Author: Brandon Peoples

Tourism continues to be abysmal with hotels continuing to report very low occupancy rates across the board. Manhattan Convention & Visitors Bureau Executive Director Karen Hibbard says for the month of August, the second week saw the highest occupancy rates at 61 percent. “That was due to a military event here in town as well as students were moving back to Kansas State University. It was a combination of both,” she said. Those numbers plunged by the final week of August when occupancy rates at Manhattan hotels fell to a low of 38 percent. Hibbard says CVB is prepared to…

No less than eight classrooms at seven daycare facilities have been shut down due to staff members, all of whom are 18 to 24-years old, testing positive for COVID-19. Some of the daycare facilities have decided to close completely. Each classroom holds about 10 children and close contacts of the children and staff members will have to complete 14-day quarantines. Children who are close contacts to this situation are not allowed to be admitted to other daycare facilities until  after the completion of their quarantine. Riley County as of Friday added 129 more cases of COVID-19 and 42 recoveries since…

Following the first week of classes at Manhattan Catholic Schools, students are adjusting to in person learning with new restrictions. Students at MCS are attending classes five days a week, unlike their USD 383 neighbors where students are in person only part of the time. Principal Mike Hubka says they did lose some students as a result of that decision, but also saw an influx of new enrollees. “People are concerned and unfortunately people have to make decisions one way or another but we did pick up some students after 383 made their decision. Parents looked to us because they…

Several opportunities to get free testing for COVID-19 are coming to Riley County in the next week. The Riley County Health Department is partnering with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the Flint Hills Wellness Coalition for three different free drive thru testing stations througout the county. The first will take place from 7 to 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Manhattan Town Center southwest parking lot. The second opportunity is from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at 401 Chase Street in Leonardville. The third opportunity will take place Thursday in Ogden with testing from 7 to 9 a.m,…

Authorities in Pottawatomie County are looking for a vehicle stolen from an east Manhattan dealership recently. Pottawatomie County Sheriff Shane Jager says they’re looking for a stolen Silver 2010 Chevrolet 1500 4-wheel drive extended cab truck. It’s modified with a suspension lift, off-road front bumper, black custom wheels, a roof mounted light bar, black flares and a “Browning” decal in the back window. The truck has a 60-day Kansas temporary tag. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Eric Green at 785-457-3353. Tips can be submitted at ptsheriff.com via the crime-stoppers link.

Pottawatomie County Public Works Director Peter Clark will soon be looking for new work. Clark submitted his resignation last week. His resignation is effective Dec. 25. Since his hiring in October 2015, Clark says he’s learned more than he probably would have in a similar role. “The amount of growth that’s happening in Pottawatomie County, the variety of things you get to do as a county engineer in our specific county with urban growth and yet all the bridges and culverts and all the road projects going on, I feel I’ve had the benefit of being here,” he said. Clark’s…

Google Maps imageBids for improvements to the intersection of US Hwy 24 and Green Valley Road have come in more than 20 percent higher than the engineer’s estimate. Hamm Construction submitted the low bid of $4.02 million, roughly 22 percent higher than the $3.3 million estimate put out. The project, which has been delayed several times, is less likely to move forward at this point. Pottawatomie County Public Works Director Peter Clark will return with a recommendation at the Sept. 14 county commission meeting. Clark is also proposing solutions to erosion issues in the Black Jack Estates subdivision, located north…

Kansas State University is reporting the number of students in quarantine in Manhattan tripled in one week after a spike in COVID-19 cases in Riley County. The latest information in K-State’s online dashboard shows the number of students in quarantine as of Aug. 28 was 477, up from 159 a week earlier. The total number of students in isolation was 226 compared to 49 the week before. At least 88 students were cleared from quarantine and 43 were cleared from isolation. Data shows of the 795 weekly tests reported by Lafene Health Center, 213 positives were reported between Aug. 24…

A Riley County judge will allow certain Department for Children and Family records to be presented as evidence in the sexual abuse case of Robert Iacobellis. This comes after defense attorney Lora Ingels filed a motion to deny DCF the opportunity to quash a subpoena. Judge Kendra Lewison ruled Tuesday that records be given to the court for an in camera inspection, which is defined as what happens when a judge reviews evidence (depositions, documents, photos, etc.) to determine whether it should be provided to other parties. It will be up to Judge Lewison to determine what is permissible for…

Consumer confidence doesn’t appear to have been phased by the coronavirus pandemic locally. August sales tax receipts for the City of Manhattan showed a modest early summer from consumers. On Tuesday’s edition of In Focus, City Manager Ron Fehr announced a pleasant surprise in numbers, which were about $40,000 above budget. “Sales tax receipts were $964,429.00. This actually reflects June sales as there’s a two month lag between collecting and receiving numbers for sales tax,” he said. Early projections by city officials had the city estimating 15 to 20 percent downturns in sales tax revenue. Mayor Usha Reddi says seeing…