The director of the Geary County Health Department, Tammy Van Busch, confirmed this week that there was a spike in the flu in the county in mid-December. That is a bit earlier than normal since that usually occurs more in mid February.

Van Busch said the most important things for people to do include getting vaccinated against the flu, stay home if you are sick. cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, and wash your hands frequently, especially after coughing or sneezing.

You can go to the Geary County Health Department web site  under “Geary County Health News” for information.

Charles Stimatze will be the chair for the Geary County Commission in 2018. He was elected by his fellow commissioners on Monday during the board’s annual reorganization.

Stimatze said he was excited about the new year coming up. He has been a member of the commission for one year and has had an opportunity to prepare for the chairman’s post. “I think I did a pretty good job about it. I had a good person I followed. Ben ( Bennett ) has been doing it for awhile, been a very good teacher.” Longtime commissioner Ben Bennett served as chair during the past year. He will continue to serve as a member of the governing body.

Commissioner Keith Ascher will serve as vice chair, and Bennett will serve as Secretary.

Breaking down some of the committee and board assignments for commissioners. Stimatze will serve on the Public Building Commission, Sundown Salute Committee, and the EDC. Ascher will chair the CVB Advisory Committee and be a member of the North Central Regional Juvenile Detention Center Board. Bennett will continue to serve on the Flint Hills Regional Council, the Junction City Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, the Animal Shelter Board. and the Military Affairs Council.

Pat Landes will serve as the mayor of Junction City for the coming year. He was elected by his fellow commissioners Monday evening.

This will be his third stint as mayor. But he noted the city is much different now than when he first worked in that role in 2011. “I was mayor that first night and there was a lot of turmoil and financial chaos. We worked through things really hard as a commission with city staff and the community to develop a financial plan that we can carry forward to get our debt paid down, and keep city services going.” Landes that had been accomplished and the city is in much better financial shape now than seven years ago.”

For the coming year Landes pointed to the request for a proposal to find a listing agent for the Land Bank lots to try to market those lots to the community and housing contractors as a goal.

Commissioners elected Phyllis Fitzgerald to serve as vice mayor. She just completed a term as mayor during the past year.

New commissioners Tim Brown, Jeff Underhill and Nicholas Allbritton also took their oaths of office on Monday to begin their new terms. They were elected by voters this past November.

Firefighters paid tribute to a fallen Wamego firefighter,  John Randle, 67,  on Sunday.

Randle died from injuries suffered in a fall at his fire station after returning from fighting a fire early last week. His funeral was Saturday and burial on Sunday at Iuka Township Cemetery in Iuka, Kansas.

As Randle’s body was transported down Interstate 70 for burial firefighters along I-70 paid tribute. Junction City, Geary County, Grandview Plaza and Fort Riley firefighters parked their vehicles at locations near Junction City and Grandview Plaza with emergency lights flashing and an American flag flying.

Grandview Plaza Fire Chief Jerome Thomas said it was his understanding that all the fire departments along I-70 were participating. Thomas stated, “Paying tribute to a brother that does the same thing that we do day in and day out. It’s an honor to be on the fire department. It’s also heartfelt when a firefighter goes down.”

The procession of emergency vehicles led by Geary County Rural Fire Chief Garry Berges moved past Junction City on I-70 just after 10 a.m. on Sunday.

The “Water / Ways” exhibit from the Smithsonian Institute was opened to the public at the Geary County Historical Museum Saturday.

Junction City Mayor Phyllis Fitzgerald cut the ribbon strung across the door of the Museum Auditorium where the exhibit is housed. “The exhibit is really phenomenal. If you really want to learn about water and how important it is to our environment then you should come and check out this fantastic exhibit.”

There was a good turnout for the unveiling of the exhibit. Among the highlights Fitzgerald enjoyed were the mix of pictures with words. “You’ve got the opportunity to see plus read all about what those pictures are telling you. The other thing I really liked, there’s a lot of people here. It’s going to be very educational, not only for the children, but adults as well.”

Buz Bruzina of Junction City called the exhibit an outstanding display of all the activities you can imagine to study and learn about water. ” One item drawing attention was a map on the floor of the auditorium detailing the location of rivers.

Nita Miller of Junction City noted the work and fact finding that went into the exhibit. “Things that we have that we did not know we have. I think it’s going to be a great exhibition for the young people when they come here to go through this. The exhibit will be at the museum through February 18.

The activities on Saturday also included the unveiling of the Historical Society’s own exhibit, “Submerged.” Museum Director Katie Goerl said “Submerged” is so special because it’s unique to our community. I learned things just from looking at our own exhibit.” That exhibit includes a 20-foot timeline, an overview of three major floods that have impacted Geary County, and a couple of fun hands-on activities including a model ferry and dousing rods which Goerl described as “mystical little implements that I think are really cool.”

Goerl credited museum curator Heather Hagedorn for extensive involvement in preparing and working on the project involving the two exhibits, and noted the effort to bring the Smithsonian exhibit to the museum dated back to the tenure of former museum director Jamie Clark.

( Photos by Nita Miller )

MANHATTAN, KAN. – The suspect in Friday’s shooting and standoff with police in Manhattan is being held on a $2,000,000 Bond. The suspected identified as 38-year-old Mark Jason Harrison is jailed on requested charges of attempted capital murder, according to a media release from the RCPD.

Just after 12:30 p.m., officers with the Riley County Police Department responded to the report of a domestic situation in the 3700 block of Hawthorne Woods Circle. When officers arrived on scene, there was an active shooter situation. One officer was shot and received a non-life threatening gunshot wound. He was transported to a local hospital and is currently undergoing treatment.

Additional officers responded to the scene for an adult male barricaded subject.  The subject Mark Jason Harrison was taken into custody uninjured shortly before 3 p.m. Friday. He is being held at the Riley County Jail.

In an effort to ensure transparency, RCPD has asked the Kansas Bureau of Investigation to lead the investigation into the shooting of the officer and the discharge of a firearm during the barricade incident. The Riley County Police Department Crime Scene Investigations unit will process the crime scene.

 

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3:30 p.m. UPDATE: RILEY COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities have resolved the domestic disturbance at a home in the 3700 Block of Hawthorne Woods Circle in Manhattan, according to RCPD Director.  One suspect is in custody.  Schoen did not release his name or possible charges.

The investigation of the officer-involved shooting will take time, according to Schoen. One RCPD officer was wounded and transported for treatment of not-life threatening injuries.

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RILEY COUNTY —  Law enforcement authorities are working an officer-involved shooting at a home in Manhattan.

Just after 12:30 PM Friday, officers with the Riley County Police Department responded the report of a domestic situation at a home in the 3700 block of Hawthorne Woods Circle, according to RCPD Director Brad Schoen.

When officers arrived on scene, there was an active shooter situation and one officer received a non-life threatening gunshot wound. The officer is currently being treated at a local hospital.

Additional officers responded to the scene for a barricaded subject. This is still an active situation.

Police advised that those who live in this area stay sheltered until further notice.

RILEY COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating an officer-involved shooting near the 3700 block of Hawthorne Woods Circle northwest of the Kansas State campus in Manhattan.

One officer was shot and suffered a non-life threatening gunshot wound, according to the Riley County Police Department. Residents who live in the area are advised to stay indoors until further notice.

Police released no additional details.

Chris Mathis, owner of Jack & Dick’s Pawn Shop, Junction City has helped warm up this winter for a 58-year old homeless Chicago man.

A Fort Riley soldier in the 1970’s and 80’s, Woodrow Wilson Jr., pawned some $100 saving bonds at Jack and Dick’s Pawn Shop. Those bonds have matured and are now worth $3,000. Through Mathis’ effort and the work of WGN Television in Chicago the money is being returned to Wilson who was found homeless during the bitter cold weather in Chicago.

Here is the WGN Television report.

Note:  WGN Television has granted permission to use this story.

The work on a community health needs assessment is in the final stages in Junction City.

The marketing and public relations director for Geary Community Hospital, Nikki Davies, has been among those in the community working on this project. “What are some opportunities that we could expand on to make the community a healthier place? So we found a variety of things, one of which is support groups really feeling like they have a resource in the community, and education of what’s available in the community.

Davies feels that will be a big piece as officials move forward and plan to develop action plans. She stressed education will be an important piece of this effort.