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Category: Local

Family YMCA Auction Exceeds Fundraising Goal

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SMALL DOLLARSThe Family YMCA auction in Junction City Thursday night exceeded a $30,000 fundraising goal.

The Director of the YMCA Ted Hayden calculated the fundraising total at $38,000. “So we’re real happy all the way around. had great weather for November 17, and I’m sure that helped, and I think we had about 175 people showed for the bidding. So real nice auction.”

Hayden confirmed two tickets for the K-State – KU football game on November 26 in Manhattan sold for a combined total of $275.

The auction was held at Brown Real Estate and Auction Service in Junction City.

Pawnee Mental Health Services Celebrates 60 Years

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sixty

Pawnee Mental Health Services began with a staff of one person in 1956. Now that organization, which serves 10 area counties including Geary, is celebrating 60 years of service.

During a celebration Thursday in Junction City the Executive Director for the organization, Robbin Cole, told the audience it was a special occasion. “It’s amazing that an organization like Pawnee Mental Health Services has weathered the ups and downs that have happened over the last 60 years, but we have and we remain strong.”

There were several speakers from the community and the region in attendance.

Steve Opat, Geary County Attorney, said it took him a long time to realize that public health welfare and safety are contingent upon the mental health well being of its society. Opat noted when you talk about the skyrocketing numbers of people in jail who are charged with committing crimes it’s taken him a long time as a lawyer to realize that many of them suffer from mental health issues. “And they’re being warehoused essentially in our jails and in our prisons. It’s incumbent upon us as a society to decide how we’re going to handle that. Because if we ignore it the numbers will skyrocket. We’ll continue to have the problems that we do.”

Florence Whitebread, Geary County Commissioner, stated that she had attended a Kansas Association of Counties meeting where the fact the jails in Kansas are overcrowded with prisoners needing mental health treatment was a discussion topic. “And with it being one of the top issues in today’s society, more than ever we need the services of Pawnee Mental Health. ”

The Pawnee Mental Health Services Office is located at 814 Caroline Avenue in Junction City.

Universities in Kansas propose housing, dining rate hikes

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Dining services image KSU
Dining services image KSU

EMPORIA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas’ state universities are proposing raising housing and dining rates starting next year.

The Lawrence Journal-World reports that the board received the proposed rates from the six state universities Wednesday. The largest rate increase would be at the University of Kansas, with a 4.9 percent.

Kansas State University, Wichita State University, Emporia State University, Fort Hays State University and Pittsburg State University all proposed rate hikes of less than 4 percent.

Proposed rate increases were generally driven by anticipated inflationary costs and facility maintenance and enhancements.

Crime Stoppers Poinsettia Fundraiser

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poinsettiaThe Junction City/Geary County Crime Stoppers will begin the pre-sale Poinsettia Fundraiser.

Each $25 plant is 20 to 24 inches tall and comes in an 8 inch pot. Poinsettias will be delivered the first week of December.

The sale of the poinsettias helps the Junction City/Geary County Crime Stoppers stop crime through rewards and anonymous tip services.

Send your order to Junction City/Geary County Crime Stoppers, P.O. Box 1321 Junction City, KS 66441.

In the order, chose if you would like a red or white poinsettia, include your name, address and phone number and the name, address and phone number of the recipient or where the plant will be delivered. Please indicate the number of plants as well.

Make checks out to Crime Stoppers.

The deadline to order is November 23, 2016.

Hiring and Education Fair Today

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Big Red OneFORT RILEY, Kan. – An annual hiring and education fair will be held at Riley’s Conference Center Thursday, Nov. 17 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

This year’s event will feature schools from around the United States, regional employers, Child, Youth and School Services, Veterans Affairs, Kansas Works, education counselors, financial aid advisors, Soldier For Life transition assistance counselors and many other organizations. In total, over 140 exhibitors will be on-site.

It is recommended that attendees dress for success and bring copies of their resumes, as employers may interview or hire on the spot.

This event is open to all Soldiers, their family members, veterans, retirees and community members.

For more information contact Fort Riley Education Services at (785) 239-6481 or the ACS Employment Readiness Program at (785) 239-9435.

Big Red One Soldier Found Dead in Manhattan

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Spc. Phillip Cruz-Medellin
Spc. Phillip Cruz-Medellin

FORT RILEY, Kan. – A 1st Infantry Division Soldier was found dead Nov. 15 in Manhattan, Kansas.

Spc. Phillip Cruz-Medellin, a satellite communication systems operator-maintainer, was assigned to the 267th Signal Company, Special Troops Battalion, 1st Infantry Division Sustainment Brigade.

“We are all greatly saddened by the loss of Spc. Cruz-Medellin,” said Lt. Col. Russell Klauman, commander of the STB. “We are committed to helping Phillip’s family and friends in this difficult time.”

Cruz-Medellin joined the Army in October 2014 and arrived at Fort Riley in October 2015. His home of record is Prairie Lea, Texas. He was 21 years old.

His awards and decorations include the Army Achievement Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon and the Certificate of Achievement. He had not deployed.

Cruz-Medellin’s death is under investigation by local law authorities.

‘Annie’ Takes the Stage Nov. 30 at McCain

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kansas state university newsMANHATTAN — The musical classic “Annie” comes to Kansas State University’s McCain Auditorium at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 30, as part of the McCain Performance Series.

Directed by original lyricist and director Martin Charnin and choreographed by Liza Gennaro, this production of “Annie” will be a new embodiment of the classic original.

The production features the book and score by Tony Award-winners Thomas Meehan, Charles Strouse and Martin Charnin. It includes favorite songs like “It’s the Hard Knock Life,” “Easy Street,” “I Don’t Need Anything But You” and the eternal anthem of optimism, “Tomorrow.”

Tickets for “Annie” are available at the McCain Auditorium box office, by calling 785-532-6428, or online at https://k-state.edu/mccain. K-State students and kids 18 and under are 50 percent off. Military and K-State staff discounts are also available.

New Holiday Event Helps Park’s Health

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manhattanManhattan, Kan. (Nov. 17, 2016) — Manhattan Parks and Recreation will host a new holiday event on Dec. 3. Red Cedar Holiday Harvest gives families and individuals the opportunity to cut down and take home a holiday tree while helping restore the Park at Lee Mill Heights back to its original health.

The event will be 9 to 11:30 a.m. Dec. 3 at the Park at Lee Mill Heights. Those attending should use the entrance located near the intersection of Loma Ridge Drive and Miller Parkway. Individuals and families will be able to cut down a holiday tree and enjoy hot chocolate, coffee and cookies at a fire pit in the park.

“Red cedars are invasive to the native prairie that exists in the park,” said Casey Smithson, park superintendent. “We could go in and remove them, but this is a great opportunity for people to be able to take them home and enjoy them first.”

Participants in the Red Cedar Holiday Harvest are asked to bring a handsaw — no chainsaws or axes, please — and rope to tie the tree to their vehicle. Sturdy boots and work gloves are recommended. Volunteers will be available to assist with cutting, carrying and tying down the tree if needed. Cutting and care instructions for the tree will be given to all participants.

For more information about the event, visit https://MHKPRD.com/RedCedar or call Ryan McKee at 785-587-2768.

Mail Boxes Damaged

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geary county sheriff badge to useThe Geary County Sheriff’s Department has reported that Deputies responded Wednesday at 7:11 a.m. to 12th Street and Smith Street in the city of Milford for a hit and run that had occurred earlier that morning.

Deputies were able to determine Samantha Engle was driving Chrysler 200 on Smith Street when her vehicle ran off the road and struck and damaged six mail boxes, causing damage to the front driver’s side bumper and driver’s side door frame.

Engle was cited for allegedly failing to Stop at a Stop Sign and Failure to Report an Accident.

New High Temperature Record

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Chuck Otte
Chuck Otte

The official high temperature of 83 degrees recorded at the Milford Lake Army Corps of Engineers headquarters on Wednesday set a new record high for the date. That information was provided by Geary County Extension Agent Chuck Otte.

The old record of 76 was set in 1958. It was also just one degree shy of tying the record for the all-time warmest temperature in the month of November. That record is 84 set November 8, 2006. The overnight low of 62 also set a new record high, low temperature for the date. The old record was 60, also set in 1958.

Otte noted that so far, November has been running more than 10 degrees above normal. That is expected to change rapidly as colder temperatures return.

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