Author: Brandon Peoples

Three more candidates have filed for a seat on the USD 383 Manhattan/Ogden school board. According to the Riley County Clerk’s office, Jennifer Chua, Kevin Harms and Carl Treece filed Monday. Their names are part of a growing list of candidates, which is now up to seven individuals for three open board seats. Chua is a current member of the City of Manhattan Social Services Advisory Board and volunteers with Good Shepherd Homecare and Hospice as well as Sunflower CASA and has been in the area since 2011. In a statement Monday, Chua said running for the school board provides…

Pottawatomie County officials took the first step Monday toward a possible remodel or replacement of the Emmett Fire Station. Fire Chief Jared Barnes presented a scope of work needing to be done on the building which is pretty extensive. He says a building inspector has determined that the bones of the building are still workable with a potential remodel. “One thing he did mention was the walls. We haven’t looked at the walls but do know that on one south wall we did have some termite damage. The building’s got quite a bit of age and definitely needs something done,”…

A Manhattan man accused in an October double homicide will have to wait a little longer for his case to go to trial. At a status hearing Monday, Judge John Bosch set a 10:30 a.m hearing July 12 for Montrell Vassar, where it’s expected a setting could be agreed upon. Judge Bosch cited uncertainties from the state on how jury trials can proceed as coronavirus restrictions continue to get relaxed. Riley County has signed a contract with the Wareham Opera House for jury selection on specific dates, but there has been no guidance for when spacing concerns may no longer…

Kansas State University President Richard Myers will retire at the end of 2021 calendar year. Myers, who has served as the university’s 14th president since 2016, officially announced his intent Monday morning. In a statement on K-State Today, the 79-year old Myers said, “Mary Jo and I truly loved our time at K-State and working with students, faculty and staff,” Myers said. “Being president of my alma mater was one of the most fulfilling jobs I’ve ever had. It was an honor to help move K-State forward on many fronts. I’m grateful for the opportunity to work with the many…

A fourth candidate has emerged in the race for the USD 383 school board. Christine Weixelman filed for the board Friday morning. She joins incumbent Karla Hagemeister along with challengers Jayme Morris-Hardeman and Steven Ruzzin in the upcoming election. There are currently three open seats on the school board. Weixelman is a Manhattan native with 26 years experience as a Registered Nurse, including five years as a school nurse in USD 383. She’s also a CASA volunteer and has served previously on the board of Manhattan Catholic Schools. Weixelman tells KMAN she’s running because she would like to see more…

A Riley County district judge will sit with the Kansas Supreme Court to help decide a case on the May 28 docket. Judge John Bosch, who serves in the 21st Judicial District, representing Riley and Clay counties, will join 10th Judicial District Judge Keven O’Grady of Johnson County by teleconference. The two will hear a petition for review out of Shawnee County over Stormont Vail Healthcare v. Harold E. Sievers. At issue is a matter of whether the district court and Court of Appeals erred by concluding the wages earned by Sievers lost their status as earnings once deposited into…

Riley County Police are investigating after a 46-year-old man allegedly pulled a gun on another person during an argument. Police filed an aggravated assault report Thursday around 9:30 p.m. in the 2000 block of Tuttle Creek Blvd near the Short Stop convenience store. A 36-year-old male was listed as the victim. Police have not identified the suspect, nor was he in custody as of Friday morning’s arrest report.

Kansas State University is aiming to simplify its tuition and fee payment structure. While the university notes a $57 per semester increase in tuition beginning in 2022, it’s offset by a $67 decrease in overall fees for a net savings of $10 per semester for in-state undergraduates at the Manhattan campus taking courses in-person and online. The move comes after the coronavirus pandemic highlighted the complicating structure which had K-State charging more for online courses than for in-person courses, based on a number of fees it was charging. When students were forced into fully online classes in spring 2020, it…

Riley County confirmed 28 new positive coronavirus cases and 17 additional recoveries in its weekly report issued Wednesday. The percent of positive cases for the week of May 9 was 1.9 percent, up slightly from 1.6 percent the previous week. Two patients are being treated at Ascension Via Christi Hospital with one currently in the Intensive Care Unit. There are currently 34 active coronavirus cases in Riley County. Over 20,000 residents in the county are now fully vaccinated. Vaccine Operations (RCHD):  Received dose 2 of 2 (Fully vaccinated): 20,412 Received dose 1 of 2: 1,071 Riley County Statistics for May…

Members of the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation continue a series of community engagement sessions to gather input on the state of housing in Kansas. Nearly two dozen residents and stakeholders participated virtually Tuesday from across northeast Kansas, including Manhattan. Individuals were paired divided into two breakout sessions to share input. Executive Assistant Abigail Phillips says her group discussed rural housing incentive districts, code enforcement and the fact that so many homes are dilapidated. “One of the big challenges facing smaller communities is they can’t afford to have people focus solely on code enforcement, because there just isn’t enough work in…