Topeka – Thursday morning, the Kansas Corporation Commission denied Westar Energy’s request for ratepayers to bear the cost of its seven-month lease and subsequent purchase in August 2019 of an 8% interest in Jeffrey Energy Center (JEC). Had it been approved, the cost to ratepayers would have amounted to approximately $93 million in increased rates over the next 15 years.

 

In rejecting the request, the Commission order stated Westar failed to meet its burden of showing that its new lease and purchase agreement was a prudent decision for its retail customers, that Westar entered into the agreement knowing it did not need the 8% portion of JEC to satisfy its capacity requirements and the settlement agreement would increase customers’ rates.

 

Prior to the August purchase, Westar and Kansas City Power & Light owned 92% of the Jeffrey Energy Center (JEC). Midwest Power Company owned the remaining 8% and leased it to Westar. The power generated was sold to Mid-Kansas Electric Company through a Power Purchase Agreement. The lease and purchase agreements both expired on January 3, 2019. Westar then opted for a new lease and subsequent purchase of the 8% and asked the Commission to approve the recovery of costs through its Retail Energy Cost Adjustment (RECA) which is included in customer rates.

Junction City is served by Westar Energy.

The order on Thursday does allow Westar to operate the 8% portion of JEC for wholesale sales and retain revenues resulting from that portion of the plant for their shareholders.

 

 

 

The Junction City – Geary County United Way will kick off their 2019 fundraising campaign Friday night at Al Simpler Stadium when the Blue Jay host Washburn Rural in football.

As part of the United Way activities there will be a raffle at one dollar per ticket or six for five dollars. Tickets will be available at the gates. The game begins at 7 p.m.

Raffle prize items will range from official Blue Jay gear and a Blue Jay canvas photo to a Family Video gift card and a YMCA punch card. Some other prizes will include a sideline coaching opportunity,  Mathis Physical Therapy tees and a Hildebrand Farm Basket.

The drawing for prizes will be at halftime. The annual fundraising goal has been set at $140,000.

The 29th annual Geary County Historical Society Ice Cream Social will be this Sunday, Sept. 15 on the grounds of the Historical Museum.

This is a fundraiser for the Historical Museum programs.

A main attraction will be an ice cream and dessert sale featuring vanilla ice cream. homemade pies, cakes, cookies, popcorn and Eckrich smoked sausages. Whole desserts will be given as prizes for the cakewalk, which will be held between performances. The entry fee for the cakewalk is $1.

Live music will be performed throughout the event beginning with the Kansas Brigade Band at 3 p.m, the Junction City High School Jazz Band at 4 p.m. and the JCHS Orchestra at 5 p.m. The Kansas Brigade Band is a small brass band that plays historical music of the frontier period in the style of a Civil War brigade band.

During the Ice Cream Social, visitor can tour the museum, which will be open with free admission from 1-6 p.m. The newest exhibit G is for Goat Gland: An Alphabetical History of Geary County opened in may, and there’s a different topic for each letter of the alphabet.

The Treasurer of the JC Breakfast Optimist Club, Joe Handlos, has informed members that there is a need for volunteers to help with a Bike-Ped count on Sept. 17 and 18.

Volunteers will be assigned a street intersection in the city to count the number of bicycles and pedestrians in that area during a two-hour block of time. The times are 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. The link to sign up is https://volunteersignu.org/RT8K3.

The Clerk of the District Court, Patty Aska, has announced that the offices of the District Court Clerk, Court Services, Community Corrections and the District Court Trustee in Geary County will be closed on Friday, Sept. 20, to allow all staff members to participate in the 8th Judicial District’s Staff Development Day.

 

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Federal prosecutors have filed four cases seeking to keep more than $358,000 in suspected drug money recovered by Kansas officers in separate traffic stops on Interstate 70 in August and September.

The U.S. Attorney’s office filed the four cases involving traffic stops in Ellis, Ellsworth, Shawnee and Wabaunsee counties.

In the most recent case filed Wednesday, a Kansas Highway Patrol trooper reportedly found $98,600 during a stop in Ellis County. The money was wrapped in rubber bands inside vacuum-sealed plastic bags hidden in a quarter panel.

Federal prosecutors filed four similar cases in June in Shawnee, Wabaunsee, Ellsworth and Chase counties.

The eight cases filed since June total about $884,000 in suspected drug money seized by law enforcement officers on interstate highways in Kansas.

The JC Breakfast Optimist Club has presented $200 to United Way Director Nichole Mader for the Stuff the Bus program. That program provides school supplies for needy children in USD 475 and St. Xavier schools.