Lewis Marien, Mercury staff photographer, documents the month of March.
GET IT TO GO — Austin English, Peace Lutheran Church pastor, places ashes on the forehead of Audrey Cook during a drive-through Wednesday, March 5, 2025, outside of the church on Kimball Avenue in Manhattan. Ash Wednesday started the Lenten season, which runs through April 17.
COFFEE BREAK — Motorists pull into 151 Coffee, 900 N. Third St. in Manhattan, Friday, March 7, 2025. Its official opening was March 3. The drive-through chain specializes in blended energy drinks, smoothies and of course, coffee. This is its third location in Kansas, with one already up and running in Lawrence, and another coming to Overland Park.
TOWERING — Demolition of Commerce Bank on Poyntz Avenue in downtown Manhattan continues Tuesday, March 11, 2025. It is being razed with a new residential and retail space to take its place.
A FUN NIGHT — Erica Kalkofen, right, fits a new bracelet on her daughter, Ingrid, 7, a first-grade student at Ogden Elementary School, during the school’s Literacy/STEAM Night, Tuesday, March 11, 2025. The event featured several science, technology, engineering, art and math activities, and was centered around the entire school reading the book “The Wild Robot.”
BLOOD MOON — Manhattan had clear skies for a total lunar eclipse taking place across the country late Thursday, March 14, and into early Friday, March 15. A total lunar eclipse, also nicknamed a “blood moon,” is when the entire Moon falls within the darkest part of Earth’s shadow, thus making it appear with a red-orange color.
BLOOMING — Magnolias start to take shape on a tree at City Park in Manhattan ahead of a winter storm Wednesday, March 19, 2025. March 20 was the first day of spring.
PREPPED — Workers tie up the intersection of Kimball and Denison avenues in Manhattan, Tuesday, March 25, 2025. The seven-lane intersection was closed for a 287-foot truss system to be installed.
JAZZY — From left, Yellowjackets members Russell Ferrante, Bob Mintzer, Will Kennedy and Dane Alderson perform Tuesday, March 25, 2025, at K-State’s McCain Auditorium. The Grammy Award-winning jazz fusion band played as part of a double bill that also featured vocalist Kurt Elling — a Grammy winner himself — and his band paying homage to Weather Report.
HEADED BACK OUT — Kansas State women’s baskeball sophomore guard Zyanna Walker receives a hug as she and the team are given a sendoff Thursday, March 27, 2025, outside of the Ice Family Basketball Center. The Wildcats headed to Spokane, Wash., to play USC on March 29 in the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Tournament.
