Author: Brandon Peoples

From Aug. 5 through Aug. 14, leading up to the first day of classes, News Radio KMAN presents “From the Principal’s Office,” a series of 15 interviews with each building leader in USD 383 Manhattan/Ogden Schools. Amanda Arnold Elementary School has the largest student population among USD 383 elementary schools. With close to 600 students, the school is a very close knit community, according to Principal Kathy Stitt. “I’d like to say we build relationships, do a really good job with that, a very caring community. Even though we’re very large, we’re a close tight knit group. I can’t wait…

From Aug. 5 through Aug. 14, leading up to the first day of classes, News Radio KMAN presents “From the Principal’s Office,” a series of 15 interviews with each building leader in USD 383 Manhattan/Ogden Schools. Bluemont Elementary is Manhattan’s oldest school building and this year teachers will begin the 108th year of educating young minds there. Leading the school is principal Beth Neitzel, who taught middle school English for 15 years and was previously an assistant principal at Amanda Arnold before coming over to Bluemont. It’s a family-oriented environment that will be noticeable to those parents and students when…

JUNCTION CITY, Kan. — Three people were arrested after leading a pursuit through Geary, Riley and Wabaunsee counties Monday. The Geary County Sheriff’s Office says the pursuit began around 11 a.m. along Interstate 70 in the eastbound lanes near mile marker 310 and continued through the three counties, ending in a field one mile west of Hwy 99 on Pavilion Road. Deputies had been attempting to conduct a traffic stop on a pickup for following too closely and an unsafe lane change. After making initial contact with the driver the officer later asked him to step out of the vehicle.…

From Aug. 5 through Aug. 14, leading up to the first day of classes, News Radio KMAN presents “From the Principal’s Office,” a series of 15 interviews with each building leader in USD 383 Manhattan/Ogden Schools. A familiar face to Manhattan/Ogden Schools will be roaming the halls at Theodore Roosevelt Elementary this fall. New principal Ashley Smith returns to the district after teaching at both Northview and Bluemont Elementary Schools for eight years, in addition to stints in both Riley and Topeka. Smith says coming back to the district meant a lot to her. “I think there’s a lot of…

From Aug. 5 through Aug. 14, leading up to the first day of classes, News Radio KMAN presents “From the Principal’s Office,” a series of 15 interviews with each building leader in USD 383 Manhattan/Ogden Schools. Students at Frank V. Bergman Elementary School will be greeted by a new principal this fall leading the school. Stephen Koch was principal at Lincoln Elementary School in Lincoln, Kansas for the last seven years and has more than two decades of education experience. Koch says he wanted to find an opportunity for a more centrally located position and was won over by Bergman’s…

GEARY COUNTY, Kan. – Two people were rescued Sunday afternoon from Milford Lake after a boating accident. The Geary County Sheriff’s Office says it received a call around 1 p.m. in reference to a boat with two occupants who appeared to be in distress on the lake at the mouth of Madison Creek. The Sheriff’s Department’s Marine Unit was already on the water and responded from its location near Curtis Creek. Officers located Armando Matute Jr. of Fort Riley and his 14-year-old son floating in the water. Matute told Kansas Wildlife and Parks officials that he and his son were…

Garden City native Kali Barnett stopped by the Flint Hills Discovery Center in Manhattan Sunday, part of an eight-city, four-day tour of the First Congressional District, a day after announcing her 2020 campaign for U.S. Congress. For the past 12 years Barnett has been an elementary school music teacher and has made education a key part of her platform. Barnett says part of her education platform is to make college more affordable and drive down tuition. She mentions a proposal she heard in conversation with a former Garden City mayor about programs for students graduating high school to go to…

LAWRENCE, Kan. — A Junction City woman was hospitalized Thursday following a crash on the Kansas Turnpike in Douglas County. The Kansas Highway Patrol says 56-year-old Jacqueline Carter-King was eastbound on Interstate 70 just before 7:30 a.m. when her vehicle lost control and hit the wall in the median. The vehicle was struck from behind by a passenger car driven by 26-year-old Jonriley Hoffman of Topeka. The crash report says Hoffman tried to avoid a collision but ultimately could not. Carter-King was transported to Lawrence Memorial Hospital with a possible injury. Hoffman also sustained a possible injury but refused transport.…

Riley County Police are seeking the public’s help identifying two persons of interest in an ongoing financial crime investigation. Surveillance photos seen above and on the RCPD Facebook page show two young African-American men walking out of the Manhattan HyVee recently. Police say they’d like to speak to them about a financial crime that occurred in Manhattan July 18. Anyone with information that can help identify the two men can call RCPD at 785-537-2112. Anonymous tips can also be submitted through Crime Stoppers at 785-539-7777 or through the p3tips website.

No injuries were reported after a house fire northeast of Manhattan Wednesday morning. Riley County Fire Chief Pat Collins tells KMAN crews were dispatched to 4711 Harbour Hill Drive just before 7 a.m. after the homeowner reported smelling smoke. She was the only one in the building and was able to get out safely with no injuries. Crews fought fire in the home’s basement, bringing it under control within about 40 minutes. The fire reportedly did not spread to any other parts of the home. Collins says the fire was the result of a short circuit caused by too many…