Author: Brandon Peoples

MANHATTAN — Two new electric vehicle charging stations are now up and running in the parking lot adjacent to Manhattan’s Flint Hills Discovery Center. The Manhattan City Commission in November unanimously approved a Westar Energy proposal for the two new user-paid charging stations. The stations can accommodate up to four vehicles at a time and fits the Discovery Center’s focus on sustainability. Mayor Mike Dodson at the time said it’s a positive also for visitors doing business in Manhattan who drive electric vehicles. The charging stations will be operated and maintained by Westar and users will pay a kilowatt-hour charge…

MAPLE HILL — Wabaunsee County authorities uncovered a large amount of drugs Wednesday in Maple Hill. According to the Wabaunsee County Sheriff’s Office, Deputy Max Joye and his K-9 partner Karma were alerted to the odor and presence of narcotics after coming across a driver with a suspended license during a traffic stop. The driver, who was not from the area, was arrested and the vehicle was impounded. Formal charges are pending. After obtaining a search warrant, officers found two bags containing several hundred pills and 10 wrapped bundles. The pills are suspected to be fentanyl and the bundles were…

MANHATTAN — A Manhattan business owner has become the first to file her candidacy for the USD 383 Manhattan/Ogden school board. Kristin Brighton announced her candidacy for an at-large position on the board Wednesday. Brighton is co-owner of New Boston Creative Group, LLC and previously served as chair of the board for the Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce in 2016. She also has served on the chamber’s board of directors. She’s also served or chaired numerous chamber task forces and committees and is a 2009 Leadership Manhattan graduate. Brighton says her campaign is concerned with keeping experienced teachers in the…

MANHATTAN — Crisis Center Inc. raised more than $27,000 from 126 gifts at the Grow Green Match Day, held April 22 by the Greater Manhattan Community Foundation. Executive Director Judy Davis says that was enough to earn a maximum match of $10,000 from the Howe Family Foundation. The Crisis Center was one of seven agencies to receive the dollars. Davis says the funds go directly into its endowment. The Crisis Center provides a wide variety of services to individuals seeking assistance from domestic violence or sexual assault, including a 24-hour-a-day staffed hotline. Last year the center answered 2,500 calls from…

USD 383 Manhattan/Ogden Schools Superintendent Dr. Marvin Wade and Board President Curt Herrman joined us for discussion on school bond related issues to be voted on at Wednesday’s school board meeting. We also discussed the beginning of budget discussions and the proposed transgender student policy up for approval. The latter half of the program featured retiring Manhattan High School Principal Greg Hoyt with a reflection on his time in the district and his plans for the future.

MANHATTAN — A Manhattan woman is hoping to push city commissioners to draft an ordinance to prohibit the transfer of live animals in the back of trucks. Keleigh Schettler became concerned after noticing in March 2018 a tow truck with a dog chained to it driving down Fort Riley Blvd. According to Schettler the chain was long enough that, if the dog fell, it would have easily been strangled. In addition to the danger it poses for the animal, Schettler says there’s also a risk to drivers. Schettler approached the city commission last fall but got no response at the…

Update 8 a.m. Tuesday MANHATTAN — A Geary County teenager was arrested late Sunday night after reports he was walking around carrying a gun near 17th and Poyntz Ave. The Riley County Police Department says the 14-year-old male suspect was taken into custody without incident sometime after midnight and arrested on the offenses of criminal possession of a weapon by a felon and criminal use of a weapon; barrel of firearm less than 12 inches. The 14-year-old was identified in Tuesday morning’s RCPD arrest report as Zane Tilcock. He was transported to the North Central Kansas Regional Juvenile Detention Center.…

DENVER — A former Colorado doctor who resided in Manhattan was sentenced to seven years in prison by a federal judge in Colorado last week, for illegally distributing controlled substances and money laundering. John Littleford, 73, will spend 87 months at a yet to be announced federal prison and will be placed on three years of post-release supervision. A U.S. Attorney’s Office report from the District of Colorado says Littleford prescribed large amounts of opioids to patients without a diagnosis or with little documentation. The report says Dr. Littleford owned and operated a clinic in Parker, Colorado and held himself…

Update Monday, 4/29/19: The Riley County Police Department reports that their drug takeback event this past weekend was a success. RCPD took in a total of 158 pounds of unused and unwanted prescription medication at two locations. They collected 4 boxes of drugs weighing a total of 48.5 pounds at RCPD headquarters. The Westloop Dillons drop-off location collected 5 boxes weighing a total of 110 pounds. RCPD coordinates the event with the DEA, who takes all drugs received for disposal. Police say safe disposal events like this help prevent pill abuse, accidental use as well as theft. Original story: The…

*Read the full Supreme Court decision here.* Kansas lawmakers are responding very differently over the state Supreme Court’s declaration of a right to abortion. The 6-1 ruling Friday notes the Kansas constitution protects the “right of personal autonomy,” meaning state law cannot abridge the right “to control one’s own body, to assert bodily integrity and to exercise self-determination.” It prevents the state from enforcing a 2015 law that could have reduced second-trimester abortions and allows challenges to other restrictions under the state constitution. 67th District House Rep. Tom Phillips (R-Manhattan) disagrees with the high court’s decision. He believes a challenge…