By Annie Wolfe/Times of Pott County Westmoreland resident Michelle Campbell stepped forward during public comments at Monday’s Pottawatomie County Commission meeting to commend the county on work done to Flush Rd. “Nobody has commented on Flush Rd since the bridge approaches have been done. It is wonderful. What a smooth approach to all those bridges,” said Campbell. “Kudos to you guys. Thank you for approving to get that done. Thank you for your leadership as County Commissioners, and thank you to the county employees. You make this county a better place to live.” Firefighter Stipend Fire Supervisor Jared Barnes is…
Author: KMAN Staff
By Emma Loura / The Manhattan Mercury: Riley County officials are looking to fill a few positions. The county commission on Monday approved requests to hire a customer service provider in the treasurer’s office and a deputy chief position in the fire department. County treasurer Shilo Heger said the previous customer service worker in the department resigned. “We really need to have that front counter staffed fully in order to cover for illnesses, vacation days,” Heger said. “We do have one person’s driver’s license every day so I feel it’s a much-needed position in order to provide the customer service…
A federal appeals court has reversed the conviction of a researcher who was accused of hiding work he did in China while employed at the University of Kansas. Feng “Franklin” Tao was convicted in 2022 of three counts of wire fraud and one count of making a materially false statement. Tao was among two dozen academics who were charged as part of the “China Initiative”, which launched in 2018 during former president Donald Trump’s administration that aimed to counter suspected Chinese economic espionage and research theft. U.S. District Judge Julie Robinson threw out the wire fraud convictions a few months…
Boys State of Kansas has a new executive director. Boys State officials announced Monday that Kyle Wheatley has taken over as the executive director of the summer leadership program held annually at K-State. Wheatley began his term July 1 and replaced Tom Weirman, who held the position for four years. Sponsored by the American legion, Boys State is a mock government program allowing high school boys to practice leadership. The program simulates elections, political parties and government at the state, county and local levels. It includes students who just completed their junior year and sophomore year of high school will…
Riley County Historical Museum curator of education and design Melanie Highsmith and curator of collections Dawn Munger joined AJ Shaw for the full hour to discuss a moratorium on collection donations.
A Manhattan woman was arrested on charges stemming from a prior arrest for Fentanyl distribution. Therriana Pittman was arrested Friday afternoon in the Riley County Jail on charges including failure to appear and probation violation. These violations are stemming from Pittman’s 2023 arrest for possessing hundreds of Fentanyl pills with the intent to distribute. She was still confined in the Riley County Jail as of Monday on a bond of $200,000.
Therriana Pittman, 24, of Wichita, was arrested on July 12, 2024, at approximately 12:45 PM in the 1000 block of S. Seth Child Road. Pittman was arrested on Riley County District Court warrants for failure to appear and probation violation. The original charge in this matter was for distribution of opiates/opium/narcotics/stimulants 10>100 dosage units, distribution of marijuana 25<450 grams, possession of opiate/opium/narcotic/certain stimulant, possession of paraphernalia with the intent to manufacture/plant/cultivate controlled substance, aggravated endangering a child, reckless situation to child <18, and possession of marijuana. Total bond was set at $200,000. Pittman was confined at the time of this…
The Kansas congressional delegation reacted after the attempted assassination on former President Donald Trump that claimed the life of one individual and critically injured two others. Senators Roger Marshall and Jerry Moran sent their thoughts to the former President and the victims who were affected by the shooting and thanked law enforcement and the Secret Service. Sen. Jerry Moran, who is the state’s longest-serving member of the state’s delegation in Washington, said he was “praying for President Trump, everyone who attended the rally and for our country.” Marshall noted that a bullet was just centimeters from taking the life of…
The Wonder Workshop Children’s Museum celebrated 30 years of serving the Manhattan area on Saturday, which was also the birthday of their beloved late founder Richard Pitts. The non-profit hosted an event at Blue Earth Plaza featuring games, food, and entertainment for local children and their families. Board of Directors President Lauren Farwell spoke on the impact the Pitts and Wonder Workshop have had on local children, saying “Richard and Cindy had so much love for children and creativity, and that’s what it’s all about. They helped guide children find their way and experiment, and they do all sorts of…