LOLITA C. BALDOR, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. military has increased the threat level at bases across North America. Officials say the incremental boost will likely mean heightened vigilance and more random bag or vehicle checks.

The baseline level went from A to B, although most military installations — including the Pentagon — were already at a slightly higher level of protection than level A. There are four levels, A through D.

Army Col. Steve Warren says the increase was not triggered by a specific event. He says it was due to a generally heightened threat environment, which would include the recent terror threat and attempted attack surrounding a provocative cartoon contest in Texas.

The alert level was approved by Adm. Bill Gortney, head of U.S. Northern Command.

Junction City High School students in Construction Technology within the Kansas Career and Technical Education pathway have been building a house that helps them meet all the requirements of the program, and helps students gain industry-ready skills in a real-world setting. 

The framing and all components have been worked on by the students under the direction of their teacher Jeff Wells. Local contractors leveled the lot, did concrete work, plumbing, electrical, and termite treatment.

The ribbon cutting for the house will be May 12 at 12:15 p.m. at 1220 North Eisenhower Drive.

The house will be sold this summer with the proceeds going towards next year’s project.

Geary County Sheriff’s deputies responded Thursday to a report of a lapsed hit and run accident on U.S. Highway 77. 

Shane Price, junction City, was traveling south in a Nisan Altima when a Ford F-150 pickup truck came off of K-57 highway traveling south and merged onto U.S. 77 behind him. Price was then struck in the rear of his vehicle. The Ford F-150 then left the scene of the accident.

The case is still under investigation.

The threat for severe weather is slightly lower today, with perhaps a few marginally severe storms developing late this afternoon and early evening (mainly south of Interstate 70). Localized flooding is the main hazard. Morewidespread severe weather remains possible on Saturday as a stronger storm system approaches. All severe weather hazards are possible, including flash flooding and river flooding. Additional severe storms are possible over far eastern KS once again on Sunday afternoon. Stay tuned for updates and have your sheltering plan just in case!

Today: Partly sunny with a 20 percent chance of thunderstorms. Highs around 73. Northeast winds 5 to 10 mph.

Tonight: Thunderstorms likely. Lows around 60. East winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70 percent.

Saturday: Mostly cloudy with a 50 percent chance of thunderstorms. Highs around 77. Southeast winds 5 to 15 mph. Gusts up to 20 mph increasing to 30 mph in the afternoon.

Saturday Night: Thunderstorms likely. Lows in the lower 60s. Southeast winds 10 to 15 mph with gusts to around 30 mph. Chance of rain 70 percent.

Sunday: Mostly sunny with a 30 percent chance of thunderstorms. Highs in the lower 70s. Southwest winds 10 to 20 mph with gusts to around 30 mph.

Sunday Night And Monday: Cooler. Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 40s. Highs in the lower 60s.

Monday Night: Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 40s.

Tuesday And Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy. Highs in the mid 60s. Lows in the upper 40s.

Wednesday: Partly sunny. Highs in the lower 70s.

Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of thunderstorms. Lows in the lower 50s.

Thursday: Partly sunny with a 30 percent chance of thunderstorms. Highs around 70.

 

It’s business as usual for military installations until the outcome of possible Army downsizing is known.

That was one topic of discussion for Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations and Environment Katherine Hammack during a visit with the media at Fort Riley.

She noted there were some great listening sessions at different bases, understanding what the impact of sequestration as the Army is forced to take cuts in the size of their force. “This is not something that we’re choosing to do. When you talk to General Odierno and our other military leaders we think the appropriate size of the Army is 490,000 ( troops ) and shrinking to 450,000 has some associated risks with it, but at the direction of Congress that’s where our budgets are heading us.”

Hammack added the Army is going to have to shrink to 450,000 by the end of 2017 or early 2018.

Where those cuts will occur is under discussion right now, and input received at the listening sessions at the 31 bases that could be affected is being evaluated.

Hammack noted the Fort Riley listening session set the record amount for interested parties who demonstrated how involved the commuity is in supporting the military.

The Geary County Sheriff’s Department is teaming up with Sportsman’s Acres to offer a class on the new gun legislation allowing residents to carry concealed without a permit.

Sheriff Tony Wolf said the class will cover the statutes and law pertaining to carrying a concealed gun. In July the legislation becomes law.

“People will then be allowed to carry concealed without a permit, but there’s no training involved, no types of checks and balances whatsoever. And this is going to try to fill that gap a little bit by offering some of the training as far as what the law is on how you can carry it, some scenarios, and different things.”

Wolf added it’s mostly information to make the individual aware of what the law means to them.

Legal issues on where you can and cannot carry a gun, liability issues, familiarization with state statutes pertaining to the carry and use of your gun, law enforcement response….what to expect and how you should respond, will all be topics in the class.

There will be two sessions for this class on Saturday ( May 9 ) at Sportsman’s Acres near Milford Lake. The class times are 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. The pistol range will also be available for use at Sportsman’s Acres at 9 a.m.   Bring your gun and ammunition. Range officers will be there to help you get familiar with your gun.

The Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations and Environment Katherine Hammack presented Army Safety Risk Management Awards at Fort Riley on Thursday.

Hammack said the safety awards were presented to many of the Garrison personnel at Fort Riley.

“Safety is important to the Army because we do not lose personnel to accidents that are preventable, so we do a lot want to lose personnel to accidents that are preventable. ” Hamack added they do a lot of safety and risk management training. “And so what we are celebrating today is zero accidents in several of the Directorates.”

Hammack said they’ve done a great job of ensuring the Army investigates “The why.” They want to understand what caused an accident and how to prevent it.

“We want to ensure we have a safe workplace for all of our employees.”

Hammack noted in this area Fort Riley is setting the standard. The post is demonstrating what can be achieved with significant across-the-board reductions in accidents.

 

 

The Junction City Police Department and the U.S. Marshal’s Service are asking for the public’s assistance in locating and apprehending an alleged fugitive wanted by the U.S. Marshal’s Service.

The Marshal’s service believes the wanted subject, Heidi Lynn Webster, has ties to the Manhattan / Junction City area, and that people may have information on her whereabouts.

Webster, 5’8, 205 pounds, is wanted for allegedly violating bond conditions. A warrant was issued by the Western District of Texas Feb. 6, 2015.

According to the U.S. Marshals Service Webster is on pre-trial release pending sentencing in her case. She has already pleaded guilty in this case for Conspiracy to Defraud the United States and Bribery. Webster has failed to surrender to authorities.

Caution: Webster is suspected of being a part of the Sovereign Citizen movement.

The Junction City Police Department is asking that no one attempt to apprehend Webster, but instead call their local police or the Junction City Police at 785-762-5912, or Crimestoppers at 785-762-TIPS, or the U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force in Topeka at 785-295-2775. You may also text your tip to CRIMES and start your tip off with tipjc.

You may remain anonymous and be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.

TOPEKA – A former private in the U.S. Army stationed at Fort Riley has been indicted on charges of stealing his fellow soldiers’ identities according to U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom.

Todd M. Newbrough was charged Wednesday with four counts of wire fraud, four counts of bank fraud, four counts of aggravated identity theft and one count of computer fraud. The crimes are alleged to have occurred at various times from 2011 to 2015 at Fort Riley, Kan.

The indictment alleges Newbrough used personal identifying information of fellow soldiers to obtain lines of credit and credit cards in their names. He got the information through his access to Leave and Earning Statements, Enlisted Record Brief and Alpha Roster records.

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison and a fine up to $1 million on each wire fraud and each bank fraud count, a mandatory consecutive two years on the aggravated identity theft counts, and a maximum penalty of five years and a fine up to $250,000 on the computer fraud count. The Army Criminal Investigation Division investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Kenney and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Robin Graham are prosecuting.

“This is the culmination of a great deal of investigative work conducted by Special Agents from CCIU and our other law enforcement partners who were so critical to this investigation,” said Daniel Andrews, Director of the Computer Crime Investigative Unit (CCIU) for the U.S. Army

Criminal Investigation Command.

Geary County Sheriff’s Deputies worked a two-vehicle accident in the 500 block of West 6th Street Wednesday. Natasha Idickey, Junction City, was westbound in a Buick passenger car. Gilbert Monroe, Junction City, pulled out of Wendy’s parking lot traveling westbound in a GMC Terrain.

The two vehicles collided. The Sheriff’s Department reported that there were minor injuries as a result of the accident.