The seventh annual Wounded Warriors Family Support High Five Tour will roll into Junction City on Monday.

This is part of a five month with the Wounded Warriors Support’s 2016 Ford Mustange Shelby GT350, wrapped in a patriotic design, that will go to more than 100 cities in 48 states. The High Five Tour mission is to say thank you and show appreciation to military families for their sacrifices.

The tour’s goal is to raise $1 million, which will sustain Wounded Warriors Family Support’s programs to help combat wounded veterans and their families. During a tour stop residents are encouraged to sign the vehicle with a message of gratitude to the country’s veterans and families.

The tour stop in Junction City will be from noon to one p.m. Monday at Sapp Brothers Travel Center at 1913 Lacy Drive.

The Kansas Department of Health & Environment test results for blue green algae have been released.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has reported that Zone A, the south end of the lake, is under a watch. The middle portion of the reservoir, Zone B, is under a watch, and the north end of the lake, Zone C, is under a warning. In a warning you are urged to avoid direct contact with the lake water since the algae level is considered unsafe for people and animals.

Lake users are reminded that  blue green algae may appear or disappear suddenly and move as the wind shifts, boaters should use caution and move to a clear portion of the reservoir.

State Farm and Safe Kids partnered together Thursday in Junction City to raise awareness of seat belt safety. It was part of a campaign called “Bucks for Buckles.”

Thursday morning Junction City Middle School families were greeted by State Farm agents LaDonna Junghans and Karen Jameson, along with their team members Corrine, Jeff and Pam. Julie Hettinger, Community Health Planner from the Geary County Health Department also assisted with Principal Mary Wright and Officer Jay Wigton.

One dollar was given to each family for having seat belts clicked.

 

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) – member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee – this week called attention to the recent cases of sexual abuse against veterans in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Eastern Kansas Health Care System during a committee hearing with senior VA officials. Sen. Moran received a commitment from Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Deputy Under Secretary Dr. Carolyn Clancy to address the hiring and background check processes that failed those veterans who were abused and to take steps to prevent future cases involving such deplorable acts by a VA employee.

Click here to watch Sen. Moran’s remarks on YouTube.

 

Highlights of Sen. Moran’s remarks may be found below, along with links to the video:

Sen. Moran (0:12): “I want to raise a circumstance we find ourselves in in Kansas, and this is a topic that I have raised with (VA Inspector General) Mr. Missal as well as a letter to the secretary, but a tragedy has occurred in our state that involves the Leavenworth VA. And that tragedy is that a physician assistant is accused of sexually harassing and molesting veterans – particularly those with PTSD – and has been discharged from, has terminated his employment with the VA. But the facts now indicate that the knowledge of this person’s history could have, or perhaps it was known, he indicated in his application for licensure that he had past circumstances involving sexual crimes, and yet the individual still gets hired by the Department of Veterans Affairs. The reports continue to come in – criminal prosecution is ongoing…Again, it’s outrageous that someone with a criminal record would be hired and put in a position to care for our veterans…Are there things afoot at the VA that would improve the circumstances that these kind of circumstances – this circumstance in particular – can’t or wouldn’t happen again.”
Dr. Clancy (2:47): “First, we share your sense of outrage on behalf of the veterans you serve and, frankly, all veterans. And it is our responsibility to learn from this so that we can prevent anything that we could have done differently from happening in the future. That is a big priority for the group that I’m leading at VA, so I appreciate your comments very much…We will certainly be most attentive to the specific responses you need around this incident.”

 

Sen. Moran (4:58): “Doctor Clancy, I appreciate what you just said. I would tell you that I have had the sense over a period of time that seemingly too often when there’s a problem with an employee – a healthcare provider within the VA – my impression…is the most likely outcome is that professional is transferred to some other facility within the Department of Veterans Affairs. It seems to me that the likelihood of termination is minimized and often an individual is transferred.”

 

Dr. Clancy (5:43): “I can tell you that it was my highest priority to make sure that that did not happen. I can’t speak to what has happened in the past, but that’s not fair to veterans or to anyone else.”

Sen. Moran (6:16): “Doctor, I use this hearing as an opportunity to raise this issue for its importance. In this particular circumstance, justice needs to be had – individual veterans need to be cared for as a result of this individual’s actions. But, also, that this needs to come to an end – this should never be the circumstance we find ourselves in in any VA facility across the country and I would ask your commitment that we achieve that goal.”

 

Dr. Clancy (6:41): “You have my full commitment to that.”

Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) (6:44): “I want to thank Senator Moran for bringing up the subject and I want to make a comment if I can…there’s certain crimes or certain practices or certain illegal activities for which there should be zero tolerance period. Sexual predators is one of them…There ought to be a complete attitude of zero tolerance for certain things and sexual abuse or sexual predators is one of them.”

 

Background

Sen. Moran has previously pressed the VA for answers through a recent letter to VA Secretary Robert McDonald and phone conversation with VA Inspector General Michael Missal.

 

Mr. Wisner has been charged with aggravated sexual battery, aggravated criminal sodomy and misdemeanor sexual battery and faces numerous federal lawsuits stemming from his actions while as an employee of the VA.

Click here to watch Sen. Moran’s remarks on YouTube.

 

Jeremy Taylor is the September Employee of the Month at Geary Community Hospital.

 

“Taylor works as a System Administrator in the Information Services Department at GCH. Jeremy was nominated by a GCH employee from another department, whose work – like so many of us – depends almost solely on her computer. When computer issues arise, Jeremy works tirelessly to resolve them, going above and beyond to analyze, troubleshoot, and fix problems when they occur. Jeremy does this in a prompt, courteous, intelligent manner which speaks of the true professional that he is. Jeremy’s supervisor adds that he is punctual and always willing to help, lending his expertise to help solve problems. Jeremy is the team player that anyone would be glad to have on their side. He truly embodies the spirit of Geary Community Hospital’s core values and we are proud to recognize his great work.” – GCH

(Manhattan, Kan., Sept. 9, 2016) — The City of Manhattan will host a series of open houses to educate local residents about the special question that will appear on their General Election ballot on Nov. 8.

Voters in Manhattan city limits will be asked to consider a 0.20% increase in the Manhattan sales tax to fund street repairs and Safe Routes to School projects. The open houses will give voters a chance to learn more about why the city is asking the question, what the funds would support, and how a sales tax increase would affect their households.

Residents are encouraged to attend an open house in their neighborhood or one that fits their schedule:

• 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 15 at Headquarters Fire Station, 2000 Denison Ave.
• 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 29 at City Hall, 1101 Poyntz Ave.
• 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 13 at Fire Station 3, 2727 Amherst Ave.
• 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 27 at Fire Station 5, 3900 Vanesta Dr.

If residents cannot attend an open house, the Sept. 29 meeting will be recorded and made available on the City’s website. Additional information is available atCityofMHK.com/StreetMaintenance.

Geary County USD 475 Schools will participate in a ‘Freedom Walk’ to honor the those who lost their lives in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

In addition to honoring those that lost their lives, it also serves as a way to recognize the heroism shown during and following that tragic day, and the way our nation united and rallied behind one another.

Parents and family members are invited to join their student on the Freedom Walk; below you will find the schedule.

• Early Childhood Center – September 8 – 10:00 am and 2:15 pm
• Junction City High School – September 9 – 7:45 am
• Fort Riley Middle School – September 9 – 7:50 – 8:20 am
• Spring Valley Elementary – September 9 – 8:15 am
• Washington Elementary – September 9 – 8:15 am; students will walk to the fire station to honor firefighters
• Grandview Elementary – September 9 – 8:30 am; students are asked to wear red, white or blue
• Jefferson Elementary – September 9 -10:45 am; walk, sing-a-long, lunch, recess
• Lincoln Elementary – September 9 -1:15 pm
• Fort Riley Elementary – September 9 – 1:20 pm; Special speaker in gym
• Ware Elementary – September 9 – 1:30 pm
• Westwood Elementary – September 9 -1:30 pm
• Sheridan Elementary – September 9 – 1:30 pm
• Morris Hill Elementary – September 9 – 1:45 pm; presentation then walk
• Seitz Elementary – September 9 – 2:15 pm
• Eisenhower Elementary – September 12 – 9:15 am
• Milford Elementary – September 12 – 12:30 pm
• Franklin Elementary – September 12 – 2:30 pm
• Freshman Success Academy – September 16 – 3:00 pm; Fegan Field

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Sentencing has been postponed for a 29-year-old Topeka man accused of helping a would-be jihadist’s unsuccessful plot to bomb an Army post in Kansas.

U.S. District Judge Daniel Crabtree said Thursday he is considering whether Alexander Blair’s crime qualifies for the five-year sentence prosecutors want. Blair’s attorney is seeking a sentence of five years’ probation.

Sentencing is now set for Oct. 18.

Court documents say Blair loaned $100 to another man who tried to plant what they thought was an explosive device outside Fort Riley in support of the Islamic State group.

Blair’s attorney said Blair has an unusual genetic condition that made it easy for John Booker Jr. to manipulate him. Booker has pleaded guilty to two felonies under an agreement calling for him to serve 30 years in prison.

WAUBAUNSEE COUNTY – A Kansas woman was injured in an accident just before 9 a.m. on Thursday in Wabaunsee County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2005 Honda CRV driven by Helen Bloom, 87, Hesston, was traveling on Interstate 70 at Ranch Road.

The driver fell asleep. The vehicle entered the median, went airborne over a paved crossover, landed upright and came to rest in median.

Bloom was transported to Stormont Vail in Topeka.

She was properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.