The Kansas Department of Transportation has awarded a bid totaling $15,215, 592.81 to Hamm Inc. of Perry, Kansas for work at the US 77 – K-18 junction, 2.1 miles north of Interstate 70.
The project will involve grading, bridge and surfacing of a 1.5 mile stretch of roadway.
This Saturday, April 9, will be a free day for military at the Flint Hills Discovery Center in Manhattan.
All military personnel including retirees, veterans, immediate family and gold star families will receive free admission for the day by presenting a military ID.
The Director of the Center, Susan Adams, said. “It’s a great opportunity to give back to those who do so much for our country and our local communities.”
Veterans will have access to the permanent and temporary exhibitions, including How People Make Things and A View From Space. The support of the Flint Hills Discovery Foundation is making the day possible.
Police and firefighters responded Tuesday to a two-car accident accident near 14th and Jefferson in Junction City.
There were six people in the vehicles, but no injuries were reported.
Firefighters responded to the scene at 12:54 p.m. They reported it was a front end to front end collision, with minor damage to both vehicles.
The Geary County Sheriff’s Department has reported that Deputies responded to a fire at 12420 Lower McDowell Monday night.
A grass fire burned a chicken coop at that location.
A check with the Geary County Emergency Services Office revealed the grass fire covered about one acre, and burned a chicken coop that was not in use. This occurred on property belonging to Clayton Schmutz.
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On Tuesday morning Rural firefighters responded to Old Stage Road southeast of Junction City, over J-Hill. There was a rekindled fire from a controlled burn that was done on Monday. Some hay in a cattle pen caught fire. The Emergency Services Office estimated less than one-half acre burned.
The Junction City Commission will meet Tuesday evening in their new facility at 701 North Jefferson.
That building has been renovated to serve as the new home for the Junction City Municipal Court and the City Commission meetings.
Allen Dinkel, City Manager, said there will be a Land Bank board meeting beginning at 6:30 p.m. followed by the City Commission at 7 p.m. These sessions will not be televised, because work still remains to finalize that service. There will be audio service and speakers in the meeting room Tuesday night for the public and commissioners.
Dinkel estimated the amount of public seating as probably triple the available amount in the Municipal Building, where City Commission meetings have been held in the past.
The project to renovate and complete the 701 North Jefferson Street building has been delayed for about one year, but now the City will begin using the facility. Expect Municipal Court operations in that building to begin next week.
The Geary USD 475 Board of Education has moved to extend the contract for Superintendent of Schools Dr. Corbin Witt.
Brian Field, BOE President, said the contract was not up for renewal. “Last year we had voted to extend it two years, but we did come out of executive session ( Monday night ) and decide to renew the Superintendent’s contract for an additional year, which will be three years now. So he is under contract through the 2018-19 school year. ”
With the extension the contract will run through June 30,2019.
Tonight: Cloudy with rain showers and thunderstorms likely in the evening…then partly cloudy with slight chance of rain showers after midnight. Lows in the upper 40s. West winds 5 to 15 mph. Gusts up to 30 mph in the evening. Chance of precipitation 70 percent.
Wednesday: Windy…cooler. Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 60s. Northwest winds 15 to 30 mph.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 40s. West winds 5 to 10 mph with gusts to around 20 mph. Gusts up to 25 mph in the evening.
Thursday: Breezy…sunny. Highs in the upper 60s. Northwest winds 10 to 20 mph increasing to 20 to 25 mph in the afternoon. Gusts up to 35 mph.
Thursday Night: Clear. Lows in the mid 30s.
Friday: Sunny. Highs in the mid 60s.
Friday Night: Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 30s.
Saturday: Sunny. Highs in the mid 60s.
Saturday Night: Not as cool. Partly cloudy in the evening then becoming mostly cloudy. Slight chance of rain showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the upper 40s.
Sunday: Warmer. Mostly sunny with slight chance of rain showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the upper 70s.
Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy with a 50 percent chance of rain showers and thunderstorms. Lows around 50.
Monday: Cooler. Mostly cloudy with a 40 percent chance of rain showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the upper 60s.
URGENT – FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS
448 AM CDT TUE APR 5 2016
CLAY-RILEY-POTTAWATOMIE-OTTAWA-DICKINSON-GEARY-MORRIS-WABAUNSEE-SHAWNEE-LYON-OSAGE-COFFEY-
448 AM CDT TUE APR 5 2016
…RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 7 PM CDT THIS
EVENING FOR GUSTY WINDS…LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY…AND DRY FUELS
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TOPEKA HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING…WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 7 PM CDT THIS
EVENING.
* WIND…SOUTH WINDS SUSTAINED FROM 20 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS TO
AROUND 45 MPH. WIND SPEEDS WILL DIMINISH IN THE LATE AFTERNOON TO EARLY EVENING BUT SHIFT TO THE WEST TO NORTHWEST TONIGHT.
* HUMIDITY…MINIMUM HUMIDITY VALUES FROM 20 TO 30 PERCENT.
* IMPACTS…ANY FIRES THAT DEVELOP WILL LIKELY SPREAD RAPIDLY.
OUTDOOR BURNING IS NOT RECOMMENDED.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW….OR WILL SHORTLY. A COMBINATION OF STRONG WINDS…LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY…AND WARM TEMPERATURES CAN CONTRIBUTE TO EXTREME FIRE BEHAVIOR.
The Kansas House and Senate have approved juvenile justice reform legislation.
68th District State Representative Tom Moxley told a Junction City audience at a legislative coffee that they knew not all children could return to troubled homes. Youth centers were still needed.
So 50 statewide slots were created in those facilities.
But Moxley noted the main idea is to involve communities in the efforts to keep most troubled juveniles in their home communities. “That’s where the effort will be, and that will take away the need to use as many slots away from home placement. ”
Moxley says research the last 20 years shows that families and home placement are more successful than taking those young people out of that community.
The annual auction and meal to support the Geary County 4-H / Senior Citizens Center building this past Saturday night raised approximately $4,500.
That information was provided by Chuck Otte, Extension Agent, who noted thawt the funds will be used for ongoing projects. “We’re looking at doing some modern upgrading of the lighting around the building, replacing the old energy expensive halogen light bulbs with some LED flood lights, just things like that.” Other ongoing maintenance needs will also be addressed.
About 155 people attended the meal and auction which was held at the 4-H / Senior Citizen Center.