Author: Brandon Peoples

The Riley County Law Board voted 5-2 Tuesday to approve a modified employment agreement with RCPD Director Dennis Butler. Butler, who reached his two-year work anniversary on Dec. 31, was awarded his merit increase for 2020 following an annual evaluation by the Law Board. Board Vice Chairperson Robert Ward read the motion at Tuesday’s meeting: “In as much as Director Butler has met the conditions of his employment contract and is being awarded the merit increase earned by receiving an acceptable annual performance evaluation since his last annual performance evaluation of December 31, 2019, he will move from step F to…

Aggieville businesses and Riley County Police are preparing for a second consecutive year of no Fake Patty’s Day festivities. During Tuesday’s Riley County Law Board meeting, RCPD Assistant Director Kurt Moldrup said the general consensus among Manhattan merchants is that it won’t occur. “Basically due to COVID times, the situation we’re in with the university not having a Spring Break it’s just not conducive to the natural growth of Fake Patty occurring,” he said. Moldrup says they’re hoping this will start a trend of the event going away altogether but says RCPD will be ready for any pop up parties…

The Manhattan Regional Airport is among 75 Kansas airports to receive federal funding to help respond to and prepare for impacts of COVID-19. More than $10 million was designated to the airports, including over $1.1 million to Manhattan. Funds can be used for janitorial services, cleaning and sanitation as well as operational expenses. Sen. Roger Marshall said in a statement Wednesday “community airports are essential to not only our transportation infrastructure but the continuation of business in many of our rural communities.” Funding comes from the Consolidated Appropriation Act and Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriation Act passed in December…

A new Scooter’s coffee location is planned for the Westloop Shopping Center. The Manhattan City Commission voted 4-1 Tuesday night in favor of a final development plan. The new store will replace the former Pizza Hut at the southeast corner of the Seth Child and Claflin Road intersection. The site will be rearranged and have a right-in/right-out within the shared entrance with the Dillon’s gas station along Claflin Road. Commissioner Usha Reddi voted against the plan saying it does little to address traffic concerns and would add to the already congested intersection. “The gas station area is very congested and…

Riley County has confirmed 32 new positive coronavirus cases since its previous report Friday. In addition 30 recoveries were also reported. The percent positive rate for the week of Feb. 7 through Feb. 13 was 2.6 percent, translated by 56 positive cases out 2,121. It’s the third consecutive week of decreases in the percent positive rate. There are currently 132 active cases in Riley County. Ascension Via Christi continues to care for three positive patients. Two of those patients are in the Intensive Care Unit. The health department continues to vaccinate those 65 and older and K-12 teachers in Riley…

The City of Manhattan has opened a warming shelter in the conference room at the Four Points Sheraton at 530 Richards Drive. Chairs will be provided and the facility is open 24 hours to anyone who needs shelter. The hotel is also offering rooms at a reduced rate for anyone needing longer term accommodations. The Manhattan Regional Airport says weather has caused a cancellation of all flights. Power outages were experienced at the airport, but generators are keeping equipment up and running.

Pottawatomie County has opened warming stations across the county in response to widespread controlled power outages the past two days. County officials say short-term temporary areas are available while citizens make longer term arrangements at fire stations in Olsburg, Wheaton, St. George and Havensville as well as the Sunflower Room at the Public Works/K-State Extension Office in Westmoreland. Anyone needing additional resources or information should contact the Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Dispatch at 785-457-3353. The City of Manhattan has opened a warming shelter in the conference room at the Four Points Sheraton at 530 Richards Drive. Chairs will be provided and…

Around 100,000 Evergy customers have been impacted by rolling blackouts for a second straight day after receiving word from the region’s power grid, the Southwest Power Pool (SPP) that further temporary outages were needed. At a news conference Tuesday morning, Evergy Senior Vice President for Marketing and Public Affairs Chuck Caisley explained why the controlled outages continue during a time when the need is also high, due to the extreme cold temperatures. “What the Southwest Power Pool and Evergy are trying to achieve is by taking people off in smaller blocks, for a temporary emergency power outage, we are hoping…

Update: 7 p.m. Monday Evergy estimates about 60,000 customers in its service area experienced brief, controlled power outages Monday. While power has since been restored, future outages may be implemented in the coming days. Evergy continues to urge its customers to continue conserving energy. Original story: 1:30 p.m. Monday Customers of Evergy may experience periods of controlled, temporary outages to help avoid longer, uncontrolled and extended power outages throughout the region. This is after the Southwest Power Pool, which involves all electric providers in Kansas asked member utilities to implement such outages in order to conserve energy, after going to…

If extreme cold temperatures weren’t enough, rolling blackouts associated with an historic winter storm system has prompted schools across the region to cancel classes Tuesday. That includes Kansas State University, which, in an unprecedented move canceled all in-person and remote learning after 5 p.m. Monday, continuing through Tuesday. Essential employees were told they should report to work or contact their supervisors if unable to report in. On-campus dining services on both the Manhattan and Polytechnic campus in Salina are operating with reduced hours. Lafene Health Center also will be closed. The university attributed the move due to Monday’s rolling blackouts…