Author: Brandon Peoples

A Wamego man is jailed on more than two dozen counts of burglary and a host of other charges. Riley County Police arrested Joshua Davies Wednesday in the 700 block of 3rd Place. He’s charged with 26 counts of burglary, three counts of violating a protection order, five counts of criminal damage to property and several drug-related offenses. The burglary and criminal damage to property offenses are in connection to several local storage unit thefts ranging from August 2019 to April 2020. Davies is jailed on a $25,000 total bond. He was also arrested Tuesday, but bonded out on a…

Construction operations resumed Wednesday at the National Bio and Agro Defense Facility, just one day after a construction worker tested positive for COVID-19. NBAF Program Manager Tim Barr says following their prescribed plan, construction contractor McCarthy Mortenson Joint Venture temporarily halted work and shut down the project to conduct an investigation and thorough cleaning of the areas visited by the infected staff member. Barr says in addition to being required to have personal protection equipment, all employees are required to wear face coverings and practice social distancing. Workers are not being routinely tested for COVID-19, but are asked a series…

The USD 383 school board has hired a new principal for Northview Elementary. Dr. Nick Goos was announced Wednesday as the new principal who will replace the retiring Dr. Cleion Morton. He currently serves as principal of Voy Spears Jr. Elementary School in Blue Springs, Missouri, where he’s been for the past two years. He also served as principal for another school in that district for 10 years. He expressed gratitude to the district in a statement Wednesday. “I am excited for the opportunity to join the Manhattan Ogden School District,” he said. “I would like to thank Dr. Wade…

Riley County Police are investigating a string of thefts involving catalytic converters stolen from four different vehicles over a two-day period. Officers filed two reports Monday, listing Flint Hills Area Transportation Agency as one of the victims when an unknown suspect stole the engine part, valued at around $1,500. Earlier in the day a 21-year-old female victim reported her catalytic converter also was stolen from her vehicle in the 1400 block of Chase Place, also valued at around $1,500. A third incident was reported Tuesday, when two more catalytic converters were reported as stolen from two F-350 trucks, listing Prairie…

With Gov. Kelly’s emergency declaration expiring Tuesday, counties now have the final say over health orders at the local level. As a result, beginning Wednesday, all businesses can reopen and social gatherings are now capped at 50. Health Officer Julie Gibbs announced the Local Health Order No. 10, which will remain in effect for 14 days, or until amended, superseded or rescinded. Large venues of more than 2,000 capacity are not allowed under this new order. Bars and restaurants can operate daily, no later than midnight, except for drive-thru, carry out or delivery. All businesses and locations are required to…

Construction has been halted at the National Bio and Agro Defense Facility after a construction worker tested positive recently for COVID-19. It is not known at this time how the worker contracted the virus nor how many people at the site may have potentially been exposed. According to NBAF Program Manager Tim Barr, the Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate received notification Tuesday from its contractor, McCarthy Mortenson Joint Venture (McMjv), who in turn ceased operations for the rest of the day. The company says it’s investigating and assessing areas that may need additional cleaning and disinfection of…

Visitor restrictions are being somewhat eased at Manhattan’s Ascension Via Christi Hospital Beginning Thursday, the hospital will allow one visitor per patient. This includes those receiving outpatient care, to have one designated adult visitor during their hospital stay. Other friends and family are encouraged to show their support using virtual platforms to visit with their loved ones. Designated visiting hours are from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. All visitors will still have to be screened to rule out potential illness before entering the hospital and are required to wear a surgical-type mask for the entirety of their visit. Masks…

Riley County continues to see a flattening of the coronavirus curve. Health Department Director and local health officer Julie Gibbs says just one new positive case came in over the weekend. It was only the second reported case in well over a week. Another case was confirmed by late Tuesday afternoon, bringing the county’s total since mid-March to 63 cases. “Most of those have recovered. We did have the one fatality unfortunately a couple weeks ago, but we only have seven active cases right now, so we’re definitely seeing that downward trend, which is exactly what we want to see,”…

As higher education institutions grapple with a possible return to in person learning this fall, projections remain uncertain with how enrollment will be impacted. Manhattan Christian College President Kevin Ingram tells KMAN that recruiting has actually ticked up, with April applications for the fall up 21 percent versus last year. Acceptances are also up 45 percent over last year, according to stats released last week. “If this projects out, there’s some indicators we could have a good freshman class in the fall, which could help our overall enrollment,” he said. Virtual tours are helping those potential recruits get a feel…

ST. MARYS, Kan. — A Kansas City Star investigative report has uncovered numerous accounts of alleged sexual abuse at the hands of clergy within all four of the state’s catholic dioceses, and now expanded to include the Society of St. Piux X, which is based in St. Marys and runs an academy there. It’s unclear how many reports specifically are from the traditionalist Roman Catholic breakaway group, based in Pottawatomie County. However, a Kansas Bureau of Investigation spokesperson said as of Feb. 1, they’d received 186 reports of abuse and opened 112 investigations statewide. KBI began investigations in February 2019.…