Author: Troy Coverdale

With his team readying to face Oklahoma State Sunday afternoon, Kansas State women’s basketball coach Jeff Mittie and his wife Shanna announced publicly that she has been diagnosed with breast cancer. Mittie said yesterday afternoon on KMAN’s “The Game” that the family decided to make the announcement yesterday after meeting with doctors at the University of Kansas Medical Center Monday to plan for treatment of the cancer found during a standard exam earlier this year. The announcement adds another reminder for why days like this coming Sunday are important. The annual “Play for Kay” recognition is that day as the…

Collins Elumogo to Dre Delort to Tate Brown and a win. That was the run of action inside of 10 seconds Tuesday night as Manhattan High knocked off Highland Park, the fourth-ranked team in 5A. That followed a girls game that saw Manhattan dominate against the Lady Scots, and Mitch Fortner recaps the action. Tuesday Boys’ Scores: Wamego 64, Clay Center 46 Council Grove 58, Riley County 53 Frankfort 44, Onaga 34 Centralia 61, Blue Valley 48 Rock Creek 54, Chapman 45 Emporia 74, Junction City 62 Tuesday Girls’ Scores: Clay Center 42, Wamego 36 Riley County 34, Council Grove…

K-State’s players are to have all reported to Houston by the end of the day as the runup to the Texas Bowl matchup with LSU continues. The season of upheaval for the Tigers has continued in the weeks since the matchup was announced, leaving LSU with only 51 scholarship players and questions at quarterback for the contest. Cats coach Chris Klieman admits its tough to prepare because of the changes. As for K-State’s players, defensive back Russ Yeast says guys are all-in. One event scheduled for the teams this weekend has already been shifted from being open to the public…

The initial two-deep for next Tuesday’s Texas Bowl matchup with LSU includes quarterback Skylar Thompson on it for the Wildcats as he attempts to come back from an injury against Baylor on Senior Night in November. Running back Deuce Vaughn wants to see the sixth-year senior play in the game. The team is to report in full to Houston for the game tomorrow. Vaughn is looking forward to the upcoming days before kickoff. K-State athletic director Gene Taylor joined KMAN’s “Wildcat Insider” Monday and addressed concerns over coronavirus possibly impacting the game. Tuesday’s game is to kick off after eight,…

K-State’s Texas Bowl opponent is losing its starting quarterback to the transfer portal. LSU’s Max Johnson made the announcement last night, with his brother, the top tight end recruit in the nation, rescinding his commitment to the Tigers as a result of the Brian Kelly hire to replace Ed Orgeron. Max Johnson threw for just over 28-hundred yards, 27 touchdowns and six interceptions. His brother, Jake, says he’ll enroll early at whatever school he commits to. The two are the sons of former NFL quarterback Brad Johnson. True freshman Garrett Nussmeier was Johnson’s backup and played in four games and…

The current director of the Riley County Police Department says he hopes his successor keeps up strong communication with the community and department employees. Dennis Butler said on KMAN’s In Focus Friday morning he took note early on during his tenure that communication is a priority. Butler says he also made a point from day one to ensure consisted communication with the multiple county governing boards. Butler announced his pending retirement earlier this month because of health concerns that developed over the summer. While he didn’t go into specifics, Butler says he’s healthy now and says he has always made…

The Riley County Health Department will be holding it’s annual “Okt-FLU-ber” Fest flu vaccine clinic Thursday Clinical supervisor Aryn Price tells KMAN the day will include activities for kids getting their flu shot.. Price also went on to say that 2020’s flu season was mild. During KMAN’s In Focus Wednesday, Price mentioned that registrations for Thursday’s event are available online. The health department has the necessary forms on their website and there will be multiple vaccine options that day, even for those without health insurance.

The new Aggieville parking garage being built by the city of Manhattan continues to move towards an early 2022 opening date. Project manager Ken Hays says the 450 spot facility is nearing completion in time for opening early next year. Hays says a majority of the interior is complete. Hays adds construction is on schedule because of a lack of weather-related issues. Hays says not having to deal with a lot of protective work for older buildings helped move the project forward. The 14 million dollar project is being funded through taxes taken in through the Aggieville taxing district.

Following the evacuation efforts as American troops pulled out of Afghanistan, one family has already resettled in the area and more are expected over the next few months. Aaron Estabrook took time during Tuesday night’s Manhattan City Commission meeting to recognize those who have been helping, including assisting the first of the families that has moved to the area. Estabrook said at Tuesday’s meeting that he had been notified that the next family would arrive on or around the 25th. It’s expected that approximately 500 refugees will resettle in Kansas after fleeing Afghanistan in the days surrounding the United State…

The Manhattan City Commission got a final look at the draft of a five-year strategic plan Tuesday night, including a look at potential priorities based on surveys of community members. While noting the limited number of those surveyed, Commissioner Mark Hatesohl said that it was a laudable list, but one that will likely change with potential new members and a new year coming up. The panel praised the work done by city staff and a committee of residents that participated in development of the plan, as more than 24-thousand various pieces of input from the public were received while the…