High school commencement ceremonies and Run for the Wall are part of the weekend public schedule in the Junction City – Chapman area.
Graduation exercises at Saint Xavier High School are scheduled at 2 p.m. Saturday at the St. Xavier Catholic Church.
Junction City High School commencement exercises will be
2018 Run for the Wall photo
held at 7 p.m. Saturday. They are currently scheduled at Al Simpler Stadium. but could be moved indoors to the Shenk Gym if inclement weather occurs.
Commencement at Chapman High School is at 2:30 p.m. Sunday in the District Gym.
Run for the Wall, the cross country motorcycle ride from California to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in
Washington D.C., will reach Junction City late Sunday afternoon. The advance riders are expected to begin arriving about 4:30 p-m with the main body of riders about 5 p.m. After they arrive there will be a ceremony in Heritage Park, and the riders will then spend the night in Junction City before continuing on east Monday morning on their trip.
A Junction City woman has been ordered to repay more than $3,800 to the Kansas Medicaid Program after pleading guilty to Medicaid fraud-related charges, Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt said.
Terry Sherrick, 50, pleaded guilty March 15th in Pottawatomie County District Court to one felony count each of making a false claim to the Medicaid program, theft and unlawful acts concerning computers. District Judge Jeff Elder on March 16th ordered the defendant to repay $3,870.31 to the Kansas Medicaid Program. Elder also sentenced Sherrick to 12 months of probation with an underlying sentence of eight months in the Kansas Department of Corrections.
An investigation by the attorney general’s Medicaid Fraud and Abuse Division revealed that Sherrick repeatedly checked her personal care attendant into Authenticare, the Medicaid electronic billing system, using her phone. Sherrick claimed the personal care attendant was providing home based services, when in fact the personal care attendant was closed in an working for other employers. The pay for the personal care services was placed into a joint checking account accessible to both Sherrick and the personal care attendant. An analysis of the Medicaid payment data showed 370 hours of overlapping time billed by Sherrick on behalf of her personal care attendant. The time billed overlapped time the personal care attendant worked for other employers. The crimes occurred between October 2015 and July 2016.
Junction City Community Band performing at the Memorial Day Ceremony at the C.L. Hoover Opera House in 2018
The Geary County Veterans Alliance will sponsor their annual Memorial Day program on Monday, May 27th at 10 a.m. at the C.L. Hoover Opera House.
Alliance spokesperson Brenda Boyd said the Military Affairs Council Director for the Junction City Area Chamber of Commerce, Craig Bender, will serve as the keynote speaker. She noted the ceremony will include the posting of the colors, “Virginia Lawrence will do our invocation and our benediction. The Junction City Community Band will play for us. They always start off their season by playing for the Geary County Veterans Alliance.
Bender recently retired from the U.S. Army before becoming the MAC director. During his time in the Army, Bender served as the Battalion S6 for 1-13 Tank Battalion in 3rd Brigade, 1 AD and deployed with the brigade to Iraq, he served as the Brigade S6 for the 1st Aviation Brigade, and deployed with that brigade to Afghanistan and as Deputy Division G6 at Fort Rley.
Today ( Friday ) is the deadline to sign up for the next Military Affairs Council breakfast. There will be a change of venue this month. Instead of being held at the Courtyard by Marriott Convention Center, it will be at the Milford Lake Conference Center at Acorns Resort.
The breakfast is scheduled from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. on Thursday, may 23rd. The guest speaker will be Dr. Reginald Eggleston, Superintendent of Schools for Geary USD 475. The cost to attend is $12 for non-military and $10 for active military.
RSVP to Sean Flanagan or online no later than 5 p.m. Friday.
There has been a filing for a seat on the Geary USD 475 Board of Education.
Geary County Clerk Rebecca Nordyke said Thursday that Ronald Johnson of 730 South Jefferson Street, Junction City, has filed for a seat on the Board of Education. He joins Jim Schmidt as the two candidates to file so far for election to the school board.
Dr. Beth Hudson began her career in Geary USD 475 began as a bookkeeper at Junction City High School and rose to the highest level of administration in the school district. On Thursday friends, family, current and former co-workers gathered at the Devin Center to congratulate Hudson on her career and wish her well as she prepares to retire from the school district at the end of June.
Hudson is currently the Associate Superintendent of Schools for USD 475, but she has served three different stints as the Interim Superintendent. Her feelings on Thursday were mixed. “I’m so glad to see all my friends and have such good memories from so many of these folks. But on the other hand I’m excited about what’s ahead to.” Hudson added she loved to teach in the classroom, but the favorite part of her different jobs was during her time as Director of Elementary Education when she got to work with the teachers on a regular daily basis.
Hudson, herself, served as a teacher at Jefferson Elementary, Ware Elementary and Eisenhower Elementary School during her time in USD 475.
Former Associate Superintendent of Schools Pat Anderson attended the reception at the Devin Center. “It’s really fun to come back and see all these people. Beth certainly has made an impression as she carried out the great work here in the district. It’s delightful to go back over some memories and laugh, and see all the people as well.” At one point Anderson supervised Hudson as she performed the duties of the Director of Elementary Education. She remembered Hudson as a sensitive, thoughtful and caring person. “Well aware of the history of our community, the need to honor our military families and all the diversity in the community, and she was just an outstanding choice for that work.”
( Beth Hudson’s siblings – L-R back row ) Larry Myers, Mike Myers, front row – Dr. Beth Hudson and Kathy Tremont.
Hudson’s siblings, Mike and Larry Myers and Kathy Tremont were all in attendance. Tremont enjoyed having all of them together. “I know it meant a lot to Beth. When there are times like this it’s always important to have your family there so I’m happy everybody was able to be here today.” Tremont remembered during their youth her brothers played sports while she and Beth were cheerleaders. “We were always a family on the go. We had a lot of things going on but mom ( Katie Myers ) always had cookies and supper every night, and noon every day so that’s the type of family we grew up in.” As to who was the better cheerleader Tremont responded firmly with a chuckle, “I think I was! ”
Tremont stated she has told her sister multiple times she has always admired her for her integrity and work ethic., and she complimented Hudson for serving as the fearless leader for her siblings.
Former Superintendent of Schools Dr. Mary Devin led off the program portion of the reception, pointing out in every job Hudson held in the school district she did well, rising from JCHS bookkeeper to serve as Associate and Interim Superintendent. The two-hour reception attracted a strong turnout to the Board of Education meeting room at the Devin Center.
Dr. Beth Hudson
Beth Hudson hugs Mona Manley
( Beth Hudson’s siblings – L-R back row ) Larry Myers, Mike Myers, front row – Dr. Beth Hudson and Kathy Tremont.
Dr. Beth Hudson and Bill Clark
Dr. Beth Hudson visits with Margie Rombold
Past meets the present when current Superintendent of Schools Dr. Reginald Eggleston visited with former Superinendent of Schools Dr. Mary Devin and former Associate Superintendent of Schools Pat Anderson.
WABAUNSEE COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just before 4p.m. Thursday in Wabaunsee County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2018 Honda Goldwing driven by Jon Thedehahn, 54, Rossville, was northbound on Kansas 99, made a right turn on the eastbound I-70 ramp and rolled.
Thederahn was transported to a hospital in Topeka, He was wearing a helmet, according to the KHP.
The monthly Milford Lake Bird Walk will be Saturday at 8 a.m. Geary County Extension Agent Chuck Otte said participants will meet at the parking lot on the south end of the Milford Lake Dam, just across the highway from the Corps of Engineers Office.
This month’s walk will focus on lingering spring migrants and summer resident species.
Letters are being mailed this week to residents in the Northview area of Manhattan who may be affected if flooding occurs on the Big Blue River. Tuttle Creek Lake is currently at the third highest level wince the dam was built.
Manhattan City officials say residents should be prepadred in case a large release from Tuttle Creek Lake into the Big Blue River makes evacuation necessary.
A floodplain map is available at www.cityofmhk.com/floodmap. Residents living in areas highlighted in red and yellow should begin making preparations now. The situation is serious but Manhattan is NOT in an emergency at this point.
To prepare for possible flooding:
Sign up for the Riley County Emergency Alerts at www.rileycountyks.gov to receive notices by phone, email, and/or text message.
Make a plan to evacuate. Decide what items are essential to bring with you if you are away from your home for days or weeks such as: picture ID, prescription medications, formula, pets and pet food, important documents, clothing, irreplaceable items, and electronics.
Decide where you will go if you are told to evacuate. Shelters will be available but flooding could last for a long period. If you have relatives or friends outside the floodplain, you will likely be more comfortable staying with them instead of at a shelter.
Talk with your neighbors. If evacuation becomes necessary, some of them may need help.
It may not be too late to get flood insurance for your property and belongings. Flood insurance takes 30 days to go into effect. Contact your insurance agent to find out more.
If major flooding happens, public utilities across the City could also be impacted. Electricity will be turned off immediately in inundated areas and will be turned back on when conditions are safe. The water supply in Manhattan will be reduced. Residents will be advised to stop all irrigation and conserve water.
To learn more, please attend the public meeting with the US Army Corps of Engineers on Wednesday, May 22 from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. at Manhattan Fire Station Headquarters located at 2000 Denison Ave in the first floor meeting hall.
Cottonwood Falls, Kan.–Symphony in the Flint Hills, Inc. has hired Leslie VonHolten as the organization’s new executive director.
“Our nationwide search attracted the attention of many qualified candidates and we are pleased to announce that we have selected Leslie VonHolten to take the lead in advancing our mission to heighten appreciation and knowledge of the tallgrass prairie,” said Board Chair Mike Stout.
VonHolten is a familiar face in Kansas arts and culture circles. She holds bachelors’ degrees in art history and English literature, as well as a master’s in public administration from the University of Kansas. Her graduate research focused on culture-based economic development. Leslie has served as the director of programs for Humanities Kansas, a grant writer for the Lawrence Arts Center, and in community outreach for KU’s Center for East Asian Studies. She was a founding member of the Percolator art space in Lawrence and currently serves as the board president for the Garden of Eden in Lucas.
“There are so many artists and thinkers working in environmental and cultural preservation today,” says VonHolten, “and Symphony in the Flint Hills is a leader in this movement. I am honored to have this opportunity to work with others to strengthen the culture of this beautiful landscape.”
VonHolten will replace Christy Davis, who has served as the organization’s executive director since 2013 and plans to leave the post following the 2019 Signature Event on June 15. VonHolten will start in June.
