An alleged fugitive from justice sought after she failed to appear for her sentencing hearing in federal court in San Antonio, Texas in early May, Heidi Lynn Webster, Manhattan Kansas,  has been arrested in Urbana, Illinois.

Junction City Police Chief Tim Brown reported he was notified by the U.S. Marshals Service Thursday that Webster, an ex-Army physician had been arrested by members of the Marshal’s Service.

Webster was sentenced in May to six years in prison for Army contract fraud.

After she did not show up for sentencing authorities put out a call for the public’s assistance in locating and apprehending Webster, who has ties to the Manhattan / Junction City area.  She and retired Army Master Sgt. Lawrence Peter Fenti of New Braunfels pleaded guilty in 2014 to conspiracy and bribery counts.

Fenti formerly was chief administrator for Brooke Army Medical Center’s radiology department, where Webster worked. Prosecutors say the pair provided false information to fraudulently secure military contracts for two Kansas companies run by Webster.

Fenti last September was sentenced to four years in prison.

The new Fort Riley Elementary School construction is on budget and on time.

That information is being provided by Dr. Corbin Witt, Geary USD 475 Superintendent of Schools.  He said the new school should open Aug. 17 with a capacity of 500 students. “At this time our occupancy date is July 22. It will be available for staff Aug. 3 and then the students on Aug. 17.

Witt noted the project should be on time, but there is no extra time right now. “Because of the force protection, the rain and storms, and then some other unforseen circumstances with building on a former area where there were some unexploded ordnance, we’ve gotten a little behind. Right now they should be on track but we don’t have any extra time.”

The unexploded ordinance was removed. “We closed down and went through and had the entire area cleared. ” A fence was also erected to seal off that area.  “And so we have cleared the entire school area, nothing to worry about now.”

At the present time work on the project includes top coating of the parking lot and all the furniture arrives next week.  Work is also under way on the media center, gym floors, internet, fire alarms, telephone, and playground installation.

Witt noted there will be some final cleanup work to be finished when school begins. “Probably we’ll not be at the spic and span, pretty as we’d like it to be stage because we’re going to be moving in right when they’re completing. But it’ll be in great shape for kids and we’ll be ready to roll.”

The new school costs $22 million with the federal government funding 80 percent of the cost and the state of Kansas the remaining 20 percent.

A ribbon cutting for the new school has been scheduled Oct. 9 at 10 a.m.

 

 

U.S. Senator Jerry Moran, member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee and Senate Defense Communities Caucus Co-Chair, has sponsored bipartisan legislation to better connect veterans with the services, resources and benefits available in their communities to help them transition back to civilian life.

With nearly 250,000 service members expected to separate from military service over the next five years, the bipartisan Connect with Veterans Act would give veterans the ability to access information they choose to receive regarding services and benefits from local, state and federal entities or programs by creating a voluntary directory of contact information connection the veteran to their local communities.

According to Associationof Defense Communities, the most important part of the transition from service member to civilian life occurs during the short time period after a service member leaves the military.  The bill aims to help service members quickly access the resources they need to effectively transition in their communities, especially those living in rural communities.

Participation in the program is voluntary and a veteran’s contact information would only be shared with his or her permission. Veterans’ personal information will be kept safe and secure.

Construction on the $25 million renovationof the K-State Student Union in Manhattan will begin in September and is expected to be completed in the late fall of 2016.  According to a news release from the University will be funded by a flat $20 per semester increase in a student-approved privilege fee.

The renovation will update the southern appearance of the Union, renovate the retail areas, add a collaborative student lounge and a technology lounge, consolidate the student activities offices and enhance dining services with a sports pub and coffee house.

 

Internet related technical issues forced a cancellation of day one of the American Red Cross Blood Drive that had been scheduled Thursday in Junction City.

But the Red Cross is confirming the drive will be held Friday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Junction City Municipal Building. Friday was originally scheduled to be day two of the blood drive.

Visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identificatiion are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age, weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

The Junction City Area Chamber of Commerce Economic Development is submitting an application for Geary County to join the Entrepreneurship Partnership of Kansas.

According to a Chamber news release, as an E-Community, Geary County will partner with Network Kansas to establish a locally administered revolving loan fund to assist entrepreneurs with capital, increase access to resources available to entrepreneurs and existing businesses, to initiate activities to generate entrepreneurial development, and to participate in a statewide partnerhsip with other E-Communities.

Local E-Community revolving loan funds are funded by awarding tax credits to donors. Economic Development will apply for $125,000 in tax credits to create a local account of approximately $166,000. A leadership team and financial review committee from the EDC advisory committee will approve all loan requests and loan terms.

For-profit businesses can use loan funds for startup, business expansion, purchasing an existing business, working capital and inventory. In addition to small business loans, the funding can be used for entrepreneurship training / education for businesses at different stages of growth, youth business plan competitions and other entrepreneur-related activities.

If Geary County is selected to join the E-Community network, tax credits are available by donation to the Kansas Center for Entrepreneurship in Andover.  Donars receive a 75% state income tax credit for their donation. A minimum tax credit donation is $250 and there is a cap of $50,000 maximum donation. The proceeds of all tax credit donations that are part of this application will be utilized locally for entrepreneurship activities.

At this time only committments to purchase tax credits are being requested. The Junction City Area Chamber of Commerce must receive verbal commitment for at least 50% of the $125,000 in tax credits by Aug. 1 as part of the application process. Actual donations will be collected after Nov. 1.

Presently there are more than 40 E-Communities in Kansas including Riley, Wabaunsee and Pottawatomie counties.

Benefits of E-Community participation are local decision-making power, gap-financing assistance, match of up to 150% of the business contribution, up to $45,000 available per project and repaid funds return to the local account for reuse.  For information contact the Chamber Economic Development at 785-762-1976.

The next Military Affairs Council Breakfast in Junction City will be on Thursday, July 23 at the Geary County Convention Center.

The guest speaker will be the Garrison Commander at Fort Riley, Col. Andrew Cole.

The breakfast will begin at 7:30 a.m.  The deadline to register is Friday, July 17. The cost of the breakfast is $12 per person, payable by check or cash at the door or prior to the event at the Chamber of Commerce office.

To make reservation call the Chamber at 785-762-2632 or via email at junctioncitychamber@junctioncitychamber.org.

MANHATTAN – Law enforcement authorities in Riley County are looking for a suspect involved in an armed robbery at a liquor store in Manhattan.

Police say that just after 10:20 p.m. on Wednesday, officers with the Riley County Police Department were dispatched to 505 Leavenworth Street for a report of an aggravated robbery and aggravated assault at Fifths Liquor.

Officers were told that a white male wearing a dark blue shirt and brandishing a firearm had entered the business and demanded the clerk give him money.

The suspect is approximately 6 feet tall, 190-200 pounds with blue eyes and unknown color of hair.

He was wearing a dark color short sleeve shirt, dark color pants with dark boots, covered his face with a white bandanna and wore a blue stocking cap with white gloves according to police.

Prior to police arrival the suspect fled the scene in an unknown direction with an undisclosed amount of cash.

Authorities say anyone with information on this crime should contact RCPD at 785-537-2112 or the Manhattan Riley County Crime Stoppers at 785-539-7777. Crime Stoppers can also be reached on the free “TipSubmit” mobile app on Android and iOS or through their website www.ManhattanRileyCountyCrimeStoppers.com.
No further information has been released due to the ongoing nature of this investigation.

Authorities responded to an accident near the 301 exit on I-70 Thursday morning.

Police dispatch confirms one person was transported to a hospital for treatment. The name of the person injured, a man, has not yet been released.

The 301 exit is east of Junction City near the Marshall Army Airfield at Fort Riley.

According to the National Weather Service of Topeka, hot conditions will continue through Sunday with maximum heat indices in parts of the area exceeding 100 degrees each day. Friday and Saturday look to be the hottest with the heat index ranging from 103 to 107 both afternoons. There are also small chances for severe weather today through Saturday with the biggest question being *IF* storms can form. If they do, there will be a chance for locally damaging winds and large hail. Sunday has a better chance for thunderstorms as a front moves through the area, with potential for a few storms to become severe.

Hazardous Weather Outlook

Early This Morning: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Southwest winds 5 to 10 mph with gusts to around 25 mph. Chance of precipitation 70 percent.

Today: Partly sunny with a 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 90s. Southwest winds 5 to 15 mph.

Tonight: Partly cloudy with slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the lower 70s. South winds 5 to 10 mph.

Friday: Sunny. Highs in the mid 90s. South winds 5 to 15 mph.

Friday Night: Partly cloudy in the evening then becoming mostly cloudy. A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the mid 70s. South winds 5 to 15 mph.

Saturday: Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 90s. South winds 10 to 15 mph.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy with slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the mid 70s.

Sunday: Partly sunny with a 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the upper 80s.

Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy with a 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the upper 60s.

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

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

Tuesday: Mostly sunny. Highs around 90.

Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy in the evening then becoming mostly cloudy. A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the upper 60s.

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