Construction delays mean scheduled tours for the new Junction City High School are on hold. Geary County Schools USD 475 officials say the cancelation of the tours doesn’t affect the scheduled first day of classes in the new facility, slated for August 25th. The school district was hoping to show off the new school August 6th and 7th, but will, instead, host a ribbon cutting later in the fall.
Author: Troy Coverdale
Troy Coverdale
Currently the host of "KMAN's Morning News", Troy is a 30 year veteran of radio, nearly 20 in northern Colorado, where he served as the "Voice of the UNC Bears" while serving as the news and sports director for one of the oldest AM stations in the country. No stranger to Manhattan nor Kansas, Troy is an alum of K-State in broadcast journalism and grew up near Circleville. He began his broadcast career with KSDB-FM on campus while working part time at another radio station in town. He's married to the former Monica Haugsness of Seneca, who has patiently put up with his schedule for more than 25 years.
The rehabilitation project for the stilling basin below Tuttle Creek Dam is nearing completion, with it being given back to control of the Army Corps of Engineers Operations team at the lake. Operations Project Manager Brian McNulty tells KMAN the project included closure of an old drain that helped cause a sinkhole. Public access remains closed and there won’t be a full-reopening for a while. The east side of Outlet Park will remain shut down. Also at the lake, testing will likely confirm a blue-green algae bloom in the River Pond area. McNulty tells KMAN a warning has been posted…
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.…
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.…
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.
July is National Parks and Recreation Month and the Manhattan City Commission recognized the city’s department at Tuesday night’s meeting. After the proclamation honoring the city’s Parks and Rec department, Director Eddie Eastes noted how the importance of activities in communities nationwide are perceived. The third of the city’s recreation centers to be built with Quality of Life sales tax funding is scheduled to open later this summer. The Eisenhower Center is the last of the group to open.
The Department of the Army has announced the First Armored Brigade Combat Team, First Infantry Division from Fort Riley will be deployed to Europe this year. The 1st ABCT is headed to Europe to participate in Atlantic Resolve exercises tied to the United States’ commitment to NATO. The “Devil Brigade” will replace the First Armored Brigade Combat Team from the First Cavalry Division as part of the Army’s 2021 rotation.
The Manhattan City Commission Tuesday approved the issuance of industrial revenue bonds for the construction of a “home plus” facility planned for property near Colbert Hills. Foundation Park Homeplus, LLC, had requested up to eight million dollars in their IRB application for construction of what is expected to be a campus of three buildings at 4935 Colbert Hills Drive, each with 12 individual rooms. Commissioner Usha Reddi expressed concern over issuing the bonds. Foundation Properties owner Barry Warren replied that the IRB request was strictly for a sales tax exemption. Warren’s Wichita-based company also operates Valley View Senior Life in…
Another look into the revamp of the Manhattan City Code that’s underway was given the City Commission Tuesday night, including a view of how changes to the code have resulted in mismatching development in some areas. Assistant Director of Community Development Chad Bunger highlighted a home that had been built single-family in 1925 and turned into multiple units when zoning changed in 1969. Bunger says one change will be that a property where a non-conforming building suffers damage that totals more than 50-percent of its market value, the owner has to bring it into compliance, rescinding an adjustment made in…