Author: Brandon Peoples

No injuries were reported after part of a cottonwood tree fell into the front of a mobile home in the Blue Valley Mobile Home Park. The incident happened shortly before noon. Manhattan Fire Department Capt. Brian Force says the homeowner escaped safely out the backdoor. “The gentleman here was inside the home, actually cooking a pizza for dinner and sitting in his living room when the tree came crashing down. No injuries, kinda scared him a little bit and he was able to get out alright,” he said. The impact did significant damage to the front of the mobile home,…

Kansas State University will hold commencement ceremonies prior to Thanksgiving. In a letter to students Tuesday, Provost Chuck Taber announced spring, summer and fall 2020 graduates will be recognized in combined ceremonies Nov. 23 and 24 at the Manhattan campus, the Monday and Tuesday before Thanksgiving. Commencement at Salina’s polytechnic campus will take place Nov. 20. Taber says the earlier commencement ceremonies is consistent with the university’s efforts to reduce risk for students, their families and their communities by reducing the need for students to travel. Additional details regarding times and logistics for the ceremonies will be announced in the…

A 58-year-old Ogden man injured earlier this month in a motorcycle crash in Herington has died. Robert Bartholic was riding June 7 near the junction of US-77 and US-56 Highway when he and another motorcyclist were rear-ended by a northbound pickup, which failed to stop at the intersection. He died Saturday at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita. According to his obituary, Bartholic served in the U.S. Army, Army National Guard and Air National Guard and was a retired captain with the Fort Riley Fire Department, following a 30 year career. He most recently worked for USD 383 where he was…

Kansas State University says eight employees in Information Technology Services will be furloughed beginning June 28. Doing so will save the university more than $100,000. The emergency action comes following 430 employee furloughs announced since May due to COVID-19 impacts. The university estimates in total, it has saved nearly $2.75 million. K-State’s Division of Human Capital Services is working with affected employees on federal and state health benefit options. Furloughed employees may qualify for state unemployment benefits.

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.