U.S. Senator Jerry Moran, a member of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs has joined U.S. Senators Johnny Isakson and Richard Blumenthal to introduce bipartisan legislation to increase veterans’ disability benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs.

The Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2015 ( S. 1493 ) would increase the rates of VA disability compensation, dependency compensation for surviving children and spouses, and the clothing allowance for veterans based on rising costs of living.

The cost-of-living adjustment, which is equal fo the amount of the adjustment given to Social Security recipients is determined by the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Price Index on a yearly basis. Other VA benefits, such as pension, are by law adjusted annually based on the Social Security cost-of-living adjustment. However, the VA benefits addressed in Senate Bill 1493 require annual legislation in order to receive an equivalent increase. The cost-of-living adjustment for veterans would go into effect on Dec. 1, 2015.

Authorities in confirm a rural Geary County resident, Mallisa Owens, was transported by Life Star helicopter to a Wichita hospital following an accident Monday evening. The accident occurred at the intersection of K-18 Highway and Spring Valley Road.

The accident was reported in the 8 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. time frame.

 

Each year Geary County 4-H puts on an annual summer camp at Rock Springs 4-H Center for area youth.

This year approximately 45 kids will be participating in camp June 18th-21st. Campers will get the all around camp experience including horse back riding, archery, swimming and a camp fire.

Ginger Kopfer, 4-H Youth Development Agent with Geary County Research and Extension explained she believes its very important to get today’s youth out to experience the outdoors.

“Kid’s have so much screen time these days that to get them out, to get them away from their phone, away from the TV, away from the computer, it’s just I think a greatly important thing that maybe will spark in them an interest to be outdoors,” said Kopfer.

She also explained that it gives older 4-H’rs the opportunity to learn additional leadership and teamwork skills as they will be the counselors for the younger kids during the camp.

U.S. Senator Jerry Moran has announced that he will be introducing country singer Blake Shelton at the Kicker Country Stampede on Saturday, June 27.

The Senator will be joined on stage by Kansas veterans, and thank them for their service.

Shelton is the Kicker Country Stampede Saturday headliner. His performance is scheduled at 9:30 p.m. on June 27th.

The Kansas Department of Transportation has begun repairs on the westbound bridge on I-70 just east of the I-70 / K-177 Interchange ( 313 ) in Geary County. This location is about 14 miles east of Junction City.

Work began Monday.

Traffic will be reduced to one lane for the duration of the project.

Plans for the project to be competed on Tuesday, June 16, weather permitting.

Authorities have responded to an accident along East Chestnut Street Tuesday morning about 10:30 a.m..

We will update this story as information becomes available.

Fort Riley and the 1st Infantry Division honored and recognized all fallen “Big Red One” Soldiers during a ceremony in Victory Park Tuesday Morning.

In the park there are 569 stones bearing the names of 1st Infantry Division Soldiers who have paid the ultimate sacrifice defending our nation. Each year the Division rededicates the park, adding the names of the Division’s fallen soldiers from the previous year.

During this years redidcation ceremony Brig. Gen. Eric Wesley, Acting Senior Commander of the 1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley announced that zero names are being added this year.

“Ladies and gentleman, this year there are no stones to be laid. I’m certain that all of you know, and I’m certain General Funk would agree, that the knowledge of this unburdens in part any Commanders heart,” said Wesley.

He then went on to ask those on hand, “Why do we memorialize in such a reverant way Soldiers who have gone before us?”

“We do this because we believe in the notion of legacy. We do this because we believe in the notion that legacy has an immeasurable impact on who we are, and who we will become. That legacy, although intangible, has very tangible effects taht we cannot ignore. We do this because a Soldiers legacy matters.”

This year the 1st Infantry Division is celebrating it’s 98th birthday during Victory Week which is currently underway on Fort Riley.

 

Chuck Otte reports that the Kansas Ornithological Society and Milford Lake Friends monthly bird walk will be Saturday, June 13 at 8 a.m.

Participants meet at the parking lot on the south end of Milford Lake Dam across from the Corps of Engineers Office. This month’s walk will focus on summering and nesting species.

The walks usually last about two to three hours. If you have binoculars or a bird book bring them.

Milford Lake bird walks, open to the public, are held monthly through November. The July bird walk is schduled for July 25.

According to the National Weather Service of Topeka, the unseasonably warm temperatures will return today and Wednesday as sunny skies and light southwest winds warm temperatures into the lower and middle 90s. Thunderstorm chances return late Wednesday evening into Thursday. Best chances will be north of Interstate 70. A few severe storms are possible Thursday afternoon and evening for the area as a stronger disturbance arrives.

Large hail and damaging winds are the main hazards. From Friday through the weekend, a series of disturbances and a front will bring continued chances for storms. Activity that develops in the late afternoon and evening hours may become strong or severe. Highest concern for the week is the potential for flooding, especially for areas that have received ample rainfall recently.

Hazardous Weather Outlook

Today: Sunny. Highs around 94. Southwest winds 5 to 10 mph.

Tonight: Mostly clear. Lows around 70. Southwest winds 5 to 10 mph.

Wednesday: Sunny. Highs around 95. Southwest winds 5 to 10 mph.

Wednesday Night: Mostly clear in the evening then becoming mostly cloudy. A 40 percent chance of thunderstorms. Lows in the upper 60s. South winds 5 to 10 mph.

Thursday: Partly sunny with a 50 percent chance of thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 80s. South winds 10 to 20 mph with gusts to around 30 mph.

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

Friday: Mostly cloudy with a 50 percent chance of thunderstorms. Highs around 80.

Friday Night: Thunderstorms likely. Lows in the mid 60s. Chance of rain 70 percent.

Saturday And Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy with a 50 percent chance of thunderstorms. Highs around 80. Lows in the mid 60s.

Sunday Through Monday: Mostly cloudy with a 40 percent chance of thunderstorms. Highs in the lower 80s. Lows in the upper 60s.

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Alexander McConnell received a sentence of 191 months in prison Monday in Riley County District Court.

The Fort Riley soldier had entered pleas of guilty in May to one count of Second Degree Murder and two counts of Abuse of a Child.

McConnell was arrested on September 29, 2014 following the death of a child identified as five month “AKM” in the case’s criminal affidavit.  The document said McConnell’s wife, Angela, had left the child with Alexander on the 8th of February for a short period of time, and when she returned the child was not breathing. The infant was taken to Mercy Regional Hospital in Manhattan, and then to Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri where “AKM” was pronounced dead at around 8 p.m. that day.

During the autopsy, the medical examiner found the child had experienced previous substantial bleeding in the skull, as well injuries to it’s neck, head and ribs. Injuries included bleeding on the brain, neck and spine fractures, abrasions, bleeding in the eyes, bleeding and bruising on the heart and lungs, five new rib fractures and nine previous rib fractures.

On May 4th McConnell pleaded guilty to one count of Second Degree Murder, one count of Abuse of a Child on the 8th of February, 2014, and one count of Abuse of a Child of a Child from december 29, 2013 to February 6, 2014.  McConnell was sentenced to consecutive terms of 123 months on the Second Degree Murder count, and 34 months for each of the two Child Abuse charges. The Court also ordered 84 months of post release monitoring. McConnell will also have to register as an offender upon his release.