Outdoor emergency sirens are not the only method of warning you should rely on for severe weather notification and safety.
Garry Berges, Geary County Emergency Management Director, said that sirens are not always the most reliable source.
“Storm sirens or outdoor sirens are not to notify you technically if you’re indoors, that’s why we suggest people get weather apps on their phone and have weather radios,” said Berges. “You need more than one way to be notified on severe weather.”
Develop a disaster plan including a disaster supplies kit.
Identify a safe place to take shelter. Do this ahead of severe weather, waiting until a warning is too late!
Know the county/area in which you live to understand if the storm is traveling your direction.
Have a weather radio.
Keep a map to follow storm movements as you hear it reported.
“When we say it’s going to be a chance of severe weather that day, [residents] need to know where they’re going to go in case of storms while you’re out shopping or running errands,” said Berges. “Know where your places of safety are; if it’s starting to storm and you see the line of storms coming in and you want to go out [on errands], wait until the storms go past.”
For local severe weather coverage tune to 1420 AM, 97.5 FM, or 103.5 FM for weather updates and alerts. For minute by minute coverage and updates follow Junction City Post on Facebook and always check jcpost.com.
Kansas is amongst the worst states for military retirees – yes you read that right, Kansas – home of Fort Riley and the Big Red One, is not the most “retiree friendly.”
A new report by Wallethub rating the Best & Worst States for Military Retirees ranks Kansas as number 44 on that list, or the eighth worst state for military retirees.
The report compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 22 key indicators of retirement friendliness toward veterans.
The data set ranges from job opportunities for veterans to housing affordability and the quality of Veteran’s Administration (VA) hospitals.
Kansas’ ranks 41st in “economic environment”, 26th for “quality of life” and 47th for health care.
Despite the state’s overall ranking being amongst the worst, Kansas is among the top 5 in the lowest percentage of homeless veterans and most affordable housing.
Other rankings include:
15th – Veterans per Capita
29th – Number of VA Health Facilities per Number of Veterans
15th – Housing Affordability
35th – Number of VA Benefits-Administration Facilities per Number of Veterans
48th – Arts, Leisure & Recreation Establishments per Capita
28th – % of Population Aged 40 & Older
51st– Dollars in Defense Department Contracts per Capita
While this report is reflective of the entire state, it does not show areas within each state that defy the overall average. For example, the addition of the new Seitz VA Clinic in Junction City this Spring adds to that number of health facilities per the number of veterans; Geary County is also home to Milford Lake which boosts the recreation opportunities in the area.
Brigadier General Patrick Frank, Fort Riley and 1st Infantry Division Acting Senior Commander, recently addressed an audience of veterans and military supporters during a Run for the Wall ceremony on May 21st in Junction City.
“I consider myself a Kansan now,” said Frank, who is originally from New York. “For our riders and our veterans that are guests here today, the reason I consider myself a Kansan is you’re in the hometown of the 1st Infantry Division – Junction City, Kansas.”
Frank noted that Junction City is the place “where Army values meet Kansan values” and coexist in harmony.
At the top of the Wallethub list for military retirees is Florida, Montana, New Hampshire, Wyoming and South Carolina.
At a rank of 44 out of 51 is Kansas followed by West Virginia, Connecticut, Utah, North Carolina, Rhode Island, New Jersey and the District of Columbia.
Neighboring Missouri ranks 25th, Colorado 29th and Oklahoma is 14th for military retiree friendliness.
Art in the Park will be held in Heritage Park in downtown Junction City from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on June 3rd.
Activities will include a Kid Zone where children can enjoy the duck pond, pool noodles, bucket toss, craft table and sidewalk chalk. There will be food vendors ranging from Rolling Smoke Barbeque to Oven-Fired Pizza truck. Artists, painters, wood worker, crafters of multiple types and jewelers will participate.
There will be music in the bandstand beginning at 11:30 with the quartet “Just Us,” at noon “Quittin’ Time” and at one p.m. North 40.
There will be a special historical reenactment presentation. Scott Jury and family will erect a Lakota-style teepee and a trapper’s tent. They will recreate the Fur Trader’s Era of American history. They demonstrate cooking, fire-starting, tool-making and tell stories.
RILEY COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting and looking for a person of interest.
The victim identified as German Gonzalez-Garcia, 39, Manhattan died in the shooting in the 2800 block of Nelson’s Landing in Manhattan on Sunday evening, according to a media release.
The person of interest is Steven Harris, 38, Manhattan.
Harris is a white Hispanic male, approximately 5 foot 7 inches tall and weighs 145 pounds, according to police.Harris also has distinctive tattoos to his face, neck, and back of the head.
Police reminded the public If located, do not approach him, call 911.
The vehicle of interest has been positively identified as a 2004 gold Buick Rendezvous. If you see a vehicle matching this description, please give us a call at 911 (if it’s urgent), 785-537-2112 to speak with dispatch, or contact Riley County Crime Stoppers at 785-539-7777 or 1-800-222-8477.
Vehicle shown below is NOT the actual vehicle, simply meant for illustrative purposes.
Police closed Northview Elementary school Monday due to the active shooting investigation in the 600 Block of Frey Drive in Manhattan.
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RILEY COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting and looking for a suspect.
A man died in a shooting in the 2800 block of Nelson’s Landing in Manhattan on Sunday evening, according to a media release. The victim identified as German Gonzalez-Garcia, 39, of Manhattan, according to a social media report from police.
Just after 9a.m. Monday, police reported their operation in Frey Drive had ended and officers were serving a search warrant on the residence, according to a social media report.
Officers have developed a person of interest and are pursuing leads regarding him at this time.
PARENTS: Northview Elementary will be cancelling school today in light of the police operation in the 600 block of Frey Dr.
Another man was transported to the hospital with apparent gunshot wounds and is expected to survive.
Riley County Police are looking for a white late 90’s, early 2000’s truck with black front and back brush guards, a silver Craftsmen toolbox, and 20 inch rims.
Officers asked the public to call 911 if they see the vehicle. However, the public is also being advised to not attempt to approach the vehicle.
No additional details were available late Sunday.
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RILEY COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting and looking for a suspect.
A man died in a shooting in the 2800 block of Nelson’s Landing in Manhattan on Sunday evening, according to a media release.
The victim was identified as German Gonzalez-Garcia, 39, of Manhattan, according to a social media report from police.
Police closed Northview Elementary school Monday due to the active shooting investigation in the 600 Block of Frey Drive in Manhattan.
PARENTS: Northview Elementary will be cancelling school today in light of the police operation in the 600 block of Frey Dr.
In addition to the fatality, another man was transported to the hospital with apparent gunshot wounds and is expected to survive.
Riley County Police are looking for a white late 90’s, early 2000’s truck with black front and back brush guards, a silver Craftsmen toolbox, and 20 inch rims.
Officers asked the public to call 911 if they see the vehicle. However, the public is also being advised to not attempt to approach the vehicle.
No additional details were available late Sunday.
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RILEY COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting and looking for a suspect.
A man died in a shooting in the 2800 block of Nelson’s Landing in Manhattan on Sunday evening, according to a media release. The victim was identified as German Gonzalez-Garcia, 39, of Manhattan, according to a social media report from police.
Another man was transported to the hospital with apparent gunshot wounds and is expected to survive.
Riley County Police are looking for a white late 90’s, early 2000’s truck with black front and back brush guards, a silver Craftsmen toolbox, and 20 inch rims.
Officers asked the public to call 911 if they see the vehicle. However, the public is also being advised to not attempt to approach the vehicle.
No additional details were available late Sunday.
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Riley County police have reported that one man was found dead from apparent gunshot wounds and one man was transported to a hospital with apparent gunshot wounds. The second victim is expected to survive.
The shooting occurred in the 2800 block of Nelson’s Landing in Manhattan about six p.m.
No suspect has been apprehended. If the public sees this vehicle call 911 and do not approach the vehicle. An earlier description of a suspect vehicle issued by RCPD has been pulled back by police.
USD 383 and Riley County police officials have announced on their Facebook page that due to the ongoing RCPD investigation in the 600 block of Frey Drive in Manhattan, Northview Elementary School will not be holding classes today.
POTTAWATOMIE COUNTY – A Kansas man died in an accident just before 6p.m. on Sunday in Pottawatomie County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2002 Harley Davidson motorcycle driven by Smith, Justin A. Smith, 42, Centralia, was northbound on Carnahan Road one mile south of Greene Road south of Olsburg.
The driver failed to negotiate a curve. The motorcycle crossed the center line, went left off the roadway, struck a ditch, went airborne and the driver was ejected.
Smith was pronounced dead at the scene. He was wearing a helmet, according to the KHP.
Approximately 400 motorcycles made their way into Heritage Park on Sunday evening as part of the Run for the Wall (RFTW) cross country ride to Washington, D.C.
Event coordinator Carl “Rusty” Brown said that the ride is therapeutic for many veterans that participate.
“You come back [from war] and who can you trust – you can’t talk to your wife, your girlfriend, your family members – they weren’t there, they don’t understand,” said Brown. “But when you get into this ride, you’ve got to trust that guy sitting next to you – we’re handlebar to handlebar going down the road at 70 miles per hour.”
Junction City has become a favorite pit stop for the RFTW riders; General Patrick Frank, 1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley Acting Senior Commander, said it’s where “Kansas values meet Army values.”
Frank was the guest speaker for the ceremony in front of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Heritage Park.
“Today’s generation of soldiers thanks you [veterans]; if it was not for your generation, and we stand on your shoulders, the U.S. Military – every service, has learned from your generation, has seen the sacrifices of your generation – the Vietnam generation,” said Frank. “We stand on the shoulders of giants when we refer to the Vietnam veterans and what we owe to that generation.”
The ceremony concluded with the awarding of eagle lapel pins for Vietnam Veterans in attendance.
The riders will stay overnight in Junction City and continue on toward the National Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.
The goal of the ride is to bring attention to veterans missing in action, prisoners of war, and veterans of wars past and present.
Mayor Phyllis Fitzgerald
Brig. Gen. Patrick Frank, 1st ID and Fort Riley Acting Senior Commander
Outdoor emergency sirens are not the only method of warning you should rely on for severe weather notification and safety.
