Author: Brandon Peoples

Update: Friday 4 p.m. One person was life flighted from an injury crash early Friday morning on Seth Child Road at the Anderson Ave. overpass. According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, two vehicles were involved in a head on collision just before 6:30 a.m. when a northbound Toyota Corolla crossed over the center line, striking a southbound Dodge Durango. The crash report states 23-year-old Austin Gano, of Manhattan, sustained serious injuries and had to be air lifted to KU Medical Center in Kansas City. According to the Riley County Police Department, Gano had to be extricated from his vehicle. The…

Former Kansas State University milling specialist Mark Fowler died at his Manhattan home Monday. He was 52. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at College Avenue United Methodist Church. Fowler, who grew up on a family farm near Emporia, joined the U.S. Wheat Industry in 2017 and was Vice President of Global Technical Services. He worked for K-State for 12 years, becoming associate director at the IGP Institute in the university’s Department of Grain Science and Industry. After leaving K-State, he worked for Farmer Direct Foods and later U.S. Wheat. Vince Peterson, President of US Wheat Associates issued the…

More details were shared Wednesday evening at a special USD 383 school board meeting ahead of the board’s annual winter retreat, regarding security incidents that occurred last week at Anthony Middle School and Manhattan High School. USD 383 Superintendent Marvin Wade says at Anthony, an unauthorized entry occurred Thursday when a staff member was greeting students coming into the building. Some students came around that area and an individual came in with his hoodie pulled up, and walked into the building. The individual, later identified by police as 22-year-old Samuel Osenga, was issued a no trespass for all district buildings.…

A Rock Creek High School musician will perform his state and national award winning composition this week at the Kansas Music Educators Association annual conference, held in Wichita. Aiden Levendofsky lives in Manhattan and is a sophomore pianist, who has been composing music for four years. He tells KMAN about the process he took for the award winning which required a lyrical component, finding inspiration from a poem titled “There Will Come Soft Rains,” by Sara Teasdale. Levendofsky’s composition netted him wins at the National Association for Music Education Student Composition Contest and later the KMEA state competition in the…

The Riley County Police Department is investigating a theft from G. Thomas Jewelers totaling almost $27,000. According to a police report, filed Tuesday, three women came into the store acting like they were purchasing items, asking for them to be wrapped. During wrapping, the suspects slipped the items off the counter. They then left the store to retrieve identification for the purchases but did not return. Police say four rings, a pair of earrings and a bracelet were all stolen, resulting in an approximate loss of $26,800. Anyone with information can contact RCPD or Manhattan Riley County Crime Stoppers. A…

The Riley County Police Department is seeking help identifying a man wanted for questioning for a recent case of property damage in Aggieville. RCPD posted a video online Tuesday, (video below), showing a man wearing a white top and checkered pants. Police believe the man is connected to a Jan 28 incident in the 1200 block of Moro Street involving a parked vehicle that sustained $1,600 in damage. Anyone with information is asked to call RCPD or Manhattan Riley County Crime Stoppers.

The Blue Valley USD 384 School Board has approved a contract for its next superintendent. Rex Boley was hired at a special board meeting Monday. He’s currently superintendent at USD 107 Mankato/Rock Hills, a job he’s held for the past three years. Boley brings over 30 years of teaching and administrative experience in agriculture education, special education and adult education. His resume includes work in the Salina School District for 12 years, including four as principal of the district’s alternative education program. Boley’s 2-year contract begins July 1 at an annual salary of $110,000. He will succeed John Cox who…

The Manhattan-Ogden School Board will hold a special meeting Wednesday ahead of its annual winter retreat. The board will meet at 5 p.m. in the Robinson Education Center to discuss safety and security, on the heels of two notable incidents last week involving a threatening graffiti message at Manhattan High School Friday and a man who trespassed into Anthony Middle School as students arrived Thursday morning for classes. The Riley County Police Department investigated both cases and determined no substantiated threats to students or staff. The incidents served as a wake up for administrators to re-evaluate its safety and security…

The Riley County Extension Office says its annual volunteer income tax assistance program is off to a good start since it began helping tax filers earlier this month. Extension Director Gary Fike, presented to the Riley County Commission last Thursday. He says the IRS has notified his office that the VITA program is 30% ahead of last year’s pace for filings and anticipates helping more than 700 residents file their taxes this year. Fike says the average refund has been about $1,600. The free income tax assistance is available to residents with a household income of $72,000 or less. To…

Riley County Commissioners on Thursday unanimously approved increased utility rates for 2023 for the Deep Creek Sewer, Hunter’s Island Water, Konza Valley Water and University Park Water and Sewer districts. The move comes on the heels of the City of Manhattan increasing its rates for water by 4% and sewer by 3%. They also estimate a 3% increase in both utilities over the next few years, on top of an average 20% rate hike last year. Commissioner John Ford says he recognizes the problem isn’t unique to Riley County and “begrudgingly” seconded a motion to approve the new rates, effective…