Author: Brandon Peoples

A familiar voice is returning to Manhattan Broadcasting. Matt Walters will take over Monday as the new general manager of the company which owns News Radio KMAN, as well as FM stations 101.5 K-Rock, B104.7, Sunny 102.5 and Z96.3. Walters says radio is in his blood, having graduated from Kansas State University in 1992 with a broadcast journalism degree. He spent 20 years with Manhattan Broadcasting after graduating, before taking a post at Commerce Bank. Walters replaces Corey Reeves, who departed Manhattan Broadcasting in August. Going forward, Walters says he intends to get more people in the community and region…

No injuries were reported after a vacant home in northern Riley County went up in flames Monday morning. Firefighters from Riley County Fire District No. 1 were dispatched shortly after 8:30 a.m. after a passerby reported smoke at 13650 Lasita Road, northwest of Leonardville. When firefighters arrived on scene, the structure was fully engulfed. Deputy Fire Chief John Martens said in a statement that rain played a crucial role in preventing the fire from spreading further. The cause of the fire is undetermined but officials say no foul play is suspected. The century-old home had no one living in it.…

An armed man at the Manhattan Walmart was safely taken into custody following a vehicle chase early Monday morning. According to the Riley County Police Department, officers were led on a pursuit at around 4:30 a.m. after a motorist was discovered committing multiple traffic offenses. The vehicle was later located, but the driver, later identified as 31-year-old Gerry Wayne Phillips II, had abandoned his vehicle. Just after 9 a.m. officers located Phillips at Walmart, armed with a handgun and refusing to comply with officer demands, causing a struggle. Police were eventually able to make an arrest, charging Phillips with two…

State transportation officials are looking at ways to improve safety along the US 24 corridor between Manhattan and Wamego. One of the more dangerous intersections along the corridor is the Flush Road interchange, which had 15 crashes between January 1, 2017 and February 28 of this year. Flint Hills Metropolitan Planning Organization Planning Manager Jared Tremblay shared a recent Kansas Department of Transportation restricted report regarding that intersection, which is not currently available for public viewing, with the Pottawatomie County Commission Monday. He says 14 of those 15 crashes occurred during daylight hours and in good weather. Tremblay says K-DOT…

Riley County Police are investigating three separate criminal incidents occurring early Sunday morning in Manhattan. According to Monday’s incident report, officers noted a report for aggravated battery in the 1100 block of Moro Street. A 29-year-old woman reported an unknown suspect battered her, causing a large gash on her forehead. Elsewhere, a report for aggravated assault and robbery was filed in the 1100 block of Fremont Street, when a 22-year-old man alleged that several unknown male suspects pointed a firearm at the him and took gold jewerly valued at approximately $700. Later that morning an aggravated burglary was reported in…

A Manhattan man was arrested over the weekend in connection to a past sex crime. The Riley County Police Department says 25-year-old Stephen Mattia was booked Friday evening on a warrant alleging single counts of electronic solicitation, indecent solicitation of a child and promoting obscenity. The alleged incident was reported in October 2022 against a victim reported to be 14 at the time of the report. Mattia was booked on a $30,000 bond, but was no longer confined as of Saturday’s arrest report.

A Puerto Rico man was arrested this week for failing to appear in court. According to the Riley County Police Department, 32-year-old Luis Cortijo Abreu was arrested while at the RCPD headquarters Thursday afternoon on a warrant for failure to appear. The original charge was for rape. Cortijo Abreu was no longer confined after posting a $60,000 bond, according to RCPD.

A long time Manhattan-Ogden school board member has retained his seat on the board. Curt Herrman was re-elected to a fifth term by a narrow 33 vote margin over Frank Beer, according to final results after the election canvass in Riley and Pottawatomie counties Thursday. While the margin was close, Herrman says he’s sweated out even closer races in the past, noting in 2007, his first year running for the board, he was ahead by nine votes and ended up winning by 13 votes after the canvassing was completed. He says during the past week and a half, he’s…

Riley County Commissioners voted 2-1 Thursday, finding the Keats Sewer District project is still feasible, despite cost estimates coming in 13 to 18 percent higher than originally anticipated. The commission left the door open to re-evaluate their decision early next year. Following the meeting, Commissioner Kathryn Focke spoke with KMAN about the board’s difficult decision. Focke supported a motion from Greg McKinley to continue with the project until the county finds out if the project qualifies for grant funding. McKinley stated that pulling the plug on the project now, would essentially mean the county would be starting over from scratch…

New charges have been brought against a Manhattan man jailed in Riley County. According to RCPD, a warrant for 38-year-old Laron James includes charges of aggravated burglary, attempted aggravated burglary, sexual battery and violation of the offender registration act. The charges stem from an August 2022 incident in Ogden involving a 23-year-old woman. According to the Kansas Department of Corrections website, James was convicted in 2009 on an attempted rape charge in Riley County. He remains jailed on a $13,000 total bond.