By The Times of Pott County

Data centers are “unfortunately” here to stay, a Pottawatomie County official said this week.

Shanna Goodman, Pottawatomie County Economic Development Corporation executive director, spoke Monday to the Pottawatomie County Commission regarding the ongoing discussions of data centers.

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By Beth Day

WAMEGO — A raucous crowd of around 150 people gathered Wednesday to get answers from officials looking to build a data center in Pottawatomie County.

Ryan Sanders and Charles Kontz, principals of Beltline Energy, spoke at a meeting at Iron Clad in Wamego. Beltline is based in Atlanta.

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The Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help in identifying two individuals involved in a reported battery last month in Louisville.

Deputies responded at approximately 10:23 a.m. April 26th, 2026, to the area of East Hickory Street and Calhoun Street for a report of a disturbance. According to authorities, a witness reported that a male driver exited a white mid-size SUV and approached an elderly man, striking him multiple times in the face until the victim fell to the ground.

A female passenger then exited the vehicle and also struck the man in the head while he was on the ground. Both suspects returned to the SUV and left the scene.

The male suspect is described as a tall, thin, light-skinned Black man, possibly in his mid- to late 20s. The female suspect is described as a short, heavyset white woman with straight, dirty blonde hair, also believed to be in her mid- to late 20s.

The victim sustained non-life-threatening injuries and declined transport to a hospital.

Detectives have interviewed multiple individuals, but the suspects have not yet been identified.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Stephen Martinez regarding case 2026-2061 at the Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office at 785-457-3353 or submit an anonymous tip through the agency’s Crime Stoppers link at ptsheriff.com.

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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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