The Corp of Engineers has reported that outflow releases from Milford Lake are currently 800 cubic feet per second to keep the lake elevation near 1141.1 elevation.
The Corps announced that they will adjust releases as needed to maintain the winter target level of 1141.4. Current lake elevation is 1141.58 and current inflow is 348 cfs.
The Highland Park Scots ( 2-14 ) picked up just their second win of the season Friday night by beating the Junction City Blue Jays ( 9-7 ) on Winter Homecoming night at JCHS 66-56.
It was a stunning loss for the Blue Jays, just three days after a major road win at Manhattan that snapped a 19-game losing streak to the Indians.
Highland Park jumped out to an early six point lead but the Blue Jays countered and led by six at one time in the second quarter and by five at halftime. Then came the third quarter when Highland Park outscored Junction city 16-5 and went on to the 10-point victory. The Blue Jays struggled against a zone defense employed by the Scots and often settled for 3-point shot attempts instead of working the ball in closer to the basket.
The Blue Jays were led in scoring by A.J. Dickerson with 21 points while Aaron Hamilton had 12 points.
Junction City must regroup and play at Topeka High on Monday night.
In the girls game Highland Park ( 11-6 ) took control early and rolled to a 73-21 win over Junction City. Lucy Ramirez had 9 points for Junction City ( 0-17 ).
T
he Immanuel Lutheran Early Childhood Center will host a spaghetti feed and silent auction on Saturday, March 2nd at their Fellowship Hall at 630 South Eisenhower Drive.
The doors will open at 4:30 p.m. to kickoff the silent auction and which is scheduled from 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. Dinner will be served from 5-7 p.m.
Meals will be $10 for adults, $5 for children 3-11 and free for children 2 and under.
The Geary County Sheriff’s Department has reported that Deputies responded Thursday afternoon to a two-vehicle non-injury accident at mile marker 177 on K-18 Highway.
Anthony Soika, Junction City, was traveling eastbound on the roadway in his 2009 Nissan Pathfinder when he attempted to change lanes, striking a 2014 Ford Explorer driven by Justin Rogers, California, Missouri.
Geary County Sheriff Tony Wolf appeared in Geary County District Court Friday for an arraignment hearing on a charge of felony theft and a misdemeanor count of misuse of public funds.
According to Defense Attorney Barry Clark, Wolf entered a not guilty plea to the charges. A trial has been scheduled in the case on May 8 and 9.
Wolf was arrested Oct. 18 at the Geary County Sheriff’s Office. He was arrested on the felony theft count for allegedly giving a county-owned firearm as a gift, and in a separate matter for the alleged misuse of public funds.
SALINA — Kansas State University’s Polytechnic Campus implemented a new initiative to engage and welcome students to the Polytechnic family: the Kansas State Polytechnic Scholarship Patrol.
Inspired by the Publisher’s Clearinghouse model, a crew of enrollment management and marketing team members traveled across the state of Kansas, surprising scholarship winners at their home and work. The patrol awarded more than $228,000 in scholarships to 22 students in 13 cities.
“Having the ability to provide scholarships to deserving students, knowing we are changing lives for the better, this is why we do what we do,” said Christopher Smith, Kansas State Polytechnic executive director of enrollment management, marketing and financial aid. “I could not be more proud of these students and am looking forward to having them on the Polytechnic Campus this fall.”
Family members and colleagues worked with Kansas State Polytechnic to schedule the stops and ensure the visits remained a surprise for scholarship winners. Stops were made in Andover, Delphos, Kansas City, Leawood, Leonardville, Manhattan, Newton, Overland Park, Salina, Shawnee, Topeka and Wichita, as well as in Kansas City, Missouri. The Kansas State Polytechnic Scholarship Patrol made its rounds on Jan. 26 and Feb. 2.
In all, the 11-member patrol traveled 1,005 miles in 18.5 hours.
“Charlie was truly surprised,” said Roxanna Rusco, mother of Charlie Rusco, a 2019 scholarship recipient and future Kansas State Polytechnic professional pilot student from Topeka. “So thoughtful that you all take the time to recognize these future students.”
For more about scholarships or degree options, visit polytechnic.k-state.edu/
Geary USD 475 will be in session on Friday.
Interim Superintendent Dr. Beth Hudson explained Thursday evening that the district is planning for normal school operations on Friday.
There are not any school cancellations in the Junction City – Manhattan region.
Congressman Roger Marshall along with Senators Jerry Moran and Pat Roberts have introduced legislation honoring those who have made the ultimate sacrifice while serving our nation in the Army’s First Infantry Division. The bill authorizes that additional names of fallen Soldiers’ of the First Infantry Division be added to the First Division Monument located on White House grounds in Washington D.C.
“it is my great honor to introduce legislation with Senator Moran and Senator Roberts that will remember the more than 13,000 Soldiers of the First Infantry Division that made the ultimate sacrifice while fighting for our country, ” said Representative Marshall. ” Freedom isn’t free, and this legislation is a great reminder of that. I am both humbled and proud to recognize these service members on this historic monument at the White House.
The First Infantry Division was established in 1917 and has been on continuous active duty for more than 100 years.
The First Division Monument was developed by the Society of the First Division to honor the heroic efforts of those who fought in World War I. Additions have been since been made to commemorate Soldiers from the First Infantry Division who lost their lives in World War Ii, the Vietnam War and Desert Storm. Future additions will honor members of the First Infantry Division killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom and New Dawn, Operation Enduring Freedom and future U.S. operations.
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Hays Post
Ron Wilson
Hays USD 489 Superintendent candidate Ron Wilson said he centers all his work on what is best for kids.
Wilson is the fourth of four candidates to be interviewed by the Hays school board for the position of superintendent. He was interviewed by the school board Thursday night.
Mike Gower, Logan and Phillipsburg superintendent, interviewed Wednesday. Keith Hall, USD 489 interim director of finance, and Jamie Wetig, Ashland superintendent, interviewed last week.
Wilson, 53, has been the superintendent in Herington for the last two years. He was the Abilene Middle School principal for 18 years and also served as a K-8 principal at North Ottawa County. He won the Kansas Association of Secondary School Principals Principal of the Year Award in 2006 and the Kansas Association of Middle School Administrators Principal of the Year Award in 2015.
He received his undergraduate degree at Bethany College and master’s degree and superintendent certification from Kansas State University. He said he made the move to becoming a superintendent later in life, because he wanted to wait until his youngest child graduated high school before moving the family. A job in Hays would move Wilson closer to his aging mother-in-law in Colorado. The Wilsons also have a son who is a senior at Fort Hays State University.
School was canceled Thursday due to cold weather, so Wilson did not have the opportunity to see the schools operating with students. He said he still thought the schools where similar to the Herington district even though the Herington district is much smaller.
“It is a 2A district. This is a 5A district, but I would say it is still people working in schools and working toward student success. Although there are more students and staff, they still have the same mission, the same goal. There are so many great support people all over this district, it is really amazing to see what is going on.”
Wilson has not been through a bond issue as a superintendent, but the Herington district recently moved forward with a lease purchase agreement using capital improvement funds to remove asbestos from the high school and upgrade floors, lighting and labs.
The Hays school district has had two failed bond attempts in the last three years. It has discussed attempting a third that would include improvements to the Hays High School HVAC system, expansion of the Hays Middle School cafeteria and expansion of Roosevelt Elementary School to accommodate five sections of each grade.
“I think I see my role as more a consensus builder,” Wilson said of a possible bond issue, “to try to bring everyone together into a consensus of what is the best possible plan that will meet the needs of the school and people but, at the same time, what the community desires. I think in my skill set that is my strength in being able to work with people and get them to understand there are not ulterior motives. It is just trying to figure out how we can best serve kids.”
Wilson acknowledged it’s tough convincing people to vote for a bond issue that includes a tax increase.
“Once people understand that we are trying to do the best we can with what we have and they trust we are telling them the right thing, I think that is how you get over the hump,” he said.
Wilson said he would also support a long-range facility plan as has been advocated by some school board members.
The school board has been split on how to move forward on facilities. They had a notable split vote on the purchase of the Oak Park Medical Complex, which is being renovated for use by Early Childhood Connections.
“I think we need to create a situation where people are focused on kids and doing what is best for kids,” he said. “I think if we have that as our ultimate goal, it is really easy to unite people as they can see that is what we are aiming for is to do what’s best for kids.”
Wilson also talked about relationships with teachers.
“I would be disappointed if I did not have a great relationship with teachers,” Wilson said. “I am very supportive of teachers, and I feel strongly that when it comes to teacher pay, that has got to be a priority of the district.”
He said raises are not always possible, but teachers make the biggest impact with students.
Herington participates in interest-based bargaining. Hays used to participate in interest-based bargaining, but has moved away from that style of negotiations in recent years. Wilson said he really liked IBB negotiations. In IBB, both parties focus on what is best for the good of both sides. Kathy Rome, KNEA UniServ director, said she and Hays KNEA also supported IBB. Board member Paul Adams asked the board at its last meeting to consider using IBB again. The full board has yet to discuss the move.
Under Wilson’s leadership in Herington, the district implemented Multi-Tiered Systems of Support. The district dedicated time to allow students who need more help to receive it. Those children who are at grade level in reading and math can use that time for enrichment activities. The schools also use some of that time for character-building activities.
Wilson said he would bring being a champion for kids to the Hays school district.
“Our ultimate goal is to give every kid opportunities … to do things more than they even thought possible. That is one of things I will bring right away. We will talk about what we are doing, what we can do better, what do you need to do better.
“I will bring a vision of everyone to bring their best every day,” he said. “I think that is so important. That is not just staff. That is making sure students bring their best and even parents in some regards. That is what our expectations are.”
He also said he believes in building a positive culture.
“Everyone has to be on the same page in terms of our goal and that is to give kids the best. … Negativity just sucks the life out of school district. There are going to be some tough days, and you are going to need someone to be positive to get you through those tough days. If you have more negativity right around the corner, it is going to take you down.”
He said many of thing he spoke about he already sees in the Hays school district. He would just hope to reinforce that vision.
