Author: Brandon Peoples

A week after finding out he was the Manhattan’s area’s first positive COVID-19 case, K-State journalism professor Drew Smith is making some progress. He joined “The Game” on News Radio KMAN Thursday to give an update on his health and ongoing battle with not only the coronavirus, but also pneumonia and hepatitis. Smith traveled to London with journalism students over Spring Break and began feeling ill on his return trip home. He talks about the symptoms he began showing when he isolated at home. He also described the loneliness of being in ICU for five days at Ascension Via Christi.…

As more people have been staying indoors due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Riley County Police Department has seen a drastic reduction in calls for service, crime, arrests and accidents. That may not be surprising since most people are heeding the caution from local, state and federal health officials to stay at home as much as possible to limit the spread of the virus. Even with the cancellation of Fake Patty’s Day and concerns for possible house parties still getting out of control, officers made zero arrests on March 21. RCPD PIO Hali Rowland confirmed to KMAN Monday that was…

More than $100,000 has been raised by the community to support grocery assistance to those experiencing financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic. MHK Together, a collaboration between the Greater Manhattan Community Foundation, 502 Media Group, Konza United way, and Shepherds Crossing began raising money Friday with a goal of matching the $150,000 donations supporting the initiative from the Ward & Brenda Morgan, Lincoln & Dorothy Deihl and Mary Vanier Donor Advised Funds. By Wednesday afternoon, the donations amounted to $105,000. Blade Mages with the 502 Media Group explains the purpose of MHKTogether.org “If you’re somebody who has experienced a…

The Sunset Zoo in Manhattan remains closed to the public until at least April 6. Only essential staff are working at the zoo, making sure animals are taken care of and fed. Speaking on KMAN’s In Focus Monday, Marketing and Development Officer Melissa Kirkwood said there would be no shortage of food or supplies for animals during the closure. “Thankfully we’ve talked to all of our vendors and none of that will stop and we’ve got a protocol even for how our vendors access the gate to deliver those supplies,” she said. The zoo was preparing for a potentially banner…

The Geary County Sheriff’s Office is implementing a “Helping Hands” initiative to help elderly, limited mobility and/or high risk in the community to help them retrieve essential needs during the virus outbreak. The agency says it will offer food, prescription and medical supply delivery to those individuals in their jurisdiction. Items have to be within Geary County and delivered to a Geary County address. Items also must be prepaid for the Sheriff’s Office to retrieve them. The program also offers grocery store pickup from the Junction City Walmart and Dillon’s Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Community…

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment now lists 82 positive cases of the coronavirus in Kansas. The list was updated to show that while a patient is being treated in Riley County for COVID-19, he’s actually a resident of Pottawatomie County. Nationally the conversation has been the concern over the availability of testing kits, which according to Ascension Via Christi Hospital President Bob Copple is not a major concern at least for now at the local level. “We all have been able to collect some of those, so the actual volume of test kits is not a major concern…

Budget season is fast approaching for the Riley County Police Department. The department on March 16 presented to the Law Board its first budget proposal which includes a 4 percent increase (around $900,000) in new funds. Captain Josh Kyle says the proposal asks for the hiring of a part-time clerk to assist with administrative duties with training, public information, human resources, accreditation and finance. “By having a part-time clerk, we’ve placed ourselves in a position where our training staff will spend less time doing data entry and more time working on our projects that support our overall strategic goals,” Kyle…

A 51-year-old Manhattan man, who became Riley County’s first patient to be tested positive for the Coronavirus, is a K-State faculty member. Andrew Smith is a professor in the A.Q. Miller School of Journalism, who recently traveled with his family and several journalism students to London to study abroad over Spring Break. Those students and family members are also quarantined in their homes. In a Facebook video message Sunday from intensive care at Ascension Via Christi Hospital, Smith thanked friends and family for all the well wishes and support. “Thank you for the pictures and the anecdotes and everything, it’s very kind.…

Visitation to Ascension Via Christi in Manhattan and the Wamego Health Center is now restricted to labor and delivery and in end-of-life situations, where only one visitor per patient will be allowed. The hospital enacted the restrictions late Friday in an effort to protect patients and staff now that COVID-19 has reached Riley County. All other visitation is limited to virtual visitation. “We appreciate the role family plays in the healing process and the importance of the presence of loved ones during family milestones,” said hospital president Bob Copple. “However, in order to protect our patients and staff and helping…

Despite many things shutting down amid the coronavirus pandemic, there is still a need to give blood. The American Red Cross says there are severe shortages, to the point that more than 4,500 blood drives have been cancelled across the country, resulting in about 150,000 fewer donations. Two opportunties exist Monday and Tuesday at CiCo Park’s Pottorf Hall. For long time Manhattan donor Daryl Strouts, he’ll be donating for the 100th time and is giving back to encourage people to come out. Healthy blood and platelet donors are asked to make an appointment to give now. Strouts says donating blood…