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Category: Local

Public Gives Their Input on New Superintendent Search

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Consultant Brenda Dietrich at Junction City Middle School Wednesday evening.

The new superintendent of schools in Geary USD 475 needs to have a strategic plan, needs to become acquainted with community leaders and it would be good to see someone hired with experience with special education. Those were some of the ideas submitted by the public Wednesday night to consultants who are spearheading the search for a new superintendent.

Brenda Dietrich, a consultant with Ray & Associates, said over the past two days the consultants had met with 17 different constituent groups. “What we’re hearing are some common themes about the next superintendent, the qualities and characteristics that folks want to see in that person. Probably first and foremost is some who is very visible and engaged in the community and in the schools and is a strong leader.” Dietrich added they want that leader to give vision and direction to the district, set high standards, be collaborative and approachable and has the best interests of the student in mind.

The importance for the new superintendent to become acquainted with the leadership at Fort RIley, and for the superintendent to be seen in the district’s buildings were two other key point by members of the audience attending the Wednesday night session at Junction City Middle School.

Dietrich said the consultants will compile all the information they have received the past two days and from an online survey the public has been taking, and bring that back to the Board of Education on October 1st “The application opens on October 2nd and will be open for 30 days.” They will return to the Board on November 18th with a pool of candidates for them to consider to interview.”

The goal is for the Board to hire a new superintendent by the winter break of this school year. It’s possible the new superintendent might not start working in the district immediately, but could begin on July 1st, 2019.

 

 

MAC Breakfast September 27th

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The next Military Affairs Breakfast in Junction City will be Thursday, September 27th at the Courtyard by Marriott Convention Center. Check-in begins at 7 a.m. and the breakfast runs from 7:30 – 9 a.m.

The guest speaker will be Dr. Ferrell Miller. He will discuss the topic “Historical Connections: Junction City and Fort Riley.”

Cost to attend is $12 for non-military and $10 for active military.

RSVP to Sean Flanagan at the Chamber of Commerce or online no later than 5 p.m. Friday, September 21st.

Job Fair Scheduled Thursday

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The Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southeast will host a job fair at the Courtyard by Marriott Convention Center in Junction City Thursday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

NAVFAC Southeast manages Navy installations and military construction throughout the southeastern United States. They are seeking people to join their workforce. There are more than 200 vacancies.

According to a news release NAVFAC is in this area because of programs at the universities and technical schools that provide students this area. They want to meet with local students, alumni, veterans and other qualified candidates in the area to discuss career opportunities.

 

Red Cross Blood Drive Scheduled Monday and Tuesday

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The Red Cross will sponsor a Junction City Community blood drive Monday and Tuesday, September 17th and 18th at the Municipal Building.

The hours on Monday will be 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Call 1-800-RED-CROSS to make an appointment or visit redcrossblood.org and enter: JunctionCity to schedule an appointment.

8th Judicial District Nominating Commission seeks nominees for judge vacancy

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TOPEKA—The 8th Judicial District Nominating Commission is seeking nominations to fill a district judge vacancy in Geary County created by the January 1 retirement of Judge Maritza Segarra.
The 8th Judicial District is composed of Dickinson, Geary, Marion, and Morris counties.
Justice Marla Luckert, the Supreme Court departmental justice responsible for the 8th Judicial District, said individuals can apply or be nominated, but nominations must come on a nomination form and include the nominee’s signature.
A nominee for district judge must be:
  • at least 30 years old.
  • a lawyer admitted to practice in Kansas and engaged in the practice of law for at least five years,  whether as a lawyer, judge, or full-time teacher at an accredited law school.
  • a resident of the judicial district at the time of taking office and while holding office.
Nominations must be accompanied by a nomination form available from the court administrator of the 8th Judicial District in Junction City; the clerks of the district court in Dickinson, Geary, Marion, or Morris counties; or the Kansas judicial branch website at www.kscourts.org  under What’s New.
One original and nine copies of the completed nomination form and supporting letters must be submitted by noon October 10, 2018, to:
Edwin Wheeler Jr., commission secretary
801 N. Washington, Suite D
Junction City, KS 66441
The nominating commission will convene to interview nominees at 9 a.m. October 29 in the Geary County Courthouse, 138 E. Eighth, Junction City. Interviews are open to the public.
The commission will select from three to five nominees whose names will be submitted to the governor to fill the position according to statutory qualification and residency requirements. If there are not three nominees who reside in the district who are deemed qualified by the commission, the commission may consider nominees who reside outside the judicial district. The governor has 60 days after receiving the names to decide whom to appoint.
After serving one year in office, the new judge must stand for a retention vote in the next general election to remain in the position. If retained, the incumbent will serve a four-year term.
The 8th Judicial District Nominating Commission consists of Luckert as the nonvoting chair; Darrel Bryant, Council Grove; Carolyn Gaston, Milford; Kevin Harris, Abilene; James Hefley, Hillsboro; Arvid Jacobson, Junction City; Darrell Miller, Dwight; Douglas Thompson, Abilene; and Wheeler, Marion.
State of Kansas Office of Judicial Administration

 

 

The First National Bank of Hope Makes Financial Literacy Program Free for Local Classrooms

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Some area students will get a free education in how to manage their money. The First National Bank of Hope is working with Banzai, a national award-winning financial literacy program, to make the curriculum available to seven schools in the Hope area free.

“Banzai is a web-based financial literacy program. Kids have their own bank accounts, and they work through assignments that are based on real life,” Morgan Vandagriff, co-founder of Banzai, said. “But because The First National Bank of Hope is sponsoring it, local schools get it for free. More than ever it’s important that kids develop sound financial skills to prepare them for the real world. The First National Bank of Hope realizes that, and they’re doing something about it.”

Banzai is an interactive, online program which aligns with state curriculum requirements for personal finance education. It has become the largest program of its kind, servicing more than 40,000 teachers an is available in all 50 states.

“We are happy to have found a program that will help students learn how to budget and understand the financial responsibility that comes with growing up,” said Danielle Andrew, Vice President of the First National Bank of Hope.

The First National Bank of Hope has offered time, money, industry experience, and a variety of bank resources to help local schools teach personal finance in the classroom. Students using the program are exposed to real-life scenarios where they learn to pay bills and balance a budget — but it’s not always easy. Students must learn to manage unexpected expenses such as parking tickets, interest charges and overdraft fees. The educational program also introduces students to auto loans, bank statements entertainment costs, savings and more.

“Too often students get out of school and they just aren’t ready for the financial roller coasters life can give us,” Vandagriff said. “Banzai teaches students to navigate those twists and turns and come out on top. We’re excited to work with The First National Bank of Hope to improve financial literacy in local schools.”

Sen. Moran Delivers 178th Landon Lecture at Kansas State University

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MANHATTAN, Kan. – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) today delivered the 178th Landon Lecture, “Answering the Call: Serving a global society post 9/11,” at Kansas State University on the 17th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

 

“It was an honor to deliver a Landon Lecture at Kansas State University on the anniversary of the devastating September 11, 2001 attacks, and I’m grateful to President Myers and Dr. Flinchbaugh for the invitation and to all who attended today’s discussion,” said Sen. Moran. “May we never forget the way we united in the aftermath of those attacks and may we renew our commitment to respecting one another, to working together for the common good and to answering the call to serve.”

 

 

In his Lecture, Sen. Moran shared his story of September 11, 2001 and how that day not only broadened his perspective and shaped him as a legislator, but refocused us as a nation on the things that bind us together, rather than pull us apart.

 

To watch Sen. Moran’s full Landon Lecture, click here.

August 2018 Weather Summary

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For the first time since October 2017, the area experienced above normal precipitation. To make the situation even better, temperatures were slightly below normal. The last time this combination was experienced here was a year ago, August 2017. August is only the third month this year with below normal temperatures, the other two being February and April.
he average daily high for August was 86.2, 2.7 degrees below normal. The average overnight low was 67.7, 2.1 degrees above normal. This gave us a monthly mean temperature of 77.0 degrees, three tenths of a degree below normal. The highest temperature for August was 97 degrees on the 5th. The coolest temperature for the month was the morning low of 57 on the 28th. The hottest August on record was in 2000 when we had a monthly mean temperature of 85. The coldest August on record was in 1981 when we had a chilly mean temperature of 71.5. That should have been a harbinger of things to come when the morning of September 19, 1981 the growing season came to a very premature halt with a morning low of 31! There was one temperature record set in August. The overnight low of 76 on the 27th broke the record high low temperature for that date. The previous record was 75 set in 1956 and also reached in 1977 and 2014.
After good rains in late July early August started off dry. But beginning in mid August we started to receive very timely rainfalls. The timing of these rains couldn’t have been better. While the corn crop was damaged beyond help by then, the grain sorghum and soybean crops were at a very critical growth stage and the rains kept hopes high for a good fall crop harvest. Normal August rainfall is 3.96 inches. Milford Lake received 5.03 and Junction City received 5.11 inches. Even with these good August rains the area is still below normal. Normal through the end of August is 24.68 inches. Milford Lake has received January through August rainfall of 15.63 inches and Junction City 17.91 inches. The wettest August on record was in 2013 when 10.33 inches saturated the region. The driest August was in 1971 when no measurable precipitation fell.

September is a month of change. Fall officially starts on the evening of September 22nd. Temperatures start dropping with daytime highs going from 87 on the 1st to 75 on the 30th. Overnight lows slide from 63 at the start of the month to 49 by the end of the month. While being a rare occurrence, frost isn’t out of the question. However, the average first frost of fall doesn’t occur until October 19th but can be as late as early November! Rainfall also continues to decline as we head into our drier winter months. Average daily rainfall for September is 3.28 inches.

Geary County Extension Agent Chuck Otte     

County Working to Obtain New Election Equipment in 2019

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Geary County officials are working on obtaining new election voting machines for use beginning in 2019.

County Commission Chairman Charles Stimatze reported this week, “She’s working on doing an RFP for voting machines. Should be sent out shortly and will probably have the new voting equipment around the first of the year.”  County Clerk Rebecca Bossemeyer is working on this project.

UPDATE: Kansas officials back Trump plan for Manhattan’s biodefense lab

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MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Kansas officials are backing President Donald Trump’s plan to switch federal agency control of a biodefense laboratory complex under construction in the state.

Kansas legislative leaders hosting DHS Secretary Nielsen on Monday-photo courtesy Sen. Pat Roberts

The National Bio- and Agro-Defense Facility is currently controlled by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Federal and state officials say the $1.25 billion project in Manhattan will aid efforts to prepare for agro-terrorism and research how to protect the country’s food supply.

Trump this year proposed handing over operational control of the facility to the U.S. Department of Agriculture as part of his budget plan. The idea brought some concern, but federal officials and Kansas lawmakers on Monday supported the bureaucratic changeover.

Construction on the facility is about two-thirds complete. The facility is expected begin operating in 2022 or 2023.

 

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MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — The head of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security toured the National Agro-Defense Facility that is under construction in Manhattan.

Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen visited the facility Monday with a host of federal and state leaders. They include U.S. Sens. Pat Roberts and Jerry Moran, U.S. Reps. Roger Marshall and Kevin Yoder, Kansas Gov. Jeff Colyer and Kansas State President Richard Myers.

The $1.25 billion research facility, or NBAF, will study diseases that can be spread from animals to humans. The facility is expected to open in 2022.

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MANHATTAN – U.S. Senator Pat Roberts will host U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen on a tour of the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF), currently under construction, and of Kansas State University’s Bio Research Institute (BRI) next door.

Photo courtesy KSU

Roberts will be joined by U.S. Senator Jerry Moran, Representatives Roger Marshall and Kevin Yoder, and Kansas Governor Jeff Colyer.

The federal and state leaders will be joined by Kansas State University President Richard Myers.

Senator Roberts invited Secretary Nielsen to see NBAF firsthand to ensure the protection of plant and animal health remains a national security priority.

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