Author: Brandon Peoples

The Pottawatomie County Commission could look drastically different in 2025 as voters will consider four candidates this fall as the commission expands from three to five seats. With the fields now set for that and other local races, one local organization is planning to host a series of candidate forums this summer, partnering with city officials and local city chambers of commerce. Pottawatomie County Economic Development (ECODEVO) Director Shanna Goodman says the first two opportunities are coming later this month in Wamego and St. George. Goodman says it’s a good opportunity for voters to be informed, especially given the expanding…

As the noon Monday deadline for candidates to file looms, the current roster of local candidates is starting to take shape. At the local level, incumbent Riley County commissioners Greg McKinley and Kathryn Focke are unopposed in the second and third districts. All other county level races feature incumbents who are running unopposed. Pottawatomie County has four seats on the upcoming primary ballot for the county commission, which is expanding from three to five seats. In district two, former county clerk Nancy McCarter and resident Merl Page have filed. Both are registered Republicans. Incumbent Pat Weixelman is not seeking re-election.…

A Randolph man was killed Sunday afternoon in a crash in rural Clay County. According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, 92-year-old Marion Brenner was southbound on Utah Road around 1:30 p.m. and failed to yield right of way at the Hwy 24 intersection. His vehicle was struck by an oncoming pickup driven by 44-year-old Jeff Sells, of Mankato. Brenner was taken to Clay County Medical Center, where he later passed away. Sells and a passenger in the pickup were not injured.

A Manhattan woman was injured in a crash on I-70 Friday afternoon in Wabaunsee County. The Kansas Highway Patrol says a Pontiac G6, driven by 18-year-old Natalie Sheller, drifted into the median, then overcorrected, sending the car into the eastbound lanes of the interstate and eventually into the south ditch where it struck an embankment. The vehicle rolled three times before coming to rest on its top. Officials say Sheller fell asleep at the wheel, causing the crash. She sustained minor injuries and was transported to Ascension Via Christi. The crash report says there was a juvenile in the vehicle,…

A public forum was hosted Thursday night by the League of Women Voters of Manhattan/Riley County to allow the public to learn more about a possible overhaul of City Park and a new indoor aquatics center concept that could end up in front of voters this fall. Local officials close to the project took part in a forum Thursday evening at the Manhattan Public Library, hosted by the League of Women Voters. The League shared its own concerns about City Park as the potential location for an indoor water facility concept. David Dzewaltowski, Professor Emeritus of Kinesiology at Kansas State University,…

No injuries were reported after an airplane made a hard landing Thursday evening at Manhattan Regional Airport. According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, a Piper PA-32R fixed-wing aircraft had some issues with its landing gear indicator, which did not completely deploy for the nose of the aircraft. At about 6:40 p.m. the aircraft made a hard landing onto the runway. The pilot, Jean Oquet De Lara, 67, from the Dominican Republic , was the only person aboard the small plane. He had no apparent injuries.

Riley County Police say new charges have been filed against a registered offender from Junction City. According to the RCPD activity report, 55-year-old Bradford Brown was arrested on a warrant for violation of the offender registration act, 2nd conviction. He was jailed on a bond of $25,000 but is no longer in custody, according to RCPD. Brown’s record includes a 1997 conviction for aggravated sexual battery in Barber County and a 2007 aggravated indecent liberties conviction from Butler County, according to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. He’s been a registered offender since 2001.

Gov. Laura Kelly has announced the date for the Kansas Legislature to reconvene for a special session. In a statement Wednesday, Kelly said she’s planning to invite state lawmakers back to Topeka on June 18 for “bipartisan collaboration on comprehensive tax relief that does not threaten Kansas’ solid fiscal foundation.” The session will allow for House and Senate members to collaborate on a tax relief bill after the governor vetoed three previous bills, including one that had overwhelming bipartisan support. Kansas House Speaker Dan Hawkins responded to the governor’s announcement stating “The sad reality is this $84,000+ a day special…

A former plumber in the K-State College of Veterinary Medicine building’s maintenance department was sentenced in Riley County District Court this week to prison. The sentence for 63-year-old William Hynek, was the result of his conviction on three counts of sexual exploitation of a child. Judge Grant Bannister sentenced Hynek to 32 months on each count, to be served concurrently. He’s also required to register as a sex offender and will have lifetime post-release supervision. Hynek was arrested by K-State Police in August 2021 after a tip that he had child pornography on his computer that had been discovered when…

Law enforcement officials responded to a rollover crash Wednesday morning in Wamego. The crash was reported just after 7 a.m. in the area of K-99 and US Highway 24. The Sheriff’s Office noted some injuries were reported but noted Wamego Police Department is working the case and so far they have not released any further information. We’ll have additional details as they become available.