There will be a regional crisis stabilization center located in Manhattan to help serve the mentally ill. It should eventually serve area counties served by Pawnee Mental Health Services, including Geary.

This facility could be an option for housing mentally ill individuals on a temporary basis instead of having to keep them in jails.

Ben Bennett, Geary County Commissioner stated, “We’ve been complaining for a number of years about what do we do with someone who is arrested in a criminal activity, but we can directly relate to the fact that they have mental health problems and that’s part of their whole makeup, and we really don’t want to put them in jail but we don’t have anyplace else.”

Geary County officials have been informed on this topic and Bennett attended a meeting on it last week in Manhattan. He reported on the JC Now program on 1420 KJCK AM that a state grant awarded to Pawnee Mental Health Services is addressing the need for about two years. Funding will be needed in future years, and there will be discussions with counties in the 10-county Pawnee Mental Health Services catchment area.

The 6-unit secure facility must still be remodeled and prepared. Bennett confirmed a director, Bruce Johnson, has been hired. The facility could house patients for possibly a 24-hour to 72-hour period until a bed could be found in a state facility.

Military retirees will have four weeks to make a decision on their TRICARE health plan for 2019.

According to a release from Irwin Army Community Hospital the opportunity to make changes runs Nov. 12 – Dec. 10. Coverage begins on Jan. 1, 2019.

For the first time retirees will experience Open Season — a period when retirees can change their health plan or switch from individual to family coverage.

Benefits counselors from Irwin Army Community Hospital are hosting a series of community briefings on TRICARE changes and Open Season. Military retirees and their family members are invited to attend for an opportunity to ask questions. The briefings will be Nov. 3 at 10 a.m. at the Manhattan Public Library, Nov. 10 at noon at the Abilene Public Library, Nov. 17 at 10 a.m. at the Dorothy Bramlage Public Library in Junction City, and Nov. 17 at noon at the Wakefield Community Center.

Outside of the Open Season, retirees will only be able to make changes within 90 days after a Qualifying Life Event such as getting married or divorced, having a baby or adopting, or children becoming adults.

The TRICARE Retiree Dental Program is ending Dec. 31. To continue dental coverage, retirees must enroll in one of 10 dental plans. Each plan’s details and premium rates are available at TRICARE.benefeds.com. Retirees will not be automatically enrolled into a dental plan. They must enroll during the Open Season.

Vision coverage will become available to military retirees and their family members who are enrolled in a TRICARE health plan. Beneficiaries will have four vision plans to choose from. Coverage is effective Jan. 1019, if they enroll during the Open Season. Retirees and their family members will not be automatically enrolled into a vision plan. Visit the TRICARE.benefeds.com site for details and premium rates of each plan.

Whether during TRICARE Open Season or following a Qualifying Life Event, retirees have three ways to make an enrollment choice. You can do so online at www.tricare-west.com, by telephone at 1-877-888-3337 or in person when you visit a benefits counselor at Irwin Army Community Hospital at Fort Riley.

In September Dickinson County Sheriff’s Department Drug Enforcement Unit opened an investigation into the distribution of controlled substances at 301 Opal Road, Lot 19 in Abilene.

According to the Sheriff’s Department as a result of the investigation, authorities conducted a search warrant at 301 Opal Road, Lot 19 on Thursday and arrested Keenen Henderson, 21, Abilene and Brianna Lake, 22, Abilene.

Henderson was arrested on suspicion of Aggravated Child Endangerment, two counts of Possession with the Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance, three counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance, Felony Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, misdemeanor Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and No Drug Tax Stamp.

Lake was arrested on suspicion of Aggravated Child Endangerment, misdemeanor Possession of Marijuana and misdemeanor Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

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

“The Kansas Corporation Commission encourages Kansans who are past-due on their utility bills and at risk for disconnection to prepare now for the colder weather by contacting their utility company to make the necessary payment arrangements, said Commission Chair Shari Feist Albrecht.

The Cold Weather Rule was first enacted by the Commission in 1983 to prevent 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 to forecast to be at or below 35 degrees over the next 24 hours.

Utility companies are also required to offer a 12-month payment plan to allow consumers to maintain or re-establish utility service. Any residential customer with a past due balance will qualify for payment arrangements under the Rule. However it is the customer’s responsibility to contact the gas or electric company to make those arrangements.

It rained all day on Thursday, but that didn’t put spoil the All Treats Day celebration in Junction City. Despite the light rain kids and their parents converged on the downtown North Washington Area to march in a costume parade and collect candy from merchants.

Kids of all ages worked their way to different candy stands on North Washington. JCPost.com sampled the opinions of some in attendance with one seven year old, Z-Haire, calling it cold and fun and cold and a five year old, Xeniyah,  didn’t like the rain, but made it clear chocolate was her favorite candy.  City Manager Allen Dinkel took his grandchildren to the event. “I think it’s wonderful. It’s what makes Junction City so friendly and a good place to live.

County Attorney Kristi Blaisdell was in attendance with her daughter. “I took my daughter McKinley, and she’s Vamporina this year.” They caught the costume parade led by the JCHS Marching Band and then enjoyed the trick or treating. Noemi Molina with the Exchange Bank was downtown. “Exchange Bank what we did for United Way we had a hot dog stand and we took donations so everything we do get tonight will go to them, United Way.”

Following the activities downtown kids also had an opportunity to enjoy games and candy at the 12th Street Community Center.

 

Geary County Sheriff Anthony “Tony” Wolf made a first appearance in Geary County District Court Thursday morning following his recent arrest for Felony Theft for allegedly giving a county-owned firearm as a gift to a third party, and for the misdemeanor allegation Misuse of Public Funds which asserted Wolf used public dollars in a manner not authorized by law.

A November 29th status check hearing at 9 a.m. has been been scheduled for Wolf in District Court. It was explained in court that will allow time for review of significant video and discovery in the case. Wolf was accompanied during his first appearance by defense attorney Michael Hinkin of the law firm Clark and Platt in Manhattan. The prosecutor for the hearing was Assistant Dickinson County Attorney Daryl Hawkins.  As a bond requirement Wolf will continue on administrative leave from the sheriff’s position, and cannot have physical or voluntary contact with law enforcement, Sheriff’s Department personnel, or witnesses in the case, with the exception of his ex-wife concerning their child.

Wolf waived the formal reading of the charges in the case.

 

GEARY COUNTY — One person died in an accident just after 4:30p.m. Wednesday in Geary County.
The Kansas Highway patrol reported a 2000 Chevy Silverado driven by David L. Sutton, 70, Clay Center, was southbound on U.S. 77 a mile south of the Kansas 82 Junction.

The SUV traveled off the roadway to the right. The driver overcorrected, back on the roadway, traveled off the road to the west and rolled.

Sutton was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to Penwell-Gabel Funeral Home. He was properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP
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Law enforcement and emergency personnel responded to an area north pf Junction City on U.S. 77 late Wednesday afternoon for an accident.

According to Geary County Emergency Management Director, Garry Berges, authorities received a call about 4:40 p.m. on a rollover accident with entrapment. The location was on U.S. Highway 77 near the turnoff to K-82 Highway, about one mile south of that intersection. “We do have one fatality confirmed at the scene at this time.”

Traffic was reduced to one lane for a period of time.

The identity of the victim has not yet been released by authorities. JCPost.com will release more information as it becomes available.

TOPEKA – (October 24, 2018) – A Junction City organization has been awarded a $12,250 grant to provide services for victims of crime, Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt announced Wednesday.

CASA of the 8th Judicial District was awarded the grant to provide supervision of 120 CASA volunteers, who serve the children in the court system who are victims of abuse, neglect, or human trafficking.

“Organizations across Kansas do great work every day to support victims of crime,” Schmidt said. “We are proud to support these organizations through the victims services grant programs.”

The award was made from the State Crime Victims’ Assistance Fund for Child Abuse and Neglect, which is funded through county court costs, municipal court assessments and State General Fund appropriations.

This year, the attorney general’s office awarded more than $2.5 million in grants to local and state crime victim assistance organizations. More information on the grant programs and the full list of award recipients is available on the attorney general’s website at www.ag.ks.gov.

Geary County Commissioner Ben Bennett had a recent conversation with U.S. Senator Jerry Moran in Washington D.C. about the financial challenges facing Geary Community Hospital in Junction City.

Bennett said he suggested to the Senator that the hospital in Junction City was in financial difficulty as are many others around Kansas. ” That was evidenced by the closing of hospitals in two communities, Independence and Fort Scott just recently.”

Bennett thanked Moran for the work he has done for the local community in supporting the new hospital at Fort Riley, the MEDCOM and the Veterans Affairs clinics which are now in the community. “Hopefully that he could look at something that he might able to do to support our local hospital that’s losing money and losing patients to those other activities, and it’s going to be difficult for us to keep the doors open year after year by losing over a million dollars a year in revenues.”

Bennett added the Senator responded by saying he would look at the issue. The Commissioner indicated he is also communicating with 1st District Congressman Roger Marshall on the matter.

Bennett talked with the Senator during a recent AUSA convention trip to the nation’s capitol. He updated the Geary Community Hospital Board of Trustees on the subject during their monthly meeting on Tuesday.

There have been recent discussions between Geary Community Hospital and Salina Regional Health Center about a possible merger, but nothing has been finalized at this point as those talks continue.

GEARY COUNTY —A Kansas man avoided injury in a small plane mishap just after 6:30p.m. Monday in Geary County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2006 Zenith 601XL airplane piloted by Mark A. Gorman, 67, Junction City took off from the Junction City Airport.

At approximately 2500 feet elevation the aircraft’s bubble canopy came open. The pilot was not able to maintain flight elevation and landed in the corn stubble just south of the intersection at Crider Road and Old U.S. 40.

Gorman was not injured.