Two town hall meetings are scheduled this month to receive public input on the possible new high school project in Junction City.

Dr. Corbin Witt, USD 475 Superintendent, said that the time is now to act on a new school.

“This is year that the money is there, we know the money is there and we would have access,” said a confident Witt. “I specifically asked Dale Dennis, who is the Head of the Education Finance Department, ‘has the State of Kansas ever defaulted on a bond and interest payment’, and he said ‘the State of Kansas can’t because it’s a demand-item transfer’ – the Legislature doesn’t even get to vote or anything, it’s made before any other expenditures are made; he said, there’s really no chance that they wouldn’t pay for their portion of the bond and interest.”

Witt said that he understands there are concerns on whether or not State and Federal sources are reliable and he’s fully comfortable the assurance received from Dennis.

“Before this year, we used to get 69% State match and then the State dropped the percentage match on that [and so it went down to 48]; there’s some talk of going back and reinstating [that 69%] because they didn’t feel it was fair that the school districts that passed bond issues last year would get 20% more from the State than the ones who passed [bond issues] this year,” said Witt.

Witt said that if that were to take place and the State paid for 69% of the project, that would make it more imperative to “move on this now”.

“We as an administrative team feel like this is something that we need to take to the voters now, because it would be irresponsible of us not to have this once in a lifetime opportunity give the community an opportunity to vote on it,” said Witt.

The first of two town hall meetings to make presentations to the community and receive public input is on Tuesday, January 17th in Settles Auditorium inside Junction City High School at 7:00 pm. Members of the community are invited to come at 6:00 pm for a tour of the facilities and infrastructure concerns.

The meeting will be video live-streamed on the District website and on JC Post the day of the event, as well as a live broadcast on the radio on AM station 1420 KJCK – The Talk of JC.

JC Post will have the viewing link for the live stream posted on the morning on January 17th.

The second town hall meeting is scheduled for Saturday, January 28th.

The JCHS Steering Committee will meet again on January 12th.

Ben Bennett has been elected by his fellow commissioners to serve as chairman of the Geary County Commission.

Bennett is beginning his 11th year on the commission,and it will be his third stint as chairman. Keith Ascher has been elected vice chairman. Ascher and Charles Stimatze began serving on the governing body on Monday.

Commission appointments for the coming year include:

–Ben Bennett to the Chamber of Commerce Board, the Military Affairs Council, the Geary County Public Building Commission, the Animal Shelter Board, and the Flint Hills Regional Council.

–Keith Ascher will serve on the Geary County Convention & Visitor’s Bureau Advisory Committee, the Solid Waste Management Committee, the MPO, and the Regional Juvenile Detention Center Board.

–Charles Stimatze will serve on the Economic Development Commission Advisory Committee, the Flint Hills Regional Transit Board and on the Safety Committee.

Friends, family, and  Geary County officials were present to honor outgoing county commissioner Florence Whitebread Friday afternoon at the Geary County Historical Museum.

Whitebread is retiring after 24 years on the county commission, effective Monday.

Fellow commissioner Ben Bennett noted the county will miss Whitebread in that position. “This is a rare and neat opportunity to honor someone who is really the personification of Geary County, native and her ancestry goes back to prove that part of it. ” Bennett added Whitebread’s work and her family will be remembered, and she and all the duties, and all the accomplishments for years to come.”

Other speakers included Commissioner Larry Hicks, Geary Community Hospital CEO Dr. Joseph Stratton, County Treasurer Kathy Tremont, County Clerk Rebecca Bossemeyer, and former County Human Resource Director Lisa Eickholt who also served as an emcee for the program which included the presentation of gifts to Whitebread.

Whitebread stated, “I’ve enjoyed being a commissioner, and I hope I have accomplished some good things for us. I think I have. I really have enjoyed it and I will miss that, but I will be involved, and you will see me around the community.”

Whitebread served six terms on the county commission, with the final term ending this coming Monday ( January 9 ). She decided not to seek re-election.

We at Geary Community Hospital, through our Home Health and Hospice departments, have been fortunate to be able to provide quality care to our friends and neighbors in Junction City and the surrounding areas. Our capable and knowledgeable caregivers have endeavored over the years to provide the best care possible to serve our patients.

A decrease of reimbursement to the program from recent Kansas Medicaid cuts, continuous federal sequestration, tighter regulations to qualify for care, and considerable competition make it impossible to continue these services.  Unfortunately, due to these ongoing and significant financial pressures, Home Health and Hospice will close effective February 5, 2017.  This decision is not been taken lightly by us after months of analysis and consideration.

Fortunately, we have found a willing partner in the Homecare & Hospice of Manhattan who can assist patients in transition of patient care.  This Manhattan healthcare group has been providing home healthcare and hospice services in Geary County and Junction City for some time, however the ultimate selection of a home healthcare or hospice caregiver is within the sole discretion of the patient.  Our current staff will to help facilitate a smooth transition in January for our patients.

The Home Health & Hospice employees will have the opportunity to apply for positions at Homecare & Hospice of Manhattan and here at GCH.

Geary Community Hospital will remain open and continue to provide a full range of medical services.  Additionally, our Home Medical Equipment services will continue at the current location of 1301 West Ash Street, Junction City, Kansas 66441.

We value each and every one of our patients and appreciate the community support over the years.  Questions regarding this transition prior to February 5, 2017, should be directed to Home Health and Hospice, 785.762.2653.

Nikki Davies, Director Marketing and Public Relations, Geary Community Hospital

The owner of Junction City Bowl wants to bring a major Pro Bowler’s Association Tournament to that facility in May.

Junction City Bowl has been under the direction of Joe Ellison for the past nine years in which time the facility has hosted a PBA Regional Tournament. This year, Ellison has his sights set on a bigger fish.

“From talking with the PBA, they’ve got an extra framed event which is an internet based broadcast subscriber service type thing; it’s kind of a step in between the regular Regionals that we normally run and what you see on ESPN on Sundays – they have their camera crew, they’ve got their commentators, and they offer more prize money – which of course, comes at more cost to us – instead of a $5000 costs to get them here, it takes $20,000 to get them here,” said Ellison.

Ellison needs funding support for this tournament, and is seeking to raise $20,000 by the end of January. There are various sponsor categories ranging from $100 to $5000.

If the funds are raised, the tournament would bring national touring professional bowlers to Junction City and more amateur bowlers from across the state to watch the professionals and bowl with them in a PRO-AM session.

Interested sponsors should contact Joe Ellison by email at joe@junctioncitybowl.com or by phone at the Bowling Center at 238-6813.

The Junction City Police Department has released the following information regarding non-injury vehicle accidents during winter weather conditions:

During weather conditions where numerous accidents occur, the Police Department can be overwhelmed by calls for service involving minor accidents.

Should this occur, the Chief of Police or the Senior Supervisor on duty will initiate the emergency snow procedure:

• The JCPD will not respond to non-injury accidents under $1000
• Drivers should move to a place of safety and then exchange insurance information and report the accident to their insurance company as soon as possible
• All injury accidents and accidents that block the street due to disabled vehicles should be reported to the police
• As soon as caseload permits, the JCPD will go back to normal report taking

The JCPD thanks the community for their patience during this weather event.