Author: Brandon Peoples

Manhattan-Ogden school board member Karla Hagemeister has announced she will seek another term on the board. Hagemeister confirmed the announcement during Wednesday’s school board meeting, talking about her time on the board thus far. “I won’t say I’ve enjoyed every single minute of it but I have grown from every single minute of it and appreciated it much like having children. There are times you think you’ll never do this again and there are times that you say this was a really good decision. I’ve definitely grown a lot from this board service and I hope to continue to do…

If you’re looking for something nice this weekend for mom, the Sunset Zoo has a special offer. “Moms can get in here free on Mother’s Day, with a paid admission,” Melissa Kirkwood, marketing and development officer at Sunset Zoo said. Moms will also receive a free gift from Bellus Academy while supplies last, good for a complimentary haircut, deep conditioning and blow dry, a basic manicure or pedicure, brow or lip wax, an aromatherapy facial or back stress reduction. “We just think that’s a great opportunity during Mother’s Day to come enjoy the spring, walk around the zoo with your…

An Ogden Elementary teacher has been named the principal of the school. Kayla Simon, a 5th grade teacher at Ogden will succeed Jim Armendariz (Arm-en-dare-iz), who is retiring after 19 years leading the school. Simon has been with Ogden Elementary since 2016 and has served in several leadership roles during her tenure. Simon has a B.S. in Elementary Education as well as an M.S. in Educational Leadership from Kansas State University, a B.S. in Bible Leadership from Manhattan Christian College and has an endorsement in English Speakers of Other Languages. In a news release Wednesday, Simon said she was looking…

City officials are eager to reopen aquatic facilities this summer following a year that saw a summer without public use. Two of the city’s three pools are poised for a Memorial Day weekend opening. Despite shortages of chlorine at the national level, Mayor Wynn Butler says he’s heard from city maintenance officials that they’ll have enough to avoid any interruptions. “They basically said our supply of chlorine is secure, we’ve got it all nailed, it isn’t going to be a problem that our supplier has enough. I don’t anticipate it’s going to be a problem,” Butler said. City Manager Ron…

Riley County confirmed 42 new positive COVID cases Wednesday in its latest weekly report. The health department also confirmed 43 additional recoveries and a weekly percent positive rate of 3.2 percent, up from 1.8 percent the previous week. Ascension Via Christi is caring for one COVID positive patient, but has no patients currently in the ICU. The health department says online appointment scheduling for coronavirus vaccinations is no longer available. Anyone interested in receiving the vaccine can call the health department during regular business hours to make an appointment. As of noon Wednesday, 19,184 Riley County residents were fully vaccinated…

The Kansas Department of Transportation is planning yet another project on U.S. 24, this time in northern Riley County. KDOT says a project will close a portion of the highway in both directions north of Riley for several months. It’s expected to begin Friday. The closure is located a quarter mile north of Riley at mile marker 297 (Falcon Road) where work will include a box culvert replacement, asphalt surfacing, grading and seeding. While the highway will close to traffic, property owners in the vicinity will continue to have access to their properties at all times. Barricades will be in…

The Manhattan Fire Department was called out briefly Tuesday for the report of a missing person at Marlatt Elementary. USD 383 Director of Communications and School Safety Michele Jones confirmed to KMAN that a child did leave campus for a short time. The child was followed by a couple of Marlatt staff members who quickly brought the child back to the school. No further information was provided.

Following the expiration of Riley County’s mask ordinance Sunday night, the USD 384 Blue Valley school board has changed course on its district policy requiring masks on school property. At a special meeting Monday, the board unanimously decided to make the wearing of masks and face coverings optional for the remainder of the school year. The last day of school is May 28. In addition, the board voted to end the practice of taking temperatures upon entering a school building or bus. Other mitigation efforts including social distancing, hand washing and sanitizing will continue. In other business Monday, the board…

Pottawatomie County commissioners reviewed a contract with Bartlett and West to continue a plan for road and thoroughfare improvements in the Green Valley area. While not finalized, the nearly $75,000 contract will include an overall project scope, complete with an outline for how and when those projects can occur. County Planner Stephan Metzger says the project essentially creates a road map for future development. “This plan is really going to dive down into individual roads need to go here, this is kind of what the material costs are going to be, these are the long term maintenance costs are going…

Two co-defendants accused in a November 2019 murder at a west Manhattan apartment complex will appear in separate settings later this summer. At a status hearing Monday, Shamar Sutton’s attorney Jeff Adam informed Judge Grant Bannister that they are awaiting a jury trial for Sutton’s co-defendant Richard Goens, before entering into any plea agreement. Sutton is one of three men charged in the first-degree murder of Tanner Zamecnik Nov. 1, 2019. He additionally faces charges of attempted aggravated robbery, aggravated battery, aggravated assault and criminal discharge of a firearm. Goens had been set for trial last month, but Judge Bannister…