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Category: Local

Earthquakes were the Focus of Conversation

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Local officials in Geary County ranging from emergency management to law enforcement met with Rick Miller of the Kansas Geological Survey on Tuesday in Junction City.

Geary County Emergency Management Director Garry Berges said they learned that since 2015 a total of 12 all-magnitude earthquakes have occurred in Geary County. “With only four of those in that three-year time being a 2.5 or greater.” Berges said a 2.5 magnitude means the earthquake can be felt indoors but is just a little vibration. He compared it to a heavy truck traveling past your home.

Berges said in the future more small earthquakes of that type are expected. “He said a lot of these that we are getting up here are sympathetic earthquakes because of the earthquakes that are down in the Oklahoma – southern Kansas.” Berges added little shifts occur in the ground in the Geary County and that’s what has been felt.

Two earthquakes of magnitude 2.7 and 2.6 occurred in Geary County in September.

Geary Community Hospital and Junction City Blue Jays to Team Up for Breast Cancer Awareness Night

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Geary Community Hospital and Junction City High School are teaming up to host a breast cancer awareness “Pink Out” night at Al Simpler Stadium during the Junction City – Emporia football game on Friday, October 19th.

This is the first year the hospital has sponsored a game to raise awareness of breast cancer. In addition to the Junction City fans wearing pink, the football team will be wearing pink socks, coaches pink hats, the band drum majors pink plumes, the color guard will have pink flags and the cheerleaders will be waving pink pom-poms. All those attending the game are encouraged to join in the “Pink Out” and wear pink in some fashion.

Delivering Change and Health Department will Team Up

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The infant mortality rate for Geary County was rated at 5.7 for 2017, up just slightly from 5.4. Both numbers are significantly better than the 10.4 rate in 2011 when Geary County had one of the highest rates in the state.

Jill Nelson, Program Coordinator for Delivering Change, noted they will keep working at this effort. “I think we’re going to review our cases and see what our local data is telling us, making sure that we are adjusting what we know is happening here on the local level. ” They will continue to raise awareness. “Making sure that women are getting into care since they have positive pregnancy tests, that they’re actually healthy before they even think about becoming pregnant, and then continuing to engage in prenatal care throughout their pregnancy.”

This month Delivering Change and the Geary County Health Department are partnering to shine a light on this topic. Free pink and blue light bulbs are available at the Health Department and Delivering Change offices. Families are encouraged to switch out a porch light for a pink or blue light in remembrance of lost pregnancies and babies gone too soon, and in support of the Wave of Light on October 15th.

In the Wave of Light on the 15th participants in countries around the world will light a candle at 7 p.m. local time, keeping the candles lit for at least an hour. The goal is for the Wave of Light to rise and propagate around the world for the whole day.

This week the Junction City Commission and Geary County Commission have adopted proclamations declaring October as National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month in the city and county.

Trial Begins in Federal Child Porn Case

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TOPEKA, KAN. – The Office of U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister has announced that a federal jury trial begins today for a Morris County man charged with downloading child pornography from the internet, U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister said.

Wesley Wagner, 54, White City, Kan., is charged with one count of receiving child pornography and one count of possessing child pornography. According to court documents, the FBI seized a server belonging to a now-defunct website called Playpen that provided users access to child pornography. The FBI used computer forensics to identify the site’s users, including the defendant. Based on that information, the FBI obtained a warrant to search the defendant’s home.

If convicted, the defendant faces a penalty of not less than five years and not more than 20 years in federal prison on the charge of receiving child pornography, and up to 10 years on possession charge.

The FBI investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Kenney is prosecuting.

K-9 Teams Work on Certification in Junction City

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The Heart of American Police Dog Association annual K-9 certification is being held in Junction City this week.

There are 30-35 K-9 teams from across Kansas and Iowa in Junction City completing their certification.  Geary County Sheriff Tony Wolf informed the county commission if a substantial number of police vehicles are in Junction City it is because of this event.

97th Military Police battalion welcomes new commanding officer

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Fort Riley’s 97th Military Police battalion will welcome a new commanding officer during a change of command ceremony Thursday, Oct. 4 at 10 a.m. at Cavalry Parade Field.

Lt. Col. Joshua L. Campbell is set to take the reins of the battalion from Lt. Col. Ann Meredith, who has commanded the unit since October 2016. Meredith will continue serving the U.S. Army at Fort Knox. Campbell currently serves as Military Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of the
Army (Installations, Energy & Environment).

Col. Richard J. Ball, Commander, 89th Military Police brigade, Fort Hood, Texas, is scheduled to officiate the ceremony.

Lee Elementary School in Manhattan Named National Blue Ribbon School

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Lee Elementary School in Manhattan is among six Kansas schools designated 2018 National Blue Ribbon Schools, U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos announced on Monday.

The award is based on a school’s overall academic excellence or progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups, according to the U. S. Department of Education in Washington D.C.

A total of 349 schools across the country were designated as 2018 National Blue Ribbon Schools, the Department of Education said. The other Kansas schools receiving he designation were Hillcrest Elementary School of Lawrence Unified School District 497, Magdalen Catholic School in Wichita, Marion Elementary School in Marion-Florence USD 408, Sterling Grade School in Sterling USD 376, and Valley Heights Elementary School, Valley Heights USD 498.

The Blue Ribbon program recognizes public and private elementary, middle and high schools in of two performance categories: Exemplary High Performing and Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing.

In the high-performing category, schools are recognized for being among the state’s highest-performing schools as measured by state assessments or nationally normed tests. Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing Schools are among the state’s highest performing schools in closing achievement gaps between a school’s subgroups and all students during the past five years.

All six Kansas schools are being recognized in the Exemplary High Performing category.

The U.S. Department of Education will formally recognize the schools at an awards ceremony November 7-8 in Washington D.C.

USD 475 Board of Education Approves Promotional Flyer for New Superintendent Search

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The Devin Center, site of the Monday Board of Education meeting

The USD 475 Board of Education voted 6-0 Monday evening to approve the promotional flyer that will be listed on multiple web sites as the school district searches for a new superintendent of schools.

Tom Brungardt, BOE President, said the flyer explains what the school district is searching for in a superintendent. “Probably the number one thing that all the ( focus ) groups said was we want somebody who is a strong communicator, someone who can listen and yet once a decision is made stick with it.” Other desired characteristics include leadership skills, someone who can be the voice of the district to the community and is visible.

The flyer gives details on the selection process, tells the job requirements, the salary range that would be offered, and general information about the school district.

The Board wants to have a new superintendent selected by the winter break this year, although that person might now start working in the district until next summer. The district is seeking a superintendent following the resignation of Dr. Corbin Witt, who stepped down for health related reasons.

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