Author: Brandon Peoples

The City of Manhattan has announced that Wyatt Thompson will join the City Manager’s Office as an assistant city manager. Thompson joins fellow Assistant City Manager Jared Wasinger, who was named to the office in March 2022. Thompson has served as the interim Parks and Recreation Director for the past year, bridging the gap between retired former director Eddie Eastes and new director Aaron Stewart, who started on the job Monday. Thompson will be charged with project management and supervision of division leaders in building services and at the animal shelter.  Thompson is a licensed landscape architect and Certified Park…

Riley County Police are investigating an incident of vandalism at Anneberg Park. A criminal damage to property report was filed Saturday listing the City of Manhattan as the victim after an unknown suspect damaged and destroyed dispensers, trash cans, a mirror and a sink in a women’s bathroom. The total loss is about $630.  Anyone with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers. Elsewhere over the weekend, a Manhattan man was arrested on a Riley County District Court warrant for failure to appear.  According to RCPD, 42-year-old Justin Everett is charged with criminal damage to property, stemming from an October…

A Topeka man has been arrested on a pair of Riley County District Court warrants stemming from 2020 incidents involving domestic violence against a 38-year-old woman known to him. According to RCPD, 32-year-old Luis Martinez was charged Friday with two counts each of kidnapping, aggravated domestic battery, aggravated assault, criminal damage to property and domestic battery. He also faces single counts each of aggravated battery, robbery, aggravated intimidation, criminal threat and criminal restraint.  Martinez remains jailed on a $150,000 bond. 

The Riley County Police Department says an investigation is underway following the death of an inmate confined at the Riley County Jail this weekend. Corrections Officers located 38-year-old Laura Pearce unresponsive in her cell just before 8:30 a.m. Saturday. According to an RCPD news release, officers immediately began lifesaving measures. Riley County EMS was dispatched and arrived a short time later. After lifesaving measures were continued by paramedics, Pearce was pronounced dead. RCPD says there is no evidence of foul play. The cause of death is believed to be suicide. Pearce had been extradited to the Riley County Jail March…

The Kansas State Department of Education announced this week that 261 high school seniors have been named 2023 Kansas Career and Technical Education Scholars — the highest number ever since the program’s inception in 2017. Students must have completed a minimum of three CTE credits with at least two above introductory level and have a 3.5 or better GPA in CTE coursework among other requirements. Six Manhattan High seniors were named to that list. They include: Melany Busot-Reyno Suzanne Chaffee Nissa Olsen Alessandra Porres Soledad Rodriguez Carissa Tepe Two Wamego High seniors were named to the list as well. Allie…

A Manhattan man is jailed on a number of charges involving alleged incidents of domestic violence. The Riley County Police Department arrested 41-year-old James Watkins Thursday morning after conducting a search warrant in the 3300 block of Woods Drive. Police say a 35-year-old woman reported Watkins on multiple occasions battered her. He’s also accused from a March 28 altercation of hitting the woman, taking her phone not allowing her to leave for several hours. Watkins is being held on requested charges of interference with with law enforcement after being uncooperative during the police execution of a search warrant. He’s also…

Gov. Laura Kelly has issued a verbal declaration of disaster emergency, due to wildfires across Kansas. The declaration allows the state to preposition assets for faster response to any fires that develop. Resources including aviation will be available and prepared to respond quickly to any requests for assistance. Extreme dryness has developed in many parts of Kansas over the past month displaced from the last wetting rain. According to the National Weather Service, Manhattan has received barely a trace of precipitation in April. The last measurable rainfall came on March 28 (.03 inches). The U.S. Drought Monitor shows abnormally dry…

Wamego’s annual Tulip Festival returns this weekend, one of the community’s biggest tourism draws each year. More than 160 craft vendors will set up inside Wamego City Park, including about 20 food vendors, a petting zoo and bouncy houses. There will also be a new family fun area with interactive activities. Wamego Area Chamber of Commerce Event and Tourism Coordinator Tiegan Kreider says there will also be plenty of live entertainment throughout the weekend. Tulips will also adorn the community, including throughout the park. The Tulip Festival runs 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.…

“We’re here. We believe you. We support you. It’s not your fault.” That was the message Kathy Ray delivered to a gathering outside the Riley County Courthouse Thursday over the noon hour. The executive director of The Crisis Center Inc, was one of several from the Flint Hills Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) to give remarks at the event, held in recognition of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, which is recognized in April. Ray says the team is working on responses and a number of efforts in the community to ensure victims and survivors feel supported throughout the process. “That they…

Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach is suing the Biden Administration over its listing of the wild, colorful lesser prairie chicken under the Endangered Species Act. Kansas joined Texas and Oklahoma in the suit which says the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service broke federal law by failing to adequately consider pre-existing and voluntary measures to protect the birds and ignoring the role of rainfall’s impact on the prairie chicken population. The suit also alleges the designation is unconstitutional and restricts personal property rights of Kansas landowners. In a statement, Kobach says the listing will make drilling new oil wells in western…