There will be no classes for students in Geary USD 475 schools on Friday. It will be a professional development day for educators in USD 475.
A number of school activities and athletic events are still on the schedule Friday.
Saint Xavier School will not be in session on Friday as well due to the Easter break.
Julian Solorza, 37, Cincinnati, Ohio, who was arrested in Geary County enroute to Colorado to buy marijuana has been sentenced to 12 months and one day in federal prison, according to U.S. Attorney Stephan McAllister.
Solorza pleaded guilty to one count of attempted money laundering. In his plea, he admitted the Kansas Highway Patrol pulled him over in Geary County. Troopers found $47,828 in cash in 41 separately banded bundles in the car. They also found two empty pieces of luggage containing traces of marijuana. Solorza admitted the cash was the proceeds derived from selling marijuana and he was on his way to Colorado to buy more.
McAllister commended the Kansas Highway Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration and Assistant U.S. Attorney Skip Jacobs for their work on the case.
Preparations are being made for a new Billy Sims Barbecue Restaurant at 316 West 6th Street in Junction City.
The company has not made a formal announcement that they are locating an establishment in Junction City, but a business sign is up at the 316 West 6th Street site and interior remodeling work is under way on the vacant building at that location.
The CEO of the Junction City Area Chamber of Commerce, Mickey Fornaro-Dean, has not been given the green light to yet to make an announcement that the company is planning to open the new establishment but the Chamber has worked on this project. She referred to the site. “That would be directly to the west of our offices, about a block – a block and a half. We’ve worked with them for some time now.”
Billy Sims Barbecue is part of a Tulsa, Oklahoma based chain that has outlets in six states. The company serves barbecue and traditional sides. It was founded by former pro football player Billy Sims and business partner Jeff Jackson.
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Small donor assistance is wanted to help support the Sundown Salute Fourth of July celebration in Junction City.
Convention and Visitor’s Bureau Director Michelle Stimatze said letters have been submitted to area businesses. “Trying to get some smaller sponsorships to take care of some of the costs. We’re doing very well but every little bit helps.”
Stimatze also announced on Thursday that there will be a petting zoo at Sundown Salute this year. A contract has been signed with Hedrick’s Petting Zoo and they’ll also be offering camel rides. “It will be in the Waters True Value parking lot up at the top area, and then the camel rides will be right there as well.” The petting zoo will be at Sundown Salute for the five days of the celebration, July 3rd through the 7th.
Out of an abundance of caution, all USD 475 schools went into secure in place for a short time on Thursday afternoon. There were no threats inside school buildings, no threats made to the schools and there is no evidence to suggest that students or staff were at risk of imminent danger.
The Executive Director of Marketing and Media Relations for the school district, Matt Droge, noted that secure in place was initiated because of a concern in the residential area outside of the Junction City High School. Law enforcement was contacted and searched the area to determine the credibility of the potential threat.
Students remained inside the building until the district’s law enforcement partners informed us that there was no need to remain secured in place.
Schools, students, and staff were thanked by district officials for performing the safety safety measures. This response was a result of hard work and routine safety drills throughout the school year.
Police confirmed there was no criminal activity, and determined there was no danger.
The American Legion sponsored Geary County Kids Fishing Derby 2019 will be held Saturday, May 18th from 8 a.m. until noon at the Geary State Lake.
You can reserve a spot by calling ( 785 ) – 422-6128 until May 17th.. There will be a meeting for all participants at 6:30 p.m. May 17th at the American Legion Post Home on Fourth Street in Junction City. Fishing poles, t-shirts, bait and tackle will provided for participants along with a barbeque following the fishing.
Prizes will be given for the top five scoring participants for three age classes and raffles are given through the event.
Monetary, supplies and prize donations are being sought to support the event.
MANHATTAN — A Wednesday evening apartment fire in Manhattan caused over $140,000 damage to the building and contents and started on the second-floor porch balcony due to improperly discarded smoking materials, according to Deputy Fire Chief Ryan Almes.
Just after 9:13 p.m.Wednesday, fire crews was dispatched to 415 Walters Drive Apartment 808 in Manhattan for a report of a structure fire with occupants possibly trapped, according to Almes.
Upon arrival, crews found a two-story apartment building with fire showing from the rear of the building extending into the attic.
Crews searched the building and confirmed that all occupants had exited the structure. The fire reached a second alarm before it was contained. No injuries were reported.
Apartments 808 and 810 suffered fire damage and apartments 807 and 809 suffered smoke and water damage.
A total of 14 occupants and 5 pets were displaced from 4 apartment units.
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MANHATTAN — Officials are working to determine the cause of a fire in an apartment complex in Manhattan.
Just after 9:13 p.m.Wednesday, fire crews was dispatched to 415 Walters Drive Apartment 808 in Manhattan for a report of a structure fire with occupants possibly trapped, according to Deputy Chief Ryan Almes.
Upon arrival, crews found a two-story apartment building with fire showing from the rear of the building extending into the attic.
Crews searched the building and confirmed that all occupants had exited the structure. The fire reached a second alarm before it was contained. No injuries were reported.
Apartments 808 and 810 suffered fire damage and apartments 807 and 809 suffered smoke and water damage.The occupants of all four damaged units were displaced. An estimate on damage was not available early Thursday.
The Northeast Kansas Regional Notification System and Geary County Emergency Management say that no burning will be allowed in Geary County on Thursday due to forecasted winds.
The continuation of a one-cent sales tax will be crucial for Junction City’s debt recovery program.
The tax is scheduled to expire December 31,2020 and with city commission approval could possibly go on the ballot this November for possible extension. This week the City Manage, Allen Dinkel, asked the City’s financial advisor, Jeff White of Columbia Capital, how important is it to go to the voters to ask for a renewal of that sales tax. “Never easy to ask the voters to approve a new tax or extend an existing one but it’s absolutely critical for this community.”
During the debt recovery cash inventory has increased substantially for the city and while there is still a substantial amount of general obligation bond debt, that debt is starting to come down.
Mayor Pat Landes told the city commission this week that if the city didn’t have the sales tax everyone’s property tax would have gone up at least 20 or 30 mills. “We’re still looking at that if we don’t renew it. ” Landes added, ” If we lose that ( sales tax ) we’re all in big trouble, especially property owners.”
