The Kansas Department of Transported has announced that the construction phase involving the closing of Lacy Drive just west of the Sapp Brothers Travel Center entrance in Junction City has been delayed. This phase will remain on-hold until details concerning materials to be used in construction have been clarified.

A different phase of construction has begun at the Rucker Road / U.S. 77 intersection, but is not affecting the flow of  traffic. Beginning July 20, access to Walla Walla Road from U.S. 77 will be closed permanently. Those wishing to access Walla Walla Road will need to do so using Munson Road from the west. A temporary access to Walla Walla Road from U.s. 77 may be opened for construction vehicles only.

A planned list of improvements on U.. 77 as the highway passes through the Junction City are being phased in over an extended period of time. The projects include a divergent diamond interchange at U.S. 77 – I-70, improvements to the Rucker Road – U.S. 77 intersection, Spring Valley Road between Rucker Road and Sutter Woods Road, a portion of Lacy Drive and a continuation of the southbound U.S. 77 climbing lane south of the K-27 / K-24, U.S. 77 intersection.

The construction will be completed in several phases over a 3-year period.

Hamm Inc. of Perry, KS is the prime contractor. Project cost is $10,094, 133.63.

 

The Geary County Fish & Game Association highway cleanup scheduled Monday evening has been cancelled due to the heat.

The announcement was made by Donald Garrison of the Fish & Game Association.

The National Weather Service has issued an excessive heat warning for much of Kansas and Missouri. Geary County will be under an excessive heat warning from noon until 9 p.m.

The Junction City Area Chamber of Commerce has announced that there will be a groundbreaking and ribbon cutting both on Tuesday, July 14.

The groundbreaking for the new Midwest Appliance and Ace Hardware is scheduled at 10 a.m. Tuesday at their site adjacent to Caroline Avenue and U.S. Highway 77.

The ribbon cutting and grand opening ceremony for Big Brothers Big Sisters is Tuesday at 3 p.m. at 132 North Eisenhower Drive.

Monday will be extremely hot and muggy with afternoon heat index values expected to range from 105 to 115 degrees. A weak front will move through the area late today, which may help kick off a few thunderstorms. If thunderstorms develop, they may become severe with damaging microburst winds and hail up to the size of golf balls possible with the strongest storms. Hot conditions (although not quite as hot as Monday) are expected to continue through the coming week.

Excessive Heat Warning
Heat Advisory
Hazardous Weather Outlook

Today: Mostly sunny. A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs around 100. West winds 5 to 10 mph. Highest heat index readings 108 to 113 in the afternoon.

Tonight: Mostly cloudy in the evening then becoming partly cloudy. A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the lower 70s. North winds up to 10 mph. Highest heat index readings around 110 in the evening.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny with slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 90s. Southeast winds 5 to 10 mph.

Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy in the evening then becoming mostly cloudy. A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the mid 70s. East winds 5 to 10 mph.

Wednesday: Partly sunny with a 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the lower 90s. Southeast winds 5 to 15 mph.

Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy in the evening then becoming mostly cloudy. A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the lower 70s.

Thursday: Mostly sunny with slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 90s.

Thursday Night: Partly cloudy with a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the lower 70s.

Friday: Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 90s.

Friday Night: Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 70s.

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

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 70s.

Sunday: Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 90s

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The Junction City Police Department Tour Log report for the 24-hour period starting on July 11 and ending in the early morning hours July 12 included arrests:

–Yong Hall, 66, Junction City, suspicion of Criminal Damage to Property, arrested at 1607 Hale Drive.

–Andrew Thomas Cupp, 20,  Junction City, suspicion of Possession of Marijuana, arrested 700 North Webster.

–Jason Arthur Brooker, 33, Junction City, suspicion of Criminal Trespassing, arrested in the 500 block of North Jefferson Street.

–Martin James Mills Picerne, 22, Florida, suspicion of DUI, arrested in the 100 block of East 8th Street.

–Alfonso Carranza-Mejia, 29, Junction City, suspicion of Public Intoxication, arrested at 723 South Washington Street.

–Police officers were dispatched at 4:46 p.m. Saturday to 521 East Chestnut Street for a disturbance. The case was labeled an aggravated assault. Police reported the case was still under investigation.

The Geary County Sheriff’s Department report issued for the period from Friday through 7 a.m. Saturday included the response by Deputies to the area of 3800 block of Edgewater, Milford, for an unattended death. The Sheriff’s Department confirmed this was a medical case and did not involve foul play.

Arrest cases contained in the report included:

–Brandon Fain, Junction City, on an Ellsworth County District Court warrant alleging a Felon In Possession of a Firearm. The arrest occurred at the Geary County Detention Center.

–Rachel Fitzgerald, Abilene, on a Dickinson County District Court warrant charging Violation of a Protection Order. The arrest occurred at the Geary County Detention Center.

–Dusty Maxwell, Junction City, Geary County District Court warrant charging Probation Violation, arrested at Geary County Detention Center.

–Justin Oliver, White City, Geary County District Court warrant charging Probation Violation, arrested at Geary County Detention Center.

–Kristin Powell, Emporia, arrested at mile marker five on K-57 Highway, on suspicion of Driving While Suspended and a Defective Tag Light.

–Devoris Newson, Junction City, arrested in the 500 block of North Washington Street on suspicion of Driving While Suspended, and Failure to Obey Traffic Control Signals.

–Catrina Profit, Wichita, arrested in the 700 block of East 6th Street on suspicion of Driving While Suspended, Speeding, and No Valid Proof of Insurance.

–Catrina Profit, Wichita, arrested in the 700block of East 6th Street on a Rice County District Court warrant charging Failure to Appear.

In an MSN / Travel page online report listing the best lakes in all 50 U.S. States, Milford Lake was listed for Kansas.

The brief report stated that Milford, the largest lake in Kansas, is a popular destination for anglers seeking to catch walleye, crappie, catfish, and largemouth, smallmouth, and white bass. Wildlife lovers can watch and photograph a variety of non-game birds, mammals, and reptiles. And in the winter months the Milford Lake area attracts bald eagles.

CONCORDIA – A Kansas man was injured in an accident just before 12:30p.m. on Saturday in Cloud County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2008 Kawasaki driven by Harvey L. Blackwood, 57, Belleville, was westbound on Kansas 9 just west of U.S. 81.

The driver was attempting a left hand curve. The motorcycle left the roadway and overturned.

Blackwood was not wearing a helmet and was transported to Cloud County Health Center and transferred to Wesley Medical Center in Wichita according to the KHP.

Senator Jerry Moran told a listening tour audience in Junction City Saturday that he believes the Army sees  value in Fort Riley and the mission of the post.

The Army made the decision to eliminate 615 troop positions at Fort Riley as part of a nationwide downsizing of 40,000 soldiers from 490,000 down to 450,000.  But that’s quite a different from an  initial environmental analysis on what the impact would be if Fort Riley lost 16,000 soldiers, and Moran noted, fears at the time of a later community listening session that one or more Brigade Combat Teams could be lost. There are about 4,000 soldiers in a BCT.

The general reaction since the announcement earlier this week that the Army would only eliminate 615 positions has been relief, and that the decision is good news. Moran told a packed meeting room at the Dorothy Bramlage Public Library. “So while I wish there wasn’t the number 615, I wish it was zero, I see this as significant evidence that the Army, the Pentagon, finds great value in Fort Riley and its mission to protect our country.”

Moran says his office is studying the analysis done by the Department of the Army, and will try to figure out any ways Fort Riley is more deficient than other places. The Senator added should there be another round of reductions down to 420,000 the Army will have to make additional decisions. “This is nothing that I think is anytime in the next few weeks, next few months kind of thing. But over a period of time we need to make sure any of the things that we can improve on, that we’re fully engaged in making certain that happens.”

Moran said the public’s support for Fort Riley clearly got the Army’s attention. More than 4,200 people from the region attended a community listening session in Junction City in February and expressed support for the post.  The Senator commended the area for what occurs every day on behalf of the Soldiers and their families.

Moran pointed out that the nearby Great Plains Training Center west of Salina, the quick deployment capabilities from Fort Riley, and the $1.8 billion dollar investment in schools, housing, and a new hospital at the post were all factors working as well for Fort Riley.

 

 

 

The Junction City Police Department is reporting the arrest of 10 individuals over the 24 hour period on July 10th.

-Daniel E. Cotton, 28, Grandview Plaza, Suspicion of Shoplifting (Felony Theft). He was arrested at 910 W 6th Street (Dollar General).

-Brian Keith Flanary, 36, Manhattan, Suspicion of Possession of Marijuana (Felony), Municipal Court Warrant alledging Failure to Appear, Geary County District Court Warrant alledging Failure to Appear, Outstanding Warrant out of Saline County, Outstanding Warrant out of Leavenworth. Flanary was arrested at 820 S Washington (Budget Host).

-Angela Dawn Berry, 23 was issued a notice to appear after officers responded to 521 E Chestnut for report of a theft.

-Lucas Clements, 21, Fort Riley, Suspicion of Improper Turn, No Drivers License in Possession, and Possession of Marijuana. Clements was arrested in the 1100 Block of N Jackson.

-Dustin Heishman, 26, Fort Riley, Suspicion of Possession of Marijuana. He was arrested in the 1100 Block of N Jackson.

-Amy Michelle Mitchell, 32, Fort Riley, Suspicion of Domestic Battery. She was arrested in the 1900 block of Patriot Drive.

Officers also responded to a report of shots fired at 2:40 a.m. Saturday in the 500 block of W 14th Street.