Pawnee Mental Health Services began with a staff of one person in 1956. Now that organization, which serves 10 area counties including Geary, is celebrating 60 years of service.

During a celebration Thursday in Junction City the Executive Director for the organization, Robbin Cole, told the audience it was a special occasion. “It’s amazing that an organization like Pawnee Mental Health Services has weathered the ups and downs that have happened over the last 60 years, but we have and we remain strong.”

There were several speakers from the community and the region in attendance.

Steve Opat, Geary County Attorney, said it took him a long time to realize that public health welfare and safety are contingent upon the mental health well being of its society. Opat noted when you talk about the skyrocketing numbers of people in jail who are charged with committing crimes it’s taken him a long time as a lawyer to realize that many of them suffer from mental health issues. “And they’re being warehoused essentially in our jails and in our prisons. It’s incumbent upon us as a society to decide how we’re going to handle that. Because if we ignore it the numbers will skyrocket. We’ll continue to have the problems that we do.”

Florence Whitebread, Geary County Commissioner, stated that she had attended a Kansas Association of Counties meeting where the fact the jails in Kansas are overcrowded with prisoners needing mental health treatment was a discussion topic. “And with it being one of the top issues in today’s society, more than ever we need the services of Pawnee Mental Health. ”

The Pawnee Mental Health Services Office is located at 814 Caroline Avenue in Junction City.

A third member of a Junction City family involved in a two-vehicle accident on I-70 this past Tuesday has died.

The Kansas Highway Patrol and a check with Wesley Hospital in Wichita confirmed that Jaydon Allan Thompson, 6, has died. His mother Jessica Michelle Thompson, 26, and sister Leah Michelle Thompson, 5, of Junction City died in the accident on I-70 near Grandview Plaza.

A gofundme account has been established to help the family

Their vehicle was struck by a truck that came across the interstate median. The driver of the truck Steven Johnson, 42, Houston, Texas, was arrested. According to authorities he was arrested on suspicion of two counts of Involuntary Manslaughter while Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol or Drugs, plus one count each of Driving Under Influence of Alcohol or Drugs, and Improper Driving on Laned Roadway.

During a first appearance in Geary County District Court on Wednesday bond for Johnson was set at $250,000.

A Tuesday morning two-vehicle fatality accident on I-70 Tuesday near Grandview Plaza led to the death of 26 year old Jessica Michelle Thompson, and 5 year old Leah Michelle Thompson.

Another passenger in their vehicle, Jaydon Allan Thompson, 6, was transported to Wesley Medical Center where he is still listed as in critical condition as of 3:00 pm Wednesday afternoon.

According to Geary County Sheriff Tony Wolf, Steven Johnson, 42, Houston, Texas, has been arrested on two counts of suspicion of Involuntary Manslaughter while Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol or Drugs, plus one count each of Driving Under Influence of Alcohol or Drugs, and Improper Driving on Laned Roadway. He is expected to have a first appearance in Geary County District Court Wednesday.

North Central Kansas Highway Patrol State Trooper Ben Gardner said that from the time he arrived on scene Tuesday morning [it] has been on his mind.

“It’s difficult for everyone involved, those family members that are now dealing with a death that was unexpected, it’s difficult for the community knowing that a small child or potentially children are not in that school any longer and to think about the experiences they had with that child, it’s difficult for the emergency responders that are there assisting in the investigation trying to find clarity in what took place so that if charges are pending that we have accountability to those that created the situation that is not wanted or desirable by anyone; so what do we do – I’ll tell you what we do is we talk to each other, we talk to our families, we try to find comfort in our efforts to try to get the answers for those that most desirably want answers – which is the direct family,” said Gardner.

Geary County Sheriff Tony Wolf echoed similar sentiments.

“This was one of those that will stick with you for the rest of your days, and it is tough on the folks that were out there, it’s tough on all of us; and we’re going to do a debrief on Friday and bring in all the first responders from KHP, to our guys (Sheriff’s Dept) to Fire and EMS – and we’re going to bring everybody in and talk to everybody about their thoughts , their feelings and just try to help everybody cope with what they had to witness out there,” said Wolf.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported that the International truck driven by Johnson was eastbound on the interstate, entered the median, and onto westbound lanes where it struck a Ford 500 driven by Jessica Michelle Thompson. Both vehicles came to rest in the north ditch.

GEARY COUNTY – A Junction City woman and her daughter died in an accident just before 11a.m. on Tuesday in Geary County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2011 International Truck driven by Steven Wayne Johnson, 42, Houston, TX., was eastbound on Interstate 70 six miles east of U.S. 77.

The truck entered the median and onto westbound lanes and struck a 2006 Ford 500 driven by Jessica Michelle Thompson Junction City.

Both vehicles came to rest in the North ditch.

Thompson and her 5-year-old daughter Leah Michelle Thompson were pronounced dead at the scene and transported to Penwell Gable Mortuary.

An emergency medical team flew the driver’s 6-year-old son Jaydon Allan Thompson to Wesley Medical Center.

Johnson, who was not wearing a seat belt, was not injured, according to the KHP.

The crash shut down westbound lanes of Interstate 70 at Grandview Plaza most of Tuesday afternoon.

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GEARY COUNTY – A woman and a young girl died in an accident just before 11a.m. on Tuesday in Geary County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol shut down westbound lanes of Interstate 70 at Grandview Plaza to investigate the accident.

An air medical team also transported a boy to a hospital for treatment.

Check the Post for additional details as they become available.

MANHATTAN – On Tuesday morning, the Kansas Board of Regents announced the appointment of Richard B. Myers as the 14th President of Kansas State University, according to a media release.

“It is with great pleasure that we are here today to make this announcement,” stated Zoe Newton, Chair of the Kansas Board of Regents. “General Myers is perfectly positioned to bring K-State into the future, but understands as an alumnus the importance of honoring the traditions and history of this great university.”

U.S. Air Force General Richard B. Myers (Ret.) served as the 15th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 2001 to 2005. As the nation’s highest ranking military officer, Myers served as the principal military advisor to the President, the Secretary of Defense, and the National Security Council. Prior to becoming Chairman, Myers served as Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Myers has commanded at all levels and served in significant staff positions throughout the Air Force. His largest commands included U.S. Forces Japan and 5th Air Force at Yokota Air Base, Japan; Pacific Air Forces at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii; and the North American Aerospace Defense Command, U.S. Space Command and Air Force Space Command at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado.

General Myers has served as the Interim President at Kansas State University since April 2016.

Congratulations to the new @KState President and my good friend General Richard Myers. K-State is proud to have you. pic.twitter.com/kovMbmdZ2z

— Pat Roberts (@SenPatRoberts) November 15, 2016

“The decision was a hard choice because of the quality of candidates that applied,” stated Regent Dennis Mullin, Chair of the K-State Presidential Search Committee. “General Myers surfaced to the top because of his strong leadership and vision. When the Board looked at the needs of K-State today, they believed that his skill set was aligned closely to those goals. His effectiveness as Interim President and his love for K-State were also great attributes. I have really enjoyed this process and feel like it has allowed us to hire the best person as the 14th President of Kansas State University.”

“I was surprised at the large number of applicants and how qualified they were,” shared Professor Fred Guzek, faculty representative on the Kansas State University Presidential Search Committee, “and as the 2015-2016 Faculty Senate President, I was pleased to be included in the search process.”

Born and raised in Merriam, Kansas, Gen. Myers is a graduate of Kansas State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering (1965); Auburn University, where he earned a Master’s degree in Business Administration (1977); Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell Air Force Base (1977); U.S. Army War College at Carlisle Barracks (1981); and John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, where he completed a program for Senior Executives in National and International Security (1991).

Gen. Myers joined the Air Force in 1965 through the ROTC program at Kansas State University, after which he entered pilot training at Vance Air Force Base. A command pilot, he has more than 4,100 flying hours, primarily in the F-4, F-15 and F-16, including 600 combat hours in the F-4. He received the Presidential Medal of Freedom on November 9, 2005.

The final results are in in two Geary County election races.

In the 2nd District County Commission race, Republican Charles Stimatze has defeated Incumbent Democrat Larry Hicks, with votes of 1168 to 1114.

In the County Attorney race, Republican Krista Blaisdell wins with 3813 votes to Democrat Chris Biggs’ 3609.

The final results came this afternoon from the Geary County Commission after reviewing nearly 700 provisional ballots.

More than 100 expectant mothers along with additional supporters attended the fourth Luke’s Community Baby Shower Saturday at the Shenk Gym at Junction City High School.  The event was sponsored by Delivering Change: Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies in partnership with the Kansas Infant Death and SIDS Network.

Delivering Change spokesperson Terra Stroda stated the attendance was up from 75 last time. “We invited all of the expectant Geary County mommies to come join us today to learn about safe sleep, breast feeding, lots of resources and services that are available in Geary County so that they’re well prepared before the baby arrives.”

There were booths from organizations ranging from Konza Prairie Community Health Center and Pawnee Mental Health Center to Women Infant Children.

Stroda said there is a committee of about 15 people that prepare the showers, with the focus on safe sleep. “And we want to make sure that we get to the moms to get them here. One of the things that we continue to work on, not only should mom come but to bring somebody that’s helping her care for the baby.” Stroda addded they also want to make the community baby shower new and vibrant and celebratory. “We have to remember these moms deserve our attention and our love. This community comes through in a big way every single baby shower to do that.”

The event is named after local SIDS baby Luke Nelson, who passed away in May of 2006 just short of being three months old. His mother Jill Nelson, who also works to help with the community baby shower,  called the event moving. “And it’s such a wonderful thing that a tragic situation has turned into such a beautiful thing. For our community, it’s a beautiful thing for my family and for everybody that I work with that works so hard to put this together. It’s outstanding!”

Quilts of Valor were presented during the Veterans Day ceremony at the C. L . Hoover Opera House. The recipients were Roy Taylor and Harold Carrington.

Taylor served in World War II.  He said he was overwhelmed by the presentation. “It’s a great pleasure, and I certainly never expected this.” It also came as a surprise during the Veterans Day observance. “That was the first I heard of it. ” He added he would cherish the quilt.

Taylor served in the Navy during World War II and served in the Philipines.

Harold Carrington enjoyed the presentation on the stage of the Opera House.  “It was, it was. To see the crowd and the respect that they had for the service that we tried to support our country. Yeah, it was amazing.”

Carrington served two tours of duty in the Army in Vietnam.

Quilt of Valor program coordinator Donna Martinson told the recipients the Quilts of Valor were “stitched with love, prayers and healing thoughts.” The quilts are presented to veterans honoring them for their service in our nation’s wars.