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Category: Local

New partnership announced between S.A.V.E. Farm and Konza

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S.A.V.E. Farm and Konza Prairie Community Health and Dental Center are creating a fully-embedded healthcare model inside the nation’s only training farm for transitioning servicmembers and veterans. The partnership will eliminate barriers to care, providing medical, dental and behavioral health care services for SAVE ( Servicemember Agricultural Vocation Education ) Farm students and employees.

“Our partnership with Konza Prairie Community Health Center represents a new and vital dimension in care for our Veterans. This first-of-its-kind partnership will serve as a national model that will soon expand across the entire country. It is a perfect fit,” said Gary LaGrange, founder and President of S.A.V.E. Corp. When the farm is complete, Konza will provide primary and preventative health care services to students and employees, on-site. Until that time, services will be provided remotely from the Konza Junction City clinic. “We are very excited to be a part of such an ambitious project,” said Lee Wolf, Konza CEO. “Establishing new and unique partnerships, like this, enables our organization to effectively fill gaps in the health care infrastructure throughout the Flint Hills region-providing quality and affordable care for all.”

S.A.V.E. Farm bridges the gap beween the need for new farmers in this nation, and transitioning servicemembers, providing a pathway to farming for veterans. Located just outside Manhattanm S.A.V.E. Farm’s mission is to provide a training farm with an adjacent clinic, assist service members and veterans to find purpose and meaning in life and enable them to learn vocational skills to meet the demands for agricultural ownership, employment or other advance schooling. S.A.V.E. Farm aims to facilitate healing for those in need and place those training on working farms.

Konza Prairie Community Health and Dental Center is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing affordable, quality, comprehensive medical, dental and behavioral healthcare for all. Founded in 1995, Konza now serves Geary and Riley Counties, and the greater Flint Hills Region, with clinics in both Junction City and Manhattan.

Kan. man hospitalized after ejected in rollover crash during chase

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UPDATE:

The Geary County Sheriff’s Department confirmed the suspect in this case was a parolee from Wichita who had initially been stopped for alleged speeding seven miles south of Junction City. The chase followed and went 19 miles north on U.S. 77 Highway.

The Sheriff’s Department indicated the suspect, Allen P. Harroald, 39, who was taken to a Topeka Hospital after his car rolled and he was ejected, is expected to be arrested on multiple counts at a later time.

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GEARY COUNTY — One person was injured in a crash during police chase just after 10:30p.m. Wednesday in Geary County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1993 Chevy Camaro driven by Allen P. Harroald, 39, Wichita, was northbound on U.S. 77 twelve miles north of Junction City, fleeing from Geary county Sheriff deputies.

The driver failed to negotiate a curve. The Camaro struck a guard rail, overturned several times and ejected the driver.

EMS transported Harrold to the hospital in Topeka. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP. Authorities have not released what prompted the chase.

Medicaid expansion one topic for Lt. Governor at Flint Hills Regional Conference

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Lt. Governor Lynn Rogers has been touring rural hospitals in Kansas, including Geary Community Hospital in Junction City.

He told the Flint Hills Regional Conference on Wednesday that medicaid expansion in Kansas can save lives and keep rural hospitals open.

Rogers noted that nearly 150,000 Kansas fall into the coverage gap but right now one or two people in the State Senate are blocking debate and discussion on the the medicaid expansion issue. “We feel Kansans deserve a debate.”

Rogers touched on other topics during the conference following his travels across Kansas. Some of the key points included some Kansans not feeling listened to by officials in Topeka, and the need for broadband improvements has emerged as a top priority. A broadband map would help state officials identify areas where improvements are needed.   He added putlic input is needed on an interactive map project on connectednation.org/kansas/.

Lt. Governor Lynn Rogers speaking at the Flint Hills Regional Conference

 

 

Spring Dance at 12th Street Community Center

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The 12th Street Community Center in Junction City will be the site for a spring dance for youth in grades 6 through 8 on Friday evening, April 26. It is scheduled from 7 – 10:30 p.m. There is a $3 admission charge. A Student ID is required as well.

Lt. Governor talks medicaid expansion with local leaders

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Lt. Governor Lynn Rogers at the head of the table meeting with hospital and community leaders.

Medicaid expansion dominated the conversation between Lt. Governor Lynn Rogers, community and Geary Community Hospital on Wednesday. The expansion could provided much needed financial support to Geary Community Hospital, but the issue has been tied up in the Kansas Senate by the leadership, preventing debate on the measure up to this point. The Kansas House approved medicaid expansion.

During a discussion at Geary Community Hospital, Rogers said if medicaid expansion is approved it would mean an additional $1.7 million in annual revenue for GCH, serve 944 additional Geary County residents, create 25 jobs and would provide an approximate additional $6.3 million in healthcare spending in the county. “I’ve not had a single hospital board or staff that have said they don’t want to do it. They really see the impact.”

Rogers, who has visited with hospital issues across the state on this issue. He described it as a nonpartisan issue. “I’ve had Republicans and Democrats alike at these meetings and these events. For rural communities they know it’s vital to their long term survival.” Rogers says it will not save a rural hospital but will give them the ability to pay down debt, recruit additional doctors and medical professionals and expanding or replacing equipment.

Junction City Mayor and Dr. Pat Landes stated that medicaid expansion will give hospitals a lifeline and keep them vibrant.

Rogers said the governor’s office is encouraging people to contact their legislator ( senator ) to encourage to vote to get the matter out of committee and put it on the Senate floor for debate. He said Senate leaders should be called to encourage them to schedule a vote so their can be a debate.

 

Jim Schmidt files for election to the USD 475 Board of Education

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Jim Schmidt

Geary County Clerk Rebecca Nordyke said Wednesday that Jim Schmidt has filed for election to the UD 475 Board of Education. Schmidt will be seeking a four-year term on the board.

Schmidt was first appointed to the board last June to fill the vacancy following the resignation of Dr. Ferrell Miller.

Four seats on the Boe will be up for election in November. The other seats are currently held by Tom Brungardt, LaDonna Junghans and Anwar Khoury. Nordyke confirmed the filing deadline for the election is June 3rd at noon.

Hands on History Program benefits from JC Breakfast Optimist Club

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The JC Breakfast Optimist Club had donated $200 to the Geary County Historical Society’s Hands On History program for supplies and materials. They will be used for youth who attend and participate in learning about Geary County history throughout the school year and / or a three-day summer camp at the Historical Museum.

( L-R ) Jennifer Dixon, Director of Programs and Educatiuon at GCHS; Buz Bruzina, Vice President of the JC Breakfast Optimist Club. Back row – Members of the Optimist Club.

 

Geary Community Hospital Trustees meet

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Geary Community Hospital Trustees in session Tuesday were informed that Acorns Resort near Milford Lake will be the site June 14th for the annual Boots Chaps & Cowboy Hats hosted by the Geary Community Healthcare Foundation.

The event will raise funds to support the Medical Arts Building One suite improvements at Geary Community Hospital.

The Trustees were also informed that the new orthopedic clinic suite at GCH has been open and in operation for about two weeks.

Also, the construction of a seclusion room at the hospital is expected to begin in mid-may. It should take about 60 days to completed the project. The seclusion room will be a safe room where mental health patients in fragil condition when they reach the emergency room can be treated.

 

Junction City Middle School students excel in Seussical Jr.

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Forty Junction City Middle School students put their singing, dancing and acting talents on display Tuesday evening at the C.L. Hoover Opera House during the production of Seussville Jr. They spent weeks preparing for the show through the Astra Program that kicked off this school year.

The show was about an elephant, Horton, who sat on an egg because amazing Mayzie asked him to watch it for her. There were a number of Who characters and the jungle of Newell.

Kael Nelson portrayed the role of Jo Jo the Who. “Jo Jo is the main character. He creates the story and is like telling the story to everybody else with the caps. It was just so fun being on stage with everybody. ”

Performing in the role of Horton the Elephant was Sean Powers. “I loved this. Being on stage is such a passion of mine and it is so fun. ” Powers said in the show Horton the Elephant feels alone, “because he hears that the Who’s are never heard to anyone but him being his remarkable ears. Throughout the entire show it’s a determination story of how determined Horton is to save the Who’s.”

Nathan Weaver was one of the Who’s in the show. “The Who doesn’t really have too many parts but that means that the ones you do you perfect them.”

The administrator for the Astra program, Chris Heldstab, enjoyed the show. “The kids put on those costumes and became their characters. It was great. ” There was a big turnout for the show from the public. Heldstab noted that more than 300 people came to the C.L. Hoover Opera House and watched the performance.

This is the first year for the Astra program. Heldstab looked ahead to the future . “Well we hope it continues to grow and this hopefully encourage parents with younger kids to start with us next year at sixth grade. Two shows are done each year in the Astra program. one with the Hometown Christmas in December and another in the spring.

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