The mock tornado safety / severe weather awareness drill was held Thursday evening.

Tornado sirens sounded in Junction City, Milford, Grandview Plaza, and Milford Township.  KJCK AM, The Talk of JC, also participated and the emergency alert system tones sounded as well alerting the public to the test, which is conducted annually by the National Weather Service.

Garry Berges, Geary County Emergency Management Director, said a test was done with the emergency warning sirens, “and some of our internal stuff to make sure we could receive the alerts from the National Weather Service. As far as we can tell everything went like it should. Everything was activated.

Berges did note emergency dispatch received calls from members of the public wanting to know why the sirens were sounding. JC Post checked with dispatch, and learned there were approximately one-half dozen calls received with that question. The emergency warning drill had been publicized ahead of time this week.

Junction City Police Detective Sergeant Cory Odell has been honored by the Veterans of Foreign Wars as the Fourth District Law Enforcement Officer of the Year.

The award, presented at this week’s Junction City Commission meeting,  stems from his investigative work into a September 2013 homicide involving an 8-month old victim.

Odell investigated the case which led to the conviction of Christopher Lyman, 31, Junction City on charges including 1st Degree Felony Murder, Child Abuse and Aggravated Battery in the case. Lyman Received a controlling life prison term. He will be eligible for parole in 20 years.

Due to ongoing Thunderstorms and expected potential re-development of showers and storms later Tuesday afternoon, NWS Topeka has decided to postpone the tornado drill that had been scheduled Tuesday evening for the 23 counties that NWS Topeka serves. NWS Topeka will hold our tornado drill this Thursday at 630pm when the weather looks quiet.

 

The decision to postpone is due to a wish to not cause unnecessary alarm given the potential for additional thunderstorms around the test time Tuesday evening.

 

The United States Army Field Band, based in Washington D.C., performsMarch 19 at 7:30 p.m. at the C.L. Hoover Opera House in Junction City, Kansas.

The performance is part of the “Concert Band and Soldiers’ Chorus 2016” spring tour, a journey that takes the “Musical Ambassadors of the Army” to 10 states across the country to perform 26 shows in just over one month.

One band member, Sgt. 1st Class Mark Huseth, is a Topeka, Kansas, native.

The concert here features a variety of patriotic musical selections from composers like Sousa, Puccini, Mozart and even Gloria Estefan.

Tickets are free, but must be reserved in advance.  Call (785) 238-3906  for details.  Ticketholders must be seated by 7:15 p.m. the night of the event.  Unclaimed seats will be released to non-ticketholders 10 minutes before the performance.

The Fifth Squadron, Fourth Cavalry Regiment of the 1st Infantry Division, headquartered at Fort Riley received a visit today from Vice President Joe Biden. This unit is currently deployed in the middle east.

The unit also has a partnership with Chapman USD 473, who received photos of the Vice President signing a USD 473 / 5-4 Cav flag.

The traveling art exhibit, Reflections of Generosity, has opened at the C. L. Hoover Opera House.

During the dedication ceremony for the exhibit at the Opera House, Co-Director Sheila Markley said, “This traveling exhibit is a testament to the resiliency of our American servicemen and women around the world. They make tremendous sacrifices for our freedom and way of life.”

The art pieces in the exhibit including sculptures, paintings and photos are expressions by soldiers and their families around the world.  Sixty-three pieces from the Reflections of Generosity exhibit will be on display at the Opera House until March 25.

 

 

 

Update – Wednesday, March 9 – According to the Riley County Police Department the suspects have been apprehended and are in custody.

 

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MANHATTAN, KAN. – On March 8, 2016 at approximately 3:15 p.m. the Riley County Police Department conducted a joint investigation with the Geary County Sheriff’s Office and the Junction City Police Department which led to two arrests in the 1200 block of Bertrand Street (North Alley). Police say that three other men fled the area and could pose a danger to the community. 

Acting on a tip from a neighboring law enforcement agency members of the Special Investigation Unit of the Riley County Police Department located over 1,000 pills of ecstasy and approximately 6.5 pounds of marijuana with a street level value of approximately $55,000.00.

Police were looking for the three subjects that fled the area.

Enrique Hinojosa, 20, of Stockton, California (pictured left) is a hispanic male with black hair and brown eyes. He weighs approximately 150 pounds and stands approximately 5 feet 7 inches. He was last seen wearing a grey shirt.

Victor Daniel Lara, 20, also of Stockton, California (pictured right) is a hispanic male with black hair and brown eyes. He weighs approximately 160 pounds and stands approximately 5 feet 7 inches. He was last seen wearing a grey shirt.

The third subject’s name was unknown. He is a hispanic male last seen wearing jeans and possibly a grey hooded sweatshirt.

 

Topics ranging from wall clouds to the dangers of lightning and wind shear were covered for an audience of about 160 people during the annual tornado spotter storm session Monday evening in Junction City.

Meteorologist Jennifer Bowen told the audience a wall cloud should be used as a landmark when looking for a tornado. Look for rotation in that cloud.

When it comes to a supercell visualization you want to be at least two to three miles away from it.

There were 126 tornadoes in Kansas in 2015, with the majority in the western part of the state. That was well above the normal average of 80. Bowen feels an active year is possible again in 2016. “We’ve had multiple systems coming through.” And she added, “We’ve got off and on thunderstorms throughout the week, so I would tell people to already start preparing, get their plan ready, get the disaster kit together in their shelter and be ready it could be an active season.”

Bowen gave the audience advice. Mobile home residents should not remain there during tornadoes, stay indoors when it hails, and she pointed flooding is the leading thunderstorm killer.

Geary County Emergency Management sponsors the annual weather session at the 4-H / Senior Center.

Junction City lost an icon when Kenny Langdon, 62, passed away February 24th.

A large audience gathered at the Junction City Municipal Building Saturday for a celebration of life service to remember the popular City Building and Maintenance Custodian, who had worked for the City since 1996 and was a resident of the community for 40 years.

Kenny was remembered as an “angel on earth,” and also for his strong work ethic, his way of making others feel better, and for many….as a friend.

Geary County Commissioner Ben Bennett told about how Kenny helped his mother-in-law every Saturday when she visited downtown to get her hair done. “He found out that she was there almost every week and he started making it an issue.” Bennett noted Kenny made sure to meet her when she arrived downtown and helped get her out of the car and into the shop. “And after her hair was done he would make sure that he helped her out and helped her back in the car. And he didn’t miss a Saturday that he was around.”

Others told stories of experiences in the Noon Kiwanis Club with Kenny, and how most years he sold the most tickets for their pancake feed.  Tailgating friends at K-State football games remembered the good times with Langdon and have pledged to keep an honorary tailgate chair for him.

City Commissioner Jim Sands noted that Kenny had a way of calming people, and current and former members of the Junction City Police Department remembered how he rode along with the police every year on his birthday. Retired Undersheriff Bill Kelley noted that Kenny was strong supporter of the Police and Sheriff’s Departments.

Mayor Mick McCallister remembered Langdon’s attendance every year at Country Stampede, where McCallister has worked during that country music festival for many years. ” Kenny would grab me and say how you doing, how you doing, we’re having fun!” McCallister said he would miss Kenny at this year’s Country Stampede.

The celebration of life service was attended by members of Kenny Langdon’s family, with Pastor Tom Swihart presiding over the service. There was the playing of country music. It was noted Kenny was a country music fan.

The event concluded with a balloon release outside the front entrance of the Municipal Building.

 

The Junction City Police Department recently received a report that a residence in the Westwood area had been burglarized and 12 weapons were reported missing.

Detective Sergeant Trish Giordano reported that police have recovered two of the missing weapons and are asking for the public’s help in locating the other 10 weapons. They include:

–A Desert Eagle .44                 –Rossi .22

–Calico 9mm                              –Lugar 9mm

–Cobray 9mm                            –Springfield .45

–AR Pistol                                   –Astra 9mm

–Thompson .357                        –Taurus Revolver

If you submit a tip to Crimestoppers with information leading to the recovery of the weapons you may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.

To text a tip, Text CRIMES ( 27463 ) and start your tip off with “tipjc”

You may also call the tips line at 762-8477 or you can leave a tip via the web at https://www.tipsubmit.com/webtips.aspx?AgencyID=1216