Author: Brandon Peoples

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.

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…