Student enrollment is down slightly in Geary USD 475 schools this fall semester when comparing September 2 of this year to September 2 one year ago.
The school district’s Executive Director of Communication, Matt Droge, reported the student number this year totaled 7,267 students compared to 7,656 one year ago.
Geary USD 475 officials are looking at the west side of Junction City as the potential location for a proposed new Junction City High School.
According to Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Corbin Witt, the matter is being handled by attorneys at the present time. “The Board’s working on it, but as we’ve looked at it the west side of town is probably where it’s going to be located, the new high school, but I think that’s pretty much understood by people.”
A school bond issue question will go before voters on November 7 for the proposed new high school. If it is approved that would make USD 475 eligible to obtain have 47% of the project paid for by the State. The remainder of the funding for the project would come federal heavily impacted military aid received by the school district. District officials have made it clear there would be no increase in the local property tax levy.
The Geary County Sheriff’s Department reported that at 5:48 a.m. Tuesday Deputies responded to U.S. 77 Highway, mile marker 156, for a three-vehicle non-injury accident.
Brinton Mitchell, Fort Riley, was driving a 2003 Jeep Liberty when traffic slowed while Alexis Furbert, Fort Riley, was driving a 2002 Ford Mustang and Holly Sink, Junction City, was driving a 2016 Honda Civic. The vehicle driven by Sink struck the Furbert car from behind, pushing Furbert’s vehicle into the back of the one driven by Mitchell. Sink was cited for the accident.
Jeff Childs will bring an end to a 32-year career with the Junction City Police Department when he retires on October 1.
Childs, who has been a Detective Lieutenant for the police department for many years, plans to remain retired for only a short time. He will become a police law and public safety course teacher at Junction City around the first of November. On his retirement from the JCPD, he stated: “It was time, 32 years on the police department, sometimes you need new challenges, this will be a challenge for me.”
Childs noted he also enjoys working with kids. “That became available so something I had to think about real fast, and it really was an easy decision. It was just time to move on and do something different.”
Junction City police officers were dispatched to 522 West 3rd Street just before 10:30 p.m. Friday for a report of a subject who had shot a weapon in the residence. As officers were arriving in the area he allegedly shot the firearm from the house striking an occupied residence across the street.
A family member was able to disarm the subject as the officers made their way up to the residence, and he was taken into custody after a brief struggle. No injuries were reported.
According to the JCPD Shannon Michael Smelley Jr., 21, Junction City, has been arrested on suspicion of Domestic Damage to Property, Domestic Aggravated Assault, three counts of Aggravated Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer, Criminal Threat, Batttery on a Law Enforcement Officer, Shooting at an Occupied Dwelling and Felony Interference of a Law Enforcement Officer.
Smelley was confined at the Geary County Detention Center on a $100,000 bond.
The Geary County Sheriff’s Department has reported the arrest of Amanda Massoli, Manhattan on I-70 at mile marker 313 on suspicion of Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Speeding, Driving While Expired and Expired Registration. The arrest occurred at 11:26 p.m. Sunday.
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The Sheriff’s Department responded to K-57 Highway Saturday morning for a non-injury vehicle – deer accident. Evelyn Lacey, Junction City, was driving her Mercedes Benz southbound when a deer ran in front of her car striking the left front headlight.
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75° | Not as warm. Sunny. Highs in the mid 70s. North winds 5 to 15 mph. |
Good weather and a big crowd were all part of the 108th Chapman Labor Day parade experience Monday afternoon.
According to the public address announcer, Bob Diehl, the parade through downtown Chapman lasted approximately 45 minutes. “The temperature held out for real good. It was 97 yesterday ( Sunday ) at this time and 83 today ( Monday ) so you can’t beat that.”
Diehl enjoys the Fort Riley Commanding General’s Mounted Color Guard in the parade, “The Color Guard out of Fort Riley is my favorite supporting us so well and Chapman. I’ve been asking for them better than 20 years and I got them every year.” Diehl added they’ve also been supporting at the Saint Patrick’s Day parade in Chapman. “You can’t beat that for a little town to get that kind of patronage from them.”
The grand marshal’s for the parade included longtime members of the American Legion auxiliary, Isadean Spangler and Virginia Adam.
The parade entries ranged from floats with the Chapman football team to horses, buggys and bands. A large crowd packed the downtown area to view the annual event.
The campaign to inform the public about the proposed new Junction City High School bond issue proposal that will go before voters will begin to pick up momentum this fall. The election is scheduled on November 7.
Superintendent of Schools Dr. Corbin Witt reported that work is being done to prepare a way forward fact campaign that will include vignette stories and videos, plus there will also be community tours of the current high school before Blue Jay home football games at 5:30 p.m. on October 13 and October 20. Those tours will include information on the bond issue campaign and the needs of the high school.
An open house – community forum type event will also be held on Saturday October 7 at 9 a.m.
If local voters on November 7th approve the bond issue that would qualify USD 475 for use of state aid to pay for 47% of the project. The remainder of the funding would come from heavily impacted federal military aid received by the school district. Officials have made it clear there would be no increase in the local property tax levy.
The deadline to register for the election is October 17.
Multiple public boards and commissions will be in session on Tuesday in Geary County, the day after the Labor Day holiday.
The Geary County Commission will meet from 10 a-m to 4 p.m. at the County Office Building. The meeting agenda includes items ranging from appointments to the Metropolitan Planning Commission and Geary Community Hospital Board of Trustees to an update on the county employee United Way campaign.
The USD 475 Board of Education will be in session at 5 p.m. at the Devin Center. The BOE will conduct a public hearing on the proposed school district budget for the current school year and consider approval. There will also be an update on the JCHS Way Forward campaign for a proposed new Junction City High School.
The Junction City Commission meets Tuesday evening, first as the Land Bank Board of Directors at 6:30 p.m. before their regular session at 7 p.m. at the city-owned building at 701 North Jefferson. The commission will consider awarding a city hall plumbing project and Fire station One locker room addition bid to RF Benchmark in the amount of $529,000.
