The Geary County Commission has adopted the 2017 County Budget on a 3-0 vote.

The budget includes a 6.1 mill increase in the property tax levy, bringing the total of mill levy increases for the County in the past three years to more than 19 mills.

Members of the public in some cases were present to listen while others  expressed concern to the commission Monday about the increases, with city officials citing the negative impact on economic development recruiting and attempts to grow the community. Others pointed to the hardships on citizens with fixed incomes. One pointed out some have to choose between paying for medicine or their taxes. One suggestion included using lease – purchase arrangements for vehicles to reduce one-year cost impacts.

Commissioners have cited mandated expenses for handling jail inmates, the Health Department, and social costs of CINC ( child in need of care cases ) and the animal shelter. The commission chair Florence Whitebread pointed to the fact the jail population has doubled in the past year. She pointed to Fort Riley as one of the causes of that, and to the fact that when there are deployments that results in a big increase in animals that have to be cared for at the animal shelter. On the lease purchase idea for vehicles Whitebread countered by noting that would increase the cost over the long term.

Cuts in state funding by the Brownback administration and the legislature, and changes in sentencing guidelines have over time been cited as part of the cause of the financial difficulties as well.

The Hope Lions Club is hosting their annual Hog/Turkey Roast on September 10th at the First National Bank Annex and Community Center at 124 N. Main Street in Hope, KS.

Food will be served from 5:30 to 7:00 pm; the cost is $9 for adults and $5 for children 10 and under.

The dinner includes roast pork/turkey, baked beans, cole slaw, chips and iced tea.

Proceeds from the event will be used to fund Hope Lions Club community projects.

The event is in conjunction with the “Hope Hope Hooray” 15th annual Hope Heritage festival.

There are a full day/night of activities on September 10th including a car show, dunk  tank, 5K run/walk, beer garden,craft show, drone obstacle course, carriage rides, bingo, and a parade.

Events begin at 7:00 am and run through midnight.

For an event schedule visit https://www.hopehf.com/ or visit the “Info Tent” located on 2nd and Main St in Hope, KS.

New technology has been tested in select counties across the state that allows victims of crimes to keep track of when the suspect or perpetrator of that crime is released from jail or prison.

The new system is called Victim Information and Notfication Everyday, or VINE.

Tony Wolf, Geary County Sheriff said that this system has been very favorable thus far.

“This allows individuals who are victims of crimes to automatically be updated when the suspect who perpetrated the crime against that victim is released from jails or prisons throughout the state,” said Wolf.

The system is not yet available in Geary County;; 19 counties are currently utilizing the system and the other 86 Kansas counties are expected to have full access within the next two years.

Wolf said this is very beneficial for victims and victims families; “the ability to let victims know when someone gets released, the tracking of inmates throughout the state – it could be a pretty valuable tool for people.”

Wolf said that the State will contact the Sheriff when they are ready to launch the program in Geary County.

Join The Church of the Nazarene located at 1025 S. Washington in Junction City for a fun day at Heritage Park on Saturday, September 10th.

From 3:00 to 5:30 pm join them in Heritage Park for a afternoon of freebies:  food, inflatables, face painting, crafts, and balloon creations.

There will be live music by The Stirring band.

This event is open to the public and sponsored by the Heaven’s Path, Outreach Ministry of The Church of the Nazarene.

On September 1st Franklin Elementary in Junction City will “Go for Gold” in support of Childhood Cancer Awareness month.

Kathryn Mortimer, MTSS Tutor at Franklin Elementary, wil visit the Statehouse on Monday, August 29th to witness Governor Sam Brownback sign a proclamation declaring September Childcare Awareness Month.

This cause is dear to Mortimer, whom lost her 3 year old son Brady to childhood cancer.

“We go pink in October for breast cancer – why not go gold for the children?” said Mortimer.

Mortimer hopes to bring local awareness to childhood cancer.

“According to the American Childhood Cancer Institute, children have a much higher survival rate when they are diagnosed early. How can we know the signs and systems of childhood cancer when we aren’t aware and educated about it? It is underfunded and hardly recognized and I want to bring awareness to light,” said Mortimer.

Franklin will “Go for Gold” by wearing gold or yellow on September 1st and they are challenging every school in Geary USD 475 to join them by choosing a date in September to do the same in honor of childhood cancer.

Senator Moran will take part in the Labor Day festivities in Chapman this weekend.

Moran is scheduled to attend the Labor Day parade on Monday, September 5th at 2:00 pm.

The “There’s No Place Like Home” themed parade caps off the 107th Labor Day celebration in Chapman.

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Routine all night-access to Kansas State University’s Hale Library has ended, with the building closing at midnight most nights to save money.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that Kansas State said in an email that its libraries lost nearly $1 million over the past two years from a drop in general funds and lower enrollment. The email says the funding reductions come at a time when costs are rising.

Scaling back hours will save $110,000 annually, largely by paring back security and custodial needs. The library also is making staffing and subscription cuts

A notable exception to the new hours for Hale will be finals season. Round-the-clock hours are planned for the week of and the week before exams.

The Geary County Sheriff’s Department worked a single vehicle non-injury accident Sunday in the area of Humboldt Creek Road and Schmedemann Road. A Dodge pickup driven by Derek Brown, Alta Vista, was traveling south on Humboldt Creek Road when he stated he fell asleep and ran off the road.

The accident was reported at 9:11 a.m. Sunday.

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Deputies responded to the area of K-57 mile post six on Friday for a single vehicle injury rollover. A Pontiac Firebird driven by Alberto E. Varela, Junction City, was traveling south on K-57 when he lost control of the vehicle landing upside down in the south ditch.

Varela had minor injuries and refused transport to a hospital.

 

LAKE CHARLES, LA – Law enforcement authorities in Lake Charles, Louisiana, are investigating four suspects including former Kansas State University Quarterback Daniel Sam in connection with a home invasion and homicide.

Just after 3:30 a.m. on August 12, the Lake Charles Police Department was notified of a possible shooting in the 1300 block of Lewis Street.

Officers found the front door of the residence kicked in and a man later identified as Aaron Javone Sam, 23, on the floor dead from a gunshot wound, according to a media release.

On Saturday, Lake Charles Police served an arrest warrant on Daniel Sams, 23, in connection with the home invasion and shooting of Aaron Javone Sam, according to Deputy Mark Kraus with the Lake Charles Police Department.

Sams was arrested on a $200,000 bond and faces charges of accessory after the fact to armed robbery, home invasion, attempted first-degree murder and, second-degree murder.

He is the fourth suspect arrested in the case. After a red-shirt year at Kansas State University in 2011, Daniel Sams played in 8 games in 2012 and played in all 13 games in 2013, finishing second on the team with 807 rushing yards and a team-high 11 touchdowns, according to KStatesports.com. He transferred to McNeese State for the 2014 season.

Aaron Javone Sam was a former McNeese State University football player. He was a 2013 and 2014 All-Southland Conference safety and team captain in 2014, according to the McNeese State web site.