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Category: Local

New assistant principal named at Seitz Elementary School

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By USD 475

Photo – USD 475

JUNCTION CITY, KAN. – Geary County Schools USD 475 announced this week that, Veronica Wait has accepted the position of Assistant Principal at Seitz Elementary School.

Wait previously worked at Ware Elementary where she served military connected students. She attended Cloud County Community College (Concordia, Kansas), Kansas State University (Manhattan, Kansas), and Fort Hays State University (Hays, Kansas).

Prior to working at Ware Elementary as a Second Grade Teacher, Library Media Specialist, and CCLC Coordinator, Wait worked at Lakewood Middle School teaching Math. Wait has worked in education since 2007 and is looking forward to continuing her career as a Seitz Dragon.

Update: RCPD investigates reports of shots fired

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RILEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigated a report of shots fired late Wednesday and early Thursday in the in the Redbud Estates manufactured home community in Riley County.

Just before 9:10 p.m., the Riley County Emergency Dispatch Center began receiving several calls reporting shots fired in the 2500 block of Farm Bureau Road.

When officers arrived on scene, they attempted to make contact with a 35-year-old male inside a residence where the shots were reportedly coming from.

As a precaution, people in the area were advised to shelter in place or evacuate depending on their proximity to the home.

Officers made contact with the man inside the residence. Officers later filed a report for criminal discharge of a firearm and disorderly conduct.

The scene was cleared a little after Midnight.

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RILEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigated a report of shots fired late Wednesday and early Thursday in the 2500 block of Farm Bureau Road in the Redbud Estates manufactured home community in Riley County.

The Riley County Police Department asked the public to stay away from the area while they investigated and later reported they took no actual enforcement activity

The RCPD released no additional information early Thursday morning. Check the Post for additional details as they become available.

Red Cross needs blood donors

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The American Red Cross is facing an emergency need for blood and platelets after a significant shortfall in donations during the Fourth of July holiday week and ongoing challenges to find new donors.

More than 450 fewer blood drives were held the week of July Fourth than during an average week, which led to about 17,000 fewer blood donations than needed for patients. Right now, the Red Cross has less than a three-day supply of most blood types available – and less than a two-day supply of type O blood. Blood donations are currently being distributed to hospitals faster than donations are coming in. More donations are needed to replenish the blood supply.

Account Manager II, Kristi Ingalls, of the Red Cross said there will be a blood drive in Junction City on Tuesday, July 23rd from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Wednesday, July 24th from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Junction City Municipal Building.

Call 1-800-REDCROSS ( 733-2767 ) or go to www.redcrossblood.org or https://www.redcrossblood.org for an appointment. Walk-in donors are accepted.

Multiple agencies participate in water rescue training

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The Geary County Sheriff’s Department, Junction City Fire Department, Ft. Riley Fire Department and Coffeyville Fire Department participated in water rescue training provided by the University of Kansas Water Rescue and Skills Training Team.

The training was hosted by the Junction City Fire Department Tuesday and Wednesday at a pond behind Beacon Marine in Junction City and on the Republican River near the Grant Avenue boat ramp.

Take necessary precautions to deal with the heat wave

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( Courtesy Geary County Emergency Management )

The National Weather Service has put a heat warning in effect until 8 p.m. Saturday.

Assistant Geary County Emergency Management DIrector Curt Jahnke passed along tips from the National Weather Service. “They’re recommending keep hydrated, check on those without air conditioning, especially the elderly. Limit strenuous outdoor activities, and hope for the cooler temperatures expected on Sunday.”

With the humidity factored in with the temperature heat indices may run anywhere from 103 to 112 degrees. This heat is more intense than normal. Jahnke explained that’s his view. “Because we haven’t had a lot of lead up to it, we just kind of got pounded.”

Officials confirm that the Dorothy Bramlage Public Library is a place where you can go to cool off and get out of the heat, and the Municipal Building gym is open for that purpose from  8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday if other scheduled events are not occurring there.

 

4-H Public Revue will help kick off Fair related activities

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The 4-H Public Revue will be held Thursday evening ( July 18 ) at 7 p.m. at the 4-H Center on South Spring Valley Road. This comes just ahead of next week’s Geary County Free Fair ( July 22-25 ).

The 4-H youth will model their clothes, some of which they have made and some that have been purchased. Extension Agent Ginger Kopfer stated, “We have a script, it’s just kind of a fun night. We’ll decorate. The theme this year is “A Masquerade” so lots of fun decorations related to that.”

Kopfer explained at the end of the public revue champion ribbons will be presented for clothing and fashion review, and two queens will be crowned. There are four candidates for queen but no one applied to become king, so this year there will be two queens crowned instead of one king and one queen.

Other activities this week include the Junction City Rodeo Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. plus a Special Needs Rodeo at 10 a.m. Saturday. The 4-H Dog Show will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday.

Board of Education visits new school construction site

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The Geary USD 475 Board of Education toured the site of the new Junction City High School project this week.

The Chief Operations Officer for the district, David Wild, said they wanted to keep the Board informed of the construction progress. “Took them up to the ball field, the baseball diamonds, the softball fields, put them right out in the center of that letting them look over the rest of the construction so that they can get an idea of the scope of the project and placement of the fields, and then of course looking over at the new school where it will be erected.” Wild added they also had a chance to view where the new football field is beginning to take shape as is the gymnasium.

Wild said the site pad for the building is also under development.

The goal is to have the project completed and the new school use by August of 2021. The site is on the west side of Junction City, north of K-18.

Police: FBI assisting with Kansas financial crime investigation

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POTTAWATOMIE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are conducting a felony criminal investigation of multiple incidents of financial crimes involving credit and debit cards in Pottawatomie County.

The FBI, Kansas Bureau of Investigation and U.S. Secret Service are assisting with the investigation, according to Wamego Police Chief Michael Baker, Sr.

He urged victim of the identity theft and or credit card fraud to file a police report with his department or another local agency.

Geary County Fire Department Rural Explorer Post 343 schedules informational meeting

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July 28th is the date for an informational meeting concerning the Geary County Rural Fire Department Explorer Post 343. They are seeking to expand participation from students in the area, and are looking for ideas on recruitment and retention as well as participation from other area schools.

The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. at the Emergency Management / Rural Fire office at 236 East 8th Street in Junction City.

This is an organizational-type meeting for stakeholders. It is not for the youth or their parents.

Pigs fall from truck; RCPD officer thinks dispatch said kids

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Image courtesy Riley County Police

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Confusion about whether pigs or kids had tumbled out of a vehicle in Kansas led to a humorous exchange between a dispatcher and an officer.

Police in Riley County posted audio of the exchange on Facebook under the hearing, “Just a typical day in Kansas.”

It starts with a dispatcher telling an officer, “We evidently have a truck that is losing pigs out the back. The officer then attempts to clarify, saying “Kids, as in children?” The dispatcher then clarified, “No, pigs. As in little pink animals with curly tails.”

Body-camera video shows the officer then arriving at the scene to find two people who had apparently captured the pigs holding them with leashes.

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