The Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the theft of a utility task vehicle and other items, believed stolen from a rural area northeast of Wamego.

Detectives have determined the items were stolen between 7:35 p.m. and 8:05 p.m. on Monday from the area of Peddicord Road. The total loss is said to be in excess of $26,000.

The UTV is a green and black 2026 single cab Can-Am Defender. Authorities said a white single cab flat bed truck was seen in the are atraveling east on I-70 by Snokomo Road in Paxico at approximately 8:30 p.m. A photo can be found with this story online.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Scott Butler at 785-457-3353. Tips can also be submitted at ptsheriff.com.

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A Manhattan man found himself back in custody Friday, less than three days after being arrested for a slew of drug charges. It’s his third drug-related arrest since Dec. 30.

Scott Marchand, 48, was arrested at 11:17 a.m. near the area of U.S. Highway 24 and Southport Drive after a traffic stop by the Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office. A search of his Toyota Tacoma located methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. He was arrested on an outstanding warrant for probation violation.

Marchand was transported to the Pottawatomie County Jail on a $500,000 bond for the probation violation, as well as one count of possession of a stimulant (one prior conviction) and possession of drug paraphernalia. He remained in custody as of Friday night.

Following Marchand’s arrest, the Sheriff’s Office obtained a search warrant for a room at the Simmer Motel, 1215 East Highway 24 in Wamego. The Sheriff’s Office in cooperation with the Riley County Police Department, seized from the room drug paraphernalia and a container of an unknown substance that was being sent off for further testing. Additional charges against Marchand are pending.

As previously reported by The Mercury, Marchand was also arrested Tuesday at the Riley County Courthouse for charges of use/possession with intent to use drug paraphernalia, possession of an illegal substance, distribution or possession with intent to distribute over 100 grams of heroin/fentanyl within 1,000 feet of school property, distribution or possession with intent to distribute between 3.5 and 100 grams of heroin/fentanyl within 1,000 feet of school property, distribution or possession with intent to distribute between 3.5 and 100 grams of a certain stimulant within 1,000 feet of school property, distribution or possession with intent to distribute drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana.

In the case he was scheduled to appear for, Marchand is charged with nine counts of similar drug offenses. He was arrested Dec. 30 and released Jan. 2 on a $150,000 bond.

In a motion filed with the court Wednesday morning, assistant Riley County attorney John Griffin made a request to have Marchand’s bond revoked in the original case. In his motion, Griffin says Marchand was in possession Tuesday of 108 grams of fentanyl, 4.3 grams of methamphetamine, 7.1 grams of heroin, heroin loaded syringes and marijuana.

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Local government officials will soon get some concrete data on the feasibility of a second river crossing that would connect Manhattan and residents who live in Pottawatomie County.

The topic is one that residents, especially those living east of the Big Blue River, have had at least some interest in debating, though it never materialized into anything further than speculation. That all changed recently when the Flint Hills Metropolitan Planning Organization began putting together a cost-benefit analysis project to study and analyze a series of five proposed secondary connection routes.

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The Kansas Department of Agriculture has confirmed a case of highly pathogenic avian influenza at a commercial poultry operation in Pottawatomie County.

The business is currently under quarantine after a case was reported on Jan. 6. A KDA spokesperson told KMAN and The Mercury Friday that this is an ongoing response but did not disclose how many birds have been affected nor the commercial operation under quarantine.

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Authorities are investigating after a man was injured in an officer-involved shooting Saturday afternoon in east Manhattan.

According to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, deputies from the Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office responded around 3:50 p.m. to a report of shots fired at a residence on Josie Lane, when a man was shot.

The man was transported to an area hospital for treatment. KBI said no law enforcement officers were injured.

Further details, including the man’s identity were not immediately provided.

The case remains under further investigation.

This is a developing a story.

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The Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a suspicious livestock death south of Wheaton.

According to a news release, deputies were called out to the area Wheaton Road and K-16 Highway just after 2 p.m. Friday, where a cow was found dead in a field with unusual body parts removed.

Investigators determined the injuries do not appear to be accidental and believe the incident occurred recently.

They’re asking anyone with information to submit tips to Detective Stephen Martinez at 785-457-3353. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through Crime Stoppers at ptsheriff.com.

Click here for more Pottawatomie County news.

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The Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office is investigating vandalism to a water tower near Olsburg.

Deputies were called out Wednesday morning to the area of Swede Road and Shannon Creek Road where it was discovered a tower serving Rural Water District No. 2 had sustained numerous bullet impacts. Sheriff Doug Adams says it does not appear the damage was recent, but also appears to be intentional. He estimated the damage likely occurred sometime between mid-August and late November.

The Rural Water District is continuing to examine the structure to determine the overall cost of repairs, which may up exceeding $100,000. Officials say it does not appear currently to be impacting water usage in the district.

The Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone with information to contact Detective Kidd at 785-457-3353 or submit a tip via the Crime Stoppers link at ptsheriff.com.

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A Pottawatomie County woman was hospitalized following a crash on Interstate 70 in Topeka Monday afternoon.

According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, 62-year-old Beverly Jones of Emmett was in a pickup when she left the onramp from SW Gage Blvd onto I-70 and failed to navigate the curve. Her truck veered off the roadway, striking a Lexus, driven by 50-year-old Monica Gillen of Silver Lake. Both vehicles became disabled after the crash.

Jones was taken to St. Francis Hospital with a possible injury and a complaint of pain. Gillen had no apparent injuries.

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Two Manhattan area women were seriously injured Saturday night after their vehicle struck a deer on I-70 in Shawnee County.

According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, 71-year-old Phyllis Trudell of St. George was driving westbound near Carlson Road around 11:15 p.m. when her car hit a deer and overturned several times.

Both Trudell and her passenger, 66-year-old Susan Cherry of Ogden, were taken to Stormont Vail Hospital in Topeka with serious injuries.

Troopers say both women were wearing seatbelts.

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By The Pott County Times

Pottawatomie County Emergency Medical Services was awarded the largest grant in its history — $134,729 from the Patterson Family Foundation.

The grant will be used to purchase five new Stryker Power Pro 2 power-assisted ambulance cots. EMS Director Andrew Couchman spoke to the Pottawatomie County Commissioners on Monday saying, “This is an item that gets used every day by every crew. If we have a failure on that cot, we have a significant chance of injury to the crew or patient. Short of the truck that we use every day it is the next piece of equipment.”

To view the full article visit theMercury.com.

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