Dennis Beson, Chamber of Commerce CEO, is speaking out about the Convention and Visitors Bureau’s (CVB) involvement in a Consolidated Chamber of Commerce.
County Commissioners voted 2 to 1 to give notice to the Chamber of their intention to withdraw from the Consolidated Chamber of Commerce Master Agreement at the end of the year. The County has cited declining transient guest tax revenues – which is the money source for the CVB – as one of their reasons for issuing the withdrawal notice.
Beson expressed his concern regarding the County’s withdrawal notice. “Part of the problem with this is that there is a lot of ‘he said, she said’, it’s been a lot of implied things, it’s been very difficult to ascertain all the answers; one of the problems I think I’m struggling with personally – and not necessarily reflective of the Chamber of Commerce – is the potential conflict of interest in the 2 to 1 vote.”
Voting for the notice of withdrawal were County Commissioners Keith Ascher and Charles Stimatze. Beson said that the Chamber provides a buffer between the CVB and the County.
“The Chamber provides a layer of insulation between Commissioner Stimatze and Michele Stimatze (CVB Director); if this particular CVB is pulled apart you’ll have a direct connection – even though there still could be an advisory committee or a board – it certainly brings it one step closer to being a direct report, husband and wife.”
Implying a conflict of interest, Beson said that ‘it’s hard to imagine how there can’t be some sort of conflict there.’
Beson hired Michele Stimatze as CVB Directorin April of this year, despite his current implications of a ‘potential conflict of interest.’ At the time of her hiring, Beson stated, in part: “The Junction City Area Chamber of Commerce advertised this position both on a State and National level. After several initial phone interviews our selection committee interviewed three candidates. It was clear that Michele Stimatze was the best choice for the promotion and development of our Convention and Visitors Bureau.”
JC Post contacted County Counselor Steve Opat, who represents the County Commissioners, and he said that his “duty is counsel to the Board of Geary County Commissioners” and he had no comment.
Chamber and County officials have until December 31st to come to an agreement. The Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors approved a motion to hold a tentative August 9th public meeting with City, Chamber and County officials to discuss the master agreement under the consolidated chamber and to educate all parties on the financials of the CVB under the Chamber of Commerce.
Jewels Williams, Grand Champion Blueberry Oat Cookies, $200 Florence Whitebread
The Geary County Free Fair wrapped up festivities Thursday night with the 4-H Project and Livestock Auction.
While most wouldn’t equate the auction, or even the fair, with being an emotional experience – it was exactly that, for the 4-H’ers of all ages.
For Cody Brown, Clarks Creek, to win the Grand Champion Market Steer with his 1330 Hereford, it was exciting. “I’m really excited that my steer is getting that much money, so I can buy another steer!” The market value was $1596, the premium was $1800.
For precocious Karley Kramer, Humboldt, it was a sense of pride that overwhelmed her with her Grand Champion zucchini bread.
“I’ve always wanted to start things off good and so I got what I wanted, ” said Kramer. And she wanted something else too. “I want to put some of the money in my savings account for college; and my family won’t let me get a goat, but I’m going to see if I might be able to get a goat with it.” Daniel Day Excavating and Concrete purchased her zucchini loaves for $525.
For Rebekah Thomas, Lyon Creek, her Reserve Grand Champion win for her 1460 crossbred steer was “bittersweet.”
“It’s just a bittersweet moment of just being the youngest of four – having three older brothers – and watching [them] be great role models to me, and teaching me; I probably wouldn’t be [who I am] without my parents and my brothers because they taught me everything I know.”
This was Thomas’ final year participating in 4H – she will start college this Fall and study Agriculture/Animal Sciences.
Seventy two items were listed in the 4-H Project and Livestock Auction on Thursday evening.
Other items sold at the auction include Kacey Butler’s Grand Champion hog for a $750 premium to Clint Kramer, Mason Muto’s re-purposed wood bench for a premium of $325 to Jeff Childs, and James Martinson’s strawberry-rhubarb pie for a premium of $225 to Next Home Unlimited.
Mason Muto, Grand Champion re-purposed wood bench, $325 premium by Jeff Childs
Mariana Alondra Garcia, Grand Champion Quilt, $475 Heldstab Construction
Kacey Butler, Grand Champion hog, $750 Clint Kramer
Karley Kramer, Grand Champion Zucchini Bread, $525 Daniel Day Excavating and Concrete (pictured w/her mom)
Cody Brown, Grand Champion market beef, $1800
Auction crowd
Jewels Williams, Grand Champion Blueberry Oat Cookies, $200 Florence Whitebread
Rebekah Thomas, Reserve Grand Champion market steer, $1200
The Corps of Engineers at Milford Lake have announced that the Kansas Department of Health & Environment (KDHE) results from lake samples taken Monday, July 24th have been received.
Zone A is in a “Clear” status, Zone B is in a warning for the presence of blue green algae and Zone C is in a watch.
The designated swim beaches located in Zone A at the Corps of Engineers and Milford State Park will be open.
A warning (zone b) indicates that blue green algae is present at a level considered unsafe for people and animals. Contact with lake water should be avoided.
Lake users are reminded that blue green algae may appear or disappear suddenly and move as the wind shifts; boaters should use caution and move to a clear portion of the lake.
Kacey Butler with her grand champion at the Geary County 4-H Swine Show.
Kacey Butler had the grand champion swine at the Geary County 4-H Swine Show.
Butler was excited. “It feels good because I haven’t had a grand champion hog since my first year showing hogs. And I think that was five years ago.” The hog named “Homer” weighed 268 pounds.
Grant Roeser had the reserve grand champion hog in the swine show.
City Commission Candidate Forums on 1420 KJCK wrapped up this morning with the final three candidates choosing to participate – Tim Brown, Nicholas Albritton and Jeff Underhill.
In addition to the live radio coverage, the forums were all live streamed on JC Post’s Facebook page (video below).
Ten candidates are on the ballot for the Tuesday, August 1st primary election which will narrow that list to six that will move on the November general election.
Candidates are vying for three seats.
Candidate forums on 1420 KJCK were sponsored by Coryell Insurors, The Pampered Pet, and the Geary County Clerk’s Office.
A complete list of the candidates can be found below:
Crime timeline-image courtesy RCPD Click to expand
MANHATTAN -Authorities on Thursday released new information about a serial rapist who is believed to have attacked 13 women from 2000 to 2008 in the college towns of Manhattan and Lawrence.
In a media release, police reported that in March of 2009, then Kansas Attorney General Steve Six announced that multiple incidents of rape committed over the course of eight years in both Manhattan and Lawrence appeared to be connected. These incidents began in October of 2000 and ended in December of 2008, involved the victimization of women in Manhattan and Lawrence, and all of them were students at either Kansas State University or the University of Kansas.
Each incident involved a masked intruder entering the victim’s off-campus residence, mostly between the hours of 2:00 a.m. and 4:30 a.m. as the victim slept, and all but one coincided with a break in the academic calendar. The residences themselves varied from apartment complexes to duplexes to single dwellings. While the point of entry was frequently identified, the means by which the suspect made entry were sometimes unknown. Many of the survivors reported having locked their door(s), yet there were no signs of forced entry. There were also indications that the survivors were surveilled by the assailant prior the incident. In all but two cases, the victim was alone.
The assailant was typically described as a white male between 5’9” and 6’0”, with various descriptions of build and estimations of weight and age. We have no confirmed description of the assailant from anyone other than the survivors of these crimes. In most cases a handgun was displayed, with which the assailant threatened the survivors as a means to gain compliance. While the physical violence of the assaults was usually limited to the rape itself, these were all violent acts carried out by an assailant who did so in a cold, calm, calculated manner.
Even before the Attorney General’s announcement in 2009, The Riley County Police Department and the Lawrence Police Department worked closely together to determine if these cases were related, and our joint investigation ultimately established a number of similarities, and a lack of significant dissimilarities, existed between the incidents to conclude that they were likely committed by the same suspect. Nothing in our continued investigation since that time has suggested otherwise.
In the early morning hours on this date in 2015, an unknown assailant entered a residence in the 1400 block of Watson Place in Manhattan with the intent to commit a sexual assault against the female resident, a student attending Kansas State University. A lengthy investigation into the incident has led us to conclude that there is a high probability that the assailant is the same assailant from the previous cases. In 2015, he was described as a white male, approximately 5’10”, and heavier set, most noticeably around the stomach and thighs. The prominent stomach was a frequently mentioned characteristic from previous cases. As to age, we believe the assailant was at minimum 33 years old at the time of the 2015 incident based upon the dates of the previous incidents.
We are announcing this connection between the 2015 case and the previous cases for three reasons. First, given the nearly seven year gap between December of 2008 and July of 2015, we would like to know if there have been similar, unreported incidents during that time span. We cannot say enough about the courageous women who have already stepped forward to provide vital information about their assailant. If anyone feels they had an encounter with an individual matching this description, please know that we want to hear from you, and we want to provide help for you. Your information, even if it is several years old, may help bring justice to all the survivors.
Second, we are making this announcement to solicit information from other individuals who might be able to assist in identifying the assailant. To that end, we are supplying more details than previously released regarding the locations of these incidents. We are hoping that anyone living in the area at the time of these earlier offenses may recall something that could be useful in our investigation. We are currently working on a number of leads, but are not in a position to discuss those leads because to do so might jeopardize the investigation and any potential future prosecution. Major cases are frequently solved with information provided by citizens, thus we need your help to hasten the assailant’s identification and prevent additional assaults.
Finally, we are making this announcement to increase safety awareness among students of Kansas State University and the University of Kansas. We have provided in this release information about the assailant’s description, demeanor, and possible pre-assault actions; and we would like students, as well as the general public, to be mindful of this and to be watchful for anything or anyone that might seem out of place. Do not hesitate to alert the police in such instances. From our perspective, if in any circumstance you wonder whether you should call the police, the answer is yes.
To aid in focusing attention on these cases and assist in providing information to identify and apprehend a suspect, we have dedicated a website, www.kansascollegerapist.com, on which we’ve posted this release along with other important material and resources. Anyone with information relevant to this investigation can visit the site to see the options for contacting us. We also encourage people who want to provide tips to call Manhattan Riley County Crime Stoppers at 785-539-7777 or toll free at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). SMS Text tips are also accepted by sending a text to “CRIMES” (274637) and starting the body of your message with “TIP353.” Webtips are also accepted by visiting Manhattan Riley County Crime Stoppers online or www.RileyCountyPolice.org. Finally, Individuals can download the TipSubmit mobile app for both iPhone and Android operating systems and submit anonymous tips via the app. You do not need to leave your name when providing a tip, collect calls are accepted, and you may be eligible for a cash reward. For those living in the Lawrence area, we are asking that you use also use these numbers and resources when providing tips, as one point of contact will help us ensure that nothing falls through the cracks.
In what is locally a rather unusual move, one which accentuates the community’s concern about these incidents; an anonymous local donor has provided $10,000 to the Riley County Police Department for use as reward money for information that leads to an arrest in these cases. This is in addition to the Crime Stoppers reward.
We also contacted Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt and Kansas Bureau of Investigation Director Kirk Thompson to brief them on the status of the investigation. Both continue to offer their support in our efforts to solve these cases. In addition, we contacted the administrations of both Kansas State University and the University of Kansas, as well as their respective police departments. We also re-issued an updated alert to law enforcement agencies nation-wide about this investigation in the event that other jurisdictions have experienced similar, unsolved cases. Finally, we want to the public to know that we have been working with the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, the FBI, and the US Marshal’s Service during the course of this investigation. Their valuable assistance has come in the form of evidence collection and evaluation, offender behavioral analysis, and investigative recommendations. We will continue to seek out organizations and individuals, law enforcement or otherwise, who could be of assistance in bringing these cases to successful resolutions.
———–
MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Authorities have new information about a serial rapist who is believed to have attacked 13 women from 2000 to 2008 in the college towns of Manhattan and Lawrence.
A news conference is planned for Thursday morning in Manhattan to discuss an ongoing investigation into the rapes that terrorized the Kansas State and University of Kansas campuses.
The Kansas attorney general’s office announced in 2009 that it was investigating the link between the attacks after the two communities sought help from the agency. Most of the attacks happened between 2 a.m. and 4:30 a.m. during school breaks. All were in off-campus housing where students commonly live.
Officials have said the suspect is usually armed and covers his face. He’s also believed to have conducted some sort of surveillance before the attacks.
———————
The Riley County and Lawrence Police Departments will conduct a joint media press conference regarding ongoing sexual assaults in both counties dating back to October 2000.
The press conference will be held on Thursday, July 27th at the Riley County Law enforcement center in Manhattan.
The number of reported rapes in Manhattan continues to increase.
Most recently, on Tuesday a 24-year-old woman reported that an unknown suspect threatened and raped her at her Manhattan residence.
Authorities say the number of rapes reported in Manhattan and surrounding areas has doubled during the first quarter of this year compared with the same time last year.
Authorities say some of the rapes reported this year came from one investigation, after detectives identified other victims while investigating the original report.
The Junction City Area Chamber of Commerce Consolidated Board of Directors met on Wednesday Morning.
After nearly an hour long executive session to discuss personnel matters early into the agenda, the meeting continued with discussion surrounding the current situation/state of the Convention and Visitor’s Bureau (CVB).
Most of the concern and discussion surrounded the transient guest tax revenues which are fees incurred by occupants of local hotels. Part of that money was used to pay Sports Complex Project Manager Eddie Reeder who will resign at the end of the month.
Ben Bennett, County Commissioner, was part of the Board of Directors meeting where he agreed that “more education needs to happen on how transient guest tax is paid.” The transient guest tax revenues, which are down, is one of the main reasons that County Commissioners Keith Ascher and Charles Stimatze have voted in favor for a withdrawal from the master agreement.
According to Bennett, six percent or all of the transient guest tax goes to the CVB through the County through a “voucher” of sorts. Bennett said that he felt the other County Commissioners don’t exactly understand the process.
Mick McCallister, City Commissioner, suggested that as funds from the transient guest tax are dispersed from the County to CVB there should be a monthly report that County Commissioners receive on expenditures [to help them better understand and see where money is spent]. The reports are readily available, but not being given to County Commissioners for one reason or another.
Dennis Beson, Chamber of Commerce CEO, said that “the tough questions are not being asked” of all parties involved in the master agreement. During the meeting Beson said that the real issue surrounds his decision to hire Bob Cervera for marketing and that he was told that because he didn’t consult the County before hiring Cevera “that it set off frustration” and the County felt he was “disrespectful not to ask permission.” Beson noted that he has the authority to hire and fire as he pleases, without consulting the County.
Cevera was hired around the time Connie Hall, former CVB Director, retired and Beson said that ‘in his thought process’ he knew he had enough money to pay Cevera since Hall was no longer employed. Cevera’s pay was roughly 1/3 of what Hall was paid, according to Beson. Despite that, Beson said that the money used to pay Cevera and Hall were not from the same source/fund. This is where Beson said that the confusion came into play – since Hall was “technically a County employee” it was misconstrued that the monies available were “off” and Beson directly implicated the current CVB Director saying the “CVB Director ran to the County” with information that “wasn’t totally accurate.” This coupled with the County supposedly feeling “disrespected” by Beson are what he implies led to the County’s decision to pull out of the consolidated master agreement.
Board members approved a motion to hold an August 9th (tentative) City, Chamber and County public meeting to discuss the master agreement under the consolidated Chamber and to “educate” all parties involved on the financials of the Convention and Visitor’s Bureau under the Chamber of Commerce.
In addition to the live radio coverage on 1420 KJCK, the forum was live streamed on JC Post’s Facebook page (video below).
Call in each morning between 8:00 am and 9:00 with questions for the candidates at 238-1420.
Candidates are running for three seats on the Junction City Commission. An August 1st primary election is scheduled for Junction City residents only; in person advanced voting is now available at the Geary County Clerk’s office.
Candidate forums are sponsored by Coryell Insurors, The Pampered Pet, and the Geary County Clerk’s Office.
The forum schedule this week is as follows:
Tuesday, July 25th
Heinrich Biggs
Larry Ruiz
Wednesday, July 26th
Michael Gray
Bob Henderson
Thursday, July 27th
Jeff Underhill
Tim Brown
Nicholas Albritton
A complete list of the candidates can be found below:
Five hundred and eighty five surveys are in the mail for Junction City residents. The survey – in which respondents remain anonymous – is one of the steps in securing a grant for a Fifth Street Playground Park revitalization effort.
Joy Davis, Quality Play for All Committee, said that the survey will help the grantors assess the community’s need.
“We have to prove that 51 percent of the residents in Junction City are below low or moderate income,” said Davis.
Answers to the surveys are 100 percent confidential, and the information will be compiled in Topeka. The data will only be used for the purpose of the grant.
If awarded, the grant is a matching grant where locally raised funds will be matched dollar for dollar. In order to secure consideration for the grant, all of the 585 community surveys must be returned. Davis said that the surveys will either be addressed directly to the homeowner, or to “current resident” and be in an envelope from the City of Junction City with a Quality Play for All stamp. Included in the survey is a self addressed envelope to return the survey.
“We will apply for this grant this year; the grant is due November 1st of 2017,” said Davis.
Plans for the playground include new equipment that is handicap accessible and a resurfacing of the play area (ground).
“[If you have seen the park] on Poyntz in Manhattan, [the plan for the park locally] will have equipment that will be similar to that; there will be swings that make it possible for children with disabilities to swing, and there will be equipment that has been proven to help children become more coordinated.”
Davis noted that the Fifth Street Playground Park is beautifully landscaped, but the play area needs a facelift.
One person has died from injuries related to a structure fire in Junction City on Monday.
The Junction City Fire Department (JCFD) and officers with the Junction City Police Department (JCPD) responded to 1431 N. Calhoun Street just before noon on Monday for a reported fire.
Upon arrival, fire crews located and extinguished a fire within a ground floor apartment.
One adult male victim was located in the apartment and removed by firefighters. The victim was transported to Geary Community Hospital, where he died as a result of his injuries.
The victim has been identified as 37 year old Derrick Anthony Williams. An official cause of death is pending an autopsy examination.
The fire was determined to have been intentionally set in the kitchen of the apartment. Law enforcement is not seeking any suspects, and no suspects are believed to be at large.
Fire damage was limited to the apartment of origin, with smoke damage affecting surrounding apartments. The total damage is estimated at $20,000.
by: DeAngela McDougald
