The Geary County Sheriff’ Department has reported three accidents involving vehicles and deer. None of the drivers were injured.

In the first, reported at 6:22 a.m. Monday Deputies responded to the 7500 block of Old Highway 77 for a single vehicle car vs. deer accident. Keyona Davis, Junction city, was driving a 2011 Toyota Camry when a deer entered the roadway. Davis was unable to avoid striking the animal.

In the second, Deputies responded at 6:55 a.m. Monday to K-57 South and Carr Road South for a car – deer accident. Charles Patterson, Dwight, was driving a Chevrolet Cruze when a deer entered the roadway. Patterson was unable to avoid striking the animal.

In the third, Deputies responded to a lapsed non-injury accident on U.S. 77. on Saturday at 6:38 a.m. Carol Hires, Riley, was driving a Chevrolet Impala when a deer entered the highway. Hires was unable to avoid striking the animal.

A stolen vehicle that was found burning on Old Highway 40 near Crider Road southwest of Junction City Feb. 24 has led authorities to conduct an investigation.

Geary County Sheriff Tony Wolf said Monday that the 2013 Jeep Wrangler that was destroyed in the fire, had recently been reported stolen in Junction City, and the fire was intentionally set. Further investigation revealed the owner of the vehicle, who has not yet been identified, and Jesse Bullock Jr., Fort Riley, allegedly conspired together to destroy the vehicle for the purpose of defrauding an insurance company.

The value of the vehicle was estimated at $18,000.

As a result of the investigation, Bullock was arrested on suspicion of Arson, Conspiracy to Commit Arson, Insurance Fraud, and Felony Interference with Law Enforcement.  Wolf reported that charges against the owner of the vehicle have been forwarded to the Geary County Attorney for further action.

URGENT – FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS
939 AM CST MON FEB 29 2016

REPUBLIC-WASHINGTON-MARSHALL-NEMAHA-BROWN-CLOUD-CLAY-RILEY-POTTAWATOMIE-JACKSON-JEFFERSON-OTTAWA-DICKINSON-GEARY-MORRIS-WABAUNSEE-SHAWNEE-DOUGLAS-LYON-OSAGE-FRANKLIN-COFFEY-ANDERSON-

…RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM MONDAY AFTERNOON TO 6 PM CST THIS EVENING FOR LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES…WINDY CONDITIONS AND DRY FUELS FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TOPEKA HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG WARNING…WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 6 PM CST THIS EVENING.

* WIND…SOUTHWEST WINDS SUSTAINED AT 10 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 30 MPH. BY LATE AFTERNOON…WINDS SHIFT TO THE WEST AT 10 TO 20 MPH OVER NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS…BECOMING NORTHWEST AT AROUND 10 MPH THIS EVENING.

* HUMIDITY…MINIMUM RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES RANGE FROM AROUND 18 PERCENT TO 22 PERCENT THROUGH THE AFTERNOON.

* HIGHEST THREAT…IS LOCATED FROM REPUBLIC THROUGH OTTAWA COUNTIES WHERE RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES ARE EXPECTED TO BE LOWEST.

* 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 MAY
LEAD TO EXTREME FIRE BEHAVIOR.

The Geary County Sheriff’s Department has reported the arrest of Jesse E. Bullock Jr., Junction City, on suspicion of Arson, Conspiracy to Commit Arson, Insurance Fraud, and Felony Interference.

The arrest occurred late Saturday afternoon in the 500 block of East Chestnut Street in Junction City.

—

The S-O reported the arrest of Michael A. Washington, Junction City, on a U.S. District Court warrant charging him for probable cause on Distribution of a Controlled Substance Within 1000 Feet of a School Zone. Washington was arrested at the Geary County Detention Center early Saturday morning.

An active weather pattern will bring a series of fronts through the area over the next few days with large day-to-day temperature changes, according to the National Weather Service of Topeka. Winds will be gusty especially in the daytime hours, with small precipitation chances tonight and Wednesday night. Dry air and warm temperatures will bring elevated fire danger conditions today and Wednesday. 

Tonight: Mostly cloudy. A 20 percent chance of rain showers after midnight. Lows in the mid 30s. North winds 5 to 15 mph. Gusts up to 25 mph after midnight.

Tuesday: Much colder. Partly sunny in the morning then clearing. Highs in the mid 40s. North winds around 15 mph with gusts to around 25 mph.

Tuesday Night: Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 20s. North winds up to 10 mph shifting to the south after midnight.

Wednesday: Not as cool. Partly sunny. Highs in the lower 60s. South winds 5 to 20 mph with gusts to around 30 mph.

Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy with slight chance of rain. Lows in the mid 30s.

Thursday: Cooler. Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 50s.

Thursday Night: Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 20s.

Friday: Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 50s.

Friday Night: Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 30s.

Saturday: Sunny. Highs in the lower 60s.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 30s.

Sunday: Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 60s.

The annual Fake Patty’s Day celebration is this coming weekend in Manhattan.

This is the huge party where large crowds will congregate to celebrate in and around Aggieville.

Riley County police spokesman Matt Droge said historically it’s been busy for the police and fire departments, EMS, and many other organizations that work to make Fake Patty’s Day as safe as possible. “This year it’s not going to be much different than last year. We have a plan that we’re just making tweaks to. People are going to see a lot of officer prescence in and around the Aggieville area as well as the residential areas surrounding that central portion of town.”

Droge noted there will be an increase of vehicles with people coming into Manhattan to celebrate, and police are asking for patience on the roads and responsible celebration.

Basically every officer of the RCPD will be working in some fashion. “The day is a little bit longer for the vast majority of us here. And I don’t think that’s untrue of people at the Fire Department and EMS. To help make this weekend as safe as we can make it, it really does take a lot of work from a lot of people.”

Police officers from other agencies in other cities are also called in to assist.

There can be a lot of risk with the over-consumption of alcohol, especially if it is not mixed with food and water.

That’s a key concern, explains Droge. “When you throw into the mix underage and inexperienced drinkers, for lack of a better term, you kind of are creating a situation where there’s the potential for a lot of serious issues.  A lot of these can be medical issues as well. ” Droge added, “So the Police Department, though we are concerned about enforcing local and state laws, we’re also ultimately along with our partners in emergency services concerned about the safety of everyone in the Manhattan community over that 35-hour period.”

The celebration can extend Friday night through early Sunday, with Saturday normally the busiest day.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A long-running school finance case is proving costly for the state of Kansas and four school districts.

State Republican leaders argue money spent on the case could be used instead in classrooms. But an attorney for the Wichita school district argues the legal fees are small compared with the money on the line for the districts, which contend the state is not adequately funding schools.

The Wichita Eagle reports the state has spent $1.4 million on outside counsel, and that doesn’t include pay for eight attorneys in the attorney general’s office who have worked on the case since 2010.

The Wichita district has spent more than $1.6 million since 2010. The Kansas City, Kansas, Dodge City and Hutchinson districts also have spent thousands of dollars.

The White City Prom is Saturday, April 16.

Following the prom dance at White City High School prom goers will be bused to the YMCA in Junction City for After Prom, accompanied by senior parents who provide games, food, and prizes. Fundraising for this event has been under way since last fall for this event.

After Prom Party Committee member Susan McConnell has submitted a letter saying if you would like to make a monetary donation to White City After Prom Party you can send it to her by March 26 at 516 Garfield in White City, 66872 or to Gayle Larson After Prom party Treasurer, at 1561 West Highway 4, Council Grove 66846.