Author: Brandon Peoples

It’s being called one of the largest federal drug busts in Kansas history. At a news conference Wednesday in Topeka, US Attorney for Kansas Stephen McAllister announced that 54 people have been indicted on federal charges as a result of a three-year drug trafficking investigation involving heroin and fentanyl concentrated in the Manhattan area. So far, 35 are in custody, with more arrests to come. McAllister says one of the 13 grand jury indictments announced Wednesday charges five conspirators in connection with the 2017 death of 18-year-old Kansas State University student Maxwell Dandaneau. Michael Calvert, Sylvester Calvert, Henry Clark, James…

WESTMORELAND, Kan. — A preliminary hearing is scheduled Friday in Pottawatomie County District Court for a 52-year-old St. Marys man accused of sex crimes with a minor. Peter Palmeri was arrested July 9 on a warrant for two counts of rape, six counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a child, three counts of aggravated criminal sodomy, one count of aggravated kidnapping and one count of furnishing alcohol to a minor. He and his attorney filed a motion in July to dismiss the charges, alleging the statute of limitations had run out. At a continued hearing August 22, the court ruled…

A Manhattan man accused of sex crimes involving three underage victims, appeared via his Riley County jail cell for a continued status conference, with no attorney present. Robert Iacobellis informed Judge William Malcolm that his long-time attorney Richard Seaton declined to represent him against the charges and that his family is speaking with two other potential attorneys this week. Judge Malcolm encouraged him to apply for court appointed counsel in the alternative, and granted him another one week continuance to 1 p.m. September 3. Riley County Attorney Barry Wilkerson said the state was not opposed to the continuance. Iacobellis requested…

WESTMORELAND, Kan. — Pottawatomie County has submitted two potential major road projects for state funding through the Kansas Department of Transportation. Prior to his presentation at a local consult meeting in Topeka, Public Works Director Peter Clark shared highlights with the county commission Monday. One of the projects would see an interchange constructed at Hwy 24 and Flush Road. If approved, it would include a new 200 foot bridge over the highway, in addition to a new tighter diamond interchange design and improvement to the vertical and horizontal geometry of the intersection. Clark says the reason this project was selected…

More than $80,000 was raised Saturday during the annual Speedy PD race for Parkinson’s Disease. The event held at Tuttle Creek State Park is an annual fundraiser for the Meadowlark Parkinson Fund to support services for the community to improve the quality of life of those affected by Parkinson’s. Parkinson’s Program Director Michelle Haub spoke on KMAN’s In Focus about some of the support they provide at Meadowlark. Nearly 800 people came out to take part in the race, including more than 50 participants with Parkinson’s Disease. Ten of those 50 completed the 5K event. Following the race Saturday, participants…

It took a little more than two hours, but Riley County Police were able to peacefully resolve a situation Sunday night involving a suicidal subject in Aggieville. Sometime before 6 p.m. officers were called out to the 700 block of Manhattan Ave. near the Eighteen63. According to police, the person inside the building was suicidal and reportedly had a firearm. Police blocked off a one-block stretch of Manhattan Ave. between Bluemont and Moro Street in addition to the alley way between Manhattan Ave. and 12th Street. No one inside the building, nor any of the neighboring businesses was hurt. Rumors…

After nearly four hours of trying to negotiate with an armed suspect north of Westmoreland, authorities were able to safely apprehend him without any incident Friday night. The man, who’s name has not been released, was reportedly threatening to harm himself and refused to leave his vehicle, which was parked north of the town in a park area just off of Highway 99, according to Pottawatomie County Sheriff Greg Riat. The man reportedly had a gun, creating an “unstable” situation. As a result the highway was closed for a short time north of Westmoreland to Hwy 16. The Riley County…

Kansas State University Police are investigating a hit and run crash on campus this week that left one person injured. The incident occurred around 4:30 p.m. Wednesday at the intersection of College Ave. and Kimball. K-State Police say a black GM SUV with traverse body style struck a 19-year-old woman on a bicycle. She sustained an arm injury. There is currently no driver description or tag information. No tickets or arrests have been made. Anyone with information should call K-State Police.

Manhattan Regional Airport held a celebratory cake cutting ceremony Friday morning to commemorate 10 years of jet service with American Airlines. The event kicked off a 10 month campaign and contest, put on by the Manhattan Convention & Visitors Bureau which includes giveaways to passengers who fly in and out of the airport. Airport Director Jesse Romo shared details during Friday’s ceremony. Over the past decade, the airport has grown, increasing the number of passengers who boarded flights or flew into MHK from 10,000 early on to over 70,000 in 2018. Mayor Mike Dodson says the idea 10 years ago,…

A local developer wants to move forward on a proposed $50 million six-story project that would include 315 apartments, 125 hotel rooms and a 378-stall parking garage. The site for the project would be built on the current Anderson Village shopping center site, located across from Kansas State University and directly west of Manhattan Christian College. Earlier this month, developer Chris Elsey presented the lucrative idea at a neighborhood meeting where concerns were raised, primarily over parking concerns. Elsey says he wasn’t surprised and credits a number of factors drawing them to this location. Renters Together MHK, a local renters…