The Junction City Police Department is wanting to alert the public and businesses in the Junction City area of an increase in counterfeit currency being passed in the area. 

Two incidents of counterfeit $100 bills being passed in Junction City have been reported this week. Salina and Manhattan have also reported counterfeit $100 bills being passed in those cities as well.

Police are everyone to closely examine any $100 bills that you come in contact with. If you believe that the bill is suspicious notify Police and get a good description of the subject passing the bill.

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A federal judge has shielded from public disclosure evidence the government turns over to attorneys for a Kansas man accused of trying to bomb an Army installation.

The order signed Friday in the case of 20-year-old John T. Booker Jr. comes at the request of prosecutors and with the agreement of the defense team. The government says the evidence includes general discovery typical in criminal cases, as well as declassified and sensitive law enforcement materials.

Dissemination of the information is limited for use in preparing for trial.

The order does not apply to classified information, which is governed by a separate statute.

Booker is accused of trying to arm a 1,000-pound bomb near Fort Riley. He is charged with attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction and related crimes.

Dr. Ronald Mace, longtime family physician at Geary Community Hospital, died early Friday morning, April 24, at the hospital following an extended illness. He was 72 years old. Dr. Mace was surrounded by family at the time of his death. He leaves behind his wife Andrea, his daughter and son-in-law, Dr. Rhonda Mace and Gordon Gunderson, and two grand-daughters, Andrea and Laura.

“Dr. Ron Mace has been an extremely dedicated physician who has aided thousands of patients and families in Junction City, Geary County and North-central Kansas. Unquestionably he has been a pillar in which Geary Community Hospital has built itself over the past 40 years. His impact on us all has been significant to say the least” stated GCH Chief Executive Officer Joe Stratton.

Dr. Mace moved to Junction City and began his practice in 1975. He was instrumental in the establishment of The University of Kansas Family Practice Residency Program-Junction City Rural Track and was its medical director from 1994 to 2013. He was a Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians and a Diplomat of the American Board of Family Medicine; an associate professor of family medicine at The University of Kansas Medical Center; served as Geary Community Hospital chief of staff at least four times; and was the longtime chairman of the Geary County Medical Society.

Penwell-Gabel in Junction City is making arrangements for the funeral service.

Press Release and photo Courtesy of GCH.

After three years of negotiating and a year of planning Mercy Regional Hospital has officially become Via Christi Hospital.

The hospital announced last February that it would fully join Via Christi Health, the largest nonprofit healthcare provider in Kansas. Previously, Via Christi and the Memorial Hospital Association (MHA) had a joint 50-50 ownership of Mercy, with Via Christi providing management services.

Patients won’t see much change other than the name at the hospital according to John Broberg, Via Christi Manhattan Senior Administrator.

“To the patient, I don’t think it will be any difference at all,” Broberg said. “As we rounded with our night shift last night and handed out new name badges and new t-shirts for Via Christi, it was that same caring and engaged staff that’s going to be here today, tomorrow and in the future taking care of patients.”

By fully joining Via Christi the hospital joins the largest Catholic and nonprofit healthcare system in the country as Via Christi is a member of Ascension.

Jeff Korsmo, President and CEO of Via Christi Health explained that the hospital believes in what their name stands for, “Via Christi means in the way of Christ.”

“This has been an outstanding hospital for years and has its roots with the Sisters of the congregation of St. Joseph. So that presence has been here in a significant way, but it is really to fully have the Christ like presence, the healing presence.”

Korsmo went on to say that they are not here to impose religion on anyone but to,”care for them as Christ would have cared for them.”

Along with the name change the Hospital held a groundbreaking for a new $15.5 million project that will include a complete renovation and expansion of the Emergency Department, the addition of a more registration rooms, a Chapel and more labor and delivery triage rooms.  That project is expected to kick off in June.

Geary County Sheriff’s Deputies responded Thursday night to mile marker 147 on U.S. 77 Highway for a vehicle fire.

Upon their arrival they determined Rapheal Riggins, Junction City, was operating a 2004 Mini Cooper. Riggins had completed an evasive maneuver o prevent a head-on collision. In doing so, Riggins left the roadway and came to rest on the grassy shoulder. The grass beneath the vehicle ignited, eventually starting the vehicle on fire. There were no injuries.

Summer driver education registration forms are now available at Junction City High School and Freshman Success Academy. The online and behind the wheel course is offered May 13 – June 24. Students must complete the registration form and return it to the bookkeeper with the $75.00 course fee on or before May 8.

The required student/parent orientation session is at the Freshman Success Academy on May 11 at 6 P.M.

Hugh Davis

Executive Director of Communications – USD 475

NEW YORK (AP) – A $10 billion program that was supposed to get patients off waiting lists at Veterans Affairs medical centers is proving to be a disappointment.

Congress created the Veteran’s Choice program last summer with the expectation that it would offer instant relief to wait-listed patients by paying for them to see private-sector doctors.

But a hurried rollout has led to confusion about who can use the program.

VA officials now say that through April 11, only 37,648 medical appointments had been completed through the Choice program, which launched Nov. 5. That’s a tiny fraction of eligible patients.

VA officials say they are studying the problem.

Two contractors overseeing the program for the VA say one issue is that the program was created so fast, there wasn’t enough time for proper training.

A 61-year old Abilene man, Frank J. Wilkins, has been arrested by authorities in Dickinson County in connection with an alleged burglary last Sunday night ( April 19 ) at the Rural Center Elementary School.

Dickinson County Sheriff Gareth Hoffman reported that Wilkins was arrested on suspicion of Burglary, Theft, and Criminal Damage to Property.

Just before midnight Sunday, Deputies responded to an active alarm call at the school. When they got there they did both interior and perimeter checks of the building. They found tools in a tree line just north of the school outside a broken window where it was believed entry was made. They also located a vehicle that had been backed up behind a building to the south of the school as though it was concealed.

Hoffman reported that just after 3 a.m. Monday a man was located trying to approach the vehicle. He was identified as Frank J. Wilkins.

The Rural Center School sustained several broken windows, but it is believed all property was recovered.

The American Red Cross will be in Junction City on Thursday, April 30, from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Friday, May 1, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Municipal Building.

Donors with all blood types are needed, especially those with types O negative, A negative, and B negative. Whole blood can be donated every 56 days, and double red cells may be donated every 112 days, up to three times per year.

 

DARLENE SUPERVILLE, Associated Press

MANASSAS, Va. (AP) — Michelle Obama says the technology industry has committed to hiring or training 90,000 military veterans and spouses over the next five years.

The first lady also says the private sector has far exceeded her husband’s goal of hiring 100,000 veterans and military spouses.

Less than four years after President Barack Obama issued the hiring challenge, Mrs. Obama says U.S. businesses have employed or trained more than 850,000 veterans and military spouses.

The first lady is marking the fourth anniversary of Joining Forces, her nationwide campaign to secure jobs and other support for military veterans and their families.

She made the announcement at Micron Technology, a Manassas, Virginia-based manufacturer of memory storage devices.

Micron Technology also trains and hires military veterans.