Larry Hicks has announced that he will run for a third term on the Geary County Commission. He represents the second county commission district.

“I’m hopeful that we’ll be able to continue some of the efforts that were initiated in 2016. The County has a lot of challenges in front of it and we’re working as best as we possibly can to effectively address them.”

Commissioner Florence Whitebread has announced that she will not seek re-election to the third district seat on the governing body and commissioner Ben Bennett is not up election this year. John Moyer and Keith Ascher have filed for election to the third district seat. Both Ascher and Moyer are residents of eastern Geary County.

 

Update:

The severe thunderstorm warning for Geary, Riley, western Pottawatomie, and west central Wabaunsee Counties expired at 11:45 p.m.

—

A severe thunderstorm has moved through the region late Tuesday night, with a severe thunderstorm warning in effect for Geary County and much of the immediate region until 11:45 p.m.

The storm has a history farther west of 60-65 mph winds. In Chapman the National Weather Service reported three one-inch tree limbs were broken by winds estimated at 55 mph.

Police dispatch in Junction City and Manhattan have not reported any major damage with the storm. It was moving east at 50 mph, but at 11:20 p.m. the National Weather Service reported wind gusts had dropped back down to 40 mph at Ogden.

A severe thunderstorm watch was put into effect until 5 a.m. Wednesday for the Junction City – Manhattan region, Geary, Riley, and Pottawatomie Counties included.

TORNADO WATCH 207 REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 200 AM CDT Tuesday night and Wednesday morning FOR THE
FOLLOWING LOCATIONS

. KANSAS COUNTIES INCLUDED ARE

BARTON BUTLER CLOUD  COWLEY DICKINSON ELLSWORTH HARPER HARVEY JEWELL  KINGMAN LINCOLN MCPHERSON MARION MITCHELL OSBORNE  OTTAWA RENO REPUBLIC RICE ROOKS RUSSELL SALINE SEDGWICK SMITH SUMNER

This tornado watch does not including Junction City and Geary County.

He served as Geary County Attorney from January 1989  until June of 2003 when he was appointed as the Kansas Securities Commissioner. Now Chris Biggs, 57,  wants to serve again in that capacity.

Biggs has informed JC Post that he will run for Geary County Attorney in the upcoming election. “I feel I have a lot to offer in the position with my years of experience and success in the office. I think it’s an office that requires somebody that has a lot of experience with felony criminal matters and also trying serious felony criminal matters.”

Biggs has most recently served as an Assistant Geary County Attorney for just over two years.

During his stint as County Attorney Biggs handled some major cases that drew national and regional attention. “We had a lot of very difficult cases…. took an awful lot of work and time. I was proud of the fact that I was willing to take some cases that maybe other people may have not been willing to take on because of the difficulty with proof. ”

Biggs feels it’s important to have that kind of trial experience. “Because when you do you’re able to move the other cases along and get good results without necessarily having to try everything. Of course if that were to happen the system would crash under its’ own weight.”He added that having the ability to go to trial and success at trial is important in the job.

If elected, areas of emphasis for Biggs will include effective victim input in cases, good contact with victims, and mechanisms in place to pursue cases as well where victims are sometimes not cooperative. He would also like to institute more training with law enforcement…”back and forth training for people in the office with what’s going on with them at the department and vice versa.” Biggs also wants continued focus on domestic violence.

Biggs will run for County Attorney on the Democratic ticket. Republican Krista Blaisdell has also announced that she plans to file for election to the Geary County Attorney position. She is currently the Junction City Municipal Court prosecutor.

 

 

 

If you desire to change your political party affiliation before the upcoming election the deadline is noon on June first.

During a visit on JC Now on the Talk of JC, KJCK AM, Geary County Clerk Rebecca Bossemeyer stated that’s the case as well for those wanting to become unaffiliated. “The only people who are not affected by that deadline are the people who are already registered unaffiliated.  And then they have the right to show up on election day or if they vote in advance and declare which party they want, and get either the Democrat or Republican ballot at that time.”

And if you’re planning on running for elective county or state offices in the next election, the filing deadline is June first at noon. The primary election will be August 2 and the general election November 8.

Juvenile justice programs will be more community based under a measure approved in the Kansas Legislature.

State Senator Jeff Longbine touched on the issue during remarks at a Junction City Noon Rotary Club meeting on Tuesday, noting that there are some juveniles that need to go to an incarceration state or group home. “But pulling some of that back and trying to deal with a community based program, I think, has some merit.”

Longbine feels the program will work well if the state continues to fund it. “The reality of it is that we haven’t funded anything very well lately. ”

He reported that the legislation does include a lock box in it to make it difficult to divert money from the program, but then you have to ask who has the keys to the lock box. He said that is often the governor, so officials will continue to see how it works.

Longbine also commented that he was aware of the severe reservations that Geary County and community corrections officials in the county had about the changes impacting juvenile justice.

Geary Community Hospital is preparing to take another medicaid financial hit.

Hospital CEO Dr. Joseph Stratton said that the state has decided to cut back on medicaid reimbursement to hospitals. “And that will affect roughly 20 percent of the hospitals, and then there’s another part of cutbacks that have to do of something similar to medicaid called a provider access fee. That’s a 12 percent decrease of funds they’re distributing to hospitals.”

Stratton estimated the financial loss for Geary Community Hospital will be at least $100,000 out of this round of cuts. Approximately 18 months ago GCH also endured a $427,000 reduction in medicaid reimbursement.

Stratton noted the cuts are being felt by hospitals across the state.

 

by: DeAngela McDougald

This Summer get involved at the Dorothy Bramlage Public Library. There are several summer programs and classes beginning May 31st through August 7th.

Exercise Your Mind

Adults can exercise their mind by participating in the summer reading program for adults. Prizes are awarded to those who complete five, ten, and fifteen items. In addition to print titles and audio books, e-books count toward the completion of your reading goal. Random drawings also provide other opportunities to win prizes.  Sign up in person or online at www.jclib.org.  High school age youth and adults are welcome to participate.

Young People

Grade school youth can get in on the action with this summer’s Summer Reading Program at the library. This year has sports themes of “On Your Mark, Get Set, Read!” (preschool – grade 5) and “Get in the Game” (grades 6 – 12). The program begins May 31 and ends August 7. Registration can take place throughout the program and may be completed online at www.jclib.org or in person at the library. (Program is limited to 1 registration per person.) Prizes will be awarded as follows:  Children ages 0 – 5 years: at 200 minutes of reading, 400 minutes, and 600 minutes; Children in grades K – 5: at 300 minutes of reading, 600 minutes, and 1000 minutes; Youth in grades 6 – 12: at 500 minutes of reading, 1000 minutes, and 1500 minutes .

Excel 101

If you need to sharpen up your computer skills, the library is offering a summer program on Microsoft Excel.  Excel spreadsheets can be used to efficiently and quickly manage, sort, and organize data and therefore have many practical, everyday applications.  This class will give an overview of Microsoft’s Excel program including vocabulary, sizing columns and rows, formatting cells, and how to use the Formula Bar and AutoSum. Interested participants need basic mouse and keyboarding skills for this class.   The class is Wednesday, June 1^st at 1 p.m. at the Dorothy Bramlage Public Library, the registration deadline is May 31st.

Tatting – Making Lace

Tatting is a Victorian method of crafting handcrafted lace.  It is constructed by creating a series of knots and loops on a tatting shuttle or tatting needles.  Sign up to learn this ageless technique.  Classes will be instructed by:  Teri Pendergrass and Sue Carpenter.  The cost for this is $10 and the class is Saturday, June 4^th at 1 p.m. at Hobby Haven, 716 N. Adams Street.  The registration deadline is May 28th.  This is sponsored by the Dorothy Bramlage Public Library.

Cards and Paper Projects

Learn how to create your own hand-crafted items this summer. Seleise Barrett, a creative consultant for A Muse Studio can help you make these treasures in a quick and easy way!  The cost for this is $7.50. Participants need to bring their own adhesive and scissors to the class on Thursday, June 9^th at 6:15 p.m. at Hobby Haven, 716 N. Adams Street.  The registration deadlineis June 2nd.  This is also sponsored by the Dorothy Bramlage Public Library.

Mixed Media Canvas Art Class

Learn how to use several mixed media techniques in each class – stenciling, layering, stamping, various texture applications, gesso basics, decoupage and more.  In each class you will create a themed 8” x 16” canvas that is ready to hang in your home or give as a gift.  No prior experience is required and all supplies will be provided except pattern papers which allow you to customize to your own preference and décor. Instructor will have pattern papers available for purchase at the class.  Heather Scott will be instructing this class.  The cost is $25 plus the cost of pattern paper and it will be held on Friday, June 10^th at 6:30 p.m. at Hobby Haven, 716 N. Adams Street.  Registration deadline 5/27.  Sponsored by the Dorothy Bramlage Public Library.

The Dorothy Bramlage Public Library will be closed on Monday, May 30^th for Memorial Day.  The book drop will be open for your convenience.  The library will reopen on Tuesday, May 31^st at 9 a.m. for regular business hours.

 

Kathy Tremont has filed for re-election to the Geary County Treasurer’s position.

Tremont filed by petition in the county clerk’s office Tuesday. She will run on the Republican ticket.

The clerk’s office has three days to validate the petitions, which is a standard procedure.

Tremont said she has continued to be aware of the needs of Geary County taxpayers. “I just want to continue to do that. I think when I quit being interested in the betterment of doing things in Geary County, that is probably the day that I will need to retire. But for right now I’m still looking for ways to do things better and serve the people of Geary County, and want to do that another term.”