There will be no Poultry Show at the Geary County Free Fair this year.

That’s because of a state agriculture order prohibiting movement of Kansas poultry in a move to prevent the spread of a devastating form of Bird Flu.

The order cancels all poultry related shows and events in Kansas through the rest of this year.

Chuck Otte, Geary County Extension Agent, confirmed there will be an impact on the Fair. “Well it just basically shuts off the chickens, the waterfowl. But the entire 4-H Poultry Show won’t happen this year because it’s against the law to move poultry around. Includes pigeons, all the birds that might normally be there. We can’t have it, that’s all there is to it.”

\

National Weather Service meteorologist Chad Omitt informed Geary County Emergency Management on Wednesday that confidence is increasing that there will be repeated bouts of widespread heavy rains this weekend.

Storms will begin Wednesday night across areas mainly north of Interstate 70, but they are most concerned about the rains this weekend.

A key piece of information is that widespread two to four inch amounts are expected by early next week.

Gerry Berges, Geary County Emergency Management Director, addressed the potential for flooding. “Ground is still very saturated from the last couple weeks of rain. With the amount of water that’s in a lot of our creeks and rivers right now flooding is going to be our main concern.”

 

A “Cancer Awareness Fundraiser” is scheduled June 13 at Brown’s Auction Building, 2323 North Jackson Street. It is a fundraiser to raise awareness for cancer and to assist in the medical bills for Terri Upham.

Doors will open at 5 p.m. with a silent auction from 5:30 until 7:30 followed by a live auction. In addition, at 6:30 a guest speaker who has authored her own book will be speak about her journey with cancer. The book will be available for sale at the auction along with cancer t-shirts. Dinner will be served throughout the evening.

Tickets will be available at the door for $10 for 11-and-over, and $5 for children under 10. Tickets will cover dinner, drinks, a cancer band, and a bid number. For more information email standtogethertheronhfl@gmail.com or visit the “No One Fights Alone” event page on Facebook.

There will be more than 100 items up for bid. Some of those items include a recliner, a lot of autographed sports memorabilia, $500 off your next flooring installation, two foot Pendulum wall clock, a photo session, six month unlimited tanning pass, free architectural consulttion to assess your home or business with sketch, one year family membership to Great Life Fitness, and an assortment of gift baskets and gift certificates from local and surrounding businesses.

Only cash and checks can be accepted for items that are purchased during the auction.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration is about to announce that the U.S. will send more troops to Iraq to boost the training of local forces.

Officials say it’s a response to recent setbacks at the hands of the Islamic State militants, and to Baghdad’s appeals for more help.

The officials say fewer than 500 troops will be sent.

Under the expected plan, the number of U.S. training sites in Iraq would increase from four to five. That would enable a larger number of Iraqis to join the fight against the Islamic militant group.

Most of the fighters would be Sunni tribal volunteers.

The decision comes just days after President Barack Obama met with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi in Germany.

The plan does not signal a shift in strategy, and questions remain about the Iraqi government’s ability to recruit more fighters to be trained.

House Speaker John Boehner says sending several hundred military advisers to Iraq “is a step in the right direction.” But at a news conference today, he repeatedly criticized Obama for not having “an overarching strategy” for dealing with the Islamic State.

MANHATTAN – Law enforcement officials in Riley County were called to a report of a suspicions package at a home near the intersection of 12th and Bertrand in Manhattan.

Manhattan Fire Department, EMS, Riley County Police Department Bomb team and HAZMAT responded to the possible explosive device call just before 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday.

The investigation revealed that the item was a legal commercial firework mortar round. Officials disposed of the large firework. There were no injuries.

The incident remains under investigation.

One final hot and humid afternoon today with heat index readings approaching 100 degrees! Storm chances return late this evening- best chances near the Kansas and Nebraska border. A few storms in this area may be severe capable of large hail and damaging winds. The greater risk is heavy rainfall leading to localized flooding. The trend continues for Thursday afternoon and evening with the slight risk for severe weather spreading further south as a cool front approaches from Nebraska. Large hail, Damaging winds, and Heavy rainfall are possible. The next several days remains active with periods of thunderstorms each day. By early next week, several inches of rainfall may have accumulated over northeast Kansas. Please stay tuned for forecast updates!

Hazardous Weather Outlook

Today: Sunny. Highs around 95. South winds 5 to 15 mph.

Tonight: Partly cloudy with slight chance of thunderstorms in the evening…then mostly cloudy with thunderstorms likely after midnight. Lows around 72. South winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60 percent.

Thursday: Partly sunny with a 50 percent chance of thunderstorms. Highs around 88. South winds 10 to 20 mph with gusts to around 30 mph.

Thursday Night: Thunderstorms likely. Lows in the mid 60s. Southwest winds 5 to 15 mph shifting to the northwest around 5 mph after midnight. Chance of rain 70 percent.

Friday: Not as warm. Mostly cloudy with a 40 percent chance of thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 70s. North winds 5 to 10 mph.

Friday Night: Mostly cloudy with thunderstorms likely. Lows in the mid 60s. Chance of rain 60 percent.

Saturday: Thunderstorms likely. Highs in the upper 70s. Chance of rain 70 percent.

Saturday Night: Thunderstorms likely. Lows in the mid 60s. Chance of rain 60 percent.

Sunday: Mostly cloudy with a 50 percent chance of thunderstorms. Highs in the lower 80s.

Sunday Night: Thunderstorms likely. Lows in the upper 60s. Chance of rain 60 percent.

Monday Through Tuesday: Mostly cloudy with a 50 percent chance of thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 80s. Lows in the upper 60s.

 

MANHATTAN – A Manhattan teenager was injured in an accident just after 7 p.m. on Tuesday in Riley County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2004 Chevy passenger vehicle driven by Joshua Adam Smothers, 19, Manhattan, was northbound and stopped at the stop sign at U.S. 24 and Kansas 113.

The vehicle pulled out in front of and struck the driver’s side of a semi.

Smothers was transported to Via Christi. The semi driver from Denver was not injured.

Both drivers were properly restrained at the time of the accident according to the KHP.

The U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom has issued a news release saying a Manhattan man has been charged in an 18-count indictment with removing, altering or obliterating manufacturer’s serial numbers, causing other individuals to make straw purchases of firearms and exporting firearms overseas.

The indictment was unsealed Tuesday.

Michael Andrew Ryan, also known as “Brad Jones” and “GunRunner,” 35, Manhattan, Kansas, was charged in the indictment filed June 3 in Topeka with knowingly making false statements to licensed firearms dealers; possession of firearms from which the manufacturer’s serial numbers had been removed, altered and obliterated; and exporting and / or attempting to export these firearms in different packages from the United States to individuals located in other countries.

According to allegations in the indictment:

–Ryan allegedly knowingly possessed a total of nine guns, including a Glock model 27 .40 caliber pistol, from which the manufacturer’s serial numbers had been removed, altered and obliterated, 318 rounds of assorted ammunition and eight magazines, which had been shipped and trnsported in interstate and foreign commerce in violation of federal law.

–Ryan had also allegedly exported and attempted to export these firearms in different packages from the United States to individuals located in Cork, Ireland; Mallow, Ireland; Pinner, England; Edinburgh, Scotland; and Victoria, Australia.

The case was investigated by multiple agencies including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Kansas City Field Division; Department of Homeland Security Investigations Topeka Divisions; the Riley County Police Department; with assistance from the ATF Washington D.C. Division.

 

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Board of Regents says the state’s higher education system would lose $48 million from potential spending cuts if legislators do not increase taxes to close a budget shortfall.

Regents spokeswoman Breeze Richardson said Tuesday that the board and universities face difficult conversations about priorities if the cuts occur.

Budget Director Shawn Sullivan on Monday told some House Republicans that Gov. Sam Brownback’s most likely option for balancing the budget would be across-the-board cuts of 6.2 percent. He said spending would be reduced by $400 million to avert a deficit for the fiscal year beginning July 1.

University of Kansas spokesman Tim Caboni said its Lawrence campus would lose $8.3 million and its Medical Center in Kansas City, Kansas, would lose $6.7 million, for a total of $15 million.

A 29-year old Fort Riley soldier Brian A. Mastin has been arrested on suspicion of Child Abuse and Criminal Threat after surrendering to authorities Tuesday afternoon.

Police Chief Tim Brown reported that detectives began working an alleged child abuse case that had been reported to them Tuesday, and shortly after this was brought to their attention they learned the suspect was possibily suicidal and was located at his 1515 West Ash #4 residence.  Brown said the suspect was identified as Brian A. Mastin. “Police learned that Mastin was suicidal, armed with several weapons, and advised that if police were sent to his home they will die.”

Brown said the first police officers arrived on scene about 1:20 p.m., set up a perimeter around the apartment building, and began evacuating residents from the area. Police opened up a dialogue with Mastin by telephone. “And luckily at about 1503 ( 3:03 p.m. ) hours a police negotiator with the assistance of members of his military unit were able to convince him to come out and surrender, and he was taken into custody without any further incident.”

There were no injuries.

After questioning at the Police Department, Mastin was confined at the Geary County Jail without bond pending his first appearance in Geary County District Court on Wednesday.

The Junction City / Geary County SWAT Team along with members of the Junction City Drug Operations Group, Geary County Emergency Management, and Deputies from the Geary County SHeriff’s office assisted the Junction City police in the operation.