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Category: Local
Boil water advisory issued for Rock Springs 4-H center
TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has issued a boil water advisory for the Rock Springs 4-H Center in Geary County. No other water district in the county are under a BWA.
Customers should observe the following precautions until further notice:
- If your tap water appears dirty, flush the water lines by letting the water run until it clears.
- Boil water for one minute prior to drinking or food preparation or use bottled water.
- Dispose of ice cubes and do not use ice from a household automatic icemaker.
- Disinfect dishes and other food contact surfaces by immersion for at least one minute in clean tap water that contains one teaspoon of unscented household bleach per gallon of water.
- Water used for bathing does not generally need to be boiled. Supervision of children is necessary while bathing so that water is not ingested. Persons with cuts or severe rashes may wish to consult their physicians.
The advisory took effect Monday and will remain in effect until the conditions that placed the system at risk of bacterial contamination are resolved. KDHE officials issued the advisory because of a loss of pressure. Failure to maintain adequate pressure may result in a loss of chlorine residuals and bacterial contamination.
If you have questions, please contact the water system or you may call KDHE at 785-296-1317. For consumer information please visit KDHE’s PWS Consumer Information webpage: https://www.kdheks.gov/pws/emergencyresponse/water_disruption.htm
Gerald Kratochvil
Communications Director
Kansas Department of Health and Environment
Plans for a new rural fire station
By Dewey Terrill
JC Post
There will be a move to put a new rural fire station in southwest Geary County.
Rural Fire Chief Garry Berges said they were approached last year by a land owner with some available land. “Currently the southwest area of Geary County, right there in that area. our closest one is east of 77 ( U.S. 77 ) on Lyons Creek Road. That area to the west of there is technically unprotected. We’ve got houses out there, we’ve got farm sites out there, we get a lot of rural calls out there, grass fires. Plus with the State Lake down there, Rock Springs, we decided we need to look at that are to put another fire station down there.”
The county has funding available for capital improvements. “Our next step now is to look at that area, determine what size station we want to put there.”
The county has numerous rural fire stations located at different sites but none specifically targeted for the southwestern part of the county.
Sheriff’s Department reported two arrests on I-70
The Geary County Sheriff’s Department has reported the arrest of Zeb Tefft-Young of Elkins, West Virginia and Nickoli Sowa on Interstate 70 mile marker 299 east bound.
Tefft-Young was arrested on suspicion of Driving Without A License, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Controlled Substance, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, No Drug Tax Stamp, Transporting an Open Container, No Proof of Insurance, Improper Driving On laned Roadway and Defective Tail Lamp.
Sowa was arrested on suspicion of Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Controlled Substance, No Drug Tax Stamp, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Transporting an Open Container.
The location of the arrests was east of Junction City.
Community Fair Returns to Manhattan Town Center
MANHATTAN, KAN. – Local non-profit organizations will be on display this weekend at Manhattan Town Center to raise awareness of the services, programs, and products they offer.
Manhattan Town Center will host the 2019 Community Fair Saturday, February 2, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Organizations representing healthcare, low income, families, education, military, children, and recreation will have booths located throughout the mall. The public is invited to come to the free mall event to learn about the services, outreach programs and volunteer opportunities provided by these great organizations.
New for this year’s Community Fair is the addition of door prizes. Attendees to the Community Fair can register to win prizes at the Q Country 103.5 booth at Center Court. Drawings will be held throughout the event. Winners do not need to be present.
“Our annual Community Fair continues to grow and provide a great venue for members of the community to learn about local organizations,” said Jeff Sutton, Manhattan Town Center Marketing Manager. “We’re pleased to offer this event free of charge to our vendors, and we have many new organizations this year who’ve never exhibited at the event, so we’re excited to welcome them.”
The registration deadline has passed, however a very small number of spaces are still available for non-profit organizations.
Acoustic Junction City gets a strong turnout
Acoustic Junction was one of the Saturday night activities in the Junction City community. Regional and local perform for the audience, free at the C.L. Hoover Opera House. Acoustic Junction events coordinated by Bob Cevera are held periodically over the course of the year.
( Photos courtesy of Bob Cevera )
Sundown Salute fundraising included a Kickoff Party
By Dewey Terrill
JC Post
Members of the community raised funds for Sundown Salute Saturday night at the Courtyard By Marriott convention center in Junction City.
Geary County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau Director Michelle Stimatze reported that 230 people attended, and estimated the event could raise $5,000 for the annual Fourth of July celebration. There was dinner followed by entertainment provided by ‘Dueling Pianos’ from the Hammersmith Company. “What I like best is the crowd having a good time with them and people just enjoying themselves and having fun seeing people that they don’t see normally in the community all the time.” Tickets were sold for the event this year, and Stimatze added next year she would like to do a little more with this type of event including a silent auction.
Stimatze estimated the overall fundraising goal for the 2019 Sundown Salute would be at least $68,000. The annual celebration is scheduled from July 3rd through July 7th.
Police search for burglary suspects
Junction City police have reported via social media that on the night of January 24th ( Thursday night ) unknown persons entered Screen Machine Sports in the 100 block of East 7th Street. Some electronics and possibly some sports gear were taken. The suspects were possibly interrupted due to items being piled up by the door.
If you have information on this crime call Crime Stoppers at 785-762-8477 or leave a webtip at https://www.tipsubmit.com/webtips.aspx?AgencyID=1216. You may be eligible for a cash reward.
State agencies announce 5th-annual scholarship essay contest
TOPEKA —Kansas Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt, Acting Bank Commissioner Tim Kemp, and Shannon Santschi of the Office of the Kansas Securities Commissioner announced the opening of the 2019 Kansas Financial Scholars Essay Scholarship Contest. The contest will run through April 1, 2019.
“Kansas High School seniors will soon make decisions about post-secondary education that will impact their future for years to come,” said Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt. “I’m pleased to support this program because it not only provides a scholarship to help offset the rising cost of post-secondary education, but it also provides a solid financial education that prepares students to make better financial choices for their future.”
Acting State Bank Commissioner Tim Kemp added, “Financial literacy is integral to the future success of Kansas which includes our Kansas youth. The Office of the State Bank Commissioner is proud to contribute scholarship funds to promote increased financial knowledge and support further educational opportunities. I encourage all Kansas educators to promote this opportunity and Kansas seniors to participate.”
New this year: The top scholarship award has increased to $3,000. Subsequent awards are as follows: second place — $2,000, third, fourth and fifth places —$1,000 each.
Students who choose to participate in the competition will be asked to write a two-part composition. Part one requires students write an essay about an experience that has influenced their views on money management. In Part two, students will interview someone who is active in the field they aspire to, and provide analysis on how they will apply what they’ve learned from the essay and interview to their life as they prepare for the future.
“Since we initiated this contest five years ago, the goal has always been to promote financial education in our high schools and invest in young Kansans’ vision for the future,” said Shannon Santschi, director of Investor Education for the Securities Commissioner’s Office. “To date, nearly 400 students have participated in an approved financial literacy programming and submitted essays to our contest. Additionally, $30,000 in scholarships has been awarded to high school seniors who have committed to attending schools of higher learning here in Kansas.”
To be eligible, students must be in their senior year and attending a Kansas public, private or home school. They must plan to attend a Kansas technical school, trade school, college or university after high school graduation. Eligibility is also dependent on students participating in one of six approved financial education courses; among them: EverFi/Kansas Financial Scholars Program, The Stock Market Game and Foundations in Personal Finance.
For a complete list of eligible programs and contest rules, visit www.ksc.ks.gov/essaycontest.
Teachers, parents or students may inquire with the director of Investor Education at Shannon.Santschi@ks.gov or 785-296-4756 to sign up today for one of the complimentary prerequisite programs.
Blue Jays third in JCHS Invitational – retiring coach honored
The Junction City Blue Jay wrestling team scored 172 points to finish third in their own invitational at the Shenk Gym on Saturday. Kapaun Mt. Carmel captured first place with 181 points and Lawrence Free State finished second with 180. There were 15 teams in the tournament.
Blue Jay coach Bob Laster said he was happy with the Junction City finish. For the Blue Jays C.J. Neuman won the championship at 152 pounds, Terrance Adeleye was second at 195 and Matthew Whitten second at 138 pounds.
It was senior day for the Blue Jays, and Coach Laster was recognized before the beginning of the championship finals. He is retiring after the current season after 35 years of coaching in the program, 32 as head coach. “I’m a little sad and a little happy. Both current and former Blue Jay wrestlers joined Laster on the mat during the recognition ceremony. “This is what wrestling’s been about for me the whole time. It’s always been about relationships, and trying to build relationships with kids. That’s pretty much my total philosophy.”
Laster enjoyed his time with all the wrestlers, past and present. “Yeah, it was a little said, but also a little happy to see how much people care about you. And they were coming back to show me that so I was real happy about that.”
