Manhattan Area Habitat For Humanity and Flint Hills Job Corps have teamed up to bring Habitat’s Women Build week to Manhattan. On Friday, members were helping build a playhouse for children that visit the Wonder Workshop Children’s Museum. The three-day project began Thursday and is led by Job Corps instructor Cindy Clack and Habitat for Humanity Office Manager Melody Sexton and Larry Liota. Sexton tells News Radio KMAN how this project came about. Sexton describes the different dynamics of the project all over Manhattan. Flint Hills Job Corps Director Johnny Taylor explains why it was so important to have these…
Author: KMAN Staff
Manhattan is seeking more data on what would be the costs and benefits of extending the city limits east by annexing a portion of Pottawatomie County’s Blue Township. The City Commission unanimously approved requesting proposals from private contractors to study the topic at its Tuesday meeting. The area in question is the Green Valley portion of Blue Township, falling in the Blue Township Sewer District for which the county contracts water and sewer services from the City of Manhattan. The area has seen significant growth in residency as well as commercial activity, leading the Pottawatomie County to work on a…
TOPEKA — The Kansas Supreme Court has raised the possibility of forcing the state Senate to vote on an appointment to a lower court even though Gov. Laura Kelly withdrew the nomination. The Supreme Court heard arguments Thursday in a legal dispute that arose after Kelly withdrew her appointment in March of Labette County District Judge Jeffry Jack to the state Court of Appeals because of his political tweets in 2017. The Democratic governor argues that she has the authority under a 2013 law to submit another nominee to the Republican-controlled Senate for potential confirmation. Senate President Susan Wagle says…
Thursday’s guests included Fort Riley Education Services Specialist Monica Smith and Fort Riley Occupational Health Specialist Dawn Douglas from the Garrison Safety Office. They previewed the combined graduation service May 23 and the upcoming Memorial Day Safety Awareness and Injury Prevention Campaign happening May 21-23. National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility Partnership Development Director Marty Vanier and NBAF Coordinator for USDA APHIS Dr. Ken Burton joined us for discussion primarily on the severe weather hardening of the facility and an upcoming hiring fair.
After previously tabling the vote, the Manhattan City Commission unanimously approved a final design concept for the Douglass Recreation Center at its Tuesday meeting. McMillan Architects will now finalize the plans for the center, which could be open as early as November 2020 based on a tentative timeline. The commission postponed the decision in April in order to see an additional design option that included a 3-lane elevated track — a feature desired by the Douglass Center Advisory Board and the surrounding neighborhood. The track was reduced to two lanes as a cost-saving measure as the budget had previously been…
TOPEKA — Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly and Republican legislators agreed that the Kansas prison system needed funds to boost employees’ pay, deal with inmate crowding and address other problems. They also agreed on a figure of almost $36 million. But the Department of Corrections, Kelly and fellow Democrats are unhappy because of strings Republican legislators attached to the new funds. One provision blocks a plan to temporarily close a cell house at a maximum-security prison for men because of staffing problems there. Interim Corrections Secretary Roger Werholtz said another provision could thwart the department’s plans to create new space for…
TOPEKA — Lawmakers dropped a plan to increase oversight of Kansas’ troubled child welfare system in the final hours of their annual session. The Wichita Eagle and The Kansas City Star report that the provision that was eliminated would have created a committee that could have summoned officials to explain problems, drafted legislation and provided frustrated parents with a place to vent. Some advocates saw the panel as their last, best hope to make progress after a year that began with high expectations but ended in disappointment. The measure fell apart after it became caught up in the legislative battle…
Officers filed a report for criminal damage to property in the 500 block of N Manhattan Ave in Manhattan on May 9, 2019, at approximately 3:20 AM. Officers listed Dirty Dawgs Saloon as the victim when two known male suspects damaged piping in the bathroom of the business. The estimated total loss associated with this case is approximately $1,200.00. Michelle Merkle, 38, of Manhattan was arrested while at the Riley County Police Department on May 8, 2019, at approximately 12:30 PM. Merkle was arrested on a Riley County District Court warrant for probation violation. Merkle was issued no bond causing…
MANHATTAN — Frank V. Bergman Elementary School principal Lori Martin has announced she will retire at the end of the school year. Martin announced on the school’s Facebook page Tuesday, that after almost 20 years with the district, she will be leaving once the school year ends. In the post, Martin says she’s excited to see what the future holds for each of the students and the school family saying she will always be their biggest fan and supporter. Martin says she has “always enjoyed the genuine support and the opportunity to work and learn alongside some of the most…
Wednesday’s In Focus guests included USD 323 Rock Creek Superintendent Kevin Logan and Wamego Central Elementary Principal Teri Dow discussing May events in both districts. Big Lakes Developmental Center President and CEO Lori Feldkamp was our guest in the second half of the show discussing services and how the new legislative budget will impact services.