Author: Paul Parker

Local News

Over 2,500 Riley County residents take advantage of early voting

Advance voting ended at noon on Monday across Kansas. While final tallies on turnout won’t be official until after the polls close on Tuesday, elections officials in both Riley and Pottawatomie County gave some insight Monday afternoon into how strong voter turnout has been so far. During Monday’s Riley County commission meeting, County Clerk Rich Vargo said 2,189 voters had cast their ballots early by the end of Saturday. The final tally as of noon Monday, was 2,529. Advance totals were much lower in neighboring Pottawatomie County. In an email to the Mercury, County Clerk Dawn Henry said Monday her…

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Local News

Birrell sentenced to 17 months

A man convicted of threatening a local priest was sentenced Monday in Riley County District Court to 1 year 5 months in the Kansas Department of Corrections. He will receive credit for over 280 days he’s already served in the county jail. Andrew Trevor Birrell, 36, of Manhattan was found guilty in August of criminal threat against Father James Buster. He maintains his threats to kill Buster were warnings, but not true threats. Birrell, who chose to represent himself in court alleged there is “crucial evidence missing” from his criminal history. He hinted several times that the facts he believes…

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RCPD Reports

RCPD Report: 10/17/25

Kasey Nations, 29, of Ogden, was arrested at approximately 3:45 p.m. on Oct. 16, 2025 in the 100 block of 4th Street in Manhattan on a Geary County District Court warrant for probation violation. Nations was issued a total bond of $50,000 and is no longer confined in the Riley County Jail at the time of this report. Tiffany Rawls, 33, of Manhattan, was arrested at approximately 6:15 a.m. on Oct. 16 in the 1000 block of Seth Child Road on a Geary County District Court warrant for probation violation. Rawls was issued no bond and is no longer confined in…

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