Author: Brandon Peoples

A Junction City man was arrested Tuesday in connection to past sex crimes involving a minor. The Riley County Police Department says 37-year-old David Hearlson is charged with three counts each of rape and aggravated indecent liberties with a child, and one count each of attempted aggravated criminal sodomy, aggravated indecent solicitation of a child and criminal threat. The crimes are alleged from between March and May of 2019. The female victim was someone known to Hearlson. He remains jailed on a $200,000 bond. Due to the nature of these crimes, police say no further information will be released.

Officials with the Kansas State University Foundation say donations totaled more than $226.4 million this past year. The total doesn’t quite match last year’s record total of $235 million in private gifts, but does highlight how strong giving continues to be to the foundation. The value of the university’s long-term investment pool reached $952.3 million as of June 30, the end of the fiscal 2023 calendar. The Foundation says its investment performance has consistently outperformed peer institutions, ranking No. 7 among the nation’s university and college endowments in 2022. One of the key highlights from the past year saw the…

The 2024 Riley County Budget was finalized Monday. County Commissioners held hearings to confirm their intent to exceed the revenue neutral rate for the county budget with a mill levy of 39.956, a 2.26 mill levy reduction from what was finalized in 2023. During the public hearing, resident Gary Olds questioned why commissioners couldn’t get closer to the RNR rate of 38.379, despite having substantial money in savings, reserves and other areas. Commissioner Greg McKinley cited prices of services going up as one reason for the increase in taxes. Commissioner John Ford expanded saying most of it is balancing services…

Authorities are investigating after four young women reported to police their drinks were spiked at a party in Manhattan over the weekend. The Riley County Police Department says the victims, ranging between 17 and 19 years old, reported an 18-year-old woman contaminated their alcoholic beverages with an unknown substance at a house party in the 2000 block of College View Road early Saturday morning. All four were treated at Ascension Via Christi after getting sick. Officers filed a report for distribution of a controlled substance, aggravated battery, and criminal threat. So far no arrests have been made. The investigation remains…

A massive fight broke out over the weekend during a pledge basketball game at Kansas State’s Phi Delta Theta fraternity. https://twitter.com/OldRowKansasSt/status/1695573968067903626?s=20 Viral video shows a large group of students brawling on the basketball court. It’s unclear what started the fight and also if any injuries occurred. The Riley County Police Department and K-State Police noted in an email to KMAN Monday they did not receive any calls or complaints in reference to the brawl. In a statement Monday, the unversity said “The fight is uncharacteristic of the students and organizations involved. Kansas State University is reviewing the event under the…

A Manhattan man is jailed following an incident early Sunday morning in the Northview area. According to the Riley County Police Department, 36-year-old Aaron Finch was arrested around 3 a.m. on two counts of aggravated assault. Finch is accused of pulling a knife on two men at the Short Stop convenience store, in the 2000 block of Tuttle Creek Blvd. Further details were not immediately available Finch remains jailed on a bond of $20,000.

A Manhattan man died in a crash Friday afternoon in Washington County According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, 39-year-old Nicholas Bennett was westbound on K148 near Hanover, just after noon, when his Chevy Silverado went off the roadway and overturned. Authorities say it’s unclear what caused Bennett to lose control of the vehicle. The crash report states Bennett was not wearing a seat belt. He was pronounced dead on scene.

Manhattan resident Curt Herrman has been collecting Kansas City Chiefs memorabilia since 1970. In recent years, his home collection of close to 1,500 unique items tied to the defending Super Bowl champions, has even found a place in the Guinness Book of World Records. Herrman fulfilled another dream of his Friday, as members of the Chiefs Ambassadors formally recognized his Chiefseum. “I’m thrilled to have the Chiefs Ambassadors come to recognize this. They’re such a great group too. They’re former players. Over the years they’ve raised millions of dollars for kids programs and for people in need. I hope someday…

Firefighters were called to Meadowlark Hills Thursday evening in response to a small fire. The Manhattan Fire Department says crews were called out, just after 9 p.m. to a residence in the Lyle House, where a small fire  was quickly extinguished. Crews then ventilated the building to remove all smoke. Nursing staff evacuated residents prior to firefighters arriving on scene, with Riley County EMS treating a staff member and evaluating a resident for smoke inhalation. The cause of the fire was listed as accidental, due to a blanked being placed over a lamp. Damage was estimated at around $7,000, to the structure…

Riley County Police have been seeing more thefts of catalytic converters in the past week. Officers filed a report for theft Wednesday in the 1500 block of Yuma Street. A 48-year-old man told police that thieves cut off catalytic converters from two of his vans. The estimated total loss is around $5,400. Similarly on Tuesday, officers took a report in the 600 block of Pottawatomie Ave. after BHS Construction reported two of its trucks were also victimized. The estimated loss was unknown at the time of the police report. Officers did arrest two individuals in connection to the Monday theft…