Westar Energy reported that there were power outages in the Junction City area Tuesday morning.
According to their Outage Map there were 1,311 customers ( locations ) that were affected. The first power outage was reported at 6:28 a.m.
Crews were assigned to make repairs. Service has been restored.
A check with Westar Energy revealed the outages were weather related, possibly caused by wind or lightning.
City and County officials from Geary County are meeting at 10 a.m. Tuesday to discuss the potential for flooding of the Smoky Hill River that runs around the south and east sides of Junction City.
At this point there is not a certainty flooding problems will occur but officials will discuss any necessary preparations.
Geary County Emergency Management Director Garry Berges said they will look at what is anticipated in the next few days and the potential for flooding. “We know people to the west of us, small towns that way are concerned. They’re meeting and some of them have sand bagging operations going on. We just want to be prepared should that come this way.”
Berges noted some flood water from the Smoky Hill River would go over farm ground. “Depends, if it goes across the levee over between Junction City and Grandview Plaza it could get into the areas around Walmart, Cracker Barrell, Gross Wrecker, that area which flooded in 93. So we want to look at that and we’ll be talking to the Corps of Engineers about that.”
Again…discussions on Tuesday are about possibilities. No flooding has occurred along the Smoky Hill River at this point in Geary County.
The Geary County Commission received a request Monday to provide funding help for the annual Fourth of July celebration, Sundown Salute.
Commission Chair Charles Stimatze reported that Convention and Visitor’s Bureau Director Michelle Stimatze is seeking $20,000 for Sundown Salute. He confirmed the governing body has not yet made any decision on the request. “We haven’t really discussed it because we haven’t had time to discuss it. We told her we would take it under advisement. ” Stimatze added the commission would probably discuss it more next week.
A shortfall in fundraising is the issue. “Shortfall in fundraising. Everybody knows, and it’s not just Sundown Salute. I think it’s all organizations are having a hard time. because all the local businesses are getting hit up for it.”
If the funding is approved the money would come out of the CVB budget. The convention and visitor’s bureau is a county entity.
NEW YORK (AP) — Dressbarn, the women’s clothing chain that’s been around for nearly 60 years, is closing all 650 of its stores including locations in Manhattan, Salina, Shawnee, Olathe, Wichita and Newton.
The company’s chief financial officer, Steven Taylor, said Dressbarn has not been operating at an “acceptable level of profitability in today’s retail environment.”
Its owner, Ascena Retail Group Inc., says it wants to focus on its more profitable brands. Ascena also owns Ann Taylor, Lane Bryant and other clothing stores.
The company did not say when Dressbarn will shut all its stores. Dressbarn employs about 6,800 people.
After the news was announced Monday, shares of Ascena Retail Group Inc. rose 2.6% to $1.17 in extended trading. Shares of the Mahwah, New Jersey-based company are down more than 50% so far this year.
Geary County Commissioners were in session on Monday.
–Three bids have been received to do overlay work on the north and east parking lots at the Geary County Office Building. County Commission Chair Charles Stimatze announced that the bids will be taken under advisement by Public Works Director Corey Trump.
–Dale Evans has been named the new Road and Bridge Supervisor in the Public Works Department. He succeeded Curtis Van Nahmen, who retired.
–The commission set the annual base salary for the new sheriff, Daniel Jackson. at $93,347.80
Due to the possibility of inclement weather in the forecast the Geary USD 475 Board of Education has cancelled their work session that was scheduled Monday evening. It will be rescheduled at an alternative date.
As rain moves through the Geary County area on Monday the Corps of Engineers has announced that the Milford Lake level is up more than 19 feet and rising. The lake level is currently 1163.43.
The Corps said the inflow at the Clay Center gauge on the Republican River is currently 8,110 cubic feet per second.
Milford Lake is currently into its third highest pool level ever, passing the 1987 elevation of 1160.58.
Steady rains forecast for the Junction City – Fort Riley area Monday and Tuesday. The National Weather Service has issued a hydrologic outlook for two rivers.
Location: Smoky Hill River near Junction City Flood stage: 22.0 feet Forecast crest: 22.2 feet Wednesday May 22 Location: Kansas River at Ft Riley Flood stage: 21.0 feet Latest stage: 14.0 feet at 10 AM Monday Forecast crest: 21.7 feet Thursday May 23
The American Red Cross has announced that they have a critical shortage of type O blood, an they are urging donors to give now to ensure blood is available for patients facing trauma and other life-threatening situations.
Right now the Red Cross has less than a two-day supply available for emergency rooms — where it can be most critical. Type O blood is being distributed to hospitals faster than donations are coming in.
The Red Cross strives to keep a five-day supply on hand all times to meet the needs of patients every day and be prepared for emergencies that would require significant volumes of donated blood products. Just six units of type O blood are available for every 100,000 people, but at least 14 are needed every day. Type O blood is the most needed blood group by hospitals but is often in short supply.
Type O negative is the university blood type and what emergency room personnel use when there’s not time to determine a patient’s blood type in the most serious situations.
There is a blood drive in Junction City on Tuesday and Wednesday at the Municipal Auditorium. The hours on Tuesday are 11:30 a.m. until 6 p.m.
Call 1-800-RED-CROSS to make an appointment or go to www.redcrossblood.org to make a donation appointment.
The Flash Flood Watch for:
* Portions of central Kansas, east central Kansas, north central
Kansas, and northeast Kansas, including the following areas,
in central Kansas, Dickinson. In east central Kansas,
Anderson, Coffey, Douglas, Franklin, Geary, Lyon, Morris,
Osage, Shawnee, and Wabaunsee. In north central Kansas, Clay,
Cloud, Ottawa, Republic, and Washington. In northeast Kansas,
Brown, Jackson, Jefferson, Marshall, Nemaha, Pottawatomie, and
Riley.
* From Monday afternoon through Tuesday evening
* Multiple rounds of showers and thunderstorms are expected Monday
afternoon through Tuesday afternoon with heavy amounts of
rainfall resulting. Total rainfall amounts of 2 to 4 inches
should be common with locally higher amounts likely. Ground
conditions are quite saturated from recent rain events and
levels many creeks and rivers are already elevated. This
additional rainfall may lead to flash flooding and more rivers
and creeks rising into flood stage.