Author: Brandon Peoples

Snow will be with us throughout the afternoon as a winter weather advisory is in place until 6 p.m. Tuesday. The National Weather Service says we can expect light snow and snow showers and periods of heavy snow at times. Accumulations of 1 to 2 inches is possible. More snow is expected along a line stretching from Herington to Hiawatha, including the Manhattan, Topeka and Holton areas. Snow is expected to dissipate and move east by the early evening hours. It will be our last chance of moisture for the week as conditions will remain dry and seasonal with temperatures…

Local broadcaster, author and professor Ian Punnett died Friday, Dec. 22 following a brief illness. He was 63. Punnett was the Chief Operator and Faculty Advisor for Kansas State University’s student radio station Wildcat 91.9 FM. He joined K-State in 2018 as a professor of practice in the A.Q. Miller School of Media and Communication. Retired A.Q. Miller School Director Steve Smethers was one of Punnett’s colleagues. “First of all this news hits us very hard. Ian Punnett was a ray of sunshine. He brought such a professional quality into the classroom. It was his efforts that really put that…

Riley County Police are investigating a number of fraudulent liquor purchases in Manhattan and Ogden. According to Friday’s activity report, four separate incidents were reported Thursday at different liquor stores across the city. All told two unknown suspects in each case reportedly stole an estimated $4,400 worth of liquor, using someone else’s credit card, from Rickels Liquor Store, The Fridge and Library Liquor in Manhattan, as well as Liquor Well in Ogden. In two of the instances, RCPD lists a 58-year-old woman as one of the victims, along with the retailers. Police are asking anyone with information to call Crime…

The weather outside certainly hasn’t been frightful this holiday season. In fact, the Manhattan area has seen a pattern of unusual warmth and humidity. Meteorologist Chip Redmond with Kansas Mesonet says it could lead to some records being broken over the holiday week. “For the month, we’re averaging five degrees above normal for high and low temperatures. We’re sitting about 30th warmest (December). Temperatures over the next six days are going to struggle to get below 40,” he said. Those warmer temperatures mean the likelihood of a white Christmas for the Little Apple remains low, but it will certainly be…

AAA is projecting that more than 115 million Americans will travel more than 50 miles during the 10 day holiday travel period. That’s up 2.2% over last year and the second highest expected end-of-year travel forecast since 2000. AAA Kansas spokesman Shawn Steward gives a rundown on what is expected in the Sunflower State. Steward advises that travelers have their vehicle inspected and ensure it is roadworthy as they expect to assist many on the roads this week. Motorists are also getting the gift of lower gas prices, with the national average down to $3.12. In Kansas, gas prices are averaging…

The Junction City Commission unanimously agreed Tuesday to a counteroffer to Geary County regarding an ongoing dispute over EMS service payments. The city is asking Geary County to withdraw a resolution that accompanied their last EMS service payment in November, instead asking for all 2023 EMS bills be paid by Feb. 16. As part of the counteroffer, Junction City would charge Geary County a flat fee of $165,000 per month in January and February, according to the motion by Commissioner Jeff Underhill. The motion does not include any action to stop EMS service in rural areas of Geary County. Commissioner…

Details remain scarce into an ongoing federal investigation in Clay Center. An FBI spokesperson from the Kansas City office confirmed to KMAN Wednesday morning that FBI agents were in the small town Tuesday, but noted that no additional details could be provided, only saying the investigation is ongoing. Further information could be released at a later date.

Geary County officials are responding to an ongoing disagreement with Junction City over billing of EMS services. The county commission issued a statement Monday in reaction to Junction City’s recent decision to suspend EMS services outside of the city limits if a bill totaling over $800,000 isn’t paid by this month. Geary County says they received an invoice in April in the amount of $121,000 that the city described as “charges inadvertently omitted” dating back to February 2022. The county says it was by the city’s own admission that 10 of the 12 months were billed incorrectly. According to the…

Riley County Treasurer Shilo Heger has announced she’ll seek another term. Heger, a Republican, was appointed to the position in 2014, succeeding Eileen King. According to the Manhattan Mercury, the Riley County Republican Party precinct committee selected Heger as its nominee at the time. She had previously served as deputy treasurer for a decade. Heger has been re-elected twice, in 2016 and again in 2020. She is the first to file for the position of treasurer. The filing deadline is June 3.

Pawnee Mental Health is planning to move some of its operations into downtown Manhattan. CEO Robbin Cole informed the Riley County Commission Monday that adult services currently provided at the Hayes Drive facility will eventually move to a building at 4th and Houston Street, across from the organization’s administrative offices. That will allow more services to be offered at the Hayes drive location, where the Crisis Stabilization Center is located. As for a timetable, Cole says the transition of those services likely will occur by the end of the coming fiscal year. Pawnee also has leased space in on Anderson…