The Geary County Landlords Association will meet on Monday, May 8th at the Caldwell Bankers Fort Riley Rental Office located at 522 N. Eisenhower in Junction City.

The meeting is scheduled for 11:30 am with lunch to be served. 2017 dues will also be paid at the meeting.

Mark Karmann of the Junction City Code Department will be the guest speaker with a presentation to begin shortly after noon. Those in attendance will be able to ask questions pertaining to City codes.

To RSVP contact Gary Olds at 785-236-6537.

MANHATTAN — To help educate people interested in fostering positive social, economic, cultural and environmental change, Kansas State University will launch a new online graduate certificate in community development. Applications are currently being accepted and courses will start in fall 2017.

The certificate program will join the online master’s program in community development already offered through the university’s College of Architecture, Planning & Design’s landscape architecture and regional & community planning department. Students completing the certificate will be able to take their credits into the master’s program should they choose to continue.

“Our new graduate certificate in community development is perfect for a variety of students,” said Huston Gibson, associate professor of landscape architecture and regional & community planning and director of the university’s community development program. “Those who already have a master’s degree in another area but are seeking a credential in community development; those working concurrently on another master’s degree who wish to place an emphasis on community development; or those who simply do not desire a master’s degree at this time yet find themselves in a position where a certificate in community development will enhance their current degree, program, workplace standing or career goals.

“It is also a great way for students curious about our Master of Science in community development to test out the program with a less intimidating commitment that still produces a tangible outcome,” Gibson said.

The certificate is a 12-hour program offered completely online. The courses provide a foundation in community development that allow students to explore subtopics such as land development, housing, community economic strategies, immigrants in communities and sustainable communities.

The program provides educational tools for those pursuing a career in a variety of areas, including community and regional planning, parks and recreation, housing, environmental and social justice, and nonprofit sectors, among others.

The new certificate is offered through the Great Plains IDEA, a consortium of universities that utilizes teaching expertise at each institution to offer high-quality online programs. Community development partners in addition to Kansas State University are Iowa State University; University of Nebraska, Lincoln; North Dakota State University; and South Dakota State University.

Learn more about the community development online graduate certificate, or begin the admission process atglobal.k-state.edu/architecture/community-development/certificate/.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) – Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans’ Affairs and Related Agencies – convened a hearing this week to receive testimony from federal government and non-government witnesses regarding telemedicine and ways to increase access to healthcare, improve health outcomes, and lower costs at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) through telemedicine programs.

“Telehealth creates a bridge between our rural and urban centers – providers at an urban site can now diagnose and provide a care plan for veterans hundreds of miles away,” Sen. Moran said. “Telehealth can offer a veteran the means and flexibility to access care through the VA, especially when they struggle to physically visit a VA hospital. I look forward to seeing how VA telehealth improves the lives of veterans.”

At the hearing, Sen. Moran discussed access to TeleBenefits in Parsons, Kan. The Community Based Outpatient Clinic in Parsons is the first site to offer TeleBenefits in Kansas where a veteran can connect virtually with a claim analyst and even submit supporting documents to their benefits claim.

As VA Outreach Coordinator Tara Cisneros told the Parsons Sun, “Anything we can do to reach our rural veterans, that’s what I’m aiming for. I just want them to know this service is here.”

Click the image above to watch the hearing.

MANHATTAN – Law enforcement authorities at Kansas State University are investigating after a noose was found hanging from a tree on campus.

The University’s Office of Institutional Equity received notification of the noose hanging from a tree on the Manhattan campus Friday morning and it was removed. according to a media release.

The reason for the noose is unknown. The university issued a reminder about the Principles of Community and they stand united against all forms of discrimination.

The university also admitted that it is a stressful time of year and anyone who has concerns should contact

Counseling Services at 785-532-6977, counsel@k-state.edu; the Office of Student Life, 785-532-6432, stulife@k-state.edu; the Office of Institutional Equity at 785-532-6220, equity@k-state.edu; or the Office of Diversity, 785-532-6276, ksudiversity@k-state.edu.

The Geary County Children’s Choir will host their 10th Anniversary Spring Concert on Sunday, May 7th at the JC Naz Church.

The free concert begins at 3:00pm.

For this event there will be a piece of music commissioned for the choir by Composer Erik Whitehill. Past Assistant Directors will also be directing pieces.