Local – Page 642

Kansas House to continue discussion to override Governor’s veto

Posted on March 30, 2017March 30, 2017

Governor Sam Brownback has vetoed an expansion of the State’s medicaid program in a move that was anticipated by both the House and Senate.

The Governor said, in part, that he thinks the expansion would fail to serve the truly needy and would burden the State with “unrestrainable entitlement costs.” The expansion would have extended coverage to as many as 180,000 additional adults.

Representative Lonnie Clark, Junction City, said the Kansas House has tabled action on discussion to override the Governor’s veto.

“It was debated very vigorously and very emotionally for about an hour and a half and Representative Jennings finally got up and made a motion to table that bill,” said Clark.

Two members of the House were absent and could not vote today.

“We need to get this Medicare expansion vetoed, taken care of and get that money for Geary Community Hospital; and I know that Joe Stratton is very much in favor of it, as is the Junction City Chamber of Commerce,” said Clark.

The issue has been tabled until next week.

Geary Community Hospital CEO Joe Stratton noted that approval of the bill would have meant an additional one million dollars per year in funding to the local hospital.

“[I’m] just letting the people of Junction City know that we’re still fighting,” said Clark.

Manhattan Town Center Announces Easter Bunny Photo Hours, will close on Easter Sunday

Posted on March 30, 2017March 30, 2017

Manhattan, Kan. — Leading up to the springtime holiday, Manhattan Town Center along with K-State Federal Credit Union, will host daily photos in Center Court with the Easter Bunny beginning Friday, March 31 through Saturday, April 15.

“Because of its popularity, we’re opening the Easter photo experience a week earlier than before,” said Jeff Sutton, Manhattan Town Center Marketing Manager. “We’ll now have an extra week of photo opportunities with the famous bunny. Instead of just nine days like in past years, the bunny photo experience will be open 16 days.”

Hours for photos with the Easter Bunny are posted on the Manhattan Town Center website and change daily. The mall will also continue its 29-year tradition of closing on Easter Sunday so that mall employees can enjoy the holiday with their families.

False Information Leads to Water Search

Posted on March 30, 2017March 30, 2017

MANHATTAN, Kansas, March 30, 2017 – At 10:51 a.m. on Thursday March 30, 2017, the Manhattan Fire Department was dispatched to the area of Pillsbury Drive (K-177) and Linear Trail for a report of an out of control boat with two male occupants. The original report placed the boat on the Kansas River behind Aldi’s.

Boats from MFD and the Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office searched the area and were able to find an empty boat on the river. The original information about two occupants was confirmed to be false, and after the Kansas Highway Patrol helicopter flew the river and found no persons, the search ended. The boat found was determined to have been tied off upstream on the Kansas River and had come loose during the recent rising waters. The boat’s owner was contacted and was en route to retrieve the boat.

Also responding on the call were Riley County Police Department, Riley County EMS, Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office, Pottawatomie County Emergency Management, Pottawatomie County Consolidated Fire District #1, Blue Township Fire Department, Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, and the Kansas Highway Patrol helicopter.

Please contact Deputy Chief Ryan Almes, Manhattan Fire Department, at 785-587-4504 with any questions.

Deputies respond to accidents

Posted on March 30, 2017

Geary County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to two non-injury accidents and one resulting in a minor injury on Wednesday, March 29th.

Deputies responded to west bound I-70 at the 313 off ramp for a single vehicle accident. Radley Ramsey, Manhattan, was attempting to exit the interstate when he lost control of his 2004 Dodge and struck an embankment.

Deputies responded to the K-177 west bound on ramp to I-70 for a single vehicle accident. Madison Lackey, Kansas City, KS, was attempting to enter onto the interstate in her 2009 Mazda 6 when she lost control and stuck the guardrail.

At I-70 mile marker 301 west bound Necole Monroe, Junction City, was slowing for traffic in her 2006 Jeep Liberty when she was struck in the rear by Ashley Arp, Junction City who was driving a 2012 Nissan. One minor injury was reported.

JCPD Investigating Incident; no immediate threat to public

Posted on March 30, 2017

Reports have been circulating on various social media platforms of a Junction City woman that alleges she was the victim of an attempted human trafficking abduction.

A social media report reads, in part: “An employee at the Junction City Wal-Mart was attacked by a couple. They attempted to kidnap her and they hanged around for awhile. Police were called and they were already gone.”

Lieutenant Trish Giordano, Junction City Police Department, said that the incident is under investigation and there is no indication that it is related to human trafficking as alleged in other accounts.

“We ask the public that if they see anything suspicious to contact us,” said Giordano. “We do not believe that the public is in danger…but if anybody does see anything suspicious please notify [law enforcement].”

Allegedly, an unknown male and female tried to grab the woman from the Walmart parking lot on Chestnut Street.

“A white female attacked [the victim] by pulling her hair while she was sitting in her car…there was a male in the car, but the female is the one that approached the victim and pulled her by her hair,” said Giordano.

The JCPD stresses that this incident is under investigation and there is no immediate threat to the public. Human trafficking is a serious allegation to which there is no evidence of at this time.

*feature photo courtesy FMLA Insights

Police investigating hit and run crash that injured Junction City man

Posted on March 30, 2017March 30, 2017

RILEY COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities in Riley County are investigating an alleged hit and run accident and asking for help to find a vehicle that left the scene of an accident.

Just after 10p.m. on Wednesday, an unknown white truck pulling a trailer on Interstate 70 at Deep Creek Road rear ended a 1991 Mazda Protégé driven by Javier Gali-Rodriguez, 30, Junction City.

The collision pushed the Mazda into a ditch where it rolled. Emergency responders transported Gali-Rodriguez to the hospital in Manhattan, according to Riley County Police.

The truck did not stop.

Police ask that anyone with information contact RCPD or the Manhattan Riley County Crime Stoppers. Using the Crime Stoppers service can allow you to remain anonymous and could qualify you for a cash reward of up to $1,000.00.

A Day in the Life of a Junction City Firefighter; a multi-part series

Posted on March 30, 2017

David Mortimer has been with the Junction City Fire Department for six years.

Originally from a small community north of Salina, Mortimer said that Junction City is a great community.

“I went to the Fire Academy in Johnson County and [this] was the first place I applied; I knew some people from here so [when] I got offered the job I’ve been here since,” said Mortimer. “I just love the community…it’s a caring community, and especially from not being from here it was very inviting when I did move here.”

Mortimer, like the other firefighters, said that workdays can vary depending on the needs of the community; but he also noted that the job itself is ever changing and growing.

“It’s an evolving career, you have to stay on top of your game and you have to keep training and staying up with the latest technology and apparatuses – you can’t get comfortable,” said Mortimer.

Mortimer added that the JCFD team made his move to Junction City that much more pleasant.

“I enjoy all the guys that I work with…I just love the community,” said Mortimer.

Mortimer’s story is the final part in a mini-series highlighting various individuals with the Junction City Fire Department.

Part 1 and Part 2 are still available on JC Post.

Fort Riley Kicks off Month of the Military Child with Kidsfest

Posted on March 30, 2017March 30, 2017

April is Month of the Military Child and Fort Riley kicks off the month-long
celebration with “Kidsfest” April 2 at Riley’s Conference Center from noon
to 3 p.m. There, parents can learn about the many family-friendly services
available at Fort Riley, while kids enjoy activities, games, and a visit
from Captain America.

At 1 p.m. during Kidsfest, Fort Riley Garrison Commander Col. John Lawrence,
along with Junction City Mayor Phyllis Fitzgerald and Manhattan Mayor Usha
Reddi, will sign a Month of the Military Child proclamation.

The Department of Defense has recognized April as the Month of the Military
Child since 1986 as a way to honor the commitment and sacrifice made by
military children.

Chisholm Trail Author Symposium and Exhibit Opening

Posted on March 30, 2017March 30, 2017

The Eisenhower Presidential Library will be the site of a Chisholm Trail Author Symposium and Exhibit Opening on Saturday ( April 1 ).

A number of well-known authors and Chisholm Trail historians were selected to kick off the series of Chisholm Trail events set for this year marking the 150th anniversary. The symposium on Saturday will conclude with the opening of the Chisholm Trail and the Cowtown that Raised a President exhibit opening. The event is being held in partnership with the Dickinson County Heritage Center & Trails, Rails, & Tales: Spirit of the Chisholm Trail.

SCHEDULE:
12 p.m. – Margaret & Gary Kraisinger: The Cattle Trails Before the Chisholm Trail
Award-winning authors, Gary & Margaret, have published three books and various articles on Texas cattle trails. The couple researches, lectures, and writes about the Texas cattle trail industry that lasted only about 50 years from 1846 to 1897. They have mapped all four south to north cattle trail systems. Their latest book addresses the Chisholm Trail.

1 p.m. – Roy Bird: Ike and the Chisholm Trail
Bird has been writing books for more than three decades focusing on the Civil War, the American West, and his beloved native Kansas.

2 p.m. – Rod Beemer: Mother Nature’s Impact on the Trail
Beemer is a writer, researcher, and speaker who has authored and co-authored 12 nonfiction books, an e-book novel, numerous magazine and newspaper articles. Originally from Minneapolis, Kansas, Beemer has conducted an extensive amount of research in the field of Mother Nature’s impact on the pioneers of the 19th Century.3

3 p.m. – Jim Hoy: Outlaws and Legends of the Trail
An English professor and Director of the Center for Great Plains Studies at Emporia University, Hoy has lived the majority of his life in the Flint Hills. His published works and interests focus on Western American literature and Great Plains folklore.

4 p.m. – James Sherow: The Markets of the Chisholm Trail
Sherow is a history professor at Kansas State University and author of several books, chapters, and articles. His research and teaching interests are Kansas history, North American Indian history, and the history of the American West.

5 p.m. – Reception with light refreshments and unveiling of the new temporary exhibit “Chisholm Trail and the Cowtown that Raised a President.” The exhibit will be on display through May 2018.

Riley County Police Respond to Injury Accident on I-70

Posted on March 30, 2017

Riley County police officers responded to a report of an injury accident on I-70 at approximately mile marker 316 on Wednesday evening at approximately 10:10 PM. When officers arrived on scene, they found that a black 1991 Mazda Protege, driven by Javier Gali-Rodriguez, 30, of Junction City, had been struck from behind by an unknown white truck pulling a trailer, causing the Protege to be pushed into a ditch and roll twice before coming to rest on its roof.

Gali-Rodriguez stated the truck did not stop and continued down the highway. Gali-Rodriguez was transported to Via Christi by EMS for treatment of his injuries.

Riley County Police are asking that anyone with information contact RCPD or the Manhattan Riley County Crime Stoppers. Using the Crime Stoppers service can allow you to remain anonymous and could qualify you for a cash reward of up to $1,000.00.