The Junction City / Geary County United Way needs more volunteers for their allocation process. If you are interested contact the United Way office at 785-238-2117.

The allocation process helps determine the funding allotments for organizations and agencies served by United Way.

Slots are available on allocation panels on March 13th, 15th, 20th, 22nd and 27th. The hours for each of those sessions are 1-5 p.m.

The United Way of Junction City / Geary County received a donation from Ben Kitchens Painting Company on Monday. It totaled $12,452.

The Girl Scouts and JC Pacesetters help celebrate the donation.

POTTAWATOMIE COUNTY —A Kansas woman died in an accident just after 11p.m. Monday in Pottawatomie County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2004 Ford F150 driven by Donald D. Ebert, 51, Louisville, was westbound on U.S. 24 near Camp Creek Road.

The driver lost control of the vehicle on the icy bridge and collided head-on with a 2004 Old Alero driven by Sarah Helen Salinas, 38, St. Marys.

Salinas was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to Stewart Funeral Home.

Ebert and a passenger Corina M. Roudybush, 50, Clay Center, were transported to the hospital in Topeka.

Salinas was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

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POTTAWATOMIE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal head on crash that occurred just after 11p.m. Monday in Pottawatomie County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a vehicle was westbound on U24 near Camp Creek Road. The driver lost control of the vehicle on the icy bridge and collided head-on with an eastbound vehicle.

Check the Post for additional details as they become available.

By LAURA ZIEGLER

Since its inception over a decade ago, the Department of Homeland Security has had authority over the $1.25 billion National Bio and Agro-defense Facility, or NBAF, under construction on the campus of Kansas State University.

The 2019 federal budget released this week proposes transferring authority over the facility to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The transfer wouldn’t happen until the facility operational, scheduled for 2022. But officials say the USDA will work closely with DHS long before the lab opens.

“USDA would begin (staffing) up the operations of NBAF by learning how to operate the facility during the commissioning process, purchasing equipment and hiring employees,” DHS spokesman John Verrico said in an email.

NBAF is to replace the aging Plum Island Animal Disease Center in the Long Island Sound.  For over half a century, the lab was operated by USDA for the study of foreign animal diseases. It was the only place in the country with a large-animal bio-containment facility capable of studying live foot-and-mouth disease virus, which is highly contagious among cattle and sheep. The labs at NBAF will expand research on foot-and-mouth and have the capacity to do experiments on large numbers of livestock at one time.

In 2002, with the passage of the Homeland Security Act, authority of the lab at Plum Island was transferred to the newly- formed DHS.

Lawmakers and some officials are saying it’s too early to know the impact of placing the Plum Island’s replacement back under the oversight of USDA.

U.S. Rep. Roger Marshall, whose district includes NBAF, sits on the House Agriculture and Science and Technology committees. He said he’s focused on making sure the facility is built on schedule and has adequate funding.

“While the proposal to move operational control to USDA is new, we have always expected USDA to play a major role in the research underway at the facility,” Marshall said in an email.

But one scientist who’s been intimately involved with biosecurity research says it’s a mistake to move the Level 4 bio-containment lab away from Homeland Security.

Daniel Gerstein oversaw operations at Plum Island while it was under DHS. He says Homeland Security and agriculture officials had a strong working relationship — even developing the first licensed foot-and-mouth vaccine.

But prioritizing homeland security in animal disease research may be more important today than ever, he says.

“If you had some sort of deliberate attack, you’d certainly want to have your Department of Homeland Security involved.”

Laura Ziegler is a community engagement reporter and producer with KUCR a partner in the Kansas News Service. Reach her via Twitter @laurazig 

RILEY, Kan. – She may be just 11 years old, but Maggie Brummett has a pretty good idea of what it will take to be successful in her adult life.

Armed with gumdrops, toothpicks, paper airplanes and more simple props, Maggie took many other kids for a fun ride through their imagination during the Riley County 4-H Showcase, held at Riley County High School on Feb. 17.

Maggie’s idea focused on activities that would stimulate thinking in science, technology, engineering and math — commonly called STEM — but did it in a way that helped kids like her understand that learning is fun and relevant to real life.

“Some examples of the STEM challenges are making paper airplanes, building structures with gumdrops and toothpicks, math art projects, snap circuits and several ‘creation stations’ where you have to use your imagination to create something with the pieces provided,” Maggie said.

Her mom Lisa said Maggie was inspired to develop the STEM lessons after watching an older brother and sister create fun events for their FFA and high school groups. Instead of waiting until she got older, Maggie decided this year’s 4-H project was her opportunity to do something for others.

“I am proud because I have gotten (older and younger) people in my school interested in STEM,” Maggie said. “It feels good to help others learn, and I feel like hands-on STEM stations make learning more fun.”

Lisa Brummett sees other advantages for her daughter.

“Creating this STEM event has helped Maggie’s confidence and ability to interact with people she doesn’t know very well,” Lisa Brummett said. “She has always been outgoing within groups of friends, but she was reserved around people she doesn’t know. Now, she is becoming less nervous and more interactive within groups of unfamiliar people. She will help people who are struggling with STEM challenges and encourage kids who seem too shy to try something new.”

Maggie noted that the project has helped her learn hands-on skills, “instead of just reading things from a book.”

“I hope other people will try new things,” she added. “I hope they will learn to stay determined and keep working until they solve a problem. I hope kids will think that learning is fun.”

“I love that 4-H provides so many opportunities for members to do community service,” Lisa Brummett said. “Participating in our club’s community service projects has made Maggie realize that she can really make a difference (and) that a small gesture — like visiting someone who is lonely, or donating food — can really make a big impact on people’s lives.”

To learn more about Kansas 4-H or to find a club in your area, visit www.kansas4-h.org.

Story by:
Pat Melgares

POTTAWATOMIE COUNTY — A Kansas woman died in an accident just after 10p.m. Saturday in Pottawatomie County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2007 Ford Edge driven by Stephanie Lugenia, Silfer, 65, Frankfort, was southbound on Kansas 13 just south of Carnahan Creek.

The vehicle exited off the roadway to the right, overturned once, landed on the roof and came to rest in the culvert approximately 30 feet off the roadway.

Slifer was found deceased at the scene. She was properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

The first one will be this Saturday, February 24th.

State Senators Jeff Longbine and Tom Hawk plus State Representatives Lonnie Clark and Dave Baker are invited to attend the sessions. They will discuss issues and topics in the current Kansas legislative session, and can respond to questions from the public.