A 40-year old Frankfort, Kansas man has been arrested following an incident where a shot was fired into the front door glass of the La Fiesta Restaurant at 503 East Chestnut Street in Junction City Monday night.

The Junction City Police Department reported that Timothy L. Hedges, 40, Frankfort, was arrested Monday evening on suspicion of one count each of  Criminal Discharge of a Firearm at Occuppied Dwelling, Possession of a Firearm Under the Influence, Criminal Damage to Property, and  four counts of Aggravated Assault.

Junction City Police Chief Tim Brown explained that police received a call at 10:31 p.m. in reference to a person who had fired a shot through the glass. “Apparently the subject had attempted to enter the business when they were closing, was denied entrance, and apparently became upset, drew a weapon and fired a round into the business.” Brown added there were several people inside the business at the time.

The police chief confirmed the subject “fled the scene on a motorcycle. Police were able to locate the individual later on here at a local drinking establishment, and were able to arrest the individual and charge him with a number of offenses related to that shooting at La Fiesta.” Brown also confirmed Hedges was found in possession of a handgun when he was arrested. “So we have recovered the handgun in the matter.”

No one was injured during the incident at the restaurant.

 

The Geary County Sheriff’s Department has reported that Deputies responded to a single vehicle versus deer accident at mile marker two on K-244 Highway Monday morning. Georgia Allen, Junction City, was traveling east in a Chevrolet Cruze when a deer ran out in front of her. The vehicle hit the deer. Allen was not injured.

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In the second case Deputies responded to mile marker 150 on U.S. 77 Highway Monday evening where a Nissan Altima driven by Thomas McMurray, Junction City, struck a deer.  McMurray was not injured.

MANHATTAN- Law enforcement authorities at Kansas State University have identified three persons of interest in connection with graffiti at buildings on campus.

The KSU Police Department had asked for assistance in identifying three individual in the criminal damage to property over the weekend at Seaton Hall and in the Quad areas of Campus.

Names of the suspects have not been released.

According to the National Weather Service of Topkea, there is a slight chance for scattered showers with perhaps an isolated thunderstorm today and tonight as a cold front tracks southward through the area.

Skies are mostly cloudy with highs much cooler from the low to upper 70s. Expect this cooling trend to continue as highs fall to the 60s area wide by Thursday and Friday while overnight lows are in the 40s. Better chances for rainfall come on Friday and Saturday.
Today: Cooler. Mostly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of showers. Highs in the lower 70s. Northeast winds 10 to 15 mph.

Tonight: Cooler. Mostly cloudy. A 20 percent chance of rain showers after midnight. Lows around 50. Northeast winds 5 to 15 mph.

Wednesday: Partly sunny. Highs in the upper 60s. East winds 5 to 10 mph.

Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy. Lows around 50. East winds up to 5 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 upper 40s.

Friday: Partly sunny with slight chance of rain showers and isolated thunderstorms. Highs in the lower 60s.

Friday Night: Mostly cloudy with chance of rain showers and isolated thunderstorms. Lows in the upper 40s. Chance of precipitation 40 percent.

Saturday: Mostly cloudy with a 50 percent chance of rain showers. Highs in the upper 50s.

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

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

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

Monday: Mostly sunny. Highs around 70.

The Junction City and Geary County Commissions met jointly Monday and discussed a range of topics including the AUSA Conference coming up in a couple of weeks in Washington D.C..

Junction City will be sending Mayor Mick McCallister, Commissioner Phyllis Fitzgerald, and City Manager Allen Dinkel to the conference, but before going they are developing talking points to discuss with the Kansas Legislative Delegation in Washington D.C..

Dinkel asked the County Commission to share any talking points that they would like discussed that way the City and County could have a combined message. The main talking point discussed Monday dealt with sequestration.

“If we can get that quit to were the Army doesn’t continue to lower, even though we made this first cut pretty well as it drops from 480,000 to 450,000, but if they drop another 30,000 we’ll have impacts,” said Dinkel. “Sequestration is the big thing. By keeping a strong army, we keep a strong Fort Riley.”

Other issues that will be discussed include military housing, online sales tax.

The AUSA Conference will be held October 12th through the 14th.

 

The Geary County Commission has approved the employment of two new department heads.

Jonathon Thummel will become the Director of Human Resources and Special Projects.  Commioner Ben Bennett said Thummel comes to Geary County with a lot of experience. “We’re fortunate to find somebody with his experience and his work ethic. We’re really glad to have him to take over Lisa’s ( Eickholt ) department. ” Eickholt is retiring from the H-R post October 23 to enter private industry.

Thummel is a former Human Resource Director in Shawnee County. “I’ve known Lisa for many, many years through our association in county human resources. Saw the advertisement on the HRE Partners and decided it would be a great fit for me to come work here. ”

Thummel holds a Master in Public Administration degree from Kansas State University.  His salary in the Geary County post will be $78,000. He began work in the new job on Monday.

The County Commission has also created a new position for a GIS Director. The employee who has been working in that capacity in the County Appraiser’s Department, Troy Livingston, will now work as his own department. His office will continue to be in the County Appraiser office area. County officials confirmed his salary will remain the same, at approximately $51,000.

Bennett noted the County is just starting to learn what GIS can do for a county or any large firm. “They develop all the legal representation of properties, and structures. They can develop layered maps by doing this. They can go in and show where all the pipelines, all the underground lines are, all the things that they have to deal with and work with of properties that affect each other or they come up to.” Bennett added there are a number of other things they can do for the different departments.

The Dickinson County Sheriff’s Department is reporting several drug related arrests following the execution of a search warrant by the Sheriff’s Department and the Herington Police Department at 201 South 12th Street in Herington on September 25th.

During the search of the residence drug paraphernalia items consistent with methamphetamine sales were located. Also located was 8.8 grams gross of marijuana and over 19 grams of methamphetamine along with a firearm.

Arrested include:

-Gary McEwen, 63, on allegations of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession of marijuana, failure to obtain a Kansas drug tax stamp, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

-Michael Garrett, 34, on allegations of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine, felon in possession of a firearm.

-Skylar Pruyn, 20, allegations of possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia.

All three were living at the 201 S. 12th Street residence in Herington and all three are currently in the Dickinson County Jail awaiting first appearance.

The case is considered ongoing and further arrests are expected.

The Devil’s Tail, 213 East 8thStreet, is teaming up with Friends of Animals and the Junction City / Geary County Animal Shelter for a party on Saturday, Oct. 3.  Partying for Pooches will be a fundraiser to collect much needed items for the shelter.

Hellbent will be in-house performing classic rock tunes, beginning at 9 p.m. Instead of paying a cover charge those attending can bring a donation for the animal shelter.

Suggested donations included canned dog food, paper towls, dish soap and cat litter. There is a complete list of needed items at the animal shelter’s Facebook page.

Donations can be dropped off in advance at the Devil’s Tail or at the shelter.