The monthly Milford Lake bird walk will be Saturday, May 27th at 8 a.m.
Chuck Otte said participants will meet at the parking lot on the south end of Milford Lake Dam, just across the highway from the Corps of Engineers Office. This month’s walk will focus on returning nesting species and lingering migrants. The walks usually last about two to three hours and involve moderate walking.
If you have binoculars or a bird book, bring them.
JUNCTION CITY – Summer is right around the corner and for many Geary County families, this time of year can be especially hard for those who experience food insecurity (which means limited or uncertain access to food). Unfortunately, 1 in 5 children in Geary County experience food insecurity – the highest rate in the state of Kansas.
During the school year, 62.5% of Geary County kids participate in the Free/Reduced Meal program to eat breakfast and lunch at school. Approximately 250 children participate in the Food-4-Kids Backpack Program which provides each child with a pack on Fridays containing enough food to get the kids through the weekend and to school breakfast on Monday morning.
But what happens when school is out for summer? According to the Kansas Food Bank, on average, a family can expect to spend $300 more per month for food when kids lose access to school meals during the summer. When school is out for the year, it can be especially hard on families who experience increased costs in their grocery bills.
Now in its second year, Junction City is participating in the USDA Summer Food Service Program to help families who struggle to feed their children at this time of year. Food is brought to Junction City via Wichita’s Kansas Food Bank and coordinated locally through Live Well Geary County where these events have earned the nickname “Summer Picnic Parties”. These picnics are staffed 100% by community volunteers – most are from area churches – who come together to ensure kids have an opportunity for a healthy lunch in a safe and fun environment. Last year’s volunteers served 4,100 meals to kids.
Summer Picnic Parties will operate every weekday (with the exception of July 4), serving lunch from Noon to 1:00 pmMonday – Friday, from May 30 to July 28 at five locations in Junction City and Grandview Plaza:
· Playground Park, 1001 W 5th Street, Junction City
· First Presbyterian Church, 113 W 5th Street, Junction City
· Dorothy Bramlage Library, 230 W 7th Street, Junction City
· Regency Mobile Home Court, 948 Grant Ave, Junction City
· Grandview Community Center, 402 State Ave, Grandview Plaza
Summer Picnic Party lunches are provided for any child age 1-18. Lunches are completely free and no paperwork is required. Each location will display colorful yard signs and flags inviting kids to “come on in” and eat lunch. Additional activities at some of the picnic locations will include book exchanges, activity boxes, access to free library programs, an indoor gym at the Presbyterian Church, and plenty of outdoor fun at Playground Park.
Attendance at the Summer Picnic Parties comes with an added bonus: the opportunity to win a new bike and helmet. Each time a child attends a picnic party, they can enter to win. One lucky winner from each picnic site will be chosen, so the more picnic parties a child attends, the more chances they have to win!
More details about the Summer Picnic Party program and the complete daily picnic lunch menu for the summer are available online at www.livewellgearycounty.
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High
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65° | Partly sunny. Chance of rain showers and slight chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the mid 60s. northwest winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation 30 percent. |
Geary County is taking measures to eradicate termites from the Geary County Extension Office Building.
County Commission Chairman Ben Bennett said they were discovered by Extension Agent Chuck Otte. “Exterminators are going to treat it. It’s going to cost us $1,013, and then we’re going to enter into a maintenance agreement with them for $185 ( per year ). That maintenance agreement is designed to keep the termites out of the building.
During an Extension Department report to the commission the governing body learned the spring and summer agriculture crops are unpredictable at this point because of all the rain, and problems that may cause for the growth process. That could have a negative impact on yields.
The Extension Department will have an exofficio non-voting position on the Live Well Geary County.
DICKINSON COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities are investigating 3 suspects on drug charges.
Police received a call, reporting suspicious activity at a Super 8 Motel in 2200 Block of North Buckeye Avenue in Abilene, according to a media release. Early Saturday, officers received consent to search room number 306.
“The search resulted in the discovery of 188 grams of methamphetamine, personal use marijuana and numerous items of drug paraphernalia. The methamphetamine has an estimated street value of approximately $19,000, according to police.
Officers arrested 21-year-old Lindsey N. Whisenhunt, Salina and 34-year-old Bailey E O’Brien, Wichita, on numerous drug charges.
A third individual, Michael J. Thompson, Salina, was also arrested for an outstanding warrant from the Kansas Department of Corrections.
(Manhattan, Kan., May 22, 2017) — The City of Manhattan has launched a free mobile app today that will allow residents to report non-emergent issues they see across the community.
The app replaces the city’s Report It! online form. Residents now will be able to not only report issues, but also see other issues reported nearby and follow issues they have reported through to their completion.
“We want to provide accountability to our citizens,” said Kiel Mangus, assistant city manager. “Our staff will be updating service requests as they come in, and the residents who have reported them will receive updates until those issues are resolved.”
The City of Manhattan Report It! app can be downloaded for free on Android and Apple devices. The app also has a Web component for residents without smartphones. Issues can still be reported online at CityofMHK.com/ReportIt.
On the app, users can report issues as they see them by uploading a photo or video and providing a description of the problem. The photo or video is not required, but is helpful to staff responding to the report. The app will geo-locate the user, or the user can enter an address for the report. Users will be required to set up an account in order to submit their service request; issues cannot be reported anonymously.
In addition to the service request feature, the app also has some of the most popular links residents use on the city’s website, including job opportunities, water bill payment and a variety of community maps.
Mike Overbay has filed for Milford City Council, according to the Geary County Clerk’s office.
Overbay is the first candidate to file for a seat on that city council. Three seats are up for election.
May 22, 2017– Heading into the Memorial Day weekend, things are looking alright at the pump for motorists. The percentage in difference from last year’s prices is closing to zero for some areas. Today’s prices are beginning to look a lot like last year. Kansas is ranked number 10 for the lowest State average gas prices in the country.
The high/low around the state: Deerfield-$2.45/Hesston-$2.00
Heading into Memorial Day weekend, national gas prices are increasing for the first time in four weeks. Today’s national average is $2.36/gallon – two cents more than a week ago, six cents less than a month ago, but eight cents more than a year ago. The increases are likely the result of rising demand and crude oil prices. At least 36 states saw price increases on the week, with national gasoline inventories dropping by 400,000 bbl to 240.7 million.
|
today |
last week |
last month |
last year |
Change over last year |
|
|
National |
$2.36 |
$2.34 |
$2.42 |
$2.28 |
4% |
|
Kansas |
$2.16 |
$2.15 |
$2.27 |
$2.10 |
3% |
|
Emporia |
$2.16 |
$2.16 |
$2.25 |
$2.11 |
2% |
|
Garden City |
$2.16 |
$2.18 |
$2.27 |
$2.06 |
5% |
|
Hays |
$2.20 |
$2.22 |
$2.34 |
$2.09 |
5% |
|
KCK |
$2.16 |
$2.18 |
$2.32 |
$2.15 |
0% |
|
Lawrence |
$2.17 |
$2.18 |
$2.35 |
$2.17 |
0% |
|
Manhattan |
$2.20 |
$2.14 |
$2.23 |
$2.12 |
4% |
|
Pittsburg |
$2.11 |
$2.11 |
$2.18 |
$2.02 |
4% |
|
Salina |
$2.17 |
$2.01 |
$2.28 |
$2.00 |
9% |
|
Topeka |
$2.18 |
$2.14 |
$2.26 |
$2.09 |
4% |
|
Wichita |
$2.12 |
$2.14 |
$2.26 |
$2.06 |
3% |
Bordering states and rank in lowest gas prices around the country
|
State |
Current Avg |
Rank today |
Rank Last Week |
|
Missouri |
$2.10 |
6 |
2 |
|
Oklahoma |
$2.10 |
7 |
8 |
|
Kansas |
$2.16 |
10 |
10 |
|
Colorado |
$2.33 |
24 |
29 |
|
Nebraska |
$2.28 |
16 |
20 |
Motorists can find current gas prices along their route with the free AAA Mobile app for iPhone, iPad and Android. The app can also be used to map a route, find discounts, book a hotel and access AAA roadside assistance. Learn more at AAA.com/mobile.
SHAWNEE COUNTY -Two people were injured in a chain reaction motorcycle accident just before 9 a.m. Monday on Interstate 70 in Shawnee County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported six motorcycles were eastbound on Interstate 70 in the right-hand lane when one of them started to slow down as they approached Rice Road.
The bike that started to slow was struck by the motorcycle directly behind it, causing a chain-reaction collision.
Clinton Way Gunter, 65, Yuma, AZ, and James Marshall, Jr., 69, Bruceton Mills, WV., were transported to a hospital in Topeka.
Four others including riders from Indiana and Missouri were not injured. All six were wearing helmets, according to the KHP.
—
The riders are believed to have been traveling with the Run for the Wall group that left Junction City today toward their final destination of Washington, D.C.
Former State Representative Allan Rothlisberg has filed for the City Council in Grandview Plaza.
Rothlisberg joins Marvin Edison in filing for the City Council; Rick Geike has filed for Mayor of Grandview Plaza.
Rothlisberg was defeated in the Republican primary for the 65th District House of Representatives in 2014 by current Representative Lonnie Clark.
