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Fort Riley to Save Money Through New Energy Contract, Partnership

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An energy savings performance contract “ground breaking” ceremony takes
place at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Fort Riley’s garrison headquarters.

The ceremony will highlight the award of the energy savings contract to
Southland Energy and commemorates the start of the construction phase.  The
contract is overseen by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Engineering and
Support Center.

Through the contract, Southland Energy will complete 15 energy conservation
measures across 5.4 million square feet of Fort Riley.  Southland will
expand and upgrade central plants and energy management controls; perform
HVAC, interior, exterior, street and airfield LED lighting upgrades; and
improve boiler and water conservation measures.

Once complete, the 22-month construction phase will reduce utility
expenditures by $2.4 million per year over the life of the contract, while
improving operational efficiency and reducing maintenance costs.  The
multi-phase project is expected to provide more than $37 million in facility
improvements across 280 Fort Riley buildings.

Improvements will be paid for from the expected $2.4 million in annual cost
savings.  The savings are anticipated to achieve more than $92 million in
savings over a 22-year period.

The project’s completion date is expected to be January 2019.

Guest speakers at Tuesday’s ceremony are Fort Riley Garrison Commander Col.
John Lawrence, Mr. Albert “Chip” Marin of the Huntsville Engineering and
Support Center, and Mr. Joseph Cvetas from Southland Industries.

Proposed new high school project not slowing down

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The proposed new Junction City High School is not on hold.

Dr. Corbin Witt, USD 475 Superintendent of Schools, said that based on the new school funding legislation, now is the last time the District could afford a bond issue big enough for a new school project.

While the campaign has been more silent in recent weeks, Witt contends that the intent is still to move forward with the proposed bond issue.

“We don’t want to start too soon, because our concern was that if you peak too soon then you may lose some interest; and we don’t want to lose interest, we want people to be interested and get out and vote for the bond issue.”

Witt added that officials will begin “sharing the facts” with the community again very soon.

The District will be able to put a proposed bond issue before voters in the November general elections for a ‘yay’ or ‘nay’ vote. The community would have to vote in favor of the project in order for the State to pay for 48 percent of the cost of a new high school.

Matt Droge, Executive Director of Communications for USD 475, said that they will begin releasing a lot of information in the next month.

“We’re redoing a webpage within one of the District’s websites to outline all the information that anyone might want to know about the project; it’s important to the District that voters go out and vote informed – so we want to be able to provide them that information.”

In addition to State aid, District officials have proposed using Heavily Impacted Aid from the Federal Government for the project.

‘Difficult but necessary’ – Senate Vice Pres. Longbine on income tax increase, and nearing adjournment

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It was a difficult but necessary vote. 

That’s the sentiment of Senate Vice President Jeff Longbine, just two days after the historical override of the Governor’s veto to enact the largest income tax increase in Kansas history. The legislation not only increased income taxes to close a $889 million budget shortfall through 2019, it also provided a $293 million increase in public school funding over two years.

Longbine said that a vote to raise taxes, is not an easy vote for anyone.

“I don’t know of a single Legislator that wants to raise taxes; unfortunately we found ourselves in a budget deficit over ’18 and ’19 of almost $900 million, and on top of that the requirement to do a new school finance formula,” said Longbine. “So we really had very little options.”

State lawmakers worked throughout the Legislative Session to find a tax plan, school funding formula that Governor Brownback would agree with and ultimately sign.

“The Governor has been critical of the Legislature in passing [that], but we really had very few options.”

Longbine noted that going forward, he is optimistic for Kansas and that it’s citizens “will have options.”

“We can start restoring highway funds, we can make sure that we do fund K-12 education, we can hopefully keep tuition increases down at our higher ed institutions, and make sure that we’re taking care of our infrastructure,” said Longbine. 

The tax increase, albeit monumental for the future of the State, was met with criticism from more than 330,000 farmers and small business owners who benefitted from Brownback’s tax exemptions he championed in 2012 and 2013.

Longbine noted that the re-establishment of the LLC is difficult, but it’s not necessarily negative. “In previous tax policy, the state of Kansas no longer allowed loss carryovers, so if a small business or a farmer had a bad year they couldn’t carry those losses forward and couldn’t write off those losses; with the new tax legislation that’s been passed, those losses will flow through…I don’t think the impact to allow those losses to flow through will be as big as people think it will.”

Nonetheless, adjournment for the Legislature is near.

“The Senate has passed our two year budget and we’ve also passed what is called the ominous bill – which is kind of the cleanup bill that comes after revenue estimates are finalized in April.”

Longbine noted that the House is debating their version of two year budget bill today; if the bill in the House passes today negotiators between the House and Senate will begin conferencing on the differences and similarities between the two bills to come to a compromise.

Once the House and Senate have come to a compromise on a budget, legislators should be able to adjourn. Longbine is hopeful this will occur on Friday (June 9th).

Baby Gibbon Born at Manhattan’s Sunset Zoo

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NEWS RELEASE

June 2017, Manhattan, KS –Manhattan’s Sunset Zoo welcomed a new addition this week – a baby white-handed gibbon.  Born Memorial Weekend at the AZA-accredited institution, the baby is mother Leslie’s (21) and father Dempsey’s (17) first offspring Sunset Zoo.  Both the new infant and Leslie are doing well. The new addition is roughly two weeks old and after a period of observation to ensure safety and health of the baby and its mother, both are now open to viewing by the public at the John Woodard Memorial Gibbons Exhibit along the Asian Trail Forest.

“We are thrilled to welcome a new baby to the Sunset Zoo, especially to this endangered subspecies of gibbon.  Both Leslie and Dempsey are first time parents and they are doing an excellent job caring for the baby. The staff looks forward to continuing work with the AZA on conservation and awareness efforts for the white-handed gibbon population,” said Scott Shoemaker, Zoo Director.

White-handed gibbons are small, tailless apes with soft, thick fur. They hail from Southern and Southeast Asia, have an omnivore diet, and can live up to 25-30 years. Baby white-handed gibbons will nurse for about 2 years and will reach full maturity around 8 years of life. White-handed gibbons are born white, and will receive their final coloring around 2 to 4 years of age.

The new parents arrived at the Sunset Zoo in 2012 from North Carolina and have been loved residents ever since. The new family is back on exhibit for public viewing at the John Woodward Memorial Gibbons Exhibit along the Asian Trail Forest. Staff encourages visitors to be patient when trying to get a glimpse of the newest member; both parents are being very protective of the young one. Guests should expect to see Leslie carrying the baby before it starts to move around on its own.

Sunset Zoo invites the community to the annual Brew at the Zoo event co-hosted by the Friends of Sunset Zoo evening of Saturday, August 19th where there will be a naming opportunity for the baby. Tickets to the popular fundraising event will go on sale this July both online and at the Zoo ticket booth.

For more information about Sunset Zoo, visit SunsetZoo.com or call 785.587.APES. Sunset Zoo is located at 2333 Oak Street near the Manhattan High School West Campus. Home to over 250 animals and accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums, the Zoo is committed to inspiring the conservation of our natural world.

Local Students named to Dean’s Honor Roll at FHSU

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HAYS, Kan. — Local students are among the 1,455 named by Fort Hays State University to the Deans Honor Roll for the spring 2017 semester.

The list includes undergraduate students only. To be eligible, students must have completed 12 or more credit hours and have a minimum grade point average of 3.60 for the semester. Full-time on-campus and FHSU Virtual College students are eligible.

Students are listed alphabetically by county, city and ZIP with their classifications and, for those who have declared them, majors. Students without a classification are students seeking a second degree or are students who, though full time, are not seeking a degree.

GEARY
Fort Riley (66442): Jessica Arlene Borgerding is a senior majoring in sociology.
Junction City (66441): Brooke Nicole Bliss is a freshman majoring in accounting (public).
Katie Lynn Cech is a junior majoring in organizational leadership.
William Clayton is a sophomore majoring in general studies (massage therapy).
Hannah Karina Hanson is a junior majoring in political science.
Kenneth Marion Jr. is a junior majoring in political science.
Kathryn Olivia Westerhaus is a freshman majoring in biology (education).
Amanda Whitebread is a junior majoring in psychology.

DICKINSON
Abilene (67410): Karina Anderson is a senior majoring in nursing.
Kevin Michael Bacon is a junior majoring in art.
Isabelle Kate Barbieri is a freshman majoring in nursing.
Megan Bielefeld is a freshman majoring in agricultural business.
Gavin James Blehm is a freshman majoring in music (education).
Kellsi Lin Brantley is a senior majoring in early childhood unified education.
Alexis Ray Cochran is a junior majoring in sociology.
Anna Melissa Corl is a freshman majoring in nursing.
Kiley Michelle Crider is a senior majoring in health and human performance (K-12 teaching and coaching).
Jennifer R. Dewitt is a freshman majoring in accounting.
Brittany Marie Duer is a junior majoring in agriculture (agronomy).
Tara Lynn Hoekman is a senior majoring in nursing.
Brandon Lee Jones is a junior majoring in music (education).
Jennifer Grace Petz is a sophomore majoring in nursing.
Sarah Ann Stout is a freshman majoring in nursing.
Chapman (67431): Michelle Renee Clark is a senior majoring in marketing (digital).
Zachary Craig Harris is a sophomore majoring in physics.
Dana Obermeyer is a senior majoring in general studies (human services).
Kade Michael Sims is a sophomore majoring in justice studies.

CLAY
Clay Center (67432): Macy Linea Franson is a junior majoring in health and human performance (sport and exercise therapy).
Molly McKenna Greene is a junior majoring in general studies.
Dalton Jacob Haist is a senior majoring in health and human performance (K-12 teaching and coaching).
Alyssa Lynn Steppe is a senior majoring in political science.
Wakefield (67487): Emilie Catherine Pearson is a junior majoring in medical diagnostic imaging.

MORRIS

Council Grove (66846): Lydia Leshai Grimmett is a senior majoring in sociology.
White City (66872): Mindy Morgan Stilwell is a senior majoring in education.
Lindsey Sue Wey is a senior majoring in management.

Victory with Honors, on the 100th Anniversary of the Big Red One

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by: DeAngela McDougald

Since the liberation of the city of Cantigny, France to the liberation of Mosul – the second largest city in Iraq – the First Infantry Division (1ID) has led and continues to lead the nation to victory.

On June 8, 1917 the First Expeditionary Division (as it was called then) was officially organized in New York City. Since it’s inception Big Red One soldiers have led the nation in battle in nearly every major conflict.

The First Infantry Division led the charge in World War One, World War Two, and Vietnam; they were also the first to return to Iraq in 2014. Aside from being the first, the Division went to battle in nearly every other conflict since 1917.

Today, that storied history was celebrated – on the 100th anniversary of the Big Red One.

“We started off with a Division run today, all the soldiers were fired up across Fort Riley; and then we had our Victory with Honors today, really marking the history of this great Division,” said Fort Riley and 1ID Acting Senior Commander Brigadier General Patrick Frank.

The Victory with Honors ceremony this morning recounted the history of the Division with visual representations through uniforms and streamers representing the various conflicts throughout 100 years.

“We are the nation’s oldest Division; so Blackjack Pershing knew exactly what regiments he wanted to form into the First Division for the nation as they went into World War One,” said Frank. “In fact he said ‘Lafayette we are back’ as they arrived in France – that’s a pretty powerful statement for our young nation at the time as the First Infantry Division went into battle against the enemies in Europe.”

For those witnessing the ceremony, it was powerful and inspiring – for Frank, he said he feels a great deal of pride in representing and being a part of the Big Red One.

“That type of pride, and knowing that we have soldiers that are out there in harm’s way impacts all the 10,000 soldiers that were in the run this morning; and you can see that unit pride in the Big Red One come out [of them] from PT (physical training) in the morning to final formation at night.”

The 1ID has fought in five wars with 35 Medal of Honor recipients and more than 35 campaign participation credits.

No Mission Too Difficult, No Sacrifice Too Great, Duty First!

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USD 475 not Anticipating State Funding Increase

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Dr. Corbin Witt, Superintendent USD 475

The action by the Kansas Legislature this week on public school funding does not apparently include new money for Geary USD 475.

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Corbin Witt said the district has experienced some enrollment declines. “Based on that we’ll be down on funding. ”  Witt added unless there is a hold harmless provision he doesn’t see a scenario where the district would not be down on funding. “We have already made the adjustments and are able to cover that with what we’ve done this year. So we’re right where we thought we would be with this school finance formula. We had guessed that it would be a cut of somewhere around six-and-a-half million. We’ve already made those cuts.”

The Legislature proposed a $293 million dollars increase in K-12 funding over a two-year period. That plan must now be reviewed by the Kansas Supreme Court to see if it is an adequate funding amount. If not, the matter could be returned back to the Legislature.

Community Band to Perform

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The Junction City Community Band will present a free concert on Sunday, June 11, at 7 pm at the C. L. Hoover Opera House.  The concert will feature a variety of marches and popular music.  The band performs each Sunday in June at the opera house.

Mexican man deported more than ten times pleads guilty to indecent liberties with a child

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Tomas Martinez-Maldonado

A Mexican man who has been deported from the United States more than ten times has plead guilty to two felony counts of indecent liberties with a child.

Tomas Martinez – Maldonado entered the guilty plea in Geary County District Court last month in connection with the September 2016 rape of a young girl while traveling on a Greyhound bus on Interstate 70 through Geary County.

Maldonado was taken into custody in late September 2016 in Kansas City, Missouri, where authorities alerted U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). ICE has said previously that Maldonado is a priority for deportation when his case in Kansas is completed.

Assistant County Attorney Michelle Brown was the prosecutor.

Sentencing is set for July 17th in Geary County District Court.

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