Author: Brandon Peoples

The City of Manhattan will not receive a much anticipated $25 million in STAR bond money from the state government by expanding the existing district to fund improvements along the north campus corridor around Kansas State University. City officials announced this week that the state had reversed course and is not supporting the proposal. According to City Manager Ron Fehr, the primary reason was the separation distance and the expanded district not being adjacent to the original STAR district in downtown Manhattan. That original area includes Third and Fourth streets as well as the tourism generating Flint Hills Discovery Center.…

Severe storms pushed through the KMAN listening area Wednesday morning and while it brought some heavy rains into Riley and Pottawatomie counties, the storms did significant damage much further to the north. In Washington County, the small city of Linn closed for the day due to multiple streets being blocked and power lines down across several city streets. Local residents were cleaning up Wednesday morning and the community has not asked for any outside help at this time. The Washington County Emergency Management office says residents experiencing outages should call 785-541-0212, or 911 if it’s a medical emergency. Further information…

Stakeholders in Blue Township were presented Tuesday night with the first look at the future vision of Green Valley as part of an open house at Flint Hills Christian School. Over 100 people turned out for the opportunity to learn more about the 20-year-plan, that essentially maps out what the area could look like moving forward. The land use plan identifies five key areas for residents to prioritize moving forward including reduction in traffic and increased road connectivity, an increase in housing availability and affordability, upgrades to public infrastructure including water and sewers, creation of sidewalks and bike trails and…

BELVUE, Kan. — The Kansas Highway Patrol says a truck driver was injured early Wednesday morning after his semi overturned in eastern Pottawatomie County. The semi was westbound on US Hwy 24 just east of Belvue after midnight when it entered a ditch and overturned, trapping the driver inside. Fire and rescue crews extricated 70-year-old Dwight Hartung of Pennsylvania. He was transported to Stormont Vail Hospital with minor injuries. Hwy 24 was closed in both directions for several hours overnight from Belvue to Schoeman Road.

Sunflower CASA will be looking for a new executive director in the near future. Stacy Tidwell, who has led the program in Manhattan since September 2017, announced Monday she is resigning to accept an administrative position with the Kansas Department for Children and Families. Tidwell will serve as DCF’s Deputy Director for Youth Services, providing oversight for the Independent Living Program, services for older youth placed in the state foster care system and helping to develop a recovery and prevention program for youth runaways. Tidwell’s resignation is effective Aug. 2. A search is underway for a new Sunflower CASA director.

WESTMORELAND, Kan. — The Pottawatomie County Commission continues to field requests for the 2020 budget. On Monday commissioners heard a proposal from Pottawatomie County Sheriff Greg Riat. The Sheriff’s Office is requesting a $21,600 increase in capital outlay funds. Commission Chair Travis Altenhofen says additionally, that includes a slight increase in funding for the Pottawatomie County Jail. “We’ve had some increase on housing of inmates as well as food costs. That’s because he (Sheriff Riat) has been taking for pay some inmates when the opportunity presents itself. Otherwise the department budget has been relatively flat,” Altenhofen said. The overall increase…

For those who make a habit of commuting down Kimball Ave., the headaches of road construction have been apparent. Manhattan City Manager Ron Fehr said on In Focus last week that construction is making progress in the three phases, especially on the eastbound lanes of Kimball between Manhattan Ave. and Tuttle Creek Blvd. Meanwhile work is a little slower going on Kimball near the Browning Ave. intersection. Once that piece is replaced, Fehr says traffic will be flipped and work will begin in the eastbound lanes. A retaining wall west of Hudson is being completed and Fehr says that replacement…

WESTMORELAND, Kan. — Longtime Pottawatomie County Administrator Robert Reece has announced his retirement. Pottawatomie County Commissioners unanimously accepted his resignation during Monday’s regular meeting. Commissioner Dee McKee “reluctantly” seconded the motion from Chairman Travis Altenhofen. His retirement is effective immediately. In a statement Monday, Reece said his decision was made following the development and preparation of the 2020 county budget. The statement continues: “It has been both an honor and a pleasure serving the Pottawatomie County Community. I am grateful for the privilege to work with the many dedicated men and women that serve the community.” News Radio KMAN has…

Riley County Police have arrested a 52-year-old Manhattan man on charges of indecent liberties with a child. Rodney Allen Roberts was jailed Sunday afternoon on a warrant for two counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a child under the age of 14. Both charges are from 2018 incidents. He also faces a probation violation charge. Total bond is set at $101,000, causing him to remain in Riley County Jail. According to the Kansas Department of Corrections, Roberts has a past criminal history including a 2012 drug possession conviction in Riley County, which he served a two-year sentence for.

A Manhattan man was arrested Friday for an alleged robbery and assault in the Westloop Shopping Center. According to Saturday morning’s Riley County Police Department arrest report, police were dispatched around 9:45 a.m. Friday for a reported assault occurring in a vehicle in the parking lot in the 1000 block of Westloop (Marshall’s). Police arrested 26-year-old Jose Rivera in connection on offenses of aggravated kidnapping, aggravated assault and aggravated robbery. He remains lodged in Riley County Jail on a $150,000 bond. Police say no injuries were reported to the male victim.