Author: Brandon Peoples

2020 figures to be a busy construction year for a number of Manhattan/Ogden USD 383 school buildings. Several projects are already underway from the two early childhood education centers to the Keith Noll Maintenance Center with additional projects beginning at several schools over the summer. On KMAN’s In Focus this week, Superintendent Dr. Marvin Wade said the district recently received bids on the new Oliver Brown Elementary, which will break ground later this year in Blue Township. With much of the construction happening district wide over the summer, Dr. Wade says district officials are already planning ahead for how they’ll…

Riley County Fire crews made quick work of a grass fire early Thursday near the corner of North 52nd and Anderson Ave. Fire Chief and Riley County Emergency Manager Pat Collins tells KMAN that high winds caused a power line to arc, which scorched almost a mile just after midnight between Keats and the Riley turnoff. “It traveled almost a mile in 9 minutes. It just doesn’t take long to get a little bitty fire and the wind makes it a lot bigger,” he said. Collins says the Riley County Police Department evacuated some nearby homeowners for about an hour…

Some changes are on the horizon for outreach efforts for the Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office. Shane Jager was promoted in November by the Pottawatomie County Republican Party from Undersheriff to Sheriff, replacing Greg Riat who resigned to take a position on the county commission. Jager is serving the remainder of the term and has filed for re-election as Sheriff in 2020. Jager has worked with the department since 1993, spending 15 years as the Undersheriff before his promotion. One of his top priorities since taking over has been improving how the department communicates its efforts to the public. “Right now…

Burn bans are in place across much of the region including Riley and Pottawatomie counties for Wednesday and Thursday. That’s because of the threat of high winds and dry conditions which could easily fuel grass fires. Breezy southeasterly winds could gust as high as 35 mph, coupled with temperatures in the mid-to-upper 50s are likely this afternoon. Burning is discouraged until conditions improve. Red Flag warnings blanket much of south-central Kansas as well. Rain and snow chances and increased humidity enter the area Friday along with a cool down, which should reduce the fire risk. Accumulating snow and ice is…

The suspect accused in an October 7 motor vehicle theft has entered a plea deal with prosecutors. Court records show 35-year-old Brewster Lee Jones entered guilty pleas to one count of motor vehicle burglary and one count of theft at an arraignment hearing Dec. 30. The vehicle involved in the incident was carrying numerous K-State Collegian newspapers that were being distributed across campus. The newspaper reported an estimated loss of $500 for the printing and distribution costs in addition to the monies it had to refund its advertisers. Jones will be sentenced at a 2:30 p.m. hearing Feb. 24.

Work continues, albeit slow, on a sinkhole at the intersection of Bluemont Ave. and Hayes Dr.. Manhattan City Manager Ron Fehr said last month they’d hoped to have work completed by mid-January, but now says there are some factors complicating that. “We had to put in a third de-watering well at that location. We were hoping that once the releases at Tuttle Creek Reservoir went down that it would help start to drop some of the groundwater in that basin, and it really hasn’t done that,” he said. A large sanitary sewer line that was installed after an old line…

New Manhattan Mayor Usha Reddi says she’s looking forward to her new role in 2020. Reddi is simultaneously running a campaign for U.S. Senate while serving as mayor. As she travels the state, Reddi says her goal is to not only sell herself as a candidate but also the City of Manhattan and the partnerships they’ve forged with local entities. Reddi is looking to become the first Kansas Democrat elected to the U.S. Senate since the 1930s. She’ll face stiff competition from Republican foes including First District Congressman Roger Marshall and former Secretary of State Kris Kobach. With a number…

Kansas State University Police have recovered a utility terrain vehicle stolen from Bill Snyder Family Stadium. (See related: Update: K-State Police investigating theft of UTV, money from Bill Snyder Family Stadium ATM) Officials report the UTV was located Monday, but are still seeking help identifying the two suspects in the thefts of the UTV and money from an ATM inside the stadium. Those thefts took place sometime between Dec. 26 and Dec. 29. Police have released photos showing a male suspect driving a UTV, a maroon Chevrolet Impala in the area at the time of the incidents; and a possible…

A preliminary hearing originally set for this week has been postponed for Bob’s Diner owner Robert Iacobellis. The 61-year-old’s attorneys filed a motion last Friday for a continuance in the case, after receiving new evidence. They’ve requested additional time to prepare for the hearing, which could lead to a jury trial. Iacobellis is accused of sexually abusing children. Court documents show Judge William Malcolm granted the motion, setting the new preliminary hearing for April 2 and 3. He also granted a bond reduction to $400,000 from $500,000. If Iacobellis posts the bond, he is not allowed to have contact with…

After a bill to expand Medicaid in Kansas fell one vote shy of being debated on the Senate floor during the 2019 legislative session, State Sen. Tom Hawk (D-Manhattan) is optimistic for it to get through both chambers in 2020. Speaking on KMAN’s In Focus Monday, Sen. Hawk said Gov. Laura Kelly and Sen. Jim Denning have been in negotiations on a bipartisan proposal that may get done as soon as the end of this week. Last year it was estimated some 150,000 Kansans stood to benefit from Medicaid expansion if passed. Sen. Hawk says he believes the issue extends…