( photo courtesy of Geary County Rural Fire Garry Berges
Employees at JC Transportation Company have opened an account for the Seyboth / Arsenault families at Sunflower Bank, 510 North Jefferson in Junction City for anyone wishing to make monetary donations to assist them with securing housing, clothing, and household goods.
You can donate to Sunflower Bank; Seyboth / Arsenault Fund.
Two members of the family, Crystal Seyboth and Vera Arsenault are employed at JC Transportation, Crystal as a bus aid and Vera as a driver.
Their home at 3299 West Lyons Creek Road burned on Tuesday. Other members of the family included Terrance Seyboth and four children ages 16, 14, 11 and 10.
MANHATTAN —Following an incident of racist graffiti found on a car near the K-State campus Wednesday morning, Kansas State University President Richard Myers released this statement to students and faculty.
“The racist messages found on a car parked off campus are a direct attack on the values of our community.
This image shows only a portion of the graffiti Photo courtesy Andrew Hammond
Those who wish us harm should not be allowed to create a culture of fear and divisiveness. As I hear from student leadership following this incident, your message is clear: We need to ensure the safety of those affected by this attack.
The K-State Police Department will immediately increase its patrols and visible presence on the Manhattan campus. Those who need support should use the many resources we make available through student life and our counseling center.
Please avail yourselves of assistance if needed, including our LiveSafe app and Wildcat Walk services. If we need to make additional resources available, we will.
We call on the Riley County Police Department to use all available resources in its criminal investigation, including any necessary state and federal resources. There has already been widespread misinformation about this incident; we need to make decisions based on factual information, not rumors, unsubstantiated social media posts or stories. Let’s get it right.
My military career taught me that our collective safety depends on strength and vigilance. We all need to exercise both. I am asking Vice President Cindy Bontrager to conduct a complete audit of security cameras on our Manhattan campus and develop a plan to improve our coverage. We will review security plans and improve as needed.
In this uncertain time, I ask each of us to reach out to anyone who needs support and be alert for ways to help. We need to come together and resist those who wish to pull us apart.”
The Junction City Police Department has reported the driver of a 2007 Mini Cooper, 23-year old Jacey Cantrell, Wamego, has died following a two vehicle accident Wednesday morning on Interstate 70.
According to Police Department Lieutenant Trish Giordano police responded to a major collision at a location near exit 297 on I-70. Cantrell was entrapped in the vehicle and had to be extricated by the Junction City Fire Department. She was transported to Geary Community Hospital where she was pronounced deceased a short time later.
The other vehicle involved in the accident was a 2014 Ram pickup truck driven by 31-year old Joel Larabaeza, Junction City. The truck rolled at least two times after the impact. Larabaeza received no injuries from the collision.
After interviewing witnesses it was determined that the Mini Cooper was traveling westbound and crossed over the center median. The Ram truck was eastbound and struck the passenger side of the Mini Cooper.
USD 475 confirmed for JC Post that Cantrell was a fourth grade teacher at Eisenhower Elementary School in Junction City. She was in her first year of employment with the school district. Counselors are responding to that school to provide assistance where necessary the remainder of this week. Cantrell was on her way to work when the accident occurred.
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Two people were transported to hospitals following a two-vehicle head-on collision Wednesday morning on I-70 near Junction City.
The eastbound lane of the interstate had to be closed for about an hour while authorities worked at the accident scene. One of the victims was lifeflighted to a hospital and another was transported to Geary Community Hospital.
Police Lieutenant Trish Giordano said one of the vehicles was traveling westbound on the interstate, “and crossed the median and hit an eastbound vehicle head on. ”
The names of those involved in the accident are not yet available.
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The eastbound lane of I-70 near the 296 exit on the south side of Junction City has been closed early Wednesday morning due to a two-vehicle injury accident. Traffic will be rerouted. There was a traffic backup at that time back near the 295 exit approximately one mile west of the accident area.
According to police dispatch one vehicle rolled and is off the interstate down a 50-foot embankment.
Junction City police have confirmed that 12-year old Trenton Walker has returned home safe. He had been the subject of a police search overnight after leaving his residence in the Spring Valley neighborhood at 1 a.m.
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Junction City Police have reported that a 12-year old boy is missing.
Trenton Walker left his residence in the Spring Valley neighborhood at 1 a.m. and it’s unknown where he could be going. Trenton is 5’2, 96 pounds and was wearing a law green jacket with an orange liner, blue jeans and red sneakers.
If you know of his location contact the Junction City Police Department at 762-5912…extension 0.
Trick or treaters will be out in Junction City Tuesday evening for Halloween.
Police Lieutenant Trish Giordano said trick or treating begins at 6 p.m. “And then at 8 p.m. we’ll sound the witches wail indicating that it’s time to go.”
The witches wail is the emergency warning siren, that again, will be sounded at 8 p.m.
Giordano said trick or treaters should travel in groups. “They should definitely stay in groups, have some kind of reflective clothing or flashlight, walk on the sidewalk if possible and only go to the houses that have the porch lights on them.” Also have a parent check the candy received by children to ensure there are no problems.
Extra police will be on duty patrolling in the city during the trick or treating Tuesday evening.
Three candidates for Junction City Commission aired their views on a proposed new Junction City High School and related issues Monday on 1420 KJCK AM, The Talk of JC.
During a candidate forum discussion about economic development one of the candidates, Tim Brown indicated he thinks the city has to make itself attractive. “There’s ways that we can do that. I think one of the things we have to do is the new school. And I know that’s very controversial, I was against it when it first came out. But I think the stars are aligned perfectly for this to occur, and if we don’t do it I think we are making a big mistake.”
Candidate Heinrich Biggs is not in favor of a new high school. “I’m against a new school, I’m sorry, I don’t think there’s nothing wrong with an old high school, I went to the high school. And they talk about the problems they have in that building. They had the same problems when I graduated in ’73 from that school.”
Candidate Bob Henderson referred to the 12 years he spent serving on the USD 475 Board of Education saying he has tremendous respect for officials in the district and the education they’re providing. “I also have tremendous respect for our citizens right here and their taxes, and such like that. I would be okay with that. What I worry about the new school is who’s putting in the streets, who’s putting in the curbs, who’s putting in the sewage, who’s putting in the water. That’s all going to have to come through the city and I think we have to take a really critical look at that to see how that’s going to be funded.”
JC Post talked with Junction City Manager Allen Dinkel for clarification in the infrastructure issue for a new school. He noted the city would cooperate with the school district. We’re assuming that property would be annexed into the city because they’ll want city water and wastewater services, and we’re going to require that. Plus we would also be able to provide fire protection and police protection if annexed in the city. As far as cost to the city those costs would be paid back by the school district, just like a developer. If somebody would come in and build a new piece of land they’d be required to pay the cost to bring water and sewer to their properties.”
On the subject of streets Dinkel noted that until he sees a formal plan he would not know if any additional streets would be needed.
The other candidates running for Junction City Commission include Jeff Underhill, Michael Gray and Nicholas Allbritton. They will be guests on a forum on the Talk of JC Tuesday from 8 to 9 a.m.
On November 7 voters will be asked to cast ballots on a bond issue for the proposed new high school. If they say yes the state of Kansas will pay 47% of the cost of the new school. Federal heavy impact aid received by USD 475 would pay for the remainder. School district officials have made it clear there would be no increase in the local property tax levy with this project.
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Joseph Dunford Jr.
MANHATTAN — The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff will deliver the first Landon Lecture of the 2017-2018 school year at Kansas State University.
Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr. will speak at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Nov. 27, in Forum Hall at the K-State Student Union. This Landon Lecture is free and students, faculty, staff and the public are welcome.
“As a military-inclusive institution with a long history of serving the educational needs of our military members and veterans, as well as their families, and with the strong partnerships we have with both Fort Riley and Fort Leavenworth, we look forward to bringing the nation’s highest-ranking military officer to campus for a Landon Lecture,” said Jackie Hartman, the university’s chief of staff, director of community relations and chair of the Landon Lecture Series.
Dunford became the 19th chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on Oct. 1, 2015. He serves as the principal military adviser to the president, secretary of defense and National Security Council.
Before becoming chairman, Dunford was the 36th commandant of the Marine Corps. He also served as assistant commandant of the Marines from 2010-2012 and was commander of the International Security Assistance Force and Unites States Forces-Afghanistan from February 2013-August 2014.
A graduate of Saint Michael’s College, Dunford was commissioned in the Marine Corps in 1977 and has been an infantry officer at all levels. His service includes command of the 2nd Battalion, 6th Marines, and command of the 5th Marine Regiment during Operation Iraqi Freedom. He also served as the assistant division commander of the 1st Marine Division, Marine Corps director of operations and Marine Corps deputy commandant for plans, polices and operations. In addition, he commanded I Marine Expeditionary Force and was commander of Marine Forces U.S. Central Command.
With the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Dunford has served as executive assistant to the vice chairman of the Joint Staff; chief of the Global and Multilateral Affairs Division; and vice director of operations on the Joint Staff.
A master’s degree graduate in government from Georgetown University and in international relations from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Dunford also is a graduate of U.S. Army Ranger School, Marine Corps Amphibious Warfare School and the U.S. Army War College.
In cooperation with Fort Riley officials the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) issued a Boil Water Advisory Friday afternoon for drinking and cooking water for residents of the Ellis Heights community, Fort Riley On-Post Housing. Officials also recommended that residents of the Warner Peterson community take the same precautionary methods if experiencing discolored water.
This advisory resulted from a break in the water-main during construction work. Water pressure is being restored to impacted neighborhoods.
The Warner Peterson neighborhood is served by a separate water line; however, the loss in pressure due to the break caused pressure to fluctuate in this line as well. This fluctuation can cause the release of mineral buildup into the line resulting in discoloration of the water. To ensure safety of all residents, Fort Riley Public Works staff are flushing the Warner Peterson water line.
Fort Riley Environmental Division of Public Works and the Fort Riley Department of Public Health are conducting testing of water samples from both communities. The boil order will be canceled once water has been tested and verified safe for consumption.
Until the boil advisory is lifted, residents of these Fort Riley neighborhoods should take these steps:
a. Boil water for one minute prior to drinking or food preparation, or use bottled water.
b. Dispose of ice cubes and do not use ice from a household automatic icemaker.
c. Disinfect dishes and other food contact surfaces by immersion for at least one minute in clean tap water that contains one teaspoon of unscented household bleach per gallon of water.
d. Water used for bathing does not generally need to be boiled.
Supervision of children is necessary while bathing so that water is not ingested. Persons with cuts or severe rashes may wish to consult their physicians.
e. If your tap water appears dirty, flush the water lines by letting the water run until it clears.
A total of 38 SWAT Tactical members have been training in Junction City this week.
Police Chief Dan Breci stated that they have been getting certified to be SWAT operators throughout Kansas. “The Kansas Bureau of Investigation is training at the Sheriff’s Department and at the Police Department these 38 individuals.” That explains the presence of Swat vehicles and tactical teams in the community in recent days. Breci stressed it is a training exercise which was scheduled to end Friday afternoon.
The police chief noted the training began at the Sheriff and Police Departments then at mid-week began moving out into the community. “They had selected somewhere between 15 and 20 houses or buildings that the public basically said you can use my property to train. ”
The Geary County Sheriff’s Office responded to Grandview Plaza back on October 22nd for a report of a disturbance. The Captain of Investigations for the Sheriff’s Office, Brian Hornaday, has reported that during the investigation, Grandview Plaza Police Chief Shawn Peirano was arrested on suspicion of Domestic Battery and Criminal Restraint.
Hornaday said Thursday that this is an active, ongoing investigation. Therefore the Sheriff’s Office would not comment further.
Grandview Plaza Mayor Rick Geike confirmed that Peirano has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the case.
