Author: Brandon Peoples

The Rock Creek USD 323 school board on Monday heard from patrons both in favor and against masks in schools. The issue was revisited following a recent outbreak of COVID-19 at St. George Elementary which has since improved. After hearing all public comments the board took no action. Masks remain optional for teachers, staff and students. Superintendent Kevin Logan tells KMAN, that as of Monday, there were four positive cases at St. George Elementary, a sharp decrease from the 19 reported last Wednesday. Elsewhere across the district on Monday, two positive cases were identified at Rock Creek Middle School and…

Masks will likely be required in Manhattan-Ogden schools for the next five weeks. The school board on Wednesday will consider extending the end date of its mask order from September 24 to October 22. Superintendent Marvin Wade will present the updated pandemic response plan during Wednesday’s 6:30 p.m. meeting at the Robinson Education Center. The plan was adopted Aug. 11 ahead of the new school year. According to the district, the data for the most recent week available (Aug. 29 through Sept. 4) includes an increasing percent positive rate, a decrease in attendance rates for both students and staff and…

The suspect in a recent Riley County Police Department sex crimes investigation made his first court appearance Monday since he was arrested Friday. 31-year-old Vincent Meeks is charged with 10 total counts including rape, three counts of aggravated indecent liberties and three counts of solicitation of minors. Meeks is accused of sexually assaulting at least three different minors all between the ages of 14 and 15. He’s additionally charged with criminal threat against a fourth minor as well as two alcohol-related charges involving minors. Judge John Bosch has assigned the case to Judge Kendra Lewison. Meeks will next appear in…

Riley County Police are investigating vandalism of the Riley County Health Department from over the weekend. According to RCPD’s activity report, a criminal damage report was filed Saturday night, in the 2000 block of Tecumseh Road, after an unknown suspect broke out multiple windows at the facility with a baseball bat. The estimated total loss is around $3,000. A motive is not clear at this time but Riley County Public Information Officer Alice Massimi tells KMAN it does not appear the incident was targeted directly at the health department or health officials. Police are asking anyone with information to contact…

K-State Athletics has announced the next phase of its Building Champions initiative to improve athletics facilities. The next phase, pending approval from the Kansas Board of Regents this week, will see the construction of a new volleyball arena, Olympic performance center and an indoor football training facility. It was announced during Saturday’s football home opener vs. Southern Illinois. The athletic department has raised $96.5 million of the roughly $126.5 million cost to begin construction on the new facilities, which includes the newly opened $50 million Shamrock Zone at Bill Snyder Family Stadium. The new indoor football center will also include…

Two people were injured Sunday in a crash on North Seth Child Road near Top of the World Drive. According to the Riley County Police Department, a northbound passenger car driven by 17-year-old Camden Iwanski, of Stockton, tried to turn left onto Top of the World Drive in front of a southbound pickup truck driven by 32-year-old Jonathan Losey, of Wamego. The vehicles collided and went into the west ditch, shortly before 2:30 p.m., causing a nearly two hour road closure on K-113. A passenger in the first vehicle, 19-year-old Beatrice Griebel, of Stockton, was transported by Life Star to…

A man and woman from Manhattan were arrested Friday in connection to multiple sex crimes. The Riley County Police Department says 31-year-old Vincent Meeks Jr. is charged with rape, three counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a child, three counts of solicitation, criminal threat, unlawfully hosting minors consuming alcohol and furnishing alcohol to minors. Police also arrested 55-year-old Sandra Meeks on two counts of unlawfully hosting minors consuming alcohol. Vincent is confined on a $250,000 bond. Sandra was no longer confined after posting a $2,000 bond. The incident is alleged from Aug. 8 and involved a 15-year-old victim. Due to…

It’s official, the Big 12 membership is going back to 12 members schools, like its name suggests. On Friday, the conference approved membership applications from BYU, UCF, Cincinnati and Houston. How quickly the teams begin competing in athletics is still to be determined. BYU, which has been an independent athletic institution, says all of its sports will begin Big 12 schedules in the 2023-24 athletic season. The other three schools compete in the American Athletic Conference, which requires a 27 month notice for schools wanting to leave the conference. It’s expected they’ll begin competing no later than July 1, 2024.…

A new kids’ bike park skills course is coming soon to Frank Anneberg Park. The plan is a partnership between the Manhattan Parks and Recreation Department, the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee BikeWalkMHK, private donors and volunteers. Work begins at 9 a.m. Saturday. In a release from the City of Manhattan Thursday, Parks and Rec Director Eddie Eastes said the goal is to help kids build skills . They’re hoping to have the park completed and open by next week. He says it’s designed for children aged 3 to 10 but older kids and adults will be able to use…

President Joe Biden on Thursday announced perhaps the most sweeping new federal vaccine requirements for as many as 100 million Americans to curb surging COVID-19 numbers. The president’s plan, requires businesses with 100 or more employees to have workers fully vaccinated or face weekly testing. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration would oversee the requirement and businesses that fail to comply could face fines up to $14,000. The rule also requires that large companies provide paid time off for vaccination. Biden’s plan faces an almost certain legal challenge. Top Republican Kansas lawmakers are already criticizing the president’s approach. Senator Roger…