Author: Brandon Peoples

MANHATTAN — Fourth graders from all over Riley County will experience life in the 1800s this week at the Wolf House. Riley County Historical Museum Curator Allana Parker says the kids will be able to see the food of that time, the differences in the way people use different rooms, and even hygiene. “One of the most coveted stations is to be able to talk about hygiene during the 1880s including the outhouse and chamber pot. Kids always seem so surprised that is how people handled their bathroom duties back then,” said Parker. Students this week also are learning how…

MANHATTAN — Riley County Police plan to be more vigilant looking for impaired drivers this weekend. Saturday is April 20, commonly known as a popular day for some to indulge in the use of marijuana. As a result, officers will be looking for signs of impaired driving and other traffic violations. Motorists who show signs of alcohol and/or drug consumption will be evaluated. Confirmed impaired drivers will be arrested. According to a 2016 AAA poll in Kansas, only 63 percent of people consider driving after using marijuana ‘a very serious threat’ to their personal safety. In 2017, there were 287…

CLAY COUNTY — The Clay County Sheriff’s Office says one person is dead and another was wounded in a rural Clay County shooting incident Thursday. Authorities say just before 1 p.m. a deputy from the Clay County Sheriff’s Office was flagged down by a motorist who told him she was taking her husband to the hospital because of a gunshot wound. Officers received information from the woman that the shooter was located at 926 Valleyview Road, just northeast of Milford Lake. When officers arrived at the home, they found the 27-year-old shooter dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. The…

MANHATTAN — Rising waters at Tuttle Creek Reservoir have been a concern for many in the region since a wet March inundated the lake with its third highest readings since 1973. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Operation Project Manager Brian McNulty informed a joint meeting of Manhattan, Riley and Pottawatomie county officials that the lake is currently in a Phase II zone of operations for flood control. Part of the reason water hasn’t been released from the lake so far is due to high water levels along the Missouri River, especially near Waverly, Missouri, about 73 river miles east of…

MANHATTAN — An “eggstradordinary” event is happening at Manhattan City Park on Saturday. The Manhattan Parks and Recreation Department is hosting its third annual Easter Family Fun Day, a free event for the community that includes the Manhattan Lions Club Easter egg hunts for different age groups (2 to 3), (4 to 5) and (6 to 8). Community Relations Officer Melissa Kirkwood says there’s also some green involved for the older kids, in the form of a cash drop. The cash drop will be held after the Easter Egg hunts at the Wilson ball field. The Easter egg hunts start…

Thursday’s In Focus guest was new Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce President Jason Smith, making his debut appearance on the show.

MANHATTAN — The Manhattan Fire Department has determined Wednesday night’s fire at the Brookfield Residences apartment building was accidental. Investigators determined the fire started on the second-floor porch balcony due to improperly discarded smoking materials. Damage to the building is estimated at $120,000 along with $20,000 damage to the building’s contents. The two-story, 12-unit building sustained significant fire damage in two units, and smoke and water damage in two other units. Crews were dispatched shortly after 9 p.m. to the complex located at 415 Walters Drive. When crews arrived they found fire showing from the rear of the building, extending…

The USD 383 Manhattan/Ogden School Board announced it filled two leadership positions within the district Wednesday. Current Marlatt Elementary assistant principal Sheila Stephens has been named the principal at Marlatt Elementary School. She replaces Brett Nelson who is leaving the district for a superintendent job in Clay County. Stephens has worked at Marlatt since 2016 and said in a release she’s honored to be chosen to lead the school and thanked Nelson for being a great mentor. Elsewhere, Decatur Community Jr/Sr. High School Principal Ben Jimenez has been named assistant principal at Manhattan High School. Jimenez previously had been a…

MANHATTAN — Riley County Police spent close to $64,000 in personnel funds to staff the areas around Aggieville March 2 for this year’s annual Fake Patty’s Day. That included a total of 1,869 hours of employee labor, according to RCPD Captain Richard Fink. The total cost was $63,915. Fink says they aren’t charged by outside agencies who assisted with extra enforcement, noting a “handshake agreement” in place between other law enforcement agencies. Police responded to 172 calls for service during Fake Patty’s Day, including 39 arrests, 19 of which were for DUI’s and six for disorderly conduct. Also during the…

Tuesday’s show featured our bi-weekly chat with Manhattan City Manager Ron Fehr and Mayor Mike Dodson about city governmental issues. In addition, Tuesday’s final segment featured Gary Stith with the Flint Hills Regional Council talking about upcoming events related to the organization.