Author: Brandon Peoples

MANHATTAN — A preliminary autopsy report has determined that an infant child died from abusive head trauma last month. D’Khari Lyons, 23, was arrested Nov. 15 and is charged with murder in the baby’s death. An obituary and GoFundMe page started by the family identifies the infant child as Michael Calvert Jr. According to an affidavit obtained by KMAN, a medical examiner noted the child’s death to be from abusive head trauma, in particular from bleeding and skull fractures. It lists the manner of death as homicide. In the report, the doctor, whose name is redacted, says the hemorrhage within…

Riley County Police have determined a suspect in Friday’s hit and run accident involving a pedestrian. Police have not named the suspect as the investigation continues. RCPD officers were dispatched to the intersection of Hunting and Denison, on the west edge of the K-State campus Friday evening around 5:15 p.m. When they arrived, they found the pedestrian, 61-year-old Susan Keller of Manhattan had been struck by a small white 4-door car. Keller was transported to a Kansas City area hospital with serious injuries. Police ask anyone with information to contact RCPD or Manhattan Riley County Crime Stoppers. Using the Crims…

Gov. Jeff Colyer on Monday issued an executive order following the death of former President George H.W. Bush. Following President Donald Trump’s declaration of Wednesday, Dec. 5 as a National Day of Mourning, Colyer issued a separate order designating it a state holiday as well. As a result, all state offices will be closed on Wednesday. Flags have also been ordered at half-staff for 30 days. State of Kansas offices were closed to mourn the deaths of other presidents including most recently Gerald Ford, who passed away in 2006 and Ronald Reagan in 2004. Bush died Friday night at the…

MANHATTAN — Manhattan Fire Department officials made quick work Saturday morning of a fire at the Hilton Garden Inn hotel at 410 S. 3rd Street. Upon arrival, shortly after 6:30 a.m., crews found fire located in the hotel’s laundry room. It was determined that the building’s sprinkler system contained the fire to a commercial dryer unit and the fire was quickly extinguished. There were no reports of any injuries. The total loss was estimated at $40,000 to the contents and $10,000 to the structure. The fire cause was determined to be accidental.

MANHATTAN — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has notified the City of Manhattan that $18.4 million is being awarded in fiscal year 2019 to fund improvements to Manhattan’s levee system. The total cost of the project will be approximately $26 million and city officials will have several options to cover the remaining $7.5 million. The levee system provides fortification to 1,600 acres of land, 7,600 residents and protects a total economic impact estimated at $1.2 billion. Manhattan Deputy City Manager Jason Hilgers says the project tells KMAN why these upgrades are so crucial. The project intends to raise the levee…

A sock drive is underway in Manhattan. This is the sixth year for the “Sock It To ‘Em Sock Campaign” which has seen more than 30,000 pairs of socks collected and distributed to different agencies since it began. Organizer Regina Schroeder is a sock ambassador for the Colorado-based 501c3 nonprofit and says it highlights a need some of us don’t always think about. Schroeder tells KMAN what their goal is for this year. Two awareness events are happening in December including No Sock Sunday, happening Dec. 2 to kick off collection efforts in Manhattan churches. On December 12 it’s No…

MANHATTAN — Earlier this month, USD 383 Manhattan-Ogden named Dedra Braxmeyer as its 2019 Kansas Master Teacher nominee. The Manhattan High School math teacher was recognized at this week’s USD 383 board meeting. Braxmeyer says she was humbled by the honor. Braxmeyer earned a B.A. in Mathematics and a B.S. in Secondary Education from Kansas State University in 1999. She earned her Masters in Education in 2001 from Peru State College. She tells KMAN what inspired her to choose education as a career. Braxmeyer adds that she’s received plenty of encouragement from colleagues. Finalists for the Kansas Master Teachers will be unveiled…

MANHATTAN — Riley County Police are searching for a man who failed to appear for a jury trial scheduled to begin Thursday in Riley County District Court. David Gollahon, 57, of Junction City is wanted on a $200,000 warrant. Clerk of the District Court Katherine Oliver tells KMAN Gollahon is charged with aggravated kidnapping, aggravated burglary and attempted robbery stemming from an incident on Dec. 29, 2017. Gollahon is a white male with short brownish, gray hair and blue eyes. If you know Gollahon’s whereabouts, contact RCPD at 785-537-2112 or Crime Stoppers at 785-539-7777.

Thursday’s In Focus guests included Friends of the Peace Memorial Auditorium committee members Kathy Dzewaltowski and Jerry Rosine in segment one discussing ongoing fundraising for upgrades to the auditorium. Segment two featured a conversation about the MLK Art and Writing Awards deadline which is coming Dec. 1. Committee members Robin Edmunds and Sylvia Campbell were our guests. Segments three and four featured Pawnee Mental Health Executive Director Robbin Cole and included information on some recent grants.

JUNCTION CITY — USD 475 Geary County and Junction City High School are warning the public of a new scam circulating in the community. According to a release from the school district, several businesses have been contacted and sent invoices for advertisements on school marketing material, by a company unaffiliated with USD 475 or Junction City High School. The scam promised of advertisement opportunities. The district says advertising opportunities on JCHS marketing material, athletic posters, or other material should come directly from the USD 475 Marketing and Media Relations department or more specifically the Junction City High School Athletics Department…