Author: Brandon Peoples

Riley County officials say a permitted outdoor burn got out of control this past weekend in the southeastern portion of the county, according to a Tuesday news release. The fire scorched over 300 acres of grassland and threatened structures and outbuildings in the area of Deep Creek Road Saturday afternoon. No injuries were reported and no structures or livestock were lost. An Everbridge notification sent out Saturday morning noted that outdoor burning would be permitted until 2 p.m. “due to upcoming high fire danger and increasing winds.” “This was a fast-moving fire that threatened multiple homes,” said RCFD#1 Deputy Fire…

There will be no school Wednesday for students at USD 378 Riley County. District administrators have canceled classes so that students and their families can travel to Hutchinson to watch the Falcon girls basketball team compete in the Class 3A state basketball tournament. The Falcons finished the regular season 16-7 under head coach Kelsey Nelson and her brother, assistant coach Jordy Nelson. The siblings just wrapped up their second season at the helm of the Falcon girls program, and have the Falcons in the state tournament for the first time since 2017, following a 46-41 sub-state win over Nemaha Central…

A reception was held Monday, as the City of Manhattan welcomed the four finalists for its vacant Parks and Recreation Director position. Held immediately following the monthly Parks and Recreation Advisory Board meeting, each of the finalists spoke candidly about themselves and why they were interested in coming to Manhattan. A majority even had some ties back to Kansas. Aaron Stewart is currently Director of Parks & Rec. in Garden City and says he came up through recreation primarily in the sports field. He’s held positions in western Kansas and Colorado, but considers Manhattan to be home. “I am a…

More details have been released following a Monday shooting at the Sunset Zoo parking lot. The Riley County Police Department says a 23-year-old man was shot in the neck shortly after 5 p.m. Monday and transported to Ascension Via Christi, and later to Stormont Vail Hospital in Topeka for further treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. The department says further investigation led them to believe the incident to be isolated between two separate, but associated parties. RCPD is working to identify all individuals involved in the shooting. Witnesses in the area told police at least one male suspect fled the scene following…

A 43-year-old Manhattan man was jailed this week following allegations of sex crimes involving minors. RCPD says Giovanny Ayala was arrested Monday morning on charges of indecent solicitation of a child and breach of privacy. The arrest stems from an investigation involving Ayala and two female victims known to him aged 15 and 16, dating back to late January 2022. (Case No. 22-000531). Ayala was jailed but released after posting a $15,000 bond. RCPD says due to the nature of the case, no further information will be released.

High school basketball season is drawing to a close and the Manhattan Convention and Visitors Bureau is once again playing host to the Class 2A state tournament at Bramlage Coliseum. “We’ll have eight teams come in from across the state on Wednesday. Games will be played at 2 p.m., 4 p.m., 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. We certainly encourage the community to come out and cheer them on,” says Marcia Rozell, Sports/Leisure Sales Manager with Manhattan CVB. Rozell is managing this year’s tournament for CVB, which is hosting the event for the 34th consecutive year. She takes over for longtime…

The City of Manhattan is inching closer to naming its next Director of the Parks and Recreation Department. The four finalists will be on hand at a Monday public reception following an all-day visit with department heads and city staff. Manhattan partnered with Strategic Government Resources on a national search, which produced 43 candidates from 16 states. Deputy Manhattan City Manager Jason Hilgers says it’s been a long process over the last 10 months. Hilgers says despite some of the turnover experienced within Parks & Rec, those who stayed have played a key role in keeping the department moving forward,…

An arrest has been made following a February hit-and-run crash that left a pedestrian with serious injuries. The Riley County Police Department says 34-year-old Kristopher Mackey has been charged with failure to stop at an accident resulting in great bodily harm and two counts of interference with law enforcement officers. He remains jailed in lieu of bond, pending a first court appearance. The incident occurred the evening of Feb. 11 in the 4700 block of Skyway Drive, near the Manhattan Regional Airport. According to police, a 30-year-old man was found on the side of the road with injuries following the…

Manhattan High School will have a new assistant principal this fall. Lisa Julian was appointed by the USD 383 school board Wednesday and will succeed Larry Myers, who is retiring this summer. Her start date is July 1. Julian currently serves as a Gifted Facilitator and Night School Coordinator at Manhattan High School. She previously was a sixth grade teacher at Amanda Arnold Elementary. According to agenda documents, Julian will earn an annual salary of $80,000.

The Manhattan-Ogden School District has named its next Director of Business Services. Andrew Hutchinson will assume that role July 1 and will succeed Lew Faust, who is retiring. Hutchinson is the district’s Assistant Director of Early Learning and Coordinator of Grants and Compliance. He previously was the program director for Head Start and Early Head Start. Hutchinson was appointed to the position Wednesday by the school board. According to agenda documents, he’ll earn an annual salary of $83,000.