The Cold Weather Rule designed to help Kansans who are behind on their utility payments avoid disconnection during the winter month, will begin on Nov. 1 and remain in effect through March 31.

The Kansas Corporation Commission, the agency that regulates public utilities in the state, encouraged Kansans who are past-due on their utility bills and at risk for disconnection to prepare for the colder weather by contacting their utility company to make the necessary payment arrangements.

The Cold Weather Rule prevents utility companies from disconnecting a customer’s natural gas or electric service during periods of extreme cold. Utility companies are prohibited from disconnecting a customer’s service when temperatures are forecast to be at or below 35 degrees within the following 48-hour period.

The Cold Weather Rule also requires utility companies to offer a 12-month payment plan to allow consumer to maintain or re-establish service. Any residential customer with a past due balance will qualify for payment arrangements, however it is the customer’s responsibility to contact their gas or electric company to make those arrangements.

 

Fontelle Jolly, Junction City, entered pleas of no contest in Geary County District Court on Friday to Voluntary Manslaughter, a level three person felony and Aggravated Battery, a level five lesser felony. Geary County Attorney Krista Blaisdell confirms Jolly was found guilty by the Court on both counts. Sentencing is scheduled for December 30th.

Jolly had been charged earlier with Reckless Second Degree Murder and Aggravated Battery, level four, but pleaded no contest to the new allegations in an amended complaint. A jury trial had been scheduled to begin on Monday, but now will not occur.

The charges stemmed from the August 31, 2018 fatal shooting of Felix Snipes, 29, Junction City, and the wounding of Cartavius King, 25, Junction City.

According to earlier court preliminary hearing testimony the shooting occurred outside an apartment complex on Wildcat Lane on the west side of the city.

Snipes was shot two times in the chest and later died from his injuries. King had testified he was shot either three or four times including once each in a shoulder, elbow and a buttock, and was also grazed in the abdomen. He later underwent surgery on the elbow wound at the KU Medical Center.

Court testimony has revealed the the incident began as an altercation between Jolly and his girlfriend in one of the nearby apartments. King was called to the scene and later testified that he remembered that he and Snipes told Jolly to leave the premises, and Jolly sat in his own vehicle. King said he and Snipes were ready to leave, they turned around and were shot by Jolly. King said in the earlier court hearing he saw Snipes struck by the shot and tried to charge Jolly and was shot himself.

The Geary County Sheriff and Junction City Fire Dive Team has earned their Public Safety Dive certification.

According to the a social media posting by the Sheriff’s Department, over the past week Deputies and Junction City Firefighters who comprise the Geary County Emergency Dive Team obtained the certification from Dive Rescue International. The team spent more than 24-hours, over a three day period between a classroom setting, pool training and then open water training in Milford Lake.

The certification now has the dive team fully mission capable, deployable statewide and trained in both dive rescue and dive recovery. Their commander Lt. Thad Jones of the Geary County Sheriff’s Department ) stated that over the coming months the team would continue to complete dark water training and cross train for swift water rescue.

The Junction City Department members bring an added feature, since they have already earned their swift water rescue certifications as well as their Paramedic and EMT certifications. Once the Deputies obtain their swift water rescue certifications it’s possible the team could be utilized as part of the National Task Force deployed throughout the nation as regions or states face natural disasters.

 

The office of Geary County Clerk Rebecca Nordyke will be open this week for In-Person advance voting ahead of the Nov. 5 election.

The office will be open on Tuesday and Wednesday 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Thursday 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The office will also be open from 8:30 a.m. to noon Monday, Nov. 4.

Voters should bring their photo ID. The office is located at 200 East 8th Street.

The Junction City Little Theater production of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s “Oklahoma” runs This Friday through Sunday Nov. 1st – Nov. 3rd, and again November 8th through the 10th at the C. L. Hoover Opera House in Junction City.

Show times for Friday and Saturday night shows are 7:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. on Sundays.

Set in Western Indian Territory just after the turn of the 20th Century, the spirited rivalry between the local farmers and cowboys provides the backdrop for the love story between Curly, a handsome cowboy, and Laurey, a beautiful farm girl. As the road to romance and the road to statehood converge, Curly and Laurey are poised to spend their new life together in a brand new state: O-K-L-H-O-M-A OKLAHOMA!

Oklahoma is a classic musical. Monte Dibben and Kaye Fisher are directing the show.

JCLT season ticket holders call ( 785 ) 238-3906 to reserve a seat.

Other upcoming shows at the Opera House this year will include a performance by the USAF Band of Mid-America’s Shades of Blue Jazz ensemble on Nov. 12th, A Hometown Holiday Dec. 6th, Six Appeal Ugly Sweater Party Dec. 7th and 1st Infantry Division Band Holiday Concert Dec. 15th.

Photographer Javon George shot photos of the Opera House this past week for this report that showed different areas of the building.

The Marti Williams family received a standing ovation at the annual Geary County 4-H Achievement celebration Saturday night. They were named the 4-H Family of the Year.

Marti said she grew up as a 4-H member for 14 years. “So to be able to give back and be a leader is big.”Her three children, Aleeya, Jewels and Adrian are all involved in the Geary County program.

Marti stated her girls participate in arts and craft, photography, foods and nutrition while her son enjoys leggos, robotics, he likes to build robots. Aleeya is one of the 4-H Queens this year.

When the Family of the Year Award was presented it was a moving moment for Marti. “It’s huge. Without our 4-H family this year I wouldn’t….I wouldn’t be where I am right now. ” She explained her son, 9-year old Adrian,  is battling cancer, a non-Hodgins lymphoma, Burkitt Lymphoma. He was diagnosed on July 1st and is doing well in recovery.

Aleeya is also one of the Outstanding Girls of the Year in Geary County 4-H. The other recipient of that award is Rylie Ellis, who is also one of the 4-H Queens this year.

The Key Award recipients included Lindsey Ascher and Kaitlyn Butler. George and Connie Poland were the 4-H Appreciation Award recipients, Josie Strauss was presented the Rob Smith Citizenship Award, the Clarks Creek 4-H Club the Fair Trophy, the Lyons Creek 4-H club the Herdsman Trophy and Kaitlyn Butler was  given the I Dare You Award.

The Kansas Highway Patrol has reported that a two people were taken to hospitals following an accident on Interstate 70 west bound approximately 15 miles east of Junction City in Geary County late Friday afternoon.

According to KHP the driver of a Toyota Land Cruiser, Alexander Zbarsky, 69, Valley Village, California, was transported to Via Christi Hospital in Manhattan with a suspected minor injury. A passenger, Renata Zbarsky, 36, Valley Village, California, was taken to Stormont Vail Hospital in Topeka. Another passenger, a 10-year old girl, was not injured.

The vehicle was westbound on I-70 when the driver lost control and over corrected. The Land Cruiser over turned and came to rest in the north ditch. The accident was reported at 5:06 p.m. and resulted in I-70 being closed for a brief period of time.

The time is near when vertical construction of walls for the new Junction City High School project begins to occur. The progress on the new school being built on the west side of the city was the focus of a ceremony Friday morning at that location.

JCHS Principal Melissa Sharp noted when the project is complete they will finally be able to house all of the high school programs, curriculum and events on one site. “We have intentionally

designed this high school to be the best, not one of the best, but the best education and training center in our region.”

U.S. Senator Jerry Moran pointed to a comment by Sharp, “educating locally impacting globally.” Moran stated, “I think that it’s one of our primary obligation as citizens to see that our students have a bright future.”

USD 475 Superintendent of Schools Dr. Reginald Eggleston wants to provide the quality education for the district’s students. “Our vision is to become a high performing school district where students are our top priority.”

Congressman Roger Marshall, 1st Infantry Division commanding general Major General John Kolasheski, Junction City Manager Allen Dinkel and Geary County Commissioner Keith Ascher were others who spoke during the ceremony.

 

By Dewey Terrill

JC Post

Vampires, Darth Vader, Spiderman, and Baby Shark all went trolling for candy and enjoyed a parade through downtown Junction City Thursday evening. It was all part of the annual All Treats Day sponsored by the Junction City Area Chamber of Commerce and Junction City Parks and Recreation.

The event included a parade led by the Junction City High School Marching Band from 10th Street south to 6th Street. They were followed by all the characters of Halloween and then the downtown merchants provided candy for the kids.

It was a fun event, with the Director of Member Relations for the Chamber, Amy Garner who noted some stops had games and different activities.

 

JC Post checked in with some of the children who participated, including 5-year old Jacob who said Skittles was his favorite candy, five year old Marcus who dressed up as a vampire. He likes vampires.

There was Nevvah who dressed up as a school zombie. JC Post asked her what she does in that costume. “I don’t know. ” But Nevvah made it clear she did have fun going up and down the street collecting treats. Lollipops were her favorite.

Savannah, 11, was an angel. ‘We were going to add ears and a tail to it ( costume ) but we couldn’t any so we just set it up making an angel so we tried to do matching stuff.” Her favorite candy was the Three Musketeers.

 

 

 

There will be a JCHS Vertical Construction Celebration on Friday at 10:30 a.m. at the construction site for the new high school.

According to the Chief Operations Officer for USD 475, David WIld, the list of speakers will include Senior High Principal Melissa Sharp, USD 475 Superintendent of Schools Dr. Reginald Eggleston, U.S. Senator Jerry Moran, Congressman Roger Marshall, Board of Education President Rina Neal, Junction City Manager Allen Dinkel and Geary County Commissioner Keith Ascher.

The celebration will celebrate the commencement of vertical construction for the new high school. The event is open to the public. There will be guided parking on the south side of the quarter section just off K-18 Highway.