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Police: Man dies after SUV strikes pole in Riley County

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RILEY COUNTY —One person died in an accident just after 10a.m. Wednesday in Riley County.

A 2018 Ford Escape driven by a 56-year-old man was traveling on Tuttle Creek Boulevard near mile marker 33, according to a media release from Riley County Police.

The vehicle traveled off the road and struck a pole. The man was transported to Via Christi in Manhattan where he died.

The cause of the crash is under investigation. According to the Riley County Police Department, the driver may have suffered a medical episode while driving.

The RCPD did not release the man’s name.

1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley to commemorate 75th anniversary of D-Day

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The 1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley will commemorate the 75th anniversary of D-Day with a Remembrance Ceremony at 4 p.m. Thursday at Victory Park. The ceremony will pay tribute to the 1st Infantry Division’s 316 Soldiers killed on June 6, 1944 during the invasion that led to Allied victory in World War II. The ceremony will feature the reading of the names of the fallen, remarks by Brig. Gen. Todd Wasmund, 1st Infantry Division Deputy Commanding General for Support, and a 21-gun salute fired by the 1st Infantry Division Artillery.

The ceremony is part of the Department of Defense’s worldwide anniversary commemoration known as DDAY75. A contingent of 1st Infadntry Division troops are in France as an honor guard to U.S. and French ceremonies commemorating the invasion. The 1st Infantry Division commanding general, Maj. Gen. John Kolasheski is leading this team and will represent the division at the official ceremony at the U.S. Omaha Beach Cemetery.

Fort Riley Soldiers will also participate in commemoration activities at the Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum in Abilene. Another group of Fort Riley Soldiers will participate in a table-top war game meant to replicate the decisions faced by commanders preparing for the D-Day invasion.

May 2019 Weather Summary

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While May was wetter than normal it was not record wet. Geary County Extension Agent Chuck Otte said the month was also slightly cooler than normal which could be expected given that it rained over half the days of the month.

The average daily high during May was 70.6 degrees, 4.5 degrees below normal. The average overnight low as 54.0 degrees, one degree above average. That provides a monthly mean temperature of 62.3 degrees, 1.7 degrees below normal. That was a big change from May of 2018 when May was more than nine degrees above normal. The highest temperature in May of this year was 89 degrees on the 16th and the low was 41 degrees on the 8th.

There were two temperature records set in May. The high of 53 on the 9th was the lowest high temperature for that date. The old record of 44 was set in 1993. The low of 71 on the 27th broke the record high low temperature for that date. The old record was 70, set in 2018.

Average rainfall for Geary County in May is 4.79 inches. Milford Lake recorded 254% of normal May rainfall or 12.19 inches. Junction City recorded slightly more than that at 12.70 inches. Yeasr to date Milford Lake has received 17.59 inches of precipitation and Junction City 19.07 inches. While 12.19 inches is excessive it ranks 2019 as only the third wettest May on record. The wettest May was in 1995 when 17.23 inches of rain flooded the area.  May of 2019 does land as the number nine wettest month from 1931 to the present.

June brings the start of summer, the longest days of the year and increasing temperatures. It is also, on average, the wettest month of the year. Average daily highs in June range from 81 on June 1st to 90 by the 30th. Overnight lows increase from 58 on the first of the month to 67 at the end of the month. Daytime highs over 100 can occur virtually any day of the month. On average June rainfall totals 4.80 inches.

Chuck Otte

Geary County Extension Agent

 

Cleanup at Milford Lake will take time

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Milford Lake is currently 28-feet above normal conservation pool level. The lake is open for use but the high water has impacted many campgrounds and some boat docks.

The Operations Project Manager for the Corps of Engineers, Bill Whitworth, noted that’s a lot of water and there are things you can’t see. “Until the water drops and that may take quite awhile once we start releasing consistently things will need to dry out before we can put heavy equipment on those sites. We pulled out breakers from a lot of electrical services on our campgrounds. It will take awhile to assess the damage, replant seed, regrass a lot of the areas that are under water. It will be a fairly significant cleanup.”

The Corps of Engineers began releasing 4,000 cubic feet per second this week from Milford Lake. Prior to that they were required hold water in the reservoir to prevent downstream flooding.

Fort Riley to host the FitFirst kickoff celebration

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The FitFirst kickoff celebration will be held at Riley’s Conference Center on Fort Riley Friday and Saturday. The two-day event is designed to engage Soldiers, military families, and community members about healthy lifestyles.

On Friday, Disney musicians Mackenzie Sol, Ray Green and CC Miles will perform a concert from 5-8 p.m. A 5K Glow Run is scheduled to begin at 9:15 p.m. Registration at bestrongrun.com is required.

On Saturday events and activities are scheduled from 1 – 11:15 p.m. They will include a cooking competition moderated by celebrity chef and television personality Andrew Gruel, appearances and meet and greets with Disney musicians, Alpha Warrior athletes, and the Kansas City Chiefs cheerleaders and KC Wolf, Army Combat Fitness Test demonstrations, live cooking demonstrations and healthy meal prep classes, fitness class demonstrations, and live music from Disney Musicians and Liquid Blue. First attendees can test their fitness levels by trying out the Alpha Warrior course, browse health-centric information and vendor booths, and fuel up with healthy food and drink selections from food trucks from 5-9 p.m.

A full schedule of events and activities can be found on the event page
here: https://www.facebook.com/events/175892643366282/.

Community members without Department of Defense ID cards who wish to attend
may use the trusted traveler Program or apply for a day pass at the visitor
control center at the Marshall Airfield Gate located off I-70, exit 301.
More information about accessing Fort Riley can be found here:
https://home.army.mil/riley/index.php/about/visitor-info.

The event is sponsored by Healthy Army Communities, an Army-wide effort that
encourages healthy lifestyles, while reshaping Army communities to support
healthier places to live, learn, eat, work, play, shop and sleep.

USD 475 welcomes new leaders

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Posted By: USD 475
JUNCTION CITY, KAN. – Three of the top positions within Geary County Schools USD 475 will welcome new leadership during the 2019-2020 school-year. USD 475 announced today that beginning on July 1, 2019, the Associate Superintendent (Interim) and Executive Director of Student Support Services positions would be filled. The Executive Director of Personnel Services will be filled on June 17, 2019.

Associate Superintendent (Interim)

Mrs. Lacee Sell has been selected for the Associate Superintendent (Interim) position, following, current Associate Superintendent, Dr. Beth Hudson’s retirement. Sell comes to USD 475 from Manhattan/Ogden Public Schools, where she served as the Executive Director of Teaching and Learning. She has served as a Superintendent in two different districts, an Assistant Superintendent, Middle School Principal, and Assistant Principal. Sell started her career as a Special Education Teacher.

Sell is working on her Doctorate of Education at Kansas State University and will finish in the summer of 2019.  She has a Master of Science in Educational Leadership from Emporia State University, where she also received her Bachelor’s Degree.

Executive Director of Student Support Services

Dr. Michael Maclin has been selected for the Executive Director of Student Services position following, current Executive Director of Student Support Services, Luan Sparks departure from the district. Sparks will continue working in education as the Director of Special Services in Derby, Kansas.

Dr. Maclin comes to USD 475 from Parkway Schools in Chesterfield, Missouri, where he is the Principal and Coordinator of Alternative Programming. Maclin also served as the Principal of University City High School in the University City School District in Missouri. He served in multiple positions in the Maplewood-Richmond Heights School district, including Assistant Principal.

Dr. Maclin earned his Doctorate of Education in 2018 from Missouri Baptist University.

Executive Director of Personnel Services

Mrs. Dawn Toomey has been selected for the Executive Director of Personnel Services position following, current Executive Director of Personnel Services, Mona Manley’s retirement. Toomey currently serves as the Human Resources Director for Berlin-Wheeler, Inc. in Topeka, Kansas. Before that, she was the Human Resources Director for the City of Junction City. Toomey has had various other positions in the Human Resources field and served as a Specialist in the United States Army.

Toomey has a Master’s Degree from the University of Saint Mary in Business—Human Resource Management.

Yee-Haw it’s about time for Boots, Chaps and Cowboy Hats

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Boots, Chaps and Cowboy Hats will support improvements to Medical Arts Building One suites at Geary Community Hospital.

The 17th annual edition of this western fundraising event hosted by the Geary Community Healthcare Foundation is set for Friday, June 14th, at Acorns Resort Conference Center. Tickets to the fundraiser are $50 each, and the deadline for reservations is this Friday, June 7th.

Foundation spokesperson Sharolyn Adams explained the event is informal. “This is a kick up your heels or just sit back and relax. It’s kind of an escape from the day to day of your work week.”

Adams said the Rusty Laffoon Band from Kansas City will perform during the event. “Other activities will include a BBQ meal, and live and silent auctions. Adams stated that among the auction items there will be a K-State flag made out of purple heart wood, “a five-piece of European style whiskey decanter and four glasses set plus a $100 gift card to Frontier Spirits, a couple of rounds of golf and some golf balls, and some Scotch from Scotland.

Other auction items will range from a canvass picture of Union Station after the Royals won the World Series, a one-half day / four hour fishing trip for up to six people and lunch at the Cove Bar & Grill, Baskin Robbins ice cream, Mary Kay gift basket, two tickets to a KSU football game and a Brigade VIP package. Jim Clark Chevrolet- Cadillac will provide cleaning and servicing for your vehicle.

There are multiple sponsors for Boots, Chaps and Cowboy Hats. They include Central National Bank Wealth Management & Trust Services; Eagle Radio KJCK 1420; KS State Bank; and Valley View Senior Life; our band sponsors: Intrust Bank and Total Care Dentistry, Larry T. McGary, DDS; and our underwriters: Jerry and Sharolyn Adams; Animal Care Clinic-Dr. Mark and Debbie Stenstrom; Dawn and Larry Engel; Flint Hills Veterinary Hospital-Julie Ebert, DVM; FroYo-Kendall and Dr. Meghan Schoenrock; Godfrey’s Indoor Shooting and Archery Ranges-Todd Godfrey; Joe and Jane Handlos; Heldstab Appliance-Terry and Peggy Heldstab; Johnson Funeral Home-Sam Steiner; Kollhoff Pharmacy-John and Sue Kollhoff; JDHQ Hotels-Courtyard by Marriott; Darrel and Kaye McCaleb-McCaleb Electric; Next Home-Steven L. Burch; Security Solutions; Small’s Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning-Bob and Lynn Small; Sunflower Bank; Total Care Dentistry-Larry T. McGary, DDS; and Charles and Katharyn Volland.

Wednesday weather forecast

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High
 89° Sunny. A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the upper 80s. West winds up to 5 mph shifting to the north in the afternoon.

Temporary Stop signs in place at US 77 – K-57

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The Geary County Sheriff’s Department has reported that an accident at the U.S. 77 – K-57 intersection took out the traffic lights in all directions at that location. This will now be a four-lane four-way stop for the next 30 days.

Temporary stop signs were to be set up by Public Works until power can be restored to the traffic lights. Extensive repairs will be necessary.

Officials confirmed that four people were transported to local hospitals following the two vehicle accident. Two were sent to Geary Community Hospital and two were taken to Irwin Army Community Hospital.

County to open up the landfill for tree and brush debris disposal

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The Geary County Commission has set June 15th as the date for the Geary County public to deposit tree and brush debris.   Chairman Charles Stimatze said the landfill will be open from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. on the 15th.

The opportunity is for private citizens, and he noted that if you’re a contractor you still need to go to the transfer station to “weigh and pay.”

The County provided this opportunity for citizens at the landfill last month, but Stimatze said they will do it again. “Since it was raining quite a bit last month we’re going to go ahead and try it again.”

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