Author: KMAN Staff

A soldier facing charges of rape and indecent liberties with a child, following a December arrest, plead not guilty to both counts on Monday morning in Riley County District Court. Timothy Ayers Jr. now faces a jury trial this summer after Judge David Stutzman accepted his plea of not guilty.  This arrest stems from a warrant in connection with a northern Riley County alleged rape incident that occurred in August. Prosecuting State Attorney, Barry Wilkerson suggested that four days be set aside for the jury trial.  Ayers’s jury trial was set for the week of June 29th. A request for…

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A Kansas State University animal health leader has been chosen to engage local, regional and national stakeholders in the development of strategic partnerships for the National Bio and Agro-defense Facility, or NBAF. The Department of Homeland Security has selected Marty Vanier, the university’s director of operations at the National Agricultural Biosecurity Center, to be the senior program manager for strategic partnership development. Vanier will start her new responsibilities with the DHS Science and Technology Directorate in April. “Dr. Vanier’s background will help to catalyze innovation and future planning in support of NBAF by establishing and furthering partnerships with industry, end…

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A Leonardville man is now being held in Riley County following an arrest KMAN first told you about March 10th in Arizona. Monday’s RCPD arrest activity report indicates that at approximately 8:15 AM  John Thomas was arrested at the Riley County Police Department on a warrant for three counts of sexual exploitation of a child. Thomas was taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals service in Chino Valley, Arizona earlier this month on the Riley County warrant. His bond was set at $500,000. As announced a few weeks ago, federal authorities say Thomas had dramatically changed his appearance but still was…

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Rock Creek’s Carson Becker and Wamego’s Lanie Page were each chosen first team all-state by the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association for the 2014-15 season. Becker was a first-team pick in 4A-Division 2 after averaging 15 points and 8 rebounds per game for the Mustangs. He helped lead Rock Creek to a runner-up finish at the state tournament, the best finish in school history. Rock Creek’s Nate Berard was an honorable mention selection. Page scored over 20 points per game in her senior season with the Lady Raiders and is expected to join her sister Kaylee at K-State next season. Manhattan…

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By Chris Kutz, K-State Athletics Communications STILLWATER, Okla. – The K-State baseball team was held to two hits on Sunday by Oklahoma State starting pitcher Michael Freeman, who carried a no-hitter into the ninth inning, as the Wildcats fell to the No. 12 Cowboys, 4-1, to lose the Big 12 series at Allie P. Reynolds Stadium. Despite being no-hit for 8 1/3 innings, the Wildcats (12-14, 1-5 Big 12) jumped out to a lead over Oklahoma State (19-8, 4-2 Big 12) in the sixth inning. Jake Wodtke led off the frame by reaching on an error by Cowboy second baseman…

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Seven of the eleven candidates vying for a spot on the Riley County USD 378 Board of Education made statements on a variety of issues the district will face in the coming year at the candidates forum on Sunday, March 29.  The League of Women Voters of Manhattan/Riley County sponsored the forum and The Riley Countian was the co-sponsor. One of the immediate tasks the new school board will be faced with is appointing a new superintendent, and candidates were asked to describe what characteristics they were looking for in a potential hire for the spot.  Glen Hawkins said he believes the…

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