MANHATTAN – Law enforcement authorities in Riley County are investigating a reported aggravated kidnapping.

Police say it took place in the 300 block of North Sunset Avenue in Manhattan on just before 3 p.m. on Tuesday.

Police say they were informed of an incident in the 300 Block of North Sunset Avenue in Manhattan just before 3p.m. on Tuesday involving a 16-year-old male victim.

He was taken in a vehicle and later dropped off near the Sunset Zoo by several unknown males.

The suspects also took the victim’s backpack containing cologne and various binders, according to police.

No additional details have been released.

Before Phyllis Fitzgerald was elected to the Junction City Commission this past April she was already trying to benefit the city through a neighborhood beautification initiative.

She explained it started a few years ago when her and her friends would be out walking and they’d see a piece of trash and simply, pick it up and dispose of it properly.

“The comment was made that while we were out walking we should start taking bags and pick up trash and help beautify the neighborhood. That’s where our little motto that we’ve got that’s called ‘Trash: If you see it, Pick it up’ was born,” said Fitzgerald.

 

Fitzgerald explained that they don’t have any set times for when her and her group go out and walk, but she is encouraging others to get involved. She said that eventually she would like to have multiple groups participating in the initiative and then make a competition out of it to see what group picks up the most trash.

“One of the biggest things for me is when people come to Junction City, first impressions are often lasting impressions, and together I think that we all can make a difference.”

For more information you can contact her by phone at 785-307-1472 or by email at phyllis.fitzgerald@jcks.com.

Geary Community Hospital will hold its final Farmers Market of the season Thursday, and to celebrate another successful season it will also be a customer appreciation day.

Nikki Davies,  Marketing and Public Relations Specialist for GCH explained they will have a pumpkin patch in the grassy area behind the vendors in the front parking lot.

“The first 100 customers are able to come pick out a pumpkin if they like, and if their kids would like to decorate it they certainly can do so, there will be a station there for them to do that, or they can take their pumpkin with them,” said Davies.

Davies went on to say that this summer GCH saw another successful season, and they had a lot of new vendors and diversified the market with a large variety of items.

“We were always full, it seemed like, throughout the entire season of different vendors and different customers just coming through. Next year we may have to expand it a little bit and maybe make it into a Farmers Market Square, or find a way to add more vendors in there.”

The Farmers Market runs from 4 pm to 7 pm in the front parking lot of Geary Community Hospital Thursday. GCH will reopen the market again next June.

 

Chapman USD 473 will honor the deployment of the 1st Infantry Division’s 5th Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment on Friday, Oct. 9 at the Chapman High School Stadium.  A Military Appreciation Night is planned.

At the football game  that night the school and community members will be presenting the Troopers with support and encouragement as they prepare for their upcoming deployment to the Middle East.

Randy Watson, Kansas Commissioner of Education, will assist with the pre-game coin flip.   And at halftime there will be a deployment flag presentation to the 5th Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, who are Chapman’s Adopt a School units.

Fans should arrive at the football stadium no later than 6:30 p.m., and you’re being asked to wear red, white and blue and to bring any appreciation you’d like to share for the Unit.

 

MANHATTAN – A Kansas man accused in a drug manufacturing operation was sentenced to 92 months in prison in Riley County Court on Tuesday.

Grant Hamel, 23, Manhattan, was arrested on February 4, 2015 following an investigation by the Riley County Police Department into a drug manufacturing operation at 3 locations in Manhattan.

Officers seized approximately 14 pounds of marijuana, ½ pound of methamphetamine, over 2000 prescription pills, 5 firearms, approximately $51,000 in cash and two vehicles.

They also discovered a marijuana grow operation and steroid manufacturing operation.

Following a plea deal agreed to by the State, Hamel was charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute anabolic steroids.

 

According to the National Weather Service of Topeka, temperatures continue to fall through the week into the mid 60s by Friday.

Morning lows in the 40s may require at least a light jacket. There is a slight chance for showers to impact portions of north central Kansas, otherwise most of the area should remain dry.

There is a chance we could see more rain showers develop over the entire area late Friday night into Saturday as the next system migrates over Nebraska.

Today: Sunny. Highs in the upper 60s. East winds 5 to 10 mph.

Tonight: Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 40s. East winds 5 to 10 mph.

Thursday: Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 60s. East winds 5 to 10 mph.

Thursday Night: Partly cloudy in the evening then becoming mostly cloudy. Lows in the mid 40s. East winds 5 to 10 mph.

Friday: Partly sunny. Highs in the mid 60s. East winds 5 to 10 mph.

Friday Night: Mostly cloudy with slight chance of rain showers. Lows in the upper 40s.

Saturday: Mostly cloudy with a 40 percent chance of rain showers. Highs around 60.

Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy with slight chance of rain showers. Lows in the upper 40s.

Sunday: Partly sunny. Highs in the mid 60s.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 40s.

Monday: Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 60s.

Monday Night: Partly cloudy in the evening then becoming mostly cloudy. Slight chance of rain showers. Lows in the lower 50s.

Tuesday: Partly sunny with slight chance of rain showers. Highs in the lower 70s.

Discussion on toxic blue green algae testing, issues, and concerns at Milford Reservoir dominated a Milford Lake Stakeholders meeting Tuesday night.

The prescence of the algae has led to multiple watches, warnings, and some temporary lake closures during the past five years, and in turn negative impact for economic activity and recreation users of the reservoir.

Lonnie Clark, 65th District State Representative, told JC Post he wants the focus to be on resolving the blue green algae problem, and not on informing the public so extensively with watches and warnings. “I think we need to be looking at a way to get rid of the blue green algae, as opposed to trying to keep people from getting in it. I think we’re responsible adults coming to a lake. They should know that they have to keep their kids or their dogs out of the lake. We post the signs saying stay away from the stuff. Let them go in the lake, let them use the lake, give them the responsibility to stay out of the stuff.”

One person attending the meeting, Dr. Anwar Khoury, noted the testing  has hurt the lake and they need to get rid of it. He asked Kansas Department of Health and Environment watershed planner Tom Stiles, what would get the agency to stop testing for the algae. Stiles replied an act of the legislature, which would be opposed by KDHE as bad policy. He noted there are two avenues, one involving a political appeal to the Governor’s administration to stop the testing, or legislation that would limit how KDHE performs this duty.

The state made adjustments in their testing last winter to raise the level of toxins and cell counts before watches and warnings are implemented. Stiles told the meeting audience he thought KDHE was doing as good as they could right now but they are open to suggestions.  This year there were no major problems before July 4, but Stiles noted about 10 days later the problem blew up big on the north end of the reservoir, where it has continued to be a problem in what is called Zone C for 11 weeks with consistently high cell counts and toxin levels.

News releases have been issued on the blue green algae and status of lakes since 2011. It was reported that since those began there has been a decline in human illnesses and no animal fatalities due to the algae. In 2011 there were several cases of human illness and a couple of animal deaths.

 

 

Geary County employees annually support the United Way fundraising effort.

This year is no exception.

Ben Bennett, Geary County Commission, confirmed there will be a bake sale, as in the past.

“But we’re putting a lot of emphasis on our employee representation, and we do allow them to do a direct payroll deposit and withdrawl for the United Way during the period. ”

Bennett added the County will look at other activities that they may want to try to do. He noted the employees like to be involved in the United Way campaign.

Discussion are in the early stages but Geary County Sheriff Tony Wolf is in talks with the Kansas Department of Transportation about the potential of bringing some inmates out to do work such as weed eating along highways, picking up trash, and clearing up roadways and ditches.

This would be a work detail program.

Wolf noted not everyone is a true hardened criminal, and just doing their time, want to pay their debt to society and move on. “Those folks would just absolutely love to get out of that jail for an afternoon, get some fresh air, get out of there, be able to do something for the community. ”

Wolf added there is the potential of undertaking such jobs as picking up trash along streets or mowing grass for the County. He sees a lot of potential.

Right now the idea is in its infancy and is being considered. The Sheriff confirmed it would be modeled after similar programs at some prisons. Two he cited were programs involving the prisons in Ellsworth and Hutchinson.