Geary County Schools USD 475 is reporting a scheduled outage to occur on Wednesday, August 9th.
Due to a load test of a generator that services the Devin Center for Educational Support, online services for USD 475 will be unavailable for a short time on Wednesday.
Users will be impacted by a loss of web and server access at 3:45 PM.
This scheduled outage will impact the use of the district website and connectED.usd475.org.
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.
Geary County Schools USD 475 is receiving less state funding for this school year, but officials are confident it will not be as bad as anticipated.
Earlier projections called for the District to lost between five and seven million dollars.
Dr. Corbin Witt, Superintendent of Schools, said that the general fund is down about $600,000.
“We’ll get a little less because we’ll lose some through kindergarten with our impact aid funds, so we’ll be down probably close to $1 or $2 million; but it’s not nearly what we were expecting.”
The District has received an extension until September 6th for final approval of the budget. A public hearing and approval for publication are scheduled for August 21st.
USD 475 is using an estimated enrollment count for the coming year of 7,575 students. There will be two formal count dates on September 20th and February 20th. The second date is for military student impacted districts and could result in more state aid for the District.
The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) is investigating an officer involved shooting that occurred early Tuesday morning on the west side of Junction City.
Junction City Police Chief Dan Breci held a press conference Tuesday afternoon where he reported that the initial call to police was for a welfare check of a possibly suicidal subject. Soon after arriving at a residence on Windwood Drive (off Ash Street), another call came in to authorities reporting an armed man at the Walmart Neighborhood Market at 1723 McFarland Road in Junction City.
Authorities from the Junction City Police Department (JCPD) and Geary County Sheriff’s Office (GESO) responded to the Walmart parking lot.
“When [we] got there [the subject] was walking through the [Walmart] parking lot,” said Breci. “[Officers] had about an eight minute conversation with him trying to get him to put the guns down, and for most of that conversation he had a gun to his temple and a gun pointed at our officers.”
The subject was given commands to drop his weapons. The confrontation escalated and four law enforcement officers – three from the JCPD, and one from the GESO – fired at the subject.
The subject – whose identity will not be released until next of kin has been appropriately notified – was pronounced dead at the scene. He was a 23 year old white male from Fort Riley.
No law enforcement officers were injured during the incident.
“We’re continuing this investigation right now, we have a lot of paperwork, a lot of tie-ups – it just doesn’t stop when we leave the scene,” said Breci. “This investigation [includes] downloading body cameras, video cameras, video from Walmart, [and] video from surrounding businesses.”
Breci noted that the JCPD officers involved were equipped with body cameras,and both the GESO and JCPD vehicles had dash cam video recording.
All officers involved have been placed on administrative leave, per protocol. JCPD Chaplains will meet with all parties involved, including dispatchers, for “grief counseling”. Breci noted that a 16 year old male high school intern was taking part in a ride-along with one of the responding officers and witnessed the incident. He has been interning with the JCPD for a year.
“The sad fact is that somebody lost their life, so it isn’t a day to celebrate/to say things went great, because they didn’t,” said Breci. “Today wasn’t a success story, other than we prevented him from hurting other people.”
There were three calls to law enforcement for possibly suicidal subjects on Monday evening/early Tuesday morning.
The investigation has been turned over to the KBI, and is ongoing.
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Junction City Police Department Public Information Officer Trish Giordano has reported that the KBI has been called in to assist with the investigation into a fatal shooting overnight in Junction City. “They’ve responded and are investigating the officer-involved shooting that we had.” No officers were injured in the incident, but one other man is dead. His identity has not yet been released.
As of 7:15 a.m. a portion of Caroline Avenue near the Walmart grocery store on the west side of Junction City is still barricaded off, but the Walmart store is open.
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Junction City Police Department spokesperson Trish Giordano confirms early Tuesday morning that police are investigating an officer-involved shooting case. “No officers were injured and we’re still investigating.”
Although no officers were injured Giordano did confirm one man was dead but could not yet release the identity of the victim.
The incident on Caroline Avenue on the west side of the city was reported at 12:48 a.m. Police had responded to a check welfare case. Caroline Avenue in the area near the Walmart store on the west side of the city was barricaded off and crime scene tape was up at the scene.
Aug. 2017 – Gas prices across Kansas continue their steady increase this summer, jumping 5 cents from a week ago to $2.22/gallon, according to AAA Kansas. This comes a week after a 6-cent statewide increase.
This week’s Kansas cities with the state’s gas price extremes are at far opposite corners at the state.
HIGH: St. Francis (Cheyenne County, far Northwest Kansas) – $2.49
LOW: Columbus (Cherokee County, far Southeast Kansas) – $2.03
Of the 10 regularly reported Kansas cities (see chart below), all experienced price increases in the past week, AAA Kansas notes. Kansas City, Kan. and Lawrence led the way with 10-cent increases, while Manhattan, Salina and Topeka each rose only one cent from last week.
At 13 cents less than the national average, Kansas gas prices are still 12th lowest in the country, said AAA Kansas spokesman Shawn Steward.
“Strong gasoline demand across the country is continuing to push prices higher at the pump, a trend that we don’t see letting up through the end of summer,” said Steward. “Kansas is still in a good position, though, with relatively affordable gas prices, compared to the national average.”
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Today
|
Last Week
|
Last Month
|
Last
Year
|
Change Over Last Year
|
|
|
National
|
$2.35
|
$2.32
|
$2.26
|
$2.12
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11%
|
|
Kansas
|
$2.22
|
$2.17
|
$2.10
|
$2.01
|
10%
|
|
Emporia
|
$2.16
|
$2.12
|
$2.03
|
$2.00
|
8%
|
|
Garden City
|
$2.21
|
$2.15
|
$2.02
|
$1.99
|
11%
|
|
Hays
|
$2.21
|
$2.16
|
$2.12
|
$2.00
|
11%
|
|
KCK
|
$2.32
|
2.22
|
$2.18
|
$2.11
|
10%
|
|
Lawrence
|
$2.36
|
$2.26
|
$2.21
|
$2.11
|
12%
|
|
Manhattan
|
$2.19
|
$2.18
|
$2.16
|
$2.02
|
8%
|
|
Pittsburg
|
$2.11
|
$2.07
|
$1.99
|
$1.90
|
11%
|
|
Salina
|
$2.19
|
$2.18
|
$2.10
|
$1.96
|
12%
|
|
Topeka
|
$2.17
|
$2.16
|
$2.09
|
$1.89
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15%
|
|
Wichita
|
$2.22
|
$2.16
|
$2.06
|
$1.99
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12%
|
|
State
|
Current Avg.
|
Rank Today
|
Last Week
|
|
Oklahoma
|
$2.13
|
5
|
7
|
|
Missouri
|
$2.17
|
9
|
5
|
|
Kansas
|
$2.22
|
12
|
12
|
|
Colorado
|
$2.33
|
27
|
24
|
|
Nebraska
|
$2.32
|
25
|
18
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The votes from the Junction City only primary election for City Commission candidates have been canvassed.
Geary County Commissioners completed the canvass sitting as the Board of Canvassers.
“We had 19 provisional (ballots) but only nine of those counted,” said County Commissioner Keith Ascher. “These are final numbers, so they increased by nine [and] didn’t change any outcomes.”
Tim Brown received 698 votes in the August 1st primary election for Junction City Commission candidates. Jeff Underhill earned 591 votes, and Nicholas Allbritton had 412. Bob Henderson finished with the fourth most votes at 319, Heinrich Biggs earned 101, and Michael Gray had 96 votes.
Those (above) six candidates advance to the general election in November.
Tuesday morning K-State Provost and Senior Vice President April Mason announced her resignation, effective June 30, 2018.
Dear Kansas State University family,
I write today to communicate I have decided to resign from Kansas State University on June 30, 2018. This is a decision made after careful thought and consideration. When Kirk Schulz, a great mentor and friend, announced his resignation from Kansas State University in March 2016, I was a finalist for Chancellor at University of Nebraska, Lincoln. I withdrew my candidacy from the Nebraska position to stay at Kansas State University to assist an unnamed Interim President and help onboard a yet to be determined new President. I think this work is nearly complete! The university is well led and on a positive trajectory.
K-State 2025 is going into its second 5-year period and I feel it is a good time to make my announcement allowing President Myers to determine next steps for the position of Provost and Senior Vice President in his Cabinet. President Myers has accepted my resignation. I appreciate his support in this decision.
I interviewed for this position in the fall of 2009. I had never stepped into the state of Kansas before. Now I know the hallowed halls of this limestone university, have interacted with so many wonderful creative faculty and staff, have enjoyed interacting with the leaders of tomorrow — our students, walked and ridden through the Flint Hills, and developed a keen love of wheat fields. I have met alumni and friends of this university who give so much to their alma mater. I have experienced the deafening noise of Bramlage and the roar of Harleys in Bill Snyder Family Stadium. In the end, it will be eight and a half years of hard work and great fun.
I know the next eleven months will give me the opportunity to bring a number of ongoing projects to fruition. I also know these months will fly by! Before the time gets away, I want to be sure you know how much you have helped me, counseled me and been wonderful sounding boards for me. My thanks to Faculty Senate, University Support Staff Senate, and Student Governing Association, my fellow Cabinet members and most especially the members of the Deans Council and Provost’s Staff.
It has been an honor to serve Kansas State University. Purple has always been a favorite color — it holds deep new meaning now.
Full speed ahead until next June 30. We still have a great deal to do!
Thank you for all you do to make Kansas State the outstanding university it is.
April
The Geary USD 475 Board of Education is spending Tuesday touring district facilities ahead of the upcoming school year.
One stop was Eisenhower Elementary Elementary School where a new gymnasium / tornado safe room is under construction. The safe room is designed to withstand wind speed ( 3-second gust ) of up to 250 miles per hour. There is occupancy capability for up to 1,177 people.
(Photos courtesy of Matt Droge, USD 475 )
Robert E. “Bob” Schmidt, 90, Hays, Chairman of the Board of Eagle Communications in Hays, died early Tuesday morning at his home.
He was preceded by his wife Patricia A. “Pat” Schmidt, who passed away in August 2015.
Funeral arrangements are pending and will be announced by Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home.
Schmidt was raised in La Crosse and served in the Navy in the Philippines in World War II. He then began a career in radio while at Fort Hays State University as a sportscaster. Upon graduation from FHSU in 1950, he was appointed General Manager of KAYS Radio. He was elected Vice President and Director in 1952 of KAYS, Inc.
In 1989, he purchased control of the corporation and was elected President/CEO. While leading the corporation, the company built or purchased 24 Radio and Television stations and 12 Cable Systems in Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri and Colorado. Eagle currently owns and operates 28 award-winning community radio stations and serves 60 communities with broadband service including internet, video and voice service.
Schmidt retired as President/CEO of Eagle Communications in 1998 and sold the majority interest in the company to its employees through a Employee Stock Ownership Plan. Nearly 300 Eagle Employee Owners continue to build the company and share in the value of ownership.
Among many other honors, Schmidt was named a member of the Kansas Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2000 and was named to the Hays Area Chamber of Commerce Hall of Fame in 2003.
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ABILENE, Kan. – The next Talk About Literature in Kansas (TALK) program is set for August 14 at 7 p.m. in the Visitors Center Auditorium. This is the final program in this year’s series.
Guest facilitator Anne Hawkins will lead the group as they discuss The Last Cattle Drive. Hawkins teaches U.S. history at Washburn University and U.S. history and
world history to homeschooled youth across northeast Kansas. She received her M.A. in History from the University of Kansas. Hawkins joined the KHC TALK program as a discussion leader in 2012. The TALK series is conducted through a partnership with the Kansas Humanities Council, the Abilene Public Library and the Eisenhower Presidential Library. This year’s theme, “The Best of the West,” celebrates the Chisholm Trail 150th and Eisenhower’s love of western novels.
The Last Cattle Drive is available to check out from the Abilene Public Library or purchase at the Eisenhower Presidential Library Gift Shop. Thank you to all those who participated in the series throughout the past eight months. The group attending this year’s final program will be asked to provide input in selecting the theme for the 2018 series.
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