To say it’s warm outside is an understatement.

July is typically the hottest month of the year and as we head into the second week temperatures are expected to be in excess of 100 degrees over the next three days.

The National Weather Service in Topeka has issued a heat advisory from noon today until 8:00 pm on Tuesday, July 11th. A Heat Advisory means that a period of hot temperatures is expected. The combination of hot temperatures and high humidity will combine to create a situation in which heat illnesses are possible. Heat indices will be between 103 and 107 degrees both today and tomorrow.

Charles Martinez, Geary County Community Health Planner, said there are different levels to heat-related illness.

“Usually the person will experience headaches, nausea, vomiting – and heat stroke that’s the last step in it, and when that happens it’s a medical emergency,” said Martinez.

EMedicine Health defines the difference between heat exhaustion and a heat stroke:

• Heat exhaustion often occurs when people work or play in a hot, humid environment and body fluids are lost through sweating, which causes the body to overheat and become dehydrated.
• Heat stroke is a life-threatening medical condition. It usually develops because of untreated heat exhaustion. The body’s cooling system, which is controlled by the brain, stops working and the internal body temperature rises to the point at which brain damage or damage to other internal organs may result.

Martinez suggests staying inside as much as possible during the heat wave as well as drinking plenty of water. “Gatorade is good if they’re working out and very active, but water is the best thing to go with.”

Garry Berges, Geary County Emergency Management Director, said that there is an increased fire risk in extreme heat conditions.

“Stuff will dry out a lot faster,” said Berges. “We’ve got to look at it for our firefighters, if we get a fire call we’ll probably page for more personnel to respond just because they get overheated a lot faster; we’ll make sure we keep them hydrated.”

Berges noted that there are no shelters open due to the heat, but the library and other public places like shopping centers are good spots to cool off during the day if you don’t have air conditioning.

The National Weather Service has also issued these additional tips in lieu of the extreme heat:

• Drink plenty of fluids…stay in an air-conditioned room…stay out of the sun…and check up on relatives and neighbors.
• Take extra precautions if you work or spend time outside. When possible…reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or evening. Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and
  heat stroke. Wear lightweight and loose fitting clothing when possible and drink plenty of water.
• To reduce risk during outdoor work…the occupational safety and health administration recommends scheduling frequent rest breaks in shaded or air conditioned environments. Anyone overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location. Heat stroke is an emergency…call 9 1 1.

The heat advisory affects Geary, Dickinson, Clay, Riley and Pottawatomie counties in our immediate area.

For more information contact the Geary County Health Department at 762-5788. For emergencies dial 911.

 

 

*feature photo courtesy The Lakewood Pulse

Some Kansas swimming pools and water parks are closing their water slides after a new state law tightened regulations on amusement park rides.

This new law defines a water slide as an amusement ride if it is at least 15 feet tall and uses water to propel someone throughout the ride.

JCPost.com asked Junction City Manager Allen Dinkel if the Junction City Municipal Swimming Pool is impacted. “Yes we think we are. We’ve talked to our legal counsel and the new law started July 1, but it’s not going to be in effect as far as inspections until August 1.” Dinkel said this law applies to any slide that is over 15 feet tall and has water on it. “And ours is not propelling people, it is just keeping it lubricated, might have to be inspected. But there’s no inspection, permitting process until August 1.”

Dinkel added the city’s legal counsel has advised official they will be fine and they will see where this issue goes in the future. Dinkel believes the swimming pool will have to go through an inspection process for 2018, but the cost of that inspection is not known at this time.

The new law was approved by the legislature after a state lawmaker’s son died last summer on the Verruckt Water Slide at Schlitterbahn Kansas City Water Park in Kansas City, Kansas.

In celebration of the 100th anniversary of the nation’s Fighting First, the Big Red One the 1st Infantry Division will host its annual Victory Week August 16th through 25th on Fort Riley. The public is invited to witness events of camaraderie and remembrance throughout the week.

One of the featured events for Victory Week 2017 is the Vietnam Veterans Welcome Home Ceremony.

On August 23rd, the 1st Infantry Division will host the third Vietnam Veterans Welcome Home Ceremony in honor of the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War. 

Veterans will be joined by active-duty Big Red One soldiers returning from deployments.

The ceremony is open to all veterans and the public is encouraged to attend. Veterans are asked to RSVP to 1st Lieutenant Stephanie Preekett at 240-3866 or by email at rileywelcomehome@gmail.com.

 

Another highly anticipated event is the Victory Fest musical festival.

August 19th will be the all day Victory Fest event at Marshall Army Airfield on Fort Riley.

Eli Young Band and the All-American Rejects are amongst the headline performers; other acts on the main stage include The Charlie Daniels Band and Lit. Local artists and the USO Troupe will perform on a secondary stage.

Tickets for DOD ID card holders, students and Veterans are $25 in advance and $35 at the gate; non-Affiliated civilians are $35 in advance, $45 at the gate. Children 5 to 12 are $10 with an adult ticket purchase, children under 4 are free.

There is a family and friends rate for 4 tickets via advanced purchase only for $80 for DOD ID card holders, students and Veterans; the same package is available for civilians for $120.

Volunteers, sponsors and additional vendors are needed; for more information contact:

• Volunteers: 239-4920
• Corporate Sponsors: 239-3733
• Vendors: 239-5771

There will be several other events throughout Victory Week 2017 including the Division Review.

For more information about the Big Red One’s 100th anniversary and Victory
Week, see https://www.riley.army.mil/100thAnniversary.

 

The Corps of Engineers at Milford Lake have announced that the Kansas Department of Health & Environment (KDHE) results from lake samples taken Wednesday, July 5th have been received. Due to high blue green algae cell counts all zones of the reservoir, including Zones A, B and C are in a “Warning” status.

A “Warning” indicates that blue green algae is present at a level considered unsafe for people and animals.  Contact with lake water should be avoided.

The designated swim beaches at the Corps of Engineers and Milford State Park will be closed until next week’s test results are known.

Bill Whitworth, Corps of Engineers Project Manager, said that this does not mean swimming is prohibited at Milford Lake.

“It does not prevent people from swimming at other locations,” said Whitworth. “They need to use their discretion – blue green algae will migrate from here to there and one day it may be clear and the next day it may not….as a general guideline, swimming is not prohibited, swimming on the designated beaches will be [prohibited] until we get results next week.”

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.

 

The annual United Way of Junction City – Geary County stuff the bus campaign begins on July 17th.

Donations will be accepted for USD 475 students to help those children in the district whose families who may struggle to provide the necessary items to start the school year.

Drop off locations to donate school supplies include:  Millennium Bank, KS State Bank, Central National Bank, Intrust Bank, Sunflower Bank, Exchange Bank, Landmark National Bank, Walmart on Chestnut St., and Dillon’s.

Donations can also be dropped off at the United Way Office, 139 East 8th Street, Monday through Friday.

For those who do not wish to shop for school supplies, financial contributions can be made. All funds generated will be spent on the purchase of additional school supplies. Checks should be made out to the United Way with “Stuff the Bus” written on the memo line. Please mail checks to United Way, P.O. Box 567, Junction City, KS 66441.

Please consider the following items when making donations:

• 3 ring binders – 2 inch
• 3×3 sticky notes
• gallon ziploc freezer bags
• black dry erase markers
• glue sticks
• clorox wipes
• hand sanitizer, 8 ounces
• quart ziploc freezer bags
• white glue, 8 ounces
• wide ruled notebook paper
• composition books
• crayola crayons, 24 pack
• #2 pencils
• kleenex, large box
• large pink erasers
• plain pocket folders
• wide ruled spiral notebooks
• yellow highlighters
• mechanical pencils

For more information on Stuff the Bus or to volunteer please contact the United Way at 238-2117.

 

Freedom Park has been reopened to the public.

According to Geary County Sheriff Tony Wolf the site with the large atomic cannon on the south side of I-70 overlooking Marshall Army Airfield is now open to the public. He noted some time ago that an individual tried to get explosives onto Fort Riley to blow up a bomb. That was in April of 2015. Wolf stated, “In the investigation portion of that they found that he had visited Freedom Park at some point, and as a precaution from that point forward they wanted to kind of close that off over there, they being the military.”

The site was closed, but Wolf added the military now feels it can be reopened.  The barricades have been removed and the park has been reopened.

According to the U.S.Attorney’s Office 22-year old John T. Booker Jr. was arrested April 10, 2015 and later pleaded guilty to one count each of Attempted Use of a Weapon of Mass Destruction and one count of Attempted Destruction of Government Property.

 

by: DeAngela McDougald

The Junction City Commission has decided to send a request for a special use permit back to the Metropolitan Planning Commission (MPC).

As reported first by JC Post on June 9th, the MPC recommended approval of a special use permit to allow a recreation vehicle (RV) campground at 1510 Rucker Road.

Concerns surrounding establishing an RV campground on land that is zoned for a mobile home park district arose from multiple community members.

City Manager Allen Dinkel said concerns arose about safety in the area.

“There’s concern about what it’s going to look like as far as aesthetically; I think one of the biggest concerns is that area has been a blighted area for a number of years,” said Dinkel. “The key issue is to keep it looking good and also safe for the neighborhood.”

Police Chief Dan Breci reported that the site has been an “eyesore and crime infested problem” during his 21 years in law enforcement in Junction City. He went on to say that Rucker Road is a residential area and he would “hate to see the City put something in where tenants at the RV park could remain forever.” 

As local officials work to improve the aesthetic appearance and image of the city while attempting to boost the local population, JC Post asked Dinkel if an RV park is the right move.

“I think a high quality RV park [is good]; we have one at the edge of town south of I-70 that is a high quality image and that’s where we want to be,” said Dinkel. “[City officials] are not opposed to an RV park, but [we] also want certain standards – to look good, and to be an asset to the community.”

City Commissioners sent the request back to the MPC with recommendations that they (1) consider imposing conditions and standards on the approval of the project, (2) put a three year limit on the special use permit, (3) consider putting a time limit on what an extended stay by an RV user would be, (4) and consider the standards and requirements for the aesthetics of a future project.

A set of  pet oxygen masks designed to save the lives of your pets in a fire were presented to the Junction City and Geary County Rural Fire Departments on Thursday.

The Rural Fire Chief for Garry Berges stated that local officials contacted the Invisible Fence Company through a web site. “We told them we had three first-out trucks where Junction City is also receiving three sets along with Geary County. Any of our trucks that are first on scene will be the ones that try to save the animals if the need arises.”

Each department received a set of the masks which are through the Project Breathe program and include three sizes of masks so animals of multiple shapes and sizes can be accommodated.

Dr. Julie Ebert, veterinarian, said the different sizes of the masks for example, will fit on a small up to a large dog. “It’s going to fit snugly around the face so that oxygen is able to be artificially given to the dog if they’re not breathing, especially if there’s been a smoke inhalation situation where they need to actually be supported with oxygen.”

The masks can be used on other animals as well, such as pets.

The presentation of the new masks occurred in front of the Junction City Fire Department Thursday morning.

 

The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) has awarded the City of Junction City the 8th Street Pedestrian/Bicycle Pathway project.

A $938,000 bid for the project has been awarded. KDOT will pay 80 percent of the cost, with the City being responsible for the other 20 percent.

The project will consist of a 10 foot concrete lighted walkway starting from the intersection of 8th Street and Rucker Road west to the new K-18 diamond interchange.

“Also there’s street improvements at the intersection of West 8th and Rucker Road; they’re going to flatten that hill  out for better vision angle and put a median to control traffic going through there,” said Public Works Director Ray Ibarra.

Ibarra noted that work for the street improvements will note be underway until the K-18 diamond interchange is near completion because that is currently the detour route.

Construction activity was scheduled to begin on July 5th, so it is important that motorists pay attention when entering the work zone area. Watch out for construction equipment and workers.

The project is expected to be complete by the end of the year.

If you have any questions, contact the City of Junction City Department of Public Works at 238-7142.