Author: KMAN Staff

On today’s In Focus, Cathy spoke with KSU Director of Bands, Frank Tracz; Sunflower CASA Executive Director, Jayme-Morris Hardeman; and Konza Prairie Director of Education, Jill Haukos. Frank Tracz-segment 1 Jayme-Morris Hardeman-segment 1 Hardeman and Haukos-segment 1 Hardeman and Haukos-segment 2

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Finding ways to fund regional bridges continues to be a topic of conversation for the Pottawatomie County Commissioners, but for now, they’re finding ways to make do. Commission Chairman Pat Weixelman said the board heard from Public Works Director Leu Lowrey during their weekly meeting on Monday, March 30, who gave updates on two on-going bridge projects. “We have received four kits for the patching of the Belvue Bridge, and we’re going to plan to start working on it in the next two to three weeks,” said Weixelman. He added that there has also been progress on the Flint Rock Bridge,…

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Fort Riley issued a press release Monday afternoon regarding an upcoming inactivation ceremony: The 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, will case its colors for the last time in an inactivation ceremony at 10 a.m. April 2 on Cavalry Parade Field. The inactivation was first announced in July 2013 and is part of the Army’s ongoing restructuring process. The 4th IBCT was activated on Jan. 12, 2006, at Fort Riley. Since then, the brigade has deployed twice to Iraq and once to Afghanistan. The five battalions and one squadron that make up the brigade will case their individual colors in separate ceremonies in the next…

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This month’s sales tax numbers were described as “good” by Manhattan Finance Director, Bernie Hayen. Hayen said there was a small increase, but the first three months of 2015 are up from the previous year so far. No significant differences were noted in retail sales and virtually all big box retailers were up slightly from the previous year. A total of $821,051 in sales taxes was collected in March, which is up from last year’s number of $813,574.

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A soldier facing charges of rape and indecent liberties with a child, following a December arrest, plead not guilty to both counts on Monday morning in Riley County District Court. Timothy Ayers Jr. now faces a jury trial this summer after Judge David Stutzman accepted his plea of not guilty.  This arrest stems from a warrant in connection with a northern Riley County alleged rape incident that occurred in August. Prosecuting State Attorney, Barry Wilkerson suggested that four days be set aside for the jury trial.  Ayers’s jury trial was set for the week of June 29th. A request for…

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A Kansas State University animal health leader has been chosen to engage local, regional and national stakeholders in the development of strategic partnerships for the National Bio and Agro-defense Facility, or NBAF. The Department of Homeland Security has selected Marty Vanier, the university’s director of operations at the National Agricultural Biosecurity Center, to be the senior program manager for strategic partnership development. Vanier will start her new responsibilities with the DHS Science and Technology Directorate in April. “Dr. Vanier’s background will help to catalyze innovation and future planning in support of NBAF by establishing and furthering partnerships with industry, end…

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A Leonardville man is now being held in Riley County following an arrest KMAN first told you about March 10th in Arizona. Monday’s RCPD arrest activity report indicates that at approximately 8:15 AM  John Thomas was arrested at the Riley County Police Department on a warrant for three counts of sexual exploitation of a child. Thomas was taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals service in Chino Valley, Arizona earlier this month on the Riley County warrant. His bond was set at $500,000. As announced a few weeks ago, federal authorities say Thomas had dramatically changed his appearance but still was…

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Rock Creek’s Carson Becker and Wamego’s Lanie Page were each chosen first team all-state by the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association for the 2014-15 season. Becker was a first-team pick in 4A-Division 2 after averaging 15 points and 8 rebounds per game for the Mustangs. He helped lead Rock Creek to a runner-up finish at the state tournament, the best finish in school history. Rock Creek’s Nate Berard was an honorable mention selection. Page scored over 20 points per game in her senior season with the Lady Raiders and is expected to join her sister Kaylee at K-State next season. Manhattan…

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