Author: Brandon Peoples

5 p.m. Wednesday update Riley County health are preparing a local plan to re-open businesses closed amid the COVID-19 pandemic, but are waiting the governor’s updated orders Thursday before releasing their draft. Health Department Director Julie Gibbs says that Gov. Laura Kelly’s orders will take precedent and they need to ensure their local re-opening plan is not less strict than the state’s. As a result, they are holding their own tentative plan in case they need to make edits. Regardless of the specifics, Gibbs says residents should expect some current guidelines and mandated restrictions to remain in place in order…

USD 383 Manhattan/Ogden Schools have announced the two principals for its early learning centers. Abbie Wedel will serve as principal at Eugene Field. Stephanie Kabriel will serve as principal at College Hill. The two will begin their new roles with the district on July 20. Wedel is currently a preschool teacher at College Hill, a position she’s held since 2014. She earned her B.S. in Elementary Education, Emphasis: Early Childhood Special Education, in 2009 and her M.S. in Education Administration in 2020 from Fort Hays State University. Kabriel comes to USD 383 from Junction City where she currently serves as…

The Manhattan Fire Department is starting its annual fire hydrant maintenance program this week. Hydrants will be flowing and getting painted throughout the city from now until late fall. Flowing occurs every year to ensure proper operation and to flush out water lines. If you notice yellow or rust-colored water in your home after crews have flowed fire hydrants in your area, the department recommends running water in a bathtub or shower until it clears. If it doesn’t clear up, contact the City of Manhattan customer service office at 785-587-2480 or the fire department at 785-587-4502. Residents are urged to…

A Manhattan man was arrested on multiple charges Tuesday including child abuse and domestic battery. The Riley County Police Department lists nine total counts against 33-year-old Aaron Finch, who was arrested at his home in south Manhattan. Finch is charged with child abuse, battery, domestic battery and aggravated child endangerment. He also faces two counts of aggravated intimidation of a witness or victim and three counts of criminal damage to property. Bond was set at $25,000, but as of Wednesday morning’s report, Finch was not confined in the Riley County Jail. RCPD is not releasing any additional information due to…

Kansas State University is now able to test K-State students, faculty and staff for coronavirus. It’s not all inclusive though, and is only for those needing testing because they are ill and have COVID-19 symptoms or because they have been exposed to someone with the virus. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has asked K-State to ramp up human testing and researchers are increasing their testing capacity. Testing is available at Lafene, then testing samples are sent to K-State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory for analysis. The laboratory has moved personnel, molecular equipment and computers into the Biosecurity Research Institute to…

As businesses and local governments navigate a path toward recovery, counties are still challenged with financial hurdles that may create some challenges. In Pottawatomie County, Commission Chair Dee McKee says they are concerned about the significant financial hit the county will take as a result in loss of local sales taxes. She joined KMAN’s In Focus Tuesday. “We’re also concerned about second payment property taxes because those fund essential services,” she said. Those taxes fund fire, police, schools, rural hospitals and more.  McKee says the county is preparing for the real possibility that those payments won’t be made on time…

A virtual round table discussion was held during Monday’s Intergovernmental Luncheon with entities touching on how a gradual reopening of business and government may look in the coming weeks. Gov. Laura Kelly’s statewide stay-at-home order expires May 3 and all indications are that will not be extended. Riley County Health Department Director Julie Gibbs says if the order is not extended, any loosening of guidelines locally would be done gradually through mid-May. “This will be a trickle effect, opening with many safeguards in place, if that decision comes down to local authorities,” she said. Those safeguards would essentially be in…

The Clay County Health Department is reporting its first coronavirus-related death. The patient, a 70-year-old woman who contracted the disease out of state died Saturday. She’s one of 120 deaths attributed to the disease in Kansas. At least one Clay County contact of hers was identified and remains in quarantine at home until April 28. KDHE has released guidelines (http://www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus/COVID-19_Resource_Center.htm) for quarantine and isolation of travelers who visited locations in the United States where large numbers of people have contracted the disease.  Guidelines for possible contact exposure to the disease are also on that website. If you are experiencing symptoms…

Kansas First District Congressman Roger Marshall is back in Kansas, not for politics, but as a volunteer. The Congressman, who is also an obstetrician, began on-boarding Wednesday at Swope Health Clinic in Kansas City. He’s seen first hand the challenges facing the health care workers on the front lines as well as the challenges the virus poses. “Some people present with a fever, some with a headache, some just weakness or maybe even diarrhea or gastrointestinal symptoms. We do a basic history physical, take their vitals and then do the testing for COVID,” he said. Marshall says even as the…

The Riley County Health Department has a new online survey for community members to report their health condition regardless of if they are showing symptoms for COVID-19. It’s available at rileycountyks.gov/covidsurvey. The information is confidential and will only be used to determine how the coronavirus is spreading locally. The health department says it won’t ask about finances, bank accounts, insurance or any non-health related information. The department says data will help them track the spread of COVID-19 to align response resources as the community begins work toward lifting restrictions and reopening certain businesses. People will be asked to share their…