Author: Brandon Peoples

The Riley County Law Board Monday gave final approval to its 2021 budget, with no cost of living adjustments or merits for members of the Riley County Police Department. Law Board member and current Riley County Attorney Barry Wilkerson says he’s frustrated with the situation the Law Board found itself in due to the COVID-19 pandemic and issued a statement prior to the board’s action Monday. “I do apologize that we can’t make raises work this year, but I want you to know that you are appreciated. I hope other people in this community recognize that there are a lot…

Kansas State University is helping furloughed employees through a new fund set up by the KSU Foundation. The university says in a release that hundreds have supported the #KStateStrong Emergency Response Fund since it was established in March as a result of COVID-19. More than 400 employees have been affected by furloughs. A few generous donors made significant gifts to the fund specifically to assist those employees through relief grants. Those experiencing financial hardships as a result may apply for grants up to $700 on line through the foundation’s website or in person at 1800 Kimball Ave. Priority will be…

An Oklahoma man is jailed in Riley County on suspicion of burglary and criminal damage after several vehicles were broken into at the Manhattan Regional Airport. According to Riley County Police, officers were called out Sunday morning after multiple people reported items missing from their vehicles. Police say four pickups were broken into with items taken. Police arrested 36-year-old Timothy Smith in connection to three counts of burglary and two counts of criminal damage to property. Smith was jailed on a $10,000 bond. The arrest follows a string of vehicle thefts also in Manhattan. Over the weekend, two vehicles were…

Five new positive cases of COVID-19 were reported in Riley County over the weekend. As of Monday morning, Riley County had 16 active cases and a cumulative total of 80 positives since mid-March. The latest individuals include four male patients aged 21, 22, 28 and 61 years old and a 19-year-old female. One new patient was reported Monday morning, but no details had been released as of noon. Riley County Health Officer Julie Gibbs says two of the cases were travel-related to the Kansas City area and admits the uptick in new cases was expected. “We knew we’d see more…

Geary County authorities are investigating the shooting death of a juvenile Sunday. The Geary County Sheriff’s Office says it happened just before 2 p.m. at a home on Clarks Creek Road. Authorities found the juvenile suffering from a gunshot wound. The juvenile died later at the Geary County Community Hospital. No further details have been released. The case remains under investigation.

A 26-year-old Manhattan woman is jailed on a charge of attempted first degree murder. Riley County Police on Friday arrested Ashley Nicole Wright on the attempted murder charge in addition to a charge of aggravated battery. Upon investigation, police determined a 31-year-old female victim had said Wright battered her a few hours earlier. The victim sustained serious, but non-life threatening injuries to her head resulting from blunt force trauma. She was treated at Ascension Via Christi and later released. Wright was jailed on a $250,000 bond. Police are continuing to investigate.

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation continues to investigate after a 27-year-old Manhattan man claimed he was battered by a Riley County Police officer. The individual, identified in police records as Michael Rivera approached police shortly before 11 a.m. alleging he was battered outside his home in the 1500 block of Poyntz Ave. sometime around 3:30 a.m. No specific details were provided in the report. KBI, in a release stated Rivera saw a police car outside his residence, approached it and after that the officer “committed battery” against him outside and again at the apartment entrance. RCPD turned the matter over…

Voters will pick a new representative this year in Kansas’ Big 1st congressional district. One of the candidates hoping to win election is Dr. Bill Clifford, a Garden City ophthalmologist, Air Force veteran and current chair of the Finney County Commission. Clifford sat down with KMAN in a recent interview at the Manhattan Radina’s Coffeehouse on Claflin Road. Clifford is among six candidates lobbying for the seat, and is one of four Republican candidates. He explains what sets him apart from others in the race. “I swore an oath to support and defend this country in uniform. I have adopted…

In-person classes will resume for the fall 2020 semester at Kansas State University, but the start and end dates will be moved up one week. Under the adjusted academic calendar, the first day of classes will be Monday, Aug. 17. The last day of classes will be Friday, Dec. 4, with finals week from Dec. 7-11. The university says the semester will conclude for in-person instruction on Nov. 20, ahead of the Thanksgiving break. Following the break, the final two weeks of the semester, including final exams will be completed using distance methods. K-State Provost Charles Taber says the idea…

Pawnee Mental health has received $40,000 to buy new laptops for its Adult and Youth Rehabilitation Services staff members. The mobile resource is intended to expand access to more clients and enable more remote mental health services. It also allows for implementation of concurrent documentation, a practice that engages the client and clinician in documenting progress and goals. Pawnee Executive Director Robbin Cole says the COVID-19 pandemic has illustrated the “critical need to be able deliver health care services remotely when needed.” The funds come from the Caroline Peine Charitable Foundation, named after the former K-State Assistant Dean of Students.