Author: Brandon Peoples

Two people accused of killing a Junction City couple last month are now in custody in Geary County, following their extradition from Michigan. The Junction City Police Department says 33-year-old Steven Pierce and 29-year-old Kallie Peters are both jailed on bonds of $1.5 million. The pair were located March 19 by the Michigan State Patrol in Saginaw County, about two hours northwest of Detroit. Both are charged with two counts of felony murder, two counts of aggravated robbery and one count of felony theft in connection to the deaths of 80-year-old Roland Krissman and his wife, 75-year-old Valerie Krissman. The…

The City of Manhattan plans to close both inside lanes of Highway 24 near the intersection of Levee Drive as work begins on intersection improvements to accommodate its new Joint Maintenance Facility. City Manager Ron Fehr briefed Pottawatomie County commissioners on the project Monday, saying that work will begin on April 17. Complicating matters is an upcoming Kansas Department of Transportation maintenance project from Excel Road west to Manhattan Town Center. Fehr says the KDOT project was initially to begin toward the end of May, however he says it may actually start sooner. The city’s intersection improvements, which will include…

Riley County officials shared information Monday on a pair of wildfires that burned over 3,500 acres last week. The first happened Thursday in the area of Halls Ravine Road, north of Randolph where a prescribed burn became out of control, burning private land and igniting flood debris on U.S. Army Corps of Engineers property. Close to two dozen volunteers with Riley County Fire District No. 1 responded, with mutual aid provided by Waterville and Manhattan Fire Departments. A total of 1,500 acres burned. Riley County firefighters also responded Friday to Tabor Valley Road in the southeastern part of the county…

A weekend fire at Riverchase Mobile Home Park is under investigation and authorities say it may have resulted from children playing with a cigarette lighter. Crews from Riley County Fire District No. 1 were dispatched to the structure fire around 4 p.m. Saturday at Lot 29. Arriving firefighters found a small garden shed fully engulfed, which was quickly contained, but not before doing some limited damage to adjacent homes, which included melted vinyl siding from radiant heat. Damage is estimated at $10,000. No injuries were reported. The property is owned by Riverchase Mobile Home Park. The Riley County Police Department…

A Manhattan man was injured Saturday afternoon in a crash on I-70 in Wabaunsee County. The Kansas Highway Patrol says 67-year-old Richard Stitt was westbound near the K-99 exit when his Chevy Equinox entered the median and struck a culvert. The impact caused his vehicle to travel into the eastbound lanes before crossing back through the median and coming to rest. Stitt sustained a suspected minor injury and was transported to Ascension Via Christi. Stitt is the co-executive director of local nonprofit Morning Star Inc.

A Manhattan chiropractor has been charged with misdemeanor sexual battery. According to the Riley County Police Department, 50-year-old Kenyon Erickson was arrested March 30 in Pottawatomie County on a warrant filed by the Riley County Attorney’s Office March 23. Erickson remains free after posting a $2,000 bond. An online criminal complaint alleges the crime from April 14, 2022 against a then 46-year-old victim. Erickson will make his first court appearance at 1:30 p.m. April 17 in front of Judge John Bosch. Erickson is the owner of Erickson Chiropractic in Aggieville.

Easter egg hunts will be happening across the area this weekend. The Manhattan Lions Club hosts a hunt annually at City Park. This year’s event is scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday and will include 3,000 eggs, as well as donated Easter egg baskets for children who don’t have one. Age groups are as follows: Area 1 – south side of City Park (2-3 year-olds) Area 2 – southwest corner of City Park (4-5 year-olds) Area 3 – northwest corner of City Park (6-8 year-olds) Kids can line up on the sidewalks near Poyntz Ave. and on the south and 14th…

Legal questions are swirling as the City of Manhattan continues toward a plan of privatizing its animal shelter and shifting animal control to the Riley County Police Department. Deputy Riley County Counselor Craig Cox clarified Thursday why the City of Manhattan has stopped enforcing animal control services in Riley County, which the county noted earlier in the week it had been paying for under a resolution. Cox says the City of Manhattan intends to maintain control of the T. Russell Reitz Animal Shelter. But legally it’s unclear how that impacts the RCPD consolidation. By statute, under the 80/20 split, Riley…

Officials broke ground Thursday morning on a new 80,000 square foot facility to be housed within the K-State Office Park. “This project is going to bring our total to over 300,000 square feet of space and lab space for these corporate partners to do great things for our community. I think over the next couple of years you’re going to see several hundred millions of additional facilities coming into this district, enhancing prosperity and economic growth for Manhattan, and for the region,” said Greg Willems, KSU Foundation President and CEO. The project is anticipated to be completed by July 2024.…

USD 383 has named Abby Bowen its next Director of Human Resources. She’ll replace Interim Director Dr. Cleion Morton in June. Dr. Morton, a former principal at Northview Elementary, stepped into the interim role following the resignation of Drew Montgomery as HR Director in January. Bowen currently serves as assistant principal and school psychologist at Amanda Arnold Elementary. Her prior experience includes time as school psychologist for USD 383, Barton County Special Services Cooperative and Gardner-Edgerton Schools. “As the Director of Human Resources, I look forward to helping the staff in the Manhattan-Ogden School District in a different way,” she…