A transition is underway right now for D.E.L. Motors at 1737 North Washington Street in Junction City.

Owner D.E. Lacer said he started D.E.L motors 40 years ago and for the last approximate 10 years have been associated with large corporate dealerships. “My wife, my kids, my family in general just made the decision it’s time to go back on our own. That way we can do more in the community of Junction City, Fort RIley. We’re going to be doing a lot of the same things we have been doing as far as pre-owned used cars.”

Lacer stated they will bring on rental cars, and are thinking about the possibility of going back into truck rentals. Lacer said they will be family-owned. His son Joshua Lacer will be general manager, Rick Roberts will oversee the service and finance departments. “Our service department we’re going to really gear it up. We’re going to offer a lot more than we have in the past. Family friend and business associate Mark Hartung will also be an operating partner.

The service department is open for business and operating right now. The automobile sales operation is closed temporarily while they are going through the process of getting the new dealer license and renewing inventory. Lacer is hopeful the vehicle sales operation can resume in a couple of weeks.

Police are reporting an arrest in connection with a Christmas Day shooting that claimed the life of a 31-year old Junction City woman.

The JCPD has issued a statement saying that Wednesday at 2:14 p.m. Mashaun Jay Baker, 33, Junction City, was arrested on suspicion of Capitol Murder in reference to the death of 31-year-old Jenna Schafer. Baker was transported to the Geary County Detention Center where he was held without bond pending a first appearance in Geary County District Court.

This is the second arrest reported in the case. On Christmas night the JCPD reported that Dion Green, 33, Junction City, had been arrested on suspicion of First Degree Murder in connection with the shooting. At that time police said at about 9:30 a.m. Christmas Day officers were sent to 948 Grant Avenue number 154 for a deceased female. Upon arrival officers found Schafer deceased from an apparent gunshot wound.

The Junction City Commission has voted 5-0 for Pat Landes to serve a consecutive one-year term as mayor.

Landes told JC Post he wants to see more business in Junction City. I want us to get more property developed and jobs here in this community. Jobs drive everything from business sales to homes to moving these Land Bank lots.”

This will be the fourth time Landes has served as mayor since he was first elected to the city commission in 2011. “I want to see us move forward with the roads around the high school, get things squared away over there so they have a good safe area to have the school and see if we can connect some of those streets to the existing Sutter Woods and Sutter Highlands.”

Jeff Underhill has been elected vice mayor. During that process commissioner Tim Brown nominated Phyllis Fitzgerald to serve as vice mayor but Fitzgerald nominated  Underhill for the position. The commission then voted to elect Underhill.

The commissioners serve on a variety of different public boards and committees, but there will be no changes for 2019. For example Underhill will continue serving on the Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.

There will be a new traffic roundabout built near the intersection of McFarland Road and Eisenhower Drive in 2019.

Junction City Public Works Director Ray Ibarra explained it will help deal with the traffic load coming through the intersection, and making turns at 5th Street.  The roundabout will be located just south of the McFarland Road – Eisenhower Drive intersection. Ibarra stated, “The roundabout will take care of McFarland and it will also take care of the traffic coming out Lincoln Elementary School, and that way we’ll have a good traffic flow out of there.”

Ibarra added a crosswalk at the intersection at 5th and Eisenhower will be eliminated. “We will make the sidewalk go all the way to the roundabout and then cross the roundabout and back out to the east by Lincoln School. That way it will make it much safer for the kids.”

Ibarra expects the City to go out for bids on the project near the end of January or early February.

By DEWEY TERRILL
JC Post

State Representative Lonnie Clark, Junction City, wants to see a third brigade of soldiers brought to Fort Riley in the future.

Clark will chair the Veterans Military Committee in the Kansas House in the 2019 legislative session.

“I want to see us get more involved with Fort Riley, Junction City and Manhattan and see if we can’t get that third brigade. That would be the thing that would be most prevalent on my mind, anyway. We need that, we’re good partners with Fort Riley, they’re good partners with us,” he said. “I see it expanding and just trying to get more involvement from both communities in bringing this all together.”

Clark believes he has the support of the remainder of the committee.

“I’m happy to be the chair of that committee. I wanted it last term and really pushed hard for it this term. So I’m excited about it,” he said.

Clark aired on his comments during the JC Now program on 107.9 FM / 1420 KJCK Wednesday morning. He represents the 65th District in the Kansas House.

One of the biggest trip generators for the ATA Bus public bus transportation service in Junction City involves the transport of students to Junction City High School.

According to ATA Bus Director Anne Smith they have been in discussion with USD 475 officials in 2018 about the prospect of a partnership with the Freshman Success Academy, the career academy campus at JCHS and potentially in the future, Junction City Middle School. “Where they could, students could ride the bus and they ( USD 475 ) would provide funding to us to meet our local match.”

Smith noted back in August ATA Bus began allowing students to ride the buses at the fixed route stops for free. “I can tell you that between the high school and the freshman academy ridership just at those locations has increased 297%.” Smith added it was a bit of surprise that there had been so dramatic increase.

ATA Bus operates three fixed routes in Junction City from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and there is also a demand response service available. The cost of a ride on a bus is $1 and for those who qualify 50-cents. Those who are disabled, over 60, or meet income guidelines can qualify for the 50-cent rate.

2018 featured a number of news related developments in Junction City, Geary County and Fort Riley. Here is our list of our Top 10 selections.

1.  USD 475 officials held a groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of a new Junction City High School.

2.  For the first time in several years blue green algae was not a problem at Milford Lake. There were no blue green algae watches or warnings. Visitation at the lake was up in 2018.

3.  A new superintendent of schools, Dr. Reginald Eggleston, was hired for USD 475. The new superintendent will come to USD 475 after serving in education positions in the state of Alabama.

4.  Weather developments were strange.The summer drought produced high temperatures, and ruined much of the local wheat crop. In the fall heavy rains prevented some harvesting and planting of crops. Extension Agent Chuck Otte reported that the county had 50% of normal rainfall for the first six months of the year, and 159% for the latter six months.

5.   USD 475 received notification from the federal Office of Economic Adjustment that the school district could proceed on applying for funding for a new elementary school at Fort Riley. The new school will be built to replace two existing schools, Morris Hill and Jefferson Elementary. The federal government will pay 80% and USD 475 20% of the cost.

6.  The K-18 overpass above U.S. 77 opened, enhancing traffic flow on the west side of Junction City.

7.  The Blue Jay football team defeated Manhattan 9-7 in their rivalry game. The winner gains possession of the Sportsmanship Trophy for one year.

8.  Salina Regional Health Center decided not to enter into a merger with Geary Community Hospital. That leaves GCH searching for another potential partner.

9.  Geary County Sheriff Tony Wolf was arrested on suspicion of Felony Theft for allegedly giving a county-owned firearm to a third party, and for the misdemeanor allegation of misuse of public funds. Wolf is awaiting a preliminary hearing that is scheduled January 17th, 2019 in the case.

10.  107.9 FM / 1420 KJCK implemented a new radio format featuring classic hits music, local news and information, ABC news, features from different organizations in the community and local regional sports broadcasts. The new programming replaced a news / talk format.

 

United Way of Junction City / Geary County is seeking individuals to represent the next generation of community leaders and become a United Way student for Junction City and Geary County.

Students chosen to represent United Way, their school and community, should demonstrate compassion and altruism toward their community. The student should be a good leader who also be a positive role model and representation of their school.

Students requirements range from a willingness and drive to make a difference in the lives of others to a positive attitude and leadership skills.

Each USD 475 representative will be asked to work within their school to pick an individual who embodies what it means to be a United Way student. Each representative will need to obtain parent / guardian permission for the student of their choice. The deadline for selecting a student will be January 31st.

Each United Way Student will be recognized in media and be given a chance to feature in the United Way of Junction City / Geary County Campaign videos, as well as recognition from United Way of Junction City / Geary County.

The Junction City Police Department is introducing a new program called “Community Cam” helping citizens protect themselves, their families and their community by helping to curb crime!

 

The Junction City Police Department is asking all home owners & businesses with security cameras on their property to register their property with the Police Department. The goal is to deter crime and promote public safety through collaboration between our Officers and the community we serve.

 

Security camera footage is an invaluable asset to our department, helping to establish leads and identifying suspects. Similar programs have already taken root with other agencies across the nations, with countless success stories of how this program has helped their communities.

 

Registering your security cameras and contact information is completely voluntary. All information provided to the Junction City Police Department is kept confidential and will not be disclosed to others. There is no cost associated with the registration of your security camera(s).

 

How to register your Security Camera(s):

Home Owners & Business Owners can register their security camera(s) by coming down to the Junction City Police Department and filling out a Security Camera Registration Form or by contacting Lieutenant Scott Popovich at 785-762-5912 Ext. 3635 or by email at Scott.Popovich@jcks.com where a Security Camera Registration Form can be emailed to you.

or

By going to the City of Junction City website under the Police Department Community Cam and click on the top link to register online “Security Camera Online Registration”.

or

Download the Security Camera Registration Form Word or PDF format using one of the top links on the city website and send in the form by mail, email or by dropping it off at the Police Department.

At any time you can decide to Opt-Out of the program by filling out the same Security Camera Online Registration and just mark Opt-Out on the form.

Community Cam Program is another way the Junction City Police Department and our community work together to solve problems and solve crime. Please contact the Junction City Police Department at 785-762-5912 if you have any questions about the Junction City Police Department Community Cam Program.

 

 

POTTAWATOMIE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities continue their investigation of a suspicious death and have identified the victim.

The body of 19-year-old Jacob D.  Bouck was located approximately one mile West of Wamego on the Kansas River on Christmas Eve, according to Pottawatomie County Sheriff Greg Rait.

Sheriff’s Detectives believe that foul play may be involved in Bouck’s death.

He was last seen in the Wamego area in the early morning hours of Friday December 21st.

Thee Kansas Bureau of Investigation is assisting with this investigation, according to Riat.

The Sheriff’s Office is asking that anyone with information in the case is urged to contact the Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office at 785-457-3353, online at ptsheriff.com or the Kansas Bureau of Investigations at 1-800-KS-CRIME.

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POTTAWATOMIE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspicious death.

Just after 10a.m. December 24, Pottawatomie County Dispatch received a report of a body in the Kansas River, approximately 1/2 mile West of Wamego, according to Sheriff Greg Riat.

Deputies, Wamego police and Wildlife and Parks units responded to the area as well as Wamego Fire and Pottawatomie County EMS.

Sheriff Water Rescue launched from the Wamego boat ramp heading west up the Kansas River, according to Riat.

Authorities located the body of a deceased man approximately one mile west of Wamego near the north bank of the Kansas River.

With the assistance of the Manhattan Fire Water Rescue, the victim was recovered from the water. The cause of death of the victim is pending completion of an autopsy.

The identity of the victim will be released pending positive identification.

The death at this time is being investigated as suspicious, according to Riat.

The Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office is asking for anyone with information on this incident contact to contact the Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office at 785-457-3353, or leave a crime tip at ptsheriff.com