Author: Brandon Peoples

If you’re looking to buy a home or refinance the one you’re in, the current economic climate is playing into your favor. “This is definitely in my 41 years about the lowest I’ve ever seen it, especially for 30-year rates, it’s unbelievable,” said Larie Schoap, Vice President of ESB Financial in Manhattan. Several factors are leading to the lower rates, including the stock market’s recent plunge, which experts say are driving bond yields down. That may be due to fears of the coronavirus, OPEC or the fact that it’s an election year. Whatever the reason, Schoap says people should at…

A Manhattan man was arrested Tuesday evening on charges of alleged lewd behavior with a child. The Riley County Police Department has charged 60-year-old Miles Martin with one count of aggravated indecent liberties with a child under the age of 14 and one count of sexual exploitation of a child. Further details on the case are pending. Online court records show Martin has previous drug convictions out of Dickinson County from 2017. He also has a pending felony charge in Geary County from 2019. Martin is jailed in Riley County on a $500,000 bond.

After returning from South Korea, Fort Riley officials confirmed Tuesday that four Fort Riley soldiers have been advised to restrict movement for two weeks amid coronavirus concerns globally. The 1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley say they are doing this as a precautionary measure “to protect the health of the force and maintain operational readiness.” 1st Infantry Division Public Affairs Director Lt. Col Terence Kelley says they’re placing some soldiers in restricted movement if they’ve come from one of the high-risk areas. South Korea has been identified by the Centers for Disease Control as a Level 3 Travel Health Notice…

A Manhattan woman is jailed following a domestic dispute Monday at an east Manhattan home. Riley County Police have charged 21-year-old Arayah Perez with aggravated battery, criminal damage to property, aggravated child endangerment and criminal restraint. Police were called out to the Blue Valley mobile home park shortly before 5 p.m. Monday after the report of a stabbing. The victim, a 29-year-old man was transported to Ascension Via Christi with minor injuries. Due to the nature of the case, no further details are being released. Perez remains jailed on a $20,000 total bond.

Local health officials are closely monitoring 18 Kansas State University students who recently returned home from Italy, where the country is virtually shut down due to the coronavirus outbreak. The students are under quarantine for 14 days and Riley County Health Department Director Julie Gibbs confirmed the students had no symptoms when they arrived in Manhattan. They are being held in previously unoccupied Jardine apartments. Both the Riley County and Lafene Health Departments are monitoring them for any possible illness. The 14-day quarantine is a requirement by the CDC. The students will also reportedly follow recommendations by the CDC and…

TOPEKA — A Harveyville woman has been sentenced for embezzling money from her employer. U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister said Monday that former First National Bank of Harveyville Vice President Debra Kay Converse was given four months of home confinement after pleading to one count of embezzlement. She’s also been ordered to pay more than $107,000 in restitution. Converse admitted in her plea agreement that in April 2019 she was being investigated by the bank president who reported suspected embezzlement to the Wabaunsee County Sheriff’s Office. The bank’s investigation focused on what Converse claimed were glitches in software. She resigned from…

Three people were transported for minor injuries following a 2-vehicle crash in north Manhattan Sunday, according to the Riley County Police Department. The crash occurred around 7 p.m. near the intersection of Marlatt Ave. and Denison. A passenger car and an SUV collided at the intersection, sending the SUV airborne. It rolled, coming to rest on all four wheels before crashing into the south ditch. The driver of the passenger car, 20-year-old Blakely Mathis of Manhattan was cited for failure to yield the right of way on a left turn. The driver of the SUV was identified as 25-year-old Destiny…

A Riley County Judge has dismissed without prejudice a first-degree murder charge against a Manhattan man accused in the 2018 death of his former girlfriend’s infant son. Online court records show the motion to dismiss was filed Friday by Riley County Attorney Barry Wilkerson and signed by Chief Judge Grant Bannister. This comes after two mistrials against 25-year-old D’Khari Lyons, who has maintained his innocence throughout. He is no longer in custody. Lyons was the only person home when 2-month-old Michael Calvert Jr. sustained life-threatening injuries in November 2018. The boy’s mother had left the child in Lyons’ care briefly…

The Manhattan Branch of the American Association of University Women will hold a panel discussion Monday evening in celebration of International Women’s Day. The event, planned for 7 p.m. is at the Holiday Inn on campus and will feature four women hailing from Argentina, China, South Korea and Zimbabwe. Event Co-Chair Mary Stamey explains what the discussion will entail. “Well ask them about the immigration process that their family went through, either as personal individuals or as their parents or grandparents have immigrated to our country. We’ll ask them what barriers or what welcome they encountered and what brought them…

A new challenger has entered the race for the third district seat on the Riley County Commission. Manhattan businesswoman and civic worker Kathryn Focke announced Wednesday she’s seeking the seat currently occupied by Republican incumbent Ron Wells. Focke is running as a Democrat. Focke said in a news release she plans to initiate a grassroots listening tour to identify issues most concerning to county residents. She says believes in a long-range plan for future expansion, looking 20 years out and engaging citizen discussion in that plan. She says targeted economic development, improvement of county infrastructure and rising property tax rates…