Author: Brandon Peoples

MANHATTAN — The Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine has teamed up to help enhance medical capabilities at the T. Russell Reitz Animal Shelter in Manhattan. The new partnership not only enhances care and welfare of shelter animals, but also provides more educational opportunities for veterinary students. Animal Services Director Deb Watkins says this is especially helpful as the shelter takes in numerous animals throughout the year. Watkins says it’s significant since the animal shelter placed close to 1,400 animals in 2018. She believes that number will grow with the help from the university saying phase two promotes a…

MANHATTAN — Riley County Emergency Management Director Pat Collins is advising the public to have multiple ways to get notifications in the event of severe weather including flood events. Speaking on KMAN’s In Focus Tuesday Collins noted the forecast for heavy showers and thunderstorms this week could cause issues with flooding on streams and rivers, especially around Wildcat Creek. Collins says it won’t take much for rivers and streams to fill up if the rain persists. That’s why he says people need to have a plan ahead of the storms. A flood watch is posted Tuesday evening through Wednesday evening…

Update Tuesday 7 a.m. Rains will linger through midweek which could increase the potential for some minor flooding in north central and northeast Kansas. Flood watches have been posted for Riley, Pottawatomie and Geary counties in addition to Marshall, Washington and Clay counties from Tuesday evening through Wednesday evening. Flooding is possible along the Big Blue, Little Blue, Republican and Solomon Rivers. The Big Blue River near Blue Rapids in Marshall County is in a flood warning until further notice and is already seeing some minor flooding. As of 6:15 a.m. Tuesday the Big Blue near Blue Rapids was at…

MANHATTAN — A retrial is now set for a Manhattan man accused of trying to intentionally shoot at authorities last year during a standoff. Mark Harrison is charged with one count of attempted capital murder. During a February trial, a Riley County jury couldn’t reach a unanimous decision on an attempted murder charge for wounding RCPD Sgt. Pat Tiede (Tee-dee). The jury found Harrison not guilty on two attempted murder charges and did find him guilty of criminal property damage for shooting at an armored vehicle. The incident occurred in January 2018. District Judge Grant Bannister on Monday set a…

MANHATTAN — The Manhattan Housing Authority continues to seek interested parties for the Apartment Towers at 300 North 5th Street. The complex, which features one bedroom and studio apartments reopened in November after undergoing major renovations to remove mold and replace windows in the facility. Improvements were made to plumbing and to the heating, ventilation and air conditioning. MHA Board Vice Chair Phil Anderson says the rental units are as nice as any rental units in the city. The City of Manhattan loaned the Housing Authority $1 million to complete renovations last year after some issues arose with getting renovations completed.…

MANHATTAN — Riley County Police are investigating after an aggravated battery incident left a Manhattan man injured over the weekend. Officers were called out to the 400 block of Laramie around 11 p.m. Saturday where they found the victim, 24-year-old Drew McDowell reportedly injured by unknown male suspect. McDowell was life-flighted to a medical facility for treatment of his injuries. His condition was not released. Police say the two did not know each other. Further details have not been released. The case remains under investigation.

MANHATTAN — A Texas woman arrested last month in connection to a 2017 killing of a Junction City woman is now in custody in Riley County. Samantha Bland, 29, of Laredo, Texas was arrested Feb. 19 on a warrant for aggravated intimidation of a witness. Bland’s brother 32-year-old Steven Meredith is charged with first-degree murder in the death of 48-year-old Carrie Jones in October 2017. Her body was found by deer hunters in southern Riley County. Bland is accused of intimidating witnesses who testified against Meredith in his preliminary hearing in mid-January. At that hearing, witnesses testified that Meredith believed…

MANHATTAN — The luck of the Irish was in Aggieville Saturday as Manhattan residents gathered for a soggy day of St. Patrick’s Day themed activities, including the 40th annual parade. The rain let up just in time for the parade, which lasted just under a half hour. Numerous sponsoring businesses greeted crowds of children along the streets with candy. The Commanding General’s Mounted Color Guard from Fort Riley led the parade. Runners braved the cold rains Saturday morning for the 41st annual Marvin Hachmeister 10K Road Race. The soggy conditions didn’t deter Hachmeister either, who celebrated his 88th birthday at…

MANHATTAN — Death related to heroin overdoses and fentanyl have risen dramatically nationwide just over the last few years. According to the Centers for Disease Control nationwide more than 15,000 overdose deaths involving heroin occurred in both 2016 and 2017. More than 5,000 of those deaths were attributed to heroin and other synthetic narcotics and those numbers have been increasing steadily over the past decade. Riley County Health Department Director Jennifer Green says the rise is common among men and women of all age groups and income levels. Fentanyl is an synthetic opioid pain reliever, often prescribed for advanced cancer…

Friday’s show featured two segments with Kansas Farm Bureau First District board member Glenn Brunkow discussing Senate Bill 32 which would create an alternative health care coverage option for its members. The bill has passed the Senate and is currently working its way through a House committee. Big Brothers Big Sisters Special Events Coordinator Torie Foster joined us to preview its upcoming Bowl for Kids’ Sake fundraiser. The Dusty Bookshelf owner Diane Meredith and store manager Sarah Wilson joined us to preview the store’s planned reopening timeline and highlighted events leading up including donation needs for the bookstore after the…