The Junction City Police Department is building on their public relations and diving into the world of social media.

Lieutenant Trish Giordano, JCPD, recently completed a course to become the public information officer for the police department.

“This is a huge trend in law enforcement, a lot of the bigger agencies have full time [public information officers], I’m just adding it to my patrol and Lieutenant duties,” said Giordano. “I’ll be responsible for informing the public and if there’s a major incident I will respond and keep the media and the public informed.”

Law enforcement has become much more transparent over the years creating a deeper understanding of the role of officers and the expectations of the community.

“We are more transparent throughout the nation, people need to understand what we do as police officers and why we do things; I think that helps foster the relationships between the police and the community.”

Giordano will also take on the world of social media in another attempt to inform and engage with the community.

“Using social media to either inform the public or warn them of something – I think that is a huge tool for us,” said Giordano who noted that they may also post some cheery or funny posts as well.

You can follow the Police Department on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/JCPDKS/.

In the 24 hour period on Tuesday, June 20th the Junction City Police Department (JCPD) responded to 91 calls for service, issued 26 citations and made 4 arrests.

The JCPD reports the arrest of Michael Marcel Charles Sullivan, 41, on requested charges of Motor vehicle theft, Possession of stolen property, Possession of marijuana, Possession of drug paraphernalia, and Possession of Methamphetamine. Sullivan was arrested in the 1800 block of N Washington Street.

Officers also report the arrest of 21 year old Dakota Michael McMillian, Wakefield, for Possession of Marijuana and Possession of drug paraphernalia in the 100 block of E 14th street in Junction City.

Celebrating 100 years with 100 veterans of the Big Red One.

One hundred veterans have been invited to attend the Thursday, June 22nd Military Affairs Council (MAC) Breakfast at the Geary County Convention Center in Junction City.

Ret. Col. John Seitz, MAC Director, said that the veterans that have been invited are part of the What is your Big Red One Story series completed by Mayor Phyllis Fitzgerald.

“All of those [stories] that were in the paper are combined now into a book, and each of the people who were written about will have a book with all of those stories in it,” said Seitz. “Several copies of the book will be autographed so they can be put in the museum, and the library and places like that.”

The stories were published in the Fort Riley Post as well as the local newspaper.

Seitz said that Junction City is the hometown of the First Infantry Division. “This is a part of Junction City showing its support of the 100th anniversary of the Big Red One.”

Over 75 of the veterans who were featured in the stories have RSVP’d for the breakfast. Seitz expects the MAC breakfast attendance to reach capacity.

“We’ve never had this many people before; we’re capped at 250 and we’ll probably have 250 because we’ll have some walk-ins, we always do.”

Various veterans’ stories and photos will be on display around the room, and three veterans have been asked to speak about their time serving with the Big Red One.

The breakfast begins at 7:30 am; the cost is $12 per person, active duty service members are $10.

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — A Wichita man has been sentenced to nearly 60 years in prison for kidnapping a woman in Manhattan.

The Riley County Attorney says 39-year-old Sergio Guerra was sentenced Monday for aggravated kidnapping.

Police say in March 2016, Guerra got into the car of a 19-year-old woman he didn’t know and tried to drive off with her inside.

The woman tried to flee but was unable to get out of the vehicle. She was partially out of the car when Guerra took off, dragging her about 800 feet.

The woman suffered serious but non-life threatening injuries.

Guerra was found guilty in April of aggravated kidnapping and aggravated robbery. He was found not guilty of attempted rape.

UPDATE: The water has been restored for the 100 block of E 1^ST.

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The Junction City Public Works Department has reported a water main break in the 100 block of East 1st Street. At 8:21 a.m. the Public Works Department reported that water will be shut off there for a four to six hour duration due to the water main break.

The Junction City Community Band will present its final free concert on Sunday, June 25, at 7 pm at the C. L. Hoover Opera House.

The concert will include three selections by the newly formed community orchestra. The band program will feature a variety of marches, classical, and popular music.

This concert will also feature Chapman native Sam Markley performing three songs by the Beatles.

TOPEKA—Four members of the Kansas Judicial Council were reappointed to four-year terms by Chief Justice Lawton R. Nuss of the Kansas Supreme Court.

Serving until June 30, 2021, are J. Nick Badgerow of Overland Park, Kansas Court of Appeals Judge Stephen D. Hill of Topeka, Geary County District Judge Maritza Segarra of Junction City, and Sarah “Sally” Shattuck of Ashland.

Additionally, Barton County District Judge Mike Keeley of Great Bend was appointed to serve the remainder of the term of retiring Labette County District Judge Robert J. Fleming of Parsons. Keeley, who also is chief judge of the 20th Judicial District, will serve from July 15, 2017, until June 30, 2019.