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By the Corps of Engineers JUNCTION CITY, Kan. — The Kansas City District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has recognized a Geary County sheriff’s deputy and a Fort Riley Army soldier for heroism in Junction City, Kan. At the Geary County sheriff’s office, Milford Lake Park Manager Ken Wenger presented two ‘Act of Heroism’ awards to Pfc. Chance Harriss, stationed at Fort Riley, Kan., and from Sacramento, Calif., and Deputy Rick Parsons, from Junction City.
On 29 April 2018, Chance Harriss and Deputy Rick Parsons demonstrated heroic effort at Milford Lake in Kansas. Mr. Harriss reacted quickly and assisted in helping two children whose float drifted from a cove into the main body of the lake. The unsolicited and benevolent actions displayed potentially saved the lives of these children visiting Milford Lake. Mr. Harriss’ and Deputy Parsons’ actions are in keeping with the spirit of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers safety first and caring for the recreation public. Ninety percent of the people who drown in Corps lakes are not wearing a lifejacket and these two young girls, 8 and 13 years old, were not. They were riding a flimsy raft that got carried out into the wide portion of the lake with the water at 55 degrees and steady winds of 12 miles per hour and gusts up to 25 miles per hour. “I think they potentially saved these young girls’ lives by noticing their dangerous situation and rallying to get help to them,” said Wenger.
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Category: Local
Register to Vote
Geary County Clerk Rebecca Nordyke has announced that her office will be open until 6:30 p.m. Monday and Tuesday evenings to assist citizens in registering to vote.
Tuesday is the last day you can register prior to the general election on November 6th.
You should re-register if you have moved or changed your name. If you are not certain whether you are registered correctly, contact the County Clerk’s office at 785-238-3912 or check on line at www.voteks.org. Choose the “what is my registration status, polling place and ballot” icon.
Four-H Award Night
The 4-H / Senior Center provided the backdrop Sunday for the annual Geary County 4-H Awards Night. The event culminates a year of hard work by 4-H members and support from the community.
The Outstanding 4-H Family of the year was the John and Phyllis Boller family. Phyllis said she and John were 4-H members when they were young, and that was going to be a part of growing up for their son, Calen. The award meant a lot to this family, explained Phyllis. ” We wouldn’t be involved with the community as much without 4-H and it is just an excellent organization to get kids out there, and really be out in the community, helping in the community, and it really does support leadership.”
Mason Muto and Lauren Moon were named the Outstanding Boy and Girl Award recipients.
Mason is a member of the Humboldt 4-H Club, saying 4-H has brought him close with the community and taught him a lot about leadership. He plans to attend Wichita State University in the future to study aerospace engineering.
Lauren said the award means a lot. “I love 4-H. 4-H has given me so much and it’s just awesome that I got recognized for it tonight. She plans to attend Emporia State University to study biology education.
Nellie Smith was recognized with a 4-H Appreciation Award for purchasing one or more 4-H projects each year at the fair. In 2013 she began donating funds to the 4-H Foundation for the Ray and Nellie Smith Scholarship. So far that has totaled $11,000.
Numerous other awards were presented including the Fair Trophy to the Clarks Creek 4-H Club, the Herdsman Trophy to the Lyon Creek 4-H Club, Geary County Outstanding 4-H Project Leader to Jacque Shane, 2017-18 4-H Ambassadors including Lindsey Ascher, Kacey Butler, Rylie Ellis, Lauren Moon, Mason Musto, Calen Boller, Kaitlyn Butler, Cody Haycook, Macie Muto and Jada Nabus. The I Dare You Award went to Lindsey Ascher and Aleeya Williams, the Outstanding Reporter Notebook to Josie Strauss of the Lyon Creek 4-H Club, and the Rob Smith Citizenship Award to Tava Gustafson.
Army Reserve Unit Members Involved in Accident
The Geary County Sheriff’s Department sent Deputies to the 10000 block of Old Highway 77 at 9:25 p.m. Saturday for a single vehicle accident. An Army reserve unit were traveling in an LMTV wheeled vehicle that went off the roadway. Eight people were injured and transported to hospitals. The Sheriff’s Department indicated the injuries were not believed to be life threatening.
They reported that the military vehicle was traveling westbound on Vinton School Road, failed to stop at a stop sign, and ended up in a tree line. There was no property damage.
Sheriff’s Deputies Respond to Early Morning Multi-vehicle Accident
The Geary County Sheriff’s Department has reported that Deputies responded to U.S. 77 and Rucker Road at 5:48 a.m. Monday for a four-vehicle non-injury accident.
Joseph Towey, Burdick, was driving a Ford Focus, Fernando Soto, Junction City a Honda Civic, and Charles Davis, Junction CIty, a Ford Mustang. All three were stopped at a red light. Dakota Logan, Junction City, was driving a Chevrolet Silverado when that vehicle hit the rear end of the vehicle driven by Davis, causing all three vehicles to rear end one another.
Monday Weather Forecast
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High
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45° | Sunny. Highs in the mid 40s. Northwest winds 5 to 10 mph. |
First Snowfall of the Season
Geary County experienced the first snow of this fall – winter season Sunday night. Extension Agent Chuck Otte reported that two inches of snow fell. Otte said is it the earliest snowfall on record? Probably not, but it is an early snowfall.
A coat of wet snow blanketed cars and lawns, but no major problems were reported by police dispatch.
Central National Bank Fundraisers will Support United Way
The Central National Bank staff will host a Biscuit & Gravy Feed breakfast on Wednesday, October 17th in the basement of the Main Bank at 8th and Washington in Junction City. The time will be 7:30 a.m. until 9 a.m.
The cost will be $3 for one biscuit and $5 for two. Juice and coffee will be provided.
If you’re in a hurry you can get it to go. All proceeds will benefit the Junction City / Geary County United Way.
The Central National Bank will also host a Cinnamon Roll / Chili Feed from 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Wednesday, October 24th and a Potato Bar on Wednesday, November 7th from 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the same Main Bank basement location. Proceeds from those events will also support the Junction City / Geary County United Way.
Police investigate report of human remains found in Riley County
RILEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating the discovery of human remains in Riley County.
Just after 3 p.m. Saturday, the Riley County Police Department received a call from a citizen reporting the discovery of possible human remains in the 300 block of North Park Road in Ogden, according to a media release.
When officers arrived on scene, they began the initial investigation and confirmed the remains are human.
The identity of the deceased is not known at this time. This is an active investigation. Further information is not available.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Riley County Police Department.
Retired School Personnel Updated on New Library Project
The new Dorothy Bramlage Public Library project is moving forward. Members of the Junction City Area Retired School Personnel received an update from Dr. Mary Devin and Library Director Susan Moyer this week.
The goal is to raise funds from the private sector and not use public money to build a new library.
The current 35-year old facility consists of 14,000 square feet serving a population of 37,000 people. That can be compared to the Abilene Public Library, which serves 7,000 people with 19,000 square feet and the Atchison Public Library which serves 11,000 people with 17,000 square feet. The proposed project will make the Dorothy Bramlage Public Library more proportionate to the size of its service population and more in tune with the needs and uses of today’s libraries as venues for community gatherings and activities. The new building will nearly double the library’s size from 14,000 square feet to 26,000 square feet and will include more accessible technology, larger children and youth areas, additional meeting space and more rooms for collaboration and additional space for library holdings and library staff.
The cost to build the new facility has been estimated at $7 million. FUnding for the project will come from a variety of sources ranging from a community capital campaign to national foundations, federal grants, and other federal funding sources.
To volunteer to help with the campaign contact Susan Moyer at the Dorothy Bramlage Public Library by calling 238-4311.