Author: Brandon Peoples

A gathering of local government officials were briefed Monday on the importance of the 2020 census to the region. U.S. Census Program Supervisor for Kansas and Oklahoma Emily Kelley spoke at the Intergovernmental Luncheon about their push to get information out to military families, in particular to fill out the census survey for where they are physically living as of April 1. Since the Census only occurs every 10 years, much of the area’s federal programming dollars are allocated off of the count. Kelley says K-State students also need to be counted here in Manhattan. The Census Bureau will send…

A 29-year-old Manhattan man has been sentenced to a decade in prison for his role in a 2018 rape case involving a K-State student. Dexter Robinson, who earlier this month pleaded no contest to the charge, had been tried for the crime twice last year. Both trials ended in mistrial. In exchange for his plea, the state agreed to drop remaining charges of aggravated criminal sodomy and aggravated kidnapping. Riley County Judge John Bosch imposed the 10 year (120 month) sentence agreed upon by the state and the defense, based on Robinson’s acceptance of responsibility and limited criminal history prior…

A 22-year-old Riley man has been arrested on two counts of arson. Samuel Gilbert, a Riley County volunteer firefighter was taken into custody after a three month long criminal investigation and two active grass fires near Leonardville Friday night. He is currently being held on a $10,000 bond. According to a release from the Riley County Police Department, Gilbert was arrested just before midnight Saturday near a pasture fire at the intersection of Alert Road and Sherman Road. The other reported fire was near Fairview Church Road and Calvary Road. This followed suspicious grass fires occurring in northern parts of…

The Manhattan Fire Department was called out to Bill Snyder Family Stadium Friday evening for a small fire, sometime after 6 p.m. According to the department the fire was located inside a cooler in the stadium and was quickly contained. However, it did cause an estimated $10,000 in damage to food. The cause of the fire was investigated and determined to be accidental.

Wamego area breast cancer patients are taking advantage of new 3D mammography technology now available closer to home. A ribbon cutting was held Friday at the Wamego Health Center to unveil the equipment installed recently to provide improved breast cancer detection. Mammography Technologist Teresa Herrington says the health center has already treated over 20 patients since it was installed. She says the technology is a welcome addition that gives patients more confidence when they receive a mammogram. The 3D technology allows radiologists to see more clearly and more in-depth images of breast tissue and can help with early detection of…

ST. GEORGE — The Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office says one person has been arrested after it launched an investigation into a storage unit burglary in St. George. Sheriff Shane Jager says the items taken Wednesday included several tools and items with an approximate value of less than $1,000. A detective later arrested 40-year-old Crystal Dawn Cummings of Wamego in connection to the burglary. She’s charged with possession of methamphetamine, marijuana and drug paraphernalia after a search warrant was executed on the vehicle that Cummings was operating.  Cummings is being held on a $3,000 bond, and awaiting bond on the additional drug charges.  …

OGDEN — An investigation is underway into the theft of construction tools Wednesday evening in Ogden. The theft was reported by the Manhattan Area Habitat for Humanity on a home build project they’re currently managing. Executive Director Karmen Davenport says the trailer was found abandoned in a mobile home park after it was moved from the job site at 227 10th Street in Ogden. Inside the trailer were large tools – including a table saw, miter saw, an entire box of cordless battery-operated tools, drills and a siding stapler. Davenport says they’ve been getting close to finishing the project at…

A boil water advisory has been issued for FRUSI Water Treatment Plant FKA Fort Riley, located in Geary County. The affected areas include: Residents of the Warner Peterson and Ellis Heights on-post housing neighborhood 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team barracks complexes 7001, 7002, 7003, 7081, 7844, 7848, 7878, 7888, 8038, 8040, and 8042 Offices and facilities in the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team footprint, including but not limited to 1ABCT HQ, Devil Den dining facility, Craig Gym, SpareTime Interactive Entertainment, Army Community Service Annex, Kapun Chapel, Battalion Headquarters, Motor Pools, Company Operation Facilities, Dental Clinic 4, USO, Burger King, 24…

A Riley County man has entered a plea agreement to a 2018 rape charge. Online court documents show 29-year-old Dexter Robinson pleaded guilty to one count of rape Feb. 5, avoiding a third trial on the matter, which was scheduled to begin this week. The prosecution failed to get a conviction on two previous attempts, as both ended in mistrials. In exchange for his plea to the rape charge, the state agreed to drop the remaining charges of aggravated criminal sodomy and aggravated kidnapping. The two sides also jointly suggested in the agreement of a lower prison sentence of 120…

Details of why an Ohio teenager fabricated a hoax hostage threat to Lee Elementary in Manhattan last November may never be completely clear, but USD 383 officials say they’re happy to have some closure on the issue. Allen Kenna faces federal charges of interstate communication of threats and use of explosive materials. The 18-year-old was charged in federal court last week. An affidavit (see below) provides a detailed look into Kenna’s private laptop journal entries and communication he had with someone living in the Manhattan area and shared his similar white supremacist and communist views. USD 383 Assistant Superintendent Eric…