There will be a property tax sale in Geary County on April 22 at 9:30 a.m. at Brown Real Estate & Auction Service in Junction City.
This will be for properties on which delinquent taxes are owed.
County Commission Chair Florence Whitebread said there are 60 parcels that “are really quite sellable,” and probably 135 that are vacant lots. “We’ve had a number of payents come in. The really good lots, there’s 60 of those left, which is way down from where it started at.”
The chair for the Geary County Commission Florence Whitebread has reported that Robert Haynes has been appointed to serve on the Geary County Free Fair Board.
The board helps oversee the annual Free Fair in July in the county.
The Geary USD 475 Board of Education has approved the purchase of 1-to-1 Initiative Computer Cases. They will be used to protect student operated laptop computers in the district at the Freshman Success Academy, Eisenhower Elementary, and Sheridan Elementary Schools. The price tag has been calculated at $72,196.20.
An E-Rate program will provide 80% of the funding and the net cost to the school district will total $14,431.
The Board also agreed to the purchase of recabling for Sheridan and Eisenhower Elementary Schools. The E-Rate provides most of the $28,000 needed for that project, with the net cost to the district calculated at $5,600.
The sky in the Junction City area was filled with smoke Monday evening due to all of the grassland burning during the day.
Garry Berges, Geary County Rural Fire Chief, estimated approximately 12,000 to 15,000 acres of grassland were burned on Monday as part of controlled burns.
He reported that the Rural Fire Department was called out on three fire calls. One was in Riley County along K-177 Highway just north of Interstate 70 about 2:45 a.m. “Right around lunch time we got called to the area of Kickapoo School Road and 77 – K-157 intersection about three miles outside of Rock Springs ( 4-H Center ) for an out-of-control grass fire.” In that case Woodbine Fire and White City Fire provided assistance. That blaze burned approximately 80 acres.
About 3:30 p.m. Geary County assisted Riley County on a large fire north of the interstate about a mile-and-a-half off the McDowell Creek exit.
There were no injuries or structural property damage from the fire. Berges expects the smoky haze to get a little bit worse but with 35 mph winds in the forecast on Tuesday he expects the smoke to blow out of the area early Tuesday morning.
RILEY COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities in Riley County are investigating a pair of weekend accidental shootings, according to a media release.
Just before 4p.m. on Sunday, it was reported to police that Kevin L. Worrell, 59, was manipulating a handgun at his residence in the 4200 Block of Kaw in Manhattan when it accidentally discharged.
The bullet struck his son Travis J. Worrell, 33, in the left leg, who was standing nearby.
Travis was transported to Via Christi Hospital in Manhattan and then later transferred to a medical center in Wichita.
His injuries are considered to be serious, but non life-threatening.
Just after 2:30 a.m., on Saturday, officers were dispatched to Via Christi Hospital for a report of an individual that had accidentally shot himself while manipulating a handgun in his residence in the 800 block of Ratone Street in Manhattan.
Police reported Matthew T. Collet, 29, accidentally shot himself in the hand as well as the leg. Collett’s injuries are considered to be non-life threatening.
FORT RILEY, Kan. – A Soldier assigned to the 1st Infantry Division died in Junction City.
Sgt. Laird Camron Landis, an infantryman with Company C, 2nd Battalion, 34th Armor Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Inf. Div., was found dead in his home April 1.
Landis deployed to Afghanistan in 2010 and to Kuwait in 2014. His home of record is Redmond, Kansas. He joined the Army in February 2010 and arrived at Fort Riley in 2014. Landis was 29 years old.
“Soldiers of the ‘Dreadnaught’ battalion are saddened by the loss of Sgt.
Landis,” said Lt. Col. Bryan Harris, commander of 2nd Bn., 34th Armor Regt.,
1st ABCT, 1st Inf. Div. “The battalion will support Laird’s family and
friends during this time of passing.”
The cause of Landis’ death remains undetermined. Local law enforcement
agencies are investigating.
The Junction City Police Department has reported the arrest of Anthony Johnson, 31, Manhattan and Amanda Bluthardt, 36, Junction City on multiple counts.
For Johnson they include suspicion of Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Felony Interference with Law Enforcement, two counts Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer, Possession of Methamphetamines with Intent, Felony Possession of Paraphernalia, Possession of Marijuana, Aggravated Escape from Custody, and Interference with Fire Fighter. he was also arrested on two warrants from Dickinson County, one each from Jackson, Riley, and Pottawatomie Counties, and one eachfrom Junction City Municipal Court and Salina, Kansas.
Bluthardt was arrested on suspicion of Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Possession of Methamphetamines with Intent, and Felony Possession of Paraphernalia.
Both Johnson and Bluthardt were arrested at 1133 South Washington Street ( Super 8 ) on Sunday. The JCPD reported Johnson’s arrest at 9:20 a.m. and Bluthardt at 12:16 p.m.
On Saturday there was a controlled burn on the major bluff overlooking I-70 and the Marshall Army Airfield.
Sunday there was a rekindle on the back side of that location on the hills surrounding R C Kennels. That information was provided by Geary County Rural Fire Chief said between Geary County, Fort Riley, and Grandview Plaza Fire Deparments 20 firefighters and seven fire trucks responded. ”
Berges added they did a back burn around the Kennels area and were able to control the fire coming down the hill. Fire units were released from the scene about 6:15 p.m. Sunday. He noted over the weekend Geary County Rural Firefighters responded to 14 fire calls, but there were no injuries or major damage.
Berges estimated over the weekend controlled burns covered about 15,000 acres of grassland and cropland in the county. That included a 5,000 acre controlled burn on the Moyer Ranch in the southeast part of the county.
POTTAWATOMIE COUNTY- A Kansas man died in an accident just before 5:30 p.m. on Sunday in Pottawatomie County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1992 Harley Davidson Motorcycle driven by Michael Anthony Folk, 38, Iola, was westbound on U.S. 24 just east of Belvue.
The motorcycle left the roadway and overturned.
Folk was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to Piper Funeral Home.
He was not wearing a helmet, according to the KHP.
GEARY COUNTY- A Junction City woman died from injuries in an accident just before 3p.m. on Sunday in Geary County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix driven by Caitlyn Head, 22, Junction City, was northbound in the 12000 Block of Clarks Creek Road two miles south of Interstate 70.
The vehicle left the roadway, entered the east ditch, rolled and struck a cement culvert.
Head was transported to Stormont Vail in Topeka where she died.
She was properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.