Author: Brandon Peoples

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.…

A neighborhood meeting is planned early next week at Manhattan Christian College. Officials with the college are planning to purchase the 2-story Anderson Village retail center for future expansion. MCC sold the property in 1985 and is now looking to reclaim the property to replace student housing provided by the aging, 57-year-old Johnson Hall. The college says it will also help expand outreach and revenue streams. The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. Monday in Joliffe Hall inside the Wilson Family Worship Center. It will include a brief tour of the campus and refreshments.

For 19 years, Jim Armendariz has roamed the halls of Ogden Elementary. It’s the same place he scurried through the halls as a young boy. These days he gets around a little slower, with a cane by his side, but the mission toward young students remains unchanged. “Our belief is that this place is secure. We feed them, we take care of them and often provide socks and underwear. Once we do that, the kids find that it’s a safe place to be and they want to learn,” he said. Armendariz is retiring from the school he loves so dearly…

A new dean of the K-State Libraries has been selected. The university announced Wednesday morning Joe Mocnik will begin in that role July 25. He will succeed Dr. Lori Goetsch who is retiring. As dean of K-State Libraries, Mocnik, who serves in the same capacity at North Dakota State University, will oversee a research library system with a total budget of $13.5 million and a collection of 3.6 million titles. Mocnik, who hails from Croatia, has been with North Dakota State since 2017 and has held similar positions at Georgia College & State University, Southern Adventist University and Mount Aloysius…

Kansas State University President Richard Myers has named longtime College of Education faculty member Be Stoney as interim chief diversity and inclusion officer. Stoney will serve while a national search is conducted to permanently fill the vacancy left by Bryan Samuel, who is departing K-State for a similar position at the University of Texas at Arlington. In a news release Tuesday, Myers said Stoney will be relied upon to help the university promote a culture of inclusion. She’ll also help continue implementation of all diversity and inclusion plans in place, including the Action Plan for a More Inclusive K-State. Stoney,…

Riley County anticipates getting its first shipment of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine by the end of the week, as it prepares to vaccinate youths aged 12 to 15. The Centers for Disease Control is likely to give the go ahead Wednesday following the Food and Drug Administration’s approval for that age group Monday. Riley County Public Information Officer Alice Massimi says a mass vaccination clinic is being planned for May 20 at the health department, specifically for kids ages 12 to 18. “This is a population that nationwide we are seeing an increase in COVID cases among children, who were…

Pottawatomie County commissioners approved two rezoning requests Monday for future residential developments with some contingencies. A 30 acre tract at the southeast corner of Elm Slough and Flush Roads will be rezoned from agricultural to ag-residential. Access into a proposed subdivision hasn’t been determined and will require traffic and drainage studies, according to County Planner Stephan Metzger, based on a protest petition filed by eight of the 18 nearby property owners. “If the applicant wants to come off the Flush Road, the county engineer will have to approve that. If the applicant wants to come off Elm Slough, just like…

A Manhattan man has announced his candidacy for the USD 383 school board. The Riley County Clerk’s office says Steven Ruzzin filed a letter of intent Monday for the November election. Ruzzin is a data analyst with Advisor’s Excel and a Kansas State University graduate. Ruzzin joins Jayme Morris-Hardeman and incumbent Karla Hagemeister as the three school board candidates for the upcoming election. Two other seats are open on the school board, including those held by Jurdene Coleman and Katrina Lewison. Neither has announced whether they’ll seek re-election.