LAWRENCE, Kan. — The murder trial for a man accused of a 2017 killing in Lawrence has been delayed yet again. The Lawrence Journal-World reports that the first-degree murder trial for 24-year-old Steven A. Drake III had been scheduled to begin Monday. Court officials have not said why the case is being delayed, but last week, Drake rejected a plea agreement by refusing to show up for his scheduled plea hearing. A new trial date has not been set. Drake is accused of shooting Bryce S. Holladay in the doorway of Drake’s home because Holladay refused to leave the house.
Author: KMAN Staff
On Monday’s edition of In Focus we spoke with Kevin Bryant, Jonalu Johnstone and Larry Weaver with Manhattan Alliance for Peace and Justice. Manhattan Parks & Rec. Ryan McKee and Casey Smithson also joined the program.
There was an educational session at Manhattan City Hall Auditorium on Friday evening, followed by a fishing session at Anneberg Park on Saturday morning. Tera Panfil, Secretary and Treasurer of the Tuttle Creek Lake Association, spoke on the importance of the event to the community. The event was open for youth, age 8-12, and there were three boys and three girls that took home awards. In the category of heaviest fish, Emma Foster and Jase Jordan emerged victorious with a 5.95 and 3.61 pound fish respectively. In the category of smallest fish, Lauren Whitaker and Joel Catron both caught 3 inch…
Kansas State University has been named the seventh most LGBTQ-friendly college, according to study.com. The ranking is out of a list of 50 United States universities and is based on data from LGBTQ advocacy groups, information from faculty and students and other factors. The list takes note of various LGBTQ organizations at K-State, such as the Sexuality and Gender Alliance, Out in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics and the Gender Collective. It also recognizes the various academic, career and training programs offered to students, faculty and staff. Topping the list at number one is the University of Michigan – Ann…
Girls On The Run of the Flint Hills is opening a summer camp. The camp, which debuted in 2019, will provide an experience geared towards fitness and mental health for girls grades 3-5. Both sessions will be in Manhattan. Session one will take place at Lee Elementary on June 21-25 from 8 a.m. to noon, while session two will take place at Theodore Roosevelt Elementary on July 12-16 also from 8 a.m. to noon. Program coordinator Melissa Colby spoke recently about the program planned this summer in Manhattan. Colby says the nonprofit is also looking for volunteers for their summer camp…
Riley County Police Department budget The Riley County Law Board agreed Thursday to publish the 2022 Riley County Police Department budget once the revenue neutral tax rate becomes available. The proposed budget currently stands at about $23 million, up about 3.57 percent from the 2021 budget. Among the reasons for the budget increase is a request for an additional court screener, which RCPD director Dennis Butler says stems from requirements for an additional court location due to the pandemic. However, Riley County commissioner John Ford says RCPD may not need an additional court screener since pandemic-related policies continue to be…
The USD 475 school district has appointed four new principals today. Kathleen Brennan was named principal of Fort Riley Middle School, Nicole Perez was named principal of H.D. Karns Innovations Academy, Melisa Burgess was named principal of Morris Hill Elementary, and Kathy Friesen was named principal of Seitz Elementary. Brennan takes on her new role as principal after serving as vice principal of Fort Riley Middle School for three years, Perez previously served as vice principal of Arkansas City High School for three years, Burgess was an assistant principal at Fort Riley Elementary for six years, and Friesen becomes principal of…
LYONS, Kan. — Authorities in Rice County have identified the man killed in a house explosion last month in the town of Lyons. The victim on Thursday was identified as 65-year-old Terry Sawyers. Firefighters responded to the home on May 27. The fire chief says Sawyers was found dead in the home where he had lived for 10 to 12 years. The cause of the explosion has not been determined, but Lyons Police Sgt. Cory Ryan says there was no crime. Results of an autopsy of Sawyers are expected in July.
TOPEKA, Kan. — Authorities have arrested a 31-year-old man on parole in connection with the fatal weekend shooting of a woman at a Topeka mobile home park. Local news organizations reported that federal marshals took Kajun Brock into custody Wednesday night in Topeka. Police had described him as a person of interest in the death of 32-year-old Shakeita Young. Brock was being held Thursday in the Shawnee County jail and its online records showed that his bond was $1 million. State records showed that Brock served time in prison on charges including robbery and assaulting a law enforcement officer before…
SALINA, Kan. — Salina police have identified a woman who was found dead in a park as a 43-year-old local resident. News reports said police have not said how Kristie Fisher died and are still gathering information about her death. Police responding to a report early Tuesday morning found Fisher lying face down near the south entrance of Lakewood Park. She was declared dead at the scene.