The property tax levy in the 2016 Junction City budget will only reflect a slight increase in mills.

The budget adopted by the City Commission Tuesday night at the Municipal Building includes an increase in the tax levy of .048 of one mill.

Other facts in the spending plan noted by the City Manager Allen Dinkel included an additional $100,000 in funding for street improvements.

 

 

Junction City police have reported the arrest of six Indiana residents Monday on drug related allegations following a traffic stop on Interstate 70.

Police said those arrested included Zachary Joseph Strong, 26, Joshua Thomas Strong, 22, and Hannah Marian Wartenberg, 19, on suspicion of Transporting Drug Proceeds and Possession of Marijuana. Also arrested were Maya Loton Jafri, 40, on suspicion of Possession of Marijuana, plus Joshua Miles Eastes, 27, and Paul Anthony Lambert II, 25, on suspicion of Possession of Marijuana ( felony ) and Possession of Paraphernalia.

Police Chief Tim Brown stated the K-9 Interdiction Officer stopped a vehicle concerning an alleged traffic violation. “During this he identified what he thought was an escort vehicle with this, there were two vehicles involved.” Brown stated that Geary County Sheriff’s Deputies stopped the other vehicle.

“They received a K-9 alert on one of the vehicles. They brought these individuals in for further investigation. Discovered in the one vehicle over $59,000 in cash, vaacum packed in the trunk of the one vehicle. They also discovered a small amount of marijuana in the two vehicles, and on the persons of the individuals involved. Ended up making these arrests concerning this.”

The arrests occurred near mile marker 305 westbound on the interstate. That location is about six miles east of Junction City.

The Junction City Commission has directed the city attorney, Katie Logan, to prepare a contract on the proposed sale of city owned property adjacent to Elmdale Avenue.

Sheila Burdett and Mack Henington have offered to pay $52,500 for a 12.6 acre site.

Henington told the city commission, “I own Carpet Masters. I rent the back half of my mother’s building over here on Ninth Street. We’re kind of expanding somewhat.”

The acquistion of the property adjacent to Elmdale Avenue will ennable Henington to build a new building.

The Geary County Sheriff’s Department reports that Deputies responded to U.S. 77 Highway mile marker 156 for a two-vehicle non-injury accident Tuesday morning.

Keana Martin, Junction City, was driving a Chevrolet Cruze and Aaron Felty, Fort Stewart, Georgia a Chevrolet Silverado. The vehicles collided.

According to the National Weather Service of Topeka, a beautiful, fall-like afternoon is in store for today as skies become mostly sunny with highs in the lower to middle 70s today. There is a slight chance if clouds linger longer through the day that we could see highs near the record for cool temperatures! There is also a slight chance of sprinkles or an isolated shower today, best chances south of Interstate 70.

Early This Morning: Mostly cloudy. Northwest winds 5 to 10 mph.

Today: Partly sunny. Slight chance of sprinkles in the afternoon. Highs in the mid 70s. Northwest winds 10 to 15 mph.

Tonight: Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 50s. Northwest winds up to 5 mph in the evening becoming light.

Thursday: Sunny. Highs in the lower 80s. Southwest winds up to 10 mph.

Thursday Night: Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 50s. South winds 5 to 10 mph.

Friday: Sunny. Highs in the mid 80s. South winds 5 to 15 mph.

Friday Night: Partly cloudy with slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the upper 60s.

Saturday: Mostly sunny with a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the upper 80s.

Saturday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Lows in the lower 60s. Chance of precipitation 70 percent.

Sunday: Not as warm. Mostly sunny with slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the upper 70s.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 50s.

Monday: Sunny. Highs in the lower 80s.

Monday Night: Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 50s.

Tuesday: Sunny. Highs in the mid 80s.

 

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — University of Kansas faculty and staff are embarking next week on a five-city tour of the state to recruit students, and the first community will be Kansas State University’s hometown.

The university announced Tuesday that it will meet with high school counselors and students throughout the day and hold receptions in the evenings. Students from 157 high schools have been invited to participate.

The university’s main campus is in Lawrence, and this will be the 13th year it has had such a tour.

The tour begins Sunday afternoon in Manhattan, home to Kansas State.

Events will continue on the following days in Salina, Hutchinson, Garden City and Hays.

Event registration is open for students and parents at admissions.ku.edu/roadshow. If you have any questions about Rock Chalk Roadshow, contact the KU Office of Admissions at (785) 864-3911.

A final version of the plan for a proposed sports complex in Junction City is in the works.

The Convention and Visitors Bureau Advisory Committee received an update on the project Tuesday afternoon from Brian Field.

Field reported that they have decided to move forward with drafting the final version of what they want the proposed sports complex to look like.

“We have hired Brett Deam, of Deam & Deam LLC Architecture to design the facility, come up with a more permanent design. We had somewhat of a design to begin with, kind of preliminary design, and now we are going to come up with our final design and go ahead and cost the project,” said Field.

They are expecting the plan to take about 60 days to complete. Currently the group is looking at four combination baseball and softball fields, one regulation size baseball field and a multi-use green space that would could be used for such sports as football, lacrosse, and soccer.

The location has not been revealed at this point, but Field indicated that they have several to choose from and have one in particular in mind.

“We’ve pretty much come to a decision on the site that we think is most feasible, and we think is more affordable. That’s what it’s going to come down to, the best place for the best price.”

Funding has continued to be a major topic when it comes to such a project and currently there is money being generated through a 1 percent increase to the transient guest tax that went into effect in January. To this point that tax increase has raised $44,244.37 to be used specifically for the Sports Complex.

Private funding and advertisement are also funding sources the group is looking into. Field added,”we’re also looking at some grant opportunities.”

You can hear the complete interview with Field this Saturday morning in the 8 o’clock hour during Sports Saturday on KJCK 1420 AM.

 

The possibility of charging Saint Xavier School student-athletes fees to participate on athletic teams at Junction City High School arose Monday.

The Geary USD 4-7-5 Board of Education discussed the issue at length before approving a motion continuing the two-year cooperative agreement with Saint Xavier with no fees for the current school year, and with fees to be considered for the 2016-17 school term.  District staff will bring a recommendation to the Board next May for the 2016-17 school term.

The president of the activities committee at Saint Xavier, Delores Vollenweider, was a the board meeting Monday. “I am very pleased that we got no fees for this coming year, however even the consideration for fees does not make me very happy. I am a taxpaying member of this community and I don’t have the option to opt out of my taxes when they raise the mill levy to support ( USD ) 475 schools.”

Vollenweider confirmed she will take the information to the principal at Saint Xavier School, Shawn Augustine, and start talking to parents to see if perhaps any future fees can be prevented.

The general fee range proposed during Monday’s discussion went from approximately $250 t0 $595 per athlete, depending on the sport. They were based on a five year cost average.

Saint Xavier student / athletes have been able to try out and compete on JCHS sports teams under cooperative agreements in the past at no charge. The overall numbers doing that have been relatively small.

Matt Westerhaus, Junction City High School Athletic Director, noted USD 475 gets no fulltime equivalency funding from the state for those Saint Xavier athletes, but the school district has covered all of the expenses for those athletes who have participated every two years.

Concerning fees, Westerhaus told JC Post that he didn’t know that it had been decided that the fees are needed. “But I think it was great conversation to have, and have people understand that those who are attending Saint X, which is a private institution, that’s their choice to do so, do have the opportunity to participate in programs in USD 475, and the school has not had to pay for any expenses associated with those. ” Westerhaus added it’s great that the Saint Xavier students do have opportunities.

JC Post checked with the principal at Saint Xavier School, Shawn Augustine, to see how many students from that school play on JCHS sports teams. He confirmed the numbers were one student each of the last two school years, and three students three years ago.

First-day enrollment at Saint Xavier School in Junction City, totaled 152-students in grades K-12.

The principal of the school, Shawn Augustine, said that number is up. “There’s actually a few that are still looking at enrolling. So that could continue to increase. And then with our preschool program we’re actually at 47, down just a hair from last year. I think were at 50 or 51 at this time last year so still looking really good overall with enrollment, and I think that will continue to increase as the school year gets under way.

Tuesday was the first day of the new school year for students at Saint Xavier School.