Author: Brandon Peoples

Riley County Police Department Director Dennis Butler says the Minnesota jury got it right in convicting former police officer Derek Chauvin of murder and manslaughter in the death of George Floyd. Butler says work to improve police relations among minority communities, who may feel threatened by law enforcement is ongoing. “For us to turn our heads the other way when crime is occurring, or we have information that crime could occur because it’s occurring in a certain part of the community or involving certain people, is irresponsible and we won’t do that,” he said. Butler says how officers respond to…

Nearly $1 million was raised Thursday during the ninth annual Grow Green Match Day. The annual 24 hour fundraiser for the Greater Manhattan Community Foundation saw an unprecedented $979,000 donated during the 24 hour online giving period. The total surpassed last year’s donations by more than $210,000. Nearly 4,500 individual donor gifts were pledged during online giving, which also was a slight increase from last year. The total will be pushed further thanks to a 50 percent match on donations up to $10,000 per agency, thanks to the Howe Family Foundation. Shepherd’s Crossing raised the most at just over $70,000.…

The USD 320 Wamego Board of Education met early Thursday during a special meeting, which included four executive sessions, lasting up to an hour. No action was taken afterward. The executive sessions were regarding non-elected personnel matters and were the first time the board has met since Wamego High students staged a walkout last Friday in support of girls basketball coach Brian McIntosh. Superintendent Tim Winter hasn’t commented on the issue, citing non-elected personnel matters. However, when asked directly, the Manhattan Mercury reports he Winter confirmed McIntosh is still employed as the team’s coach and middle school athletic director. The…

Sen. Roger Marshall and other Republican colleagues are ditching their masks while working at the Capitol. Marshall says mask mandates should go away as more people become vaccinated. Speaking on the Fox Business Channel Tuesday with Neil Cavuto, Sen. Marshall said he believes mask mandates are causing more people to avoid getting vaccinated, despite being about 90 percent effective in preventing COVID infections. “Because they feel like they’re being tied to this mask thing, that we’re not being rewarded for getting the vaccine, we should be able to get rid of the masks. As long as Dr. Fauci keeps preaching…

A Kansas City, Missouri man has been sentenced on federal charges for his role in a September 2019 attempted armed robbery and drug deal in the Manhattan High School parking lot. 21-year-old Dallas Srivisay was sentenced Monday to 96 months in federal prison and three years of supervision. He was convicted on charges of possessing a firearm during a drug trafficking incident and discharging a firearm on school property. According to U.S. District Court of Kansas documents, an investigation revealed a botched drug deal took place Sept. 12, 2019 in the high school parking lot when 20-year-old Francisco Valdez-Garibay of…

A new principal has been named at Junction City High School. The USD 475 school board announced Tuesday the hiring of Merrier Jackson, whose served as the school’s interim principal since November. Jackson took over following the indefinite suspension of former principal Melissa Sharp, after a student complained Sharp asked her to remove her Islamic head scarf, known as a hijab, while walking in the school hallway. “I’m excited about the leadership and school improvement experience Ms. Jackson brings to the district and Junction City High School,” Superintendent Dr. Reginald Eggleston said. “She is student-focused and will work collaboratively with…

A former Manhattan city commissioner says she intends to file for a seat on the USD 383 Manhattan/Ogden school board. Thrive! Flint Hills Executive Director Jayme Morris-Hardeman announced her intent to file with the Riley County Clerk’s Office Wednesday. In a news release Tuesday, Morris-Hardeman said she believes the district is facing many important issues. Those include diversity, equity and inclusion for students and staff; allocation of resources in times of uncertain state funding; a re-evaluation of service delivery following lessons learned during the pandemic and a need to continue addressing class sizes. In addition to work with Thrive, Morris-Hardeman…

Manhattan City Manager Ron Fehr says the city is making some progress in paying down its debts. In total, the city has about $260 million in total obligations. Fehr says the city is not required to, but issues its utility debt, most of which is lower than some of its other obligations and are coming due within 10 years. Fehr says the city issues general obligation bonds for those rather than traditional utility revenue bonds, due to lower interest rates. “When we structure those bonds in that way, they are calculated as part of our overall debt service limit and…

Pottawatomie County Commissioner Dee McKee says she wants more public awareness surrounding alternate routes to and from the new Oliver Brown Elementary School in Blue Township. Access to the new school from Hwy 24 is somewhat limited and McKee says a major traffic incident could cause some major disruptions. “I think it’s going to be essential that we look at that and the Green Valley Road that’s two lanes wide that needs some work on the side of the bridge and there may be a day where something gets closed. They need to know the route around,” she said. The…

Kansas State University is planning a vigil and counseling sessions this week following Tuesday’s guilty verdict t in the Derek Chauvin murder trial. K-State President Richard Myers, in a written statement Monday said “While we can’t predict or control the outcome of this trial, we can determine our response to the jury’s decision.” He’s called for a thoughtful, peaceful reaction, regardless of opinions. Four counseling sessions are scheduled Friday from 4 to 5 p.m. and then Monday through Wednesday next week from 2 to 5 p.m. inside the Morris Family Multicultural Student Center. A vigil and moment of silence will…