Author: Brandon Peoples

Kathryn Focke will seek another term on the Riley County Commission. The incumbent 3rd district commissioner was elected in 2020, replacing Ron Wells on the board. She’s the second so far to file for a seat on the commission, joining fellow commissioner Greg McKinley, who also was elected four years ago. In a statement, Focke says some of her major goals are to solve critical space issues in the courts, a plan for the deferred maintenance needs of county buildings and conducting a space analysis and updates for employees to work more efficiently. During her first term, Focke has supported…

Kansas State University will kick off its NextGen K-State Campus Master Plan this week with town hall discussions to gather public feedback. The planning process will include an in-depth evaluation of all campus spaces and how they should grow and develop in accordance with the Next-Gen K-State strategic plan. Associate Vice President of Facilities Casey Lauer says it’s the first such deep dive into facilities in over a decade. “This is a really awesome opportunity to make a difference and to be able to influence and shape the future of not only the Manhattan campus, but also Salina and Olathe,” he…

Riley County Commissioners moved Thursday to grant a replat application for property in University Park, but not without some pushback from neighbors. The applicant, Danielle Maple, requested to have four lots re-platted into a single lot to build a bigger shop on her property. University Park Improvement District Board President James Slaymaker challenged the replat, due to Maple having a donkey on her property, claiming that violates terms of the community’s covenants, noting that livestock is inappropriate and outside traditional use of those properties. “A lot of these quotes, it’s like 398 pages of your document. Most of this stuff…

City officials say two future infrastructure projects could potentially utilize federal COVID funds to help lower the city’s financial obligation. The city received $12.7 million from the federal government as a result of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. The city has earmarked $2.7 million for an eligible project and has engaged Baker Tilly Municipal Advisors to help choose which project best meets the federal ARPA requirements.  Assistant City Manager Wyatt Thompson says one of the projects that appears to meet that criteria is the city’s planned Anderson Avenue water main replacement project, from Harris to Connecticut Avenue. “The total estimated cost of…

Manhattan city officials are considering adding consolidated trash compactors in Aggieville as part of ongoing redevelopment in that district. Members of Olsson engineering presented two initial concepts at Tuesday’s city commission meeting with plans for compactors to be located next to the alley between Moro and Laramie Street and in the north part of the district, behind Starbucks. Design concepts (see at bottom of page) are aimed to make alleys safer, more pedestrian-friendly and aesthetically appealing through lighting, simplified surfaces, and potentially utilizing art and murals. Commissioners generally favored the idea to eliminate some of the challenges with large trucks…

Tuesday was election day in Kansas as the state conducted the first Presidential Preference Primary since 1992.  Results of the election saw no surprises as the presumptive nominees are both projected to win Kansas. President Joe Biden secured 84% of the Democratic party vote, while former President Donald Trump secured 75% of the Republican party vote. Those numbers largely mirrored results in Riley and Pottawatomie County, where Biden and Trump both won easily, though Trump’s margin of victory in Riley County was 64% compared to Nikki Haley who finished a distant second with 25%. Unofficial final results from both counties…

The Riley County Police Department says an aggressive dog was shot by officers early Monday morning. Initially, dispatchers were told the pitbull had bitten a child. Upon arrival, police say the dog acted aggressive toward one of the officers, who then shot at the dog in defense. Animal control personnel attended to the injured pitbull, who was then transferred to the Kansas State University Veterinary Health Center. The dog is expected to recover. Police later determined the reporting party was under the influence of alcohol and that the reported dog bite incident involving a child actually occurred a year prior.…

The Riley County Law Board got their opportunity Monday to weigh in on efforts made by the Riley County Police Department during Fake Patty’s Day activities on March 2. As previously reported, this year’s event saw an uptick in arrests and citations, as RCPD made a concerted effort to control some of the large gatherings east of campus. Capt. Greg Steere stated the police department doesn’t see the day as a success, noting there were still instances of violence which led to injuries to officers and civilians. “Just based solely on the crime that occurred and some of the inappropriate…

The Kansas Senate did its part late last week approving a tax bill that includes a new version of a flat tax proposal. Senate Bill 539 would change income tax rates over six years, beginning with a universal rate of 5.7% this year, reducing a half a percent annually until 2029, when it would become 5.45%. State Rep. Kenny Titus says the House will have its go at the budget this week and explains how the flat tax would benefit middle class families. “Say you’re married, the joint personal exemption jumps up to $22,000 and then is $3,000 per child and…

Authorities are searching for information connected to a burglary at Brooks Yamaha, in east Manhattan. The Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office says it responded March 12 to a burglary reported early that morning. An investigation revealed that the suspects arrived in a 15 foot U-Haul truck and broke out the glass door to the storefront. The suspects removed several dirt bikes and loaded them onto the truck. The total loss, including the bikes and damage to the business was estimated at over $32,000. The Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone with information to contact Capt. Tyler Garver at 785-457-3353. Tips can also…