COUNCIL GROVE – A Kansas man died in an accident just after 4p.m. on Sunday in Morris County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1999 Nissan Maxima driven by Julia C Fay, 19, was southbound on Kansas 177 just south of F Avenue.

The Nissan crossed the centerline and struck a northbound 2002 Ford F150 driven by Glenna J Ziegenhirt, 61, Alta Vista.

A passenger in the Ford Robet D. Ziegenhirt, 66, Alta Vista, was transported Wesley Medical Center where he died.

Fay was transported to Stormont Vail. Glenna Ziegenhirt was transported to Morris County Hospital.

All were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

Junction City Fire Department and Public Works responded to Sapp Brothers on the south side of Junction City Saturday evening for a fuel spill.

Geary County Emergency Management Director Garry Berges also responded to the scene. He confirmed the spill of about 100 gallons of diesal fuel was cleaned up. There were no other problems.

Update:

The cause of a fire that destroyed a house approximately eight miles north of Junction City Saturday has been ruled accidental in nature. A more specific cause was undetermined.

That information was provided by Assistant Geary County Rural Fire Chief Curt Janke.  He reported that the house was owned by Daniel and Ashley Pettigrew. They and their three children were the residents. They were not home at the time of the fire.

A State Fire Marshal’s Office investigator was brought in to work with Geary County to help determine the cause of the blaze.

Janke noted the damage estimate was $150,000 to the house and $75,000 to the contents.  He said the fire started on the back deck on the outside of the house, accessed the house through a kitchen window just above the main fire, and then worked its’ way up into the attic. By the time firefighters arrived on scene the fire had gotten into the attic.

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Geary County rural firefighters responded to a house fire on Laurence Drive approximately eight miles north of Junction City Saturday afternoon.

The residents, whose names have not yet been released, were not injured. They were not home at the time of the blaze.

Garry Berges, Geary County Rural Fire Chief, reported that a State Fire Marshal’s office investigator was called in Saturday night to assist in investigating the cause of the fire.

Berges said firefighters got the call about 4:35 p.m. on Saturday. “First units on the scene advised heavy smoke was showing from the back side of the house, between the kitchen area and the back deck area. We made sure that there was nobody inside the residence. Able to recover one dog, came out the front door. ” Authorities were trying to locate a cat that was inside the house.

Berges said, “We received assistance from Junction City Fire / EMS with an ambulance unit for standby. And we also had Fort Riley Fire Department come. The house is considered a total loss at this time.”

Update:

Service was restored later in the morning time frame.

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KJCK AM was off the air Saturday morning.

Efforts were made to repair the problem.

WABAUNSEE COUNTY- A Kansas man was injured in an accident just before 1a.m. on Saturday in Wabaunsee County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2006 Chevy pickup driven by Tyler J. Frank, 21, McFarland, was eastbound on Interstate 70 at Wabaunsee Road six miles north of Alma. The pickup left the roadway on south side.

It then traveled back across the eastbound lanes into the median, rolled and came to rest in the westbound lanes.

Frank was transported to Stormont Vail. He was wearing a seatbelt, according to the KHP.

American blues pianist, singer and songwriter Kelley Hunt has performed all across the world and her home state Kansas but had never played at the C.L. Hoover Opera House until Friday night.

Hunt said that she looked forward to performing at the C.L. Hoover Opera House because Junction City is in her home state, “It’s in my heartland.”

“I was born in Kansas City but I grew up in Emporia and I’ve had family that’s in the service at Fort Riley, and had been in Junction City and all over the state,” said Hunt. “When my band comes in, who are not from Kansas, they’re from Chicago, Detroit and Minneapolis, it’s fun for me to kind of show this off a little bit, and I’m really proud of what they’ve done here (the Opera House). This is a big undertaking and I’m proud to be a part of it.”

Not only was Hunt excited to be in Junction City but Brenda Bandy of Manhattan has seen Hunt play at least four other times and was equally excited to see her again in Junction City.

“Absolutely, I drove in specially for this, actually I was in Wichita for a meeting and I made sure I was back in time,” said Bandy.

Hunt’s skills with the piano is what Bandy loves the most.

“The piano, and her singing, and the way she engages the audience, but really her piano playing, yeah just amazing.”

In 2006 Hunt was inducted into the Kansas Music Hall of Fame. She has produced album titles ranging from “Inspiration” to the “Beautiful Bones,” the latter released in 2014.

 

The Geary County Veteran Alliance is inviting the public to attend the Veteran’s Day Program at the C. L. Hoover Opera House on Nov. 11.

The guest speaker will be Mary T. Burnham.

 

The Junction City High School annual College Planning Conference will be Thursday, October 29 in Shenk Gymnasium beginning at 2:00 pm. Representatives from public, private colleges & universities, community colleges, military branches, career & technical schools will be available to visit with juniors, seniors and parents.
Information will be available on course offerings, tuition and fees, financial aid, scholarships housing, safety, student life in general and important deadlines.. For more information or a list of schools please contact Margie Pinaire, JCHS Scholarship Coordinator at (785)717-4063 ormargiepinaire@usd475.org

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) issued the following statement following President Obama’s veto of the fiscal year 2016 defense authorization bill:

“The president’s veto of our nation’s defense authorization bill is a reckless political maneuver that leaves our nation at risk. Our greatest constitutional responsibility is protecting our nation, and we must make certain our men and women in uniform are trained, ready and able to defend our nation from the ever-changing threats we face – especially in the rapidly deteriorating Middle East. By rejecting the bipartisan work of Congress, the president is putting the safety of those who serve our country at risk.”

The bill passed with broad support from senators who recognized the importance of putting the defense of the country ahead of engaging in a show of partisan politics. Funding for the military in fiscal year 2016 will remain in question pending a congressional override of the president’s veto.