Author: Brandon Peoples

TOPEKA — Shawnee Heights Superintendent Martin Stessman has been placed on administrative leave without pay until June 1. School district officials met Thursday night to discuss actions after Stessman was arrested April 6 in Jefferson County on suspicion of driving under the influence. He’s also been placed on a one year probation, ordering him to complete a professional alcohol assessment, comply with recommendations from that assessment and speak to students, using this as a teaching moment. The board issued this statement after the meeting: “Although this incident occurred during non-school hours and off school grounds, Dr. Stessman is reminded that…

OGDEN — A man accused of firing shots near Ogden Elementary was in court Wednesday afternoon where he pleaded not guilty to two charges against him. The Manhattan Mercury is reporting 40-year-old Justin Bauer entered not guilty pleas to a charge of possession of a firearm on or around school grounds and discharge of a firearm within city limits. Riley County Police initially arrested Bauer on an additional count of aggravated assault, which the state has decided not to pursue. Bauer was arrested Tuesday morning when police received a report of shots fired by a man walking down the 300…

MANHATTAN — A grand opening of Manhattan’s newest museum, the Midwest Dream Car Collection is happening on Saturday. With a collection of over 60 cars in a 25,000 square foot showroom which will be available to the public. There’s also a 3000 square-foot event center and a lounge with a self-pour beer station which is believed to be the first one in the state of Kansas. Executive Director Lynn Gentine says they’ll also have some perks for those who come out to their festivities. Much of the museum’s vision was that of Curator Drew Casper, the young man who sustained…

MANHATTAN — Former Starbucks Chairman and CEO Howard Schultz made his way through Manhattan Wednesday as part of his listening tour across Kansas. The businessman is exploring a potential presidential campaign as an Independent in 2020. Schultz tells KMAN he doesn’t believe critics who say he’ll be a spoiler in the election. Schultz discussed his own successes with Starbucks and how he’d attempt to translate that to the oval office, should he decide to run. Schultz began his listening tour in Overland Park Tuesday, and also spoke at events in Lawrence and Topeka. He toured the Kansas Wheat Innovation Center…

MANHATTAN — Tuttle Creek Lake continues to see a steady rise in water levels, now up to 1,115 feet as of Tuesday. Inflow was measured at 2,500 cubic feet per second with outflow at 160 cubic feet per second. A wet winter and downstream flooding has caused the lake along with nearby Perry and Milford Lakes to be 1.3 million acre-feet occupied (or 40 percent capacity). The total flood storage capacity for the three lakes is 3.2 million acre-feet. Tuttle Creek is retaining the bulk of the excess water. Normal storage for the lake is slightly over 200,000 acre-feet. U.S.…

Junction City Police are investigating after multiple apartment buildings there were reportedly struck by gunfire Monday night. Police were dispatched around 10:20 p.m. Monday to 100 block of West 16th Street in reference to possible shots fired. No one was injured during this incident. Detectives do not have anyone in custody at this time. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Junction City Police Department at 785-762-5912 or leave an anonymous tip on its TIPS website. A link to that site can be found in this story at newsradiokman.com.

MANHATTAN — A Manhattan man is jailed on a number of charges including rape and aggravated burglary. Riley County Police arrested 34-year-old Benjamin Jones III on a warrant Monday evening in the 500 block of Colorado Street. Jones is facing four total charges including rape, aggravated burglary, aggravated kidnapping and aggravated sexual battery. According to the police report, the charges stem from a 2018 incident. No further information has been released. Jones is confined in Riley County jail and is being held on a $100,000 bond.

MANHATTAN — A little more than a week after its 17th annual fundraising Bag Lady Auction, the Manhattan Emergency Shelter officials continue to tabulate exactly how much it will have to work with this year. The event was held March 30 and typically brings in around $30,000. While final totals aren’t known yet, Executive Director Emily Wagner says she believes they were able to match the success of past events. Wagner says they weren’t sure how well the event would be received since it was held a month earlier and on a Saturday rather than on a Friday. Money raised…

MANHATTAN — One person was rescued from the Kansas River Sunday evening. The Manhattan Fire Department was dispatched just before 9 p.m. to the Pillsbury Drive viaduct for a report of a person in a kayak struggling in the river’s current. Upon arrival, crews located a person stranded in the middle of the river. Crews deployed a rescue boat and pulled the subject to shore. Riley County Emergency Medical Services took over and transported the patient to Ascension Via Christi. The fire department says a few minutes later, a 911 caller reported hearing calls for help downstream from the initial…

MANHATTAN — The Flint Hills Discovery Center held a ribbon cutting Friday for the grand opening of its Prairie Garden Terrace and Trail. The visitor favorite attraction includes 15 informational signs highlighting the iconic flora and fauna and important historical, cultural and environmental topics to the Flint Hills eco-region. Discovery Center Curator of Education Stephen Bridenstine says it’s a project that’s been a little more than two years in the making. The panels were created by a team of collaborators including interns from Kansas State University who helped with the design and research. The enhancement project was made possible by…