Geary County Commission Chair Alex Tyson announced Wednesday that the governing body is looking forward to working with the new Interim CEO at Geary Community Hospital, Margaret Grismer, and the Board of Trustees to find a new path for the hospital. GCH is facing financial challenges.

Commissioners met in executive session Wednesday to discuss hospital but took no action after it ended. The&nbsp; Trustees have decided to&nbsp; close the intensive care unit at GCH at the end of the month, but the governing body is hopeful that the intensive care unit at Geary Community will be brought back at some point in the future.

Tyson said the commission also stands by the decision to close the ICU. He added an intensive care unit is needed by they understand the closure "at this time." The County Chair noted that staffing issues have placed a burden on Geary Community. "Let us try to find a clear path and at some point in time we can get the ICU back up and running."

Commissioners look forward to working with new Hospital Interim CEO

Recent Booking Activity for the Geary County Detention Center. All persons included in this post are innocent of crimes until proven guilty in a court of law. Courtesy photo.

Geary County Booking Photos Wednesday Jan. 26

&nbsp;Two additional Riley County residents have died after testing positive for COVID-19. According to the Health Department a 75 year-old man, fully vaccinated and boosted, tested positive January 14 and passed away at Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Manhattan on January 24. A 70 year-old man, unvaccinated, tested positive January 2 and died at the hospital on January 25.&nbsp; Ascension Via Christi is currently caring for 11 COVID-19 positive patients. Four patients are in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and one is on a ventilator.&nbsp; Riley County has identified 898 new COVID cases and 973 additional recoveries since the last report on January 19. There are currently 979 active cases in Riley County, which represents a decrease of 77 active cases since last week. The two-week rolling percent positivity rate climbed to 24.06% from 22.52% for the current period. “New variants are on the horizon and the virus will likely be part of our lives for a long time to come,” said Local Health Officer Julie Gibbs. “The best advice I can give is to get vaccinated, follow your doctor’s recommendations, and take good care of your health. Do not put off medical care and treatment you would normally seek. Get plenty of sleep, exercise, eat well, and take the steps medical providers recommend so you can keep your body healthy.” RCHD will continue to provide COVID and flu vaccines by appointment. Please call (785) 565-6560 to schedule a vaccine. Health department nurses are also available to offer COVID and flu vaccine clinics on-site in collaboration with businesses, organization managers, or owners. Last week, RCHD hosted a vaccine clinic at Manhattan Town Center, providing 60 individuals with first, second, or booster doses. This week, staff are visiting the Ogden Community Center, Manhattan High School, and Riley County Offices to host vaccine clinics. A total of 30 vaccines were provided at the Ogden Community Center on Monday. To schedule a clinic, please contact Sheyenne at (785) 776-4779 ext. 7691. The KDHE testing site at Manhattan Town Center was closed January 25 because of the extreme cold, but is open today. RCHD is working in partnership with KDHE to secure an indoor space that can be used on a regular basis when winter weather prevents outdoor testing.&nbsp; “Testing has been in high demand, as you’re all aware, and home tests are becoming a more popular alternative to waiting for results,” said Gibbs. “We have been working with KDHE to develop a survey that allows people to report the results of their at-home tests. It’s a way to help our medical community get a better picture of the situation in Riley County. Reporting at-home test results is entirely voluntary and we ask that people report both positive and negative results using our secure online form.”&nbsp; Report at-home COVID test results online at&nbsp;<a href="https://gmail.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=95221c46aac4689e49a7c0bfc&amp;id=705d80e926&amp;e=fd06d17886" target="_blank">www.rileycountyks.gov/ReportResults</a>. Contact tracing will not be conducted on any of the test results reported. Information submitted by residents will be stored on a secured database that is HIPAA protected. Statistics for at-home test results will not be added to the weekly report at this time. As a reminder, every home in the US can request a maximum of four at-home tests. Orders are expected to ship within 7-12 days. Order tests online at&nbsp;<a href="https://gmail.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=95221c46aac4689e49a7c0bfc&amp;id=a8021e8f7d&amp;e=fd06d17886" target="_blank">www.covidtests.gov</a>&nbsp;or by calling 1-800-232-0233.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Two deaths and 898 new COVID-19 cases are reported in Riley County

The Junction City Juneteenth Community Association is currently welcoming new members to its planning committee. Since 1993, the organization has sponsored community Juneteenth observances every year except 2020, a pandemic year. The Association also awards scholarships and sponsors country outings and history programs.

Officers and members place a high priority on efficient use of time: Therefore, meetings are always focused and well organized.&nbsp; If you would like to become a member, the committee will welcome you.

If interested, contact Committee Chair Valerie Guy at 785.375.3847 or Valerie.guy10@gmail.com

Juneteenth Community Association seeks new members

On this episode of the Post Podcast Hays Post reporter Cristina Janney speaks with U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) about a variety of situations facing Kansas and the nation.

With the US Senate on break this week Senator Jerry Moran is
back in the area. He stops by to speak with his Post reporter Cristina Janney
to share some updates on this episode of the Post Podcast.

Hays Post reporter Cristina Janney&nbsp; 

What is brought you back home to the northwest part of the
state. 

This week well, it is great to be back home. Senate is out
of session this week, we worked through Martin Luther King, what was traditionally
a recess a time away from Washington DC because of the holiday. And instead
because of work that took place last week, we're away from Washington, DC this
week, gives me the opportunity to be out and about among Kansans. In western
Kansas, certainly paying attention to what's going on here. And one of the ways
I do that is today, yesterday was a visit with the with the Ness City Rotary
Club, getting their perspective on what's going on in NES County, a visit to
lacrosse High School to visit with a young student who's been chosen to be the
Senate youth program opportunity to go to Washington D.C. Oh, I think he has
the misfortune of it being a zoom program this year, and see what's going on in
lacrosse and rush county as well. And mostly just trying to make certain that
Kansans have the opportunity to tell me what's on their mind.

I know you also mentioned you're trying to put out a plea
for blood donation that that was a personal request from your own doctor there
in Plainville to, to put in people's minds that the Red Cross really needs
blood right now.

Earlier this week, I had a conversation with Dr. Sanchez,
one of the physicians in my hometown of Plainville. And the request was, could
I do anything to help encourage people to donate blood and I'm intending to do
so myself today. And just the the point he was making is that surgeries are
being denied because of lack of blood, and just again, encourage Kansans to be
the kind of people that we always are, and rise to the occasion when there's a
need in our community. I know that there's opportunities to do the blood drives
are taking place on certain days across western Kansas. But in Hayes, I think
it's an arc and it occurs most weekdays here in this community. So on behalf of
Dr. Sanchez, and, and his patients, and really all all of us here encouraged
people to donate blood.

Yes, that's so important. I'm planning on doing that myself.
I won't be eligible here for another week. But I do plan on doing that myself.
Let's turn a little bit to the job back in Washington. There's a lot of
interest going around on what is happening in the Ukraine right now. What is
your perspective on that?

You know, we have no choice me as a senator and all of us
really, as citizens of this country wish we could just deal with the local
issues to deal with the things that affect Kansans directly. But we have no
choice but to deal with the huge national international issues. And we are in a
significant circumstance with, with Putin and his desire to retake at least
portions of the Ukraine, which was part of the Soviet Union, but became an
independent state when the Soviet Union fell apart. And this is a test of
American resolve. And I certainly not interested to be discouraged if we had to
put American troops into another battle. But how we handle this is important.
And this really is a mission for NATO. And the challenges that it seems that
particularly Germany is not aligned with other NATO countries in the response.
And over time, I think European countries have become dependent upon Russian
energy, oil and natural gas, and it changes the way that they are willing to
take on Putin and Russia. My view is that we've got to make certain
particularly in light, I'm still angry about the way we came out of
Afghanistan. We were we were poorly prepared, we left people behind, we send a
message to the world that we're not reliable. And it's important for us to work
with our NATO allies to demonstrate to the world not only to protect the
freedoms and liberties as as they are, as we hope they become in Ukraine. But
to make certain that the rest of the world knows that the United States is a
reliable partner.

Also, you said that you were concerned about some legislation
that was being considered in terms of fossil fuel funding?

Absolutely. This is a this is not a piece of legislation.
It's the Biden administration and their policies. And here in oil producing
country. I'm not sure this has become a topic but it is an important one,
because there are not the votes in Congress to to outlaw energy companies to do
away with fossil fuels. This administration, the Biden administration is
looking for every opportunity to undermine the ability of an energy company to
exist. And one of the ways they're doing that is appointing people to the
regulatory organizations, the Federal Reserve Board the Office of Comptroller
of currency, the FDIC, the entities that regulate our banks and credit unions
and financial institutions. And the goal was to put people in place that will
insist that no, no loans would be against their regulations for loans to be
made to energy companies. It's a roundabout way of trying to diminish or
eliminate the role of that kind of energy in our country's economy. And while
we ought to do everything we can to make sure we have the cleanest environment
possible, how we do that, how practical we are, when we do it, and what the
economic consequences are. Look we're facing I would say that Americans,
perhaps greatest domestic concern, is inflation. And here we have an
administration that is doing things to reduce the availability of oil and
natural gas, increasing the price, as we've seen, at the pump, and natural gas,
ask a farmer about the cost of fertilizer, which is components of making
fertilizer or natural gas, these expensive increases are going to be very
damaging to the economy. And it's also so so hypocritical, so odd for President
Biden to call on Russia to increase its oil production, while he and his administration
do everything they can to reduce hours.

Yes, that could be very devastating to our local economy, if
oil companies were not able to take out loans. Do you have any comments about
the election legislation that has been considered in Congress?

Absolutely. That was why the Senate was in session last week
is because of that issue that legislation. First of all, I would say that the
there were not sufficient votes, it takes 60 votes to pass a piece of
legislation, including this election, this voting bill that was crafted solely
by Democrats. And in my view, the rules of the Senate which require 60 votes,
protect us protect, particularly as rural people, but protect the minority, not
necessarily Republicans or Democrats, but people who have different points of
view. And generally, that's those of us who come from rural places like Kansas.
And so the Democrats because they couldn't get 60 votes attempted to change the
rules. Unfortunately, two Democratic senators, Senator Manchin and Senator
cinema refused to go along. And so the Senate rules stay in place. And that is
a good thing for protecting us from a heavy handed urban and suburban Congress.
And really just protecting people who have ideas that are different than
perhaps the majority. So that was part of the debate last week. But the
underlying bill wants to nationalize the process by which people the rules
about how you vote become a national thing. The Constitution says the manner of
voting will be determined for congressional elections will be determined by
states. So constitutionally, this is a Kansas issue, not a Washington issue.
And when people can't get their way in Washington, DC, because states may be
doing something different. They want to change the law, change the rules,
ignore the Constitution and take over this this role. Every almost in every
circumstance, when Washington DC tries to solve a problem. It does so in a
heavy handed, broad based way that is often damaging to Kansas, we know how to
run our elections in Kansas, and we don't need some election board and in the
nation's capital determining how we do that.

Do you think that there's any concern nationwide about voter
suppression, though, coming from it and from individual states here,

Here's what I would say, is that I would never want to
support would never support the very much more straightforward would would
never support or would not encourage, in fact, would discourage any state from
trying to figure out ways to keep people from voting. If they're legally
entitled to vote, whatever their views are, whatever their political party is,
we want people to vote. And so we need to make certain that mean, people need
to make certain that in their own states, there's nothing going on that's designed
to discourage discriminate against people who may have a different idea may
belong to a different political party. We ought to be encouraging people to
vote as long as they're legally entitled to vote.

Okay. We've seen searches in COVID. Do you think that the
federal government is doing enough to address the latest surges in COVID, in
terms of testing and vaccination?

I am certainly encouraged people to be vaccinated and to and
I guess maybe I say this is talk to their physician, talk to the person who
took out their appendix deliver their baby and find out if vaccination is good
for them. Make that decision. I'm opposed to the mandate that comes from
Washington DC telling us we have to be vaccinated, but people ought to take responsibility.
If it's an appropriate opportunity for them then then personally, the federal
government has been provided Congress's provided millions and billions of
dollars to respond to COVID. And my view is that we are still woefully short of
meeting the things that need to happen in this country. Particular The
manufacturing and supply of pharmaceuticals and gas, gas masks gowns and
gloves, the things back at the beginning of the COVID of COVID, in which we
said, we're going to bring this stuff home, we're not going to wait on China,
their suppliers, and they're not dependable and they're our adversary. So my
view is that there's a lot of money that's out there to be spent. And we still
don't have the necessary domestic supply to fight COVID or any other pandemic
and is certainly there's a shortage and a long waiting line for people to be
tested which there many people are now interested in doing.

Do you think that the rollout of the new home tests that you
think that's going to be?

Christina I'm anxious to see what we’re gonna wait to have
to wait and see. I mean, it. It sounds good that you go to your computer and
you can get a test, but we've not seen it work yet.

🎙Post Podcast: Sen. Moran says situation in Ukraine 'a test of American resolve'

Geary Community Hospital Trustees met Tuesday in executive session where there was discussion about the hospital's intensive care unit. Following the closed door session they took no action on that issue.

In a news release from GCH, the Board of Trustees still stood firm on their decision to close the ICU, effective Feb. 1.

Trustees stand firm on their ICU decision

RILEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating alleged gunfire directed at a home in Ogden.

Juste before 7p.m. Tuesday, officers filed a report for criminal damage to property and criminal discharge of a weapon in the 200 block of Seventh St. in Ogden, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report. 

A 78-year-old man reported an unknown suspect shot multiple rounds from a gun, hitting the victim's home. No injuries were reported. 

Anyone with information can contact RCPD or the Manhattan Riley County Crime Stoppers. Using the Crime Stoppers service can allow you to remain anonymous and could qualify you for a cash reward of up to $1,000.

RCPD: Gunshots damaged home in Ogden

The JC Breakfast Optimist Club’s “Celebration of Optimism” held Wednesday at the Hampton Inn. Marcie Fiorentino, Junction City High School Freshman Success Academy Principal, was officially inducted into the JC Breakfast Optimist Club by Dana Wiegand.

Donna Price, Director of the Geary County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau (CVB) was the guest speaker. Donna told members she had worked in Goodland, Kansas and later Lincoln and Alliance, Nebraska in the newspaper business. When she returned to Goodland, Donna served as the CVB Director for 19 years.

“When the position became open in Geary County, I was encouraged to apply, was hired and began work last October. I love it. The County Commissioners dissolved the previous Board of Directors, and we are in the process of rebuilding that board. I enjoy working with a Board that brings different ideas and suggests different initiatives”, she said.

Donna also stated that “We have a lot of history here. I want to tell people about the wildlife for photographing and hunting; the Freedom Frontier; access from I-70; small and medium sized business opportunities among other things. It is important that the CVB, Chamber of Commerce, Economic Development Commission, Mainstreet Project and all of us work together to promote this area. Working together is important.”

When asked what she perceives as the biggest drawback to progress in Geary County, Donna said she believes “it is in finding ways to work together. There is divisiveness right now.”

Other guests at “Celebration of Optimism” were Brad Carlton and Ron Johnson. The JC Breakfast Optimist Club meets every Wednesday at 6:30 AM at the Hampton Inn on South Washington Street in Junction City. Guests receive a free breakfast buffet when they attend the first time.

The JC Breakfast Optimist Club Celebrated Optimism Guest Speaker Was Donna Price

By KEN CARPENTER Great Bend Post

Junction City High School Athletic Director Matt Westerhaus has been hired as the new activities director at Great Bend High School replacing David Meter who is retiring at the end of this school year. His appointment was approved Tuesday by the Great Bend Board of Education at their monthly luncheon held this month at Park Elementary School. &nbsp;

Westerhaus said he was pleased to be selected for the position.&nbsp;

"I know David so I kind of knew that he was going to retire,” Westerhaus commented. “I had it on the back of my mind, and when it came open, had a conversation with my wife and decided to go for it. And here we are.”&nbsp;

Westerhaus will officially take over the job on Aug. 1, 2022. He is a native of Junction City and played basketball for Junction City High School. He also played basketball at Benedictine College in Atchison where he graduated in 1995. &nbsp;

Westerhaus and his wife, Gretchen, met with members of the school board before his selection was announced. They have two children.&nbsp;

Meter served as the high school's activities director since 2000.&nbsp;

Matt Westerhaus is moving to Great Bend

Recent obituaries

The Junction City Blue Jays lost to the Topeka West Chargers at Topeka West High School in overtime, 67 - 66.&nbsp; Junction City falls to 8 - 3, Topeka West is now 11 -1.

Junction City Falls to Topeka West

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. –&nbsp;The United States Olympic &amp; Paralympic Committee has announced the 222-member 2022 U.S. Olympic Team that will compete at the upcoming Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022.

The Opening Ceremony will take place Friday, Feb. 4, with competition beginning Feb. 2 and concluding Sunday, Feb. 20. “The Olympic Games showcases the best of humanity and sport competition, and Beijing 2022 will be no different. The 222 incredible athletes who make up Team USA are not only ready to compete, but they are ready to make this country proud,” said USOPC CEO Sarah Hirshland. “The USOPC and the National Governing Bodies are committed to taking every step to keep our athletes safe, supported and championed as they live out their sporting dreams.” The 2022 U.S. Olympic Team features 99 returning Olympians, including four five-time Olympians – Shaun White in halfpipe snowboarding, Lindsey Jacobellis in snowboardcross, Katie Uhlaender in skeleton and John Shuster in curling. There are eight members of Team USA who will compete at their fourth Olympic Winter Games – Elana Meyers Taylor and Kaillie Humphries (previously of Team Canada) in bobsled, Ashley Caldwell in aerials freestyle skiing, Evan Bates in ice dance figure skating, Hilary Knight in ice hockey, Chris Mazdzer in luge, and Faye Gulini and Nick Baumgartner in snowboardcross. “Every time you have an opportunity to wear the red, white and blue, it’s a huge honor and an absolute privilege,” said Knight, defending Olympic champion. “I’ve been fortunate enough to be able to do it four times for the Olympics now, but it’s the feeling, and elation, of being able to pull the jersey over your shoulders and represent something bigger than yourself. It always feels like the first time whenever you put the jersey on.” Eighteen members of Team USA in Beijing have already achieved Olympic glory, including 11 athletes who have previously won Olympic gold medals.&nbsp;White tops the list with three gold medals in halfpipe snowboarding in 2006, 2010 and 2018, while Mikaela Shiffrin (alpine skiing), Humphries, Jamie Anderson (slopestyle and big air snowboarding) and David Wise (halfpipe freestyle skiing) each have two Olympic golds. Knight, Kendall Coyne Schofield, Brianna Decker and Lee Stecklein (ice hockey), Jessie Diggins (cross-country skiing) and Shuster each have one Olympic gold. “This is an exciting 2022 U.S. Olympic Team – a great mix of returning champions building on remarkable legacies and first-time Olympians eager to show what they can do on the biggest stage in sport,” said Rick Adams, USOPC chief of sport performance and 2022 Games Chef de Mission. “The dedication of these Team USA athletes to train and compete in this unpredictable global environment is exemplary. It’s an honor to support and celebrate Team USA, and we can’t wait for the Games to begin.” The Paralympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 open March 4. The 2022 U.S. Paralympic Team will be announced Feb. 19. NBCUniversal will present a Winter Olympics-record 2,800+ hours of&nbsp;<a href="http://link.teamusa.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_ieJQycjf2wGrJnA" target="_blank">coverage</a>&nbsp;across NBC, Peacock, USA Network, CNBC, NBCOlympics.com and the NBC Sports app when the XXIV Olympic Winter Games from Beijing, China, begin this February. Follow Team USA at the Winter Olympics Team USA fans can follow the 2022 U.S. Olympic Team at<a href="http://link.teamusa.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" target="_blank">&nbsp;TeamUSA.org</a>&nbsp;and across Team USA’s social channels on<a 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href="http://link.teamusa.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-1r0rzgwKQ" target="_blank">YouTube</a>. The U.S. Olympic Team microsite will offer Team USA results from the Olympic Winter Games, as well as athlete biographies, sport previews, a history book (published the week of Jan. 31), competition schedules, and facts and figures about the U.S. delegation.

●The roster of 222 athletes is the second largest U.S. contingent ever at the Olympic Winter Games, behind the 228-member team at PyeongChang 2018, and equaling the 222 named to the Sochi 2014 team. This will be the sixth U.S. winter delegation with over 200 athletes, all since 2002.

●Thirty-one states will be represented on the 2022 U.S. Olympic Team, with the largest contingents coming from California (29), Colorado (23) and Minnesota (23).

●The 2022 roster includes 107 women and 115 men. The 107 women in 2022, will be the largest ever female contingent for Team USA at an Olympic Winter Games, after 101 women competed at PyeongChang 2018 and 100 at Sochi 2014.

●The youngest member of Team USA in Beijing will be Alysa Liu, who was born on Aug. 8, 2005, and will be only 16 years and 6 months old when she competes in figure skating. The youngest man on Team USA will be Jordan Stolz in speedskating, who will turn 18 on May 21, 2022.

●The oldest member of Team USA will be Nick Baumgartner, competing in his fourth Olympic Winter Games in snowboarding, who turned 40 on Dec. 17, 2021. The oldest woman will be Katie Uhlaender in skeleton, also in her fourth Olympic Winter Games, who turned 37 on July 17, 2021.

 ●Ninety-nine members of Team USA in Beijing have previous Olympic appearances, with 88 of them having competed at the Olympic Winter Games and 11 having appeared at the Youth Olympic Winter Games. This will be the most experienced U.S. winter Olympic team ever, with 45% of the team having competed previously at an Olympic Winter Games.

●Four U.S. athletes will be competing in their fifth Olympic Winter Games – Shaun White and Lindsey Jacobellis in snowboarding, Katie Uhlaender in skeleton and John Shuster in curling. All of them competed in 2006, 2010, 2014 and 2018.

●Bobsledders Sylvia Hoffman and Josh Williamson make the 2022 U.S. Olympic Team after winning Team USA’s Next Olympic Hopeful contest.

 ●Fifty-four members of Team USA will make their Olympic debuts in Beijing.

●Eighteen members of Team USA have won Olympic medals, led by Mikaela Shiffrin in alpine skiing, Kaillie Humphries (previously of Team Canada) and Elana Meyers Taylor in bobsled, Hilary Knight in ice hockey, and Shaun White and Jamie Anderson in snowboarding – all with three Olympic medals.

●Of the 222 U.S. athletes heading to Beijing, more than 35% (84 athletes) competed collegiately across 43 schools. Four U.S. sport teams have at least 75% collegiate participation: men’s and women’s ice hockey (100%), bobsled (83%) and biathlon (75%). More than one-third of the women’s ice hockey team competed at the University of Minnesota, while U.S. bobsledders competed collegiately in five different sports: track and field, football, softball, lacrosse and basketball. College athlete representation on the 2022 U.S. Olympic Team spans all three NCAA Divisions (I, II and III), as well as collegiate club programs.

●Shaun White will be aiming for his fourth gold medal in halfpipe snowboarding. If he wins, he will become only the ninth Olympian to win individual gold medals at four Olympic Games, and only the second to do so at the Olympic Winter Games, after Ireen Wüst in speedskating for the Netherlands.

●Jamie Anderson will be looking to win her third consecutive gold medal in slopestyle snowboarding. If she succeeds, she will equal the three-peat of Bonnie Blair, who won the 500-meter speedskating race at three consecutive Olympic Winter Games in 1988-94.

●Hilary Knight has three Olympic medals in ice hockey, with one gold and two silvers. If Team USA women’s ice hockey can make the podium again, Knight will equal Angela Ruggiero, Jenny Schmidgall-Potter and Julie Chu with four Olympic ice hockey medals, the most ever by U.S. women.

●David Wise will be looking for his third consecutive gold medal in halfpipe freestyle skiing. If he does so, he will become the first U.S. man to win three consecutive gold medals in the same event at the Olympic Winter Games, and only the sixth man from any nation to do so in an individual event.

●Mikaela Shiffrin enters Beijing with two gold medals, the most ever by a U.S. alpine skier, equaling Ted Ligety and Andrea Mead-Lawrence. If she wins a gold medal in Beijing, she will top the gold-medal list for U.S. alpine skiers.

222-member 2022 U.S. Olympic Team announced

Bennington 57, St. John's Beloit-Tipton 51

Berean Academy 41, Hutchinson Central Christian 36

Flint Hills Christian 33, Cornerstone Family 24

Perry-Lecompton 46, Northeast Christian Homeschool 41

Wichita Bishop Carroll 44, Wichita South 33

Hugoton vs. Scott City, ppd. to Feb 14th.

Rawlins County vs. Logan/Palco, ppd. to Jan 29th.

Ulysses vs. Garden City, ppd. to Feb 14th.

Tuesday night high school girls basketball results

Bennington 69, St. John's Beloit-Tipton 46

Cornerstone Family 64, Flint Hills Christian 42

KC Christian 68, Christ Preparatory Academy 41

Kapaun Mount Carmel 41, Wichita Heights 38

Maranatha Academy 68, Bishop Seabury Academy 35

Wichita Bishop Carroll 43, Wichita South 36

Wichita Home School 49, St. Mary's Academy 47

Tuesday night high school boys basketball results

WACO, Texas&nbsp;– Kansas State could never really recover from an early onslaught by the defending national champions, as No. 4/4 Baylor displayed its immense talents on both ends of the court in earning a 74-49 victory over the Wildcats on Tuesday night before 8,062 fans at the Ferrell Center.

K-State (10-9, 2-6 Big 12), which scored the opening points of the game on a 3-pointer by sophomore&nbsp;Ish Massoud, surrendered the next 9 points before falling behind by as many as 21 points in the first half. The Wildcats made some in-roads in the early part of the second half, slicing the lead to 14 points, but that was the closest it would get as the Bears built as much as a 29-point lead.

For K-State, it was the worst offensive performance of the season, as the Bears stifled the Wildcats at every turn, causing them to post season-lows in 5 categories, including points (49), field goals made (19) and field goal percentage (31.7). The team had a season-low 21 points in the opening half on 26.9 percent (7-of-26) from the field, including 15.4 percent (2-of-13) from long range.

Baylor rolls by Kansas State in men's basketball

Senior Night for Blue Jay wrestling will be this Wednesday evening when Junction City hosts Manhattan. Blue Jay coach Tyler Gonzalez is calling on JCHS fans to pack&nbsp; the ( Blue Jay ) nest and raise the decibel level. He say the Blue Jays will be going for a White Out. Junction City fans are asked to wear white, and there will be a lot of free white out props for students.

The boys and girls wresting competition is set for five p.m.

Junction City will host Manhattan in wrestling

Junction City plays at Topeka West Tuesday night in Centennial League boys basketball.&nbsp; The Chargers are 10-1 overall and 6-1 in the conference while the Blue Jays are 8-2 and 6-1.

The game is scheduled to tip off at 6:30. You can hear the contest on 107.9 FM and 1420 KJCK AM.

JCHS JV / varsity swimming competes at Hummer Sports Park in Topeka at the Cap Fed Natatorium at 5 p.m. Tuesday.

Blue Jay basketball goes to Topeka West Tuesday night

Junction City finished fourth out of 26 wrestling teams at the Hays Invitational. Zeke Witt captured first place in the 106 pound weight class. Patrick Foxworth finished third at 138 pounds and Logan Nabus third at 170.

Cooper Bogenhagen was fifth at 182 pounds, Nathan Agudzi-Addo fifth at 195&nbsp; and Kaden Blake fifth at 132 pounds.

Junction City went 0-5 in a duals competition in Emporia. Junction City had a mixed depth chart lineup for that tournament, with losses to Emporia, Wichita West, Derby, Bishop Carroll and Dodge City.

In girls wrestling this past weekend Junction City finished seventh out of 19 teams. Jaden Alvarado finished second at 101 pounds, while Charly Goodwin at 120, Naomi Tanaka at 143 and Megan Franks at 126 all captured fourth place.

Also, the Lady Jays competed in Eureka, finishing tenth out of 21 teams. Kennedy Turner was first at 235 pounds, Charly Goodwin second at 120, Ariana Remy Yee fourth at 101 and Aislyan Bailey fifth at 138 pounds.

Blue Jays finish fourth in Hays Invitational 

Sophomore guard&nbsp;Nijel Pack&nbsp;has been selected as the Phillips 66 Big 12 co-Player of the Week on Monday (January 24) after his career-high 35-point performance against No. 7/7 Kansas on Saturday.

For the week, Pack averaged 25.5 points on 57.6 percent (19-of-33) shooting, including 58.8 percent (10-of-17) from 3-point range, in helping K-State split a pair of games against No. 23/22 Texas and No. 7/7 Kansas this past week. He scored 16 points in the upset of the Longhorns on Tuesday night that ended their 11-game homecourt winning streak before his near record-breaking effort against the Jayhawks at Bramlage Coliseum.

Pack shared the weekly honor with Kansas senior&nbsp;Ochai Agbaji, as the two combined for 64 points in Saturday’s Sunflower Showdown. It is the second-most points by opposing players in the 296-game rivalry and the most since K-State’s&nbsp;Mike Wroblewski&nbsp;(46) and Kansas’&nbsp;Nolen Ellison&nbsp;(25) combined for 71 points on February 7, 1962. Pack is the sixth Wildcat to post a game of 35 or more points against Kansas and the most in more than a decade since&nbsp;Jacob Pullen’s&nbsp;38-point effort against the top-ranked Jayhawks on February 14, 2011.

Pack named Big co-Player of the Week

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Patrick Mahomes found Travis Kelce in the corner of the end zone early in overtime, and the Kansas City Chiefs rallied to beat the Buffalo Bills 42-36 on Sunday night in a dramatic finish to a wild divisional-round weekend. The lead changed hands three times in the final two minutes of regulation before Harrison Butker, who earlier had missed a field goal and extra point, drilled a 49-yarder for Kansas City as time expired to force overtime. The Chiefs won the coin toss, marched swiftly downfield against the NFL’s top-ranked defense, and right into their fourth straight AFC title game. They’ll play the Bengals next Sunday night for a spot in the Super Bowl.

Chiefs win in overtime over Buffalo

TOPEKA&nbsp; – The Kansas attorney general’s office has resolved a lawsuit filed under the state’s mistaken-conviction statute, according to Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt.

The attorney general reached an agreed resolution of a lawsuit filed by 52-year-old Merardo J. Garza, Jr. On January 10, 2008, Garza was convicted of alternative counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a child and rape in Sedgwick County District Court. He was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum sentence of 25 years. His conviction was vacated on November 6, 2020, in Sedgwick County District Court. The agreed resolution was approved January 20, 2022, by Sedgwick County District Judge Seth Rundle.

In the agreed order, the court determined that Garza did not commit the crime for which he was convicted, nor was he an accessory or accomplice to that crime, nor did he suborn perjury, fabricate evidence or cause or bring about his conviction through his own conduct. Garza served 13 years, five months and 27 days in prison or jail.

Accordingly, the court ordered the following relief for Garza, as provided by the mistaken-conviction statute:

By statute, payment is subject to review by the State Finance Council.&nbsp;Copies of the orders in the case of&nbsp;Garza v State of Kansas&nbsp;can be found at&nbsp;<a href="https://bit.ly/3qZdu2W">https://bit.ly/3qZdu2W</a>.&nbsp;The case is awaiting review by the State Finance Council.

In the second case, Shawnee County District Court Judge Teresa Watson issued a ruling earlier last week in a lawsuit brought by Francis R. Everett, 64, who was convicted in Smith County on charges of manufacturing methamphetamines in November 2007. Everett was released when his conviction was reversed on appeal because the trial court erred in admitting evidence of a prior conviction, not because of actual innocence, Watson wrote. Everett was not retried on the charges, but is currently in prison on other charges.

Following a one-day trial on January 6 to hear Everett’s claim, Watson ruled that Everett failed to satisfy all of the requirements established in K.S.A. 60-5004 that the claimant shall prove, among other criteria, that he did not commit the crimes and was not an accessory to the acts that were the basis for the original conviction. Everett appeared at the trial by videoconference.

A witness at both Everett’s hearing and his 2007 trial testified that she was present with Everett in the making of methamphetamines and subsequent use during a three-month period from March to May 2006. The witness gave a detailed account of how she and Everett drove across state lines to acquire the necessary components to make the illegal drugs and subsequently use them in a secluded area.

Watson said in her ruling that Everett severely undercut his credibility as a witness in his claim against the state, admitting under oath that he “probably did” use methamphetamines during the time in question, despite earlier testimony to the contrary. A copy of Watson’s ruling is available at&nbsp;<a href="https://bit.ly/3FOoDHX">https://bit.ly/3FOoDHX</a>.

From December 2018 through the present, 14 individuals have filed lawsuits against the State of Kansas under authority of K.S.A. 60-5004, the mistaken-conviction statute. Of those, six have now reached judgment and payment has been made or is in process. In a seventh case, the district court ruled against the claimant, and the Kansas Supreme Court affirmed that no payment was owed. The eighth case (Everett) was rejected at the district court level. Five other cases remain in litigation in district courts. The Garza case is awaiting review by the State Finance Council.

Kan. man convicted of sex crimes against minor was innocent

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Top Republicans have pushed their congressional redistricting plan through the GOP-dominated Kansas Legislature without much trouble. 

An expected court battle loomed after Wednesday's legislative action over whether the proposed map goes too far in hurting the state’s only Democrat in Congress. 

The House’s 79-37 vote sends Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly a bill that would split the Kansas City area into two congressional districts and move the liberal northeast Kansas city of Lawrence into a district with central and western Kansas.

The Senate approved the measure last week. Democratic U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids would lose some of the neighborhoods in her Kansas City-area 3rd District where her support is strongest.

Controversial Kan. redistricting map is headed to Governor 

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A Roman Catholic priest who was accused of sexual exploitation of a child will not be charged because the statute of limitations has ended, Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennett said Wednesday.

The Catholic Diocese of Wichita placed Rev. Michael Schemm on administrative leave last November after it received an allegation against him.

The allegations reportedly occurred between 1993 and 1996, when Schemm was assigned to St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Wichita.

The child, who would have been between 12 and 15 at the time, would be 40 this year, Bennett said.

Under state law, the statute of limitations expired in 2009, when the alleged victim turned 28. Bennett said his decision was a legal conclusion and and was making “no commentary or conclusions” on the allegations.

<a href="https://www.kansas.gov/kbi/reportClergyAbuse.shtml">Click here&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;if you&nbsp;&nbsp;you, or someone you know, has been the victim of sexual misconduct committed by members of the clergy or call the KBI at 1-800-KS-CRIME (1-800-572-7463)&nbsp;or emailing&nbsp;<a href="mailto:ClergyAbuse@kbi.ks.gov">ClergyAbuse@kbi.ks.gov</a>

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Authorities are investigating a Catholic priest for alleged sexual abuse of a minor.

&nbsp;On Monday, Bishop Carl A. Kemme of the Catholic Diocese of Wichita placed Rev. Michael Schemm, Church of the Resurrection, 4910 N Woodlawn Street in Bel Aire, on leave, according to a media release from the Diocese.

Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennet said,&nbsp; “The Catholic Diocese of Wichita notified the Office of the District Attorney that allegations had recently been made against a priest working within the Diocese. 

 The allegations date to the time frame over 25 years ago.  Late this morning (Tuesday Nov.1.), the matter was referred by this office to the Exploited and Missing Child Unit.   Additional information may be made public following the presentation of the matter for a final charging determination at the conclusion of any follow up investigation.”

While on leave Father Schemm will be restricted from offering sacraments and preaching in the Catholic Diocese of Wichita until the investigation has been completed, according to the release.

<a href="https://www.kansas.gov/kbi/reportClergyAbuse.shtml">Click here </a>&nbsp;if you&nbsp;&nbsp;you, or someone you know, has been the victim of sexual misconduct committed by members of the clergy or call the KBI at 1-800-KS-CRIME (1-800-572-7463)&nbsp;or emailing&nbsp;<a href="mailto:ClergyAbuse@kbi.ks.gov">ClergyAbuse@kbi.ks.gov</a>

The dioceses asks anyone who suspects abuse, inappropriate behavior or has been harmed by any person who has worked or volunteered for the diocese to contact the Diocesan Victim’s Assistance Coordinator at (316) 440-1757 or&nbsp;<a href="http://www.catholicdioceseofwichita.org/promise-to-protect.">CatholicDioceseofWichita.org/promise-to-protect.</a>

Kansas priest won't be charged with child sexual abuse

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas doctor-lawmaker who has prescribed a parasitic worm treatment for COVID-19 symptoms says the state medical board has been investigating him since the summer of 2020. 

Conservative Republican state Sen. Mark Steffen disclosed the Kansas Board of Health Arts’ investigation of him Wednesday during a Senate committee hearing. He was testifying in favor of a bill to require pharmacists to fill prescriptions for the anti-worm treatment ivermectin and the anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine for off-label uses in treating COVID-19. 

Steffen is an anesthesiologist and pain-management specialist from Hutchinson. He said the medical board has been investigating him for 18 months over public statements about COVID-19. The board declined to comment.

Pro-ivermectin Kansas doctor-lawmaker under investigation

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal September 2020 crash have made an arrest.

On Tuesday, members of the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office extradition unit arrested&nbsp; 26-year-old Gabriel Ortiz at the San Diego, CA County Jail and transported him to the Sedgwick County Jail, according to Sheriff's Lt. Benjamin Blick.

Ortiz <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=20074214">was booked for a </a>warrant issued in the 18th&nbsp;Judicial District for murder in the second degree, involuntary manslaughter (alternative) and three counts of aggravated battery.&nbsp; The charges stem from the collision. He is expected to make a first court appearance Wednesday, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

On September 5, 2020, an Infinity Q50 SUV crossed the centerline of the roadway at 5600 W MacArthur and struck a Toyota Sienna van head-on.&nbsp; 

The passenger of the Sienna, 55-year-old Sonia Lopez of Wichita, died from injuries sustained during the collision.&nbsp; Two passengers in the Infinity and the driver of the Sienna sustained serious injuries and were transported to a local hospital.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Man extradited from California after arrest for deadly Kan. crash

KANSAS CITY (AP) — The Drug Enforcement Administration division that includes Kansas, Missouri and southern Illinois seized more of the dangerous drug fentanyl last year than in the two previous years combined.

The DEA’s St. Louis Division said Tuesday that agents and task force officers seized 188 kilograms of fentanyl last year, compared to 82 kilograms in 2020 and 104 kilograms in 2019. Investigators also seized a record 1,848 kilograms of methamphetamine — an all-time high — and 73 kilograms of heroin.

In addition, a news release said agents in the St. Louis division seized 347 weapons and stopped $15.8 million from reaching drug organization leaders.

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid used to treat pain in pharmaceutical settings. The DEA said it is 50 times more potent than heroin.

Fentanyl seizures up sharply in Kansas, Missouri and Illinois

WASHINGTON (AP) — Liberal Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer is retiring, giving President Joe Biden an opening he has pledged to fill by naming the first Black woman to the high court, two sources told The Associated Press Wednesday.

Breyer, 83, has been a pragmatic force on a court that has grown increasingly conservative in recent years, trying to forge majorities with more moderate justices right and left of center.

The sources spoke on condition of anonymity so as not to preempt Breyer's eventual announcement. NBC first reported the justice's plans.

Breyer has been a justice since 1994, appointed by President Bill Clinton. Along with the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Breyer opted not to step down the last time the Democrats controlled the White House and the Senate during Barack Obama’s presidency. Ginsburg died in September 2020, and then-President Donald Trump filled the vacancy with a conservative justice, Amy Coney Barrett.

Breyer’s departure, expected over the summer, won’t change the 6-3 conservative advantage on the court because his replacement will be nominated by Biden and almost certainly confirmed by a Senate where Democrats have the slimmest majority. It also makes conservative Justice Clarence Thomas the oldest member of the court at 73.

Among the names being circulated as potential nominees are California Supreme Court Justice Leondra Kruger, U.S. Circuit Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, prominent civil rights lawyer Sherrilyn Ifill and U.S. District Judge Michelle Childs, whom Biden has nominated to be an appeals court. Childs is a favorite of Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., who made a crucial endorsement of Biden just before South Carolina's presidential primary in 2020.

Often overshadowed by his fellow liberal Ginsburg, Breyer authored two major opinions in support of abortion rights on a court closely divided over the issue, and he laid out his growing discomfort with the death penalty in a series of dissenting opinions in recent years.

Breyer’s views on displaying the Ten Commandments on government property illustrate his search for a middle ground. He was the only member of the court in the majority in twin cases in 2005 that barred Ten Commandments displays in two Kentucky courthouses, but allowed one to remain on the grounds of the state capitol in Austin, Texas.

In more than 27 years on the court, Breyer has been an active and cheerful questioner during arguments, a frequent public speaker and quick with a joke, often at his own expense. He made a good natured appearance on a humorous National Public Radio program in 2007, failing to answer obscure questions about pop stars.

He is known for his elaborate, at times far-fetched, hypothetical questions to lawyers during arguments and he sometimes had the air of an absent-minded professor. In fact, he taught antitrust law at Harvard earlier in his professional career.

He also spent time working for the late Sen. Edward Kennedy when the Massachusetts Democrat was chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. That experience, Breyer said, made him a firm believer in compromise.

Still, he could write fierce dissents, as he did in the Bush v. Gore case that effectively decided the 2000 election in favor of Republican George W. Bush. Breyer unsuccessfully urged his colleagues to return the case to the Florida courts so they could create “a constitutionally proper contest” by which to decide the winner.

And at the end of a trying term in June 2007 in which he found himself on the losing end of roughly two dozen 5-4 rulings, Breyer’s frustrations bubbled over as he summarized his dissent from a decision that invalidated public school integration plans.

“It is not often that so few have so quickly changed so much,” Breyer said in a packed courtroom, an ad-libbed line that was not part of his opinion.

His time working in the Senate led to his appointment by President Jimmy Carter as a federal appeals court judge in Boston, and he was confirmed with bipartisan support even after Carter’s defeat for reelection in 1980. Breyer served for 14 years on the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals before moving up to the Supreme Court.

His 87-9 high-court confirmation was the last with fewer than 10 dissenting votes. Breyer’s opinions were notable because they never contained footnotes. Breyer was warned off such a writing device by Arthur Goldberg, the Supreme Court justice for whom Breyer clerked as a young lawyer.

“It is an important point to make if you believe, as I do, that the major function of an opinion is to explain to the audience of readers why it is that the court has reached that decision,” Breyer once said. “It’s not to prove that you’re right. You can’t prove that your right; there is no such proof.”

Born in San Francisco, Breyer became an Eagle Scout as a teenager and began a stellar academic career at Stanford, graduating with highest honors. He attended Oxford, where he received first-class honors in philosophy, politics and economics.

Breyer then attended Harvard’s law school, where he worked on the Law Review and graduated with highest honors.

Breyer’s first job after law school was as a law clerk to Goldberg. He then worked in the Justice Department’s antitrust division before splitting time as a Harvard law professor and a lawyer for the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Breyer and his wife, Joanna, a psychologist and daughter of the late British Conservative leader John Blakenham, have three children — daughters Chloe and Nell and a son, Michael — and six grandchildren.

Supreme Court Justice Breyer to retire; Biden to fill vacancy

TOPEKA — The number of confirmed coronavirus cases* (see below) in Kansas increased by 14,163 to a total of 709,838, the state health department reported Wednesday afternoon.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The state reported 52 additional COVID-19 deaths for a total of 7,388.

<a href="https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/158/Data">Click here for Data</a> about the COVID-19 vaccine.

<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Click here&nbsp;</a>for additional virus numbers from the KDHE.

As of August 1, 2021, in accordance with an&nbsp;<a href="https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/conditions/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/" target="_blank">updated CDC/CSTE surveillance case definition</a>, a confirmed case is defined as a person who tested positive by molecular detection (e.g., PCR, NAA) or identification of SARS-CoV-2 through genetic sequencing. A probable case is defined as a person with: a) presumptive lab evidence (antigen) or b) no lab testing but meeting clinical case criteria and is epi-linked. A person will be counted as a new surveillance case (e.g. reinfection) if they test positive for SARS-CoV-2 by a diagnostic test (i.e., molecular, antigen) and it has been greater than 90 days since the previous positive diagnostic test. In addition, a person with sequencing results identifying different SARS-CoV-2 lineages regardless of the time since the previous specimen sequenced will be counted as a new surveillance case.&nbsp;

Cases occurring between&nbsp;September 1, 2020&nbsp;and July 29, 2021 were classified by&nbsp;<a href="https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/conditions/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/" target="_blank">previous CDC/CSTE case definition,&nbsp;</a>and cases prior to September 1, 2020 were classified by the&nbsp;<a href="https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/case-definitions/coronavirus-disease-2019-2020/" target="_blank">original case definition</a>.

KDHE: 14,000 new cases, 52 more COVID deaths

By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina Post

SALINE COUNTY —Police arrested a wanted Kansas Tuesday after an incident at a business in Salina.

Just after 2p.m. police were sent to the 24/7 Travel Store, 2239 N. Ninth Street in Salina for the report of a customer throwing credit cards, according to Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester.

 When officers arrived, they found the man, identified as Maurio Williams, 38, of Salina, on the east side of the business.

Williams had active warrants for failure to appear from Saline County District Court and Salina Municipal Court.

When the officers attempted to take Williams into custody, he allegedly shoved one of the officers in the chest and a physical altercation ensued. Williams and the officers ended up on the ground, according to Forrester.

Williams was placed into a bodyguard restraint system for transport. While the restraint was being secured, Williams allegedly spit in the face of one of the officers. 

Williams is jailed on requested charges that include battery of a law enforcement officer and Interference with law enforcement, according to Forrester.

Wanted Kan. man was throwing credit cards, shoved police officers

RENO COUNTY — One person died in an accident just before 10p.m. Monday in Reno County.

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