Author: Brandon Peoples

MANHATTAN — Kansas State University has filled two key positions on its enrollment management staff on an interim basis while a national search for a permanent replacement continues. University Provost and Executive Vice President Charles Taber announced Tuesday that Emily Lehning has been appointed interim vice provost for enrollment management and Mary Hale Tolar has been appointed interim vice provost for student success. Both will begin their new jobs June 30. Lehning will provide leadership to K-State’s enrollment management units in the areas of student recruitment, admissions, financial aid and registrar areas. She was names director of New Student Services…

(Above: Google maps image) MANHATTAN — Riley County Police are investigating an armed robbery of a Manhattan convenience store that occurred in the early hours of Wednesday. Officers were dispatched to the Kwik Shop at 1337 Anderson Ave., located across from Kansas State University shortly before 2 a.m. A preliminary investigation revealed that a man entered the store and demanded money. He left with an undisclosed amount of cash. Police say no weapon was displayed during the incident. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Riley County Police Department at 785-537-2112 or Crime Stoppers at 539-7777. Anonymous tips can…

Former 1st Infantry Division leader Command Sgt. Maj. Michael A. Grinston has been promoted the 16th Sergeant Major of the U.S. Army. Grinston becomes the third former Fort Riley official to be chosen in recent months for a top Army leadership position. Grinston will be the Army chief of staff’s personal adviser on enlisted force matters. He joins former Fort Riley Commanding General Paul Funk, who was named commanding general of the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command. On May 24, former commanding general Joseph Martin was confirmed as the Vice Chief of Staff of the Army. Grinston serves as…

MANHATTAN — A soggy spring has led to an increased risk for diseases this summer for pets and farm animals. This is brought on by an increased mosquito presence around standing waters. KSU Vet Med Clinical Professor Dr. Susan Nelson says that can lead to West Nile among other viruses. Nelson says the heartworm parasite develops from a microscopic size to almost 10 to 18 inches long. While West Nile and heartworm can’t be transferred from animal to human, there is one disease called tularemia that cats can spread to humans if they eat an infected rabbit. Nelson says cat…

MANHATTAN — Riley County Police are seeking help identifying two people after electronics were taken from a local retailer Sunday. The photo above shows two individuals walking out of the Manhattan Best Buy. Police believe they may have knowledge of the incident. If you have any helpful information on the identity of the individuals in the photos, please contact the Riley County Police Department at 785-537-2112 or Crime Stoppers at 785-539-7777. If you choose to call the Crime Stoppers number, you could have the chance to be rewarded up to $1,000.00 and  be able to remain anonymous.

JUNCTION CITY — A Junction City woman has been arrested on suspicion of murder following the stabbing death of a man late Monday evening. Junction City Police were dispatched shortly before 9:30 p.m. to the 100 block of East Vine Street in reference to a stabbing victim. Officers located 55-year-old Eddie Starks of Junction City suffering from a stab wound. He was transported to Stormont Vail Hospital in Topeka where he later died. JCPD arrested 49-year-old Vondra Brown of Junction City on a charge of 2nd-degree murder. Police say there are no further suspects being sought and no ongoing threat…

TOPEKA — A new trial is coming for a Riley County man convicted of reckless second-degree murder of an insect exterminator in 2008. The Kansas Supreme Court on Friday reversed the conviction of 61-year-old Howard Barrett. It said the decision comes because the district court failed to instruct the jury on imperfect self-defense voluntary manslaughter. That is defined as “an intentional killing done with the unreasonable but honest belief that circumstances existed justifying deadly force.” In 2008, Barrett attacked and fatally stabbed 48-year-old Tom James, who had entered Barrett’s Leonardville apartment to spray for bugs. Residents had been notified by…

OGDEN, Kan. — Riley County Police arrested a 52-year-old man Saturday on a host of charges including drug possession and eluding law enforcement. Hal Dean Lucas, listed as homeless in Saturday’s arrest report faces five total charges including flee or attempt to elude including a motor vehicle accident or property damage, attempted interference with an officer and driving while suspended. Lucas also faces two drug possession charges. The Kansas Department of Corrections website shows a past criminal history for Lucas including a 2011 robbery conviction in Geary County. Lucas remains jailed in Riley County on a $20,000 bond.

Update Wednesday, 5/29, 12 p.m. Releases from Tuttle Creek Dam’s outlet works — colloquially called the tubes — began Wednesday morning at 7 a.m. Sirens in the area should be expected to sound regularly, though no flooding is expected as a result of the releases. Riley County Emergency Management Director Pat Collins spoke with KMAN on-air Wednesday morning and says the plan is to release 15,000 cfs (cubic feet per second) of water from the reservoir and keep levels down. He says the Kansas River at its current level should be able to take that level of release without exceeding…

JUNCTION CITY — The Kansas Bureau of Investigation says a Junction City police officer was arrested Monday. Lieutenant Jason Waryan, 39, is charged with domestic battery and criminal restraint. His live-in girlfriend 27-year-old Krysteen Harbert also was arrested for domestic battery. Junction City Police contacted KBI at approximately 1 p.m. Monday to request an investigation into a domestic violence incident, which allegedly occurred in the early morning hours. This investigation is ongoing. No further information has been released.