Author: Brandon Peoples

Tuesday marks the official launch of paid parking in the Aggieville Parking Garage. Manhattan city officials say payments can be made through the Park Mobile app, using a credit or debit card. Patrons can also register their license plate and pay for on-demand parking. The Park Mobile app is also used at K-State and Manhattan Regional Airport and is available for both iPhone and Android devices. Permits may also be purchased through a link on the City of Manhattan website, where additional parking information is available. Employees who work in Aggieville can obtain permits to park in the garage at…

The Riley County Law Board will hold its first meeting of the new year Tuesday. The meeting will include reorganization, which occurs every two years, as well as election of officers. Coming off the Law Board will be Manhattan City Commissioner and current Law Board Chair Linda Morse, as well as Riley County Commissioner Kathryn Focke, and citizen representatives Be Stoney and Robert Ward. Four new appointees will take their seats including City Commissioners Wynn Butler and John Matta and citizens Kaleb James and Betty Mattingly-Ebert. Riley County Commissioner John Ford, citizen Pat Hudgins and County Attorney Barry Wilkerson will…

Pottawatomie County authorities have arrested a Wamego man on a number of drug charges. According to Sheriff Shane Jager, deputies executed a narcotics search warrant Wednesday in the 3600 block of Apel Road, charging 47-year-old Michael Duane Johnson with cultivation of a controlled substance, criminal possession of a firearm, as well as possession of marijuana, stimulant and drug paraphernalia. The Sheriff’s Office says the warrant was executed as a result of an investigation into illegal drug activity and stolen property. Items seized included numerous marijuana plants, methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia, as well as several items of stolen property. Johnson was…

Fort Riley officials have released their annual economic impact summary, which measures the installation’s estimated economic footprint on the Central Flint Hills region, including the Manhattan and Junction City area. Officials in a Thursday release said the financial impact for fiscal year 2022 rose to $1.88 billion, topping $1.8 billion for a second consecutive year. Fort Riley serves a population that includes more than 62,000 soldiers, family members, civilian employees, retirees and veterans, both on post and off, including Riley, Geary, Pottawatomie and surrounding counties. As the largest employer in the region, the total payroll for 2022 was over $1.2…

A number of parking changes have been occurring this month around Manhattan, with more changes to come, starting next week. Starting Tuesday in downtown Manhattan, patrons will be subject to two hour parking limits on the street. Gina Snyder, Executive Director of Downtown Manhattan Inc., says that means patrons will need to be mindful of their length of stay. “Gone is the chalk on a stick, and the ability to walk out there and rub that off your tire or just move two stalls down. You’ll need to move your vehicle entirely,” she said. This will be enforced through GPS…

A glitch in the FAA’s computer system led to grounded flights across the country Wednesday, including at the Manhattan Regional Airport. The Federal Aviation Administration suspended all flights after its Notice to Air Missions system, which sends hazard alerts to pilots, airports and airlines broke down Tuesday evening and sparked numerous delays and cancellations nationwide. Flights at Manhattan Regional Airport, which has five daily flights to both Chicago and Dallas weren’t affected Tuesday, but on Wednesday, the airport noted the grounding delayed its morning flight to Dallas and cancelled its Chicago flight. The FAA lifted the order to ground flights…

Long time K-State Alumni Association President and CEO Amy Button Renz will retire at the end of the school year, capping 45 years of service to Kansas State University, according to a Wednesday release. Renz began her career with the Alumni Association in 1977, becoming president and CEO in 1994 and was the first female alumni director in the Big Eight and later the Big 12 conference. She was instrumental in the creation of many programming efforts, including the Student Alumni Board and the K-State Student Ambassadors. She served as the lead fundraiser for the Alumni Center building campaign. The…

The City of Manhattan plans to interview candidates in the coming weeks for its vacant Director of Parks and Recreation position. Director of Human Resources Tammy Galvan informed members of the Parks & Recreation Advisory Board Monday that the city has engaged with Texas-based recruiting firm SGR (Strategic Government Resource) to help source and screen candidates and help create an interview process. The job posting should be publicized before the end of the week. “We anticipate leaving that open for applicants through February 14, at which time it will close for applicants. They will be screened and vetted through SGR…

Three nominees have been submitted to interview for a district magistrate vacancy in Riley County. The 21st Judicial District Nominating Commission announced Tuesday that it will convene at 9 a.m. Feb. 7 at the Riley County Courthouse. The nominees, all from Manhattan, include recently retired RCPD Captain Josh Kyle, as well as hospital administrator at Fort Riley Jeremy Larchick and contract attorney Christine Smith, of Young Williams Child Support Services. The interview schedule hasn’t been announced, but those interviews are open to the public. Kyle retired from RCPD in December, following three decades of service to the department. He was…

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly tested positive for COVID-19 Tuesday morning. Her office released a statement saying she is fully vaccinated and experiencing minor symptoms, noting Tuesday was the first day she experienced symptoms and is following guidance of public health officials to self-isolate as she continues to work. Staff noted that her office has informed inaugural ball attendees, participants in the inauguration ceremony and attendees of the Executive Order signing Tuesday morning and is encouraging those who were near her to test immediately as a precautionary measure. Normal government functions won’t be impacted, though her scheduled Wednesday State of the…