City commissioners on Tuesday discussion a new $10 million cemetery master plan that would catch up on deferred maintenance, improve operational efficiency, make the cemeteries more ADA-accessible and bring in more revenue. Some of the proposed upgrades to Sunrise Cemetery include the construction of a new shop and office, renovating the existing shop, paving a section of the maintenance lot and fencing the maintenance yard. At Sunset Cemetery, upgrades could include building a new joint maintenance shop with Sunset Zoo, installing a new irrigation system, adding columbaria, making storm drainage and utility improvements, reconstructing cemetery roads, improving accessible sidewalks at…
Author: Peter Rice
People packed the K-State Student Union Wednesday night to see the candidates for the District 67 seat in the Kansas House of Representatives square off in a debate touching on healthcare, education and reproductive rights. K-State Young Democrats, the Riley County Republican Party, the K-State political science department and the K-State Institute for Civic Discourse and Democracy put on the debate, which allowed Republican Angel Roeser and Democrat Kim Zito to expound and contrast their views directly in front of voters. Zito criticized the state legislature for seeking to enact further abortion restrictions despite the fact nearly 60% of Kansas…
The Sunset Zoo recently introduced a new pair of furry friends to the local community. Zoo officials announced Thursday that resident Malayan tigers Indrah and Jaya gave birth to the Zoo’s first-ever tiger cubs on August 23rd. The births mark a significant milestone in the Zoo’s conservation efforts and supports the global effort to save the critically endangered Malayan Tiger.
Of-age Manhattanites soon may have more opportunities to walk around with an adult drink during special events. Manhattan city commissioners on Tuesday split over the possible adoption of a common consumption area ordinance, which would allow a person to possess and consume an alcoholic beverage within a specified area not licensed to serve alcohol at a specified time. That potentially could include city property, sidewalks and streets. To view the full article visit theMercury.com.
An Ogden man is behind bars after a registered Kansas offender was arrested Thursday on new allegations. Just before 3:30p.m. Thursday, police arrested 41-year-old Marcus Grant for failure to appear. The original charge in this matter is for violation of the offender registration act. Grant has been listed in Kansas as a registered offender since 2013 after conviction in Saline County for aggravated robbery and for aggravated battery in 2023, according to the KBI offender registry. Grant is being held on a $50,000 total bond.
USD 383 school district offices are moving to the Lincoln Education Center starting Monday, September 30. The district offices will be closed on Thursday, September 26 and Friday, September 27, to facilitate the move. They will be unable to answer the phones or emails on those days and the Robinson Education Center will be closed to visitors. This move will not affect schools and they still follow the academic calendar. Students are in session on the 26th but do not have school on the 27th.
Manhattan city commissioners on Tuesday approved a second reading of the 2025 budget, making final a nearly 14% city tax increase for the average homeowner. The $299.6 million budget passed on a vote of 3-2. Commissioners John Matta and Peter Oppelt voted against it. The first reading Sept. 3 passed on an identical vote. Matta said at the previous meeting he wouldn’t support tax increases, mainly because the $400k in increases to outside agencies, while the city is doing budget cuts and increasing the mill rate, and added Tuesday that he would continue to represent the taxpayers best interests. To…
The third annual Wabash on the Prairie tried out a new location Sunday afternoon. The fundraising event for the Sunflower Children’s Collective featured performances from the K-State marching band and the Classy Cats dance team at the university’s World War I Memorial Stadium, bringing the festivities inside city limits for the first time. Wabash on the Prairie also offered giveaways, food trucks and a beer garden. To view the entire article visit theMercury.com.
Geary County USD 475 Schools, Junction City Police Department and the Geary County Sheriff’s Office are investigating a post made on Snapchat on Friday morning that featured the names of students and staff from Junction City Middle School. USD 475 announced on Saturday that the JCPD began working with Snapchat on Friday to try and identify the account holder where the list originated from. There will be an increased officer presence at Junction City Middle School, Fort Riley Middle School and Junction City High School over the coming days, as a precautionary measure.
40-year-old Daniel Francis Lee was arrested Wednesday at the Riley County Jail for battering a law enforcement officer at 4 p.m. inside the facility. Lee was arrested last month for battering four different correction officers who were on duty inside the jail. Lee was also arrested in september of 2023 for hitting a man with a kitchen pan causing lacerations, and starting a fire that threatened structures in a neighborhood south of Ft. Riley Blvd. Lee was ordered to be evaluated and treated at Larned State Hospital, however the most recent court documents on April 23rd say that Lee was…