After not making any releases for the past few days due to flooding down stream in Missouri, the Corps of Engineers at Milford Lake are once again releasing water.

RJ Harms, Corps of Engineers Project Operations Manager at Milford Lake, explained that he got the phone call Thursday morning to begin releases of 400 cfs, with possibilities of increasing to 2,000 cfs by Monday.

“The reason we can do that is, it takes about a week or so for our water to make it all the way to St. Louis,” said Harms. “So any water that we start releasing today will take about a week to travel down the Kansas (River), and into the Missouri River. That usually leaves enough time for some of that water to get out of there and make room for it.”

Missouri is experiencing extensive flooding along the Mississippi and Meramec Rivers due to days of have rain.

The Corps is attempting to get Milford Lake down to their targeted winter elevation of approximately two feet low before any significant ice formation occurs. Harms said that they will be watching the marinas and docks, and if any thick ice does begin to form around those areas the Corps will shut off its releases.

The Junction City Police Department has reported the arrest of three individuals Wednesday on Geary County District Court Warrants. 

The following were arrested:

• Derrick Lee Baskins, 27, of Junction City on a Geary County District Court Warrant alleging sale of opiate/narcotic and unlawfully arranging sales of controlled substances using a communication facility.
• Marqaz D R McDonald, 18, of Junction City on a Geary County District Court Warrant alleging felony criminal damage to property and criminal trespass.
• Brenda Robyn Morris, 54, of Junction City on a Geary County District Court Warrant alleging sale of opiate/narcotic.

The JCPD also reported the arrest of three other individuals during the overnight hours.

• Austin Neil Tanner, 19, of Grandview Plaza on suspicion of Failure to Appear.
• Crystal Ann Erichsen, 28, of Junction City on suspicion violation of a no contact order.
• Jacob Lee Christian, 26, of Junction City on suspicion of criminal damage to property.

No further incidents were reported.

According to the National Weather Service of Topeka, a dry period is expected for the start of the new year and should continue into the middle of next week. Mostly sunny skies to and west winds will send the mercury into the 30s this afternoon. This evening temperatures will cool into the teens to lower 20s, however west winds of 5 to 10 mph will make it feel like 8 to 16 degrees. The next chance of precipitation arrives next Wednesday.

Today: Mostly sunny. Patchy fog in the morning. Highs in the mid 30s. West winds up to 10 mph.

Tonight: Mostly clear. Lows around 14. West winds around 5 mph.

New Years Day: Sunny. Highs in the upper 30s. West winds 5 to 15 mph.

Friday Night: Clear. Lows around 17. West winds 5 to 10 mph.

Saturday: Sunny. Highs in the lower 40s. West winds 5 to 10 mph.

Saturday Night: Clear. Lows around 18.

Sunday: Sunny. Highs in the upper 30s.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear. Lows around 16.

Monday: Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 30s.

Monday Night: Mostly cloudy. Lows in the lower 20s.

Tuesday: Partly sunny. Highs in the lower 40s.

Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy. Lows in the upper 20s.

Wednesday: Mostly cloudy with slight chance of rain. Highs in the lower 40s.

Geary County offices close at noon on Thursday for end of year accounting purposes.

County employees will work Thursday morning, but have the afternoon off.

The Medical Reserve Corps is part of the Wildcat Region which includes Geary, Riley and Pottawatomie Counties.

The Health Department Director in Geary County, Pat Hunter, explained in the past this program existed in Junction City, but it is now taking on a regional flavor. “We’re now trying to set a formal process in place so that if any kind of incident ever happens we will have people from different communities helping each other out.”

Volunteers are needed in all three counties.

There will be an orientation session at the Geary County Health department January 12th from 5:15 to 6:30 p.m.

The Junction City, Manhattan and Wamego Chambers of Commerce will hold their annual 2016 Regional Leaders’ Retreat on Friday and Saturday, January 22 and 23. Business leaders from the three cities will meet at the Sheraton Overland Park Hotel in Overland Park to discuss regional issues relating to Fort Riley, NBAF, housing and the workforce.

To register call the Junction City Area Chamber of Commerce at 762-2632. The last day to register is Friday, January 15.

To book a hotel room call 913-234-2100 and mention the Leaders Retreat Block rate or your local Chamber of Commerce. The last day to secure the block rate of $95 per night is Friday, January 8.

Authorities have a 24-year old Junction City man in custody in connection with an alleged home burglary and robbery.

Police Detective Lieutenant Jeff Childs said that on Tuesday evening patrol officers were dispatched to 2621 Kathi Drive for a residential burglary. “During the investigation of that burglary it was determined that numerous items had been taken from the residence. ”

Childs noted the residence had been unoccuppied for several days while the family was away on vacation. “During our investigation we identified a possible suspect as David Lee McKinney who resides in the Junction City area.”

Childs said the subject was located, and when authorities attempted to stop the vehicle he was driving he fled from the officers but was apprehended after a foot chase.

A check of the booking photos released by the Geary County Sheriff’s Department revealed the suspect is named David Smith, aka Mckinney.

Junction City police have arrested him in multiple cases on suspicion of Burglary, Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Sell and Felon in Possession of a Firearm, and also on a Municipal Court warrant. The Geary County Sheriff’s Department has reported his arrest on a Geary County District Court warrant charging robbery.