Author: Brandon Peoples

Geary County Schools have received notification from the U.S. Department of Defense Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation that a grant has been approved that pays 80 percent of expansion costs at the new Morris Hill Elementary School on Fort Riley. The new school opened in August, enabling the closure of an aged, nearby elementary school. Superintendent Reginald Eggleston says the expansion project will provide Morris Hill with a student capacity equivalent to two former schools. The announcement of the $8.6 million grant approval ensures the project will be completed in time for the start of the upcoming school year in…

Six students in the Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine have been chosen for the state’s largest veterinary scholarship program, including a Wamego student. The university says Laura Carpenter, of Wamego, is among the students selected for the Veterinary Training Program for Rural Kansas. Upon completion of a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree, each student is required to work at a full-time veterinary practice in one of the 92 Kansas counties with fewer than 40,000 residents. For each year the student works in rural Kansas, up to $25,000 per year of qualifying student loans are forgiven over a period…

A Junction City school teacher was arrested this week on drug and weapons charges. Destiny Wiser, a fourth grade teacher at Sheridan Elementary, was arrested by Junction City Police Wednesday at the school for possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of marijuana and criminal use of weapons. In a district letter to parents, USD 475 school officials said the incident did not involve any students, nor were any students or staff members in any danger. Wiser has since resigned, according to a district spokesperson. Additional details are pending from the Junction City Police Department. A Geary County Jail officials told KMAN…

A St. George family was displaced following a Wednesday mobile home fire. Firefighters from several agencies, including Pottawatomie County Consolidated District Number 1 were called out around 4:30 pm. to the 500 block of Maple Street. “When crews got on scene there was heavy smoke and flames showing. Nobody was home at the time. The cause remains under investigation,” said Jared Barnes, Chief of the Pottawatomie County Fire District. He says Louisville and Wamego Fire also were dispatched, but Louisville ended up diverting to a nearby grass fire. The home is a total loss.

A Riley County firefighter was recently presented the Harold Bellman Award, the highest honor presented by Riley County Fire District No. 1. John Wienck, a second generation winner, was recognized at the fire department’s annual awards banquet in January. Known for having a positive attitude, Wienck was recognized for his firefighting skills, but also for leadership in training new volunteers. He’s also actively involved in various community roles as a cattle producer, farmer and a member of the Riley County Planning and Development Board. His father Ivan Wienck also won the award in 2003. Wienck issued the following statement after…

Manhattan Public Works crews are continuing to patch potholes. That’s City Engineer Brian Johnson speaking with KMAN Wednesday afternoon. He says roughly 300,000 pounds of patch material was put onto Manhattan roadways in January. When temperatures are so cold the bonding material being used, doesn’t adhere to existing potholes but should improve as temperatures continue to warm up. City officials noted Wednesday that the southbound lane of Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd is closed until further notice from Colorado south to Fort Riley Blvd. The outside eastbound lane of Bluemont Ave. from Juliette east to the 4th Street roundabout is…

Manhattan City Commissioners appear to have enough support for a potential resolution backing Medicaid expansion. During the city manager’s briefing Tuesday, commissioners discussed whether getting into the state’s political fight is in the city’s best interest. City commissions in Emporia and Russell have considered similar resolutions. City Attorney Katie Jackson says some legislators have hinted that if more municipalities showed support, it might push legislative leadership to at least allow for debate Commissioner John Matta says he thinks the city commission should stick to matters that affect city business and not get involved in the state’s partisan political battles. Commissioner Susan…

A Monday hearing on a new bill that would establish an Education Funding Task Force, while eliminating a Special Education Task Force is being met with some criticism from education officials. House Republicans have continually expressed frustration with the cost and academic effectiveness of the current school funding formula. House Bill 2594, which is tied to the plan, would grant the GOP power to appoint six of 11 voting members of the task force as well as control over who chairs the panel. Ann Mah, of Topeka, who serves on the state Board of Education, shared concerns with the proposed…

The Kansas Supreme Court released an order Monday to reinstate electronic filing requirements in the state’s district courts. The order takes effect Wednesday, requiring attorneys and other e-filing users to electronically file in cases that exist in the Kansas Courts eFiling system, except for appeals to the Court of Appeals or the Supreme Court. The order also requires all new cases to be initiated through the e-filing system, except appeals made to the Court of Appeals or Supreme Court. Since regaining access to the Kansas eCourt case management system in mid-December, district courts have been updating it with new cases…

A St. George man was hospitalized following an injury crash in Manhattan. It happened just after 10:30 Monday in the 300 block of East Poyntz between a passenger car and an SUV. RCPD says 61-year-old Robert Bellinder was transported for treatment of non life-threatening injuries. The other driver, 21-year-old Erica Arnold, of Wamego, had no listed injuries. She was cited for an improper right turn.