Author: Brandon Peoples

Two more board members have resigned from the Riley County USD 378 school board. Nathan Mead and Justin Ricketts announced their decisions to step down Monday. It’s the latest in a series of events that have transpired since early January when the new board suspended and later removed Superintendent Cliff Williams. Mead says in eight years on the board, only the last two months had he experienced the board commitments like hiring a law firm and a private investigator without board action first to contract those services. “This new board majority has made removing Mr. Williams their primary focus. In…

The Riley County Police Department updated information on an incident that occurred Sunday afternoon in the 1400 block of Flint Hills Place.

Law enforcement officials kept busy amid annual Fake Patty’s Day celebrations in Manhattan. The Riley County Police Department, which has made a more concerted effort to maintain order this year, especially in the neighborhoods east of campus, issued 79 citations between 10:45 a.m. and 4:40 p.m. Saturday. This is on top of 20 citations issued Saturday morning. Most of the citations have been for open container violations, followed by multiple citations for minor in possession. Police issued three citations for disturbing the peace while three citations were made for urinating in public. Police say a total of six arrests had…

Riley County commissioners moved Thursday to fill a seat on the 21st Judicial District Nominating Commission. Commissioners unanimously approved the appointment of Jan Marks to replace Johanna Lyle, whose four year term expires on Monday. Marks will be one of four non-lawyer members appointed to the commission. She will serve a four year term. Marks is a retired managing partner with Varney & Associates. The nominating commission consists of four attorney lawyer members and four non-lawyer members who nominate persons to the office of District Judge and make appointments to the office of District Magistrate Judge. Supreme Court Justice Caleb…

A Manhattan man is jailed on an attempted murder charge stemming from an incident two years ago. The Riley County Police Department says 39-year-old Jeremy Spaur, was arrested Wednesday on a warrant alleging charges of attempted first-degree murder, attempted aggravated battery, aggravated assault and criminal possession of a weapon. An online criminal complaint alleges Spaur tried to kill another man during an altercation on Feb. 12, 2022. Spaur also is charged with a probation violation and failure to appear stemming from original charges of driving with a suspended license. He remains jailed on a bond of $314,800.

A Wamego woman was involved in an injury crash early Wednesday morning in Leavenworth County. The Kansas Highway Patrol says 60-year-old Sandra Keough, was eastbound on Interstate 70, shortly before 2:30 a.m., when her Volkswagen Passat rear ended a semi. Authorities say Keough had just minor injuries. A 54-year-old male passenger from Texas also sustained minor injuries. Both were treated at KU Medical Center. The truck driver had no listed injuries.

A Manhattan man is jailed on a host of charges, including kidnapping. The Riley County Police Department says Jose Trinidad, 28, was arrested Tuesday afternoon at the Riley County Courthouse on a warrant for kidnapping, aggravated kidnapping, criminal deprivation of property, domestic battery, aggravated burglary and two counts of criminal threat. RCPD spokesperson Ashley Tokoi says the alleged incidents occurred between Jan. 21 and Jan. 23. Trinidad remains jailed on a $100,000 bond.

A no burning notice continues for Riley County until further notice as critical fire weather conditions are expected into next week. Devastating wildfires scorched around 500,000 acres in Texas and Oklahoma this week and local officials said Wednesday that conditions are favorable for similar activity in our area over the next several days. Local humidity will be as low as 10% Thursday, with no overnight recovery, prompting concerns from local fire officials, who say it is not safe to burn at this time. The forecast indicates a chance for rain by the middle of next week, at which time county…

The City of Manhattan may be on the verge of either tax increases or certain city services being eliminated. Deputy City Manager Jason Hilgers told commissioners Tuesday that forecast revenues for the General Fund are not enough to maintain the needed cash balance. “We’re obviously realizing a point here where that upward trend of cash balances in the General Fund is starting to level off and potentially showing a downward trend after six years of upward trends from 2017 to 2022,” he said. Alternatives consist of increasing taxes or finding services within the General Fund to cut. At Tuesday’s work…

Authorities are investigating another case of alleged forgery and theft in Manhattan. The Riley County Police Department says a report was filed Monday afternoon in the 700 block of Poyntz after an unknown suspect fraudulently wrote and cashed checks at numerous area banks. The total loss is estimated around $10,000. Police listed Flint Hills Beverage and a 38-year-old man as victims. Anyone with information is encouraged to call Crime Stoppers.