Author: Brandon Peoples

One person was injured Wednesday after a crash on I-70 in Riley County. According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, an eastbound motorhome went into the median just after 9 p.m., about four miles east of the Manhattan exit, then drove off an embankment into a creek. The driver, identified as 65-year-old Nilas Manley, of Spokane, Washington, was transported to Ascension Via Christi Hospital for minor injuries. The crash report says Manley was the only occupant.

Wamego city officials were unable to find an interested buyer for the building locals refer to as “Not the Chrysler House,” at the southeast corner of Highway 99 and US 24. The historic house, once thought to be the birthplace of automotive industry executive Walter Chrysler, sits on property deeded to the city years ago from the Kansas Department of Transportation. City Manager Stacie Eichem. Eichem says city staff are exploring best options for future public use of the property, but admits the location, at the corner of two highways, creates a tricky situation. Community members raised funds to move…

State and federal agriculture officials say highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has been identified in two egg layer facilities in Kansas. The facilities are in McPherson and Rice counties. There have been five cases of avian influenza identified in the state this fall and 21 cases identified since the start of the outbreak last year. Positive cases were identified in backyard flocks in both Pottawatomie and Shawnee counties earlier this month. The Kansas Department of Agriculture says it’s working closely with USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service on a joint incident response at the affected premises. Guidance on biosecurity…

A property in the 2800 block of Blackjack Road is causing some concerns among Pottawatomie County officials, due to a potential health hazard that’s redeveloped. County Sanitarian Scott Schwinn provided an update at Monday’s meeting. The property has developed a lot of clutter, mostly in the form of metal, but it isn’t something the county can necessarily force the property owner to clean up. Last month the property was the scene of a shooting that left one individual injured and placed another man behind bars. In other business Monday, updates on roads were provided. Among them the Havensville Bridge was…

Kansas residents can now weigh in on the next state license plate. Gov. Laura Kelly announced Monday a website where the public can vote on five designs created by Kansas-based marketing firm Mammoth Creative Company, in partnership with Kansas Tourism. Voting ends at 5 p.m. on Friday. The five options, while continuing to align with Kansas Tourism’s “To the Stars” branding, incorporated previous public feedback, including a lighter blue on the original proposal, a State of Kansas outline, wheat and sunflowers. State officials say the plate proposals were also chosen because they prioritize public safety with clear, simple designs that…

Retail thefts have been on the rise over the past few weeks. Riley County Police filed two more reports for theft over the weekend, this time at Walmart. On Saturday, police filed a theft report after two suspects stole multiple Lego sets, totaling over $1,000. On Sunday, the store reported to police that two suspects stole three iPad 9s, totaling around $1,150. Anyone with information is encouraged to call Crime Stoppers.

A pedestrian was injured Friday night near Aggieville after being struck by a motorist. RCPD says it happened around 10 p.m. near the intersection of North Manhattan Avenue and Bluemont Avenue. Arriving officers found a Honda Civic, driven by 18-year-old Jacob Wuthnow, of Manhattan, had struck 18-year-old Isabella Rosario, also of Manhattan. Rosario was transported to Ascension Via Christi for treatment of injuries. No additional details were released.

A 31-year-old man was arrested over the weekend after he allegedly exposed himself to three minors in a public hot tub. According to the Riley County Police Department, Fernando Velasquez was charged with a single count of lewd and lascivious behavior after he undressed in a public hot tub, in front of a 14-year-old girl and 16 and 17-year-old boys. The incident occurred at Genesis Health Club, at 2800 Allison Ave. Velasquez was issued a total bond of $7,000 and remains in custody.

Dozens of tuba and euphonium players gathered at Manhattan Town Center Saturday for TubaChristmas. The annual event has been held in some form nationwide since 1974. This year was the 35th annual event in Manhattan. Steve Maxwell, a tuba and euphonium instructor at Kansas State University, conducted the free concert featuring holiday tunes. Musicians ranged in age and experience, coming from Manhattan and surrounding communities, as well as some from as far away as Kansas City and Wichita. Maxwell explains what makes the event so unique. A total of 71 musicians gathered for this year’s TubaChristmas, the largest gathering in…

A tentative agreement has been reached between Manhattan Area Technical College and the Manhattan-Ogden USD 383 school district regarding dual (concurrent) credit course offerings at Manhattan High School, for the spring semester. The district will consider approving the temporary agreement at its Dec. 20 school board meeting. The two sides have been operating without a memorandum of understanding since August. Superintendent Eric Reid informed the school board Wednesday that a compromise has been reached for this year to avoid jeopardizing reimbursements to staff for the fall semester. Reid says that will allow more time for further negotiations on a permanent…