Author: Brandon Peoples

Three people, including a Manhattan teenager were injured Wednesday in a crash on US 77 in Geary County. The Kansas Highway Patrol says 16-year-old Salman Shinwari was northbound on the highway, just after 2 p.m. near the intersection of West Lyons Creek Road, when his vehicle crossed the center line and struck a southbound passenger car, driven by 62-year-old Donna Mitchell, of Herington. Both drivers and a passenger in Mitchell’s vehicle, 66-year-old Linda Kay Schreiner, also of Herington, were transported to a Junction City hospital with serious injuries. Authorities say all three were properly restrained at the time of the…

City commissioners have advanced an ordinance to rezone K-State’s Unger Complex from a business commercial district to high-density residential, following a contentious meeting Tuesday evening with neighboring residents. The decision paves the way for the building to be converted into apartments for middle- to moderate-income people. K-State intends to sell the property at 2323 Anderson Ave. and is in negotiations with Fred Merrill Jr. and Jake Mooney, co-applicants with Unger Housing, LLC. The applicants are planning to repurpose the building into workforce housing, with 106 planned units. To view the full article visit theMercury.com. Click here for more local news.

A critical project to preserve water supply and remove sediment at Tuttle Creek Lake will begin this summer. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers officials are preparing for a first-of-its-kind water injection dredging project. Operations Project Manager Brian McNulty said the technology has been around for while but has never been used at an inland lake. “It uses gravity to transport the sediment out of the lake through the outlet works,” he said. “Tuttle Creek is a prime candidate for that, since our gates are the lowest point of the lake.” To view the full article visit theMercury.com. Click here for…

Tariffs could spell trouble for farmers, according to the executive director of the Kansas Farmers Union. “Tariffs are not good,” said Nick Levendofsky, who was a guest Wednesday on Within Reason with Mike Matson on KMAN. “They don’t work. Nobody wins in a trade war.” Levendofsky said current trade policies being implemented by President Donald Trump have already begun impacting U.S. exports. “Certainly what’s happening with China is very concerning, where last week they pulled back on importing beef from the US,” he said. “Now they’re backing off on soybeans.” To view the full article visit theMercury.com. Click here for…

WESTMORELAND — One year after a tornado ripped through Westmoreland, the community is still reeling, but looking toward the future. “Everything’s kind of still in progress right now,” Mayor Waide Purvis said in an interview last week. “I believe, from the last report I got, there was one house that was destroyed that is completely rebuilt and back livable. We have multitudes of houses that are still in progress.” According to the National Weather Service, the April 30, 2024, tornado was rated an EF-3 category storm, with peak wind gusts up to 140 miles per hour. The tornado had a…

Three teenagers have been arrested in connection to a stolen vehicle from an east Manhattan convenience store. According to the Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office, dispatchers received a report shortly before 5 o’clock Monday that an SUV had been stolen from the Casey’s parking lot on East Highway 24. A short time later, dispatchers received a 911 call reporting a reckless driver on Highway 24 near Blue Run Road, with an occupant also reportedly pointing a gun at another vehicle. Officers determined it was the stolen vehicle and pursued it eastbound before it came to a stop just east of Belvue.…

A local organization that provides clothing to families facing homelessness has a new location in Manhattan. The USD 383 FIT Closet recently moved into its new facility in the back of the Lincoln Education Center at 901 Poyntz Ave., the site of the former Manhattan High east campus. “We have about twice as much space as we did before,” said Jenna Booe, facilitator at FIT Closet. “Lots of room to spread out and have our clothing up on racks instead of in bins.” To view the full article visit theMercury.com. Click here for more local news.

Manhattan city officials unveiled a comprehensive stormwater management strategy at Tuesday’s city commission work session, highlighting critical infrastructure improvements and environmental protection efforts. The city plans to tackle four areas: neighborhood drainage systems, detention basins, water quality and flood plain management. Assistant City Manager Wyatt Thompson told city commissioners Tuesday that a significant new initiative involves an alternative off-site water quality program, modeled from the city of Wichita. To view the full article visit theMercury.com. Click here for more local news.

No injuries were reported after a fire destroyed a mobile home in south Manhattan early Thursday morning. The Manhattan Fire Department says firefighters were dispatched around 1:20 a.m. to 1704 Fair Lane, lot 15 and contained the fire within 10 minutes. The cause was determined to be accidental due to the resident illegally burning trash. Loss is estimated at $1,000. The owner of the home is Raymond Fisher, who was home at the time of the fire. Click here for more local news.

Three people were arrested at a Manhattan convenience store Wednesday on charges of drug possession and distribution. Riley County Police were called out to Shop Quick, at 529 Richards Drive, shortly before 5 p.m. Police charged 28-year-old David Roman, 22-year-old Yabdiel Rodriguez and 16-year-old Xavier Rodriguez, each with single counts of possession with intent to distribute and possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to distribute. Roman is additionally charged with marijuana possession. Yabdiel Rodriguez is additionally charged with contributing to a child’s misconduct, criminal damage to property and possession of a depressant. Roman’s bond was set at $15,000. Yabdiel Rodriguez’s…