TOPEKA – The Kansas Cold Weather Rule ends on Sunday, March 31. That means Kansans who are behind on electric and natural gas utility bills will be subject to disconnection of service unless they contact their utility company to make payment arrangements.

 

The Cold Weather Rule is in effect from November 1 through March 31 each year. It provides protection from disconnection to residential customers served by utilities under the Kansas Corporation Commission’s (KCC) jurisdiction. That protection ends on Sunday. Failure to make arrangements or failure to adhere to an already established payment plan could result in service disconnection. Reconnection after March 31 may require payment in full. With the rule ending on a weekend, customers need to make that call to their utility no later than Friday to be eligible for the Cold Weather Rule 12-month payment plan.

 

The Cold Weather Rule requires regulated utilities to set up 12-month payment plans for customers who cannot afford to pay their full bill. As part of this arrangement, the customer must make an initial payment of 1/12 of the overdue amount, 1/12 of the bill for current service, the full amount of any disconnection or reconnection fees, plus any applicable deposit owed to the utility. The balance is billed in equal payments over the next 11 months in addition to the regular monthly bill.

 

The KCC adopted the Cold Weather Rule in 1983 to protect customers during cold winter weather by providing a reasonable and organized method of paying past due and current bills. It is important to note that the KCC does not regulate co-ops or municipal utilities, although many of those utilities also offer a cold weather plan. For a complete list of utilities regulated by the KCC visit: https://www.kcc.ks.gov/aboutus/jurisdiction

 

More information about the Cold Weather Rule is available at: https://www.kcc.ks.gov/consumer-information/cold-weather-rule. Kansans may also contact their local utility company or the KCC’s Office of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at (800) 662-0027.

 

A temporary museum is opening to the public on Fort Riley Wednesday. Post officials cut the ribbon on the facility, in Building 247 Tuesday evening.

This facility will be in use while the multi-million dollar renovation project is under way on the Cavalry and 1st Infantry Division Museums on post.

The Director of the Museum Complex at Fort Riley, Bob Smith, spoke from the podium during the ribbon cutting ceremony. More information on this effort will be featured during the JC Now program on 107.9 FM / 1420 KJCK at 6:20, 7:20 and 8:20 Wednesday morning. The entire interview will also be featured in the JC Now section at JC Post.com.  ( Photos courtesy of Fort Riley Facebook )

High

71°

Breezy. Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 70s. South winds 15 to 25 mph

DICKINSON COUNTY — Two people were injured in an accident just after 11a.m. Tuesday in Dickinson County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2007 Chevy Malibu driven by Michael H. Taplin, 59, Longford, was eastbound on Interstate 70 just east of the Enterprise exit.

The vehicle crossed the median striking a westbound 2009 Ford F 350 pickup driven by Gary W. Franklin, 60, Solomon.

A westbound 2001 Subaru station wagon driven by Connor T. Brandenberg, 20, St. Louis, Mo., struck the F350 before it was forced from the lane of traffic. The F350 came to rest on its top in the north ditch.

Debris from the collision struck a 2019 Grand Designer camper that was parked in the RV Park parking lot.

Taplin was transported to the hospital in Salina. Franklin was transported to the hospital in Abilene Bradenberg and a passenger in the Subaru were not injured.

All four were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

DICKINSON COUNTY — A multi-vehicle crash in Dickson County has temporarily shut down westbound lanes on Interstate 70.

The crash occurred just before noon between Abilene and Chapman, according to the Kansas Highway Patrol.

We will publish additional details as they become available.

There is progress on the installation of artificial turf on the infield, the foul territory and on the warning track at Rathert Field. There are also plans to put grass turf in the outfield.

( Photos courtesy of the Junction City Brigade )

 

Bikers Against Child Abuse will be collaborating with CASA ( Court Appointed Special Advocates ) to plant a Pinwheel Garden in Manhattan to generate community awareness of Child Abuse Prevention Month and all of the children in the community who are in need.

The Native Stone chapter of BACA’s Pinwheel Garden sponsor is the Evolution Training Center at 601 South 5th Street in Manhattan. The pinwheel garden will be planted in their lawn on Monday, April 1 between 5 and 6 p.m., and will remain there throughout the month. BACA’s Pinwheel Garden is one of eight that will be planted in the Manhattan community to raise awareness of this important issue.

The pinwheel is the national symbol used to represent the carefree and healthy childs deserved by all children. The gardens are used to bring awareness and reflection to the greater community that child abuse and neglect does exist in the community, and there are ways people can become involved to help with the larger societal issue. Helping can be as easy as lending a hand to parents already in your life you identify as struggling or need a break; for example a meal, babysitting, providing resources or offering a listening ear.

You can also become engaged in community agencies who work every day to fight child abuse in the community, become a CASA volunteer at school or join BACA.

BACA is an international non-profit organization that empowers abused children not to feel afraid of the world in which they live. BACA exists to create a safer environment for abused children and to work with local law enforcement and other agencies to protect children. They offer physical and emotional support to those in need and fight to prevent further abuse. The Native Stone Chapter of BACA meets on the first Sunday of each month at 6 p.m. at the Blue Hills Room by RC McGraw’s. The meetings are open to the public.

For more information about BACA and how you can become involved visit www.bacaworld.org or for immediate assistance on a current abuse case, call the local Help Line at 785-706-1676.

 

The information was reviewed for the Board of Education in a work session Monday night. They were also informed a large number of students do not drive. A goal is to connect them to public transportation. Students also ride ATA Bus from the high school to the Geary County campus of Cloud County Community College, where they take classes.

The Chief Operations Officer for the District, David Wild, explained that the Board will be presented with a recommendation in April on whether they want to try an annual contract with ATA Bus. “Of course reinforce with them this is a one-year effort, $49,000 minimal risk beyond that.”

 

The I.C.A.R.E. Center organization has received a check for $1,000 from the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas Foundation to support intergenerational activities between youth and older adults throughout the school year.