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Category: Local

Bluffs apartment complex fire still under investigation

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fire-photo-fourLocal authorities and agencies worked together to combat the fire at the Bluffs apartment complex on April 8th.

Garry Berges, Geary County Emergency Management Director, said that the cooperation and response of assisting agencies was impressive.

“Especially with [the fire] being early in the morning, we’re just thankful that we got everybody out of there safely; the Deputies, the Police Officers from both Junction City and Grandview Plaza they went around and knocked on doors, and if they couldn’t get an answer they kicked in the doors and made sure everybody was out of that building in a timely manner,” said Berges.

Fire Chief Terry Johnson issued the following statement on the fire:

“JCFD responded to reported working structure fire at location. On scene established command, 28 unit; three story apartment building with heavy fire involving the southeast corner of the building with extension into the common attic. JCPD and Geary County Sheriff’s Office on scene assisted with evacuation of residents, steady wind from the south quickly spread the fire throughout the attic and third floor area. First arriving units continued to evacuate the fire building as well as establishing water supply and placing master stream operations into service. Due to the volume of the fire and weather conditions and the presence of a large amount of embers being spread through the complex in particular Building “D” directly to the north JCFD established multiple water streams to protect the exposed structures. JFCD Requested JCPD and Geary County Sheriff’s Office on scene to start evacuation of the possible exposed buildings and for apparatus to place their master streams into operations as “water curtains” in an effort to knock down and prevent additional structures from igniting. The incident utilized 6 fire hydrants with an average flow of 1000 to 1500 gallons per minute.“

The cause of the fire is still under investigation. It’s the second building in the Bluffs apartment complex to burn down in the span of a year.

County Commissioner Ben Bennett said that it is disheartening to know so many residents are displaced.

“I think it’s a shame that we’ve had two of those buildings burn down, and I think there are some concerns about the manufacturer and the codes and all the things that were going on,” said Bennett. “I would hope that those things would be reviewed so that this will not occur again.”

Displaced residents have been moved into vacant units in the Bluffs complex.

No one was injured in the fire.

Eagle Communications Honored for Excellence in “Employee-Ownership” Communications

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eagleApril 4, 2017 — Washington, DC — Eagle Communications, Inc. has been selected by the ESOP Association as the winner of the 2017 Printed Materials Annual Award for Communications Excellence. The AACE Awards are sponsored each year by the Association to recognize the outstanding communications and educational programs of its members. The awards are presented each May at the ESOP Association’s Annual Conference in Washington to companies that have excelled in communicating the ESOP (employee stock ownership plan) and its meaning to the company’s employees.

This is the third time in the past four years Eagle has been recognized by the national ESOP Association in the Printed Materials category. This award recognizes excellence in the use of original, printed informational materials to explain or promote the company’s ESOP to employee-owners, customers, or community.

Eagle was also recognized for its Intranet. This award recognizes company Intranets that excel at educating the employee-owners about the company ESOP, and excel at spurring employee-owners to engage in the company’s ownership culture.

“We are excited to have been selected as a 2017 AACE Award winner by The ESOP Association,” Eagle President and CEO, Gary Shorman said. “We are proud to be an ESOP company and strongly believe in the power of employee-ownership and work hard to share that belief with all our employee-owners and our customers.”

The awards are split into two Divisions. Division A: 250 or Fewer Employees and Division B: Over 250 Employees. With 300 employee-owners, Eagle was among the smallest companies competing in the larger division.

AACE Award winners are chosen by a panel of five judges made up of both management and non-management employee-owners, each of whom has demonstrated active experience and interest in the field of ESOPs and employee- ownership communications. Awards are based on: overall quality and quantity of
employee-owner education, contributions of employee-owners, integration of the ESOP into company culture, frequency of ownership communications, involvement and/or response of employee-owners, encouragement of ownership attitudes, clear explanations, creative ideas, graphic design, and technical quality.

Eagle Communications, Inc . is a Kans as-based Broadband Services and Media Co mpany with over 290 employee-owners. Th e company operates 28 radio stations in Kansas, Nebraska, and Missouri as well as cable TV system s in 60 Kansas, Nebraska and Colorado communities. The company also offers e-business solutions, web hosting, telephone service, high-speed Internet, and wireless Internet in most service areas. For more infor mation log on to https://www.eaglecom.net.

The ESOP Association is the national trade association for companies with employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs) and the leading voice in America for employee ownership. The core belief of The ESOP Association is that employee ownership will improve American competitiveness, increase productivity through greater employee participation, and strengthen our free enterprise economy. More information: website – www.esopassociation.org and blog – www.esopassociationblog.org

Michelle Stimatze Named CVB Director

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michelle-stimatzeThe Junction City Area Chamber of Commerce has announced the hiring of Michelle Stimatze as the new Convention and Visitor’s Bureau Director.

According to a Chamber news release after a review of several candidates in a national search, a committee consisting of Convention and Visitors Bureau board members, Chamber Board of Directors members, and the Chamber CEO, the Junction City Area Chamber of Commerce has named former CVB Marketing Manager, Michele Stimatze, as its new Convention & Visitors Bureau Director, effective immediately.

“The Junction City Area Chamber of Commerce advertised this position both on a State and National level. After several initial phone interviews our selection committee interviewed three candidates. It was clear that Michele Stimatze was the best choice for the promotion and development of our Convention and Visitors Bureau. Michele has a long history in the hospitality industry and has spent the last two plus years in our CVB. She is a lifelong resident and has a passion for Geary County/Junction City and the Flint Hills,” Dennis Beson, Chamber President & CEO said.

A Junction City native, Stimatze brings over 7 years of experience in the travel and tourism industry. Stimatze began her career with event planning and fundraising at the Geary Community Healthcare Foundation. She then went on to be the Director of Sales at the Courtyard By Marriott and the General Manager of the Junction City Hampton Inn By Hilton. For the last two years, she has served as the CVB’s Marketing Manager. Stimatze currently serves on the Board of Directors for the C.L. Hoover Opera House, Junction City Brigade, Jammin’ In JC, Noon Rotary, Sundown Salute, Community Connections, Travel Kansas, Travel Industry Association of Kansas (TIAK), I-70 Association, Kansas Society of Association Executives (KSAE), Kansas Birding Festival, and serves as the Vice President of Meet Kansas.

“I’m extremely excited about my new position with the Geary County CVB, a Division of the Junction City Area Chamber of Commerce. My experience as the CVB Marketing Manager led me to pursue the position after the retirement of past Director, Connie Hall, in December of 2016,” Stimatze said.

The Convention & Visitors Bureau promotes Junction City/ Geary County for convention marketing, leisure and outdoors marketing, group tour marketing, and sports marketing. Stimatze will lead the CVB with current Media Specialist, Bob Cervera, and CVB Admin Dottie Kell to achieve the division’s objectives and goals alongside the rest of the Junction City Area Chamber of Commerce and its staff.

Geary County Approves Mutual Aid Agreement

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small rural fireThe Geary County Commission has approved a mutual aid fire agreement with Fort Riley.

Garry Berges, Rural Fire Chief, explained this is standard practice. “Normal one, about every three to four years, especially when they have change of fire chiefs out there. We review the mutual aid agreement, which says if we need help they come help us, if they need help we go help them.”

Berges noted in recent years Fort Riley firefighters have responded to several grass fires and a couple structure fires in Geary County, and the county’s rural fire department has reciprocated…especially on the range when multiple fires are occurring.

 

Work Will Begin to Prepare Roads for Electrical Substation Project

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Geary County Commissioner Ben Bennett
Geary County Commissioner Ben Bennett

Work begins next Monday to prepare roads for the major Westar Energy substation project on Hawkinsmith Road in southeast Geary County.

County Commission Chairman Ben Bennett said there has to be some preparation on the roads that will be used as the haul route. “There needs to be some culverts put in and things of that nature and some survey work. ”

In 2015 this project was been given a cost estimate of $64.6 million. “It’s a huge project, and it’s going to take a lot of rock. ” The estimated called for 30,000 yards of rock to be hauled to the site.

Commissioners received a briefing on the project Monday.

Milford Lake Current Conditions

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milford lake twoThe Corps of Engineers at Milford Lake have reduced the outflow to 300 cubic feet per second to stabilize the pool level.

The lake is reservoir is currently 1.88′ above normal and officials are waiting for the walleye spawn to complete before returning the pool level back to an elevation of 1143.00 or 1′ below normal.

Second half taxes due May 10th

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tax**REMINDER**

Second half real and personal property taxes are due by May 10th. After this date, interest will accrue daily and will be added to the tax.

There are three options available to make payments:

  1. In-person: Visit the Geary County Office Building located at the corner of 8th and Franklin; tax payments can be made between 8:30 am and 5:00 pm Monday through Friday. A drop box is also located outside of the office, on the south side of the building, for your convenience – a receipt will be mailed when received.
  2. Mail: Send payment to the Geary County Treasurer, 200 E 8th Street, Junction City, KS 66441
  3. Online: Visit www.kansastreasurers.org

Again, the deadline for the second half real and personal property taxes is Wednesday, May 10th.

Geary County Hires a New Public Works Administrator

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Geary County OfficeThe Geary County Commission has announced the hiring of Corwyn “Cory” Trumpp as the new Public Works Administrator for the county.

Commissioner Keith Ascher stated that Trumpp comes to Geary County with more than 20 years of experience with the Kansas Department of Transportation. “Mr. Trumpp will start April 17th, which would be next Monday. ” His starting salary has been set at $80,142.40.

Ascher noted Trumpp comes from the area. “So he is familiar with the area, is a key, and he has good experience working with KDOT because he is actually an area supervisor.”

Ascher confirmed there were many applicants and three were interviewed, with Trumpp being offered the job. Trumpp fills the vacancy that was created by the retirement of Dennis Cox.

“I don’t know anybody that gets anything for free”; avoid being a victim of phone/internet scams

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Screen-Shot-2017-04-10-at-2.24.02-PM.pngYou are a winner! You have been selected to win $100,000, but first…I need your social security number and bank information.

Stop! This is just one example of the many scams going on in the community.

JC Post was recently informed of a telephone scam where a caller contacted an alleged potential victim and said they were from Reader’s Digest and wanted to reward $10,000 to the person they called. In order to gain trust with the potential scam victim, the caller offered to three way call the person’s bank. Still not feeling confident about the exchange when the “bank” came on the phone line, the person asked the scammer the name of their account manager and the callers abruptly ended the call.

Junction City Police Chief Dan Breci said that everyday a new scam circulates, via telephone, email or courier mail.

“There are literally hundreds of thousands of different scams going on every minute of the day throughout the world,” said Breci. “If they think that they are going to get something for free, it’s probably a scam – hang up the phone, and click out of or close the browser on their internet or their phone; if you give up any information or if you click on the wrong email attachment on your computer, you could be in for a rough ride.”

The difficulty with the scams, if you are a victim is arresting and prosecuting the assailants.

“The sad fact is that a lot of these scams come out of foreign countries and they’re very sophisticated on how the computer networks work and how banking works; trying to track down an IP address is almost impossible because even if we do [track them down], they’re usually in some foreign country and [the government officials in those countries] are not going to go against them,” said Breci.

jcpd threeAnd despite all their sophistication and cunning tactics, many of these scammers unknowingly contact law enforcement individuals.

“I can’t tell you how many times a week that somebody calls me or I get emails, and they’re saying that I won something or saying that I can get something for free if I do such and such; I just hang up [the phone] or click off of it on my computer, because I know [it’s a scam] – I don’t know anybody that gets anything for free,” said Breci.

The general rule of thumb in prize winning phone calls or emails is if they sound too good to be true, they usually are.

“Everyone should be aware of anything that they’re doing online, anything that comes as an email attachment that they’re not aware of they should not open it; anybody contacting them by phone saying that they won something – it’s probably, almost 99% sure a scam,” said Breci.

The Federal Trade Commission Consumer Information has a list of tips for navigating safely in the age of internet and telephone scams.

  • Spot imposters
  • Do online searches
  • Don’t believe your Caller ID
  • Don’t pay upfront for a promise
  • Consider how you pay
  • Talk to someone
  • Hang up on robocalls
  • Be skeptical about free trial offers
  • Don’t deposit a check and wire money back
  • Sign up for free scam alerts from the FTC at https://www.ftc.gov/scams

 

 

*feature image courtesy clipart panda

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