Daphne Maxwell speaking during the MLK celebration in Junction City
The plans are in place for the annual city-wide Martin Luther King Jr. celebration in Junction City.
Organizers issued a release saying there will be a gospel tribute musical celebration at Living Word International Ministries at 1704 St. Mary’s Road at 3 p.m. Sunday, January 15. The annual celebration will be Monday, January 16, at 10 a.m. at the C. L. Hoover Opera House.
Sunday’s tribute will recognize and honor Dr. King, the minister; his work in the ministry, his faith and his commitment and dedication to his ‘Divine Call.’ The recipient of the ‘Coretta Scott King Courage Award’ will also be recognized. Area choirs, groups, ensembles and special guests will participate.
The Monday celebration will feature Dr. Cheryl Grice, Kansas State University, speaking on the theme, “It Takes a Village; A Community Call to Action!” Others guess are invited to share sentiments and musical selections. A Commemorative March will conclude the program.
The Geary County Sheriff’s Department has reported that Deputies responded to a pair of non-injury accidents on Thursday.
–Deputies responded to Interstate 70 about four miles east of Junction City for a single vehicle accident. Derreck Mitchell, Fort Riley, was eastbound in his Nissan Maxima when the vehicle slid off the roadway due to icy conditions and struck a traffic sign.
–Deputies responded to K-177 mile marker 86 for a single vehicle accident. Alexander Thompson, Manhattan was southbound on K-177 in a BMW S3 when the vehicle slid off the highway due to icy conditions.
The Junction City Fire Department responded to a pair of fires on Wednesday.
There were no injuries.
At 403 West 14th Street the damage estimate was placed at $10,000. The Fire Department confirmed the origin of the blaze was in the living room and included an outlet. It was believed to be an electrical in nature fire.
In the other fire the Department sent firefighters to 1512 Columbine where there was a chimney fire caused by creosote buildup.
We at Geary Community Hospital, through our Home Health and Hospice departments, have been fortunate to be able to provide quality care to our friends and neighbors in Junction City and the surrounding areas. Our capable and knowledgeable caregivers have endeavored over the years to provide the best care possible to serve our patients.
A decrease of reimbursement to the program from recent Kansas Medicaid cuts, continuous federal sequestration, tighter regulations to qualify for care, and considerable competition make it impossible to continue these services. Unfortunately, due to these ongoing and significant financial pressures, Home Health and Hospice will close effective February 5, 2017. This decision is not been taken lightly by us after months of analysis and consideration.
Fortunately, we have found a willing partner in the Homecare & Hospice of Manhattan who can assist patients in transition of patient care. This Manhattan healthcare group has been providing home healthcare and hospice services in Geary County and Junction City for some time, however the ultimate selection of a home healthcare or hospice caregiver is within the sole discretion of the patient. Our current staff will to help facilitate a smooth transition in January for our patients.
The Home Health & Hospice employees will have the opportunity to apply for positions at Homecare & Hospice of Manhattan and here at GCH.
Geary Community Hospital will remain open and continue to provide a full range of medical services. Additionally, our Home Medical Equipment services will continue at the current location of 1301 West Ash Street, Junction City, Kansas 66441.
We value each and every one of our patients and appreciate the community support over the years. Questions regarding this transition prior to February 5, 2017, should be directed to Home Health and Hospice, 785.762.2653.
Nikki Davies, Director Marketing and Public Relations, Geary Community Hospital
It’s not a done deal, but the Deputy Commissioner of Education Dale Dennis expects to see a proposal in the 2017 Legislature restoring more state aid for school district bond and interest projects. He provided that information to a USD 475 Board of Education meeting with area legislators on Thursday.
The current level is 48%, but the proposal would increase that level back up to 69%, retroactive to 2015. If that passes it would mean more state aid for a possible new Junction City High School project.
The Superintendent of Schools in USD 475, Dr. Corbin Witt, knows this proposal could be helpful with funding such a project. “There’s a possibility of them going back and going to the old formula. That is a 20% change for us.” Witt added the state rate for bond and interest used to be 69%. “And we actually now had dropped down to 48%. In all of our projections for the potential bond issue we’re using the 48%.”
In order for a new high school to be built a bond issue would have to be approved by local voters so state aid could be obtained to help fund the project. That state aid and federal heavily impacted military aid received by the school district would be used to finance a new high school.
RILEY COUNTY – A Kansas man was injured in an accident just after 11a.m. on Thursday in Riley County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2004 Chevy Silverado driven by Maxwell Kenneth Kelly, 28, Topeka, was westbound on Interstate 70 five miles east of Kansas 177.
The pickup rear-ended a KDOT Dump Truck with Plow Blade in the left lane blading snow south into the median with its emergency lights activated.
Kelly was transported to the hospital in Topeka.
The KDOT driver Gerald A. Cox, 54, Wamego, was not injured.
The Interstate was backed up for over an hour while crews clean up the accident.
The Junction City Police Department is reminding Junction City residents to protect themselves from becoming a victim of identity theft or fraud.
JCPD Lieutenant Jeff Childs said there are a number of scams going around which are intended to take money from citizens or their personal information. A sample of scams include:
–You will receive a telephone call and the person will identify themselves as a member of law enforcement. They will tell you that there is a warrant for your arrest, but that you can take care of the warrant by paying the fine with your credit card. Childs said law enforcement agencities do not work that way.
–You may receive a telephone call from a person that will tell you that your utilities have not been paid, and if you don’t pay by credit card they will be turned off. Childs added utility companies do not collect on late payments using that method.
–You could receive an email saying that you had won a lottery, but that you have to pay the taxes on your winnings before they can be given to you or that they need your bank information so that the winnings can be deposited in your account. Childs said generally, you cannot win a lottery if you did not play.
Childs noted the JCPD reminded the public to think before paying any fines or bills that someone is attempting to collect from you be telephone. Don’t let the threat of arrest or threats that your utilities will be turned off scare you into giving your credit card or bank account information. If you are contacted and believe that this is a scam, contact the law enforcement agency in your city or county for guidance on how to handle it.
Mickey Dean, photo courtesy Wichita Business Journal
It was the spirit of the people that appealed to me – that’s the sentiments of the newest addition to the Junction City Area Chamber of Commerce, Economic Development Director Mickey Dean.
“I just saw a spirit which appealed to me…we want to grow, we want to make Junction City the best community we possibly can,” said Dean.
Dean began work after the New Year and she’s already hit the ground running.
“I’ve already started and I will be making appointments with local leaders; I want to sit down and understand what their thought processes are, what it is that they think is good, what they don’t like…I don’t want to go down the same road, but I also want to hear from people what they feel is the right direction for Junction City,” said Dean.
Dean said that relationships are one of the most important factors in economic development.
“It’s nothing but relationships, and networks – I mean, getting to know people, understanding their needs and their issues whether it be from the community side or the company side…it’s rather like a big jig saw puzzle, with a lot of confidential parts sometimes in the middle of it,” said Dean.
After meeting with local leaders, Dean said she will take the collective information and develop a plan, goals, and prioritize in order to move forward.
“I think there is a lot of potential in Junction City…I just think that you as Junction City haven’t tapped in to that yet, and I just truly want to be a part of that and see how I can help and what I can bring to that,” said Dean.
Dean was a guest on JC Now where she discussed her first few days on the job. Dean expressed her excitement to build on the relationship with Fort Riley and local industries like Smithfield and Footlocker.
Dean is a graduate of KSU and has 26 years of Economic Development Experience. She has been hired on a six month contract which will be re-evaluated for a permanent position at the end of that time period.
Dean most recently worked as the Harvey County EDC Director.
Dean is married with two children, five grandchildren and seven horses. She resides in Halstead, KS.
The owner of Junction City Bowl wants to bring a major Pro Bowler’s Association Tournament to that facility in May.
Junction City Bowl has been under the direction of Joe Ellison for the past nine years in which time the facility has hosted a PBA Regional Tournament. This year, Ellison has his sights set on a bigger fish.
“From talking with the PBA, they’ve got an extra framed event which is an internet based broadcast subscriber service type thing; it’s kind of a step in between the regular Regionals that we normally run and what you see on ESPN on Sundays – they have their camera crew, they’ve got their commentators, and they offer more prize money – which of course, comes at more cost to us – instead of a $5000 costs to get them here, it takes $20,000 to get them here,” said Ellison.
Ellison needs funding support for this tournament, and is seeking to raise $20,000 by the end of January. There are various sponsor categories ranging from $100 to $5000.
If the funds are raised, the tournament would bring national touring professional bowlers to Junction City and more amateur bowlers from across the state to watch the professionals and bowl with them in a PRO-AM session.
Interested sponsors should contact Joe Ellison by email at joe@junctioncitybowl.com or by phone at the Bowling Center at 238-6813.
