Geary County students are heading back to school this month.
For many in USD 475 the first day of school is Wednesday, August 16th.
The Junction City Police Department’s Community Involvement Unit has released a list of school locations and school speed zone times in Junction City to help drivers as students head back to school.
The following school zone speed limits will be in effect:
Eisenhower Elementary, 1625 St. Mary’s Road, 7:30 am to 8:30 am; 2:45 pm to 3:45 pm
Franklin Elementary, 410 W 2nd Street, 7:45 am to 8:45 am; 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Junction City High School, 900 N. Eisenhower Dr, 7:45 am to 8:45 am; 11:00 am to 1:30 pm; 3:15 pm to 4:15 pm
Junction City Middle School, 700 Wildcat Lane, 7:45 am to 8:45 am; 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Lincoln Elementary, 300 Lincoln School Drive, 7:30 am to 8:30 am; 2:45 pm to 3:45pm
Saint Xavier School, 200 N. Washington St, 7:45 am to 8:45 am; 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm
Sheridan Elementary, 429 W. Ash Street, 7:45 am to 8:45 am; 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Spring Valley Elementary, 1601 Hickory Lane, 7:45 am to 8:45 am; 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Washington Elementary, 1500 N. Washington St, 7:30 am to 8:30 am; 2:45 pm to 3:45 pm
Westwood Elementary, 1600 N. Eisenhower Drive, 7:30 am to 8:30 am; 2:45 pm to 3:45 pm
Fines are DOUBLED in school zones.
1 to 9 mph over posted speed: $30 fine, court cost $120
10 to 15 mph over: $40 fine, court cost $120
16 to 19 mph over: $75 fine, court cost $120
20 to 24 mph over: $125 fine, court cost $120
24 mph over: $200 fine plus $10 for every mile 25 and over, court cost $120
Speeding (School Zone): Ordinance 300.033
A school zone speed limit is a lower speed limit for an area around a school, enforceable by law at certain times.
Sec. 33. Maximum Speed Limits.
(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) and except when a special hazard exists that requires lower speed for compliance with K.S.A. 8-1557, and amendments thereto, the limits specified in this subsection or established as authorized by law shall be maximum lawful speeds, and no person shall operate a vehicle at a speed in excess of such maximum limits:
(1) In any business district, 20 miles per hour;
(2) In any urban district, 30 miles per hour;
(3) On any separated multilane highway, as designated and posted by the secretary of transportation, 75 miles per hour;
(4) On any county or township highway, 55 miles per hour; and
(5) On all other highways, 65 miles per hour.
(b) No person shall drive a school bus to or from school, or interschool or intraschool functions or activities, at a speed in excess of the maximum speed limits provided in subsection (a), except that the board of education of any school district may establish by board policy lower maximum speed limits for the operation of such district’s school buses. The provisions of this subsection relating to school buses shall apply to buses used for the transportation of students enrolled in community colleges or area vocational schools, when such buses are transporting students to or from school, or functions or activities. (K.S.A. Supp. 8-1558)
(c) The maximum speed limits in this section may be altered as authorized in K.S.A. 8-1559 and K.S.A. 8-1560, and amendments thereto. Ref.: Power to change speed limits generally and regulate speed in parks and school zones. (K.S.A. 8-1560, and K.S.A. 8-2002) 52 at a safe and appropriate speed when approaching and crossing an intersection or railroad grade crossing, when approaching and going around a curve, when approaching a hill crest, when traveling upon any narrow or winding roadway, and when special hazards exist with respect to pedestrians or other traffic or by reason of weather or highway conditions. (K.S.A. 8-1557)
A Star Wars theme, Choosing the God Force – the Light, was one focus of the annual Geary USD 475 general session.
Superintendent of Schools, Dr.Corbin Witt, said teachers can be the light in the eyes of young people, and help them make choices for their future. “The subject built around being a force of light for those students.”
Witt in costume portrayed a mock Star Wars character. ” I was Obi Wan Kanobi. So I was dressed to deal with Darth Vader who was trying to coax the staff toward the dark side. And I knew our staff wouldn’t go there so we had good time with that.”
Fort Riley Middle School eighth grade student Ayden Westbrook portrayed Darth Vader during the presentation.
All employees in USD 475 attend the general session, held every August just prior to the beginning of the school year.
The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) will be closing the Interstate 70 eastbound passing lane and the westbound passing lane between I-70 mile markers 293 and 295 beginning today to complete maintenance work in the median.
The project is due to be completed by August 22.
KDOT urges drivers to be alert, pay attention to work zone warning signs and slow down when approaching work zones.
A former Geary County Corrections Officer charged with unlawful sexual relations with a female inmate has accepted a plea agreement in Geary County District Court.
Brian Patrick O’Loughlin was arrested on April 20th after an alleged inappropriate relationship with a female inmate.
O’Loughlin appeared in District Court earlier this week where he plead no contest, or guilty, to two counts of misdemeanor battery, one misdemeanor count of possession of marijuana, and one count of interference with judicial process – also a misdemeanor.
The charges of unlawful sexual relations with an inmate – a severity level 5 felony – were dropped.
O’Loughlin was sentenced to 12 months in the Geary County Detention Center – that sentence was suspended and he has been placed on supervised probation for a period of 24 months.
From August 17 through Labor Day, September 4, the Junction City Police Department will join 150 other local and state police agencies across the state in a crackdown aimed at removing drunk, drugged and other dangerous drivers from the roadways. Titled, You Drink. You Drive. You Lose., the enforcement campaign is sponsored by the Kansas Department of Transportation.
According to Police Chief Dan Breci, the campaign is intended to remind drivers of several things:
–If you’re going to drink while away from home, do it responsibly by looking ahead and lining up a designated driver before leaving home.
–Think of a family you know – maybe your own. Now consider how it would be to wake up every day to the memory of your decision to drive after drinking – a decision which unintentionally brought injury or death to one of them. If you’re driving impaired, you are not only more likely to crash, but you are much more likely to cause serious injury or death to yourself and others when you do crash.
–Even if you appear to be driving well enough to get by, you may still be pulled over for another traffic offense. If this happens and the officer detects alcohol you will be tested. If you fail the testing process you’re looking at a fine of $500 – $2,500; up to one year in jail, the suspension of your driver’s license, increased insurance premiums. and the purchase and installation of an ignition interlock device in your car.
–We’re asking all citizens on the roadways to watch for suspicious driving behaviors.
–You can count on the JCPD to vigorously enforce impaired driving and other traffic laws, not just during this campaign, but through the year.
–Always remember, that the best protection against a drunk driving is the use of seat belts and appropriate child restraints – every trip, every time.
A member of the Junction City – Geary County Metropolitan Planning Commission / Board of Zoning Appeals, Mike Watson has resigned. That was announced at the monthly MPC meeting on Thursday evening by the Interim Planning and Zoning Administrator, Troy Livingston.
Livingston reported that Watson is relocating to the Kansas City area to be closer to family. The appointment of a replacement will be a task for the Geary County Commission.
MANHATTAN — From coast to coast and across the heartland, the Aug. 21 total solar eclipse will be an awe-inspiring and rare event, says a Kansas State University physicist.
“This is our special Great American Eclipse and it’s going to be a really remarkable event,” said Chris Sorensen, Cortelyou-Rust university distinguished professor of physics. “If you have the ability to travel to the path of totality, I highly recommend that you go.”
Chris Sorenson
On Monday, Aug. 21, the moon will completely cover the sun in a total eclipse of the sun. A wide stretch of the United States — including northeast Kansas — is within the path of totality, which is a 70-mile wide path that goes from Oregon to South Carolina. It is the first total eclipse of the sun visible in the U.S. since 1979 and is the first total solar eclipse visible in Kansas in 99 years.
The only way to view the total solar eclipse is to be in the path of totality; anyone outside of the path of totality will only see a partial eclipse. Sorensen, an amateur astronomer, has studied the sky for years and offers tips to safely watch the Aug. 21 total solar eclipse, both inside and outside the path of totality.
What will happen Around 11:40 a.m. in Kansas, the moon will make first contact with the sun and start the stages of partiality. A few moments before totality — which will be few minutes after 1 p.m. — people will be able to see Baily’s beads, which are a series of bright spots of light from the sunlight passing close to the surface of the moon, skimming through lunar mountain valleys. Shortly after that, the diamond ring effect will occur with a single brilliant bead. Only when that last diamondlike bead disappears does totality start — and only then can people view the eclipse with the naked eye. Totality will last about two and a half minutes for people in the center of the path. The end of totality is marked by the reappearance of a diamondlike bead followed quickly by Baily’s beads, which also marks the time that people should put solar glasses back on or use eye protection again. The moon makes its last contact with the sun around 2:30 p.m.
During a total solar eclipse, the environment changes, too, Sorensen said. Winds die down and temperatures get cooler. Birds start roosting and singing evening songs, crickets start chirping and nocturnal animals move as they would at night. An eerie darkness will descend.
“You want to make sure you watch the partial eclipse with your solar glasses on so that you can safety watch what is happening to the sun,” Sorensen said. “Once the eclipse is total, take the glasses off. During totality, certainly look at the sun, which will be surrounded by its shimmering corona, but don’t forget to take a look all around you to get a sense of what is happening to your environment, too. Remember, you’re now in a 70-mile diameter dark shadow of the moon and that means all around you is sunlight. You may be able to see sunlight 30 or 40 miles in the distance, very likely with tinges of sunrise and sunset colors.”
How to view the eclipse It is never safe to look directly at the sun, Sorensen said, and all eclipse watchers should practice eye safety. Solar eclipse glasses and other protective measures should be used at all times for watchers outside the path of totality and during any partial phase. For watchers inside the path of totality, solar eclipse glasses and safety measures still should be used, but may be removed briefly during the moments of the total eclipse.
• Solar glasses and viewers Make sure eclipse glasses or hand-held solar viewers are properly qualified for protecting eyes, Sorensen said. They should come from a reputable vendor and should include the certification that it meets the requirement for ISO 12312-2.
Only people in the path of totality can remove eye protection during the brief period of totality. The key is to watch for Baily’s beads and the diamond ring: People can remove solar glasses and viewers when Baily’s beads and the final diamond disappear before the total eclipse, but they must put eye protection back on when the beads reappear, marking the end of the total eclipse.
Sunglasses, photographic negatives, smoked glass and other dark objects are not safe ways to view the eclipse, Sorensen said.
“They may stop the visible light from the sun, but the ultraviolet and infrared light from the sun still comes through and those lights can burn your retina,” Sorensen said. “Your retina, although sensitive to light, is not sensitive to pain. Your eyeballs could be burning and you wouldn’t even know it.”
• Telescopes Telescopes focus light and make the sun even more intense to view, which means it is not safe to wear solar glasses and look into a telescope, Sorensen said. Rather, telescope viewers should place a reputable telescope solar filter over the aperture to make it safe to look at the sun through the telescope. People in the path of totality can remove the filter during totality and view the eclipse through the telescope, but Sorensen strongly recommends against this because one might mistime when the eclipse will end while still looking through the telescope.
If people don’t have a filter, they still can use the telescope during the eclipse phases by adjusting the telescope focus and using a method called eye projection. With this method, people can use the eyepiece to project the sun’s image on a piece of paper or other surface.
• Pinhole cameras Pinhole cameras are a simple and effective way to view the eclipse, no matter if viewers are inside or outside the path of totality. To make a pinhole camera, take a pen and poke a hole in a piece of paper or cardboard and hold it in the sun during the eclipse. The sun will shine through the hole and project the eclipse stages as crescents on the ground a few feet away.
Sorensen also recommends looking underneath a tree during the eclipse because the overlapping leaves also act as pinhole cameras and the eclipse stages will be projected on the ground as a myriad of crescents.
Travel
For viewers traveling to the path of totality, Sorensen has a simple piece of advice: Leave early to allow plenty of extra travel time. The roads will be busy and possibly gridlocked as everyone travels to the path of totality. Plan ahead and have a backup plan.
K-State eclipse events Several Kansas State University organizations — including the physics department, K-State Global Campus, the K-State Alumni Association, the Office of Student Life and the Division of Communications and Marketing — have partnered with the Flint Hills Discovery Center for a series of outreach events to celebrate the 2017 solar eclipse.
All of the following events are open to the public:
• “Go See It! Total Solar Eclipse” by Chris Sorensen, 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.Thursday, Aug. 17, Flint Hills Discovery Center, Manhattan. Sorensen will give a lecture to prepare for the Aug. 21 total solar eclipse.
• Total Solar Eclipse Bus Trip, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.Monday, Aug. 21. Kansas State University and the Flint Hills Discovery Center are partnering with Highland Community College for a day of education and eclipse viewing. The buses will leave at8 a.m. and participants will travel to Highland Community College to view the eclipse. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit k-state.edu/eclipse/bus-trip.
• Total Solar Eclipse Watch Party, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.Monday, Aug. 21, East Hills Mall, St. Joseph, Missouri. The K-State Alumni Association will host a family friendly watch party with access to East Hills Mall activities. More information is available at facebook.com/events/821511151339533.
• Eclipse viewing event, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.Monday, Aug. 21, Bosco Student Plaza, Manhattan campus. The Union Program Council will host a partial eclipse-viewing event with live music and giveaways. More information at kstateupc.com.
The request for a special use permit to establish a recreational vehicle campground in the mobile home district at 1510 Rucker Road in Junction City has been withdrawn. That was confirmed by Interim Planning and Zoning Administrator Troy Livingston.
The request had been submitted by Don Weeks, the agent for the owner George E. Wright.
Multiple community members had expressed concern about the project with their issues ranging from safety in the area to the aesthetic appearance.
The Metropolitan Planning Commission had initially recommended approval but the Junction City Commission sent the matter back to the MPC with recommendations for the planning board to consider. The request was on the agenda for the planning board Thursday night, but Livingston announced that application for the special use permit had been withdrawn.
( Photo courtesy of Junction City Police Facebook page )
On their JCPD Facebook page the Junction City Police Department has announced that in recent weeks they have received reports of counterfeit one-hundred dollar bills being passed in the city.
During the interview of people who had been identified with those bills, it was learned they had received them after being asked to exchange the large bill for smaller bills.
The counterfeit bills that are being passed are movie props.
The JCPD wants the public’s assistance in identifying the subjects who are passing those bills. If you have information pass it on to the police department.
Geary County students are heading back to school this month.
