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Category: Local

Police Chief discusses reduction in crime

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jcpd threeEarly into 2017, the crime rate in Junction City is down by nearly 11 percent.

Factors that play into that decrease are varied, according to Junction City Police Chief Dan Breci.

“Well some of [the reduced crime rate] it has to do with population, and some of it has to do with what’s going on in the economy or what’s going on in the United States,” said Breci. “When the population drops, calls for service drop.”

Amongst other variables in the population drop, one is the number of soldiers that are deployed from Fort Riley.

“I’m not saying that our problem is ever because of Fort Riley soldiers; they are our partners, we have a fantastic relationship with the MP’s (military police) and CID (criminal investigation department) and Command Staff,” said Breci. “We are [Fort Riley’s] hometown, and we appreciate everything they have.”

Breci noted that when a population increases, crime usually increases with it – and vice versa.

“I don’t necessarily mean that they are serious crimes – traffic accidents, calls for service, maybe domestic related, or neighbors upset with each other – that all comes to statistics that we look at,” said Breci.

Another factor in the crime reduction is the presence of law enforcement in the “field.”

“Last year, we were about a 9 percent increase [in crime] form 2015, and this year so far through the first couple of months we’re 11 percent down,” said Breci. “Some of my officers are a lot more proactive; last year we had 185 DUIs, which was over 100 more than the year before, and so that increases what we would call the crime statistic.”

The current force strength at the Junction City Police Department is 48 officers, a third of which have less than five years with the Department. Breci noted that younger officers are often very proactive in seeking out and deterring crime.

“They get excited, they want to get out and enforce the law and catch bad guys,” said Breci.

Breci’s full interview as heard on 1420 KJCK can be accessed here.

Recovery Process Begins for Bluffs Fire Victims

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fire-photoHomes have been found for residents of the Bluffs who were displaced by an early Saturday morning fire, and the community is stepping up to provide support for the victims.

The Leasing Manager at the Bluffs, Neva Fisher, said there were 28 apartment units ( homes ) in the building that burned ( Building B ). “At the current time everybody is safe. Nobody is injured. It was about 28 homes worth of families that have been displaced.” She agreed with a rough estimate by Junction City Fire Chief Terry Johnson that approximately 40 to 50 people were displaced from their residence.

Fisher noted everyone was evacuated properly and new homes have been found for those residents.  “It may not be a home that they’re going to be in. Just for the next few weeks as everything kind of pans out or into a new home that they’re wanting to transfer over to. ” Fisher did note this is a military community and some were out of town that they had not yet been able to make contact with by early Saturday afternoon, and get directly placed somewhere, but she added there will definitely be something for them.

The Red Cross also arrived on scene during the early morning hours Saturday to provide assistance.

Firefighters were called to the scene at 1:12 a.m. Saturday. Firefighters and emergency personnel from multiple agencies all reported to the scene of the blaze on the south side of the Bluffs complex.

The community responded quickly to help with donations for the victims. “Everybody has just been so amazing. I have requested that we do some off-site donation sites.  Dillons is one that has already reached out. And my goal for that just in the next few days is that we want to keep traffic low as the people and the victims kind of get settled in, and kind of come to realization of what’s just happened. ” Another reason for that decision is that Fisher also wanted to ensure that no one is in the way of the investigation by authorities.

The donations will be kept off-site for the next few days and then later opened up at the clubhouse at the Bluffs. Fisher said some churches have reached out to see if anything or help is needed. The families who were impacted by the blaze range from toddlers to single young adults, to older residents. “Some of the things that you don’t realize, their medications, their glasses, prescription glasses, those are things that can’t be donated. We’re just looking for options for them.” Fisher confirmed the majority of the residents were affiliated with the military, but there was one USD 475 teacher and a small number of other civilians who resided in the building that burned.

Fisher commended the Bluffs staff for their quick response and help, and their owners and management company for their support.

Fire Chief Terry Johnson confirmed the building that burned Saturday morning is a loss. Another fire at the Bluffs in April of 2016 destroyed Building F in the complex. There were no injuries in that fire.

Fire Destroys Bluffs Apartment Building

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( Photo courtesy of the Junction City Police Department )
( Photo courtesy of the Junction City Police Department )

UPDATE:

Junction City Fire Chief Terry Johnson said Saturday morning when firefighters arrived on the scene of a major apartment building fire at the Bluffs complex they were faced with heavy fire coming out of the building. “With the winds that we had coming through it moved the fire very quickly. We were worried about the exposures, what we call exposures, the other buildings. So the primary was protect those buildings as we were attacking the fire. It moved very fast, went through the roof, unfortunately this type of structure doesn’t have fire brick walls in it, does not have sprinklers in the attic so it progressed quickly on us.”

Johnson confirmed the fire originated on either the second or third floor on the south corner of the building. The Fire Department was notified of the blaze through an alarm system, and through residents calling 911 saying they saw fire.

Johnson said by the time he arrived on the scene the displaced residents were evacuating to the Bluffs clubhouse. “And we evacuated a couple of the other buildings to get folks out of the hazard area.” For the remainder of the day the Fire Department will be searching for hot spots, and investigating the possible cause of the blaze.

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Firefighters and law enforcement converged on the Bluffs Apartment complex on the south side of Junction City  at 1:12 a.m. Saturday for a major fire.

Junction City Fire Chief Terry Johnson confirmed Building B, containing 28 apartment units, is a loss. No one was injured.

Johnson said they received a call on a structure fire, with fire showing. Law enforcement personnel began evacuating residents from the building. “Our first arriving units came in. We had heavy fire on the south side of the building. We came in, fire was through the roof, we started operations.  We went through several evolutions of operations at this point. The building is a loss at this time, unfortunately. ”

Johnson reported that multiple agencies responded to help including the Junction City, Abilene, Manhattan and Fort Riley, Fire Geary County Fire Departments, Dickinson and Riley County EMS, Geary County Volunteer Fire Service EMA, State Fire Marshall’s Office, Red Cross, Dickinson County Rural Fire District One, Junction City and Grandview Plaza Police Departments, and the Geary County Sheriff’s Departments. The State Fire Marshall’s Office is conducting a preliminary investigation into the cause of the blaze.

By five a.m. the fire had been mostly contained, but there were still a lot of hot spots in the building, and ladder fire trucks were being utilized to provide firefighters a better view of the top of the structure.

Johnson confirmed all residents of the apartment building got out safely. He estimated approximately 40 to 50 residents were displaced. “Red Cross is on scene. They’re helping out with providing food for the firefighters and support needs for the residents.” Johnson expressed gratitude for all the communities that came in to provide assistance in dealing with the fire.

Geary County Emergency Management Director Garry Berges said they will help coordinate with the agencies. “We helped provide communication between the surrounding county agencies that came in…the Manhattan Fire, Fort Riley Fire, we made sure everybody could talk so everybody knew what was going on. We’ll be here to support. We made sure the Red Cross was enroute to help, not only the firefighters, but also the displaced residents.”

This is the second time there has been a major fire at the Bluffs Apartment Complex. In April of 2016 an apartment building at that complex was destroyed by fire. In that incident no one was injured.

 

 

 

 

Fires Burn Off Rural Grassland

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rural fireFarmers and ranchers have begun the annual process of burning off pastureland in the Flint Hills.

Smoke hovered over Junction City and Geary County on Friday, but Rural Fire Chief Garry Berges confirmed there were no fires that got out of control. He estimated there were 15 to 18 controlled burns in the rural part of the county. It marked the second day of heavy grassland burning in Geary County.

Other similar controlled burns have been been under way in surrounding counties such as Wabaunsee and Riley.

Chairman Roberts to USDA: Provide Flexibility in School Meals

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robertsWASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, R-Kan., Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture urging regulatory relief from rigid school meal standards, specifically sodium limits and whole grain and dairy requirements.

“For the past several years, I have heard concerns from school children, parents, teachers, administrators, and school foodservice providers in Kansas and across the country regarding the challenges of complying with rigid school food standards,” Roberts said.

“[School meal rules] have limited the flexibility of school foodservice providers, led to declining participation in the program, increased food waste in school cafeterias, and caused confusion regarding what foods can be used in fundraisers and extracurricular activities.

“The current waiver system does not provide schools and those involved in planning and preparing school meals with the necessary flexibility and certainty. I urge you to act administratively and provide immediate relief from certain egregious aspects of the standards, particularly in regards to the rapidly approaching sodium limits and the dairy and whole grain requirements. After providing immediate relief, I urge you to provide long-term flexibility and certainty for our schools, our school foodservice directors, and other stakeholders.”

Chairman Roberts has long been an advocate for flexibility in school meal standards, repeatedly calling on the Administration to provide regulatory relief to local school districts.

Sen. Moran Statement on Confirmation of Neil Gorsuch to the United States Supreme Court

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jerry moran 8-8WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) released the following statement after voting to confirm Judge Neil Gorsuch to the United States Supreme Court:

“Judge Gorsuch’s judicial career demonstrates his impartiality and fairness. He is eminently qualified to serve on the United States Supreme Court, and his record has earned him broad, bipartisan support. During my meeting with him last month, we spoke about some of the rulings he made presiding in the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals, which includes Kansas, and his commitment to upholding the rule of law. Judge Gorsuch belongs on the highest court, and I voted to take the measures necessary to secure his confirmation. I look forward to seeing Judge Gorsuch take his seat on the bench.”

USD 475 Art Show and Silent Auction at the C.L. Hoover Opera House

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usd 475The Geary Community Schools Foundation and USD 475 are hosting an art show and silent auction this weekend at the C.L. Hoover Opera House.

Show and auction times on Friday are from 5:00 pm until 7:00 pm, Saturday from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm, and Sunday from 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm.

Minimum bids on the silent auction art items are $20, and 60 percent of the sale of those items will go back to the student artist. The remaining 40% will go to the Geary Community Schools Foundation to support the USD 475 Student Art Scholarship that is awarded to a qualified graduate each Spring.

Awards will also be given for Best in Show and Honorable Mention at the secondary and elementary levels.

Local crime rate is down, public attitude toward officers remains strong

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jcpd threeWith a decreased crime rate in Junction City, law enforcement are continually working on strengthening community relationships.

Junction City Police Chief Dan Breci said there is a strong effort to maintain a positive perception of law enforcement.

“We have a great Community Involvement Unit that are involved in the Citizens Academy right now and a lot of other proactive events coming up that they’re involved in,” said Breci.

Law enforcement across the United States has had a tough year with their public perception.

“It’s sad to me and the people that work in law enforcement, because we’re out there trying to do our best at protecting the public and serving them, and sometimes people think that we’re the bad guys,’ said Breci. “In our community, I don’t see that [bad guy perception] at all, but I know one incident could spark something; and it may not be our community that’s upset, it may be people that want to come in and start trouble.”

For the JCPD, officers are reminded constantly the value of civility and being reliable.

“With all of our officers, we try to hammer into them everyday professionalism and doing the right thing, regardless of the cost; I think we do an excellent job and I have an excellent staff, we have great support from the community and [my] bosses at City Hall,” said Breci.

Breci visited the KJCK studios Friday morning where he noted that the crime rate is down by nearly 11 percent early into 2017.

Weekend Events, April 7th – 9th

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weekendThis is a look at the events taking place in the community this weekend. For more detailed information, click the item you wish to explore.

United Way Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon and Annual Meeting

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united wayThe United Way of Junction City – Geary County will host a Volunteer Appreciation luncheon and annual meeting on Thursday, April 13th.

The event will be at Geary Community Hospital in the Medical Arts II Conference Room, 3rd floor.

To attend this event, you must RSVP by Monday, April 10th. Call United Way Executive Director Nichole Mader at 238-2117 to reserve your seat, or email director@unitedwayjcgc.org.

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