Author: Brandon Peoples

Update 2 p.m. Wednesday MANHATTAN — An 82-year-old Manhattan man has been identified as the victim of a vehicle-pedestrian crash Tuesday. Riley County Police say Lee Hildebrecht was crossing the street at the intersection of N. Juliette Ave and Bluemont at around 8:45 a.m. when he was struck by a passenger car. Hildebrecht was transported to Via Christi Hospital with critical injuries. The driver, 21-year-old John Wendt of Manhattan was cited for failure to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk. Update 1 p.m Tuesday:  MANHATTAN — A pedestrian was seriously hurt Tuesday morning after being struck by a vehicle…

Update 1:30 p.m. 1/7/19 The murder of a Junction City woman is being handled as a contract killing, according to a release by Geary County Attorney Krista Blaisdell on Monday. Mashaun Baker, 33, is charged with first degree murder and is suspected of hiring Dion Green to kill 31-year-old Jenna Schafer. Green, 33, is charged with two counts of first degree murder for the suspected killing of Schafer, who was pregnant at the time of her death. The second charge is for Green’s alleged killing of Schafer’s unborn child. The two are scheduled to go before Geary County District Court Judge…

WAMEGO — The Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office has determined the death of a teenager whose body was pulled from the Kansas River Christmas Eve to be a homicide. Authorities located the body of 19-year-old Jacob Bouck in the north bank of the river, about a mile west of Wamego Dec. 24. He had been missing since Dec. 21. Sheriff Greg Riat says a forensic autopsy conducted by the medical examiner has determined that Bouck was murdered. Bouck was reported wearing a dark colored jacket, black shirt, gray thermal longjohns and black shoes. The Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone with information…

MANHATTAN — The Manhattan Parks & Recreation Department is hoping folks don’t let the winter blues keep them from staying active. A number of new programs were presented during a recent segment of KMAN’s In Focus. Lindsay Sparlin, Arts and Humanities Coordinator noted a couple of those new programs, including one that begins at the end of January. Another program beginning this month is called Gym Buddies. Aquatics and Ice Rink Manager Sidney Baker says the ice rink has been well attended in the first few weeks of winter. She explained that skating lessons are now taking place. Manhattan Parks…

MANHATTAN — While there may currently be no end in sight for the federal government shutdown, things are progressing at the National Bio and Agro Defense facility. During KMAN’s In Focus, Dr. Ken Burton, NBAF Coordinator for USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) noted some good planning by both the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Homeland Security to lessen the impact of the shutdown on the construction schedule. The shutdown is not impacting the NBAF construction finances according to NBAF Partnership Development Director Marty Vanier. Vanier says most of the construction that occurs this year won’t be visible…

MANHATTAN — Senator Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) announced plans for his future during a news conference Friday morning at the Kansas Department of Agriculture headquarters in Manhattan. The 82-year-old Republican chairs the Senate Agriculture Committee and has been known by some of his colleagues of reaching across the aisle to get things done. Roberts credited the bipartisan work to pass a farm bill last month, noting a “thread of comity in the Senate.” When he leaves office in 2020, Roberts will hold the title of Kansas’ longest serving member of Congress. Roberts called the passing of the farm bill one of his…

MANHATTAN — Flu season is here and local health officials are re-emphasizing the need to get your flu shot. During KMAN’s In Focus Wednesday, Riley County Health Department Clinic Supervisor Leslie Campbell says while a vaccination doesn’t guarantee you won’t get sick, it is better than the alternative. Flu season generally begins in September and continues through early May. This time of year is the peak flu season. Public Health Emergency Preparedness Coordinator Andrew Adams says for many, the flu season is just beginning . Campbell says vaccination is a public health concern and is important to lessen the impact locally. Andrews…

MANHATTAN — Baby watch 2019 officially came to an end in Manhattan Wednesday. Via Christi Hospital announced that baby Vincent was born at 11:22 a.m. Jan. 2 to mother Cheyenne Russell of Junction City. The baby was the first delivered at the hospital in 2019. Vincent came in weighing 7 pounds, 11 ounces and was 19.5 inches long. The hospital says mom and baby are doing well. (Photos courtesy Via Christi Hospital Marketing & Communications)

MANHATTAN — A Manhattan man is in custody after Riley County Police say he violated the terms of his offender registration. Samuel Sargent Kempf, 42, was arrested Wednesday in the 1100 block of Vattier on a charge of violating offender registration, second conviction. A search of the Kansas Offender Registry finds that Kempf was convicted in 2005 on a charge of possession of child pornography in Missouri. Kempf is lodged in Riley County Jail on a $10,000 bond.

TOPEKA — The Kansas Highway Patrol saw increases in DUI arrests, speed citations and speed warnings during its annual New Year’s weekend holiday activity. Officers worked two fatality crashes during that time span but neither was DUI-related. The crashes occurred in Thomas and Wyandotte counties. KHP reported 22 DUI arrests, along with 954 speed citations, 825 speed warnings and 118 adult seat belt citations. Each were increases over last year and each also reached three-year highs. KHP also assisted 885 motorists on Kansas highways during the extra enforcement period which began at 6 p.m. Dec. 28 and concluded at 11:59…