PRESS RELEASE

Better Business Bureau (BBB) serving Nebraska, South Dakota, The Kansas Plains and Southwest Iowa is advising consumers to use caution if solicited by Professional Fundraising Association LLC. BBB has received reports from Nebraska residents that this company is going door-to-door allegedly raising funds for veterans and active soldiers.

According to the BBB of Northeast Florida and The Southeast Atlantic, “the head of Professional Fundraising Association, located in Brooklet, Ga., has ties to several businesses whose fundraising efforts on behalf of veterans have come under criticism by BBB and law enforcement authorities.” Additionally, Professional Fundraising Association is not a charity and has an “F” rating with the BBB. Locally, it does not have a Peddler’s Permit which is required for for-profit door-to-door solicitation companies in many Nebraska communities.

BBB President and CEO Jim Hegarty said: “Just because the solicitor claims they are collecting money for veterans’ causes, doesn’t mean the funds are really going there. Charity fraud varies from outright scams to a misrepresentation of how much of a donation actually goes to help veterans. Be sure that your donation ends up helping veterans by following these tips from BBB Wise Giving Alliance.”

How to Protect Yourself from Veterans Charity Scams: 

• Mistaken Identity: Watch out for name confusion. Many veterans’ charities include virtually the same words in a different order or slightly different form.
• Is a Peddler’s Permit required? Verify with your local city offices to see if for- profit soliciting groups are required to have a Peddler’s Permit. Charities usually do not need one.
• Check for identification: All door-to-door solicitors should have an ID badge. If not, report this by calling the non-emergency police number in your city.
• Program Descriptions: Look for a clear description of the organization’s programs in its appeals and website. If it says it is helping veterans, does it explain how (financial assistance, shelter, counseling), and where it is doing so?
• Telemarketing Cautions: Telemarketing can be a costly method of fund raising unless carefully managed. If called, do not hesitate to ask for written information on the charity’s programs and finances.
• On-the-Spot Donation Decisions: Be wary of excessive pressure in fund raising.  Don’t be pressured to make an immediate on-the-spot donation. Charities should welcome your gift whenever you want to send it.
• Donating Used Clothing and Other Goods: Find out how the charity benefits from the collection and resale of used clothing and other in-kind gifts. Sometimes the charity receives only a small portion of the resale price of the item or may have a contractual arrangement to get a flat fee for every household pick-up, no matter what the contents.
• Check with Outside Sources before Giving: Visit BBB Wise Giving Alliance’ at give.org to access reports that summarize rigorous evaluations in relation to 20 holistic BBB Charity Standards that address governance, results reporting, finances and appeal accuracy. Also, you can find a list of Veteran Service Organizations (VSO) at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs website and information about Military Service Organizations (MSO) at the U.S. Military Community Information and Outreach website.

ABOUT BBB: Better Business Bureau has been assisting U.S consumers and businesses since 1912. It is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing trust in the marketplace. In 2016, people turned to BBB more than 165 million times for BBB Business Profiles on more than 4.7 million businesses and Charity Reports on 11,000 charities, all available for free at bbb.org. Today, BBB serving Nebraska, South Dakota, The Kansas Plains and Southwest Iowa is supported by approximately 10,000 Accredited Businesses that have voluntarily committed to adhere to BBB’s Standards of Trust.

Discussion and work toward a proposed sports complex project in Junction City is at a standstill.

Eddie Reeder, Project Manager, provided an update on the project.

“We have slowed down, I guess you could say we’re somewhat at a standstill,” said Reeder. “It’s not anything that we’ve given up, we haven’t pushed the idea aside or anything along those lines; but we need to explore what options we have as we’re sitting here unable to advance at the moment.”

Reeder said that he has been working on research into the existing facilities in town and “what opportunities exist there for bringing tournaments here to Junction City.”

The Convention and Visitor’s Bureau Advisory Committee received an update on the Sports Complex efforts today.

The College of Engineering identifies Keystone Research Faculty Scholars from among the electrical and computer engineering, and computer science departments. Faculty Stars in the College of Arts and Sciences, selected among the physics, mathematics, statistics and philosophy departments, are awarded in support of faculty excellence.

Keystone Research Faculty Scholars have demonstrated exceptional inquiry protocols and research outcomes, and have been nominated by their department heads for the three-year appointment. Each Keystone Scholar is awarded a salary increase and discretionary research funding to be used for equipment, travel and support. Pavithra Prabhakar, assistant professor, and Eugene Vasserman, associate professor, are this year’s Keystone Faculty Scholars in computer science. Junkwun Kim, assistant professor; Behrooz Mirafzal, associate professor; Punit Prakash, assistant professor; and Hongyu Wu, assistant professor, are this year’s Keystone Faculty Scholars in electrical and computer engineering.

“This type of support for our early-career professors is precisely what we need to compete for the best and brightest faculty members,” said Darren Dawson, dean of the College of Engineering. “We are extremely appreciative that Michelle and Serban have chosen this manner of investment in our programs.”

The 2017 Faculty Stars recipients in the College of Arts and Sciences are Tim Bolton, professor of physics; Jon Herington, assistant professor of philosophy; and Yan Soibelman, university distinguished professor of mathematics.

“We are pleased to recognize our arts and sciences colleagues as Faculty Stars for their excellence as educators, researchers and mentors,” said Amit Chakrabarti, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. “Though their disciplines are diverse, their stewardship of knowledge and discovery establishes them all as leaders.”

Funded and supported by a gift from 1996 Kansas State University graduate and Aspera CEO and co-founder Michelle Munson, and her husband, Serban Simu, the Keystone Research Faculty Scholars and Faculty Stars programs reflect Aspera’s success through difficulties and the rigors of academic research. Munson, a Junction City native and graduate of Chapman High School, and Simu now live in Berkeley, California.

Philanthropic contributions to Kansas State University are coordinated by the Kansas State University Foundation. The foundation is leading Innovation and Inspiration: The Campaign for Kansas State University to raise $1.4 billion for student success, faculty development, facility enhancement and programmatic success.

The Riley County Police Department (RCPD) has provided an update in the hit and run injury accident that led to the hospitalization of 21 year old Amber Wilhelm.

The accident occurred at 12th St. and Bluemont Ave. on April 14th at approximately 1:55 am. When officers arrived on scene, they found a pedestrian later identified as Amber Wilhelm, 21, of Manhattan, suffering from severe injuries after being struck by a vehicle.

The vehicle has been identified as a white 2008 Chevrolet Silverado driven by Nicholas Blaha, 21, of Manhattan.

The investigation revealed that at the time of the accident, Wilhelm stopped in the crosswalk and bent over. Wilhelm was then struck by Blaha, who was traveling westbound on Bluemont Ave.

Wilhelm was transported to Via Christi and then life-flighted to Stormont Vail for her injuries.

With the release of the this information, officers with the RCPD have concluded their investigation.

The case has been forwarded to the Riley County District Attorney’s office for review to determine whether charges will be filed.