Manhattan Christian College is closing in on the purchase of the Anderson Village property adjacent to it, with plans to turn the upper level apartments into housing for male students by the 2022-23 school year. President Kevin Ingram on KMAN’s In Focus Wednesday said buying the mixed-use property would allow the college to replace the current men’s dormitory Johnson Hall. Ingram made clear that the move to use the upper floor of the building as housing for MCC, however, won’t take place for the upcoming school year. MCC sold Anderson Village to a private developer in 1985. Ingram said that…
Author: KMAN Staff
Manhattan-Ogden board members responded to comments received about their recent approval of culturally responsive teaching and learning training. The approval was given last month, but a recent email chain from the Riley County Republicans urged members of the public to voice their opinion and concerns. The email claimed that the school district “votes to teach students how to be racist.” The board received emails regarding the subject leading up to the meeting, as well as public comment during the meeting. Only nine people spoke, but well over 60 people were in attendance in support of those speaking. Board President Jurdene…
On Thursday’s edition of In Focus we spoke with Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce President Jason Smith.
A Manhattan man faces a number of federal charges, after being accused of defrauding a Wichita bank out of more than $127,000 in COVID-19 aid. Clifford Townsend has been charged with two counts of bank fraud, two counts of making a false statement and two counts of money laundering. Prosecutors allege Townsend claimed on an application for Paycheck Protection Program money that his business had 15 employees. In reality, Global Network Corporation had no employees. A grand jury indictment lists Townsend as the registered agent and CEO. Townsend allegedly used about $27,000 of the money to buy a BMW and…
Several Manhattan-Ogden USD 383 construction projects will continue through this summer, with some finishing up over the next few months. Assistant superintendent Eric Reid says Oliver Brown Elementary is still on schedule to be completed in time for the fall semester. “They were able to close in the north half of the building and work where some of those rooms are getting really close to finished,” Reid said. “They’ll be turning their attention to the south half of the building. I think they already have but they’ll start working on finishes there too. Toward the middle or end of June,…
New parking and digital-sign regulations The Manhattan Development Code will establish new maximum standards for parking. Assistant director of community development Chad Bunger says the goal is to limit the negative effects of large parking lots, such as inefficient land use and storm-water runoff issues. Mayor Wynn Butler says he is not in favor of the restrictions. “If I own the property and I want to put more parking there, I should be allowed to,” Butler said. Commissioner Usha Reddi supported the standards, saying many spaces go unused. Despite the new maximum standards for parking, the code will also create…
Wednesday’s guests included USD 383 Manhattan/Ogden Assistant Superintendent Eric Reid and board member Kristin Brighton to discuss the end of the school year, construction and plans for the summer. Manhattan Christian College President Kevin Ingram also joined us to discuss a recent neighborhood meeting regarding the college’s plans to acquire the Anderson Village shopping center property.
The Riley County Law Board heard Monday that the RCPD’s Firearms Range near Zeandale is nearing full operational status. Captain Brad Jager told the board that officers have already been using the site while improvements were being made, including a training session while the board meeting was taking place. The new range sits on nearly 150 acres purchased two years ago by the county. It’s adjacent to the former RCPD range near the intersection of Zeandale and Tabor Valley roads. The Law Board was to take up the department’s budget for the next fiscal year during the meeting. Following an…
HOLTON, Kan. — Jackson County authorities say an apparent propane leak caused an explosion in northeast Kansas last week that killed one man and seriously injured his wife. Sheriff Tim Morse said Monday a great amount of propane leaked into the home of 61-year-old Billy “Lu” Griffiths and his wife, Teri, in rural Holton on May 10. It’s unclear exactly what sparked the gas but Morse said the explosion was not believed to be a criminal act. Billy Griffiths died in the blast and his wife was hospitalized with serious injuries. Original Story: HOLTON, Kan. — Officials in northeastern Kansas…
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Police in Kansas City, Kansas, have identified a man killed last week in a wooded residential area on the northwestern edge of the city. Police said in a news release Monday that officers were called to the area the afternoon of May 11 and found 38-year-old Francisco Herrera-Flores, of Kansas City, Kansas. Police say Herrera-Flores had been shot. Police say 36-year-old Guadalupe Benitez-Pizarro, of Sante Fe, New Mexico, has been arrested and charged with second-degree felony murder in Herrera-Flores’ death. Benitez-Pizarro is being held in the Wyandotte County Jail on a $250,000 bond.