Author: Brandon Peoples

Junction City High School’s principal is being reassigned and an associate principal will remain in place through the remainder of the school year. In a letter to parents Tuesday, Geary County School District Superintendent Reginald Eggleston announced that Merrier Tartt is being reassigned. James Neff, the school’s assistant principal has been named acting principal. Tartt, whose name was Merrier Jackson when she was named interim principal in late 2020, was officially named principal in April 2021. She succeeded Melissa Sharp, who was suspended after allegedly telling a student to remove a hijab, a garment worn by some Muslim women. Sharp…

A succession plan for the Manhattan-Ogden superintendent position was approved Wednesday by the USD 383 school board. As part of that, Assistant Superintendent Eric Reid was named the successor to Dr. Marvin Wade, upon Wade’s retirement on a 6-1 vote, with Christine Weixelman opposing. The board voted to update the superintendent job description to no longer mandate a doctoral degree, changing the language to say it is preferred. That change had near unanimous support from board members. Board Vice President Darell Edie says it’s a change that has been needed since the last time the district hired a superintendent. “This…

Kansas lawmakers cleared the first hurdle Tuesday on a ban on transgender athletes in girl’s and women’s school sports. The 27-12 Senate vote on SB 484 gave conservatives the necessary two-thirds majority needed for a veto override. Governor Laura Kelly vetoed a similar effort last year, but Republicans fell one vote shy of overriding a veto after three party members sided with Democrats. USD 383 board member Jayme Morris-Hardeman, a parent of transgender child, expressed disappointment in the Senate’s vote during an appearance Wednesday on KMAN’s In Focus. “I think that the students should get to participate in the gender…

The Riley County Health Department continues to see improving COVID-19 numbers, noting just three new cases in the past week and 11 more recoveries. Ascension Via Christi was caring for two COVID-19 patients as of Wednesday. The 2-week rolling percent positivity rate also fell to 1.6 percent, down from 2.87 percent last week, as the health department was aware of just six active cases in Riley County. Health Department Director Julie Gibbs noted any uptick from spring break travel likely wouldn’t be noticed until later this week or next week. Starting April 4, the RADXup team of grant-funded staff operating…

Kansas Senators Roger Marshall and Jerry Moran returned from a trip to Eastern Europe with a bipartisan delegation of Congress to assess the situation in Ukraine. Both called on more to be done in terms of imposing sanctions on Russia, as the one month mark approaches since its invasion of Ukraine. Sen. Marshall contends there is a path to victory for Ukraine, but adds that the U.S. is only doing a fraction of what it could be doing. “We don’t need to debate it. We don’t need to talk about the pros and the cons. Get them the damn weapons.…

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has issued a stream advisory for the Kansas River near Ogden. The advisory was issued because of potential elevated bacteria and contaminants that may be present, following operation problems at the Fort Riley Wastewater Treatment Plant. Anyone living near or having activities near the stream should not enter the waters or allow children or pets to enter the stream. The Fort Riley Wastewater Treatment Plant has repaired the problem. KDHE says it will rescind the advisory once flows recede and the subsequent bacteria testing indicates secondary contact has been deemed safe.

Back in an in-person format for the first time in three years, the Greater Manhattan Community Foundation recognized local philanthropy Monday with its 8th annual Community Foundation Awards (CFA’s). In addition to the annual award ceremony, the event also is the board meeting where leadership changes take place. Jackie Hartman Borck was introduced as the 2022 Board of Trustees Chair by outgoing Board Chair Therese Miller. A total of 12 awards were handed out at Monday’s event, which was also live streamed on the GMCF Facebook page. Taking home the coveted Rising Star Volunteer of the Year Award was Crystal…

An internationally recognized African American documentary photographer, videographer and photojournalist will be on hand March 31st for the Riley County Historical Society’s quarterly meeting. Doug Barrett, owner of 400 North Creative, based in Manhattan, will share insights about his photography on display in the UMB Theater inside the Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art at K-State. The event is sponsored by the RCHS board, in cooperation with the Friends of the Beach Museum of Art board. Barrett’s exhibition, “Doug Barrett: Find Your Voice” is on display through May 28 and is a companion to the “Gordon Parks: Homeward to the…

No injuries were reported after a fire late Saturday night at a Manhattan apartment complex. The Manhattan Fire Department was dispatched shortly before 10:30 p.m. to the Evergreen Apartments, located at 1126 Garden Way. Upon arrival, flames could be seen from a second floor deck of the 3-story building. According to Deputy Fire Chief Ryan Almes, the fire resulted in displacement of residents living in two apartments, primarily due to damage to the deck, which was the main access point. There was no interior damage. A cause has not been determined. Damage is estimated at $5,000.

Some shakeups to legislative districts in the Manhattan area could be on the horizon if the current map under consideration gets approval. The most notable change is that of 51st District Rep. Ron Highland (R-Wamego) who would absorb a portion of Manhattan, within 66th District Rep. Sydney Carlin’s district, which has grown by 8,000 people, according to 2020 Census data. Highland joined KMAN Friday for our series of weekly legislative updates with local lawmakers. (Listen to the full interview at the bottom of the page.) The growth in Carlin’s (D-Manhattan) district occurred primarily due to Kansas State University students now…