On Saturday at the Milford State Park Marina Boat Ramp, an angler from Salina, KS was backing his truck down the ramp when is started sliding and would not stop. Most likely this was dUE to ice and old vegetation growth on the ramp. The truck slid all the way under the water. The Saline County Sheriff’s Mounted Patrol Water Rescue Squad was called in to recover the vehicle.
( Information and photos courtesy of Rick Dykstra )
The Take Me Home Program overseen by the Junction City Police Department Community Involvement Unit.
Police Chief Tim Brown says it can apply to children with disabilities, elderly, or anyone. “That have some kind of disability that would possibly cause them to walk away and not know who they were or where they live. We now have a program where you can register them at the police department.”
Brown said you can scheduled an appointment with Captain Chuck Leithoff at 785-762-5912. “And we will register them there at the police department. That will be in the police data base, so if we find someone, a child or someone who doesn’t know who they are or where they’re at, that type of situation, we’ll already have that information in the data base.”
Brown added the JCPD is probably one of the first agencies in Kansas to have that information.
The Geary County Sheriff’s Department has reported the arrest of two Fort Riley residents in the early morning hours on Saturday.
The daily report from the Sheriff’s Department revealed that Deputies arrested Oscar Zapata of Fort Riley on suspicion of DUI, Minor in Possession of Alcohol, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Open Container and Defective Tag Lamp. Daquean Sincere Hurdle of Fort Riley was arrested on suspicion of Open Container, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Minor in Consumption.
The arrests were reported at 2:31 a.m. Saturday at the 1400 block of North Webster in Junction City.
There is sometimes discussion in other cities about whether or not to purchase body cameras for police officers.
But in Junction City the police confim the officers have had them for some time.
Dan Breci, Junction City Police Captain, said the department has about 50 body cameras. “Every officer on the department has a body camera. We are fortunate, we have had in-car cameras since about 1995, and we’ve had body cameras for the last two years. So when Ferguson came up in national, everybody’s talking about officers needing body cameras, well we’ve had those.
Breci said the JCPD has had positive results with the body cameras. “It’s great when if we do get a citizen’s complaint, the officer had his equipment on, we can clear that without them going through a long process because we can show the complainant right away this is what actually happened, this is what was said.
The continued work toward the one-to-one initiative in Geary USD 475 wil be on the Board of Education agenda on Monday. The BOE meets at 5 p.m. Monday at the Devin Center.
The focus of one agenda item will be on the effort to provide laptop computers for all students at Junction City High School, the Freshman Success Academy, and the Larry Dixon Center.
The Board will consider two options….whether to lease computers for four years and then the District owning them after that time, or to purchase them outright now.
Looking ahead at this new year, 2016 could be a tough year to get things done because it is an election year.
That’s the view of Geary County Commissioner Ben Bennett, who explained because it is an election year it will be especially hard to get things done through the Kansas legislature, despite some major issues that need to be addressed. “The freefall that we’ve had, the fallout over taxes has been one of those big issues as far as I’m concerned.”
Bennett stated, “The shortfall, and what’s happening with the school districts, and what’s happening with the preperation for county support from the Legislature, the blue green algae issue for instance. It’s serious to the welfare and economic stability to this community.”
Bennett added the state must increase sales tax in order to keep property taxes at the local level down in 2016.
Longtime Geary County Commissioner Florence Whitebread has told JC Post she does not anticipate running for re-election in 2016.
Whitebread has served on the county commission for 23 years, and when her current term ends in January of 2017 she will have spent 24 years as a member of the governing body.
“Well, right now I don’t anticipate running. I feel 24 years is a long time to give to any community. But I have enjoyed it and I truly do enjoy the work.”
Whitebread represents District Three on the commission, which covers primarily the eastern part of the county.
Asked if there were any chance she might change her mind during the next year, and seek another term on the commission, Whitebread stated, “Oh I suppose that always could occur. You never say never for purpose, but at this point in time I don’t anticipate changing.
After her term expires Whitebread indicated she would like to continue serving on other public committees and boards. Two that were mentioned include the aTa Bus Board and the Opera House Board.
The Junction City Police Department has reported that shots were fired early this morning at 2334 Wildcat Lane. No injuries were reported.
Police received the call at 12:03 a.m.
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The Police Department reported:
–The arrest of Loyce Lee Williams, Junction City on suspicion of criminal damage to property and criminal threats stemming from alleged criminal damage to property at 1024 South Washington Street and his arrest on suspicion of criminal damage to property stemming from alleged criminal damage to property at 820 South Washington. ‘
Williams was arrested Thursday eat 136 East Vine Street.
–The arrest of 19 year old Patrick Burelle, Junction City, on ssix counts of suspicion of Probation Violation.
–The arrest of 22 year old Blake Dillion Grzymala and 21 year old Aliciann Irene Grzymala both of Fort Riley on suspicion of criminal damage to property. They were arrested in the 400 block of Grant Avenue.
–36 year old Tyree Dushon Wells, Junction City, on suspicion of possession of marijuana, suspicion of defective tail lamp on a motor vehicle, and no liability insurance. He was arrestd in the 400 block of Grant Avenue. Police also reported that they assisted an outside agency with Wells being arrested on a Geary County District Court warrant charging a probation violation.
Officers with the Riley County Police Department were dispatched to the 900 block of Garden Way in Manhattan for multiple reports of a disturbance at approximately 3 am Thursday.
Shortly thereafter officers were told that one of the subjects left the 
area in a dark colored Scion car with a loud aftermarket exhaust. Responding officers located a vehicle matching the given description travelling eastbound in the 3400 block of Anderson Avenue at a high rate of speed.
Officers initiated a pursuit of the vehicle which continued to travel at a high rate of speed on Anderson Avenue. The vehicle eventually stopped in the 1700 block of Anderson Ave, and officers identified the driver as Brandon Hershberger, 18, of Manhattan, KS.
It was also discovered that Hershberger had damaged several walls and windows during the disturbance at Garden Way. Damage was estimated at approximately $2,000.00.
Hershberger was arrested for fleeing and attempting to elude, reckless driving and criminal damage to property. Hershberger’s bond was set at $7,000, and was released from custody after posting bond.
The Junction City Police Department will put an emphasis on enforcing the ordinance banning talking on a cell phone while driving in 2016.
The ordinance was approved by the City Commission in June of 
2014, but wasn’t enforced until October of 2014.
“You can have hands free-calling, but if you’ve got the cell phone up to your ear, everybody driving down the street can see that, officers can see that, and we’re going to pull you over and write you a ticket,” said Police Captain Dan Breci.
“If we’re not enforcing it, then they think it’s not a big deal.”
The fine is $60, with court costs that increases to a total of $176. A goal is to reduce accidents with the increased enforcement.