The Geary County Commission has authorized the annual longevity pay for county employees. Chairman Charles Stimatze noted the bi-weekly payroll was up because of that.
Stimatze reported that the amount totaled $42,000.
Category: Local
Largest Community Band Ever
The Junction City Community Band has been joined by 25 members of the 1st Infantry Division Band.
According to Band Director Vic Wong that will make this the largest community band ever in the city. There will be a total of 77 members this summer.
The first practice for the band will be May 29th from 6:30 – 9 p.m.
KSU senior remains in ICU after fatal boat crash
RILEY COUNTY —The sister of a Kansas State student critically injured in a fatal Missouri boat crash May 19 is asking the public for help.
Twenty-one year old Ashley Lamb of Olathe was flown to a Springfield hospital after the 2a.m. crash that killed three others.
According to the GoFundMe page, Lamb, a senior at Kansas State University, is in the hospital’s ICU facing a long road to recovery.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol arrested Hayden Frazier, 22, of Overland Park, Saturday on three preliminary charges of boating while intoxicated in connection with the crash.
The three victims who were killed are 23-year-old Joseph LeMark, of Overland Park; 24-year-old Daniel Lewis, of Overland Park; and 21-year-old Hailey Hochanadel, of Olathe, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
Board of Education Approves the Schematic Design for the New JCHS
The Geary USD 475 Board of Education has voted 5-0 to approve the schematic design and the authorization to proceed with construction plans for the new Junction City High School.
The Board vote followed a full presentation by district staff and staff members at Junction City High School that touched on subjects ranging from the history of the academy structure at JCHS to programs, design timeline and redesign vision for the school.
Board member Rina Neal expressed her appreciation to the staff for putting together the presentation. “It was long overdue. They really did a good job of explaining how we got to this point. So talking about the history of the academy structure, and why we have gone about that, and how we are trend setters and role models in the state. I think that is good for the public to know and understand, and the direction we are going.”
Board member Sara Talley felt the Board wanted a lot of clarification on the new school project. “I think
that was offered for us this evening. And I think that’s a good thing. We definitely want to be on top of the types of decisions that we make, and the clarification that was afforded us by the high school allowed us to be able to have some questions answered. I think we were able to also offer the public some more information.”
JCHS Principal Melissa Sharp said the staff gave the Board background on the academy timeline and bond timeline, and that the staff has been working on this project for awhile, ” and just understanding what goes on between the walls of Junction City High School every day.” By the end of the meeting it appeared those in attendance were all on the same page on understanding the project and where it’s heading.
Architect Troy Hertel said the design of the new school will now be taken a lot further into development. “Over the summer months we want to spend that time to really take this schematic design, take it into what we call design development, and really enhance the design and come back to them in the fall and review this again with them.”
The new Junction City High School project is moving forward.
New Executive Director of Special Education Announced
Posted By: USD 475
JUNCTION CITY, KAN. – Geary County Schools USD 475 announced this week that, Mr. Nathan Downs has accepted the position of Executive Director of Special Education which became open following the resignation of former Executive Director, Rebekah Helget.
Downs has been with USD 475 as the Special Education Coordinator at Junction City High School for the past year. Prior to that, he served as a School Psychologist in the Manhattan-Ogden Schools and for the USD 320 Special Services Cooperative. Downs was also a Crisis Case Manager at the Crawford County Community Mental Health Center prior to working in education.
Nathan Downs graduated from Pittsburg State University with a Psychology degree before completing his EdS in School Psychology. He completed a Masters in Educational Leadership at Kansas State University.
For inquiries please contact Matthew Droge, Executive Director of Marketing and Media Relations for Geary County Schools USD 475.
Please follow and like us:
UPDATE: Kan. man arrested for boat crash that killed 3; KSU student hospitalized
CAMDEN, Mo. (AP) — Authorities allege a Kansas man was intoxicated when the boat he was operating struck a rock bluff on the Lake of the Ozarks in central Missouri, killing three friends.
Hayden Frazier, 22, of Overland Park, was released from jail Sunday morning. He was arrested Saturday on three preliminary charges of boating while intoxicated involving a death of another person. It wasn’t immediately clear when formal charges will be filed.
The Missouri Highway Patrol on Sunday identified says the three victims who were killed: 23-year-old Joseph LeMark, of Overland Park; 24-year-old Daniel Lewis, of Overland Park; and 21-year-old Hailey Hochanadel, of Olathe.
Authorities say 21-year-old Ashley Lamb, of Olathe, was in serious condition after being flown to a Springfield, Missouri, hospital. She is a student at Kansas State, according to the University Student Directory.
The crash happened before 2 a.m. Saturday, throwing three people into the water, authorities said. All five people involved were friends who graduated from high school in Olathe.
Accident reports say Frazier, Hochanadel and LeMark were ejected into the water in the crash that happened before 2 a.m. Saturday. State Patrol Sgt. Scott White said Frazier climbed back aboard and paddled the 1991 Regal Runabout across the channel to a dock at Simmons Point.
A neighbor called to report the incident.
Plan Ahead for Fall
|
First, there may be no financial benefit for turning gas service off during the summer months since customers will have to pay about the same amount in reconnection fees when the weather turns cold. By keeping natural gas service on throughout the summer, customers avoid having to pay reconnection fees in the fall. Second, furnaces will be ready to turn on as soon as the temperatures drop, meaning no unexpected nights without heat. Plus, customers who keep their service connected throughout the year do not have to worry about scheduling a service appointment during a busy time of the year or spending time away from work to be at home when their service is reconnected in the fall. “Our mission of delivering natural gas for a better tomorrow includes making things easy for our customers,” said Kansas Gas Service Vice President of Operations Dennis Okenfuss. “That’s why we’re encouraging customers to keep their gas on throughout the summer months. It’s cost-effective, it eliminates the need for a service appointment and it ensures that our customers will have heat when they need it.” Additionally, customers who keep their service on throughout the year can participate in our Average Payment Plan. This program reduces fluctuations of monthly natural gas bills by spreading the costs out throughout the year. Each bill is based on a 12-month rolling average, which means customers will pay about the same amount each month, regardless of usage, to make budgeting and planning easier. Find more information about Average Payment Plan at www.kansasgasservice.com.
|
Annual seat belt enforcement campaign underway in Kansas
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — If you don’t use your seat belt, this might be a good week to start.
Monday is the start of the annual statewide law enforcement campaign “Click It or Ticket,” which runs through June 3. At least 160 law enforcement agencies will be emphasizing enforcement of the seat belt and child restraint laws.
Kansas law requires everyone 8 or older to be buckled in when riding in most vehicles. Children under age 4 must be in an approved child safety seat and those 4 to 7 must be in a booster seat until they are taller than 4-foot-9 or heavier than 80 pounds.
Fines for violating the laws range from $30 to $168.
The Kansas Department of Transportation reports nearly half of the 359 people killed in traffic accidents last year weren’t wearing seat belts.
329 Students Graduate from JCHS
Senior Class President Leah Ervin says when she thinks of her life she thinks of a puzzle.
Ervin said the puzzle of her life is currently full of Junction City High School and her classmates. While that puzzle includes pieces that have broken her heart, the pieces comprising her high school experience seem to outweigh everything. “You all have picked me up when I was down, made me laugh when I felt it was impossible and encouraged me to no end. You all are the reason that I still have hope for what it is yet come, and you all are the reason that I’d like to see the completion of my puzzle.”
Ervin spoke during commencement at Junction City High School Saturday night. She told her classmates the pieces come in all shapes and sizes, some of the pieces in their puzzle will be lost and others will be broken but some “will seemingly be perfect.” Ervin added their puzzles have a lifetime of pieces to be added, removed, shifted and changed. ” but the ultimate picture can be whatever you want.”
Other speakers included fellow senior class member Xavier Cason, government and psychology teacher Reina Cruz, and Board of Education President Tom Brungardt. Associate Superintendent of Schools Dr. Beth Hudson presented the class, and members of the Board of Education presented diplomas to the students as they crossed the commencement stage.
The ceremony had to be moved indoors to the Shenk Gym due to the threat of severe weather that existed on Saturday. The overflow audience in attendance for commencement at JCHS was seated in the Settles Auditorium where they were able to view the ceremony on a big screen.
The Class of 2018 has now earned more than $1.4 million in scholarships.
Monday Weather Forecast
|
High
|
80° | Warmer. Mostly cloudy in the morning then clearing. patchy fog in the morning. Highs around 80. Northwest winds 5 to 10 mph shifting to the southwest in the afternoon. |