Rural firefighters converged on a rural location about seven miles east of Junction City Friday afternoon to battle a fast-moving fire that covered rural open land.
No one was injured and no structures were damaged.
Geary County Rural Fire Chief Garry Berges estimated that approximately 1,000 acres of grassland burned in the blaze which covered portions of Geary and Riley counties. Berges said firefighters got the call to respond to the Interstate 70 location where the blaze began near mile post 305 about 3:30 to 3:45 p.m. “Looks like somebody driving along probably discarded some smoking material out. It just started roaring straight north, all open ground aided by the wind. My first fire truck on scene said he was doing 35 mph across country and couldn’t keep up where the fire was.”
Berges noted Geary County Rural Fire responded with eight trucks, Riley County had eight or nine, the Fort Riley Fire Department two trucks and the Kansas Forestry Task Force based in Manhattan provided two trucks and a supervisor vehicle. Additional assistance came from the Grandview Plaza Fire Department and numerous farm producers who provided water to help battle the blaze.
—
Earlier about 10:30 Friday morning Geary County rural firefighters also responded to a small blaze near I-70 milepost 309 in the eastern part of the county where an estimated two to three acres burned. No one was injured there. Berges confirmed that blaze was put out quickly.
Junction City Police Chief Dan Breci says there will be discussions with the students at Junction City Middle School on Monday. Authorities also plan to visit with the students at the Freshman Success Academy and the Career Academy students of Junction City High School.
The talk will center around the recent arrest of seven students, six of them at the City Middle School, in connection with alleged threats at school or to a school.
Breci said on JCPD Captain Trish Giordano met with middle school personnel on Friday and informed them it’s time to talk to the students. Breci stated, “We’re going to meet with each class ( at City Middle School ) at 8, 8:30 and 9. And I think we’re hoping to do the same thing with the Freshman Success Academy and the high school.”
Breci called this situation a sad thing that could affect the rest of the students’ lives. “Parents have got to get it in their heads talking to their children that this is really serious stuff. So we hope that we can stop it come next week.”
—
The Junction City Police Department has reported the arrest of two more Junction City Middle School students on suspicion of Criminal Threat. Both were transported to the Juvenile Detention Center.
According to the JCPD the School Resource Officer was made aware of two students who were overheard making a threat to the school. After conducting an investigation both students were arrested.
Members of the police department and USD 475 met Friday on this reoccurring issue. Police said that the JCPD and USD 475 will maintain a close working partnership to address any safety concerns that may arise and will continue to keep the public informed.
The police Public Information Officer Trish Giordano noted these issues are not unique to Junction City. School districts around the United States are experiencing similar incidents. School safety is a top priority and they will work together with the community and school district to assist in maintaining a safe learning environment for the students.
In recent days six Junction City Middle School students have been arrested in connection with alleged threats to or at the school. Another 14-year old Fort Riley resident was arrested in connection with an alleged threat to the Freshman Success Academy in USD 475.
As part of an annual program, Fort Riley’s Environmental Office team will restock the final load of rainbow trout into Cameron Springs and Moon Lake March 6 at 6 a.m. The fish are from Crystal Lakes Hatchery in Ava, Missouri.
For the season, which began Nov. 1 and runs through April 15, more than 10,000 trout will have been stocked into the two lakes. The most recent delivery included about 300 pounds of trout raised at the Milford Fish Hatchery in Junction City, Kansas.
The overall program is possible with funding support from the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism’s Community Fisheries Assistance Program.
MANHATTAN — Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects on identity theft charges.
Just after 9:30 p.m. Thursday, police filed a report for forgery, criminal use of a financial card and unlawful acts on a computer that involved a credit card and purchases with Best Buy, Fay Taylor and Walmart, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.
The total financial loss is approximately $11,500.
Police arrested John Wassenberg, 35, and Kimberly Conlin, 40, both of Marysville.
They are being held on a $9,000 bond on requested charges of forgery, criminal use of a financial card. The items were later recovered, according to police.
There was a one vehicle accident on Eisenhower Drive just north of Homer’s Pond Friday morning.
Junction City police confirmed there was a live power line down on the roadway which necessitated blocking off traffic for a period of time. No one required transport to a hospital.
According to the Manhattan Fire Department at 4:43 on March 2nd, the Manhattan Fire Department was dispatched to 1805 Claflin Road, Wefald Hall KSU, for a report of a structure fire . Upon arrival, crews found a 7 story dormitory with nothing showing. Upon investigation, firefighters determined that a fire in a fourth floor dorm room had been extinguished by the building sprinkler system. Crews shut down the sprinkler system and performed salvage and overhaul of the room. Seventeen firefighters responded on six fire apparatus with the last units clearing at around 7:35. All occupants of the building were able to evacuate the building without injury.
Fire loss is estimated at $3500 to contents and $5000 to the structure. There was some additional damage due to water running between floors that is undetermined at this time. The owner is listed as Kansas State University. The fire cause was determined to be accidental due to a faulty fan.
This fire serves as an example of the importance of installing fire sprinklers in buildings where people sleep. This fire was quickly extinguished which reduced the risk of injury or death to sleeping occupants.
Kansas State University also issued a release on the fire and reported that students have been allowed back into their rooms following the fire. Twenty-four students are being relocated because of water damage to their rooms.
A university employee inspecting conditions after the fire slipped on some standing water and was injured.
Staff with the university’s Division of Student Life are onsite and available for students.
The Dickinson County Diabetes Support Group will meet on Tuesday, March 6th at 1 p.m. at Memorial Hospital Conference Room B. Jennifer Kirkpatrick. the new dietitian at Memorial Health System, is inviting the public to attend the event. Kirkpatrick has been a dietitian for 20 years.
The Dickinson County Diabetes Support Group is open to anyone with diabetes and family members of those with diabetes. The group meets the first Tuesday of each month.
March is National Nutrition Month. This year’s theme is “GO FURTHER with Food.”
When you are diabetic, one way to do that is by reducing added sugars in your diet. Sugar is found naturally in some foods and drinks, like fruit and milk, but it also added to many of them to give them a sweeter taste. Most Americans get too many calories from added sugars, leaving less room for more nutritious foods and drinks. That can immediately have a negative effect on your blood sugar. Over time that may affect your weight and health in other ways as well.
Governor Jeff Colyer signed a proclamation March 1 marking the week of March 5-9 as “Severe Weather Awareness Week” in Kansas. In attendance at the signing were Maj. Gen. Lee Tafanelli, the adjutant general and director of the Kansas Division of Emergency Management, as well as members of the Kansas Division of Emergency Management, NOAA NWS Storm Prediction Center, Kansas Department of Health and Environment and Fred the Preparedness Dog – KDHE.
TOPEKA – Gov. Jeff Colyer signed a proclamation today marking the week of March 5-9 as “Severe Weather Awareness Week in Kansas.”
The proclamation highlights the need for awareness of approaching severe weather and the value of emergency preparedness. Although there were 60 documented tornadoes in the state last year, no deaths were attributed to those events and credits early warning, spotter and preparedness systems helping to contribute to fewer lives lost and fewer injuries.
Kansans are also urged to take part in the statewide tornado safety drill Tuesday, March 6 at 10 a.m. (CST). If severe weather is expected on or around the test time on March 6th it will be postponed to the backup date. The backup date for the tornado drill will be Thursday, March 8 at 10 a.m. (CST).
“It doesn’t take a lot of time or a lot of money to ensure you and your family are prepared,” said Angee Morgan, KDEM deputy director. “If you don’t already have an emergency kit, start now by buying a few extra batteries and high-energy snacks during your weekly shopping. Throw a change of clothes, an old pair of glasses and a pair of shoes in your kit.
“Check your first aid kit and make sure it’s complete and up-to-date,” said Morgan. “Doing a little bit each week makes it easier to prepare for unexpected events, particularly when you get the entire family involved in gathering the supplies and making an emergency plan.
“If you don’t have a specially-constructed storm shelter or a basement, do you know where the safest place in your home is? Do you know how to safely shut off the gas or electricity? If you become separated, do you have a meeting area? How will you communicate with family members who may not be at home when a disaster hits or your loved ones who will be wondering about your safety? These are the things you will need to think about when making your plan.”
Morgan said more information on emergency preparedness and building an emergency kit can be found online at www.ksready.gov.
KDEM also has an online “Kansas Preparedness Challenge.” Completing each monthly challenge makes participants eligible for a prize drawing. Go to www.ksready.gov and click on the “Kansas Preparedness Challenge” link to get started.
The Junction City Area Chamber of Commerce has announced the hire of Amy Garner to serve as the Chamber’s Membership Director.
Chamber CEO Mickey Fornaro-Dean confirmed that Garner was initially from the Abilene area, and has most recently been working for a non-profit organization in Texas. She was selected from among more than 30 applicants for the position with the Chamber.
Fornaro-Dean said Garner is excited to take the position and that she had met with Garner personally personally multiple times along with an initial telephone interview. We had the executive committee interview her as well, and the staff has had a chance to meet her. So far everybody’s reactions have been very positive. I think that we have a fantastic candidate for this position who will be excited to be a member of Junction City, and go forward and help grow our membership, as well as being supportive to our events and this community in general.”
Garner will begin work with the Chamber on March 27 but will be at the Chamber on March 19 from 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. for a Meet & greet with Chamber and community members.
The Junction City Police Department has reported the arrest of a 15-year male student at Junction City Middle School for allegedly making a threat in the school on Thursday morning. The student was transported to the Juvenile Detention Center and was held on charges of suspicion of Criminal Threat.
Police Public Information Officer Capt. Trish Giordano noted, “a threat is a crime, and we’re taking every threat that we receive to the school or student seriously. We ask that people talk to their kids and let them know that this is a serious situation that has consequences.”
Giordano stated that the JCPD will continue to act on any and all school threats, and again asks that parents talk to their students about the severity and consequences of this behavior.
