Randy Clark, Photo courtesy Dickinson County Sheriff (https://www.dkcoksgis.org/Inmates/)
Dickinson County, KS – On Tuesday, November 1st, 2016 a search warrant was executed at 3170 Daisy Road, Dickinson County, Kansas. The search warrant was executed by Agents of the Dickinson County Sheriff’s Department drug Enforcement Unit, Officers of the Abilene Police Department, and Deputies of the Dickinson County Sheriff’s Department.
During a search of the resident and the adjacent outbuildings, law enforcement officers seized in excess of 12 pounds of processed marijuana that was packaged for sales and storage. Also located were items of drug paraphernalia consistent with use and sales. The marijuana that was seized is believed to have been recently harvested from an outdoor grow operation.
Shortly after the search warrant two residents of 3170 Daisy Road were taken into custody in two separate traffic stops.
Melody Lynn Graves, 38, is being charged with Conspiracy to Distribute Marijuana, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Marijuana with intent to distribute, Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Failure to Obtain a Kansas Drug Tax Stamp.
Melody Lynn Graves, Photo courtesy Dickinson County Sheriff (https://www.dkcoksgis.org/Inmates/)
Randy Charles Clark, 59, is being charged with Conspiracy to Distribute Marijuana, Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Failure to Obtain a Kansas Drug Tax Stamp, Criminal Use of a Weapon.
It’s the time of the year for Holiday cheer and gift giving – Fort Riley celebrated the season with a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for Operation Santa Claus.
Garrison Commander Colonel John D. Lawrence, made a few remarks during the ceremony.
“The Holidays can be a difficult time for military children, in particular with today’s environment and with so many units we have deployed on Fort Riley; additionally, the cost of living is seemingly always going up, some families may not have enough to provide the type of Christmas they want to provide for their children,” said Lawrence.
Lawrence said that last year, Operation Santa Claus helped over 1100 children, representing over 375 families.
Christine Benne, AUSA Secretary and Program Manager for Operation Santa Claus echoed similar sentiments.
“All of our soldiers all have financial situations like anybody else…and then they have the uniqueness of having to be on 24/7, being deployed and away from their families and sometimes that’s a hardship for the soldier’s families, so Operation Santa Claus is able to help them,” said Benne.
Operation Santa Claus is accepting gifts for ages birth to 18, and Benne said that many times the teenagers receive the fewest donations – gift cards work best for that age group.
Donations can be made for all age groups in the form of toys, gift cards, and cash; for more information on donating or volunteering call 239-6944/2771.
Santa’s Workshop, Operation Santa Claus Headquarters is located at Building #261 on Fort Riley.
Garrison Commander, Col. John D. Lawrence
L to R: Mrs. Martin (wife of Commanding General Joseph M. Martin), Col. Lawrence, CSM Collins, Christine Benne
The inmate population in the Geary County Detention Center reached 153 on Monday, October 31st – this isn’t the highest it’s been, but one can’t deny the trend of increased inmate populations and no sign of a lessening criminal element.
Geary County Sheriff Tony Wolf was a guest on the JC Now Morning Show on 1420 KJCK – The Talk of JC where he discussed the criminal activity in the county.
“It’s kind of a sign of the times, economy plays in to this [increased criminal activity]…the drug trade is probably the single most driving force behind the population in the jail,” said Wolf. “Most people they get arrested for some kind of a drug charge and then they end up on probation; well, through the course of their probation they may come to jail again two or three different times for violating the terms and conditions of their probation – it’s a revolving door down there.”
While the crime rate may be on the increase, Wolf said that the Deputies at the Sheriff’s Department are vigilant in nabbing criminals.
“My guys are aggressive when it comes to [that] hunting up warrants, looking for things out there – they are aggressive; but I mean, in a community of this size to have a population in the jail that big – my goodness,” said Wolf.
While drug use in the county is undoubtedly cause for concern in relation to the criminal element, there isn’t a pinpoint answer to the increased jail population.
Geary County Sheriff Tony Wolf
“I wish I could say that there is some one thing that was driving this – I just don’t know,” said Wolf. “I know that when I took over, our [jail] numbers were in the 70s, 80s, 60s sometimes…but as time has went on, it has just steadily crept up and crept up.”
Acting Police Chief Keith Fitzgerald noted many of the trick or treaters flocked to the west side of the city. “What I noticed this year was the main area was in the Indian Ridge area, on the west side of US 77.”
Fitzgerald said he was aware of no incidents related to trick or treating or Halloween. Police had some extra personnel out patrolling the community.
Fitzgerald did observe there were a few less trick or treaters this year compared to one year ago. He attributed that to the fact it was a school night this year.
Halloween is historically a night of tricks and treats for many, but it can also bring out a criminal element. The Junction City Police Department will have several officers patrolling the streets during tonight’s Halloween festivities.
“We’re going to have some extra patrols out, some of our detectives are going to be out in unmarked cars and then we have some other officers that are going to be out and about; some of the officers will be driving around with their lights on…so it lets people know that we’re out in the neighborhood,” said JCPD Community Involvement Unit Captain Chuck Leithoff.
Leithoff said that additionally, parents shouldn’t send their trick-or-treaters out alone.
“We ask the parents to go with the children of course…to make sure that the kids are aware, they’re alert and watching what they’re doing,” said Leithoff.
Halloween costumes should also be easily visible, whether they are light in color or the child is wearing some type of reflective clothing; parents should also make sure that children can see properly if wearing a mask.
Leithoff said that drivers should also be mindful of excitable children. “We caution the drivers to because the little ones are excited and anxious to get out there and go trick-or-treating so we really caution the drivers to slow down in those neighborhoods and just be really, really cautious.”
As always parents should check all candy before consumption, and throw away anything that has been tampered with or opened.
As for creepy clowns in Junction City?
“Fortunately, in Junction City we haven’t had any of those [creepy clown sightings] this year, but our guys are aware of it and we’re sensitive to that and we’ll keep an eye on it…there’s no law against dressing up as a clown, if that’s what they want to do, but it can become a problem if they make [unlawful] contact or threaten or do something along those lines,” said Leithoff. “We’re aware of what’s going on and we’ll be vigilant.”
Jaydon Zima was named the Outstanding Girl and Calen Boller the Outstanding Boy at the annual Geary County 4-H Awards Banquet Sunday evening.
On winning the Outstanding Girl Award, she said, “It means a lot to me that the 4-H actually thinks I’m outstanding, and they think I’m well worthy of this award.” This past year Zima also served as a 4-H Ambassador, and at the County Free Fair received a medal in both the Senior Foods & Nutrition and Visual Arts categories.
Boller enjoyed the award for Outstanding Boy. ” It means a lot to me that I got recognized for all my hard work.”A member of the Humboldt 4-H Club, he was a 4-H Ambassador for 3015-16 as well, and won county fair medals in the Senior categories in Beef, Clothing Buymanship, and Foods & Nutrition.
The preliminary damage estimate from a Friday evening fire at the Lynn Langvardt residence has been placed at approximately $75,000. Paul Froelich, Dickinson County Fire District One Chief, provided that early estimate–“depending on what the insurance company would do, probably about $75,000.” The residence, located in Dickinson County about six miles west of Junction City, was insured.
There were no injuries. The residents were not home at the time of the fire.
Concerning the cause of the fire, Froelich stated, “At this time we believe it was caused by a candle in the back bedroom.”
Froelich said the initial 911 call by cellphone went into Geary County so rural firefighters from that department responded. Once Geary County firefighters neared the blaze the Dickinson County Fire District One personnel were then contacted.
When they arrived on the scene Froelich said there was a working structure fire, with a back bedroom fully involved in fire. “And it had breached the roof at that time. Geary County was doing exterior attack to try and hold it while we were enroute. And as soon as we got there we started the interior attack and got the fire out. And we were on scene until about 11 p.m that night.”
Froelich praised the cooperation between the two firefighting departments. “The thing I like to let people know is how well our departments work together. It’s nice to know that on those county line calls like that it doesn’t matter whether they’re calling us for help or we’re calling them for help we know they’re going to be there.”
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Dickinson County Rural Fire District and Geary County rural firefighters responded to the Lynn Langvardt family residence approximately six miles west of Junction City Friday evening.
There were no injuries. The residents were not home at the time of the fire.
According to Geary County Emergency Management the fire was at the back of the house in a bedroom area. That area was destroyed and there was major heat and smoke damage throughout the house.
Again there were no injuries. The fire call was received by Geary County about 7:45 p.m.
Brigham Bailey, Aggravated battery, Obstruction or impeding of lawful activities, Arrested 10/20.
Grandview Plaza, KS – On October 16, 2016 at about 422 pm, an ambulance was dispatched to 802 Janice Street, Grandview Plaza, Geary County, Kansas for a 2 month old female infant who was not breathing.
The infant was transported to Geary Community Hospital for treatment. She was later transported by helicopter to Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, Kansas for additional treatment of those suspected injuries.
The Grandview Plaza PD initiated an investigation into the cause of the suspected injuries. The Grandview Plaza PD was assisted in various ways by members of the Geary County
Sheriff Office, Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) and the Junction City PD.
During the investigation, 33 year old white male and Grandview Plaza resident Brigham Bailey was placed under arrest for Aggravated Battery and Interference with Law Enforcement on October 20, 2016. He was escorted to the Geary County Detention Center where he was booked, processed and confined without bond pending first appearance in the Geary County District Court.
Grandview Plaza Police Chief Shawn Peirano
No further comments will be made at this time. Additional information will be released
when deemed appropriate.
Geary County Commission 2nd District Candidate Forum-1st Half Hour
Geary County Commission 2nd District Candidate Forum-2nd Half Hour
There was sharp disagreement between the candidates for the 2nd District Seat on the Geary County Commission, Charles Stimatze and Larry Hicks, during a candidate forum on 1420 KJCK, The Talk of JC.
One issue revolved around how to decrease or keep the property tax levy stable. The Geary County property tax levy has increased more than 19 mills over the course of the last three years.
Stimatze pushed Hicks on that issue, saying it’s not the county department heads fault. “I’m saying it’s the commissioners that have to do the tough questions. They have to go to the department heads and say hey, cut five percent, cut ten percent, cut three percent, not them coming to you ( the commission ). That’s not their job. Your job as a commissioner is to say here, this is what we need, do it, and if they can do it that’s great, but if you guys as the commissioners need to do more you may have to do more.”
Hicks countered by asking, “How do you do more with less. I don’t understand your question. What are you trying to say? Stimatze said “You’ve got to cut it.” When asked by Hicks where, Stimatze said he didn’t know and did not have all the information. He was unsure at this point if he would cut, but said across the board figure out what would work the best.
Later in the forum civil legal matters allegedly involving Hicks in District Court entered the conversation. A caller questioned him about court documents posted against Hicks that could possibly pose an issue with his job as county commissioner. “How do you expect to balance the budget, but having those personal financial things come involved in your work? Hicks responded, “Personal financial issues have no impact what-so-ever on my ability to govern, and I’ve done that as well as I possibly can over the course of seven-and-a-half years. I’ve done a lot of things to help improve the services of Geary County and the taxpayers, and those personal matters are just that, they’re personal matters that are being dealt with by me.”
Stimatze then stated, “I think if you have some personal financial issues it makes it harder to….if you can’t manage your own budget how can you manage a million dollar budget or plus, or county budget.” Hicks responded by saying he didn’t know anyone who hasn’t had personal challenges at all at any level. Hicks had indicated he assumed the discussion was about civil legal matters. Stimatze said Hicks knew what the caller was talking about, but Hicks stated he had no idea what the caller and Stimatze were talking about.
Other topics in the forum ranged from possible communications issues between the governing body and other county department heads and elected officials to the recent review of the chamber of commerce master agreement.
The Junction City High School swimming teams practice at the Family YMCA because the school does not have its own pool.
A JCHS Steering Committee studying the issue of whether or not to build a new high school or renovate the existing facility, heard Thursday evening that the swim teams can’t host their own meets.
During discussion a member of the steering committee, Vic Davis, surfaced the idea of building a pool. He felt it would be a mistake to build a new high school without a competitive facility for swimming. “I think it’s an important piece of the project.” Davis noted his daughters were competitive swimmers at JCHS and there was no facility there. ” It was a challenge to find places to have meets and to get our kids to meets and to practice. And I think it would just be a big plus for our community to have a wonderful, competitive swimming center where our kids could learn to swim, and those who wanted to swim competitively could do that at home.” Davis added JCHS could host meets, have people visit the community, and show off the facility.
During discussion JCHS Athletic Director Matt Westerhaus noted it could be a community facility.
Committee Mark Edwards observed that JCHS loses 10 to 15 students per year to Manhattan High School because of the swimming program at that school.
The JCHS Steering Committee has received multiple concepts on a possible new and renovated high school facility. They will continue their work through the fall, and could possibly make a recommendation to the Board of Education in January.
