The current El Nino weather pattern is making it hard to predict the agriculture outlook for 2016.

Chuck Otte, Geary County Research and Extension Agent explained that at the moment the winter wheat crop is in very good shape, and the soil moisture condition is excellent.

“Some of the wheat could have used a little bit more size on it going into winter, but you know that is what it is, we’ve got good moisture and that’s a good thing,” said Otte. “So I’m very optimistic at this point in time about the winter wheat crop.”

But the rest of 2016 is a “wildcard” according to Otte, because of the El Nino weather pattern impacting the United States this year.

“We could have a real good round of corn, soybeans, and grain sorghum, or it could just wind up being a horrible drought year. It just depends on how fast the rain turns off.”

Otte went on to say that he remains very optimistic. Soil moisture is in excellent condition and he expects to have good grass growth in the pastures.

“All in all, the only down side is, prices are down.”

Long range planning community forums have been scheduled in Geary USD 475.

Dr. Corbin Witt, Superintendent of Schools, said the dates are January 28 and February 4. “The Board has convened a committee to meet and KASB is going to lead those conversations, and we’ll get some information and feedback from the community about what direction they want to see USD 475 go in the future, and what are our needs and things that they hope we will focus on.”

Again the forum dates are January 28 and February 4.

The number of calls for rural firefighters dropped from 174 in 2014 down to 127 in 2015. But according to statistics compiled by Geary County Rural Fire Chief Garry Berges the dollar loss from fires totaled $514,084, compared to $292, 826 in 2014.

Berges pointed to increased moisture and less controlled burns as key factors in the reduced number of fire calls. On the increase in the dollar loss he said, “This year we had a couple major structure fires, one on Lawrence Drive and one also on Quarry Road, and then we also had that semi and that pickup that collided and caught fire up by the 82 junction. So those were our big three loss amounts this year.”

The average response time for fire calls was 9 minutes, 10 seconds.

Alicia and Zackary May of Junction City, Kan. welcomed their baby girl, Sybelle Lucia May, who was born January 3, 2016, at the Martha K. Hoover Women’s Health Center at Geary Community Hospital in Junction City, Kan. Sybelle was the first baby born at GCH in the 2016 year.

Sybelle weighed 7 pounds, 6 ounces and was 20 inches long. She joins her older sister, Luna May, at home.

The maternal grandparents are Ted and Janet Dozier of Junction City, Kan.  The paternal grandparents are Ken and Andrea May of Fort Lewis, Wash.

The May family also received a newborn care package including diapers, wipes, baby bath soaps, an infant tub a GCH “Geary Bear” stuffed animal and a $50 Wal-Mart gift card.

Nikki Davies, Director Marketing and Public Relations

Geary Community Hospital

Junction City firefighters responded to an area in the 1000 block of West 6th Street Monday morning.

According to the Junction City Fire Department and police dispatch the fire at a storage unit was knocked down. No injuries were reported. Firefighters were called to the scene at 7:51 a.m. and as of late morning remained on scene monitoring the site.

Fire Department Battalion Chief Bill Kausler reported the site of the fire was in a storage area on the east end of the building that houses a Goodwill outlet. The damage estimate was placed at $1,500.

The cause of the fire is under investigation. The State Fire Marshal’s Office was contacted to help with the investigation.

Monday is a teacher work day in Geary USD 475.

Students return to the classroom from the holiday break on Tuesday.

WASHINGTON (AP) – Defense Department data show hundreds of incidents each year of the children of military service members being victims of sexual assault.

The abuse of military dependents is committed most often by male enlisted troops, according to the data provided exclusively to The Associated Press.

The figures offer greater insight into the sexual abuse of children committed by service members, a problem of uncertain scale due to a lack of transparency in the military’s legal proceedings. With more than 1 million military dependents, the number of cases appears statistically small. But for a profession that prides itself on honor and discipline, any episodes of abuse cast a pall.

Story courtesy of WREG News Channel 3 in Memphishttps://wreg.com/2016/01/02/bad-luck-strikes-liberty-bowl-tailgaters/

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Liberty Bowl parking lot was packed with people tailgating. Some got here as early as 8 a.m. Saturday, and one group was determined not to let anything get in their way of coming to the game.

Richard Searles, his wife Karin and their friends Claude Sokol and Lisa Deppish have to consider themselves die hard Kansas State fans. The group drove from the Junction City, Kansas area to Memphis for the Liberty Bowl game but not before a rocky start.

“Got to Clinton Missouri, stopped at a light on a highway, red light, and started going, and a semi plowed into the back of us,” Richard Searles said. “Busted out the back window, bent the frame, our side doors don’t open, so I’m sure the van is totaled.”

“I think we’re very lucky and fortunate that nobody got seriously hurt,” Karin Searles said. “Got a couple bumps on my head but nothing to worry about.”

Richard and his friends even put purple tape on the back of the van. A sign they added tells their story, literally.

It reads: “Can’t stop these KSU fans, hit by a semi-truck, robbed and all our stuff stolen, yep still going to the game!”

Yes, robbed. Richard said the alarm in his van went off around 5 a.m. Saturday. He said someone stole his laptop and camera out of the van  parked at the hotel they were staying in.

“The car’s replaceable, the junk inside of it is replaceable, but a good time on the road with friend and family, it’s not replaceable, and a K-State win is definitely going to help,” Richard said.

The group said even though they became the victims of crime in the Bluff City, they still love Memphis. They returned home safely Sunday evening.