Junction City Police have reported the arrest of three people on suspicion of Conspiracy to Commit Capitol Murder and Violation of a No Contact Order.

Police reported that the KBI and Junction City / Geary County Drug Operations Group in a joint investigation arrested Amanda Lynn Edison, 34, Grandview Plaza, Samuel Ibarra-Chu, 28, Grandview Plaza and Gregory Elias Rodriguez, 48, Junction City on the allegations.

They are all being held without bond at the Geary County Detention Center, pending a first court appearance. Further details have not been released.

Michelle Stimatze will serve as the chair of the Sundown Salute planning committee for the coming year. That announcement was made by Board member Terry Heldstab during a JC Now broadcast on 1420 KJCK Thursday. “She is currently our treasurer. She has suggested stepping down as treasurer. We will have an announcement as to who the new treasurer is within the next week or so.” Stimatze is also the director of the Geary County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau.

Heldstab discussed a new idea for helping raise funds for the annual Fourth of July celebration. Ottaway Amusements brings their carnival to Sundown Salute every year. There is some interest in asking them to return to Junction City in the fall as well for a fundraiser. “Michelle will reach out to Danny Ottaway in the next couple days, see if that’s a possibility.”

Heldstab will also chair the committee that works on the Mudd Bogg fundraiser for Sundown Salute.

The thunderstorm activity Thursday morning caused power outages in Junction City. Westar Energy confirmed there were more than 1,300 outages. They were first reported about 9:20 and most of the electricity had been restored by 10:21 a.m.

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Strong thunderstorm activity accompanied by jagged sky to ground lightning swept through Junction City and Geary County Thursday morning. Westar Energy reported 13 customers or locations were without electricity.

Geary County Extension Agent Chuck Otte said this rain has been a long time arriving. He noted there have been some nice rains the last three weeks. “But this rain is a longer period, it’s a heavier rain, it’s going to finally provide some run off. ”

Otte noted farm ponds in the county had dried up and the recent rains had recharged the soil but did not provide runoff. “Getting a rain like this is finally going to get some runoff, finally starting to get soil moisture replenished.” Otte added that will take several months but he predicted there will be a good soybean crop.

 

 

The Geary County Sheriff’s Office has received numerous reports of a scam where the caller claims to be an agent of the Internal Revenue Service.

According to Captain Brian Hornaday, the caller will advise the potential victim that they are being investigated for fraud and tax evasion, and will demand a payment to avoid an arrest warrant being issued. Most reports define the caller as a male with a middle Eastern accent or computer automated voice. This is a scam that is annually repeated, usually criminal. The IRS will not contact anyone by telephone in that manner.

If you receive a call of this nature hang up and do not give them any money.

A Junction City Land Bank plan to sell vacant lots without special assessments has drawn concern from existing homeowners in that area on the west side of the city.

They are concerned it could impact the value of their homes, and when they need to sell their house in the future they might be unable to compete with new houses that could potentially be built by developers on the vacant lots that do not have special assessments.

Scott Grubbs noted Tuesday night that the City has made an argument that homes are being sold without specials and that does not have a devastating effect on homes. “That’s true but those are older homes in older neighborhoods that you’re referring to. Your actions to build new homes located right next to homes that are 10 years old, that makes this argument seem pretty weak.”

Many are worried that if the Army issues orders requiring a family to move that they would not be able to sell their existing home, forcing the property into foreclosure. New homes built on lots without specials could sell cheaper than existing homes.

The City Commission has agreed to discuss the issue further at 6 p.m. Tuesday, September 4th in a Land Bank Board meeting at the City building at 701 North Jefferson.

Commissioner Tim Brown said he heard a lot of information that had never occurred to him. “I don’t think the financial devastation that could be done to some of these families if in fact any of these scenarios played out where they couldn’t sell this property. After hearing some of these folks tonight it made me think.” Brown said the issue needs to be revisited.

Mayor Pat Landes is willing to discuss the concern about the issue. He also addressed the another side of this issue. “The problem is we have way too much supply. There are over 900 lots. There’s another 150 to 200 to take into the Land Bank. At the rate we’re going it’s going to be 500 years before they’re gone. We’re trying to do something creative and change things. We’re not trying to put anybody on the street and devalue anything.”

One fact noted multiple times during discussion at the meeting Tuesday night is that there is not a high demand for new housing lots right now in the community.

 

A new gym is scheduled for construction at Westwood Elementary School in Junction City next summer.

There could possibly be more to that project, but it remains to determined said the Chief Operations Officer for USD 475, David Wild. He addressed traffic flow outside the school. “It’s very congested. Hopefully part of the design of that new gym, which has been scheduled for construction next summer, is to hopefully somehow dovetail traffic off of Eisenhower Drive in order to provide a drop off pick up point that relieves some of that congestion over there.”

Wild did add officials do not know if it will be possible but they are at least going to look at it during design development.

The project received discussion during the Board of Education meeting this week.

The Chairman Emeritus of the Central National Bank E. J. Rolfs died last week. He was 93.

Kansas Senator Jerry Moran issued a statement after the passing and attending the funeral of Rolfs in Junction City.

 “Ed served his country, community, business and family in a dedicated fashion – he will be truly missed. His work ethic, strong moral values and innovative spirit made Junction City and the entire state of Kansas a better place. I was honored today to attend services to celebrate Ed’s life, and Robba and I will be praying for the Rolfs during this difficult time.”

Rolfs began serving as president of the Central National Bank in 1967.  Today the bank has outlets in more than 20 communities in Kansas.

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation has released the crime numbers for 2017.

Statewide, violent crime in Kansas continued to trend upward with an overall increase of 6.3% in violent crimes such as murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault and battery. In the past three years Kansas has experienced a 23.1% increase in violent crime.

Additionally 176 murders occurred in 2017, which represents an 18.9% increase over the number of murders committed in 2016.

Breaking down the individual county numbers provided by the KBI, Geary County had no murders in 2017, 13 cases of rape, 16 robberies, 17 aggravated assault or batteries, 546 property crime offenses such as theft or burglary, and there were six arson cases.

Those figures include the combined numbers from the Junction City Police Department, Geary County Sheriff’s Department and the Grandview Plaza Police Department.

GEARY COUNTY — Three people were injured in an accident just after 2p.m. Sunday in Geary County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2014 Dodge Ram driven by Fredrick Louis Allen, 67, Holden, MO., was westbound on Interstate 70.

The pickup hydroplaned, traveled through the median onto the eastbound lanes. An eastbound 2006 Volvo CX90 driven by Ricky Robinson, 57, Blue Spring, Mo., struck the Dodge head-on.

Allen was transported to the hospital in Junction City.

Robinson and a passenger Veta Ann Robinson, 54, Blue Springs, Mo., were transported to the hospital in Manhattan. All three were properly restrained at the time off the accident, according to the KHP.

The community joined with Junction City firefighters on Saturday to raise money for MDA. The event was the fourth annual block party hosted by the firefighters in the parking lot and street area outside Coach’s Grill & Bar.

One of the highlights was a car show. Block Party Coordinator Josh Allen said there was good participation for that event. “Had a pretty good turnout, about the same as last year. We changed the date this year so we were competing with some big car shows in the area, so overall we’re pretty happy with it. ”

An evening activity involved the dueling pianos entertainment provided by Hammer Entertainment of Kansas City, Missouri.

Allen explained the event is for the battle against muscular dystrophy. “This all goes to kids that they need treatment, they need wheel chairs, they need to go to summer camp and be around other kids that have the similar issues  that they’ve got so they realize that they’re not alone in this battle. Every penny that we make it’s going to the kids.”