The grand opening for new Children’s Mercy Hospital pediatric clinic space will be hosted by Children’s Mercy at a new location on the lower level of Geary Community Hospital in Junction City on March 15th from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Geary Community Hospital CEO Joseph Stratton said Children’s Mercy officials will talk some about what the future will look like in terms of service to children and families in Junction City and Geary County, and also the entire region of Kansas even to the north central and northwest part of the state. “It will be a real positive for us to do that together. While they are a tenant of ours here at the hospital and rent the space it is a significant piece of the continuum of care that we want to build and mission fulfillment here for healthcare in this part of the state.”

Stratton noted all the fundraising and efforts by the R2B4 Bramlage Family Foundation, the Geary Community Healthcare Foundation, Geary Community Hospital and donors in the area that helped with the effort to raise approximately $1.9 million to do the project.

Some clinics are currently being conducted by Children’s Hospital in the new space.

Do not be surprised to see a request for more money for the Military Affairs Council Director position salary going to city and county officials in the form of a 2019 budget proposal.

MAC Board Chair Phyllis Fitzgerald updated her fellow city commissioners this week. “There’s always the possibility that the MAC or Chamber will come to the City and the County looking for more funding for the MAC Director position, maybe in this coming year budget. So that’s something that is a possibility.”

The Military Affairs Council division of the Chamber receives funding from both the City and County.

MAC will be searching for a new director to succeed John Seitz, who retired.

—All classes at the Cloud County Community College Geary County campus at 4:30 p.m. and after have been cancelled.

—The Geary County District Court will close at 1 p.m. Thursday due to inclement weather. Court cases scheduled for hearings will still be heard this afternoon unless you have been contacted by the court that the case has been continued. If you have questions you may call 785-762-5221, ext. 1417 or ext. 1431.

–USD 475 Schools are closed on Thursday.

—Fort Riley has changed from a two-hour delay to now operating with minimal manning and essential services only today (Feb. 22). Employees should contact their supervisor(s) for additional information or instructions.

Employees should contact their supervisor for details or further
instructions.

—U.S. District Court at Fort Riley is canceled today.

–Saint Xavier Catholic School is closed on Thursday

—The Immanuel Lutheran Early Childhood Center is closed on Thursday.

–USD 383 Manhattan – Ogden and Manhattan Catholic Schools closed

–USD 320 Wamego Schools are closed Thursday.

–USD 379 Clay County Schools closed

–USD 378 Riley County Schools closed

–USD 417 Morris County Schools closed

–USD 473 Chapman Schools closed

–USD 481 Rural Vista Schools closed

–USD 323 Rock Creek Schools closed

—USD 487 Herington Schools closed

–The Chapman High School FFA Community breakfast scheduled Thursday has been postponed until next Thursday, March 1, from 6-8 a.m.

–The Neighborhood Learning Center in Junction City is opening at a delayed time…at 9 a.m. on Thursday.

–The Geary County Senior Center has been closed today.

–The Eisenhower Presidential Library is closed on Thursday.

—Sunset Zoo in Manhattan is closed on Thursday.

The Junction City Police Department has reported that on Monday the JCPD was made aware of a threat made by a student at Junction City Middle School.

Detectives and the School Resource Officer immediately began investigating the situation. Late Monday evening a 13-year old City Middle School student was arrested on suspicion of Criminal Threat. The student was turned over to juvenile intake and made a first appearance in Geary County District on Tuesday. The parents of the juvenile were cooperative during the investigation.

Police said their presence at City Middle School Tuesday morning was not to alarm anyone, but to let students and staff know that authorities take their safety seriously. According to Public Information Officer Trish Giordano, police are committed to working with USD 475 to provide a safe and secure environment for the students.

Giordano added that if they encourage anyone if they ever hear or see anything suspicious to call the department, or leave a tip via the Geary County Crime Stoppers website.

There has been some sentiment expressed for changing the food served students in Geary USD 475.

Board of Education member David Walker noted during a BOE goal setting discussion that the district is not getting enough calories in kids, and that needs to change.

Walker observed that USD 475 is trying to provide food that is healthy for the students, but if they don’t like it they don’t eat it. Walker feels the district needs to take a new look at what is being provided. “Not necessarily more food, just food that the kids will eat.”

Walker would like to see more food prepared at the local schools rather than having it shipped in from the central kitchen. “I know that probably goes against what former Boards have decided, but after eating a few of these meals I can see why the kids throw most of it away and why kids bring their lunch.”

Walker would also like for all students in the district to receive a free lunch. ” Everybody ought to have a free lunch. I don’t think it ought to be the people that supposedly can’t afford it. I think that it probably costs as much to try collect the money as it does to feed the kids.”

No action has been taken by the Board of Education. Walker revealed some of his ideas during the goal setting session and to JCPost.com.

Junction City firefighters responded to 938 East 4th Street trailer number 8 for a report of a fully involved trailer fire. When they arrived there was heavy smoke coming from the trailer, and fire from one window.

According to Junction City Fire Chief Terry Johnson the fire was extinguished within a couple of minutes. The Junction City Police Department had spoken to an occupant and advised seven people lived in the trailer home. All were accounted for and were inside a neighbor’s home.

The Red Cross responded to provide assistance the residents.

The property loss was estimated at $10,000 for the structure and $4,000 for the contents.

Johnson reported that the fire appears to have started in a bedroom and extended partially into another bedroom and a hallway. There was smoke damage throughout the rest of the structure. The home was uninhabitable after the fire.

The possibility of adding business people and investors to the membership of the Flint Hills Regional Council is receiving attention.

A Geary County representative on the Council, Ben Bennett, confirmed it’s a discussion in progress right now. “I think we’re going to try to make some proposals a little bit at some of the joint city – county meetings we have in all of the counties.” Right now plans are still being prepared so Bennett noted they are not quite ready to make proposals. The Council members will share information and then bring the concept back to the table.

The idea could possibly allow the Council more options to locate funding and undertake activities.

Multiple cities and counties are members of the Council, including Junction City and Geary County.

Firefighters are redoing their living quarters as part of renovation improvements under way at the Junction City Municipal Building.

Fire Chief Terry Johnson stated there has been a continuing issue to get hot water at the Municipal building. He noted the water and sewer pipes in the building are patch worked. “The City came up with a plan, they found the funding and now they’re going through and replacing all the plumbing for Municipal bathrooms.”

Johnson said an idea was brought to him about renovating the firefighter living area on the second floor of the Municipal building if the funding could be found. “Well the living area probably has not been touched in 20 or 30 years. And I found we had capital improvement money, I got approval, and so the firefighters are doing the work.” That is helping save money on the project.

Also this week, a back or rear entrance to the firefighter quarters on the west side of the building has been completed.