Author: Brandon Peoples

A Republican state lawmaker has resigned his seat in the legislature to lead the state’s largest agricultural lobbying organization. Wilson County farmer Joe Newland, of Neodesha, was elected president of Kansas Farm Bureau during the 104th annual meeting, which wrapped up in Manhattan Monday. Newland represented the 13th district in the Kansas House of Representatives, but resigned from the legislature, after being elected to replace the retiring Rich Felts, who had led the organization since 2014. Felts was honored during a Sunday banquet that included remarks from Sen. Jerry Moran. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that Newland’s top priority will be…

More than 1,100 students at Kansas State University are candidates for graduation, which will take place at a number of ceremonies in Manhattan and Salina this weekend. Ceremony information, including parking and accommodations, as well as livestream information is available at k-state.edu/graduation.  Friday ceremonies include the Graduate School at 1 p.m. in Bramlage Coliseum. Regent Jon Rolph will represent the Kansas Board of Regents at the ceremony. K-State President Richard Linton will be the speaker. Vice President for student life and dean of students Thomas Lane will be the speaker at the K-State Salina ceremony, scheduled for 7 p.m. at…

The lease for the Pottawatomie Wabaunsee Regional Library in St. Marys is safe for another year, following a unanimous 4-0 vote by city commissioners Tuesday to extend it without any restrictions. That’s St. Marys Mayor Matthew Childs. Tuesday’s vote came after uproar by citizens at a Nov. 15 meeting, wanting to keep the library open, as well as pressure from the American Civil Liberties Union. Video of the Nov. 15 meeting is shared below. The issue in question –  a renewal clause proposed by Childs that, according to the Kansas Reflector, stipulated the library “not support, distribute, loan, encourage or…

More names could soon be added to the veterans memorial in front of the old Pottawatomie County Courthouse in Westmoreland after a local resident recently approached county leadership about adding a name to it. Noxious Weed Director Mark Jack says pricing for the bronze cast plates for the memorial are about $2,600. He anticipates interest in having names added will be high once the county advertises it. Commissioners were asked for direction on whether the county should fundraise or contribute to the project using county funds. Dee McKee, Greg Riat and Pat Weixelman each agreed the county could contribute to…

Officials with the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks are investigating several occurrences of ill and dying wild geese in Pottawatomie County. Local Health Officer Leslie Campbell informed county commissioners Monday the state officials are investigating the cause and have taken samples of why those geese are dying. It’s not clear if these cases are tied to the current outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza, but Campbell says that is the fear from state officials. Test results should be completed before the end of the week. Cases of avian influenza have been confirmed in nine Kansas counties this year including…

Manhattan city officials are planning several closures over the next week to repair a collapsed underground storm sewer on eastbound U.S. 24, near Aldi, just east of Tuttle Creek Blvd.  City crews will begin emergency work around 8 a.m. Wednesday. The outside right turn lane from northbound Tuttle Creek Blvd. onto U.S. 24 will be closed through the Discount Tire entrance. The right turn lane into Aldi will remain open.  The outside left turn lane from southbound Tuttle Creek Blvd. onto U.S. 24 will also be closed during the repairs.  The outside eastbound lane exiting Manhattan Town Center will be…

A public input session is planned by Manhattan city officials next week regarding the upcoming Aggieville streetscape projects. City officials are working with design consultants on plans for the next infrastructure phases to improve streets, sidewalks, landscaping and amenities in Aggieville, along with lighting and other underground utilities. Upcoming projects include 12th Street improvements from Laramie to Moro Streets, Laramie Street from 11th to North Manhattan Ave. and the pedestrian path between Rally House and Goodcents, north of the parking garage. The public meeting will take place at 5:30 p.m. Monday at Manhattan City Hall, in the city commission chambers.

A report for theft was filed over the weekend after a trailer was stolen containing thousands of dollars in equipment. The Riley County Police Department says the report came in around 4 p.m. Sunday in the 3600 block of Claflin Road. Manhattan Cross Country Club reported its 5 by 10 trailer containing race equipment was stolen from the parking lot. The estimated total loss is nearly $14,000. Police are asking anyone that may have information to contact RCPD or Manhattan Riley County Crime Stoppers.

Authorities in Pottawatomie County are investigating a past theft of a trailer. According to Sheriff Shane Jager, a report came in Monday to the 200 block of Noble Street in Belvue. The trailer was reportedly stolen around 4:45 a.m. Sunday and was towed away with what is believed to be a white 2011 to 2014 model GMC Sierra 2500 with front end damage to the bumper, grill and hood. The trailer is described as a white 2017 Forest River tandem axle 14 foot bumper-pull with a missing fender on the driver’s side. Jager says the trailer contained a red Jahn’s…

The Pottawatomie County Commission has recommended a member of the Planning Commission resign or be forcibly removed from the board due to attendance issues. “It’s time for him to either retire or leave or be removed and it’s not a negotiation,” said Commissioner Greg Riat at Monday’s meeting. The commission didn’t specify by name which of the planning commission members should be removed from the board, but meeting minutes online show that District 2 planning commissioner Jared Cox hasn’t attended a Planning Commission meeting since July. County Commission Chair Pat Weixelman says it’s something that’s handicapped the 10-member Planning Commission,…