BELLE PLAINE, Kan. — The cancellation of the beloved Christmas Drawing in Norcatur, Kansas, is shining a spotlight on a global coronavirus pandemic that has reached deep into rural America. The notice blamed individuals who have COVID-19 and refuse to quarantine for not making it safe for the town to hold its Christmas celebration. It’s a decades-old tradition in which the whole town gets together for a potluck dinner. It features a plethora of donated meats, crafts and other goodies so every family can go home with prizes. Sheriff Ken Badsky estimated that 5% of county residents who should quarantine…
Author: KMAN Staff
The following summary of calls for service/reports filed by the Riley County Police Department is a portion of those received by police. Some names, addresses, and case details are withheld to follow local, state, and federal law as well as in an attempt to protect community members from being victimized further. Those arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. MANHATTAN, KAN. – Officers filed a report for burglary in the 1400 block of Flint Hills Pl. in Manhattan on November 24, 2020, at approximately 8:38 a.m. Officers listed a 62-year-old female as the victim when it…
Wednesday’s program featured a conversation with USD 378 Riley County Superintendent Cliff Williams and USD 384 Blue Valley Superintendent John Cox. Downtown Manhattan Inc. Executive Director Gina Scroggs joined us to discuss Small Business Saturday and downtown holiday events coming up. Riley County K-State Research and Extension Nutrition, Health and Food Safety Agent Megan Dougherty also shared some Thanksgiving food safety tips with us.
Gas prices are the cheapest this Thanksgiving holiday week since 2015, according to AAA. The national average is at $2.10, with gas prices in Manhattan trending around $1.91 most places. Five years ago the national average was about a nickel cheaper at $2.05. This year, nearly half of all states are seeing gas prices anywhere from 50 to 75 cents cheaper than a year ago. AAA spokesperson Jeanette Casselano says typically, cheaper gas prices are an incentive for people to travel during a holiday weekend, but that’s not the case this year. “AAA forecasted a decrease in Thanksgiving travel year-over-year…
Sunset Zoo in Manhattan isn’t just a summertime trip, but also a winter outing as well. Melissa Kirkwood, zoo Marketing and Development Officer, says that the zoo is open throughout the entire year. She says the winter hours are a little shorter this year and tells KMAN one reason why. “Our keepers can do that extra sanitation with the exhibit and the animals while it’s still light out,” she says. “Giving the keepers the best opportunity possible to have good weather, good lighting, and safe environments is really important to us.” The winter hours are from 12 (noon) to 4PM each day.…
While the Pottawatomie County Commission unanimously voted to opt out of the statewide mask mandate on Monday, the decision did not come without opposition from county health officials. Leslie Campbell, Pottawatomie County health director, says she was disappointed by the commission’s decision and hopes efforts from other counties will help prevent spread caused by inter-county travel. “Hopefully having neighboring counties do masks – that everyone will just do it everywhere and be that responsible person and try to not go to social gatherings, stay home, stay home when they’re ill and do what they can to decrease the spread,” Campbell…
Ascension Via Christi has updated its visitation measures once again amid surging coronavirus case numbers locally. The Manhattan hospital announced Monday it will not allow visitors for inpatient medical/surgical and critical care patients or in the emergency department. Exceptions include one visitor per patient (none under the age of 18) for OB/Labor and Delivery patients, pediatric patients and in end-of-life situations. Other visitors will be allowed on a case-by-case basis. Door screening will continue for everyone entering the hospital through limited entrances and at off-site clinics and therapy centers. Anyone who affirms they have a fever, cough or difficulty breathing…
Kansans expecting extended unemployment benefits as a result of the pandemic will see those payments soon come to an end. The U.S. Department of Labor notified the state this week that the unemployment insurance Extended Benefits program is no longer active and the last payable week will be the week ending Dec. 12. The Kansas Labor Department is prohibited from making any additional payments, regardless of any remaining balance of EB entitlement. Kansans no longer eligible for the EB program may be eligible for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance if they qualify under all of the program’s federally mandated criteria. KDOL says…
On Tuesday’s edition of In Focus we spoke with Pottawatomie County Health Department Director Leslie Campbell and Wamego Health Center Administrator Steve Land. We also spoke with Pottawatomie County Planner Stephan Metzger. And in our final segment Pottawatomie County Commissioner Pat Weixelman joined us.
WICHITA, Kan. — An off-duty Wichita police officer has been arrested on a misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence. The Wichita Police Department said in a news release that officer Cory Masterson has been with the department for 12 years and was assigned to the field services division. Police say he has been moved to an administrative assignment. The case is being investigated by the Kansas Highway Patrol, and an internal review will also take place .