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Ventria Bioscience Conducts Ground Breaking for Major Expansion Project

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Scott Deeter

Ventria Bioscience broke ground Wednesday at their Junction City location on a major expansion project to roughly double the company’s capacity for production of recombinant proteins. The expansion includes the molecular biology lab, greenhouses, process development and analytical lab, and processing capacity.

Ventria is developing therapeutic proteins for potential treatment of human diseases. Ventria manufactures high-quality, defined, animal-free reagents and cell culture products which are marketed globally. Partnering with pharmaceutical and biotech companies, Ventria also supplies a variety of recombinant proteins for development as potential new drugs.

Company CEO Scott Deeter said Ventria they make therapeutic proteins, “that are used to treat unmet disease, mostly gastrointestinal and infectious diseases. Those products are all in development and expanding today. We’re expanding our product pipeline so that requires a lot more lab facilities and more greenhouse space. ”

Deeter added they also manufacture components used to make vaccines and sell therapies and other types of medicines which are sold by other companies. Those components are sold into their manufacturing process which and that demand has increased. That, in turn, is requiring an expansion in Ventria’s manufacturing capacity.

Local community leaders attended the groundbreaking Wednesday afternoon. Ventria had 16 employees one year ago at the Junction City site. currently has 26 employees and plans to go up to the 28 to 30 range by the end of the year.

Fort Riley to Host Fallen Hero Run

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Fort Riley hosts the Fallen Hero Run at 9 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 9, to honor
and remember military members who’ve made the ultimate sacrifice in support
and defense of the United States.

The run, which starts and ends at Riley’s Conference Center, is open to the public.  Registration for the event starts at 8 a.m.

There are two- and four-mile courses around Fort Riley’s historic main post. The event is not timed.  Pets and strollers are permitted.

A display of decorated combat boots will be placed along the run route to
commemorate those who have died while serving the country.

Thank You to the Volunteer Firefighters

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Geary County Commission Chairman Ben Bennett

Geary County commissioners expressed appreciation this week to the volunteer firefighters who helped battle the rural barn fire last Saturday night that resulted in the death of 518 feeder pigs.

Commission Chairman Ben Bennett commended the volunteers. “Twenty firefighters showed up and they had five more waiting up at Milford that were going to come in if they were needed. The main thing was just to contain the fire at that point and not have it spread to other buildings and other parts of the facilities.”

The fire on property owned by Phillip Goodyear caused an estimated $230,000 damage including $200,000 to the building while the feeder pigs were valued at $30,000. There was some insurance coverage on the barn. The pigs were being housed at that location for F & R Swine of rural Dwight.

Riley County, Fort Riley and Grandview Plaza Fire Departments also provided assistance.

Authorities reported that the cause of the blaze was undetermined, but likely caused by an electrical malfunction.

 

 

K-State calls for swift congressional action on DACA

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MANHATTAN —The Latest on reaction to the Trump administration’s decision to end a program protecting young immigrants from deportation.

Kansas State University released a statement addressing students who may be impacted by possible upcoming changes the status of DACA.

In December 2016, Kansas State University was informed of possible changes to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, status. With today’s announcement by the executive branch of the federal government, there understandably are concerns by those who will be affected by this action.

The university joins with the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) in their statement calling for swift congressional action. DACA was initiated by the Obama Administration in 2012. Under the policy, certain undocumented immigrants to the United States who entered the country as minors can receive a renewable two-year period of deferred action from deportation and eligibility for employment.

Affected students with questions should contact the Office of Student Life. The university is not aware of any changes that would affect enrollment, admission, student employment or merit scholarship status at this time. There are numerous university resources, such as academic advising, student financial assistance, counseling and health services.

University policies regarding disclosure of student records remain the same under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, known as FERPA. We do not release student records without written consent from the student or a lawfully issued subpoena, warrant or judicial order. It remains our policy to require the necessary legal documents before disclosing student records or information derived from student records.

K-State is committed to providing educational opportunities for all qualified students. We are committed to our Principles of Community, which affirm the inherent dignity and value of every person. We affirm the value of human diversity for community.

Why We Fight Film to be Shown at Eisenhower Presidential Library

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ABILENE, Kan. – Why We Fight, a documentary film by Eugene Jarecki, will be shown on Monday, September 11, at the Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum and Boyhood Home. This free public program begins at 7 p.m. in the Visitors Center.

The 98-minute film was produced by the Eisenhower Project, with support from Sony Pictures Classics and BBC Storyville. It was the winner of the Grand Jury Prize at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival and a 2006 Peabody Award. The film includes footage of President Eisenhower’s Farewell address on January 17, 1961, in which he warned of the establishment of a military-industrial complex.

“This scary eye-opening documentary looks back from a post 9-11 vantage point to see how Ike’s prophecy has come horribly true,” said David Ansen, Newsweek.

Following the film, a group discussion will be facilitated by Pam Sanfilippo, Eisenhower Presidential Library Education Specialist.

Two Arrested on Drug Allegations on I-70

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Junction City police have reported the arrest of two Seattle, Washington residents Tuesday on Interstate 70 at a location approximately 10 miles east of the city.

Police reported that Melanie Asantewa Obeng, 41, and Jerry Antoine Jones, 41, were both arrested on suspicion of Possession with Intent to Sell, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and No Drug Tax Stamp. Jones also faced allegations including suspicion of Speeding and No Turn Signal.

 

 

Sheriff: Pottawatomie Co. man dies when farm tractor overturns

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POTTAWATOMIE COUNTY— Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal Monday farm accident in Pottawatomie County.

Just after 11a.m. a tractor pulling a hay trailer driven by Loren Deters, 50, Westmoreland, overturned near Kansas 13 and Bigelow Road, according to Sheriff Greg Riat.

Deters was pronounced dead at the scene.

 

BOE Member Says Get the School Bond Issue Information to the Older Audience

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Front of current JCHS building.

On November 7 voters in Geary USD 475 will cast ballots on a school bond issue question for a proposed new Junction City High School.

One member of the Board of Education, Carolyn Gaston, wants staff to ensure information gets to the older members of the population. They do have plans to disseminate information on the proposal both online, through social media and via traditional media such as newspaper and AM radio.

Gaston told a Board of Education meeting audience Tuesday that in the county demographics the largest group of people involves the older segment of the population, who may not have an interest in computers. She added that those are the people who “get out to vote” so another vehicle will be necessary to inform them beyond computers….a personal approach. “They have a lot of questions, they do vote, and they are a taxpayer so I think anything we can do to get it out to them on a more paper focus will be great for them, they read a lot and I talk to them a lot.”

Gaston said her emphasis would be more one-on-one visits with the older segment of the community and by going to visit with them at their meetings. She felt they could ask questions there instead of at a big meeting where they may feel like they get lost in the crowd.

Gaston does believe younger members of the population will go to the polls. “We do have a lot of young members on the steering committee. They’re interested, they want it, but I do think it’ll come back to the older people who actually will make the determination on whether it passes or not.”

If voters approve the bond issue USD 475 will be eligible to receive state aid covering 47% of the cost of the project. The remainder of the funding would come from federal heavily impacted military aid received by the school district.  District officials have made it clear that there would not be any increase in the local property tax levy.

Proposal to Allow Sundown Salute Carnival to Run One Extra Night

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The Sundown Salute Committee has submitted a request to the city for the Ottaway Amusements Carnival to possibly run one extra night during the celebration next summer.

That information was provided by City Manager Allen Dinkel said the committee wanted to do six nights of the carnival downtown. “Basically starting on a Friday night ( June 29 ) and go all the way until Wednesday the 4th. The concern I have and I think was kind of shared by the ( City ) Commission tonight is it takes basically two days before the carnival starts to set up. So you would be limiting streets downtown for maybe as much as eight, to nine, ten days. And that’s a real concern of course. I’ll go back to them to see if they can narrow it down a little bit.

That proposal would have the actual Sundown Salute celebration running from June 30 through July 4 in 2018, but during discussion Tuesday night members of the commission who addressed the issue seemed to favor a celebration that would extend from July 3 through July 7….a Tuesday through Saturday time frame.

Ottaway Amusements has served as the Sundown Salute carnival the past five years, but that contract is up. A new deal has not yet been finalized.

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