WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) this week sponsored S. 2772, legislation that would make naloxone rescue kits more affordable and accessible to our nation’s veterans.

According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) system, veterans are more likely to die from accidental opioid overdoses than non-veterans. And, in 2014, more than 55,000 veterans were diagnosed with an opioid use disorder. This bill will eliminate copayment requirements for veterans prescribed naloxone rescue kits, which can help reverse the toxic effects of opioid overdoses. The bill would also educate veterans and their families about safe opioid use.

“When a veteran is dependent on opioids as a result of injuries incurred during his or her service to our nation, we have a responsibility to provide the best possible care, including pain management” Sen. Moran said. “The threshold between pain management and opioid addiction, however, is far too easy to cross, as we see from the high number of veterans currently diagnosed with an opioid use disorder. That is why it is critical that we lower barriers to access naloxone kits for our veterans – the only resource that can protect against the worst-case scenario of an overdose.”

Sen. Moran also sponsors the bipartisan Jason Simcakoski Memorial Opioid Safety Act (S. 1641), a bill aimed at providing safer and more effective pain management services to our nation’s veterans, which directs the VA to enhance its naloxone education and distribution program. An updated version of this legislation passed the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs in 2015 and awaits consideration by the full Senate. Sen. Moran supported the Senate’s passage of the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (S. 514) last month.

The Junction City Police Department has reported the arrest of Joseph Ellis Riley, 32, Junction City on suspicion of Aggravated Assault with a Firearm and two counts of Criminal Threat.

Riley was arrested Monday afternoon at 416 West 6th Street at McDonald’s.

A Day in Court                                                                          

A climate of respect, thoughtfulness and a lot of background activity were impressions made on students from Apostolic Academy when visiting Judge Ryan Rosauer’s court room on Friday April 8^th.

Students were visiting the 8^th District Court to observe criminal court proceedings in advance of Law Day on May 1^st and to reinforce civics lessons concerning legal and judicial systems.

Judge Rosauer took time to recess the hearings and meet with the students and answer questions regarding proceedings and his individual career journey.

“He was so thoughtful during the hearings and took time to explain the method to the sentencing process;” stated Hadassa Baker, Apostolic Academy High School teacher referring to Judge Rosauer.

“He made his decisions carefully with compassion and adherence to the guidelines;” she added.

Senior Terrence McNutt returned to school energized by the experience; “It was very interesting and the Judge even took time to meet with us. It was cool.” 

We’re off to a chilly start this morning with temperatures in the upper 20s to low 30s, but we’ll be rebounding into the 60s by this afternoon according to the National Weather Service of Topeka. The combination of dry conditions and some occasional gusty winds will result in Very High Fire Danger across north central KS this afternoon. The warming trend will continue through the remainder of the week with high temperatures into 70s by Wednesday. Conditions will remain dry for the next few days with the next chances for precipitation being Friday into the weekend.

Today: Sunny. Areas of frost in the morning. Highs in the mid 60s. Southeast winds 5 to 15 mph.

Tonight: Clear. Lows in the upper 30s. Southeast winds 5 to 10 mph.

Wednesday: Sunny. Highs in the lower 70s. South winds 5 to 10 mph.

Wednesday Night: Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 40s. South winds 5 to 10 mph.

Thursday: Sunny. Highs in the mid 70s. South winds 5 to 15 mph with gusts to around 25 mph.

Thursday Night: Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 50s.

Friday: Mostly sunny with slight chance of rain showers and isolated thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 70s.

Friday Night: Partly cloudy in the evening then becoming mostly cloudy. Chance of rain showers and isolated thunderstorms. Lows in the mid 50s. Chance of precipitation 30 percent.

Saturday: Mostly cloudy with a 50 percent chance of rain showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the lower 70s.

Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy with a 50 percent chance of rain showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the mid 50s.

Sunday: Mostly cloudy with a 50 percent chance of rain showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the lower 70s.

Sunday Night: Cloudy with a 50 percent chance of rain showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the lower 50s.

Monday: Mostly cloudy with a 50 percent chance of rain showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the upper 60s.

There is a problem at the Geary County Transfer Station.

Following a briefing on Monday, County Commission Chair Florence Whitebread reported that there were “some extreme emergency conditions at the transfer station.” She added. “The part of the hopper where the trash is pushed over the edge, it goes in a hopper and then it goes into the big semi’s that haul it out. And we’ve had some of that break loose, and so they’re going to do some work on it.”

Whitebread said there are plans within the next couple of months to completely replace the hopper. “And put a four-inch overlay on that total floor building plus a two-inch overlay in the lot out front where you drive into it. And this is going to be a big project, but it has to be done — like they maybe close at noon on a Friday and do it over the weekend.”

Whitebread spoke on the subject during the weekly press conference at the Geary County Commission meeting.

Monday was the first day for the Junction City Municipal Court to operate in a new facility at 701 North Jefferson Street.

The building has been under renovation and expansion, and the project was delayed for several months before finally being completed.

Michael McKone, Junction City Municipal Court Judge, felt the first day in the facility went smoothly. “Kind of different seeing a larger number of people in the courtroom itself. The courtroom that we now employ is a lot larger than what we’ve had before. Glad to see we have security for the staff members there and overall I thought it went pretty well.

The Municipal Court sessions were conducted in recent months in the basement of the Junction City Municipal Building.

The Junction City Area Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting and open house for the new Milford Lake Conference Center at Acorns Resort has been scheduled for Tuesday May 3 at 6 p.m.

The resort is located at 3710 Farnum Creek Road on the east side of Milford Lake.

Manhattan Regional Airport: Closer to Where You Want to Be
(Manhattan, Kan., April 11, 2016) Things look a little different around Manhattan Regional Airport, and those changes go beyond the expanded terminal. With the growing structure comes new branding, as Manhattan Regional Airport (MHK) emphasizes the value of flying local.

“The newly expanding terminal and regional jet service are great assets for the community,” said Jesse R. Romo, MHK airport director. “Nothing sets the stage to engage and educate the community on those assets like a fresh marketing campaign.”

MHK’s rebranding efforts include an updated logo, a stronger web presence, and a new tagline: Closer to Where You Want to Be.

502 Media Group, a Manhattan-based marketing agency, developed the new branding, with input from a focus group of area stakeholders, as well as the Airport Advisory Board. They used MHK’s new terminal, as well as the surrounding landscape of the Flint Hills region, as inspiration for the new logo.

“We’re very excited about the work 502 Media Group has done for us,” Romo said, “and appreciate how well they captured the new look and feel of the airport and terminal with a revised logo and tagline.”

“Our aim is to position the brand as the clear choice for air transport in the area, offering a more convenient solution for travelers,” said Blade Mages, 502 Media Group creative director. “Whether you are anxious to get across the country for the holidays or simply get back to the comforts of home in Manhattan, Manhattan Regional Airport is closer to where you want to be.”

MHK offers local air travel solutions to residents of Manhattan, Junction City, Wamego, and surrounding communities. With MHK’s American Eagle jet service, travelers can access daily flights to and from Chicago-O’Hare and Dallas/Ft. Worth.