The Geary Community Healthcare Foundation’s Boots, Chaps and Cowboy Hats generated $16,947.50 Friday night for local fundraising projects.

Jolana Montgomery-Matney, Healthcare Foundation Executive Director, confirmed that is a

good fundraising total. “Absolutely, I was thrilled to death.” She added it was probably about $3,000 more than she expected.

Montgomery-Matney said $8,000 of the total raised will be used to purchase a spot vision screening machine for use by the nurses in Geary USD 475. The remaining balance will finance scholarships for Delivering Change: Healthy Moms Healthy Babies mothers-to-be that do not have insurance.

There was a good turnout, with 150 people making reservations for the event at Small’s Big Red Country Barn west of Junction City. Four businesses provided shuttle service from the Junction City Middle School to the event because the recent rain had left the ground at the event site too wet to park on the property. Those who provided shuttle service assistance included JC Auto Sales, B & B Busing, Godfrey’s Party Bus, and Jim Clark Chevrolet Cadillac.

Nashville recording artist Rusty Rierson performed from 9 p.m. until midnight.

 

MANHATTAN -Riley County Emergency Director Pat Collins reports that the one adult and three children that were transported from the scene with non life threatening injuries have been released from the hospital. The Kansas State Fire Marshals Office is investigating the explosion and the fire at the residence.

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RILEY- Four people, including children, were injured in an explosion at a home in Riley County.

Officials say the Riley County Police Department, EMS, Riley Fire Department and Manhattan Fire Department responded just after 12:15 p.m. on Saturday to a residence in the 200 Block of North High Street in city of Riley.

Initial reports were that the garage door of the home was blown off and the residence was on fire.

Few additional details are being released. Check the post for more information as it is available.

 

The Junction City Police Department Tour Log report for Friday and early Saturday morning:

Among those arrested and the probable cause allegations on which they were arrested:

–Jason Eugene Davis, 35 and Jennifer D. Lucas, 32, both of Junction City, Possession of Methamphetamine, Aggravated Child Endangerment, Possession of Paraphernalia

–Michael S. William, 24, Junction City, Aggravated Assault, Aggravated Battery

–Brittany Buckner, 27, AltaVista, Public Intoxication and Possessing or Consuming Cereal Malt Beverage in Public

–Cheryl L. Williams, 28, Junction City, Domestic Damage to Property

–Armand Smith, 38, Criminal Damage to Property

–William Stokes, 40, Junction City, Domestic Battery

–Emery Lee Bennett, 23, Fort Riley, Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol or Drugs, Reckless Driving, Motor Carrier Liability Insurance Required.

 

 

 

 

The 20th annual Juneteenth celebration in Junction City was moved indoors from Heritage Park  to the Municipal Building Gymnasium Saturday due to concerns about rain.

Coordinator Delilah Hamilton said, “We’re thankful we rented the building even though we weren’t sure we were going to have to use it, and apparently we do so we’re thankful.”

Booths, musical programs, a juggler, and a speaker were all part of the event. There was also a watermelon feed, bouncy house for children, and numerous vendors who participated.

There were some vendors who did not attend because of the weather, but early Saturday afternoon Hamilton noted the celebration was “turning out pretty good.”

Hamilton appreciated the turnout by the community. “I really am thankful that we’re here in Junction City. And that’s part of what makes this town like home is that we can do stuff and everybody comes and participates.”

Juneteenth celebrates the time in 1865 when slaves learned for the first time about the Emancipation Proclamation issued by President Abraham Lincoln in January of 1863.

( Pictures from the collection of Delilah Hamilton )

 

 

The Art in the Park festival in Heritage park in Junction City beat the rain Saturday.

There was rain at times but the event extended over about six hours. At mid-day alone, organizer Michael Gray estimated 200 people were in the Park, and he was hopeful several hundred would visit the festival through the course of the day.  Gray noted the festival lost a four or five of the scheduled vendors due to rain but others who hadn’t signed up arrived on Saturday morning. Items for sale ranged from food to arts and crafts.

“It’s just a whole lot of art and food, and a little bit of music.” On the festival Gray added, “I think it was a big success.

The festival raised money for the JC Arts Council, and helped showcase the Arts Council for the community.

One disappointing note: A band that was scheduled to come from California was unable to be in Junction City. According to Gray the band’s van and instruments burned in a fire, leaving them unable to make the trip.

 

A two-vehicle accident on Interstate 70 near the 301 exit by Marshall Army Airfield early Saturday afternoon resulted in four people being taken to Geary Community Hospital in Junction City.

According to Garry Berges, Geary County Emergency Management Director, a pickup was westbound on the interstate, when it hit an object in the roadway, lost control, went across the median and hit an eastbound car before coming to rest in a ditch on the south side of the highway.

The woman driving the pickup was transported to Geary Community Hospital, along with three people in the car including a man and two children. Their  injuries were non-life threatening. There was a traffic backup for about 45 minutes.

More details including the identities of those injured have not yet been released. We will update the story as information becomes available.

The Geary County Sheriff’s Department has reported that Deputies arrived on the scene of a hit and run accident in the 700 block of South Washington Street at 12:39 a.m. Saturday.

Vandon Smallwood II, Fort Riley, was operating  a 2007 Dodge Charger when he ran into a 2010 Mazda 6 and allegedly fled the scene. Cantrell Tyson, Fort Riley, was operating the 2010 Mazda 6 and sustained minor injuries as a result of the accident.

The Sheriff’s Department reported that Smallwood was arrested by deputies about 25 minutes later in the 1100 block of South Washington Street on suspicion of Duty of Driver Involving an Injury Accident, Driving Under the Influence, Transporting an Open Container, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of a Stolen Firearm, Possession of a Firearm Under the Influence of Alcohol, and Refusal to Submit to a Breath Test.

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The Geary County Sheriff’s Department has reported arrests in three other separate cases.

—-Samuel T. Deason Jr., Dallas, Texas suspicion of Fugitive from Justice

—-Bad Ruiz II, Junction City, suspicion of Violation of a No Contact Order

—-Dwain Reynolds, Ozark, Alabama in the 700 block of South Washington, suspicion of Minor in Consumption.

 

According to the National Weather Service, scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms will impact areas today mainly over east central Kansas, including Manhattan, Topeka, Emporia, and Lawrence. By this evening a weak disturbance moves across the area, developing more widespread showers and thunderstorms over northeast Kansas. As this system slowly progresses through, periods of showers/storms will persist through early Tuesday morning. Main hazard is the localized flooding with much of the area seeing 1 to 3 inches of rainfall, locally higher amounts are likely.

Hazardous Weather Outlook

Today: Mostly cloudy. Chance of showers and slight chance of thunderstorms in the morning…then chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs around 80. Southeast winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50 percent.

Tonight: Showers likely and chance of thunderstorms. Lows around 67. South winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70 percent.

Sunday: Mostly cloudy. Thunderstorms likely in the morning… Then chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs around 80. South winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60 percent.

Sunday Night: Thunderstorms likely. Lows in the upper 60s. Southwest winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70 percent.

Monday: Mostly cloudy with a 50 percent chance of thunderstorms. Highs around 80. West winds up to 5 mph shifting to the northeast in the afternoon.

Monday Night: Mostly cloudy with a 50 percent chance of thunderstorms. Lows in the mid 60s.

Tuesday And Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy with a 40 percent chance of thunderstorms. Highs in the upper 70s. Lows in the mid 60s.

Wednesday And Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy. A 20 percent chance of thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 80s. Lows in the upper 60s.

Thursday: Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 80s.

Thursday Night And Friday: Partly cloudy. A 30 percent chance of thunderstorms. Lows in the upper 60s. Highs in the upper 80s.

 

 

State Senator Jeff Longbine tells JC Post he voted Friday for the bills increasing the state sales tax, and the tax on cigarettes. The measures approved by both the House and Senate now go to Governor Brownback for his signature.

Together the measures are estimated to raise $384 million during he fiscal year that begins July.

Longbine said the choice the Senate had was to pass the measures, or probably  a 6.2% cut in state spending across the board. “And so when you look at the effects that that would have on K-12 education, the things that it would have on state employees, the medicaid developmental disability population, the choice became clearer for me.”

The state sales tax would increase from 6.15 percent up to 6.5 percent, and the cigarette tax would go up 50-cents per pack to $1.29.

Longbine said he was disappointed, noting he tried to point the conversation multiple times to fixing the income tax gap. “Income tax reductions are what caused it. I thought the fairest way to rectify the situation would be to work on income tax, but at the end of the day there wasn’t the apetitive from the Governor’s office or the majority of the Legislature to do that. ” Longbine added they will keep discussing that and working on it, and hopefully at some point in the future make the changes he feels are necessary.

Art in the Park sponsored by the Junction City Arts Council is scheduled Saturday in Heritage Park.

Arts Council spokesman Michael Gray said they have filled their allocation for vendors and artists for this event. “We have people coming from all over. I’ve got folks comng from Wichita. I’ve got folks coming from…yeah it’s pretty big.

Activities will range from art sales and car show to farmer’s market. Grey said there will be artists present with products ranging from oil and watercolor paintings, pottery and mosaic tiles and woodworking. Items for sale will be handcrafted. Food vendors will also be present with food items ranging from barbecue and brownies to one vendor with handcrafted chocolate.

This is designed to serve as a fundraiser for the Arts Council.

Vendors will begin setting up at 8 a.m., and the festival will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

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The annual Juneteenth celebration in Junction City is also scheduled in Heritage Park on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

One of the coordinators, James Sands, said if rain occurs the Juneteenth celebration will still be held. It will be moved indoors to the Municipal Auditorium.