Following the testing for blue green algae at Milford Lake by the Kansas Department of Health & Environment this week all zones at the lake are in a clear status.
The Corps of Engineers has announced that follow-up testing is not planned to occur unless a blue green algae bloom is reported.
The lake had been under either a warning or watch due to blue green algae much of the summer.
The Corps also reported that the current lake elevation is 1144.90 feet, one half foot high.
Detectives from the Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office with the assistance of the Riley County Police Department recovered a missing 1997 Dodge Dakota, Georgia Tag #RGH3041. The case remains under investigation at this time.
On September 5, around 3:45 a.m. the Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office received a report of an injured man near the Rocky Ford Fishing area. Deputies along with Riley County Police Officers responded to the area and did locate the injured man, who was identified as 27 year old Josh Bearden of Georgia. He was transported to a local hospital for treatment of unspecified injuries that were believed to be non-life threatening.
The victim, Bearden, reported to law enforcement that he suffered his injuries during an altercation with two unknown suspects. Bearden alleged being taken against his will from rural Geary County and then left at the Rocky Ford Fishing area. The suspects fled the area in Beardens pickup, a white, 1997 Dodge Dakota, Georgia license tag RGH3041.
Anyone with information on this matter is urged to contact the Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office at 785-457-3353
The 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, cased their colors this week in preparation for an upcoming nine-month deployment to Europe in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve.
The casing ceremony was held in Victory Park next to the division’s headquarters building.
Approximately 3,300 Soldiers assigned to the “Dagger” brigade will deploy as part of the regular rotation of forces in that region, replacing the 3rd armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, based out of Fort Carson, Colorado.
The Dagger brigade, led by Col. David Gardner, commander of the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team and Command Sgt. Maj. Craig A. Copridge, will uncase the brigade’s colors in theater once it officially takes over the mission from the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, at the end of September.
The 1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley host a 9/11 commemoration ceremony Monday, Sept. 11 at 10 a.m. at the Global War on Terrorism monument, which is located on the east side of Cavalry Parade Field.
The monument is a small replica of the World Trade Center Twin Towers on a Pentagon-shaped base. It bears the names of Fort Riley Soldiers who have given their lives in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Maj. Gen. Joseph Martin, 1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley commanding general, will speak at the event, which includes a wreath-laying, a three-round salute fired by an honor guard, and “Taps” performed by a member of the 1st Infantry Division Band.
The ceremony is open to the public; however, those without a Department of Defense ID card need to arrive early at the Henry Gate visitor center to get a pass to the installation. Go to https://www.riley.army.mil and click on
the yellow “Accessing Fort Riley” tab on the right-hand side of the page for installation entry requirements.
This Friday the Riley County Police Department will conduct a DUI Saturation Patrol.
Officers involved in the patrol will be looking for signs of impaired driving and other traffic violations. Motorists who show signs of alcohol and / or drug consumption will be evaluated and appropriate enforcement action will be taken.
The RCPD said the purpose of the program is to place additional officers in and around the Manhattan area with the goal of detecting and deterring impaired driving.
This patrol is the sixth in a series of seven which will be conducted this year. The Kansas Department of Transportation’s Highway Safety Project provides the funding for the saturation patrol.
Irwin Army Community Hospital will host a Fall/Winter Safety Day event Friday, September 8, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in front of IACH’s main entrance near the flagpole.
The annual event brings together agencies on Fort Riley and throughout the Central Flint Hills region to educate Soldiers, beneficiaries and staff about staying safe during the spring and summer months.
Visitors are encouraged to access the public parking structure through the lower levels during the event. IACH Summer Safety Day is free and open to the public.
Fort Riley Officials are reporting that a 1st Infantry Division Soldier was found dead in Junction City, Kansas, Sept. 4.
Staff Sgt. Garett Swift, a fire support specialist with Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 1st Battalion, 5th Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Inf. Div., was found deceased in his home by the Junction City Police Department. The JCPD and Fort Riley Criminal Investigation Command are investigating Swift’s death.
“The Soldiers of the 1st Bn., 5th FA Regt., mourn the loss of Staff Sgt. Swift,” said Lt. Col. Richard J. Ikena Jr., commander of the 1st Bn., 5th FA Regt. “The battalion will continue to fully support Staff Sgt. Swift’s family and teammates through these challenging times.”
Swift joined the Army in October 2006 and arrived at Fort Riley in November 2013. He was 37 years old.
Swift’s home of record is Charlotte, Michigan. His awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Meritorious Unit Award, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two campaign stars, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Korea Defense Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon and the NATO Medal.
Swift deployed to South Korea in 2007, Afghanistan in 2009, Germany in 2010 and again to Afghanistan in 2011.
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) – chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies – traveled over Labor Day weekend with Acting Secretary of the Army Ryan McCarthy to Poland, Germany and Afghanistan to meet with U.S. Army soldiers, to assess their efforts in the European Deterrence Initiative, and to discuss plans for executing the administration’s strategy for Afghanistan.
“It was a privilege to travel overseas alongside Acting Secretary McCarthy to visit with soldiers and to listen to their experiences serving in Germany, Poland and Afghanistan,” said Sen. Moran. “The soldiers I met with are proud of their service and they see the difference they are making. I was honored to share my gratitude and appreciation on behalf of Kansans for their service to our nation. It was particularly memorable to meet with soldiers from Kansas, who exemplify Kansans’ love for family, state and country.”
“Part of my focus on this visit was to gather more information regarding the United States’ presence in Afghanistan and to determine whether we are on a path to success,” Sen. Moran continued. “I met with General John W. Nicholson – the Commander for all U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan – to gain his insight regarding the enduring challenges in relation to the longest war in our nation’s history. There are major changes occurring, and this is a country that, under new leadership, is on the move toward a better outcome. There are 21 terrorist organizations concentrated in Afghanistan, and I believe we have an obligation to protect American lives from terrorists who still wish to harm us. Therefore, Afghanistan is where the war on terrorism has to be fought. Gen. Nicholson’s strong leadership, combined with the dedication of our servicemembers and strategically crafted diplomatic solutions, will further enable an Afghan government that is fully committed to fight and to win. I was honored to be among such selfless warriors, and as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I will work to make certain they are trained, ready and equipped to face a number of threats against our nation.”
For background:
Geary County Extension Agent Chuck says for the first time in 2017, we had a month that had the average
temperature below normal! But year to date we are 3.5 degrees above our long term average temperature.
The average daily high for August was 81.9, 7 degrees below normal. The average overnight low was 64.1, 1.5 degrees below normal. This gave us a monthly mean temperature of 73 degrees, 4.3 degrees below normal. There were no temperature records set or tied during August. The highest temperature for the month was 94 degrees on the 20th. The lowest temperature was 57 degrees set on the 4th and the 22nd. There were only two days in August with daily highs of 90 or above; the average is 16. This is the fewest number of August days with highs of 90 or above since 1948. 1986 also only had 2 days of 90 or above. In comparison, we had 9 days with a high temperature under 80, the average is 3. August 1992 had the most days with daily highs under 80 at 13. August tied for the 4th coolest August on record. It tied with 1967 and 2009. The coolest August was in 1981 when the monthly mean temperature was 71.5 degrees. The hottest August on record was in 2000 with a scorching mean temperature of 85.
A significant two day rainfall event in early August accounted for a majority of the rainfall for the month and pushed the monthly totals above average. The average rainfall for August is 3.96 inches. Milford Lake recorded 5.64 inches and Junction City 5.57 inches. Unfortunately the rest of the month was devoid of significant precipitation events leaving us with a serious soil moisture deficit as we head into September. Year to date we continue to show precipitation above average. Average for January through August is 24.68 inches. Year to date Milford Lake has received 28.99 inches and Junction City 26.38 inches.
As the days grow noticeably shorter in September the sun also crosses the equator marking the real start of autumn. Rainfall continues to decline heading into fall with September typically averaging 3.28 inches. Temperatures also show a marked decline with the shorter hours of daylight and the sun sinking lower in the horizon. Daily highs start the month at 87 degrees and by the end of the month are down to a very enjoyable 75. Overnight lows drop from 63 on the 1st down to a chilly 49 on the 30th. While you are enjoying those crisp early fall days don´t think that the triple digit heat is behind us though. Temperature records can reach into the triple digits well into late September and 90’s clear to the end of October.
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High
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85° | Sunny. Highs in the mid 80s. South winds up to 5 mph. |
