WASHINGTON, D.C. – Agriculture Committee Chairmen Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., and Rep. K. Michael Conaway, R-Texas, today addressed more than 100 state FFA officers, urging them to advocate on behalf of agriculture and take advantage of the plentiful jobs within agriculture.
“Our country needs more people like you, who know where their food and fiber come from, the hard work it takes to get it from the farm to the store, and the value of the rural way of life,” Chairman Roberts said. “Your voice is important and deserves to be heard – not only in a few years after you finish college, but right now. This year, the United States Congress is considering legislation that impacts many of your daily lives and communities. Unfortunately, too many times the loudest voices are coming from those that do not understand production agriculture or even the rural way of life. That is why I am glad to see you here, learning about your capital, your legislature, and the importance of your voice.”
“FFA is at the heart of American agriculture’s future,” Chairman Conaway said. “For nearly 90 years, FFA has remained committed to providing youth with opportunities to achieve personal growth, premier leadership and career success through agricultural education. As we prepare to write the next farm bill, I appreciate hearing from FFA students about their interest and concerns in U.S. agricultural policy, applaud their dedication to the future of farming and ranching, and I remain confident the future of American agriculture rests in good hands.”
Click here to watch Agriculture Secretary Perdue announce a new partnership with the National FFA Organization to support youth and prepare the future workforce for unique careers in agriculture.
Chairmen Roberts and Conaway also met with FFA members from Kansas and Texas, respectively.
Jewels Williams, Grand Champion Blueberry Oat Cookies, $200 Florence Whitebread
The Geary County Free Fair wrapped up festivities Thursday night with the 4-H Project and Livestock Auction.
While most wouldn’t equate the auction, or even the fair, with being an emotional experience – it was exactly that, for the 4-H’ers of all ages.
For Cody Brown, Clarks Creek, to win the Grand Champion Market Steer with his 1330 Hereford, it was exciting. “I’m really excited that my steer is getting that much money, so I can buy another steer!” The market value was $1596, the premium was $1800.
For precocious Karley Kramer, Humboldt, it was a sense of pride that overwhelmed her with her Grand Champion zucchini bread.
“I’ve always wanted to start things off good and so I got what I wanted, ” said Kramer. And she wanted something else too. “I want to put some of the money in my savings account for college; and my family won’t let me get a goat, but I’m going to see if I might be able to get a goat with it.” Daniel Day Excavating and Concrete purchased her zucchini loaves for $525.
For Rebekah Thomas, Lyon Creek, her Reserve Grand Champion win for her 1460 crossbred steer was “bittersweet.”
“It’s just a bittersweet moment of just being the youngest of four – having three older brothers – and watching [them] be great role models to me, and teaching me; I probably wouldn’t be [who I am] without my parents and my brothers because they taught me everything I know.”
This was Thomas’ final year participating in 4H – she will start college this Fall and study Agriculture/Animal Sciences.
Seventy two items were listed in the 4-H Project and Livestock Auction on Thursday evening.
Other items sold at the auction include Kacey Butler’s Grand Champion hog for a $750 premium to Clint Kramer, Mason Muto’s re-purposed wood bench for a premium of $325 to Jeff Childs, and James Martinson’s strawberry-rhubarb pie for a premium of $225 to Next Home Unlimited.
Mason Muto, Grand Champion re-purposed wood bench, $325 premium by Jeff Childs
Mariana Alondra Garcia, Grand Champion Quilt, $475 Heldstab Construction
Kacey Butler, Grand Champion hog, $750 Clint Kramer
Karley Kramer, Grand Champion Zucchini Bread, $525 Daniel Day Excavating and Concrete (pictured w/her mom)
Cody Brown, Grand Champion market beef, $1800
Auction crowd
Jewels Williams, Grand Champion Blueberry Oat Cookies, $200 Florence Whitebread
Rebekah Thomas, Reserve Grand Champion market steer, $1200
A hearing originally scheduled for Thursday, July 27th has been rescheduled for September in Geary County District Court.
The substantive hearing is to evaluate whether or not there was exculpatory evidence that could warrant a new trial for Christopher Lyman who was sentenced to life in prison in connection with the death of an eight month old infant in September 2013.
Exculpatory evidence is evidence favorable to the defendant in a criminal trial that potentially exonerates the defendant of guilt.
Lyman’s attorney filed a motion with the Kansas Supreme Court to have his case remanded to Geary County District Court for a motion for a new trial to be heard on September 8th. Lyman’s conviction and subsequent sentence is already under appeal, but that appeal is on hold until the the hearing in District Court.
Lyman was found guilty in May 2015 of 1st Degree Felony Murder, Child Abuse, and Aggravated Battery. Lyman received a life term on the murder count, plus concurrent sentences of 41 months on the Aggravated Battery count and 32 months on the Child Abuse conviction, to be served at the same time as the life term. The life sentence is the controlling term – Lyman will be eligible for parole consideration in 20 years.
During proceedings in July 2015 the Court overruled a motion for a new trial or judgement of acquittal. During a hearing on that motion Lyman testified he didn’t commit the crime, and noted he didn’t kill the infant.
Chris Biggs was the prosecuting attorney at the time of Lyman’s conviction.
A hearing is scheduled for September 8th in District Court.
It’s not a final deal but there is a tentative agreement on 2017-18 teacher contracts for Geary USD 475.
Dr. Corbin Witt, Superintendent of Schools, confirmed the salary schedule will include a minimum pay raise for teachers of two percent. “You know how salary schedules go, some will get more, some will get less, but the smallest amount will be two percent.” Witt noted at a time when things are pretty tight they are trying to do something to help take care of teachers and “help them stick with the cost of living.”
The total amount of new money included in the new contract proposal has been calculated at approximately $800,000, with that funding covering teacher raises.
The tentative agreement calls for a seven-hour 50-minute duty day for teachers.
The first day of the new school year is August 16th.
Witt also confirmed there is a plan for the Board of Education to consider final ratification of the contract on August 7th, and for the contract to be taken to the teachers to be considered for ratification during the August 11th Welcome Back event on August 11th at the Shenk Gym.
The Corps of Engineers at Milford Lake have announced that the Kansas Department of Health & Environment (KDHE) results from lake samples taken Monday, July 24th have been received.
Zone A is in a “Clear” status, Zone B is in a warning for the presence of blue green algae and Zone C is in a watch.
The designated swim beaches located in Zone A at the Corps of Engineers and Milford State Park will be open.
A warning (zone b) indicates that blue green algae is present at a level considered unsafe for people and animals. Contact with lake water should be avoided.
Lake users are reminded that blue green algae may appear or disappear suddenly and move as the wind shifts; boaters should use caution and move to a clear portion of the lake.
Kacey Butler with her grand champion at the Geary County 4-H Swine Show.
Kacey Butler had the grand champion swine at the Geary County 4-H Swine Show.
Butler was excited. “It feels good because I haven’t had a grand champion hog since my first year showing hogs. And I think that was five years ago.” The hog named “Homer” weighed 268 pounds.
Grant Roeser had the reserve grand champion hog in the swine show.
Gabrielle “Gabby” Williams plead guilty – as part of a plea agreement – in April to conspiracy to commit premeditated first degree murder in the January 2016 death of 24 year old David Phillips of Manhattan.
Williams used electronic communications to lure the victim an apartment in Junction City where he ultimately died.
Sentencing in the plea agreement ranges from 109 months to over 490 months; the Court has recommended a sentence of 180 months, which is subject to final sentencing. The varied sentencing range depends on Williams’ criminal history.
Sentencing was previously scheduled for today at 1:30 pm in Geary County District Court. The sentencing hearing has been rescheduled for Friday, August 11th at 1:30 pm in District Court.
Williams allegedly conspired with Joseph Craig to rob and then murder Phillips who was lured to an 827 West 12th Street Apartment C location in Junction City. Craig faces multiple charges in connection with the death of Phillips, including Conspiracy to Commit Murder, Conspiracy to Commit Aggravated Robbery, Aggravated Robbery, Criminal Possession of a Firearm by a Previously Convicted Felon, and in the alternative Premeditated 1st Degree Murder or Felony Murder. A jury trial for Craig is scheduled to begin November 27th.
City Commission Candidate Forums on 1420 KJCK wrapped up this morning with the final three candidates choosing to participate – Tim Brown, Nicholas Albritton and Jeff Underhill.
In addition to the live radio coverage, the forums were all live streamed on JC Post’s Facebook page (video below).
Ten candidates are on the ballot for the Tuesday, August 1st primary election which will narrow that list to six that will move on the November general election.
Candidates are vying for three seats.
Candidate forums on 1420 KJCK were sponsored by Coryell Insurors, The Pampered Pet, and the Geary County Clerk’s Office.
A complete list of the candidates can be found below:
The annual 4-H BBQ and Watermelon Feed runs from 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. followed by a Chamber ribbon cutting ceremony at 6:45 for the 4-H Arena. The annual 4-H Project & Livestock Auction is scheduled at 7 p.m.
Crime timeline-image courtesy RCPD Click to expand
MANHATTAN -Authorities on Thursday released new information about a serial rapist who is believed to have attacked 13 women from 2000 to 2008 in the college towns of Manhattan and Lawrence.
In a media release, police reported that in March of 2009, then Kansas Attorney General Steve Six announced that multiple incidents of rape committed over the course of eight years in both Manhattan and Lawrence appeared to be connected. These incidents began in October of 2000 and ended in December of 2008, involved the victimization of women in Manhattan and Lawrence, and all of them were students at either Kansas State University or the University of Kansas.
Each incident involved a masked intruder entering the victim’s off-campus residence, mostly between the hours of 2:00 a.m. and 4:30 a.m. as the victim slept, and all but one coincided with a break in the academic calendar. The residences themselves varied from apartment complexes to duplexes to single dwellings. While the point of entry was frequently identified, the means by which the suspect made entry were sometimes unknown. Many of the survivors reported having locked their door(s), yet there were no signs of forced entry. There were also indications that the survivors were surveilled by the assailant prior the incident. In all but two cases, the victim was alone.
The assailant was typically described as a white male between 5’9” and 6’0”, with various descriptions of build and estimations of weight and age. We have no confirmed description of the assailant from anyone other than the survivors of these crimes. In most cases a handgun was displayed, with which the assailant threatened the survivors as a means to gain compliance. While the physical violence of the assaults was usually limited to the rape itself, these were all violent acts carried out by an assailant who did so in a cold, calm, calculated manner.
Even before the Attorney General’s announcement in 2009, The Riley County Police Department and the Lawrence Police Department worked closely together to determine if these cases were related, and our joint investigation ultimately established a number of similarities, and a lack of significant dissimilarities, existed between the incidents to conclude that they were likely committed by the same suspect. Nothing in our continued investigation since that time has suggested otherwise.
In the early morning hours on this date in 2015, an unknown assailant entered a residence in the 1400 block of Watson Place in Manhattan with the intent to commit a sexual assault against the female resident, a student attending Kansas State University. A lengthy investigation into the incident has led us to conclude that there is a high probability that the assailant is the same assailant from the previous cases. In 2015, he was described as a white male, approximately 5’10”, and heavier set, most noticeably around the stomach and thighs. The prominent stomach was a frequently mentioned characteristic from previous cases. As to age, we believe the assailant was at minimum 33 years old at the time of the 2015 incident based upon the dates of the previous incidents.
We are announcing this connection between the 2015 case and the previous cases for three reasons. First, given the nearly seven year gap between December of 2008 and July of 2015, we would like to know if there have been similar, unreported incidents during that time span. We cannot say enough about the courageous women who have already stepped forward to provide vital information about their assailant. If anyone feels they had an encounter with an individual matching this description, please know that we want to hear from you, and we want to provide help for you. Your information, even if it is several years old, may help bring justice to all the survivors.
Second, we are making this announcement to solicit information from other individuals who might be able to assist in identifying the assailant. To that end, we are supplying more details than previously released regarding the locations of these incidents. We are hoping that anyone living in the area at the time of these earlier offenses may recall something that could be useful in our investigation. We are currently working on a number of leads, but are not in a position to discuss those leads because to do so might jeopardize the investigation and any potential future prosecution. Major cases are frequently solved with information provided by citizens, thus we need your help to hasten the assailant’s identification and prevent additional assaults.
Finally, we are making this announcement to increase safety awareness among students of Kansas State University and the University of Kansas. We have provided in this release information about the assailant’s description, demeanor, and possible pre-assault actions; and we would like students, as well as the general public, to be mindful of this and to be watchful for anything or anyone that might seem out of place. Do not hesitate to alert the police in such instances. From our perspective, if in any circumstance you wonder whether you should call the police, the answer is yes.
To aid in focusing attention on these cases and assist in providing information to identify and apprehend a suspect, we have dedicated a website, www.kansascollegerapist.com, on which we’ve posted this release along with other important material and resources. Anyone with information relevant to this investigation can visit the site to see the options for contacting us. We also encourage people who want to provide tips to call Manhattan Riley County Crime Stoppers at 785-539-7777 or toll free at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). SMS Text tips are also accepted by sending a text to “CRIMES” (274637) and starting the body of your message with “TIP353.” Webtips are also accepted by visiting Manhattan Riley County Crime Stoppers online or www.RileyCountyPolice.org. Finally, Individuals can download the TipSubmit mobile app for both iPhone and Android operating systems and submit anonymous tips via the app. You do not need to leave your name when providing a tip, collect calls are accepted, and you may be eligible for a cash reward. For those living in the Lawrence area, we are asking that you use also use these numbers and resources when providing tips, as one point of contact will help us ensure that nothing falls through the cracks.
In what is locally a rather unusual move, one which accentuates the community’s concern about these incidents; an anonymous local donor has provided $10,000 to the Riley County Police Department for use as reward money for information that leads to an arrest in these cases. This is in addition to the Crime Stoppers reward.
We also contacted Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt and Kansas Bureau of Investigation Director Kirk Thompson to brief them on the status of the investigation. Both continue to offer their support in our efforts to solve these cases. In addition, we contacted the administrations of both Kansas State University and the University of Kansas, as well as their respective police departments. We also re-issued an updated alert to law enforcement agencies nation-wide about this investigation in the event that other jurisdictions have experienced similar, unsolved cases. Finally, we want to the public to know that we have been working with the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, the FBI, and the US Marshal’s Service during the course of this investigation. Their valuable assistance has come in the form of evidence collection and evaluation, offender behavioral analysis, and investigative recommendations. We will continue to seek out organizations and individuals, law enforcement or otherwise, who could be of assistance in bringing these cases to successful resolutions.
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MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Authorities have new information about a serial rapist who is believed to have attacked 13 women from 2000 to 2008 in the college towns of Manhattan and Lawrence.
A news conference is planned for Thursday morning in Manhattan to discuss an ongoing investigation into the rapes that terrorized the Kansas State and University of Kansas campuses.
The Kansas attorney general’s office announced in 2009 that it was investigating the link between the attacks after the two communities sought help from the agency. Most of the attacks happened between 2 a.m. and 4:30 a.m. during school breaks. All were in off-campus housing where students commonly live.
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.
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The Riley County and Lawrence Police Departments will conduct a joint media press conference regarding ongoing sexual assaults in both counties dating back to October 2000.
The press conference will be held on Thursday, July 27th at the Riley County Law enforcement center in Manhattan.
The number of reported rapes in Manhattan continues to increase.
Most recently, on Tuesday a 24-year-old woman reported that an unknown suspect threatened and raped her at her Manhattan residence.
Authorities say the number of rapes reported in Manhattan and surrounding areas has doubled during the first quarter of this year compared with the same time last year.
Authorities say some of the rapes reported this year came from one investigation, after detectives identified other victims while investigating the original report.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Agriculture Committee Chairmen Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., and Rep. K. Michael Conaway, R-Texas, today addressed more than 100 state FFA officers, urging them to advocate on behalf of agriculture and take advantage of the plentiful jobs within agriculture.
