There is an effort to form an employee group to allow their input on improving patient care at Geary Community Hospital.
Hospital CEO, Joe Stratton, called it the Geary Engagement Group of workers where a couple employees have met with the administration. We think it’s important at this point in time especially with some of the struggles and challenges we’re going through to make sure that we’re getting input from employees, and also that employees have a positive work place and there’s some fun things to do.”
There is a desire to add another 8-10 people to the group. A barbecue at the hospital either over the noon hour or in the late afternoon on Sept. 26 is one plan for a fun activity.
The hospital has been facing financial challenges. Earlier this year 22 members of the hospital workforce had to be laid off from their jobs.
The USD 475 Board of Education will consider the Guaranteed Maximum price of $98.5 million for the new JCHS project when they meet Tuesday evening. That number includes the main school structure plus athletic facilities, with project scope changes reviewed by the Board during a recent work session.
USD 475 officiasls issued a news release on the subject which also contains the details on additional resources and funding needed for the project.
If approved, the combined value of GMP awards for the project will be $113.9M. The District has committed another $3.7M to complete infrastructure development plus $6.3M in non-construction related costs. The infrastructure monies will be retained by the District if the Junction City infrastructure Build Grant receives approval. A decision on that grant is expected later this fall.
“The board has $124M of available monies to work with on this project,” stated David Wild, Chief Operations Officer. $109.5M came from the sale of bonds approved by voters. The board has authority to exceed that amount to complete the project and is using other funds to do so.
“Due to the AA bond rating, the District received an additional $4.5M as a premium when the bonds were sold. Plus it has realized another $3.5M in interest earnings on proceeds.” Wild added.
The balance of the $124M comes from an additional $9M in Heavy Impact Aid set aside by the board for the project plus a minimum of $2M in interest earnings over the next 21 months of construction.
By special election voters approved the $105M bond initiative in November 2017 based on a District commitment to the community that it would not raise its mill levy in order to finance the project. The District has remained true to that commitment and, by setting aside other funds, it can now ensure construction of the new high school which remains scheduled for completion in time for the start of school in August of 2021.
MANHATTAN — One person was injured in an accident just before 3p.m. Wednesday in Riley County.
According to the Riley County Police Department activity report, a 2001 Honda motorcycle driven by Cameron Butler, 21, Manhattan, crashed near the intersection of College and Claflin in Manhattan.
EMS transported Butler to Via Christi for treatment of his injuries.
Police also issued him a citation for driving without a license and no proof of insurance.
Junction City Chamber of Commerce President Mickey Fornaro-Dean and Military Affairs Council Director Craig Bender recently traveled to Salina for a conference on Unmanned Aerial Systems ( drones ).
Bender feels it’s an upcoming industry. “Between the several types of UAS that we have on Fort Riley I think we have pilots available as well as the Kansas State Polytechnic Institute with their aviation program. Provides a good pipeline of pilots for UAS so I think it’s a good opportunity where we could bring business here.”
Fornaro – Dean noted a few Kansas communities had representatives in attendance at the conference while the state of Oklahoma was represented in force. Fornaro – Dean said right now the Junction City Chamber officials are learning more about the industry. “It’s very much a growing industry. We’re on the front side of that industry and so we want to make sure that we’re on the front side, knowing what our opportunities are, what our applications are, so it was a good learning experience. We made some really good contacts, more to follow.”
MANHATTAN — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a social media threat and have made an arrest.
Snapchat
Just after 8a.m. Wednesday, the Riley County Police Department arrested two juveniles on felony criminal threat offenses stemming from posts on social media.
A 15-year-old boy was arrested on 3 counts of aggravated criminal threat, criminal use of a firearm, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and vehicle burglary. A 15-year-old girl was arrested on two counts of aggravated criminal threat and criminal use of a firearm.
According to the Riley County Police department arrest report Malachi Rendel Fielder, 15, Manhattan, was arrested for “Aggravated criminal threat; Cause terror, evacuation or disruption, Aggravated criminal threat; Cause terror, evacuation or disruption, Criminal use of weapons; Barrel of firearm < 12 in and person < 18 YOA, Aggravated criminal threat; Cause terror, evacuation or disruption, Burglary; Vehicle with intent to steal a firearm; Theft from Motor Vehicle, Possession of marijuana and Use/possess w/intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body”
They also arrested 15-year-old Ladaisha Renee Ransom on requested charges that include “tAggravated criminal threat; Cause terror, evacuation or disruption and Criminal use of weapons; Barrel of firearm < 12 in and person < 18 YOA” and Aggravated criminal threat; Cause terror, evacuation or disruption”
“You regularly hear the phrase, ‘see something, say something’, “Assistant Director Kurt Moldrup said. “I think this case demonstrates the continued importantance of acting on that. Citizens can be confident RCPD will take every report of a possible threat seriously.”
Aggravated criminal threat is a severity level 5, person felony. The teens are confined in the North Central Kansas Regional Juvenile Detention Facility.
NOTE: Kansas state law allows law enforcement to release the names of juveniles age 14 and older involved in criminal cases
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RILEY COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a teen after an alleged threat.
Just before 7:30 a.m. Monday, police filed a report for aggravated criminal threat in the 1900 block of Lincoln Drive in Manhattan, according to the RCPD activity report.
Officers listed a 15-year-old boy as the victim and a 15-year-old girl as the suspect when it was reported she threatened the victim on social media while displaying a weapon. Police have not reported an arrest.
Snapchat
On August 21, a citizen alerted the Riley County Police Department that a video had been posted to the social media messaging phone app Snapchat which depicted a 15-year-old boy and 15-year-old girl holding what appeared to be a gun and making threatening statements, according to Captain Josh Kyle.
Preliminary investigation indicates the video was directed at a different 15-year-old boy and a 17-year-old boy.
All the parties mentioned are students at Manhattan High School West Campus.
The Fall Classic Golf Tournament sponsored by the Geary Community Healthcare Foundation will be played Friday, Sept, 13 at Rolling Meadows Golf Course. There will be a shotgun start at either 7:45 a.m. or 1 p.m. The registration fee is $110 per golfer, and you should register one hour prior to tee-off.
Included in your registration will be green fees and cart rental, the driving range is available, a breakfast bar for those teeing off at 7:45 a.m., lunch on the terrace and a gift bag. There will be a buffet dinner and awards event beginning at 6 p.m. Non-golfing guests may join golfers for dinner for$25 apiece. There will be chances on raffle items ranging from a Callaway XR Men’s Set – Golf Clubs and Bag to a Taylormade Spider Tour Platinum 34-inch Putter.
The Fall Classic will help raise money to provide a surgical instrument washer at Geary Community Hospital.
A rare white Doberman Pincher named “Blue” is missing and a reward is being offered if he is found.
The dog has blue eyes and a blue collar, a rabies tag, Identification Collar, and was last seen at the corner of 10th and Jefferson. Call Kate at 785-375-3171.
TOPEKA, KAN. – More than 50 people have been indicted on federal charges as a result of a three-year investigation to identify traffickers behind a rising tide of heroin, fentanyl and other drugs on the streets of Manhattan, according to U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister.
Sylvester Calvert photo KDOC
“Fentanyl and heroin are a deadly combination,” said U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister. “Our goal is to save lives by disrupting the pipelines bringing these and other poisons to the city Manhattan.”
OVERDOSE DEATH
Federal indictments filed last week and kept under seal until now allege that 18-year-old Kansas State student Maxwell F. Dandaneu was found dead Sept. 26, 2017, in his off-campus apartment from an overdose caused by fentanyl. An indictment alleges Dandaneu got the drugs from a drug trafficking organization made up of five conspirators who are among 54 defendants whose names appear in one of a 13 grand jury indictments.
Defendants Henry Clark, Sylvester Calvert, Michael Calvert, James Toliver, and Blake Woodard are charged with conspiring to distribute fentanyl and heroin resulting in Dandaneu’s overdose death, as well as other charges. Woodward is charged with directly distributing the fentanyl to Dandaneu that led to the fatal overdose.
DRUGS CHARGED
In addition to heroin and fentanyl, other drugs that traffickers are accused of distributing include ecstasy, marijuana, methamphetamine and hydrocodone.
CRIMES CHARGED
Dennis Butler, RCPD Director during Wednesday’s news conference in Topeka
The indictments include charges of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances resulting in bodily injury or death, distributing controlled substances resulting in bodily harm or death, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, unlawful possession of a firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking, unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, maintaining a drug involved premise, possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, making a false statement in the purchase of a firearm, using Facebook Messenger in furtherance of drug trafficking and removal of property to avoid seizure.
CHICAGO CONNECTION
Law enforcement officers called the investigation Operation Chicago Connection, based on the fact that in 2016 investigators began to hear talk on the streets of this college town about traffickers who some sources called “the Chicago Boys.” In the following months, investigators worked to get a clearer picture of what was going on. What they learned was that some traffickers were making regular trips to Chicago to bring back heroin, fentanyl and other drugs.
TAKEDOWN
Law enforcement officers were out in force Tuesday, serving arrest warrants and search warrants in Manhattan as part of a federal takedown that was one of the largest in state history. Defendants were scheduled to begin making initial appearances in federal court in Topeka today.
Indictment nine (One defendant, fentanyl, removal of property to prevent seizure)
Chanel Toliver, 32, Manhattan, Kan.
Indictment ten (One defendant, methamphetamine)
Damon Brown, 44, Westmoreland, Kan.
Indictment 11 (One defendant, heroin, felonious use of a communication device)
Jason Simonds, 46, Manhattan, Kan.
Indictment 12 (One defendant, felonious use of a communication device)
Jerah Gasser, 26
Indictment 13 (One defendant, firearms)
James Atkinson, 50, Manhattan, Kan.
Upon conviction, the crimes in the 13 indictments carry the following penalties:
Conspiracy to distribute heroin resulting in bodily injury or death (Clark, S. Calvert, M. Calvert, J. Toliver, B. Woodyard): Not less than 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $5 million.
Conspiracy to distribute heroin resulting in bodily injury or death (K. Obrecht): Not less than five years and not more than 40 years, and a fine up to $5 million.
Distributing heroin resulting in bodily injury or death (B. Woodyard): Not less than 20 years and a fine up to $5 million.
Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances: Up to 20 years and a fine up to $1 million.
Conspiracy to distribute heroin and fentanyl: Not less than five years and not more than 40 years and a fine up to $5 million.
Unlawful possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking: Not less than five years and a fine up to $250,000.
Conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine: Not less than 10 years and a fine up to $10 million.
Unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon: Up to 10 years and a fine up to $250,000.
Maintaining a drug involved premise: Up to 20 years and a fine up to $500,000.
Possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine: Not less than five years and not more than 40 years and a fine up to $5 million.
Conspiracy to make a false statement to obtain a firearm: Up to five years and a fine up to $250,000.
Using Facebook Messenger in furtherance of drug trafficking: Up to four years and a fine up to $250,000.
Removal of property to prevent seizure: Up to five years and a fine up to $250,000.
The case was jointly led by the Riley County Police Department and Drug Enforcement Administration, with the assistance of the Riley County Attorney’s Office, the Junction City Police Department, the Geary County Sheriff’s Department, the Kansas Highway Patrol, the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, the Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Department, the Junction City Police Department.
The Geary County Clerk has announced that all county offices, including the transfer station, will be closed on Monday, Sept. 2 in observance of Labor Day.
Rebecca Nordyke said regular hours will resume on Tuesday, Sept. 3.
There is an effort to form an employee group to allow their input on improving patient care at Geary Community Hospital.
