Author: Brandon Peoples

This holiday season will be the final one for the Manhattan Meat Market. The business’ management team announced on its Facebook page Friday it’s closing at the end of December, due to other endeavors and priorities. The company had been part of the Manhattan business community for three years, priding itself on high quality, specialty meats and sharing local producers’ stories. Customers with gift cards are encouraged to come in and use them before the end of the year. Holiday orders are still being accepted through the end of the year as well.

The National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility in Manhattan continues to make new hires as the facility is now three years out from becoming fully operational. On Thursday’s edition of In Focus, NBAF officials introduced new Communications Director Katie Pawlosky, who began training with NBAF just a few weeks ago. Pawlosky spoke about the important role NBAF is going to play in the community and attracting jobs going forward. NBAF Director for USDA APHIS Dr. Ken Burton says this opens a new opportunity to do even more outreach. Burton says additionally some NBAF employees have formed an inclusive council on engagement…

A new police chief is taking over in Junction City. It was announced at Wednesday’s city commission meeting that John Lamb is replacing the recently retired Dan Breci. For 26 years, Lamb has served the Jacksonville, Florida Sheriff’s Department. He most recently served as Police Lieutenant over the Patrol and Community Affairs Unit and was an Assistant Chief in the department. Lamb said in a release it’s been a long-term goal of his to serve as Police Chief in a community like Junction City, committed to its police department. A start date for Chief Lamb has not been announced.

WABAUNSEE COUNTY— USD 330 Mission Valley Schools officials are working closely with members of the Wabaunsee County Sheriff’s Office after a pair of alleged threats this week at the school. One student was taken into custody Tuesday after the district alerted parents to a reported threat. According to Sheriff Rob Hoskins it involved a student making a threat to another student. The individual taken into custody was not named but is reportedly getting the attention they need. The school district contacted the sheriff’s office Monday with concerns about a social media threat. Deputies and the Kansas Highway Patrol investigated and…

Who says you can’t move a fake holiday? Businesses in Aggieville are already making preparations well in advance of the 2020 edition of Fake Patty’s Day. The event, largely driven by social media, is typically held the Saturday before the K-State Spring Break. That would be Feb. 29 this year, which also happens to be the same day as the KU vs. K-State basketball game. That presents a dilemma for business owners as it could overwhelm them with the two events intersecting. That’s why Aggieville Business Association Director Dennis Cook says they will observe Fake Patty’s Day after Spring Break on…

An Ogden man will spend the next year-and-a-half on probation after pleading to charges of meth possession and firing a gun near a school earlier this year. Court records show that 41-year-old Justin Bauer pleaded no contest in late September to possession of a controlled substance, criminal use of a weapon and unlawful discharge of a firearm. The Manhattan Mercury reports that Riley County District Judge Kendra Lewison on Monday sentenced Bauer to 18 months of probation, with an underlying sentence of 10 months for the possession charge and six months for each weapons-related charge. Bauer was arrested in April…

The case against a Manhattan restaurant owner charged with multiple counts of sexual abuse will move forward. A status hearing Tuesday was cancelled in the case against Robert Iacobellis. Officials tell KMAN there was no need for the hearing, which had originally been scheduled due to an issue with a motion for discovery. That issue was resolved and the case is now set for a 2-day preliminary hearing Jan 9th and 10th. The prosecution has requested an all-day setting both days. Iacobellis is facing 130 total counts of sex-related crimes against three alleged victims, all under the age of 18.…

Tuesday marks Giving Tuesday, a day following the hustle and bustle of the busiest shopping weekend of the year. For the Manhattan Arts Center that means a day of doubling with a matching donation. Education and Marketing Director Michelle Ward previewed Giving Tuesday on the GMCF Community Hour Monday on KMAN. That also includes youth theater programs, main-stage theater, summer camp, group violin classes, high school programs and art galleries. Donations can also be made from noon to 5:30 p.m. in person at 1520 Poyntz Ave. or over the phone at 785-537-4420. Ward says if you plan to stop by,…

K-State students will have one less option for dining during the second half of the 2020 spring semester, due to a closure of Derby Dining Center. Derby was originally to remain open partially during construction but university officials last week announced the facility will serve its last meal March 6 and will be closed after that. The university is spending $16 million to renovate the facility which was first constructed in 1966. It’s the university’s largest dining facility. The closure will help accommodate the timeline of the contractor to complete the renovations. After Spring Break, students will be able to…

Riley County Police are warning the public of a new scam circulating the Manhattan area. The department said on its Facebook page Sunday it received a high number of calls in the last few days from people reporting being contacted by an Apple representative. Citizens have reported being contacted an excessive amount within a short few hour period. At least one person commented on the post that they had been contacted seven times Sunday from three different numbers. Another reported she had been called 17 times in a short time period. Scammers are able to mask their number and choose…