Author: Brandon Peoples

Fort Riley’s 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team is deploying to the Republic of Korea for its 2020 rotation. A deployment ceremony and casing of the brigade colors took place Thursday morning at the King Field House on Fort Riley. Colonel Phil Brooks spoke about the Dagger brigade team’s readiness, noting their dedicated ongoing training. Colonel Thomas Murtha, Commander of the 2nd Brigade Combat team says they stand ready at all times. The 2nd Armored brigade will replace the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division as part of a regular rotation of forces to support the U.S. commitment to Southeast…

For the second year in a row, Ascension Via Christi Hospital President Bob Copple has been named to Becker’s Healthcare’s list of rural hospital and health system CEOs to know. The list is put out annually, recognizing leaders making a positive impact on their organizations. Copple is among 60 nationally named to the 2020 list. Those featured lead hospitals consistently recognized by organizations such as the National Rural Health Association, American Hospital Association, IBM Watson Health and The Leapfrog Group. Copple, a licensed engineer has presided over the Manhattan hospital since 2016, overseeing 150 physicians, 500 employees and 300 volunteers.…

Bond has been raised against a Manhattan man charged with numerous felonies, after he failed once again to appear for a status hearing Tuesday in Riley County District Court. A bench warrant was issued for Jesse Sexton, who was arrested after a motorcycle pursuit in Manhattan in late July and then a couple weeks later south of town without incident. Charges range from flee and elude, to aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer and obstruction. He also faces charges of criminal threat and criminal damage to property.  Sexton has on numerous occasions failed to appear for status hearings or…

A Manhattan man accused of murder will appear next month for a preliminary hearing. Richard Goens, who is in jail, appeared via video conference during a status hearing Tuesday. He faces a first-degree murder charge in the death of 24-year-old Tanner Zamecnik, will appear March 19 in front of Judge William Malcolm, in the Division I courtroom. A three-hour setting has been scheduled from 9 a.m. to noon. Court documents allege Goens shot and killed Zamecnik during an attempted robbery Nov. 1 outside a west Manhattan apartment complex. During the altercation a female victim was also injured. Goens faces a…

WESTMORELAND, Kan. — Authorities in Pottawatomie County say foul play is not suspected in a death investigation involving a Westmoreland resident. According to Pottawatomie County Sheriff Shane Jager, a deceased individual was located outside a home in the 600 block of First Street Monday just before 8:30 a.m. Paramedics were on scene and pronounced the person dead. An autopsy is scheduled to determine the cause of death. The person’s name and age have not been released, pending notification of family. Further details are pending a completed investigation.

A pair of programs are coming to an end at Manhattan Area Technical College. Recently the MATC Board of Directors approved the discontinuation of the school’s Auto Collision Repair and Dental Hygiene Technology programs. MATC President Jim Genandt cited a lack of growth in both programs which steered the decision, which he says was a tough decision. “Part of it’s enrollment. Part of it is financial. Part of it is we’re looking at what are the occupations that are kind of listed as high demand, high wage, critical need, where there is significant occupational growth projection,” he said. Despite the…

A preliminary status hearing is set for Tuesday in the case of a 25-year-old Manhattan man accused in the murder of another man last fall. Richard Goens faces a first-degree murder charge in the Nov. 1 shooting death of 24-year-old Tanner Zamecnik. Court documents allege Goens attempted to rob Zamecnik outside a west-Manhattan apartment complex. Additional charges include aggravated battery and aggravated assault involving a female victim. The status hearing is set for 1 p.m. Tuesday in front of Judge William Malcolm. Goens remains jailed on a $1 million bond.

The first Landon Lecture of 2020 is taking place next week. Former-two term Colombian president and Nobel Peace Prize winner Juan Manuel Santos will deliver the lecture Tuesday in Forum Hall at the K-State Student Union. The lecture is entitled “From hawk to dove.” Santos was president of the South American country from 2010 to 2018 and he’s credited with ushering in a new era of prosperity, peace, equity and education throughout the country. In 2016, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for bringing an end to Colombia’s 50-year-long civil war. He’s twice been named to TIME Magazine’s “100…

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Tuttle Creek Lake has resumed construction associated with the Stilling Basin Rehabilitation project downstream of the dam on what’s commonly known as the tubes. The first stages will affect the lake level in the short term, in addition to areas around the stilling basin and river pond area. Operations Project Manager Brian McNulty says the initial repair is the replacement of the last concrete wall in the stilling basin. “We had replaced all of those up to the point that the contract was suspended and this will complete the last one. The damage…

One person is dead following a wrong-way crash Thursday night just before midnight west of the Wabaunsee-Riley County line on Interstate 70. The Kansas Highway Patrol says an eastbound vehicle was traveling in the westbound passing lane. After coming to the top of a hill, it struck a semi tractor trailer head on. The driver of the wrong-way car was identified as 72-year-old Raymond Riis of Topeka. The KHP crash log indicated he was not wearing a seat belt. The semi-driver, 30-year-old Jerrod Burgardt of Wichita was not injured. He was wearing a seat belt. The roadway reopened around 6…