Author: Brandon Peoples

Riley County and the City of Manhattan are at odds over whether a parking lot within CiCo Park should be paved. Staff from both government entities along with engineers and architects met earlier this week as the city moves forward on upgrades to the ball fields on its parcel within CiCo park. Part of those upgrades include paving the north lot, which sits just west of the ball fields. However, most of the parking lot is on Riley County property. Extension Director Gary Fike shared his perspective on KMAN’s In Focus Wednesday. The issue was brought up at Thursday’s Riley…

The former Royal Towers apartments were purchased earlier this month by Back 9 Development. Back 9 acquired the property from Nevada-based TD Invest LLC for $2 million, according to a sale contract provided to KMAN, which is shared below. (*An earlier version of this article inaccurately stated the property was acquired for $1. All general warranty deeds in Kansas include standard language of “In consideration of the sum of One Dollar ($1) and other valuable consideration.”) The property will be entirely gutted, renovated and turned into two-bedroom, two bath condominiums, starting at $249,000 each. Back 9 owner TJ Vilkanskas says…

Authorities are investigating a Tuesday night injury crash in northern Riley County that was apparently caused by a drunk driver. According to the Riley County Police Department, 34-year-old Faye Evans, of Blue Rapids, was arrested on charges of driving under the influence and two counts of aggravated battery. Officers say Evans crashed her vehicle shortly before 9:30 p.m. Tuesday near the intersection of Green-Randolph Road and Tuttle Creek Blvd. A 22-year-old man and a 15-year-old boy were listed as victims in the crash. Further crash details weren’t immediately available from police. Faye was jailed on a $17,000 bond.

The Manhattan-Ogden School Board will meet this evening at the Robinson Education Center. The board will  look into the purchase of a new activity bus totaling over $248,000 and a new Ford Expedition totaling $65,000, along with the disposal of two buses. The district has $500,000 budgeted for this in its capital outlay fund. Additional purchases to be considered are a new IT van and an XUV for Bishop Stadium. The XUV is used to pull implements to groom and broom the synthetic turf and other various maintenance tasks at the stadium. The board will also consider a settlement agreement…

Riley County Police are investigating a pair of thefts reported this week at a few Manhattan retailers. According to Tuesday’s activity report, officers were called out to Menards Monday morning after store officials reported two known male suspects replaced UPC codes on security camera systems for a lesser price. The estimated total loss was around $530. Later Monday afternoon, RCPD filed a report for criminal use of a financial card and theft after a 52-year-old man reported an unknown suspect used his credit card information to make purchases at Target, The Home Depot and Shop Quik, totaling about $700. Anyone…

City officials say Ebert Construction is closing the 600 block of Poyntz Ave today and tomorrow, in order to install the string light poles that will flank the mid-block crosswalk. The street will reopen in time for Third Thursday festivities. The work was not able to be completed with the rest of the project due to the very long lead time needed for fabrication of the poles, which are to be installed today. Lights will be strung tomorrow and city officials say the two Flint Hills ATA bus stops in the 600 block of Poyntz will be closed both days.…

Judge William Malcolm, the longtime magistrate judge for the 21st Judicial District, which encompasses Riley and Clay counties, died Sunday from injuries he sustained in a car wreck earlier this month. He was 74. In a statement Monday, Chief Judge Grant Bannister remembered Malcolm as a kind hearted human-being and valued colleague. “He was a dedicated public official that served the people of Kansas well. Particularly, the citizens of Clay and Riley County. He was good natured and often ready with a good story to lighten the day.  He presided over some of the most serious criminal preliminary hearings during…

Riley County Police are investigating a couple of weekend incidents involving weapons. On Saturday, officers filed an aggravated battery report in the 800 block of Colorado Street after a 43-year-old man reported that a man known to him cut him with a knife. Early Sunday morning, officers investigated an incident in the 1100 block of Moro Street after an unknown male suspect reportedly pulled a gun out after an argument with two 22-year-old men. The suspect also reportedly made physical contact with one victim and the weapon. In a separate incident early Sunday, officers filed an aggravated robbery report in…

Kansas State University President Richard Linton is back in Manhattan, having recently completed his seven-week cancer treatment. In a Monday statement, Linton said he packed up his remote office in Kansas City on Friday after completing chemotherapy and radiation treatments. He says he’s ready to start conducting much of his work from his campus residence as he regains his strength. Linton thanked the medical team for the “incredible care” he received throughout the diagnosis, treatment and now, recovery. He also thanked his immediate family and the entire Wildcat community for support that helped him through the process, saying he feels truly blessed…

The Kansas Department of Transportation will begin replacement of the Mill Creek bridge on U.S. 77 Monday. The structure is about eight miles south of Randolph. KDOT says initial work will consist of constructing a shoofly detour to carry traffic around the existing bridge. The shoofly is expected to be completed by early December, with traffic then shifted to the detour while demolition and reconstruction take place. Traffic impacts are expected to be minimal, however, speed will be reduced to 50 mph through the work zone for the duration of the project. Work will occur weekdays during daylight hours and…