JC Post and 1420 KJCK will provide complete election coverage with multiple reports throughout the evening.
The first report will air at approximately 7:09 pm on 1420 KJCK – AM radio. Reports will air during the Kansas City Royals vs. Baltimore Orioles game that will be on air beginning at 5:30 pm.
Reports are sponsored by Coryell Insurors, The Pampered Pet, and the Geary County Clerk’s Office.
There are ten candidates on the ballot vying for three open spots. The primary election will narrow the field of ten to six for the November General Election.
A complete list of the candidates can be found below:
L to R: Charles Stimatze, Keith Ascher at the ceremony in January where they took their oaths of office.
Geary County Commissioner Keith Ascher has issued a statement addressing the concern raised last week on the potential conflict of interest in a 2-1 County vote to give notice to withdraw from the Chamber of Commerce Master Agreement and the potential impact on the Convention and Visitor’s Bureau.
Chamber CEO Dennis Beson expressed concern noting the Chamber provides a layer of insulation between Commissioner Charles Stimatze and CVB Director Michele Stimatze. He noted if this CVB were pulled apart from the Chamber there would be a direct connection between the two, and it would bring the CVB one step closer to being a direct report between husband and wife.
Stimatze and Ascher were the commissioners who voted to issue the notice of withdrawal. Ascher stated, “Well at this point in time we have no quote, unquote, no conflict of interest. Let’s make it clear that Charles Stimatze was elected by the voters last November and his wife Michele Stimatze, was hired by the Chamber and CEO just a couple of months ago. So if and when the time comes that the CVB would come back under the umbrella of the County we’ve been informed by our county counselor that there are means of handling that and it shouldn’t be a problem.”
The County oversees the transient guest tax revenue that funds Convention and Visitor’s Bureau operations, even though the CVB is also under a consolidated Chamber of Commerce umbrella.
The notice for the County to withdraw from the Chamber Master Agreement was issued before a July 1 deadline, but would not be effective until the end of the year. That does leave time for discussion and negotiation on the issue.
Timeline of the reported attacks- Riley Co. Police
RILEY COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities are alerting the public to conflicting information circulating about a serial rapist who is believed to have attacked more than a dozen women from 2000 to 2008 in Manhattan and Lawrence.
According to a social media report from Riley County Police there is a composite sketch going around on a Kansas Missing and Unsolved flyer giving out inaccurate information.
“We want to be clear — this sketch on the flyer is not connected to the sexual assault cases stretching from October 2000 to July 2015.” The organization held a press conference on this investigation last week.
“That composite sketch in question came from another organization’s press release involving a rape case that occurred in August of 2009 that is not connected to the other assaults.”
Officials have said the suspect is usually armed and covers his face. He’s also believed to have conducted some sort of surveillance before the attacks.
Police expressed appreciation in getting the word out about these cases in an effort to gain information that may lead to an arrest. We would like to thank you for sharing facts from trusted sources like the Riley County Police Department and the Lawrence Police Department.
Emily Miller rides her six-year-old palomino Benny at the 2017 Cheyenne (Wyo.) Frontier Days. The Weatherford, Okla. cowgirl, who grew up in Ingalls, Kan., will compete in Abilene on Thursday, August 3. Photo by Hubbell Photography.
ABILENE – Some of the biggest names in pro rodeo will head to Abilene this weekend.
When the Wild Bill Hickok Rodeo kicks off on Wednesday night, it’ll bring nearly 400 cowboys and cowgirls from across the nation to town to compete for over $80,000 in prize money.
Current PRCA world champions Tyler Waguespack, Gonzales, La., (steer wrestling), Zeke Thurston, Big Valley, Alberta, (saddle bronc riding), and Sage Kimzey, Strong City, Okla., (bull riding) will be in town to compete, and seven of the ten 2016 Abilene rodeo champs will return to defend their title. Returning are Marcus Theriot, Poplarville, Miss. (all-around and tie-down champion), Tanner Phipps, Dalton, Ga. (bareback riding), Colby Lovell, Madisonville, Texas and Travis Graves, Jay, Okla. (team roping), Taos Muncy, Corona, N.M. (saddle bronc riding), Jane Melby, Burneyville, Okla. (barrel racing), and Sage Kimzey, co-champion in the bull riding.
One of the contestants on the list includes a Kansas cowgirl, Emily Miller. Born and raised in Ingalls, west of Dodge City, Miller is having the best year of her pro rodeo career.
Miller is ranked tenth in the world standings, and if things continue as they are, will be headed to her first Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualification this December.
A first place finish at the Ram National Circuit Finals rodeo in Kissimmee, Fla. in March, put her on the path to competing nearly full time.
The 25 year old graduated from Southwestern Oklahoma State in Weatherford, Okla., as a dental hygienist, then got a job with Stevens Family Dentistry in Weatherford.
She never intended to rodeo full time, but after her win of over $13,000 in Kissimmee in April, she hit the rodeo trail a bit harder. Miller still didn’t plan on shooting for the WNFR, but when she was invited to compete at the Calgary (Alberta) Stampede in July, she knew she had to rodeo with Vegas, the home of the WNFR, in mind. “That was a game changer,” she said, of the chance to compete at Calgary. In Calgary, she finished in the top four in the barrel racing, as third high money winner in her event.
Miller will compete in Abilene on Thursday night, and even though she’s chasing the dream of every cowboy and cowgirl: to compete for a world title at the WNFR, she’s staying close to home. In March, before the rodeo success started, she promised to be a bridesmaid in a friend’s wedding, and she’s keeping to that promise. So instead of rodeoing this fall at the big events in the Northwest, she’s staying close to home.
Even with her success in barrel racing, Miller has a good perspective. Most cowboys and cowgirls must compete at as many rodeos as possible to make the WNFR, but Miller is letting what happens, happen. “I feel like I’m at a pretty good place,” she said. “I have a great job, and I don’t have to count on my horse to make a living. It’s nice to go to these rodeos and do well, but if I don’t go, it’s ok. I’m not going to wear myself out going.”
These last few weeks have been busy. Since June 29, when she started driving the new RAM truck she won at the RAM National Circuit Finals, she’s put on 7,000 miles, going to rodeos.
The many miles have shown on her horses. Miller has three of them: Pipe Wrench, Jet and Benny, and she owns them all. Pipe Wrench slipped and strained her back during Cheyenne Frontier Days, and at Salt Lake City, Jet was hurt. So both horses are at home, resting, and Miller plans on riding Benny in Abilene.
She is smart about her horses and rodeo competition, she said, since she’s not a “trust fund baby.” “When I was younger, my parents made me buy and sell my own horses. They would give me a horse, but if I wanted to upgrade, I’d have to sell the old one and buy the new one.” What she likes to do is find a “project” horse and put the training and seasoning on them. “I like to get horses that haven’t been to the NFR with somebody else, then hope I’m the one who gets them there, and then can sell them for a lot of money.”
It’s a great plan, but “I get pretty attached,” she laughed. “I don’t ever sell anything.”
And even though she’s had a phenomenal rodeo year, she treats rodeo as a business. “You have to rodeo smart, and make it feasible. I want to have fun at it, but I’m not throwing money away. I need to be successful wherever I go.”
Miller has competed in Abilene twice and has never won money there, but the homemade cookies served to the cowboys and cowgirls bring her back. “I enter that rodeo just for the cookies. I’m not going to lie,” she laughed.
A total of 398 contestants in seven events: bareback riding, tie-down roping, team roping, saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling, barrel racing, and bull riding will compete in Abilene. Performances are nightly at 7:30 pm on August 2-5, with slack, the extra competition that doesn’t fit into the evening performances, at 8 am on August 2. Slack includes tie-down roping, team roping, steer wrestling, and barrel racing and is free to the public. The August 2 evening performance is bull riding, saddle bronc riding, and barrel racing.
Tickets are $10 in advance ($7 for children ages four through ten) and $13 at the gate. They can be purchased online at CKFF.net and at various local retailers.
For more information, visit the website at WildBillHickokRodeo.com or call the fair office at 785.263.4570.
Bender, a movie about America’s first serial killing family will be available for purchase on Tuesday, August 1st.
The film was partially shot in Geary County at the Sunrock Ranch and the Rock Springs 4-H Center.
Bender unveils the bizarrely true story of America’s first serial-killing family. The year is 1873 and travelers are mysteriously vanishing on the Kansas frontier. The troubled Doctor York goes searching for answers and stumbles upon the Benders, a homesteading family with an unnatural way of living off the land. As the elders of the family vie for dominance, their daughter Kate draws upon her supposed supernatural powers to will a better future, and a peculiar young boy is reared in the family trade – but unexpected visitors could threaten their seemingly quiet homestead. In this boldly restrained thriller, human hunger can be the most dangerous of traps.
The Tall Grass Film Festival hosted a satellite premier of the film on October 8th, 2016 at the C.L. Hoover Opera House in Junction City. Principle actors include James Karen, Buck Taylor, Leslie Woodies, Nicole Jellen, Linda Purl, Jon Monastero, Bruce Davison and Chance Caeden.
The film will be available on DVD and online via Amazon and iTunes.
Officials on the scene of the weekend accident -photo KDWP&T Game Wardens
POTTAWATOMIE COUNTY- A man is recovering from injuries sustained in an accident on the Kansas River in Pottawatomie County over the weekend.
On Saturday afternoon Game Wardens were dispatched to a report of a man with a possible broken leg on the River. Wardens along with a paramedic, launched a department rescue airboat and located the group between Wamego and St George, according to a social media report.
Upon arrival, it was learned that the man’s injuries were worse than reported. Authorities administering an IV, paramedic and wardens loaded the victim on a spine board and he was transported by airboat back to the Wamego boat ramp where EMS took over.
Officials released no additional details on the accident.
The CEO of the Junction City Area Chamber of Commerce Dennis Beson has resigned.
The announcement was made Monday afternoon by the chairman of the Chamber Board of Directors Stan Hambright. He stated the Board has received and accepted Beson’s resignation as CEO, effective August 30th.
Hambright also stated, “Future decisions about a new CEO will be determined once there is resolution of the Master Agreement currently under negotiation.” That is the master agreement for the consolidated Chamber of Commerce. Geary County Commissioners recently voted 2-1 to withdrawal from the master agreement at the end of the year. The notice was given before a July 1st deadline so that does leave time in the coming months for discussion and negotiation on the matter.
JCPost contacted Beson for information on his decision to step down. “Well I have some personal things going on back home. I’ve got an aging father. My kids are back there and I really want to spend time with them and try to get back to having people like that in my life.”
Beson’s resignation comes at a time when there has been there has been concern about the master agreement for the consolidated chamber of commerce and the declining transient guest tax revenues that support the Convention and Visitor’s Bureau. The County oversees the transient guest tax revenues for the CVB which is also under the Chamber umbrella.
Beson has also expressed concern about a potential conflict of interest with the 2-1 vote. He stated last Friday, “The Chamber provides a layer of insulation between Commissioner Stimatze and Michele Stimatze ( CVB Director ); if this particular CVB is pulled apart you’ll have a direct connection even though there still could be an advisory committee or a board — it certainly brings it one step closer to being a direct report, husband and wife.”
JCPost asked Beson how the county withdrawal notice and potential conflict of interest issue played into his decision to step down now? “Oh, not much. I think those are questions that are best reserved for the Board of Directors. ” He was also asked if he would have stepped down if those issues had not been going on now. “Yeah, probably. This is really about my personal life and this is kind of the perfect time.” Beson noted it was a hard decision for both himself and the Board.
Beson began work for the Chamber of Commerce on August 3rd, 2015.
The Geary County Sheriff’s Department has reported that a Deputy located a vehicle parked on Interstate 70 at the mile marker 311 east bound off-ramp at 12:14 a.m. Monday. Alejandro Jonathan Franquiz, 30, Fort Riley, was found deceased inside the vehicle.
Sheriff’s Department Captain Brian Hornaday said an autopsy has been ordered and will be completed this week. No further information is being released at this time due to the pending investigation.
Members of the Junction City Police Department, Geary County Sheriff’s Office and Kansas Highway Patrol will be conducting DUI check lanes on Friday and Saturday, August 4th and 5th.
The focus is to detect and deter drunk drivers and arrest those over the legal limit.
Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest. is a national campaign organized by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which focuses on combining high-visibility enforcement with heightened public awareness efforts. The campaign is designed to remind motorists that impaired driving is no accident, and will not be dealt with lightly.
Impaired driving continues to be a social scourge that kills and maims thousands of Americans every year. Every hour, drivers are arrested for driving under the influence or driving while intoxicated and for many, this will not be their first offense. Nationwide, one person every 39 minutes, approximately 37 people a day, or more than 13,000 people each year die in traffic crashes involving a vehicle driver or a motorcycle operator with a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of 0.08 or higher, which is the legal limit across all of the United States.
A DUI conviction will stay on your driving record for life, convictions can show up on all background checks and employment screenings.
It’s ELECTION DAY!
