Author: Brandon Peoples

MANHATTAN — Riley County Police arrested a 36-year-old man Saturday night on charges of child abuse. John Lee Pevy III was booked into Riley County Jail on two counts of aggravated battery and one count of child abuse; torture of a child. Pevy remains jailed on a $20,000 bond. According to the Kansas Department of Corrections, Pevy has prior convictions for drug and weapons charges out of Geary County.

MANHATTAN — Hurdles to Medicaid expansion were a major highlight of Saturday’s legislative coffee held at the Sunset Zoo Nature Exploration Place. The event was hosted by the Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce. All three Manhattan lawmakers support Medicaid expansion. Hospitals have lobbied for expansion as well but conservative leadership in the statehouse has been content on keeping any bill from coming to the floor for debate. 67th District Representative Tom Phillips (R-Manhattan) says he believes it has enough momentum among both parties. Kansas is one of 14 states that has not expanded Medicaid. Committee leadership is largely conservative in…

*Update – Riley, Pottawatomie and Geary counties are now in a blizzard warning effective 3 p.m. to midnight Saturday. MANHATTAN — The Manhattan area is on the edge of a potential blizzard that could make travel hazardous Saturday. The National Weather Service has issued a Blizzard Warning for Riley, Pottawatomie and Geary counties from 3 p.m. Saturday to midnight. Snow, occasionally mixed with freezing rain will be possible. Total snow accumulations of up to two inches and ice accumulations of a light glaze are anticipated. Winds are expected to be very strong, gusting as high as 45 miles per hour…

MANHATTAN — Outgoing Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Lyle Butler is optimistic about what the future holds in store for the Manhattan area business community. Butler, who appeared on his final edition of KMAN’s In Focus Thursday, noted some major renovations are ahead for Manhattan Town Center, specifically on the inside of the mall. Butler says the mall’s ownership has been busy at work trying to continue to make the mall thrive in a time when many malls nationwide are struggling. A major announcement came last week when mall officials announced fashion retailer H&M plans to take up…

JUNCTION CITY — A Salina truck driver was injured Wednesday morning when his semi crashed on Interstate 70 in Geary County. The Kansas Highway Patrol says shortly before 7:30 a.m. an eastbound semi lost traction due to slick roads which caused the trailer to jack knife. The trailer slid off I-70 into the south ditch and overturned onto its side. It happened two miles west of the U.S. 77 and I-70 junction. The driver, 29-year-old Derek Towery was transported to Geary Community Hospital in Junction City with a suspected minor injury. KHP said the vehicle was left on scene to…

POTTAWATOMIE COUNTY — A Manhattan woman was killed Wednesday morning, a result of icy roads in a Pottawatomie County subdivision northeast of Manhattan. The Kansas Highway Patrol says 67-year-old Ann Marie Lochner was southbound on Elbo Ridge Drive in a Chevy Blazer in the Elbo Lake subdivision. Her vehicle left the roadway at the icy intersection of Elbo View and landed on its top in a nearby ravine. The incident occurred around 6:45 a.m. Authorities say Lochner died at the scene. The Highway Patrol crash log indicates Lochner was wearing her seat belt at the time of the crash.

MANHATTAN — USD 383 Manhattan/Ogden Schools is wrapping up its search for the next principal at Manhattan High School. Five candidates will appear for interviews next week. Assistant Superintendent Eric Reid tells KMAN those five candidates were chosen among 15 applicants who applied between Jan. 15 and Feb. 15. The candidates are seeking to replace Greg Hoyt, who is retiring at the end of this school year. Public meet-and-greets are planned all next week from 3:15 to 4:30 p.m. at the MHS west campus library. * Monday, Feb. 25 – Dr. Michael Norris, current assistant principal at Lawrence High. *…

WESTMORELAND — The Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Department has received a federal grant to purchase new equipment and create new training sessions. Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt announced Wednesday that the Sheriff’s Office will receive $45,297 to purchase a license plate reader and to implement training sessions for interviews, interrogations and public speaking. Schmidt says the grant is part of the Edward J. Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program. It was awarded by the Kansas Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, of which Schmidt serves as the chair. More than $3.2 million of this federal grant was awarded to 41 Kansas law enforcement…

MANHATTAN — Riley County police officer Jonathan Shepard was recognized during Tuesday’s Riley County Law Board meeting as this year’s recipient of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Law Enforcement officer of the year award. Shepard was honored for his quick action during the 2018 Labor Day flood in Manhattan. On Sept. 3, Shepard was assigned to drop barricades at the beginning of the flood threat and later helped escort children and elderly out of waste-deep flood waters in Redbud Estates. After helping hundreds evacuate he had gone to change into dry clothing and went to Anneberg Park area where floodwaters…

Wednesday’s first half of In Focus featured a preview of the USD 383 School Board meeting with Assistant Superintendent Eric Reid and school board member Dave Colburn. The second half of Wednesday’s program featured a preview of the Diavalo workshop, a therapeutic dance event for transitioning local veterans at K-State next month. Dr. Art DeGroat, KSU Executive Director of Military Affairs was our guest along with Diavolo Artistic Director/Founder Jacques Heim and Diavolo Institute Director Dusty Alvarado.