A few hundred Junction City High School students gathered at the Al Simpler Stadium Wednesday morning to remember those who lost their lives in Parkland, Florida during a shooting at a high school one month ago. There was also reflection back to a shooting incident that left one person wounded at Junction City High School 25 years ago.

Social Studies teacher Reina Cruz told the students at JCHS that there are many layers to the problem. She was hopeful that people would let go of “being right” and think about what could be done to resolve it. “Correlation does not mean causation, but let’s talk about all the variables. Let’s stop picking sides and unit to tackle this once and for all. Let’s stop letting these numbers rise, because it’s not just the victims that are enacted. It’s all of society.”

Cruz told the students that they are her hope and the difference that our society is seeking. ” We need you all to stay engaged and continue to stand for what you believe in.  But remember to be informed, be kind and be aware.”

Student Morgan Deering noted there is a cycle when tragedies occur in the United States, it is broadcast in the news, condolences are offered, nothing changes, life returns to normal and the society moves on. “We move on while there are still families grieving in affected communities.” Deering added the students of JCHS in compliance with the students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, who organized the national March for Our Lives movement and many others across the nation are working to change the cycle.

Deering added JCHS is not immune to disaster. “We all love to say things like that would never happen here, or that could never happen to us. But it did, in 1993 it happened.”

Student Isaiah Poulson told the large audience at the stadium that chooses to open his eyes. “to work against the plague of death and loss, to feel the pain of my country and fight the pain of my peers. To work for love and to live humbly and graciously for the rest of my years. I refuse to let instability grow and we can stand up for those who can no longer share their voice.

The walkout and ceremony at JCHS was organized by students. It concluded with the reading of the names of the 17 people killed in the shootings in Parkland, Florida and the release of one white balloon into the sky for each of those who were slain.  Loud applause from the audience punctuated the release of each balloon and the comments of the speakers.

 

 

 

Junction City police have reported that at 10 a.m. Tuesday the School Resource Officer at Junction City High School was made aware of two students at the main campus that had allegedly made comments constituting a criminal threat. According to JCPD Public Information Officer, Trish Giordano, both students, ages 15 and 16, were arrested and transported to the Juvenile Detention Center.

Giordano also reported that at approximately 10:55 a.m. on Tuesday, Officers responded to the Freshman Success Academy in reference to a 15-year old who had an airsoft pistol in his backpack and had shown it to other students. When the airsoft pistol was located in the backpack it was disassembled. The student claimed he had brought the airsoft pistol to school to give to a friend. Even though no verbal threats were made, the student, age 15, was arrested on suspicion of Criminal Threat.  Police said the student’s actions caused a classroom to be evacuated and the school’s regular activities to be disrupted which meets the definition under state law of Criminal Threat.

The Junction City Police Department will continue to take these types of incidents seriously and will keep the public informed. They are again asking that parents talk to your children and advise them that their behavior will have consequences. They thanked for the public for all the support they have received on being transparent with the issue. School safety is their top priority.

UPDATE:

Junction City police have provided information on two armed robberies in the city Monday night.

According to Public Information Officer Captain Trish Giordano at 9:54 p.m. a subject reported being approached by two black men in the alley behind El Tapatio restaurant, 300 West 6th Street. The victim said one of the men had a gun and demanded money. The victim ran several blocks to his home after giving the suspects his cell phone.

At about the same time dispatch received a 911 call from a second victim that had been walking in the same area being approached by two black men, one with a gun and both wearing dark clothing. The two men demanded money and took the second victim’s wallet and cell phone. The suspects ran west through the alley after the incident.

One suspect was described as about 6′ in height and the other about 5’9. It is believed these incidents happened within a few minutes of one another.

Police are asking if anyone has information to contact the police department TIPS line at 785-762-8477 or leave a webtip at Gearycrimestoppers.com. You can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward.

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Junction City police have reported that two armed robberies occurred within a three minute period on Monday night.

According to police the first one happened at 9:54 p.m. at 322 West 6th Street, and the second one at 340 West 6th Street at 9:57 p.m.

Police said both cases are under investigation.

JCPost.com will provide more information on these cases as it becomes available.

The Geary USD 475 Board of Education has voted 6-1 to renew the contracts for Junction City High School Principal Melissa Sharp and Junction City Middle School Principal Mary Wright for the 2018-19 school year.

Board members Ferrell Miller, David Walker, LaDonna Junghans, Anwar Khoury, Sara Talley and Rina Neal voted yes on the motion to renew the contracts, while Board member Tom Brungardt voted no.

Miller made the motion to renew the contracts and in the process noted that the Board has had a systematic process they have been using the last several weeks. “It was a good process in my opinion, we’ve worked through that process. You know that we value good leadership, quality leadership and we support quality leaders.”

The decision to renew the contracts followed executive sessions totaling about one hour and 50-minutes on Monday evening at the Devin Center. That followed a series of lengthy executive sessions last Monday night.

Last night during the closed door meetings Board members met with school district attorney Mark Edwards present, but the members of the administrative staff did not meet with the Board during that time.

Sharp and Wright’s status for the 2018-19 school year had been unknown in recent weeks. At a meeting in early February there was a motion on the BOE agenda to adopt a resolution for the non-renewal of Wright’s contract, but after about one hour of executive session testimony in support of the City Middle School administrator and BOE deliberation, the non-renewal item was removed from the agenda. The Board at that time also approved a motion to rescind the resignation of Sharp which had been on the personnel report that was approved earlier in the meeting. That resignation would have been effective at the end of the current school year.

During the February session the Board also approved a motion to have the Superintendent Corbin Witt or his designee address the performance issues of both Wright and Sharp, and through an evaluation process develop goals and share the progress toward those goals with the Board.  More than 100 people packed into the Devin Center in support of the two administrators that evening.

 

 

 

GEARY COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a student for alleged criminal threat.

Just before 10a.m. Monday, the School Resource Officer at the Junction City Middle School was notified that a student possibly had a weapon, according to the Junction City Police Department.

The Officer along with school staff quickly located the 12-year-old and located an airsoft pistol on his person.

The student had showed the airsoft pistol to another student which alarmed her and immediately notified a staff member.
The 12-year-old was arrested for Criminal Threat for actions done in a reckless disregard of the risk of causing fear, evacuation or disruption in regular ongoing activities.

Police transported the student to the Juvenile Detention Center.

The ribbon cutting and grand opening for the new Children’s Mercy Pediatric clinics located in the lower level of Geary Community is scheduled on Thursday.

According to Children’s Mercy this event will help celebrate the next-step forward in pediatric health care for children and families in north central Kansas.

The ribbon cutting is scheduled at 5 p.m. Thursday with a program in the main lobby at Geary Community at 6 p.m.

The 7,000 square-foot pediatric specialty center includes 12 exam rooms, 2 telemedicine rooms, a lab draw room, reception area and two nurses’ station. Current specialty clinics include cardiology and endocrine / diabetes. Several additional clinics will be offered through telemedicine technology in the coming months, and officials anticipate the addition of other specialty clinics throughout the year.

 

Junction City firefighters went to 1606 Westwood Boulevard on Sunday.

According to Fire Chief Terry Johnson the home was occupied by three people, and all three adults were assisted out of the house by police prior to the arrival of the Fire Department. There were no injuries.

The damage estimate was put at $3,300 including $3,000 to the structure and about $300 to the contents in the immediate area of the fire. The house is considered livable. The fire damage was to the exterior of the house and there was little to no smoke damage found inside the residence.

The cause of the blaze was determined to be accidental with an undetermined ignition source. The house sustained fire damage to an approximate 10 by 15 foot area of siding, soffits and fascia.

Fourteen fire personnel and three police personnel responded to the incident.

 

You can form a team for Walk Kansas 2018.

Six member teams will participate in the eight-week healthy lifestyle challenge.

You can register online at www.walkkansas.org or contact the K-State Research and Extension Office.

The program runs from March 18 until May 12.

You can register in Geary County at the Extension Office at 119 East 9th Street. The telephone number is 238-4161.

 

In the near future USD 475 Board of Education meetings will be live streamed online.

The Executive Director of Communication for the school district, Mat Droge said the Board of Education has authorized the acquisition of a Tricaster system. “That will allow them to have their meetings broadcast through live stream, I’m presuming we will use You Tube, the district’s You Tube channel.”

Droge said that will allow the district to use the equipment for other purposes. There could be opportunities for students to utilize the equipment.

Droge estimated the system could be purchased, up and running possibly within about two months.