Geary County officials this week took their plea for help meeting social service costs to the area legislative delegation.

The issue revolves around the fact many of those services deal with people who are actually Fort Riley residents, but the County has to pay the bill.

State Representative Tom Moxley explained initially officials need to find out what the Department of Defense is doing at other installations in the country. “And in the Legislature we have research people who work for us that can determine that. And they will in turn go to national research firms that work for us and scout out what those possibilities are in regard to impact aid for cities and counties.”

In Kansas school districts receive military impact aid, but cities and counties do not at the present time.

Geary County offices will close at noon on December 31st. County employees will get that afternoon off.

Geary County Commission Chairman Ben Bennett said, “There is an accounting and software problem about closing out the end of the year, and where we close out with where the payday falls, and the end of the year all at the same time. And for accounting purposes we’re going to give all County employees and close all County offices at twelve o’clock on New Year’s Eve.”

Employees will still work on the morning of December 31st.

On a related note with that situation, Bennett also added all of the county employee pay raises that go into effect for 2016 will be delayed one day from January 1st until January 2nd.

RILEY COUNTY – Two people were injured in an accident just before 4p.m. on Tuesday in Riley County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser driven by Katherine M. Wilson, 20, Manhattan, was westbound in the 5500 Block of Tuttle Creek Boulevard.

The Chrysler turned south onto South Dam Road and was struck by a 1995 Chevy 1500 driven by Billie J. Anderson, 54, Wamego, that was eastbound on U.S. 24.

Wilson and a passenger Brandon P. Galloway, 24, Manhattan, were disabled due to the accident. Wilson was transported to Via Christi.

The KHP did not indicate where Galloway was treated. He was not wearing a seatbelt, according to the KHP.

Anderson was not injured.

The Junction City Public Works Department says there will be no trash / garbage pick-up on Friday due to the Christmas holiday.

However it will be picked up the next work day…in this case on Saturday.

To ensure pick-up, your trash should be set out by 6 a.m. Saturday morning. Carts should be removed from the curb-alley by the following day of their scheduled pick-up, for example by 6 a.m. on Sunday in this case.

Additional items that are set out may require making arrangements for a special pick-up.

The Junction City Little Theater will present two one-act plays, Laundry & Bourbon, and Lone Star on December 31, January 1 and January 2 at 7:30 p.m.

The performances will be in the Junction City Little Theater Annex building at 618 North Jefferson.

Both shows are funny, but also contain serious aspects because they deal with difficulties faced by military veterans. “These productions contain adult humor, language, or content that some may find inappropriate,” said Monte Dibben, director.

Tickets are $10 cash or check at the door.

The Geary County Sheriff’s Department has reported that Deputies received a report Monday on a lapsed hit and run.

Shila Burch was driving was driving eastbound in the 7800 block of Old Highway 77 in a Nissan Murano when the vehicle was sideswiped by an unknown maroon vehicle traveling westbound. No injuries were reported as a result of the accident.

The case is still under investigation.

MANHATTAN – A Kansas man accused in connection with the September 4, robberies that prompted the lockdown at Kansas State University appeared in Riley County Court on Monday.

Sean Johnson, 20, Manhattan, is charged with three counts of felony-aggravated robbery, felony conspiracy to commit aggravated robbery and two counts of misdemeanor theft.

A three day trial was scheduled for March 29, 2016.

Johnson was arrested on September 9, after an investigation into several robberies on September 4 in the Manhattan that caused K-State University and Manhattan Christian College to lock down their campuses.

Johnson was arrested along with Johnathon Elliott, Carson Buckley and Janir Vega.

Johnson’s bond was originally set at $150,000. Elliott appeared in court on November 10, for a preliminary hearing where officers with the Riley County Police Department and victims testified about the incident.

According to the National Weather Service of Topeka, temperatures for the first day of Winter are on the warm side with highs generally in the 50s. The next system this evening increases the chances for showers and isolated thunderstorms. A cold front arrives Wednesday night with a stronger system, bringing chances for rain and snow. Best chances for light accumulations by Christmas Eve morning are generally north of Interstate 70. The strongest, slow moving system arrives late Christmas Evening. Models are still uncertain with the type of precipitation, but it is appearing a wintry mix is likely through Monday. Stay tuned as changes to the forecast are likely.

Today: Colder…sunny. Highs around 40. West winds 10 to 20 mph with gusts to around 30 mph.

Tonight: Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 20s. Northwest winds 5 to 10 mph.

Thursday: Partly sunny. Highs in the mid 30s. Northwest winds 5 to 15 mph.

Thursday Night: Partly cloudy in the evening then becoming clear. Lows around 19. West winds 5 to 10 mph.

Friday: Sunny. Highs around 40. West winds 5 to 15 mph.

Friday Night: Mostly clear. Lows around 19.

Saturday: Sunny. Highs in the upper 40s.

Saturday Night: Not as cool. Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 30s.

Sunday: Partly sunny. Highs in the mid 50s.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy. Lows around 30.

Monday: Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 40s.

Monday Night: Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 30s.

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

GLEN ELDER – Two people were injured in a three-vehicle accident just before 4p.m. on Monday in Mitchell County

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2003 Kia Spectra driven by Wyatt Emmet Wentz, 20, Norton, was westbound on U.S. 24 just east of Hobart Street in Glen Elder.

The driver failed to stop and rear ended a 2001 Jeep Cherokee driven by Bryce Allen Staniec, 15, Glen Elder, which caused the Jeep to rear end a 2008 Chevy Malibu driven by Kiley A. Stutzman, 20, Milford, NE. which was preparing to make a left turn.

Wentz and Staniec were transported to the Mitchell County Hospital. Stutzman was not injured.

Wentz was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.