MARSHALL COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a robbery and have two suspects in custody.

Just after 11:30a.m. Wednesday, authorities in Nebraska notified the Marshall County Sheriff’s office they were southbound on U.S. 77 in pursuit of a vehicle. The occupants were allegedly involved in a Beatrice, NE., robbery, according to a media release.

As the suspects approached State Line Road, a Marshall Co. deputy fired shots at the car’s tire, disabling the vehicle and ending the chase at the Nebraska state line, according to the release.

Nebraska authorities took the two suspects Jonathan F. Klein and Wesley Okeefe into custody. There were no injuries reported.

Klein is being held for Robbery-Business-Gun, Use of A Weapon To Commit A Felony, Possession Of Weapon, Willful Reckless Driving, Driving Under Suspension and Possession Of Deadly Weapon During The Commission Of A Felony. Okeefe is being held for Theft By Unlawful Taking (500-1500) and Fugitive From Justice, according to the sheriff’s department.

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation is reviewing the incident, according to the Marshall Co. Sheriff’s Office.

MANHATTAN, Kan. — Five agricultural education programs were honored for 100 years of excellence within vocational and agricultural education on Wednesday during the opening session of the 90th Kansas FFA Convention, May 30-June 1, 2018, on the Kansas State University campus.

The Arkansas City FFA, Chapman FFA, Fort Scott FFA, Garden City FFA, and Tonganoxie FFA chapters have reached the milestone having continuous curricula offered within the school districts to enhance career and technical education in the state of Kansas. “It’s a huge opportunity to be able to take a unique look back on what FFA was before it became what it is now,” said Elizabeth Unruh of Garden City. “The way ag education programs and FFA shaped lives and continues to shape lives is special to watch and experience.”

The Smith-Hughes Act was established in 1917 and six Kansas communities made the decision to support vocational education — specifically, instruction in agriculture, development of career-ready skills, and leadership opportunities. These communities were approved for federal and state aid under the new Act, and Kansas established its first set of six agricultural education programs, five of which are still active programs today.

Corbin Liermann from Arkansas City said that being recognized for 100 years as a program “puts a lot of pressure on us as a chapter to uphold the legacy that our previous leaders and members have established.” Austin Becker, also from Arkansas City, quickly added that “We are willing to accept the challenge to uphold that legacy.”

Chapters can only be chartered in schools where systematic instruction in agriculture education is offered. To receive their charter, each chapter must submit a letter of application, a list of their members and officers, a copy of the proposed local chapter constitution and bylaws, a copy of their program of activities, as well as have paid current district, state and national dues.

High

91°

Partly sunny with a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms in the morning, then sunny in the afternoon. Highs in the lower 90s. South winds 5 to 10 mph shifting to the southeast in the afternoon.

Junction City police have reported the discovery of a body Monday afternoon in between two buildings in the area of 140 East 2nd Street. The body was that of a white female between 5’8 and 5’9 in heighh.

The body was transported to the Shawnee County Coroner’s Office in Topeka. Police Captain Trish Giordano said at this time there is no cause or time of death and no estimate as to the age of the deceased. She was wearing shorts that were dark in color and “Pali Hawaii” flip flops identical to the picture below. At this time police are still unable to positively identify this subject and are asking for the public’s assistance.

If anyone has information on the identity of this female contact the JCPD at 785-762-5912, their TIPS line at 785-762-8477 or leave a webtip at Gearycrimestoppers.com. You can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward.

 

Rotary Club officials met with Junction City officials on Wednesday to mark the site for restored Grand Army of the Republic plaques that will be located in Heritage Park near  the monument at Sixth and Washington.

A major training exercise – named “Gauntlet” – kicks off this week at Fort
Riley and runs through most of June.  More than 1,800 Soldiers will
participate in this latest round of training.

Gauntlet is part of the 1st Infantry Division commander’s Combat Training
Center certification program.  The field training and fire-coordination
exercise is designed to test command and control at all levels in field
conditions and prove the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team’s readiness
throughout its formation.  To do this, Soldiers will conduct combined-arms
breaches, decisive action in an urban environment, joint force integration
and other scenarios.

The surrounding communities can expect to hear training noise now through
June 19 at various times during the day and night, from small-arms fire to
artillery and demolitions.  The training will also involve the 1st Combat
Aviation Brigade and numerous National Guard and Army Reserve units.

The thunderstorms that moved through Geary County Tuesday evening brought some much needed precipitation.

Geary County Extension Agent Chuck Otte tracks the weather totals. He has reported that the rainfall total Tuesday was one and 35-hundredths of an inch.  It brings the total received for the month to three and 46-hundredths of an inch. That’s below the average of four and 79-hundredths of an inch.

Delivering Change of Junction City / Geary County have announced that they will be changing their branding and marketing from Delivering Change: Healthy Moms-Healthy Babies to Delivering Change: Healthy Families – Healthy Communities.

Jill Nelson, Program Coordinator, stated that the new name and brand better reflects the work that Delivering Change is doing now. “We began with a focus on moms and babies, but we have expanded so much further over the past six years. We now include an emphasis on fatherhood and early childhood developmental screening and school readiness. We wanted to ensure that our name reflected this shift. It really is about healthy families making a healthy community.”

The Delivering Change rebranding is the result of being a part of improvement projects in the community ranging from the Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems / KIDOS 2.0 project which is focused on outreach and awareness around childhood developmental screening and health, and the Live Well Geary County Blue Cross and Blue Shield Pathways to a Healthy Kansas Grant funding which focuses on many cross cutting Delivering Change issues such as tobacco cessation, healthy eating and active lifestyles.”

In 2011 statistics came to light regarding the health of babies born to Geary County mothers. The Geary County Perinatal coalition was formed to take a closer look at the issues surrounding these births. From this coalition came the Delivering Change: Healthy Families – Healthy Communities project, a four-pronged approach to improving community health and well being. Delivering Change aims include improving the health of women during their childbearing years including prenatal health, to promote breastfeeding, to improve the health of infants and children, and to engage, educate and empower fathers.