Summer construction projects announced by USD 475 include additions to Franklin and Westwood Elementary Schools.

At Franklin the front entrance is being remodeled to create a more secure and controlled entryway. A new music room will also be built due to the expansion of the new front entryway. The project is scheduled to be completed by August 3 before school begins.

At Westwood work has begun on additional spaces for teachers who now are crowded into several different rooms. One of the new spaces will be reinforced as a storm shelter.

The projects at Franklin and Westwood will continue into the first quarter of the school year, with neither one affecting the regular operations of the school day. Both projects are scheduled to be completed at the end of December.

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Three new parking lots are being created to help with capacity issues at the Early Childhood Center, as well as Lincoln and Morris Hill elementary schools.

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Playgrounds are being installed at Milford, Washington, and Franklin elementary schools. The Milford Elementary School playground has been completed. This is a long-awaited project toward which many made contributions, and the school district assisted in bringing it to completion.

At Washington Elementary School a new walking path will also be placed around the new playground. That palyground and walking path will serve as a memorial to the late Lorraine Walker, the longtime principal of Washington Elementary School.

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New touch screen instructional walls will be installed in Westwood and Franklin elementary schools.

USD 475 is starting the transition at the new Fort Riley Elementary School and piloting the new technology at two additional schools.

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At Al Simpler Stadium at Junction City High School, installation of new turf is occurring and should be completed by August 15.

The track restriping is on the summer schedule.

–Sidewalks and fencing are being put in place to help funnel patrons from one side of the track to the other, so patrons so not cut across the track or field. Those additions are intended to help with traffic flow during large events and cut down on unneccary wear and tear on the field and track.

 

Multiple arrests were included in the Junction City Police Department reports covering the Friday – Saturday – early Sunday morning time period.

They included:

–Addie Beatrice Cook, 47, Junction City, suspicion of  Obstruction, Disorderly Conduct, ( F )  Battery of LEO, 2 counts of Criminal Threat, at 1209 Saturday at 113 Snell Street.

–William Stokes, 41, Junction City, suspicion of Domestic Battery, Aggravated Intimidation of a Witness, and Aggravated Endangerment of a Child, 11:10 p.m. Saturday, 725 West 13th Street.

–Katrina Marie McMillan, 50, Junction City, suspicion of Domestic Battery, 7:52 p.m. Saturday, 1810 Caroline Avenue

–Three juveniles were given Notices to Appear for an alleged Curfew Violation at 1:52 a.m. Sunday at 1500 Saint Mary’s Road, South Park. One of the juveniles received a Notice to Appear on suspicion of Driving Without a Valid License.

–Paula B. McClung, 58, was given a Notice to Appear on Suspicion of Open Container, 4:40 p.m. Saturday , 122 West 14th Street.

–LaJacquette Davis, 31, Junction City, 3 counts of suspicion of Violation of Protection Order, 8:16 a.m. Friday at 1133 South Washington Street, Super 8 Motel, Room 117.

–Marcus Hammond Jr., 26, Junction City, Domestic Battery, Criminal Restraint, Assault, 10:19 a.m. Friday, 820 South Washington Street, Room 117, Budget Host Motel

–Virginia David, 52, Junction City, District Court warrant alleging a bond violation, 9:41 a.m. Friday, 121 East Vine, Apt. 4.

–Clayton Nelson, 28, Junction City, suspicion of Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, 12:05 p.m. Friday, 317 North Washington Street, Apt. 4,

–Mitchell Tawayne Jerrols, 30, Grandview Plaza, suspicion of DUI, 12:32 p.m. Friday, 800 block of Grant Avenue

–James Jenkins, 27, Junction CIty, suspicion of Theft, and Two Municipal Court warrants alleging Failure to Appear, 5:26 a. m. Saturday, Geary County Detention Center.

 

According to the National Weather Service of Topeka, highs will reach the mid 90s to near 100 degrees and the relative humidity will remain high. The combination of hot temperatures and higher relative humidity will cause afternoon heat indices to range from 103 to 108 degrees. A heat advisory has been issued from 1 PM until 8 PM Today.

The best advice is to remain indoors in an air conditioned building this afternoon. The hot weather will continue through Tuesday afternoon with heat indices ranging from 102 to 108 degrees each afternoon. A cold front will move through the area Tuesday night and Wednesday bringing a better chance for thunderstorms and cooler temperatures. Highs Wednesday through Friday will be in the mid to upper 80s with lower relative humidity.

Today: Highs in the mid 90s. Southwest winds up to 10 mph.

Tonight: Partly cloudy in the evening…then mostly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after midnight. Lows in the mid 70s. South winds 5 to 10 mph.

Monday: Mostly sunny. Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms in the morning. Highs in the upper 90s. South winds 5 to 15 mph.

Monday Night: Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 70s. South winds 5 to 15 mph.

Tuesday: Sunny. Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the upper 90s. South winds 10 to 15 mph.

Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy in the evening then becoming mostly cloudy. A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows around 70.

Wednesday: Not as warm. Partly sunny with slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 80s.

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

Thursday: Mostly sunny with slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 80s.

Thursday Night: Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 60s.

Friday: Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 80s.

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

Saturday: Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 90s.

 

TREGO COUNTY -Two people were hospitalized after a car/vehicle collision in rural Trego County on Sunday.

According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, a 2008 Kia Amanti, driven by Michelle Danielle Hafliger, 41, Ogallah, was traveling southbound when it approached the intersection of of Old Highway 40 and Center in Ogallah and failed to yield.

The train struck the passenger side rear quarter panel, sending the car into the east ditch, where it came to rest on its wheels.

The driver and a passenger — Bryn C. Hafliger, 16, Ogallah — were reportedly injured and taken to the hospital.

The train’s engineer and conductor — Maurice Dingemanse, Manhattan, and Dennis Thompson, Wellington — were not injured, according to the KHP.

MANHATTAN – One person was injured in a fire at Tuttle Creek on Saturday.

The Blue Township Fire Department (BTFD) was dispatched at around 2:30 p.m. to the Wildcat Marina on Spillway Marina Road for a report of a boat on fire in the water.

Upon arrival, crews found a ski boat on fire in the bay and began to work alongside personnel from the Army Corps of Engineers and the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism.

The boat was brought into shore to allow firefighters easier access to the fire. As a precaution, the Incident Commander called for Manhattan Fire Department’s Hazardous Materials team to assist in case of any fuel spill resulting from the boat possibly capsizing, according to Austin Rice, BTFD Public Information Officer

“Thankfully, no fuel was spilled and Blue Township crews were able to successfully extinguish the fire safely with no significant fuel spill,” said Rice. “Blue Township had a total of 3 fire trucks with 9 total firefighters respond to the incident.

The boat is considered to be a total loss and there was a report of 1 person with minor burns as a result of the fire. They transported themselves to the hospital.”

Rice added that there is no word on what caused the boat fire at this time.

There was arguing, some shooting….some more arguing and a big volley of gunfire during the Old Abilene Town Gunfighter show Saturday morning in Junction City.

The Gunfighters were in town as part of a National Day of the Cowboy program sponsored by the Geary County Historical Society at their Historic Site at the  Spring Valley Road – K-18 Highway location on the west side of the city.

The Gunfighters develop a basic idea  but then determine the action as they proceed during a show. One of the Gunfighters, called “Moses”…Kenny Busby,  explained one of the shows on Saturday involved a dispute over putting up wire so cattle couldn’t cross property.  That led to an argument that resulted in four of the actors being shot dead.  Moses explained they know how to fall. “Like me and him go up against each other. We’ve got it arranged before. He’ll shoot me and then I’ll fall. So we already know.”

The show also included gun safety advice for children, and a demonstration in which even  a blank fired from a gun at an aluminum can do great damage….in this case it shredded the can.

Visitors to the event on Saturday had a chance to tour the site and look at the historic buildings, including the one-room school house.

 

MANHATTAN — The date has been changed for the McCain Performance Series show by the Beach Boys at Kansas State University. Previously scheduled for March 10, 2016, the new date will be Feb. 22, 2016. The show will be at 7:30 p.m. Patrons who ordered tickets to the Beach Boys via the season ticket order form will be automatically assigned seats for Feb. 22 and do not need to take further action. Patrons may call the McCain Auditorium box office at 785-632-6428  for more information.

K-State News & Communications Services

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) – Some Kansas growers are carrying out experiments they helped design, evaluating questions such as how different varieties, seeding rates, nutrients and other variables work in the fields on their farms.

It’s a partnership with Kansas State University under a program launched last season. About 20 farmers are participating in the program.

University agricultural experts help the farmers design test plots and research so the experiments yield usable data, rather than simple observations or side-by-side trials that could be influenced by outside factors. So far, the studies have been conducted on soybeans, sorghum and corn.

Kansas State is showcasing the program Monday, hosting a tour of research plots in Saline County to give other producers and agronomists a chance to learn about the program.

Junction City Area Chamber of Commerce Economic Development has announced that they have received confirmation that Geary County has been selected as one of the few counties in Kansas to participate in the ACT Community Work Ready Certification initiative.

The initiative is a core element in the effort to build a national system for work readiness. The basis for the initiative are the ACT National Career Readiness Certificates that focus on certifying three essential skills–applied math, reading for information, and locating information. The ACT NCRC credential can help demonstrate to empoloyers the skill level and work readiness among new workers, transitioning workers, and current employees.

The Certificates — and the skills they verify — show employers that an individual possesses foundational skills needed to succeed. The testing process also helps emerging workers identify their strengths and understand what training might be necessary to pursue their life goals. Greg Miller, Junction City Area Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Director said, “Work ready certification gives us more credibility when talking to the selectors and potential employers, and marketing our community nationally. It will allow us to convey that we have a skilled workforce, an asset that companies consider in their location and expansion decisions.”

Larry Hicks Geary County Commissioner, Mary Kay Stauffer usd 475 Executive Director of Innovation in Schools & Community, Jo Brunner Workforce Services Supervisor Kansas Works, Cindy Carlyon AP / AR / HR Junction City Wire Harness, Jason York Director of Business & Industry Programs Cloud County Community College, Greg Miller Economic Development Director and Susan Jagerson Economic Development Specialist, will lead the two-year initiative.

The first part of the certification process is a twelve-month performance-driven Academy to assist communities in initiating and deploying their work readiness efforts. Team members are required to attend four WRC work sessiions during that period. After completing the Academy and developing the ACT WRC framework team leaders implement the program and use established performance metrics based on individuals earning and employers recognizing the ACT NCRC to build a sustainable, county based work ready program.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) – The Kansas Supreme Court has ordered a lower court to reconsider whether a former Kansas State offensive lineman owes interest on previously unpaid child support.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports (https://bit.ly/1MpJ4M2 ) the high court on Friday overturned a state appeals court decision on previously unpaid child support payments by former Kansas State star offensive lineman Kendyl Jacox.

The state of Kansas alleged Jacox owed more than $173,600 in back payments to the mother of his child born in 1998 when he was at Kansas State. The woman then sought interest on the payments, but the lower courts ruled against her.

The state Supreme Court ruled the lower courts erred and ordered the case sent back to Riley County.