Author: Brandon Peoples

The long time former manager of Kansas State University’s radio station is being inducted posthumously into Kansas Broadcasting Hall of Fame. Ralph Titus was known for nearly 40 years as the “Voice of Kansas State University,” helping establish KSAC and KKSU as one of the premiere university owned radio stations in the country. Titus graduated from K-State in 1955 and was a student employee. After serving in the Air Force, he did stints with WIBW AM-TV in Topeka and KWTV in Oklahoma City. Titus was remembered for his many interviews with U.S. Presidents, world leaders and more. He also was…

A couple of Manhattan organizations are receiving more than $84,000 in grants for crime victims. According to a release from Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt’s office, grants were awarded to The Crisis Center, Inc. totaling $48,034. The grant will help recruit, train and supervise volunteers to assist professionals providing round-the clock crisis intervention services for sexual and domestic violence victims. Sunflower CASA Project Inc. received three grants. One of them totals $20,000 to provide supervised visitation and monitored exchange services to children and their non-residential parents. A second grant totals $11,156 to support the Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program.…

Riley County Police have arrested two individuals for suspicion of distributing drugs near a Manhattan school. Officers charged 23-year-old Liam Whitmore and 18-year-old Donovan O’Connell each with three distribution counts including a depressant, narcotic and hallucinogenic within 1,000 feet of a school. Both also face criminal weapons charges. O’Connell also faces an intent to distribute charge and a possession with intent to use charge. The two men were arrested at 417 Laramie Street. The closest nearby school is Woodrow Wilson Elementary. O’Connell was jailed on a $15,000 total bond. Whitmore’s bond was $10,000, causing both of them to remain jailed…

Aggieville is looking at ways to alter its current business model, to better comply with the local health order and physical distancing requirements. Speaking to the Manhattan Area Recovery Task Force Thursday, Aggieville Business Association Director Dennis Cook said his organization is in preliminary discussions with the city to propose measures to space customers out within the district. “We are looking at a combination of some of those park-lets similar to what downtown got, or whether we can tent an area so we can allow some more people in a space while they’re waiting for a table, or close down…

An early look at enrollment in Riley County USD 378 shows a slight decline for the fall. Superintendent Cliff Williams shared some of the statistical data Wednesday on In Focus. “Overall we’re at 633, which is down about 24 students. We anticipated some of this decline because we’ve had some of our larger classes graduate and just haven’t seen as many students come back,” he said. The grade school has seen 60 new students enroll for the fall. The district is offering both in person and distance learning options for students at all levels. “We’ve actually got about 56 students…

School started Wednesday in Randolph for students in the USD 384 Blue Valley district. Earlier this month, the district was the site of a COVID-19 outbreak when seven people including staff and a school board member tested positive. All are said to be on the mend and nearing the end of their quarantines. Speaking on In Focus this week, Superintendent John Cox said it was an unusual ride for the first couple of days when the district learned of the outbreak. “When you put a plan on paper, you think oh you’ve got this. Then when you have to start…

Kansas State University has made a slight revision to its face mask policy for anyone on campus property. In a release Wednesday, President Richard Myers says face coverings will now be required over mouths and noses in all indoor and outdoor spaces unless you are alone in your own private office or workspace or are alone outdoors. The university made the revision following surveys sent out to students where it was shown there was confusion about when the masks should be worn on campus. The university has also strengthened how and when data can be accessed through a new dashboard…

Former Manhattan area dentist and Navy veteran Dr. Pat Dreiling has died. He was 82. Dreiling died Monday in Kansas City, Missouri. He is survived by his wife Mary and their children. Born and raised in Junction City, Dreiling was always said to have a passion for helping people. It eventually led him to a career in dentistry. He obtained a doctorate and master’s degree from St. Louis University and was stationed in Vietnam with the 3rd Dental Company where he provided dental care for Vietnamese civilians and wounded troops. Following his honorable discharge, Dreiling went to work at his…

Safety in schools is on the minds of parents everywhere, but getting kids to school safely is just as important. “We have missed our kids and we have been out of school since March and so our drivers and our monitors are just biting at the bit to get back in their seats,” said Andrea Adams, Director of USD 383 Transportation. Each year the district’s school bus fleet undergoes a safety inspection administered by the Kansas Highway Patrol. Adams says each of the buses checked out perfectly from that assessment earlier this month. In addition, Adams says each bus has…

Two days after it was ordered by the Riley County Health Department to close, O’Malley’s and O’Malley’s Alley officially reopened Monday. Riley County Health Officer Julie Gibbs said Monday the bar’s owner submitted a plan to reopen based on the criteria in Local Health Order No. 18. That plan was reviewed and approved. Gibbs says she hopes the incident serves as a learning opportunity for all bar and restaurant owners. “We’ve been getting complaints for a couple weeks and so we decided to really look at that area and determine if something did need to be done,” she said. Gibbs…