A partner at a local business who’s been a vocal critic of Riley County Commissioner Marvin Rodriguez has filed to run for his seat. Asian Market international grocery store partner and Manhattan Alliance for Peace and Justice member Fanny Fang filed a declaration of intent to run for the district 2 seat of the commission. She is running as a Democrat. Fang has said remarks by Rodriguez in March correlating Riley County’s lack of COVID-19 patients at the time with the relatively low population of Chinese people locally promote anti-Asian racism and joined calls for his resignation prior to entering…
Author: KMAN Staff
Donna L. Vanier, 85, passed away Saturday, May 23, 2020. Following is an obituary from her family and statements from Kansas State University leadership. From the Vanier family: The scriptures say, “To whom much is given, much will be required.” Luke 12:48. To Donna Vanier, this was much more than Biblical council. It was a way of life. Born in Salina, Kansas, on October 24, 1934, to Willis and Helen Lindsey, Donna Vanier is preceded in death by her parents and brother, Douglas. She is survived by her husband of 65 years, John K. (Jack) Vanier, daughter Mary Vanier of…
A fire Sunday caused tens of thousands of dollars in damage to a Junction City home. The fire was reported after 10 p.m. Sunday on the 400 block of West 7th Street. JCFD found a single-story house with fire coming from a window on the southeast corner. Crews entered the structure and worked with a crew on the exterior to extinguish the blaze. All occupants were able to escape prior to fire officials responding to the scene, no injuries were reported. A loss of $30,000 is estimated. Red Cross is assisting occupants a this time. The cause remains under investigation.
Kansas State University will now be able to offer a new path for those seeking to work in educational leadership positions. The Kansas Board of Regents earlier this week approved a request submitted by K-State to offer a doctorate of education in community college leadership. The degree will be offered by the K-State College of Education and is part of an effort to keep up with a demand for leaders and administrators at many of the approximately 1,200 community colleges in the United States. According to the Kansas Board of Regents agenda and the American Association of Community Colleges, more…
As local businesses slowly begin to open back up, so do different parts of the Riley County Police Department. Dennis Butler, the RCPD director, says inmate visitations started back up earlier this week. Butler also says the patrol and detective divisions will begin transitioning to more regular operations. Other aspects of the department involving citizens, such as the citizen ride-along program and building tours, are currently on hold and will be reevaluated later this summer. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected other areas of the Riley County Police Department, including the communications department. Butler says the pandemic has really shown some…
After a unanimous confirmation, the “Big Red One” commanding general was scheduled to be promoted to lieutenant general and will lead a new U.S. Army Corps headquarters according to a release by Sen. Jerry Moran. John Kolasheski, now a three-star general, is slated to command Fifth Corps — the Army’s newest Corps headquarters — at Fort Knox, Kentucky following Fort Riley’s change of command this summer. Major Gen. (promotable) Kolasheski has served as the 1st Infantry Division’s commanding general since June 2018 when he took over for current-Army Vice Chief of Staff Joseph Martin. Kolasheski is slated to be succeeded…
TOPEKA — A marathon legislative session in Kansas ended early Friday with two Republican senators denouncing the Democratic leader who accused them of racism over their treatment of the state’s Hispanic labor secretary. The dispute stems from an email Kansas Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley of Topeka sent Wednesday to Sens. Gene Suellentrop and Rob Olson after they berated Secretary of Labor Delia Garcia during a May 14 meeting about the unemployment system. Suellentrop called it a “vile, vulgar accusation.” Olson says the Senate should discipline Hensley. Hensley sat silently through the criticism and left shortly after the session ended.
The Manhattan area next Wednesday will see its second military flyover in two weeks. The 1st Infantry Division is planning a helicopter flyover of numerous hospitals from Fort Riley to Topeka on May 27, including Manhattan’s Via Christi Hospital, as a salute to health care workers for their support of the Fort Riley Community. Three U.S. Army HH-60M Medical Evacuation Black Hawk helicopters, piloted by members of the 1st Combat Aviation Brigade, will follow the route. Commonly known as MEDEVACs, the helicopters “provide aerial support and ambulatory patient transport services to military operations within the U.S. in support of civil…
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted numerous local gatherings and events, from the canceled Aggieville St. Patrick’s Day Parade to Easter celebrations. With Memorial Day coming up Monday, Manhattan officials say services at city cemeteries will also see changes. The American Legion Post 17 plans to conduct their typical ceremony in a different fashion due to public health and safety concerns, pending weather. Their modified service will start at 9 a.m. at Sunset Cemetery and last up to 20 minutes. First Vice Commander of the post Kirk Meyer says it will include a prayer, volley and traditional playing of “Taps.” “Keeping…
Riley County commissioners were presented recommended transfers for the 2021 budget. Seven funds are supported with tax levy dollars; General fund, Riley County Police Department, Capital Improvement, Economic Development, Bond and Interest, County Building, and Health Department. The beginning cash balance for Jan. 1 exceeded what was estimated to begin the year in each of these funds. Budget and Finance Officer Tami Robison recommended they transfer $1 million to the CIP fund for projects not currently activated. The county has $1.98 million dollars in non-funded projects for 2020. She also recommended increasing General Fund cash reserves by $250,000 along with…