. Laura Kelly’s face mask mandate. The commission, meeting as the Board of Health met Wednesday at the Emergency Operations Center in Wamego where they received public comment, both for and against, with comments about equally divided. Commissioner Pat Weixelman, after clarifying he’s not a doctor, shared his thoughts on “herd immunity,” the benefits of warmer weather and questioned the enforceability of the order. Without knowing what Kelly’s Executive Order states, the commission has opted to wait until a 9 a.m. meeting Friday. That’s when they’ll…

Riley County Police are no longer seeking the public’s help identifying the parties involved in a fatal traffic accident in Leonardville in the early morning hours of June 19. The Kansas Highway Patrol worked the traffic accident, after a pedestrian was found dead in the 12,900 block of Barton Road. Investigating officers located 38-year-old Christopher Day of Leonardville, who died of head trauma associated with being struck by a vehicle. RCPD simultaneously conducted a criminal investigation, but Capt. Josh Kyle confirmed Wednesday no criminal charges are anticipated, and the department is forwarding further inquiries to KHP, which continues to investigate.…

The Geary County Sheriff’s Office has ruled a June 14 shooting that killed a 10-year-old boy accidental, after a thorough investigation. Sheriff’s Office Spokesman David Gilbert says Grady Erichsen’s death was a community tragedy that no parent should have to face. He says officers are still waiting on a few items to return as they wrap up their investigation, but says all signs point to accidental shooting, but did not specify any further. Deputies responded June 14 to a residence on Clarks Creek Road, southwest of Junction City in rural Geary County where they found the boy. He was transported…

The Wamego Aquatic Center officially opens its doors Wednesday with some limitations to visiting patrons. Wamego Area Chamber of Commerce Event & Tourism Director Kara Holle previewed the reopening on Monday’s In Focus. “The Wamego Aquatic Center opened late in the summer last year, so it didn’t really get a full run, but it will be open on July 1. The splash pad wasn’t open at all last year and it opened last week and it’s free and open pretty much all day long,” she said. Hours of operation will be 1 to 3 p.m., 4 to 6 p.m. and…