Author: Brandon Peoples

The application deadline for those wanting to be part of the next Flint Hills Regional Leadership class (2021-2022) has been extended to Saturday, July 24. The program is held annually and involves residents wanting to become more engaged with the community and be able to tackle challenges facing the region. The goal of the program is to motivate traditional and non-traditional leaders by teaching 21st century leadership skills. This is done through information, dialogue and hands-on experience. Those wanting to apply can visit fhrlp.org. There, you can follow instructions to upload an introduction video with an application. The Flint Hills…

The Kansas Board of Regents on Friday announced the 25 member search committee for the next president at Kansas State University. The committee is chaired by K-State alumnus and retired BNSF Railway CEO Carl Ice, who was named chair in June. The committee also includes former U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, K-State Athletic Director Gene Taylor, Manhattan City commissioner and former mayor Usha Reddi as well as Kevin Lockett, a former K-State and NFL football player and businessman. The committee also includes K-State Foundation Board of Directors Vice Chair Mary Vanier as well as Steel and Pipe Supply Chairman and Flint…

School supplies were collected Saturday outside Walmart for the annual Stuff the Bus event to benefit the USD 383 FIT Closet. Volunteers from Konza United Way, K-State Credit Union and Manhattan Broadcasting greeted shoppers as they dropped off donations. K-State Athletic Director Gene Taylor says student athletes from the men’s and women’s basketball teams, as well as football and baseball players also volunteered their time for the effort. Konza United Way CEO Tara Claussen says volunteerism was up this year and included local Boy Scouts as well. The community came out and supported the event, with some dropping off bags…

A Manhattan man is behind bars following allegations he abused an infant. According to the Riley County Police Department, 20-year-old Gerald Hartman III was arrested Thursday on single counts of child abuse and aggravated battery. An online complaint alleges Hartman knowingly shook a baby. The infant was transported to Ascension Via Christi in stable condition for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. Hartman appeared in court Friday, where Judge James Kepple set bond at $100,000 after prosecutors stated the 5 month old child sustained injuries consistent with shaken baby syndrome. The public defender’s office is being appointed to represent Hartman in…

A Salina man is jailed in connection to a November 2019 aggravated robbery in Manhattan. According to the Riley County Police Department, Lee Dennis Noonan was arrested Thursday on a warrant for two counts of aggravated robbery and one count of aggravated kidnapping. He is jailed on a $150,000 bond. Noonan is being connected in a Nov. 9, 2019 alleged robbery in the 400 block of Fremont Street. A 31-year-old male victim reported two masked suspects robbed him at gunpoint. Police arrested Aaron Michael Noonan the same charges last September. Joseph Trevail was arrested in August 2020 in connection to…

School supplies are being collected Saturday for the USD 383 FIT Closet during the annual Stuff the Bus event outside Walmart. Manhattan Broadcasting has again partnered with the FIT Closet, Konza United Way and K-State Credit Union to outfit all USD 383 students with enough school supplies to start the school year. FIT Closet Coordinator Tracy Emery explains how many students they hope to support. A list of school supply needs will be handed out to participants. It can also be found at StuffTheBusMHK.com. Emery says backpacks remain a top need. Konza United Way CEO Tara Claussen says they also…

Kansas State University will require incoming Manhattan campus first-year students to live on campus starting in Fall 2022. The university said Friday it is implementing this residency requirement for the first two semesters to enhance student success. Vice President for Student Life and dean of students Thomas Lane says national research and university-specific data show a statistically significant difference in retention rates of freshmen. It also showed those who lived on campus had higher grade point averages than students who lived off campus. K-State had an 87.6 percent retention rate for freshmen living on campus compared to a 79.9 percent…

The newly created Kansas Commission on Racial Equity and Justice is recommending all schools “review and eliminate” the use of Native American mascots, nicknames or imagery in public school settings. The commission, formed by Gov. Laura Kelly in June 2020, released its voluntary guidance Wednesday and suggested state action could accelerate and encourage such actions at the local level, citing a Nevada law in 2021 that could be used as a model for such legislation. The issue has long divided the Manhattan community, with supporters calling it a symbol of honor for former Native American football coach Frank Pentrup. Opponents…

One person was killed Thursday morning in a weather-related two-vehicle crash in Pottawatomie County. The Kansas Highway Patrol says it happened shortly before 9 a.m on Highway 13, east of the Tuttle Creek dam. The accident led to a nearly five hour closure of the highway between Dyer and Westmoreland Roads. Heavy rains fell in the area Thursday morning. According to the patrol’s online crash report, 22-year-old Owen Uhrmacher, of Shawnee was southbound when his SUV hydroplaned. The vehicle crossed the center line and was struck by a northbound cargo van driven by 39-year-old Jarrod Kirby, of Westmoreland. Uhrmacher died…

A former Junction City High School athletic trainer has entered a no-contest plea in Geary County District Court to a single count of sexual exploitation of a child. Online court documents show Brandon Martino entered the plea at a Tuesday arraignment hearing and was subsequently found guilty by Judge Michael Powers. In exchange for Martino’s plea, prosecutors agreed to dismiss a second sexual exploitation count as well as two counts of promoting obscenity. Earlier this month, the Kansas Board of Healing Arts suspended Martino’s license after a patient under the age of 18 alleged he received explicit text messages from…