With a September 7th public hearing on a nearly 55 mill levy increase and the city budget now set, the Manhattan City Commission has a lot of work to do in trying to determine what the final numbers will be. Tuesday night, commissioners gave indications that they don’t want to see the mill levy increase reach that maximum mark. One item putting the squeeze on the city budget is its commitments to the Riley County Police Department, which makes up the largest portion of the increase. That number, in fact, is larger than the increase for the city’s general fund.…
Author: KMAN Staff
Work will soon begin on a number of trails throughout Manhattan. Manhattan Parks and Rec assistant director Wyatt Thompson says they will start repairing and paving trails and a parking lot in Anneberg Park in early August as a result of the 2018 Wildcat Creek Flood. According to Thompson, this project will also include clearing out debris from Jerry Dishman Lake. Another project set to begin in the next couple weeks will involve improvements to Clarenburg Trail in City Park. A third project, which Thompson says is still in the planning stages, involves the installation of a multi-use trail along Hayes…
The Riley County Health Department has confirmed an unvaccinated 86-year old woman has become the latest victim of COVID-19 in the county. Her death is the 45th in Riley County since the start of the pandemic last year. She passed away July 10, just over a month after first testing positive for the virus. Ascension Via Christi is caring for seven patients sick with COVID-19 symptoms, including one ICU patient. None of the seven had been vaccinated. 102 new coronavirus cases have been confirmed in the past week, with 31 additional recoveries being reported. Since December, 40 positive cases from…
The Manhattan City Commission passed a resolution that would set a potential mill levy increase of 54.914 for the 2022 budget, a move made in preparation for a September 7th public hearing on the budget and potential increase. The resolution passed on a 4-1 vote, with Mayor Wynn Butler casting the “no” vote. Commissioner Mark Hatesohl wasn’t in favor of the number, either. Deputy City Manager Jason Hilgers noted the possible increase already reflected changes in what the city would spend on personnel. Commissioner Usha Reddi noted that the debate over what the final increase could be is just beginning.…
SALINA, Kan. — Saline County authorities say two teenage girls are in custody after they allegedly stole a woman’s car at a foster care facility and then ran over the woman when she tried to stop them from leaving. Saline County Undersheriff Brent Melander said two girls aged 14 and 17 ran from St. Francis Ministries in rural Saline County Monday evening. An employee jumped on the hood of her car when the girls tried to drive away. Melander says when the woman was eventually thrown off the hood, the girls drove over her before fleeing. The woman was hospitalized…
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A week after missing his first sentencing hearing, a Kansas man has been sentenced to more than 12 years in federal prison for carrying out a phony debt-selling scam involving millions of dollars. Joel Tucker, of Prairie Village, was sentenced Tuesday after pleading guilty last year to transporting stolen money, bankruptcy fraud and tax evasion. He was also ordered to pay more than $8 million in restitution to the IRS. Tucker had been set to be sentenced last week, but did not show up for the hearing, and an arrest warrant was issued for him. His…
WICHITA, Kan. — Police in Wichita are investigating following four suspected drug overdose deaths in the city over a nine-day period. Police say in a news release that in each case, evidence of crack cocaine use was found. Police say a 38-year-old woman was the first to die on July 5, followed by a 48-year-old woman on July 11. The next day, police found a 56-year-old man dead, and on Tuesday, a 67-year-old man likely overdosed at a Wichita motel and died. Police did not give the names of those who died. Police said autopsies and toxicology reports would determine…
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 criminal damage to property and theft in the 5900 block of Executive Ct. in Manhattan on July 13, 2021, around 8:02 a.m. Officers listed Miller Pipeline as the victim…
On Wednesday’s edition of In Focus we spoke with USD 320 Wamego Interim Superintendent Greg Mann and USD 323 Rock Creek Superintendent Kevin Logan. We also previewed Stuff the Bus with Konza United Way CEO Tara Claussen and FIT Closet Coordinator Tracy Emery.
Pottawatomie County law enforcement is looking into the theft of electronic equipment from a rural church outside Wamego. Sheriff Shane Jager said in a press release that the Laclede Baptist Church at 11920 Onaga Road had been broken into sometime between four Saturday afternoon and ten Sunday morning. Total loss was estimated at over one thousand dollars. The Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate, seeking tips via Crimestoppers on their website or through contact with Detective Rob Gordon at 785-457-3353.