Author: Brandon Peoples

The 21st Judicial District Nominating Commission has selected Jeremy Larchick to fill the vacant magistrate judge position in Riley County. Larchick will start in the position upon his swearing-in. A date for that ceremony hasn’t been announced. Larchick is currently the chief of claims and hospital administration for the Department of the Army at Fort Riley. He’ll fill a vacancy created by Judge James Kepple, who retired in November to become Manhattan’s municipal judge. After serving one year in office, Larchick will stand for a retention vote in the next general election. The 21st Judicial District is composed of Riley…

A Junction City woman turned herself in Monday almost two months after allegedly abducting three children from their custodial father. The Junction City Police Department says Jeana Foley was arrested on a warrant charging her with three counts of aggravated interference with parental custody. She had been wanted since Dec. 21. Police say 6-year-old Rosie, 5-year-old Camden and 3-year-old Genevieve were all recovered by JCPD safe and unharmed. Foley is being held at the Geary County Detention Facility. Police say no further information is being released.

Arraignment for a Fort Riley soldier accused of murdering a fellow soldier in Aggieville one year ago has been continued into late March. Tremelle Montgomery, 20, appeared in court Monday via Zoom from the Riley County Jail, two weeks after being bound over for a possible trial later this year. Montgomery’s attorneys Brenda Jordan and Lora Ingels requested a minimum 45 days as they prepare to enter mediation with prosecutors toward a possible plea agreement.  Judge John Bosch scheduled the continued arraignment hearing for March 27. Montgomery faces seven total counts, including that of first-degree murder in the death of…

Interviews are scheduled this week as the USD 384 Blue Valley Randolph School Board searches for its next Superintendent. Agenda documents shared on the USD 384 website show current Superintendent John Cox announced his resignation to the board at its Dec. 12 meeting. His resignation is effective June 30. The first of four closed-door meetings this week will take place tonight at 6:30 p.m. The board will review applications this evening before hosting three candidate interviews Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 6:30 p.m. in Randolph. Cox was hired by the district in February 2020, following the retirement of Brady Burton, who led the…

New legislation introduced this session could provide legal protection for sports officials in Kansas from unruly spectators. House Bill 2139 would create the crime of abuse of a sports official, punishable as a misdemeanor in Kansas. That would include actions at sporting events such as shoving, kicking, spitting or otherwise making physical contact with an official or threatening to engage in such conduct. The Kansas House Education Committee heard testimony Thursday from sports officials in support of the bill. John Dehan is a full-time assigner of sports officials to youth sporting events from the Kansas City area and says he’s…

The Manhattan-Ogden School Board took the first step Wednesday toward an agreement between the district and local nonprofit Common Table to utilize space within the Manhattan High East Campus building at 901 Poyntz Ave. for community meals. Common Table volunteer Michael Gassmann spoke to the board about the potential partnership The organization intends to use the kitchen and cafeteria space as a central location for its weekly community meals. Currently those are held at various locations across Manhattan. He says the organization has come a long way in its 10 year existence. The school board unanimously supported the district entering…

Authorities have identified a man found dead at a Wamego home over the weekend as 47-year-old Justin Meyer. According to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, who is leading an investigation into Meyer’s death, there is no evidence suggesting foul play. Investigators are awaiting results of the final autopsy. Meyer was found dead Sunday at home on Ash Street by another individual who called 911. Initially the death was ruled as “suspicious.”  The investigation remains ongoing between KBI, the Wamego Police Department and Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office. No additional information is being released at this time.

The Manhattan Fire Department quickly extinguished a car wash fire Wednesday morning. Crews were called out around 10:30 a.m. to the Rapid Wash at 8115 South Port Drive. Upon arrival, a propane-fueled fire was located on the exterior of the building. Crews used firefighting foam to extinguish the fire located in a pit within 10 minutes. No injuries were reported. The estimated total loss was $15,000. The cause of the fire was accidental due to an issue with a portable propane heater.

A Riley County jury has convicted a Manhattan man on charges of child sexual abuse. Following a week long trial, jurors on Friday, Jan. 27, found Vincent Meeks guilty on three of the 11 counts listed in an amended complaint stemming from an August 2021 arrest after Meeks was initially accused of sexually assaulting three minors. Meeks was convicted on one of five counts charging him with aggravated indecent liberties, one of three counts charging him with indecent solicitation as well as a charge of furnishing alcohol to a minor, according to Deputy Riley County Attorney Bethany Fields. Jurors acquitted…

Former Wamego USD 320 Superintendent Norris Wika has died. An online obituary says Wika died Jan. 26 at Stormont Vail Hospital in Topeka at the age of 81, following a battle with lewy body dementia. Wika was hired to lead Wamego Schools in 1982 and oversaw a bond issue passed to build Wamego Middle School during his 13-year tenure with the district. A celebration of life service will take place at 3 p.m. Feb. 15 at the Campanella Stewart Funeral Home in Wamego, which is handling arrangement. Memorials are suggested to an educational foundation or animal charity of the donor’s…