Westar Energy has submitted a $27 million rate reduction with the Kansas Corporation Commission.
For the average household, the reduction will save on average up to $1.20 per month. The updated price will begin in January.
The Property Tax Surcharge reflects changes in the amount of property tax that is more or less than what was estimated and included in base rates. Westar updates the billing line item annually.
Westar Energy serves both Junction City and Manhattan.
Geary County Emergency Management Director Gary Berges has confirmed that in preparation to complete the Phase 4 US-77/K-18 KDOT Project a portion of K-18 will be closed beginning December Tuesday, December 6th.
Eastbound and westbound traffic on K-18 coming into Junction City will be closed. The detour for traffic heading westbound on K-18 will be to turn on Rucker Rd. across US-77 to Spring Valley heading south to K-18 and eastbound traffic on K-18 will be north on Spring Valley to Rucker Rd. east across US-77 on Rucker Rd.
Junction City, Kansas: This afternoon Central National Bank presented a check for $25,155.27 to the United Way of Junction City – Geary County in support of their 2017 Campaign. Central National Bank staff spent the month of October raising funds for United Way.
“Each year the staff at Central National Bank enjoy coming together and planning activities such as bake sales, a silent auction, bingo contests and other fun events. We also have the opportunity to serve meals to the community with all raised funds going to the United Way organization. It is great to see the community come together to support these events,” said Lindsey Snider, Commercial Loan Officer and captain of the United Way team at Central National Bank. “The new, fun event this year was Pie-sident,which consisted of five of our management team members competing to get a pie in the face. Employees could pay to vote for the winner.”
“These special fundraising activities, combined with our strong employee payroll deduction program, as well as a company donation, have been the key to our successful campaigns,” said Snider.
This is the tenth year in a row that Central National Bank has been named a Platinum Pacesetter, a designation given to organizations who raise over $15,000 in funds for the campaign.
“As a community bank, we recognize the importance of giving back to our community,” said Robert Munson, Central National Bank Junction City President. “Each year I am so pleased at the tremendous job that our staff does with the United Way Campaign here at Central National Bank. This year’s campaign total of over $25,000.00 was absolutely amazing! A large majority of the total funds raised is directly attributable to the efforts and generosity of our staff, either from their contributions through our staff payroll deduction program, or from the special activities and events held during our internal United Way Campaign.”
“As a business that has been in Junction City and Geary County for the past 132 years, we want to assist with programs that improve this community and help its citizens. The United Way of Junction City –Geary County provides a tremendous service to this community; Central National Bank is very pleased to be one of the pacesetter organizations with regard to the United Way’s fundraising efforts in this community.”
“Central National Bank would like to thank all of the staff who helped to organize the internal drive,”added Munson. “Each year it takes personal contributions and a great amount of effort to raise such a significant amount of money.”
The team who led the bank efforts this year consisted of: Lindsey Snider, Scott Rock, Jeanette Felix,Carrie Green, Andrew Haynes, Jamel Wilcox, Pam Diekmann and Amanda Rolfs.
About Central National Bank
Central National Bank is based out of Junction City, Kansas. Founded in 1884, Central National Bank has bank locations in 22 communities across Kansas and Nebraska. Their mission has always been to support and strengthen local communities through employee involvement, corporate citizenship and technological innovation.
MANHATTAN, KS – K-State’s meat science program is looking for groups in the community — churches, youth sports clubs, schools, etc. — to participate in an upcoming beef tasting session. Group members will be paid for their participation. The panels are a portion of a research study evaluating the palatability traits of beef steaks.
Participating groups are asked to recruit and provide groups of 23 individual beef consumers for tasting sessions. Participants must be 65 or younger, at least 18 years old, and consume meat at least once per week.kansas state university news
All information collected is confidential and participation is completely voluntary. You can quit at any time without any penalty, and skip any questions on the sensory ballot that you don’t feel comfortable answering.
Sessions last approximately one hour in Weber Hall at K-State and are typically available at 6 p.m., 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. weeknights and are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Upon completion of the tasting session, each participant will receive $20 cash paid directly to the individual.
In order to facilitate scheduling, interested groups are asked to sign up for panels on the earliest available date. To schedule a time or for any questions please contact the meat science program meatscience@k-state.edu.
Manhattan, KS – People who need help selecting a health insurance plan for 2017 have an opportunity to talk with experts, 1:30 to 8:30 p.m., Tues., Dec. 13 at the North Central-Flint Hills Area Agency on Aging and Disability Resource Center (NC-FH AAA), 401 Houston St. in Manhattan.
“There is no cost to attend the event, but people should call the Area Agency on Aging at (785) 776-9294 to schedule an appointment,” said Julie Govert Walter, Executive Director of the North Central-Flint Hills Area Agency on Aging.
Trained health insurance Navigators at this event will help people in comparing their insurance options at the Health Insurance Marketplace. These experts will also explain money-saving options available to many people such as advance tax credits that help pay monthly insurance premiums and cost reductions that help keep medical costs low.
“Navigators can also assist Kansans with enrolling in health plans online at the Health Insurance Marketplace,” Walter said.
“No matter where you live, you may be able to buy insurance that covers a comprehensive set of benefits including doctor visits, hospital stays, preventive care, and prescriptions,” said Karen Mayse, a Navigator at the North Central-Flint Hills Area Agency on Aging.
She said plans in the Marketplace must treat you fairly—they can’t deny you coverage because of a preexisting condition.
“With a single application, you’ll also find out if you qualify for Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program, or can get savings to use right away to lower your health insurance premiums,” Mayse said.
Mayse said there will be larger tax consequences for taxpayers who do not have health insurance in 2017. Navigators can explain these rules and help people understand their choices.
To schedule and appointment or for further information, please call John Dickey or Karen Mayse at the NC-FH AAA (785)-776-9294 or toll free at (800) 432-2703.
FORT RILEY, Kan. – About 125 Soldiers from the 1st Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, are set to redeploy to Fort Riley this week. A redeployment ceremony is scheduled for 3 p.m. Dec. 6 to allow friends, family and the local community to welcome these Soldiers home. The ceremony will take place in building 1986 on Camp Funston.
The redeployment allows U.S. forces in Afghanistan to maintain the 8,400 troop level established by the White House in July.
“Maintaining our forces at this specific level – based on our assessment of the security conditions and the strength of Afghan forces – will allow us to continue to provide tailored support to help Afghan forces continue to improve,” President Barack Obama said in a July 6 statement on the nation’s military posture in Afghanistan.
The “Demon” brigade cased its colors in August ahead of its nine-month deployment to Afghanistan. Following this redeployment, about 675 Soldiers will continue to support Operation Resolute Support and Operation Freedom’s Sentinel by conducting full spectrum aviation operations and promoting security and stability in the region.
The returning Soldiers will complete reintegration training before taking leave over the holidays. Following that, the Soldiers will return to work, supporting the 1st CAB, the 1st Inf. Div. and Fort Riley.
Goodbye Fall temperatures and hello Mr. Snow Miser – cold temperatures and snow are in the forecast this week for Junction City.
Gary Berges, Geary County Emergency Management Director offered some tips for fighting the cold weather. “Make sure your car is warmed up, all the windows need to be clear and if there’s frost on them [they] need to scrape them completely all the way around the vehicle before they start moving.”
Berges said that many drivers only scrape a small hole on the front windshield so they can see, but this is dangerous because there isn’t a safe view from all windows. “All of the windows need to be unobstructed.”
Drivers should also check antifreeze levels in their cars as well as keeping up with routine maintenance – oil changes, etc. “Make a to-go kit for your car in case you have car trouble; put blankets, candy bars or nutrition bars in there and a flashlight and that kinds of stuff so you can keep warm should your car break down,” said Berges.
Additionally, children going to school need coats, gloves and hats. Berges said that make sure outside dogs or outside animals have proper shelter to brave the cold temperatures, or if possible, bring them inside the home.
Temperatures Monday, December 5th (tonight) will reach a low of 25 degrees, Tuesday high temperatures will be just above freezing at 39 degrees and a chance of snow begins Tuesday night and carries in to Wednesday.
Carolyn Zumbrun is the new Chair of the Geary County Democrats. The reorganizational meeting was conducted on November 30th.
Larry Hicks has been elected Vice Chair, Lannie Pender at secretary, and Gary Hauptli at Treasurer.
Tom Brungardt and Kim Bradney have also been elected as alternates to the First Congressional District reorganizational meeting in the event the County Chair or Vice Chair are unable to attend.
Shelley Hoyle-Kite and Tom Brungardt have completed their stints as the Chair and Vice Chair for the Geary County Democrats.
The results of a JCHS Steering Committee poll have been released.
Geary USD 475 Interim Superintendent Dr. Beth Hudson said the poll is preliminary.
The poll, in part revealed that:
This poll is being stressed as preliminary – numbers and viewpoints may change.
The Steering Committee is studying the possibility of a new Junction City High School and will make a recommendation on the issue to the Board of Education in February.
Different options for a new school have ranged from projects that would not increase the property tax levy, or a 2 or 4 mil increase.
The Executive Director of Communication for Geary USD 475 is stepping down, effective January 10th. Hugh Davis made the announcement on Monday, December 5th.
“My wife has worked with Fort Riley for a number of years – that’s what brought us to this area – and she currently is serving in the Army National Guard in Lincoln, Nebraska…even though I love what I do and I could keep doing it, I think I have to put my family first,” said Davis.
Davis will join his family in Lincoln Nebraska, where they have been since March. “My heart is heavy with leaving the District at this time, with all the great staff and community members that I’ve been able to meet with and work with.”
Davis began work in the District in 2011 as an A-V Media Specialist for approximately two years and later became the Executive Director of Communication in March 2013.
