Rago Radiology at GCH has been awarded accreditation in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) by the American College of Radiology (ACR), the largest and oldest imaging accrediting body in the U.S. and a professional organization of 34,000 physicians.

 

“ACR Accreditation is recognized as the gold standard in medical imaging”, said Dr Landes, Chief Radiologist. Every aspect of the ACR accreditation process is overseen by board-certified radiologists and medical physicists in advanced diagnostic imaging.

 

To achieve the ACR Gold Standard of Accreditation, Geary Community Hospital’s personnel qualifications, equipment requirements, quality assurance, and quality control procedures have gone through a rigorous review process and have met specific qualifications. “This is the type of goal my department strives to meet – to show that we want to provide our patients the safest and best quality possible,” said Pat Small, Director of Radiology. “Daniel Vallenavedo, who was instrumental in the MRI accreditation process, began the application in July, 2015. Since then we’ve implemented additional protocols and standards required by the American College of Radiology. We are currently working on achieving accreditation in our Ultrasound and CT (Computerized Tomography) departments as well. Our mammography department is also ACR accredited.”

 

“This achievement is another example of our commitment to deliver high quality care to our patients,” said Joe Stratton, GCH Chief Executive Officer. “It’s especially important to note this accreditation achievement is a voluntary effort on behalf of the GCH Radiology Department. We are proud they have gone above and beyond to ensure our patients are receiving the nationally-accepted standards of care.”

Picture (l-r) Pat Small, Director of Radiology, Dr. Pat Landes, Chief Radiologist, Daniel Vallenavedo, MRI Technologist and Eric Loeb, MRI Technologist

Geary County Rural firefighters received a fire call on Thursday about a blaze in the eastern part of the county, but cancelled that response once it was learned that it was a controlled burn in Riley County. The fire was not out of control.

According to Geary County Rural Fire Chief Garry Berges, the blaze, approximately 1,000 acres in size was northeast of the McDowell Creek exit 307 off Interstate 70.

A number of activities are on tap in the Geary County community.

–The Geary County Children’s Choir will conduct an end of year performance on April 24 at 4 p.m. at the JC Church of the Nazarene.

The Choir is also trying to raise enough money to travel to Branson June 1-4, to perform at the Hughes Brothers Theater, Silver Dollar City and The Showboat Belle venues. There are multiple ways to partner with the choir including donation by check payable to the Geary County Children’s Choir, or by donating goods or services.

–There will be a clean up of neighborhoods in Grandview Plaza on Saturday, April 30. Volunteers are needed.

Organizers said you need to meet at the Grandview Plaza Community Center at 406 State Avenue. The cleanup will run from 10 a.m. until noon. Bring comfortable shoes, gloves, and water. Volunteers will be seperated into groups to canvas and pick up trash in the city. Trash bags will be provided.

From 1-3 p.m. there will be a Splash Park – City Park Plan display in the community center for viewing by Grandview Plaza residents.

–The Milford Lake Bird Walk is Saturday, April 16. You meet at 8 a.m. at the parking lot on the south end of Milford Lake Dam, just across from the highway from the Corps of Engineers Office. This month’s walk will focus on migrants including shorebirds. The walks usually last about two to three hours. If you have binoculars or a bird book you can bring them.

–The annual fundraiser auction for Saint Xavier Schools is Saturday evening ( April 16 ) beginning at 5 p.m. The cost of admission is $40. That charge will include a buffet meal. There will be both silent and live auctions.

–The annual Friends of Animals Pet Fair is Saturday ( April 16 ). It will run from 9 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. at the 4-H / Senior Citizens Center in Junction City. Admission will be $2 and that includes lunch. Activities will include a low cost vaccination clinic, pet products, vendors, walk for life, silent auction, pooch pie eating contest, pet memorial balloon release, doggy derby, horse drawn carriage rides, photo booth, caricature artist, raffles, games, food and beverages.

GCH has set up a donation drop-off location for the families affected by The Bluffs’ Apartment building fire on Tuesday.

 

The Emergency Department check-in area (next to security) has two different bins where you can drop off items. One bin is designated for toiletry items and the other bin is for animal supplies. Several of the residents’ animals are being sheltered by the animal shelter at no cost but will gladly take any extra donations.

 

Items most needed for toiletry:

 

Paper towels, towels, blankets, pillows, toothpaste, toothbrushes, bath soap, shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, hair brushes/combs and toilet paper.

 

Items most needed for pet supplies:

 

Dog food, cat food, blankets, toys and treats.

 

The Bluffs have received several donations but will need extra supplies for the next few weeks. Any help would greatly be appreciated since residents are starting from scratch and have lost everything.

 

 

Nikki Davies

Director, Marketing and Public Relations

Release from Acting Fire Chief Rick Rook:

The Junction City Fire Department has concluded operations at 1810 Caroline Ave. Building F ( Bluffs Apartments ) as of 4:30 p.m. Wednesday afternoon.

Fire Investigators with the Junction City Fire Department, Kansas State Fire Marshalls Office, Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Fort Riley Fire Department and Geary County Rural Fire Department all assisted in investigating this fire.  After an extensive investigation the origin of the fire has been determined to have started on an outside deck which spread rapidly to other exposed areas above, eventually spreading to the attic area which ultimately involved the entire roof area, resulting in structural collapse of the roof and involving the entire third floor.

At this time the cause of the fire has been ruled undetermined.  A dollar loss amount is also unknown at this time as it will be some time before a complete evaluation of the structure can be made as well as the total loss of all the occupants can be determined.  ( Rook confirmed no foul play is suspected in the cause of the fire. )

This was a 28 unit complex with 26 units occupied and displaced a total of 51 people.  There were no injuries to either occupants or firefighters.

The new Midwest ACE Hardware store in Junction City is open for business.

The ribbon cutting and grand opening for the new store at 602 Caroline Avenue on the west side of the city was held Thursday morning.

Mayor Mick McCallister noted during the ribbon cutting ceremony, that a lot of people are excited about having another store of this magnitude and service in the community.

The business is owned by Scott and Karalee Ridder. They also own and operate the Midwest ACE Hardware store in Manhattan.

Karalee Ridder said the store has 12,000 square feet of retail space. “It’s going to have hardware, your basics, lawn and garden, paint. But it also has some niche items.” Some of those include sporting goods, fishing and hunting, appliances and mattresses.  Ridder said they have hired 11 employees from Junction City to work at the store.

TOPEKA. – Tom Beall will serve as Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Kansas, according to a media release

Beall takes over after U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom steps down on April 15 to re-enter private practice. As Acting U.S. Attorney, Beall will be in charge of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Kansas, which comprises approximately 50 Assistant U.S. Attorneys and 50 support staff members working in offices in Topeka, Kansas City, Kan., and Wichita. Beall will work mainly out of the office in Topeka.

“It makes it easier for me to go knowing the U.S. Attorney’s Office is in Tom’s capable hands,” Grissom said. “It has been a pleasure working with him.”

Since November 2013, Beall served as First Assistant U.S. Attorney, making him the second in command of the U.S. Attorney’s Office. He joined the office as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in April 2011.

Beall is a native of Leavenworth, Kan. He served as Chief Deputy in the office of Kansas Attorney General Steve Six from March 2008 to January 2011. He was an adjunct instructor at Washburn University School of Law from August 2013 to January 2015. He was in private practice from 2000 to 2008.

Beall graduated in 2000 from the Washburn University School of Law after earning a master’s degree in public administration from Kansas State University and a bachelor’s degree from Baker University.

The Geary County Sheriff’s Department has reported that Deputies responded to US 77 Highway about 9:45 p.m. Wednesday for a single vehicle rollover accident.

Cecilia Potts-Moore, Manhattan, was driving a Mitsubishi Mirage when she ran off the roadway, rolling the vehicle over. Potts-Moore had minor injuries but refused transport to a hospital.