No injuries were reported after a tractor caught fire Tuesday afternoon near Leonardville. Volunteer crews with Riley County Fire District No. 1 were dispatched around 1:30 p.m. to a rural area near Fairview Church and Walnut Creek Roads. Upon arrival, they found a John Deere silage chopper tractor fully engulfed in flames. Seven volunteer firefighters [...]
A Manhattan man convicted of killing two men will spend the next 32 years behind bars. Montrell Vassar was sentenced by Riley County District Court Judge John Bosch Monday, to 387 months in prison for his role in the shooting deaths of 23-year-old Javon Gray and 19-year-old Skylar Havens. The pair were gunned down from [...]
A status hearing for Robert Iacobellis was held Monday, as the defendant appeared yet again without counsel, weeks after dismissing his court-appointed attorneys. Iacobellis, who stands charged with 27 counts of sexual abuse involving four individuals, informed Judge Kendra Lewison that he has been unable to secure funding to hire Lawrence-based attorney Christopher Joseph. He [...]
A new permanent monument on the grounds of the Kansas State Capitol will recognize Gold Star Families. The monument was unveiled at a Friday ceremony, with Gov. Laura Kelly, Executive Director of the Governor’s Military Council Lt. General Perry Wiggins, as well as State Senators Tom Hawk and Jeff Longbine on hand. The monument honors [...]
Health officials say Riley County has moved into the substantial incidence category for COVID-19 after recording 61 new cases for the week of Sept. 10th through the 16th. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment noted the incidence rate was 82.2, which was enough to lower Riley County from high to substantial, based on cases [...]
The long-time director of the Manhattan Convention and Visitors Bureau has announced plans to retire in the new year. Karen Hibbard announced Wednesday she’ll depart the Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce in February, after 26 years of service to Manhattan. During her tenure as CVB Director, Manhattan has seen significant additions to its convention and [...]
A Manhattan woman was killed Wednesday in a crash in Washington County. The Kansas Highway Patrol says 71-year-old Anne Nielsen was southbound on K-148, about three miles south of Hanover, shortly before 4 p.m. Authorities say she failed to stop at a stop sign at the US 36 junction. Her vehicle was struck by a [...]
A prisoner who had been serving time for Riley County convictions of child sex abuse has died behind bars. The Kansas Department of Corrections says 29-year-old Cody James Torbol was found unresponsive in his cell Tuesday at the El Dorado Correctional Facility. The department says staff began life-saving measures immediately and continued after emergency medical [...]
Geary County authorities are investigating a Milford couple accused of an early morning rape Tuesday at a residence on Old Highway 77. Deputies from the Geary County Sheriff’s Office responded to Junction City High School around 8:30 a.m. in response to the allegation. Following an investigation, deputies arrested 43-year-old Christopher James Beem on a single [...]
Trespassing on Linear Trail and areas surrounding where levee construction is continuing, will be more strictly enforced starting next week. The City of Manhattan says beginning Monday, anyone caught in the restricted area surrounding the Kansas River and Big Blue River levee project will be subject to criminal charges that could lead to an arrest [...]
