ONE Gas, Inc. has announced that it’s Kansas Gas Service division has filed a request with the Kansas Corporation Commission to increase its net base rates by $42.7 million. Since its last adjustment to base rates in January, 2017, Kansas Gas Service has invested approximately $179 million in its natural gas distribution system. The system stretches approximately 13,000 miles throughout Kansas and serves more than 636,000 customers in 360 communities including Junction City.

Pierce H. Norton II, ONE Gas president and chief executive officer said, “This filing reflects the investments in our infrastructure to upgrade our system and maintain the quality of service our customers have come to expect and deserve.”

If approved, the request would increase the typical residential customer’s monthly natural gas bill by approximately $5.67 or 10 percent.  Kansas Gas Service is already recovering $2.9 million from customers through the Gas System Reliability Surcharge, resulting in a total base rate increase of $45.6 million. Benefits of the corporate income tax cuts associated with the new federal legislation that went into effect earlier this year are also reflected in the company’s filing.

The portion of the bill associated with the cost of gas, which represented 42 percent of the average residential bill in 2017, is not impacted by this filing. The cost of gas continues to be passed through directly to the customer with no markup. Kansas Gas Service’s filing also includes a Revenue Normalization Adjustment that is designed to ensure that the company collects the amount of revenue set by the KCC from residential, general sales and small transport customers, regardless of customer usage.

In accordance with Kansas law, the KCC has 240 days to consider Kansas Gas Service’s filing. Customers will have an opportunity to comment during a public hearing and comment period. The date and location of the public hearing and comment period have not been established but will be announced and mailed to customers.

Fort Riley will bid farewell to current garrison commander Col. John Lawrence and welcome incoming commander Col. Stephen Shrader at a change of command ceremony July 13 at 10 a.m. The ceremony will take place at Ware Parade Field, 500 Huebner Road.

According to the Fort Riley Garrison Public Affairs Office, Col. Shrader’s previous assignment was director of the Combined Joint Operations Center, Resolute Support Afghanistan.

Col. Lawrence assumed command of U.S. Army Garrison Fort Riley in July 2016. He will be retiring after more than 34 years of military service.

The Junction City / Geary County Drug Operations Group, assisted by the Grandview Plaza Police Department and members of the Riley County Police Department, executed a search warrant at 209 Locust Street in Grandview Plaza. That followed a five-month long investigation into the alleged distribution of methamphetamine in the Junction City – Geary County area.

According to the JCPD news release Dereck Jeffery Williams. 24, Grandview Plaza, and Samantha Jean Caivano. 29, Grandview Plaza, were both arrested on suspicion of Unlawful Distribution of Methamphetamine within 1,000 feet of a school.

Williams was booked on a total bond of $575,557, including warrants from Junction City Municipal Court, Pottawatomie County and Riley County. Caivano was booked in on a $250,000 bond. Both were held at the Geary County Detention Center.

Authorities report that the Drug Operations Group seized methamphetamine, marijuana, two firearms ( one of which was allegedly stolen ), and drug paraphernalia.

The Junction City / Geary County Drug Operations Group is a joint task force composed of members of the Junction City Police Department, Geary County Sheriff’s Department and the Grandview Plaza Police Department.

There will be a delayy in the opening of the K-18 bridge over U.S. Highway 77 on the west side of Junction City.

KDOT announced earlier this week that Hamm Construction had notified them that the bridge would reopen Friday, and even though some work on the project would still be occurring, traffic would be able to move through the area.

The bridge did not reopen on Friday.

KDOT Area Engineer Dale Hershberger explained the reason was that several sub-contractors dd not finish their work. He added KDOT is hopeful the bridge can reopen on Monday, at the earliest.

Thirty days has been allotted for the additional work that will be completed while traffic is utilizing the bridge, so motorists are urged to be cautious.

UPDATE:

Necessary repairs were completed Friday night, correcting the problem. That information was provided by Food Vendor Coordinator Sam Niecymzk. There were no issues on Saturday.

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For the most part the opening night of Sundown Salute went well. But there was one concern that drew immediate attention.

Vendor Coordinator Sam Niecymzk reported that the bearings in the generator in the ice trailer burned out. “That’s our ice trailer. That supplies ice to all of our vendors, to our beer cooler, the stage crew, basically everybody here.” A repairman was called in to make repairs.

Niecymzk said the generator was running late Friday night and was rapidly cooling down, but he wasn’t sure what condition the ice would be in until Saturday morning.

Sundown Salute Committee Chairman Terry Heldstab said there were probably eight to ten people hauling ice for awhile in order to save it all, but he was optimistic everything would work out.

According to Niecymzk the ice company would have to bear the brunt of making repairs, and  if another ice trailer is needed the owner of the company indicated he would provide one.

RILEY COUNTY — Authorities are investigating the cause of a fire at a mobile home park in Manhattan.

Just after 3:30 p.m., fire crews responded to report of a shed fire at the Redbud Estates, 2500 Farm Bureau Road, according to a media release. The fire spread rapidly and two nearby homes also caught fire.

A family safely escaped one home. The other home was unoccupied.  A dog died in the fire.

One firefighter was treated heat exhaustion. Officials have not released the cause of the fire.