Longtime Geary USD 475 Board of Education member Carolyn Gaston has decided not to seek reelection.

Gaston told JCPost.com said when her current term ends in January of 2018 she will have completed two full terms plus a partial term she filled after initially being appointed to the school board.

She also noted that fresh eyes and a new perspective always bring new vision to the district. “This year I feel really good about the things that we’ve accomplished, and I think it’s a good time to basically to turn it over to someone else with different ideas, or maybe just continue to establish new ideas within the district.”

Four seats on the Board are up for election. The filing deadline is noon on June 1st.

The new Economic Development Commission (EDC) Director is hard at work for Junction City.

Mickey Fornaro-Dean is working to build local and regional relationships in the form of SWOT interviews.

A SWOT project looks at the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats of an area. Dean has met with approximately 40 local and regional leaders thus far.

“I basically asked a series of questions about what do they see as our assets, what are our opportunities, what are our threats, what are our strengths and weaknesses; I probably have over 600 pages of notes [from that] to kind of wade through and boil that down to some information for the leadership of the Chamber, the EDC, and Junction City.”

Dean noted that the SWOT project/analysis is a work in progress.

The EDC is also working on a weekly newsletter for Chamber members.

Mission, KS – For the first year in Kansas, law enforcement officers from throughout the state will stake out Dunkin’ Donuts rooftops on Friday, May 19, beginning at 5 a.m. Officers hope to top total donations of $20,000 as they head to 15 Dunkin’ Donuts rooftops to raise awareness and donations for the Kansas Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) to benefit Special Olympics Kansas.

Special Olympics athletes and their families and representatives from various law enforcement agencies are among the special guests who will join police officers and rise to the occasion to show their support. In addition, each guest who visits a Cop on a Rooftop location that day and makes a donation to the Torch Run will receive a free donut coupon. Guests donating at least $25 will receive a Law Enforcement Torch Run runner’s shirt. Additional activities will vary by Dunkin’ Donuts location.

“As a representative of the 5000 plus Special Olympics Kansas athletes, we appreciate all the support received from sponsors like Dunkin’ Donuts,” says Special Olympics Kansas athlete Josh Alters. “I’m so proud to have the local Dunkin’ Donut stores join our LETR family. We are truly working together to promote inclusion for all!”

“The Kansas Law Enforcement Torch Run is proud to partner with Dunkin Donuts to help to raise much needed funds and awareness for Special Olympics Kansas,” says Kansas LETR State Director Jeff Bragg. “They have been supportive in other communities around the country and we are excited to bring this program to Kansas. Come out on May 19th to your local Dunkin Donuts store, visit with your law enforcement partners, and donate to a great cause, Special Olympics.”

For a list of all participating locations, go to www.ksso.org/events. The Manhattan location at 409 McCall Road is among those participating.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) – Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans’ Affairs and Related Agencies – today joined a bipartisan group of Senate colleagues in introducing the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act (S. 1094). The legislation would reform the VA by allowing the VA Secretary to dismiss bad employees and ensure due process protections for whistleblowers.

“For far too long, the VA has been unable to remove bad actors who either harm veterans or fail in their duties to serve our nation’s heroes,” Sen. Moran said. “This legislation will make certain the VA has the authority to terminate employees and protect whistleblowers. Additionally, this bill holds VA employees accountable by making certain they do not receive the same benefits as honest, hardworking VA employees if they are found guilty of a felony related to their employment. I will continue to demand accountability to help ensure veterans are supported by a department worthy of their service and sacrifice.”

VA Secretary David Shulkin has repeatedly expressed support for accountability legislation, and  Deputy Under Secretary Dr. Carolyn Clancy reiterated this position during a Senate Appropriations subcommittee hearing on preventing veteran suicide that Sen. Moran chaired last month.

Specifically, the legislation would:

• Authorize the secretary to reprimand, suspend, involuntarily reassign, demote, or remove a covered individual from a senior executive service position, including removal from civil service, if the secretary determines that their misconduct or performance warrants such an action, subject to a VA-internal grievance process established by the secretary that must be completed within 21 days.
• Authorize the secretary to remove, demote or suspend employees for longer than 14 days without pay, subject to an appeal of their removal or demotion to the MSPB for most non-senior executive service (SES) employees. The MSBP would then have 180 days to complete an expedited appeal and render a final decision subject to judicial review by the U.S. Federal Circuit.
• Protect whistleblowers from retaliation by not allowing the secretary to use this authority to fire employees who have filed a complaint with the Office of Special Counsel (OSC). The proposal would also establish an Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection for employees to bring to light major problems at the VA without losing their job or facing retaliation.
• Streamline authority for the secretary to rescind an employee’s bonus or relocation expense reimbursement if the secretary deems it appropriate, and allow reduction to an SES employee’s retirement pension upon their conviction of a felony related to work performance.
• Require the VA to provide periodic training to each supervisor on the rights of whistleblowers; how to address a report by an employee of a hostile work environment, reprisal, or harassment; how to effectively motivate, manage, and reward employees; and how to effectively manage employees who are performing at an unacceptable level.
• Authorize the secretary to directly appoint individuals to the positions of Medical Center Director and Director of Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) if they have demonstrated ability in the medical profession, health care administration or health care fiscal management.
• Require the VA to provide reports to Congress on employee morale and the types of administrative action taken against employees and their effectiveness in disciplining employees.

1. 1094 is supported by numerous organizations including Paralyzed Veterans of America, The American Legion, American Veterans, Concerned Veterans for America, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Reserve Officers Association, Military Order of the Purple Heart, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, Project on Government Oversight, U.S. Office of Special Counsel, Got Your 6 and Military Officers Association of America.

Click here to read the bill.