Author: Brandon Peoples

A Manhattan man sustained no injuries after a wreck on I-470 in Topeka Tuesday. The Kansas Highway Patrol says a two vehicle crash occurred just before 4 p.m. near the Fairlawn Road interchange. A Jeep Wrangler driven by 85-year-old Wilbur Crabb of Manhattan rear ended a westbound Kia Rio when it switched lanes. Crabb, who was wearing a seat belt, sustained no apparent injury, according to the crash report. The driver of the Kia, 55-year-old Robert Matthews of Topeka was transported to St. Francis Hospital with a suspected minor injury. He too was wearing a seat belt.

Riley County is holding a youth vaccine clinic Thursday morning at Pottorf Hall. Children 12 and older are able to come out and receive the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. They must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Free activities for families will be available, sponsored by area businesses and organizations. Those who get vaccinated will also receive a free snow cone. Appointments can be made via rileycountyks.gov/schoolvac. The Centers for Disease Control and Food and Drug Administration earlier this month approved the Pfizer vaccine for individuals 12 to 15.

The search for an interim superintendent at USD 320 Wamego Public Schools is underway. School board members met Monday to review potential interview questions, as suggested by the Kansas Association of School Boards. Two candidates have submitted interest in the position, which is being vacated by current Superintendent Tim Winter at the end of July. Winter announced his resignation last week and was subsequently retained by the district as an eighth grade math teacher. The board Monday interviewed Greg Mann, who retired as superintendent of USD 306 Southeast of Saline Schools in 2018. A second candidate will interview for the…

Kansas State University no longer will require face coverings for outdoor settings. The university says fully vaccinated individuals no longer have to wear masks at outdoor events. It has also eliminated physical distancing requirements. Mask requirements for indoor spaces will not change, pending clarification of CDC guidelines. The policy says faculty, staff, students, contractors, vendors and visitors must still wear face coverings in all university indoor spaces unless alone in a private office or workspace, regardless of whether a person is vaccinated. The university strongly encourages all to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

Pottawatomie County commissioners voted 2-1 Monday to allow a local group interested in preserving the courthouse in Westmoreland the opportunity to tour the building. Commission Vice Chair Pat Weixelman, who supported the measure, says he recently met with the group and suggested a walk-through might be beneficial to get to some resolution for the future of the property. “I also said that if this happened, there would have to be somebody available from the county to guide it and I would like an agenda who is going to be present with maybe a total of 15 or 20 people, not…

The Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum is reopening Thursday following a closure of more than 14 months due to the pandemic. Officials say timed entry tickets must be purchased online in advance at eisenhowerlibrary.gov. There, guests can also review safety measures in place Guests can purchase a maximum of six tickets per visit. While the library and museum reopen, other buildings, including research services and the Eisenhower boyhood home will remain closed until further notice. All public and educational programs remain online virtual programs only. Starting Thursday, the hours of operation will be 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday through…

The Manhattan Fire Department made quick work of an apartment fire Saturday evening in south Manhattan. Firefighters were dispatched just after 8 p.m. to the 1200 Yuma Street where a two-story apartment was showing smoke from the second floor. The building, which was searched and found to be clear of occupants, was contained within 10 minutes. No injuries were reported. The building contains three units, but only one sustained damage. The occupants of that unit were not home at the time. Loss is estimated at $15,000 to the structure and $2,500 to the contents. The cause of the fire is…

As the school year draws to a close at USD 383 Manhattan/Ogden Schools, some pandemic mitigation efforts are being relaxed, while some will remain in place. In a letter to parents and staff Thursday, Superintendent Dr. Marvin Wade thanked everyone for committing to mitigation efforts throughout the school year. The district got through a semester of hybrid learning in the first semester and transitioned to on-site learning the second semester. But with new cases still occurring and because children and youth are not yet vaccinated, USD 383 will continue to comply with CDC guidelines. Wade says current mitigation measures will…

An August trial is coming for a 19-year-old Ohio man accused of calling in a fake hostage threat at Lee Elementary in 2019. Allen Kenna faces federal charges of interstate communication of threats and attempted use of an explosive device. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio has accused Kenna of calling the Riley County Police Department and Topeka television news stations to tell them he was holding a hostage at gunpoint inside the school building in the early morning hours of Nov. 13, 2019. A search of the school found no threat. Charging documents also allege…

A new traveling exhibit opens this weekend at the Flint Hills Discovery Center aimed at motorcycle enthusiasts. Hands-On Harley-Davidson includes a kid-sized Harley-Davidson dealership with two customizable Road-King inspired motorcycles. Event Coordinator Jonathan Mertz says it’s geared toward children through three sections — Dream it, Build It and Ride It. For the bigger kids, the exhibit includes real vintage motorcycles including a commemorative Evel Knievel Harley, a 1913 Board Track motorcycle and an XR-750 Harley. The exhibit opens Saturday and is on display through Sept. 12 in the Tallgrass Gallery on the second floor of the Flint Hills Discovery Center.…