UPDATE:

The tornado warning has expired.

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The National Weather Service in Topeka has issued a Tornado Warning for… Northwestern Dickinson County in central Kansas... Southeastern Ottawa County in north central Kansas… * Until 715 PM CDT *

At 626 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located near Salina, moving northeast at 35 mph.

HAZARD…Tornado and golf ball size hail.

SOURCE…Radar indicated rotation.

IMPACT…Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur. Tree damage is likely. *

Locations impacted include… Abilene, Solomon, Bennington, Manchester, Niles and Talmage. This includes Interstate 70 between mile markers 267 and 276.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS… TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter and protect yourself from flying debris.

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Dickinson County Emergency Management Director Chancey Smith confirmed that rotation was spotted in the town of Enterprise.

The storm traveling through the area has high precipitation and low visibility therefore the sirens were sounded as a precaution, according to Smith.

Dickinson and Geary Counties remain in a Tornado watch until 10:00 pm.

Former Junction City Police Chief Tim Brown has filed for candidacy to the Junction City Commission.

A resident of Junction City since the late 1970s, Brown led a life committed to public service.

“I got out of the Army in 1978 and [began work] on the Junction City Police Department,” said Brown. “I was on the police department for about 37 years, the last 7 as Chief of Police.”

Brown retired almost a year ago from law enforcement, and noted that he’s been contemplating running for the City Commission ever since.

“I’ve been in some form of public service most of my life, and I decided that I wanted to take an opportunity at running for Commission and continuing my public service,” said Brown. “I can’t think of anything more honorable than maybe being a commissioner for the city of Junction City.”

Brown’s filing today bring the total number of candidates to six for the Junction City Commission.

There are three available seats on the Commission, if the number of candidates reaches ten there will be a primary election ahead of the November general election.

The filing deadline is Thursday, June 1st at noon.

And then there were five.

Five candidates have filed for one of three available seats on the Junction City Commission. The latest to file for candidacy include Michael A. Morris and Lawrence “Larry” Ruiz.

Morris retired from the Army in 2012 after 26 years of service. He says he wants to work toward improvements in the City.

“I’d like to help our city become better and better; it’s already good and it can get better and that’s what I’m looking for,” said Morris. “[I want] to work on building better relations with the communities around us – Fort Riley, Manhattan – we’re a good city, but we can be great.”

Ruiz, with years of experience as a small business owner and consultant, said he’s disappointed that Commissioners are seemingly “jumping ship.”

“I read [in the news] where three Commissioners were not running again and I was very disturbed to the core,” said Ruiz. “These are men that worked hard and put a lot into their vision and what they wanted to see happen in Junction City, and they basically started building a tower and got half way through it and then bailed out for whatever reason.”

Both candidates – Morris and Ruiz – are amongst the latest to enter the race for City Commission where there are three seats up for election.

Other candidates include Heinrich Biggs, Jarrod Toothman, and John-Charles Silva.

The filing deadline is Thursday, June 1st at noon.

It’s time to clean up Junction City.

City Commissioner Mick McCallister said Tuesday night the city needs to decide where we’re going, and needs to take care of blights.  He showed approximately 40 photos during the City Commission meeting showing run down and in some cases abandoned properties along Washington Street and Grant Avenue. Both are are major entrances and thoroughfares in the city.

“Well our entrances to the city, we’ve spent an enormous amount of money putting in new roads, new sidewalks, new handicap ramps, really looks good when you come into the entrances to the city. What I want to focus on is making sure that we accentuate that work that we’ve done by cleaning up some of these buildings and some of these commercial areas that need a little attention.”

McCallister showed photos of such locations as the abandoned former Dairy Queen on South Washington, a house on Washington Street that was described as having an unacceptable appearance, a vacant car wash, an empty business building on Grant Avenue with no signage, and many other sites.

McCallister challenged the community and city to do something about the viewshed of the city.

Joseph ‘Doda’ Craig had a status hearing in Geary County District Court on Monday morning.

During the status hearing on Monday, May 15th a pre-trial/motions hearing was set for June 14 and a jury trial for Craig has been set to begin on July 10th.

Craig faces multiple charges in connection with the death of 24 year old David Phillips of Manhattan, including Conspiracy to Commit Murder, Conspiracy to Commit Aggravated Robbery, Aggravated Robbery, Criminal Possession of a Firearm by a Previously Convicted Felon, and in the alternative Premeditated 1st Degree Murder or Felony Murder.

Craig allegedly conspired with Gabrielle “Gabby” Williams to rob and then murder Phillips who was lured to a 827 West 12th Street Apartment C location in Junction City. Williams was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit first degree murder on April 14th. Sentencing for Williams is July 27th.