Author: Brandon Peoples

School supplies are being collected Saturday for the USD 383 FIT Closet during the annual Stuff the Bus event outside Walmart. Manhattan Broadcasting has again partnered with the FIT Closet, Konza United Way and K-State Credit Union to outfit all USD 383 students with enough school supplies to start the school year. FIT Closet Coordinator Tracy Emery explains how many students they hope to support. A list of school supply needs will be handed out to participants. It can also be found at StuffTheBusMHK.com. Emery says backpacks remain a top need. Konza United Way CEO Tara Claussen says they also…

Kansas State University will require incoming Manhattan campus first-year students to live on campus starting in Fall 2022. The university said Friday it is implementing this residency requirement for the first two semesters to enhance student success. Vice President for Student Life and dean of students Thomas Lane says national research and university-specific data show a statistically significant difference in retention rates of freshmen. It also showed those who lived on campus had higher grade point averages than students who lived off campus. K-State had an 87.6 percent retention rate for freshmen living on campus compared to a 79.9 percent…

The newly created Kansas Commission on Racial Equity and Justice is recommending all schools “review and eliminate” the use of Native American mascots, nicknames or imagery in public school settings. The commission, formed by Gov. Laura Kelly in June 2020, released its voluntary guidance Wednesday and suggested state action could accelerate and encourage such actions at the local level, citing a Nevada law in 2021 that could be used as a model for such legislation. The issue has long divided the Manhattan community, with supporters calling it a symbol of honor for former Native American football coach Frank Pentrup. Opponents…

One person was killed Thursday morning in a weather-related two-vehicle crash in Pottawatomie County. The Kansas Highway Patrol says it happened shortly before 9 a.m on Highway 13, east of the Tuttle Creek dam. The accident led to a nearly five hour closure of the highway between Dyer and Westmoreland Roads. Heavy rains fell in the area Thursday morning. According to the patrol’s online crash report, 22-year-old Owen Uhrmacher, of Shawnee was southbound when his SUV hydroplaned. The vehicle crossed the center line and was struck by a northbound cargo van driven by 39-year-old Jarrod Kirby, of Westmoreland. Uhrmacher died…

A former Junction City High School athletic trainer has entered a no-contest plea in Geary County District Court to a single count of sexual exploitation of a child. Online court documents show Brandon Martino entered the plea at a Tuesday arraignment hearing and was subsequently found guilty by Judge Michael Powers. In exchange for Martino’s plea, prosecutors agreed to dismiss a second sexual exploitation count as well as two counts of promoting obscenity. Earlier this month, the Kansas Board of Healing Arts suspended Martino’s license after a patient under the age of 18 alleged he received explicit text messages from…

Pottawatomie County commissioners have set a hearing date next month to review the 2022 budget and discuss the revenue neutral rate. Assistant County Administrator and finance officer Heather Gladbach, reviewed the draft budget how it compares to the 2021 budget. Gladbach explains why the county will exceed its revenue neutral rate in 2022. The $1.7 million transfer from the general fund into the special highway fund will help support future road and bridge improvement projects. The hearing will take place at 10 a.m. Aug. 23. You can view the draft plan on the Pottawatomie County website.

A GoFundMe page has been established for a local woman struck by a car while walking in a crosswalk July 7 along Poyntz Ave. Courtney Thompson was transported to Ascension Via Christi in Manhattan and later life-flighted to the hospital’s Trauma Center in Topeka with multiple injuries including four pelvic fractures, three spinal fractures and fractures to both legs in addition to head contusions and multiple organ contusions. None of the injuries were said to be life threatening. As of Wednesday morning, friends and family had raised over $2,100 for the single mother of two. The fundraising goal is set…

A Manhattan man was arrested Monday after police say he injured a woman and stole a vehicle. Officers from the Riley County Police Department charged 18-year-old Luke Johnson with domestic battery, criminal damage to property, criminal restraint, criminal deprivation of property and theft. Police allege Johnson injured a 19-year-old female, damaged her shirt and necklace, restrained her then stole a 2013 Ford Fusion and an iPhone. The vehicle was later recovered. Officers also listed a 47-year-old male victim in the report. Johnson was issued a total bond of $8,000 and was no longer confined as of Tuesday’s arrest report.

The Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce has announced finalists for its upcoming 2021 Business Awards Luncheon. Awards are handed out in five categories. The Tourism Development Award finalists include the Midwest Dream Car Museum, Whoville, Inc. (the nonprofit that oversees the annual Festival of Lights) and Wildwood Adventure Park. The Small Business of the Year finalists include Arthur-Green LLP, Borck Brothers and Prairiewood Preserve. The Entrepreneurial Spirit Award finalists include owners of Manhattan Brewing Company; Thera-Pie and Weddle & Sons. The Women/Minority Owned Business Award finalists include G. Thomas Jewelers, Loving Arms Daycare and Steve’s Floral. One local business will also receive the coveted Cornerstone…

Tuesday is the final day to get registered if you plan to vote in the August 3 primary. The Riley County Clerk’s office, inside the Riley County Office Building is the place to get that done. Advance voting by mail and in person at the Clerk’s office begins on Wednesday, and continues through noon on Aug. 2. The Clerk’s office will offer Saturday voting on July 31 between 8 a.m. and noon. Otherwise the Clerk’s office is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Initially there were 10 candidates for the USD 383 school board race, prompting a primary. There…