Geary County Rural Firefighters rolled to a vehicle fire on I-70 early Sunday morning.
Rural Fire Chief Garry Berges confirmed no one was injured.
“The vehicle was fully engulfed upon arrival,” Berges said. “There were three occupants; two adults and an infant in the vehicle and they were all able to get out. The vehicle was declared a total loss.”
The driver of the vehicle was Polo Garacillo.
MANHATTAN — Following a national search, Kansas State University has named an expert in online learning for higher education as its new dean of the university’sGlobal Campus.
Karen Pedersen will provide strategic vision, oversight, leadership and management in all aspects of Global Campus operations, including program development, workforce and professional development programming, faculty and staff development, and conferences.
“I am excited to welcome Dr. Pedersen as the next dean of Kansas State University’s Global Campus,” said April Mason, provost and senior vice president. “She brings significant experience leading distance and online learning initiatives that reflects a focus on global engagement and international outreach. Her experiences demonstrate innovative and visionary leadership and she will help K-State continue and grow as a leader in Global Campus outreach.”
Pedersen is currently the chief knowledge officer for the Online Learning Consortium, a collaborative community of higher education leaders advancing quality digital teaching and learning experiences. She envisioned and leads the consortium’s work in five key areas: learning innovation; quality enhancement; community engagement and development; publications, research, and policy; and product development leadership.
Pedersen has extensive experience building and implementing online education programs. She was associate vice president for Extended Campuses at Northern Arizona University; vice president for professional studies at Southwestern College, Winfield; and dean of Upper Iowa University’s Extended University. She also was an assistant professor at the University of Nebraska, Kearney.
“I am so impressed by the dedication and commitment of the Global Campus team and am excited to be joining K-State,” Pedersen said. “I look forward to working with all stakeholders to further innovate and take Global Campus to new heights.”
Pedersen earned a doctorate in home economics from Oklahoma State University and master’s and bachelor’s degrees in textiles and apparel from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln.
Pedersen will take over as dean on Feb. 1, 2018, reporting directly to Mason and serving on the Academic Council of Deans.
Discussion of potential properties for a new Junction City High School will be the subject of an executive session tonight for the Geary USD 475 Board of Education.
The monthly board meeting begins at 5 p.m and the executive session is one of the agenda items.
Following the closed-door session there is an agenda item to consider acquisition of land for a new high school. Superintendent Dr. Corbin Witt said earlier Monday indicated he was unsure if the Board would make a final decision on the land acquisition at the meeting. There could be action after the executive session or there could be a special board meeting scheduled on December 11th.
On November 7th voters approved a bond issue to help pay for the new high school. A combination of state aid and federal heavy impact aid received by the school district will pay for the new school. No increase is planned in the local property tax.
Geary County rural firefighters responded to a rural house fire at 1992 Latzke Road during the early morning hours on Saturday.
No one was injured. The three residents including Andy Everitt and his two teenage children were able to get out of the house.
According to Rural Fire Chief Garry Berges the fire originated from an outdoor wood burner building into the limestone residence through a kitchen window where there was fire and smoke damage. There was damage throughout the house.
The damage estimated was placed at approximately $5,000. Berges added the limestone prevented further damage.
The Red Cross was called in to provide assistance.
The owner of the house is Ken Smith of Geary County.
WABAUNSEE COUNTY — A Fort Riley man was injured in an accident just before 8a.m. Monday in Wabaunsee County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2016 Toyota Corolla driven by Nathaniel. McNeal, 21, Fort Riley, was westbound on Interstate 70 one mile east of Wabaunsee Road.
The driver told first responders he fell asleep. The Toyota entered the center median and rolled 3 to 4 times.
McNeal was transported to Geary Community Hospital. He was properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.
Father Kyle Berens was among a group of about one-half dozen people to run into the water off the sandy beach at the Flagstop Campground in Milford. “It was a little cold but definitely worth it. ”
Berens wore a Cassock as he entered the water during the event, which raised funds for the Saint Xavier School. “So it’s kind of the traditional garb of the Catholic priest. So a bunch of the kids wanted to see if I would do it and I said absolutely.”
Berens estimated the turnout for the polar plunge at approximately 150 people. That was preceded by a two-mile fun run / walk at Flagstop Campground.
This was the second year for the Saint Xavier Day celebration which celebrates their patron saint, Saint Francis Xavier.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas may be getting closer to adding another memorial for President Dwight Eisenhower at the Statehouse.
The state’s Capitol Preservation Committee is set to meet Thursday. Its agenda includes a presentation from the state Department of Administration about a statute honoring Eisenhower on the Statehouse grounds.
Gov. Sam Brownback has advocated honoring Ike with a statute outside, and his administration has been working on the idea for about four years.
The state added a plaque for the president and supreme Allied commander during World War II to the Statehouse’s sidewalk “Walk of Honor” in 2015. Eisenhower grew up in Abilene.
The visitor’s center also has a small statue of Ike in front of a sign with his photo and a quote from him about statesmanship.
The Geary Community Hospital Medical Explorers completed their fifth class session this past week.
The bi-weekly evening program gives area high school students the opportunity to learn more about careers in the medical field ranging from surgery, cardiology, pediatrics, radiology and other specialties.
The next session will begin January 17th. Interested students should contact Nancy Dettmer ( nancydettmer@usd475 ) or Nikki Davies ( ndavies@gchks.org ) to receive an application packet.
There is a full slate of holiday activities on this Saturday ranging from the Christkindl holiday market at Fort Riley the Geary County Historical Society event where children can have their picture taken with Santa Claus.
The latter event runs from one to four at the Starcke House at Fifth and Adams. Photos are $10 each and include both a print and a digital copy. All proceeds will support the Geary County Historical Society.
The Christkindl holiday craft market is scheduled from nine to three at Riley’s Conference Center. There will be more than 50 vendors selling handmade items, holiday decor and gifts. This is open to the public.
Also, the Historical and Archaeological Society of Fort Riley will host their 34th annual tour of homes today from noon until 4 p.m. today. The tour begins at the Custer House. The tour is self-guided with maps provided at the Custer House. Tickets today are $12 and can be purchased at the Custer House.
JEFFERSON COUNTY — Two people died in an accident just after 7a.m. Friday in Jefferson County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2015 Nissan Altima driven by Hannah Rose Stark, 31, Grantville, was northbound on Barton Road.
The driver failed to yield at U.S. 24 and struck an eastbound 1999 Ford Club Wagon that was driven by Gerald A. Baxter, 66, Clay Center on the right side.
The collision caused the driver to lose control and the vehicle rolled several times.
Baxter and a passengers Carla Rene Polson, 65, Blue Rapids, were transported to a hospital in Topeka where they died.
Three others in the Ford including Ruth M. Baxter, 64; Robert Stewart, 61; Barbara Jean Stewart, 61, all of Clay Center were also transported to the hospital in Topeka.
Stark and two children in the Nissan were not injured.
Polson and Ruth Baxter were not wearing seat belts, according the KHP.
——-
GRANTVILLE, Kan. (AP) — Authorities say two people have been killed after a car clipped a van on a highway northeast of Topeka.
The crash happened Friday morning at an intersection along U.S. 24 near Grantville in southwest Jefferson County.
Lt. Adam Winter, of the Kansas Highway Patrol, says the van overturned, killing the driver and a passenger. Their names, ages and genders weren’t immediately released. Four others in the van were taken to a Topeka hospital, including one person flown there with critical injuries.
Winters says none of the three occupants in the car were seriously injured.
