Author: Brandon Peoples

TOPEKA — A Texas couple wanted in connection with the abduction of their three children were captured Wednesday in Topeka. Members of the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Apprehension Task Force located the vehicle of 32-year-olds Jeffrey and Maria Gilseth in Riley County Wednesday after a tip from Texas authorities that the couple may be in Kansas. The couple were wanted on charges of Interference with Child Custody and Unlawful Restraint out of Killeen, Texas. Authorities followed the couple’s vehicle from Riley County to a Topeka toll plaza on Interstate 70. Both were arrested and booked into the the Shawnee County Jail.…

MANHATTAN — The principal of Marlatt Elementary has announced he will be leaving USD 383 Manhattan/Ogden Schools at the end of the year. Brett Nelson announced recently he’s accepted the position of superintendent at USD 379 Clay County Schools. He’ll start his new job July 1. In a statement Nelson says he’s “excited about the professional challenges ahead and will miss serving the students and families at Marlatt.” Nelson has been with Manhattan/Ogden Schools for eight years, serving also as a Manhattan High School teacher and girls soccer coach as well as an elementary school teacher. Nelson will replace Mike…

MANHATTAN — One month has passed since back-to-back robberies were reported in Manhattan. The United Bank and Trust on Tuttle Creek Blvd and the east Manhattan Dairy Queen were both robbed within days of each other in late January. Information regarding those incidents has been slow to come out, but Riley County Police Department Director Director Dennis Butler informed Manhattan city commissioners Tuesday where police are currently at in their investigation. Butler was questioned by commissioner Jerred McKee at the request of residents in the Northview neighborhood. A total of three notable robberies occurred in Manhattan in January, but Butler…

ST. MARY’S — Police in St. Mary’s say an attempted child abduction reported earlier this week was a fabricated story. Investigators say the child who alerted police Monday about the alleged incident was never in any danger and there in fact was no attempt to abduct the child. The child’s name has not been released and police say he will not be identified. According to the St. Mary’s Police Department’s Facebook page, officers reportedly swept the area of US Highway 24 and Grand Ave. Given the apparent credible information at the time and erring on the side of caution, the…

MANHATTAN — Nearly two years after a fire destroyed The Dusty Bookshelf in Aggieville, owners of the bookstore say they’re planning to reopen this spring. In a post on the bookstore’s Facebook page Tuesday, store officials say they are planning to reopen at the corner of Manhattan Ave. and Moro Street after two long and difficult years thanks to the community’s loyalty, support and general love for books. The cause of the March 2, 2017 fire at the bookstore was due to self-heating floor finishing materials. Damage to the building and surrounding structures was estimated over $822,000 with over…

MANHATTAN — A Manhattan High School math teacher has been named a 2019 Kansas Master Teacher. Dedra Braxmeyer, who was selected as USD 383 Manhattan/Ogden’s district nominee in November, has received that honor. She has taught at Manhattan High School since 2006. She earned a B.A. in Mathematics and B.S. in Secondary Education in Mathematics and Computer Science from Kansas State University in 1999. She earned her Master’s in Education from Peru State College in 2001. Braxmeyer is the 30th instructor from Manhattan to be named a Kansas Master Teacher. It’s also the first time the district has had finalists…

JUNCTION CITY — Two men originally connected to a Christmas Day murder in Junction City have had charges against them dropped. Geary County court records show a capital murder charge against 33-year-old Mashaun Baker was dismissed Feb. 21. Baker has been released from jail. In addition, 37-year-old Joseph Grubb had a conspiracy to commit capital murder charge dismissed. He was released from jail Jan. 31 after posting a $2,500 bond. Both men were arrested in connection to the death of 31-year-old Jenna Schafer and her unborn child. Dion Jamel Green now is the lone person charged in connection to Schafer’s…

Update 2/27/19 at 11:30 a.m. St. Mary’s Police now say this story was fabricated by the child who alerted police. (See updated story here: St. Mary’s Police say attempted child abduction was a hoax ST. MARY’S — Officers in St. Mary’s are investigating a reported attempted child abduction that occurred late Monday afternoon near the area of Hwy 24 and Grand Ave. According to a post on the department’s Facebook page, the victim reported he was approached by a possible red 2002 to 2005 Ford Explorer with lower tan trim. The vehicle had a dent on the driver’s side rear…

MANHATTAN — Jurors heard testimony Monday from defense witnesses in the trial of 39-year-old Mark Harrison, who is charged with three counts of attempted capital murder in the January 2018 shooting and standoff which injured a Riley County Police Department officer. Harrison’s attorney Barry Clark proceeded to call four total witnesses to the stand including Harrison, who sat through more than two hours of both direct and cross examination. Harrison pointed to a history of marital issues that had been boiling for years, including alleged infidelity on his part by his now ex-wife. The two got into a verbal argument…

MANHATTAN — Riley County Police have arrested a 22-year-old man accused of robbery and kidnapping. Joshua Miller was arrested shortly after 2 p.m. Saturday in the 500 block of Sunset Ave. the former Sigmu Nu fraternity complex which is now occupied by Pi Kappa Phi. Miller is charged with six different counts including aggravated armed robbery, aggravated burglary, aggravated kidnapping, aggravated assault, kidnapping and criminal damage. Additional details from RCPD weren’t immediately available. Miller was lodged in the Riley County Jail on a $250,000 bond.