The Junction City Area Chamber of Commerce New Teacher’s Breakfast will be held on Wednesday, July 31st&nbsp;at Junction City&nbsp; High School. Doors open at 7:00 am, and the program will begin at 7:30.&nbsp; The Chamber needs your promotional items to help fill the New Teacher Welcome Bags ( they are asking for 140 items, at this time). &nbsp;

They also need donations of Door Prizes.&nbsp; They are asking that all promotional items and door prizes be dropped off at the chamber offices at 222 W. 6th&nbsp;by Wednesday, July 24.

Here is the link to the event:&nbsp;<a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.junctioncitychamber.org/new-teachers-breakfast.html__;!!NKQdatwUU9k7lA!QTJgTg7ybfbYn_Q0UsxjppaAZSwHN2yYBbHgHYKbTL0ndDyw4ulBiCJjg5dD2kcAOROsf-cFVrMl6fnogEu7SOsbtW6J7A$">https://www.junctioncitychamber.org/new-teachers-breakfast.html</a>

The Junction City Area Chamber of Commerce New Teacher’s Breakfast will be held on Wednesday, July 31st&nbsp;at Junction City&nbsp; High School. Doors open at 7:00 am, and the program will begin at 7:30.&nbsp; The Chamber needs your promotional items to help fill the New Teacher Welcome Bags ( they are asking for 140 items, at this time). &nbsp;They also need donations of Door Prizes.&nbsp; They are asking that all promotional items and door prizes be dropped off at the chamber offices at 222 W. 6th&nbsp;by Wednesday, July 24.Here is the link to the event:&nbsp;<a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.junctioncitychamber.org/new-teachers-breakfast.html__;!!NKQdatwUU9k7lA!QTJgTg7ybfbYn_Q0UsxjppaAZSwHN2yYBbHgHYKbTL0ndDyw4ulBiCJjg5dD2kcAOROsf-cFVrMl6fnogEu7SOsbtW6J7A$">https://www.junctioncitychamber.org/new-teachers-breakfast.html</a>

Chamber prepares for New Teacher's Breakfast

RILEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating alleged identity theft in Manhattan.

Just after 4p.m. Tuesday, officers filed a report of forgery/making false information/theft by deception in the 5100 block of Bramblewood Drive, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.

A 44-year-old man reported an unknown suspect obtained the victim's information and produced an unauthorized check from his account. 

Total loss associated with this report is $4,750. Anyone with information can contact&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rileycountypolice.org/287/Crime-Stoppers">Crime Stoppers</a>. Using Crime Stoppers allows you to remain anonymous and could qualify you for a cash reward of up to $1,000.

RILEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating alleged identity theft in Manhattan.Just after 4p.m. Tuesday, officers filed a report of forgery/making false information/theft by deception in the 5100 block of Bramblewood Drive, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.A 44-year-old man reported an unknown suspect obtained the victim's information and produced an unauthorized check from his account. Total loss associated with this report is $4,750. Anyone with information can contact&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rileycountypolice.org/287/Crime-Stoppers">Crime Stoppers</a>. Using Crime Stoppers allows you to remain anonymous and could qualify you for a cash reward of up to $1,000.

RCPD: Man lost $4,700 with forged check

This is day 13 of the Kansas Wheat Harvest Reports, brought to you by the Kansas Wheat Commission, Kansas Association of Wheat Growers, Kansas Grain and Feed Association and the Kansas Cooperative Council.

With harvest down to the final few days, this will be the last report for the 2024 Kansas wheat harvest. Rain delays continue to stretch out the season, but producers welcome the moisture as they turn their attention to planting fall crops and managing the weeds coming up rapidly in wheat stubble.

Moisture over the weekend continues to prevent harvest from wrapping up in northwest Kansas, but no one is complaining about the beneficial moisture for fall crops, according to Jeanne Falk Jones, Multi-County agronomist with the Northwest Research-Extension Center in Colby.&nbsp;

Area producers started test cutting after Father’s Day and harvest kicked into full gear the following weekend. The end of harvest is now in sight - maybe three days more if the skies stay clear. This last push feels more like last year’s harvest - foggy mornings and tough wheat that can’t be cut until late in the day.&nbsp;

Yields are all over the board - from 20 to 100 bushels per acre - across the northwest region, not surprising given the challenges to get stands established last fall. Weather during the grain fill period was much more favorable with moisture, fewer triple-digit days and especially cooler night temperatures.&nbsp;

As a result, Falk-Jones reported average test weights between 58 to 62 pounds per bushel and proteins between 9 and 11.5 percent, depending on field fertility and conditions during grain fill.&nbsp;

“Everybody is pleasantly surprised on how good our wheat has been,” she said, adding that the wheat looked pretty tough for the majority of the growing season. “Now, not every field has been that way.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

Falk-Jones did investigate a fair amount of wheat disease this year, including Wheat Streak Mosaic Virus, Triticum mosaic and High Plains disease, all of which are transmitted by the wheat curl mite. She sent several samples off to the diagnostic labs in Manhattan to determine which virus was on the rise after seeing the characteristic yellow leaves in fields planted to varieties with decent resistance to WSMV. The result was a bit of uptake in Triticum mosaic. The earlier the infection of viral disease, the more impacts on yields, but a good number of fields already had yield potential set when symptoms showed at heading.&nbsp;

She attributes the uptick in disease pressure to severe hail last year after kernels were formed. As a result, there were more shattered kernels in the field and continual flushes of volunteer wheat after catching little rain showers. While folks tried hard to control volunteer wheat, even kernels left in wheels tracks were enough to harbor the disease vector - wheat curl mites - over the fall.

In Sherman County, Brian Linin has about five or six days left to cut near Goodland, after starting harvest on June 26 - three to five days earlier than normal and three weeks earlier than last year.&nbsp;

Expectations were low after the wheat did not have good stand last fall, thinking this year would be a repeat of the last. Blowing fields this spring added to the anticipated disappointment. Linin noted he went ahead and applied fungicide and did not see a lot of rust or Wheat Streak Mosaic virus, but controlling volunteer wheat will be essential to prevent the spread into next year’s crop.&nbsp;

While the cooler days and nights during grainfill helped the wheat do better than expected, this year will still be about 20 percent below an average yield. Linin reported yields on dryland wheat ranging from 30 to 70 bushels per acre, with most in the 40s. Test weights were averaging 58.5 to 59 pounds per bushel, but this weekend’s rain may cause them to lose a bit. Protein ranges from 12 to 14 percent.&nbsp;

“Growing wheat has a lot of value for our farm,” Linin said. “Wheat stubble once again has proven its value. Not only is wheat a good cash crop, if you are able to get a good price with forward contracting, but the importance of the stubble to plant into makes such a huge difference on fall crops. There are a lot of factors that going into profitability.”

In Smith County in north-central Kansas, Bryce Wiehl finished wheat harvest near Smith Center on Monday, July 8, after a week-long weather delay on his last 100 acres. He’s not complaining about the rain, which will benefit double-cropped soybeans on all his now-harvested wheat fields.

The wet conditions are in stark contrast to how the growing season started last fall, when Wiehl harvested bone-dry soybeans last September and October then drilled wheat in an absolute desert. The good fields were barely 50 percent up when the area had a rare rain in December that brought 1.5 to 1.75 inches of moisture. The wheat had snow on it through most of the winter, emerging from dormancy in February. Wiehl noted he had more moisture this past winter than the last seven years.

After starting on Monday, June 24, harvest is above average with a final farm yield of 65 bushels per acre and average test weights of 58 to 59 pounds per bushel. He noted other producers reported test weights clear up to 63 to 64 pounds per bushel.

Last year, his wheat averaged seven bushels per acre, well behind the 38 to 39 bushel-per-acre average he aims for with wheat behind soybeans. While the moisture and the bushels are welcome, the commodity prices are half what they were, driven more by investment funds than fundamentals.

“It was a wheat year; we caught early spring rains, and the wheat will do what it will do,” he said. “But it looked like a total train wreck in the fall.”

In southwest Kansas, wheat harvest is 98 percent complete in Finney County, down to the last few mud holes, according to Jeff Boyd, CEO/general manager of Garden City Co-op.&nbsp;Wheat harvest started earlier than the normal on June 20 this year, meaning many folks were finished up and able to enjoy the July 4th holiday weekend.&nbsp;

The wheat came in dry this year with moisture at 9 to 13 percent, solid test weights between 60 and 62 pounds per bushel and average protein for the area. Yields were all over the place depending on cropping rotation. Wheat after fallow did really well, thanks to the additional moisture, while wheat planted after corn or milo was not as good. Irrigated and dryland yields were comparable.&nbsp;

“No year is the same and that keeps getting reiterated,” he said. “The volatility we see goes from one extreme to the other.”&nbsp;

Taking out the last couple drought years, Boyd reported the cooperative’s overall take is back up to the five and 10-year average. In general, folks are surprised and happy with their harvest, although he noted some area producers were hit by hailstorms.&nbsp;

“It wasn’t until that wheat was really drying down that it really started to look good,” Boyd said. “That wheat in the field just looked thicker the more mature it got.”&nbsp;

The draw area for Garden City Co-op extends down to Hooker, Oklahoma, where substantial five to 10 inches of rain will continue to affect test weights and delay harvest, but Boyd said no one is going to scare the rain away.&nbsp;

As harvest finishes, he noted the next priority for producers is going to be managing the weeds coming in fast into the wheat stubble. For the elevator, Boyd explained that with a thin international market, domestic mills in Kansas and California are driving the final destination for those bushels - along with increasing demand from the wheat gluten plants in Phillipsburg and Russell.

Look for a final round-up and quality reports as the data is crunched from the 2024 wheat harvest. Producers are also encouraged to start controlling weeds and volunteer wheat now as the much-appreciated moisture will bring plenty of green to harbor wheat curl mites – the vector that will foster WSMV infections next harvest.

The 2024 Harvest Reports are brought to you by the Kansas Wheat Commission, Kansas Association of Wheat Growers, Kansas Grain and Feed Association and the Kansas Cooperative Council. To follow along with harvest updates, use #<a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23wheatharvest24&amp;src=typed_query&amp;f=live">wheatharvest24</a>&nbsp;on social media. Tag us at @kansaswheat on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/kansaswheat">Facebook</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/kswheat">Instagram</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/KansasWheat">Twitter</a>&nbsp;to share your harvest story and photos.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720602435064.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>JULIA DEBES&nbsp;Kansas WheatThis is day 13 of the Kansas Wheat Harvest Reports, brought to you by the Kansas Wheat Commission, Kansas Association of Wheat Growers, Kansas Grain and Feed Association and the Kansas Cooperative Council.With harvest down to the final few days, this will be the last report for the 2024 Kansas wheat harvest. Rain delays continue to stretch out the season, but producers welcome the moisture as they turn their attention to planting fall crops and managing the weeds coming up rapidly in wheat stubble.Moisture over the weekend continues to prevent harvest from wrapping up in northwest Kansas, but no one is complaining about the beneficial moisture for fall crops, according to Jeanne Falk Jones, Multi-County agronomist with the Northwest Research-Extension Center in Colby.&nbsp;Area producers started test cutting after Father’s Day and harvest kicked into full gear the following weekend. The end of harvest is now in sight - maybe three days more if the skies stay clear. This last push feels more like last year’s harvest - foggy mornings and tough wheat that can’t be cut until late in the day.&nbsp;Yields are all over the board - from 20 to 100 bushels per acre - across the northwest region, not surprising given the challenges to get stands established last fall. Weather during the grain fill period was much more favorable with moisture, fewer triple-digit days and especially cooler night temperatures.&nbsp;As a result, Falk-Jones reported average test weights between 58 to 62 pounds per bushel and proteins between 9 and 11.5 percent, depending on field fertility and conditions during grain fill.&nbsp;“Everybody is pleasantly surprised on how good our wheat has been,” she said, adding that the wheat looked pretty tough for the majority of the growing season. “Now, not every field has been that way.”&nbsp;&nbsp;Falk-Jones did investigate a fair amount of wheat disease this year, including Wheat Streak Mosaic Virus, Triticum mosaic and High Plains disease, all of which are transmitted by the wheat curl mite. She sent several samples off to the diagnostic labs in Manhattan to determine which virus was on the rise after seeing the characteristic yellow leaves in fields planted to varieties with decent resistance to WSMV. The result was a bit of uptake in Triticum mosaic. The earlier the infection of viral disease, the more impacts on yields, but a good number of fields already had yield potential set when symptoms showed at heading.&nbsp;She attributes the uptick in disease pressure to severe hail last year after kernels were formed. As a result, there were more shattered kernels in the field and continual flushes of volunteer wheat after catching little rain showers. While folks tried hard to control volunteer wheat, even kernels left in wheels tracks were enough to harbor the disease vector - wheat curl mites - over the fall.In Sherman County, Brian Linin has about five or six days left to cut near Goodland, after starting harvest on June 26 - three to five days earlier than normal and three weeks earlier than last year.&nbsp;Expectations were low after the wheat did not have good stand last fall, thinking this year would be a repeat of the last. Blowing fields this spring added to the anticipated disappointment. Linin noted he went ahead and applied fungicide and did not see a lot of rust or Wheat Streak Mosaic virus, but controlling volunteer wheat will be essential to prevent the spread into next year’s crop.&nbsp;While the cooler days and nights during grainfill helped the wheat do better than expected, this year will still be about 20 percent below an average yield. Linin reported yields on dryland wheat ranging from 30 to 70 bushels per acre, with most in the 40s. Test weights were averaging 58.5 to 59 pounds per bushel, but this weekend’s rain may cause them to lose a bit. Protein ranges from 12 to 14 percent.&nbsp;“Growing wheat has a lot of value for our farm,” Linin said. “Wheat stubble once again has proven its value. Not only is wheat a good cash crop, if you are able to get a good price with forward contracting, but the importance of the stubble to plant into makes such a huge difference on fall crops. There are a lot of factors that going into profitability.”In Smith County in north-central Kansas, Bryce Wiehl finished wheat harvest near Smith Center on Monday, July 8, after a week-long weather delay on his last 100 acres. He’s not complaining about the rain, which will benefit double-cropped soybeans on all his now-harvested wheat fields.The wet conditions are in stark contrast to how the growing season started last fall, when Wiehl harvested bone-dry soybeans last September and October then drilled wheat in an absolute desert. The good fields were barely 50 percent up when the area had a rare rain in December that brought 1.5 to 1.75 inches of moisture. The wheat had snow on it through most of the winter, emerging from dormancy in February. Wiehl noted he had more moisture this past winter than the last seven years.After starting on Monday, June 24, harvest is above average with a final farm yield of 65 bushels per acre and average test weights of 58 to 59 pounds per bushel. He noted other producers reported test weights clear up to 63 to 64 pounds per bushel.Last year, his wheat averaged seven bushels per acre, well behind the 38 to 39 bushel-per-acre average he aims for with wheat behind soybeans. While the moisture and the bushels are welcome, the commodity prices are half what they were, driven more by investment funds than fundamentals.“It was a wheat year; we caught early spring rains, and the wheat will do what it will do,” he said. “But it looked like a total train wreck in the fall.”In southwest Kansas, wheat harvest is 98 percent complete in Finney County, down to the last few mud holes, according to Jeff Boyd, CEO/general manager of Garden City Co-op.&nbsp;Wheat harvest started earlier than the normal on June 20 this year, meaning many folks were finished up and able to enjoy the July 4th holiday weekend.&nbsp;The wheat came in dry this year with moisture at 9 to 13 percent, solid test weights between 60 and 62 pounds per bushel and average protein for the area. Yields were all over the place depending on cropping rotation. Wheat after fallow did really well, thanks to the additional moisture, while wheat planted after corn or milo was not as good. Irrigated and dryland yields were comparable.&nbsp;“No year is the same and that keeps getting reiterated,” he said. “The volatility we see goes from one extreme to the other.”&nbsp;Taking out the last couple drought years, Boyd reported the cooperative’s overall take is back up to the five and 10-year average. In general, folks are surprised and happy with their harvest, although he noted some area producers were hit by hailstorms.&nbsp;“It wasn’t until that wheat was really drying down that it really started to look good,” Boyd said. “That wheat in the field just looked thicker the more mature it got.”&nbsp;The draw area for Garden City Co-op extends down to Hooker, Oklahoma, where substantial five to 10 inches of rain will continue to affect test weights and delay harvest, but Boyd said no one is going to scare the rain away.&nbsp;As harvest finishes, he noted the next priority for producers is going to be managing the weeds coming in fast into the wheat stubble. For the elevator, Boyd explained that with a thin international market, domestic mills in Kansas and California are driving the final destination for those bushels - along with increasing demand from the wheat gluten plants in Phillipsburg and Russell.Look for a final round-up and quality reports as the data is crunched from the 2024 wheat harvest. Producers are also encouraged to start controlling weeds and volunteer wheat now as the much-appreciated moisture will bring plenty of green to harbor wheat curl mites – the vector that will foster WSMV infections next harvest.The 2024 Harvest Reports are brought to you by the Kansas Wheat Commission, Kansas Association of Wheat Growers, Kansas Grain and Feed Association and the Kansas Cooperative Council. To follow along with harvest updates, use #<a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23wheatharvest24&amp;src=typed_query&amp;f=live">wheatharvest24</a>&nbsp;on social media. Tag us at @kansaswheat on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/kansaswheat">Facebook</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/kswheat">Instagram</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/KansasWheat">Twitter</a>&nbsp;to share your harvest story and photos.

Final Kansas wheat harvest report 2024

WABAUNSEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas man and woman on multiple allegations after a traffic stop.

On Monday evening, a Wabaunsee County Sheriff’s Officer conducted a lawful traffic stop on a Buick with an alleged expired tag near the Alma exit on Interstate 70, according to a media release.

&nbsp;The driver, 36-year-old Pierce Vogler of Topeka, was placed under arrest and taken into custody without incident on a requested charge of a suspended drivers license. 

A passenger, 39-year-old Ashley Goforth of Topeka was briefly detained and released upon confirmation of an active, yet non-extraditable warrant out of Topeka. 

A short time later,&nbsp; Goforth was arrested and taken into custody without incident when a lawful search of her property within the vehicle revealed what is alleged to be 10 grams of Methamphetamine and associated narcotics paraphernalia. 

Vogler is being held, pending bond, on requested charges of driving while suspended. Ms. Goforth is being held on requested charges of distribution of certain narcotic or stimulant (Methamphetamine), possession of certain narcotic or stimulant (Methamphetamine), not having a drug tax stamp &amp; unlawful possession of narcotics paraphernalia.&nbsp;

WABAUNSEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas man and woman on multiple allegations after a traffic stop.On Monday evening, a Wabaunsee County Sheriff’s Officer conducted a lawful traffic stop on a Buick with an alleged expired tag near the Alma exit on Interstate 70, according to a media release.&nbsp;The driver, 36-year-old Pierce Vogler of Topeka, was placed under arrest and taken into custody without incident on a requested charge of a suspended drivers license. A passenger, 39-year-old Ashley Goforth of Topeka was briefly detained and released upon confirmation of an active, yet non-extraditable warrant out of Topeka. A short time later,&nbsp; Goforth was arrested and taken into custody without incident when a lawful search of her property within the vehicle revealed what is alleged to be 10 grams of Methamphetamine and associated narcotics paraphernalia. Vogler is being held, pending bond, on requested charges of driving while suspended. Ms. Goforth is being held on requested charges of distribution of certain narcotic or stimulant (Methamphetamine), possession of certain narcotic or stimulant (Methamphetamine), not having a drug tax stamp &amp; unlawful possession of narcotics paraphernalia.&nbsp;

2 jailed in Wabaunsee Co. after 1-70 traffic stop

&nbsp;KDOT has closed the South Washington Roundabout this week to begin work on the next phase of that project with the closure of the westbound Exit 296 on-ramp. The project entails reconstructing the South Washington Street roundabout as well as the portion of Washington Street that runs below I-70. Weather permitting, the roundabout and Washington Street are slated to reopen in September. Meanwhile, both westbound ramps at Exit 296 will remain closed until all work for the 2024 construction season is completed in late November, weather permitting. The information was contained in the City's 515 Report.

Although both eastbound ramps at Exit 296 will remain open, they will only provide access to Washington Street south of the ramps. No through traffic will be carried on Washington Street under I-70 until completion of this year’s work on the roundabout project. Additionally, please note that the Westbound Exit 298 on ramp reopened on June 26th and will remain open throughout the remainder of this project.

By Dewey TerrillJC Post&nbsp;KDOT has closed the South Washington Roundabout this week to begin work on the next phase of that project with the closure of the westbound Exit 296 on-ramp. The project entails reconstructing the South Washington Street roundabout as well as the portion of Washington Street that runs below I-70. Weather permitting, the roundabout and Washington Street are slated to reopen in September. Meanwhile, both westbound ramps at Exit 296 will remain closed until all work for the 2024 construction season is completed in late November, weather permitting. The information was contained in the City's 515 Report.Although both eastbound ramps at Exit 296 will remain open, they will only provide access to Washington Street south of the ramps. No through traffic will be carried on Washington Street under I-70 until completion of this year’s work on the roundabout project. Additionally, please note that the Westbound Exit 298 on ramp reopened on June 26th and will remain open throughout the remainder of this project.

South Washington Street Roundabout reconstruction begins

The Junction City community has been targeted by a new scam involving unsolicited emails confirming orders you never placed. These emails are highly deceptive, often mimicking communications from reputable companies such as PayPal and Norton.

 How It Works:-You receive an email or invoice that appears to be a legitimate order confirmation.-The email typically includes official logos and professional formatting, making it look authentic.-It may claim you've ordered an expensive product or service, often prompting you to click a link or call a number if you didn't place the order.-These emails will often encourage you to contact their customer support if you want to cancel the purchase or subscription.-When you call the number, you will then be connected to the scammer and they will ask for your credit card information to "cancel" your order.

 Signs of a Scam:-Unexpected Emails: Be wary of emails regarding orders you did not place.-Sender’s Email Address: Inspect the sender’s email address carefully. Scammers often use addresses that closely resemble legitimate ones.-Links and Attachments: Refrain from clicking on any links or downloading attachments as these can lead to phishing websites designed to steal your personal information or install malware on your device.

 Recent Examples:-PayPal Phishing Scam: Fraudulent invoices are sent via PayPal, falsely indicating you’ve been charged for an expensive item.-Norton Email Renewal Scam: An email claims your Norton subscription is about to renew at a high cost, urging you to call a number to cancel.

 Protect Yourself:-Verify Orders: Log in directly to your accounts (e.g., PayPal, Norton) to verify any orders. Don't use the links provided in the email.-Report Suspicious Emails: Report any suspicious emails to the respective company's official support team.-Use Security Software: Ensure your computer and devices have up-to-date security software.-

Educate Others: Share this information with friends and family to help them avoid falling victim to these scams. Stay vigilant and always verify before acting on unsolicited emails.&nbsp;

The Junction City community has been targeted by a new scam involving unsolicited emails confirming orders you never placed. These emails are highly deceptive, often mimicking communications from reputable companies such as PayPal and Norton. How It Works:-You receive an email or invoice that appears to be a legitimate order confirmation.-The email typically includes official logos and professional formatting, making it look authentic.-It may claim you've ordered an expensive product or service, often prompting you to click a link or call a number if you didn't place the order.-These emails will often encourage you to contact their customer support if you want to cancel the purchase or subscription.-When you call the number, you will then be connected to the scammer and they will ask for your credit card information to "cancel" your order. Signs of a Scam:-Unexpected Emails: Be wary of emails regarding orders you did not place.-Sender’s Email Address: Inspect the sender’s email address carefully. Scammers often use addresses that closely resemble legitimate ones.-Links and Attachments: Refrain from clicking on any links or downloading attachments as these can lead to phishing websites designed to steal your personal information or install malware on your device. Recent Examples:-PayPal Phishing Scam: Fraudulent invoices are sent via PayPal, falsely indicating you’ve been charged for an expensive item.-Norton Email Renewal Scam: An email claims your Norton subscription is about to renew at a high cost, urging you to call a number to cancel. Protect Yourself:-Verify Orders: Log in directly to your accounts (e.g., PayPal, Norton) to verify any orders. Don't use the links provided in the email.-Report Suspicious Emails: Report any suspicious emails to the respective company's official support team.-Use Security Software: Ensure your computer and devices have up-to-date security software.-Educate Others: Share this information with friends and family to help them avoid falling victim to these scams. Stay vigilant and always verify before acting on unsolicited emails.&nbsp;

JCPD provides a scam alert

Kansas advocacy organization endorses higher standards, better staffing levels

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

LAWRENCE — A national coalition’s report says one-fourth of Kansas’ 300 nursing homes were categorized as problem facilities due to substandard care and persistent compliance issues.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://nursinghome411.org/data/ratings-info/" target="_blank">Long-Term Care Community Coalition’s latest summary</a>, based on the federal Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services’ five-star quality rating system, showed 24.6% of nursing facilities in the United States were designated “problem facilities” after receiving a one-star rating. In Kansas, 25.2% of nursing homes had that lowly score based on inspection reports, staffing levels and other quality measures.

In Kansas, six of 10 nursing homes were owned by for-profit companies. Three-fourths of the state’s troubled nursing homes were of the for-profit variety, the coalition said.

“If we’re outperforming the nation, that’s a really bleak picture,” said Dan Goodman, executive director of Kansas Advocates for Better Care. “Particularly we’re concerned with the lack of staffing of these facilities. Kansas currently ranks 46th in the nation as far as staffing long-term care facilities compared to other states. The amount of staffing in those facilities directly impacts the overall care that residents receive.”

Goodman said on the Kansas Reflector podcast there was an unsettling correlation between low staffing levels and the frequency in use of medications to control nursing home residents. Those drugs could be detrimental to the health and quality of life for elderly people, he said.

He said staffing shortages in long-term care facilities also contributed to failure to deliver routine care, including basics of brushing teeth or using the restroom, and could extend to frequency of dangerous falls as well as premature death.

In April, the U.S. Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services, also known as CMS, published a rule that would reform long-term nursing care facilities serving 1.2 million residents across the country. The agency order would increase the required staff-to-resident ratio, mandate a registered nurse be onsite 24 hours per day and expand regulations related to assessments of the facilities.

The requirements, to be implemented over a three-year period, prioritized safety and health care quality, while taking into consideration workforce challenges some facilities may experience, especially those in rural areas. The rules on overall staffing would take effect in 2026 for urban facilities and in 2027 for rural facilities.

U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall, a Kansas Republican, has sought to reverse the new long-term care regulations embraced by the administration of President Joe Biden. Marshall, who is a physician, said the regulations were “unnecessary” and would lead to closure of nursing homes in Kansas.

“These overly burdensome rules will be devastating to nursing homes in Kansas, especially those in rural areas,” Marshall said. “The unfunded mandates will further increase operating costs and exacerbate the existing nursing shortage. There is no evidence that these regulations will improve the quality of patient care. It just doesn’t make sense.”

Marshall and U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kansas, endorsed a congressional resolution that would, if passed, nullify the nursing home rules adopted by CMS.

Marshall co-sponsored a bill that would prohibit the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services from implementing the minimum staffing rule in instances where imposition of the order diminished access to care. The bill was endorsed by LeadingAge Kansas, the Kansas Hospital Association and the Kansas Health Care Association/Kansas Center for Assisted Living.

“Our nursing homes are committed to providing the highest quality care in Kansas and stand ready to work on real solutions for the continuing workforce crisis in long term care,” said Rachel Monger, president and CEO of LeadingAge Kansas. “The federal government cannot mandate staff where none exist.”

Goodman, of Kansas Advocates for Better Care, said the federal rating system indicated 77 of the 306 nursing homes in Kansas were “problem” facilities. The analysis indicated one-third of for-profit nursing facilities in Kansas had low scores. In other words, he said, 58 of 183 for-profit nursing homes were rated as problematic.

Goodman said investment companies, including real estate firms, were buying into the nursing home industry. Operators of those companies didn’t have a background in health care delivery and wouldn’t necessarily have a grasp of what it meant to provide compassionate assistance to residents, he said.

“Individuals are suffering, and probably dying sooner than they should be,” Goodman said.

A federal government report in November concluded for-profit nursing facilities tended to have lower quality ratings, fewer registered nurses and more safety violations. In 2021, the National Bureau of Economic Research said residents of nursing facilities owned by a private equity firm had a 10% greater chance of dying compared with residents living in another type of long-term care facility.

Libby Hastings, communications coordinator at Kansas Advocates for Better Care, said updated federal guidelines for long-term care facilities — opposed by Marshall and Moran — shouldn’t be viewed as burdensome if the objective was to provide quality care to these Kansans.

Hastings said the workforce situation in nursing homes would be improved if direct-care workers were viewed as skilled labor, and provided paid health insurance and opportunities to advance in the business organization.

She said families should consult the federal rating system for nursing homes before making personal decisions, but also consider who owned and operated the nursing homes.

“I think for consumers it’s important not to go just solely based off the five-star metric system,” Hastings said. “I think it’s important to look at your inspections. You should go visit the facilities unannounced.”

<h2>Kansas advocacy organization endorses higher standards, better staffing levels</h2><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720550364676.png" alt="Dan Goodman, executive director of Kansas Advocates for Better Care, said state and federal lawmakers should intervene to address the 25% of Kansas nursing homes providing substandard care. He also expressed concern about the high number of for-profit long-term care facilities with low scores on federal ratings. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Dan Goodman, executive director of Kansas Advocates for Better Care, said state and federal lawmakers should intervene to address the 25% of Kansas nursing homes providing substandard care. He also expressed concern about the high number of for-profit long-term care facilities with low scores on federal ratings. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>LAWRENCE — A national coalition’s report says one-fourth of Kansas’ 300 nursing homes were categorized as problem facilities due to substandard care and persistent compliance issues.The&nbsp;<a href="https://nursinghome411.org/data/ratings-info/" target="_blank">Long-Term Care Community Coalition’s latest summary</a>, based on the federal Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services’ five-star quality rating system, showed 24.6% of nursing facilities in the United States were designated “problem facilities” after receiving a one-star rating. In Kansas, 25.2% of nursing homes had that lowly score based on inspection reports, staffing levels and other quality measures.In Kansas, six of 10 nursing homes were owned by for-profit companies. Three-fourths of the state’s troubled nursing homes were of the for-profit variety, the coalition said.“If we’re outperforming the nation, that’s a really bleak picture,” said Dan Goodman, executive director of Kansas Advocates for Better Care. “Particularly we’re concerned with the lack of staffing of these facilities. Kansas currently ranks 46th in the nation as far as staffing long-term care facilities compared to other states. The amount of staffing in those facilities directly impacts the overall care that residents receive.”Goodman said on the Kansas Reflector podcast there was an unsettling correlation between low staffing levels and the frequency in use of medications to control nursing home residents. Those drugs could be detrimental to the health and quality of life for elderly people, he said.He said staffing shortages in long-term care facilities also contributed to failure to deliver routine care, including basics of brushing teeth or using the restroom, and could extend to frequency of dangerous falls as well as premature death.<h2>Federal staffing mandate</h2>In April, the U.S. Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services, also known as CMS, published a rule that would reform long-term nursing care facilities serving 1.2 million residents across the country. The agency order would increase the required staff-to-resident ratio, mandate a registered nurse be onsite 24 hours per day and expand regulations related to assessments of the facilities.The requirements, to be implemented over a three-year period, prioritized safety and health care quality, while taking into consideration workforce challenges some facilities may experience, especially those in rural areas. The rules on overall staffing would take effect in 2026 for urban facilities and in 2027 for rural facilities.U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall, a Kansas Republican, has sought to reverse the new long-term care regulations embraced by the administration of President Joe Biden. Marshall, who is a physician, said the regulations were “unnecessary” and would lead to closure of nursing homes in Kansas.“These overly burdensome rules will be devastating to nursing homes in Kansas, especially those in rural areas,” Marshall said. “The unfunded mandates will further increase operating costs and exacerbate the existing nursing shortage. There is no evidence that these regulations will improve the quality of patient care. It just doesn’t make sense.”Marshall and U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kansas, endorsed a congressional resolution that would, if passed, nullify the nursing home rules adopted by CMS.Marshall co-sponsored a bill that would prohibit the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services from implementing the minimum staffing rule in instances where imposition of the order diminished access to care. The bill was endorsed by LeadingAge Kansas, the Kansas Hospital Association and the Kansas Health Care Association/Kansas Center for Assisted Living.“Our nursing homes are committed to providing the highest quality care in Kansas and stand ready to work on real solutions for the continuing workforce crisis in long term care,” said Rachel Monger, president and CEO of LeadingAge Kansas. “The federal government cannot mandate staff where none exist.”<h2>Inside the numbers</h2>Goodman, of Kansas Advocates for Better Care, said the federal rating system indicated 77 of the 306 nursing homes in Kansas were “problem” facilities. The analysis indicated one-third of for-profit nursing facilities in Kansas had low scores. In other words, he said, 58 of 183 for-profit nursing homes were rated as problematic.Goodman said investment companies, including real estate firms, were buying into the nursing home industry. Operators of those companies didn’t have a background in health care delivery and wouldn’t necessarily have a grasp of what it meant to provide compassionate assistance to residents, he said.“Individuals are suffering, and probably dying sooner than they should be,” Goodman said.A federal government report in November concluded for-profit nursing facilities tended to have lower quality ratings, fewer registered nurses and more safety violations. In 2021, the National Bureau of Economic Research said residents of nursing facilities owned by a private equity firm had a 10% greater chance of dying compared with residents living in another type of long-term care facility.Libby Hastings, communications coordinator at Kansas Advocates for Better Care, said updated federal guidelines for long-term care facilities — opposed by Marshall and Moran — shouldn’t be viewed as burdensome if the objective was to provide quality care to these Kansans.Hastings said the workforce situation in nursing homes would be improved if direct-care workers were viewed as skilled labor, and provided paid health insurance and opportunities to advance in the business organization.She said families should consult the federal rating system for nursing homes before making personal decisions, but also consider who owned and operated the nursing homes.“I think for consumers it’s important not to go just solely based off the five-star metric system,” Hastings said. “I think it’s important to look at your inspections. You should go visit the facilities unannounced.”

One-fourth of Kansas nursing homes labeled ‘problem’ facilities because of persistently poor care

NEW YORK (AP) — Target will no longer accept personal checks from shoppers as of July 15, another sign of how a once ubiquitous payment method is going the way of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/4f8c481007014190ac534c17c2592fdc">outmoded objects</a>&nbsp;like floppy disks and the Rolodex.

The Minneapolis-based discounter confirmed the move in a statement to The Associated Press on Tuesday, citing “extremely low volumes” of customers who still write checks. Target said it remained committed to creating an easy and convenient checkout experience with credit and debit cards, “buy now, pay later” services and the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/target-fourth-quarter-earnings-inflation-231a975d4bf95a80ed623b52a8c77dff">Target Circle membership program</a>, which applies deals automatically at checkout.

“We have taken several measures to notify guests in advance" about the no-checks policy, the company said.

Target's decision leaves&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/retail-price-cuts-inflation-target-65fbc568804f20919a609c594531e129">Walmart</a>, Macy’s and Kohl’s among the retailers that still accept personal checks at their stores. Whole Foods Market and the Aldi supermarket chain previously stopped taking checks from customers.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/spending-consumers-inflation-economy-growth-federal-reserve-b1d34bc43a0da960a152911b7c230881">Shoppers</a>&nbsp;have pulled out checkbooks increasingly less often since the mid-1990s.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jpmorgan-chase-bank-branches-hiring-5ee9b9ce933759b2b37217d9effef53a">Cash-dispensing ATMs</a>, debit cards, online banking and mobile payment systems like Venmo and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/apple-pay-digital-payments-visa-mastercard-affirm-d8e85a7d30c02523998dfbdd6f0b0497">Apple Pay</a>&nbsp;mean many young adults may never have written a check.

Check usage has been in decline for decades as Americans have largely switched to paying for their services with credit and debit cards. Americans wrote roughly 3.4 billion checks in 2022, down from nearly 19 billion checks in 1990, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/federal-reserve-system">the Federal Reserve</a>. However, the average size of the checks Americans wrote over the 32-year period rose from $673 in 1990 — or $1,602 in today’s dollars — to $2,652.

The drop in check writing enabled the Federal Reserve to sharply reduce its&nbsp;<a href="https://www.federalreserve.gov/paymentsystems/check_about.htm">national check processing infrastructure.</a>&nbsp;In 2003, it ran 45 check-processing locations nationwide; since 2010, it has operated only one.

NEW YORK (AP) — Target will no longer accept personal checks from shoppers as of July 15, another sign of how a once ubiquitous payment method is going the way of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/4f8c481007014190ac534c17c2592fdc">outmoded objects</a>&nbsp;like floppy disks and the Rolodex.The Minneapolis-based discounter confirmed the move in a statement to The Associated Press on Tuesday, citing “extremely low volumes” of customers who still write checks. Target said it remained committed to creating an easy and convenient checkout experience with credit and debit cards, “buy now, pay later” services and the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/target-fourth-quarter-earnings-inflation-231a975d4bf95a80ed623b52a8c77dff">Target Circle membership program</a>, which applies deals automatically at checkout.“We have taken several measures to notify guests in advance" about the no-checks policy, the company said.Target's decision leaves&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/retail-price-cuts-inflation-target-65fbc568804f20919a609c594531e129">Walmart</a>, Macy’s and Kohl’s among the retailers that still accept personal checks at their stores. Whole Foods Market and the Aldi supermarket chain previously stopped taking checks from customers.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/spending-consumers-inflation-economy-growth-federal-reserve-b1d34bc43a0da960a152911b7c230881">Shoppers</a>&nbsp;have pulled out checkbooks increasingly less often since the mid-1990s.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jpmorgan-chase-bank-branches-hiring-5ee9b9ce933759b2b37217d9effef53a">Cash-dispensing ATMs</a>, debit cards, online banking and mobile payment systems like Venmo and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/apple-pay-digital-payments-visa-mastercard-affirm-d8e85a7d30c02523998dfbdd6f0b0497">Apple Pay</a>&nbsp;mean many young adults may never have written a check.Check usage has been in decline for decades as Americans have largely switched to paying for their services with credit and debit cards. Americans wrote roughly 3.4 billion checks in 2022, down from nearly 19 billion checks in 1990, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/federal-reserve-system">the Federal Reserve</a>. However, the average size of the checks Americans wrote over the 32-year period rose from $673 in 1990 — or $1,602 in today’s dollars — to $2,652.The drop in check writing enabled the Federal Reserve to sharply reduce its&nbsp;<a href="https://www.federalreserve.gov/paymentsystems/check_about.htm">national check processing infrastructure.</a>&nbsp;In 2003, it ran 45 check-processing locations nationwide; since 2010, it has operated only one.

Target will stop accepting personal checks next week

&nbsp;Junction City Middle School student Titan Lofgren has had a special summer as he recently attended the Junior National Young Leaders Conference&nbsp;in Washington, D.C.&nbsp;After being nominated for the conference, Lofgren, who is a student ambassador and a member of the National Honor Society at JCMS, joined other students from across the United States&nbsp;at the College Park Marriott Hotel and Conference Center on the campus of the University of Maryland&nbsp;for the six-day program.

&nbsp;During the June conference,&nbsp;Lofgren and others were able to take part in fun and engaging site experiences throughout the D.C. area, while also engaging in hands-on activities, which brought the concepts and skills of effective leadership to life.

The Junior National Young Leaders Conference is the premier leadership development program for middle school students. Students at JrNYLC learn to work together as they develop action plans that they can put into practice in their homes and communities.

Pictured: Titan Lofgren and Olympian Chantae Lowe&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720549351859.jpeg" alt="Titan Lofgren and Olympian Chantae Lowe" />
 <figcaption>Titan Lofgren and Olympian Chantae Lowe</figcaption>
 </figure>USD 475 release&nbsp;Junction City Middle School student Titan Lofgren has had a special summer as he recently attended the Junior National Young Leaders Conference&nbsp;in Washington, D.C.&nbsp;After being nominated for the conference, Lofgren, who is a student ambassador and a member of the National Honor Society at JCMS, joined other students from across the United States&nbsp;at the College Park Marriott Hotel and Conference Center on the campus of the University of Maryland&nbsp;for the six-day program.&nbsp;During the June conference,&nbsp;Lofgren and others were able to take part in fun and engaging site experiences throughout the D.C. area, while also engaging in hands-on activities, which brought the concepts and skills of effective leadership to life.The Junior National Young Leaders Conference is the premier leadership development program for middle school students. Students at JrNYLC learn to work together as they develop action plans that they can put into practice in their homes and communities.Pictured: Titan Lofgren and Olympian Chantae Lowe&nbsp;&nbsp;

Lofgren Attends Junior National Young Leaders Conference

Those individuals residing in Geary County who suffered any type of storm damage during the evening hours on Friday, June 28 are asked to report their damage.

This includes the cities of Junction City and Grandview Plaza.

Geary County Emergency Management has teamed up with Kansas Division of Emergency Management and United Way 2-1-1 to find out how many individuals received damage. The damages we are looking at include roof and wall damage from trees and/or wind, water in the basements, and any other type of weather related damage from that night’s storm. We are not looking for downed trees, unless it damaged a building or vehicle.

Please call United Way at 2-1-1 and provide them with the information. They will be collecting the information starting today and will end on Wednesday July 24. You can also contact the Geary County United Way and provide them with the information.

Once this information is collected, the State will see if there is enough damage locally to apply for assistance through the Small Business Administration for small interest loans or other assistance.

Those individuals residing in Geary County who suffered any type of storm damage during the evening hours on Friday, June 28 are asked to report their damage.This includes the cities of Junction City and Grandview Plaza.Geary County Emergency Management has teamed up with Kansas Division of Emergency Management and United Way 2-1-1 to find out how many individuals received damage. The damages we are looking at include roof and wall damage from trees and/or wind, water in the basements, and any other type of weather related damage from that night’s storm. We are not looking for downed trees, unless it damaged a building or vehicle.Please call United Way at 2-1-1 and provide them with the information. They will be collecting the information starting today and will end on Wednesday July 24. You can also contact the Geary County United Way and provide them with the information.Once this information is collected, the State will see if there is enough damage locally to apply for assistance through the Small Business Administration for small interest loans or other assistance.

Followup from storm damage on June 28, 2024

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.

Bonds have been posted. Photos are unavailable.

Devin Yamnitz, Possession of THC, Use/possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body, Possession of controlled substance, Possession of marijuana, arrested 07/08

Aboubacar Soumahoro, Operate a motor vehicle without a valid license, arrested 07/08

Philemon Turner, Domestic battery, arrested 07/08

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.Bonds have been posted. Photos are unavailable.Devin Yamnitz, Possession of THC, Use/possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body, Possession of controlled substance, Possession of marijuana, arrested 07/08Aboubacar Soumahoro, Operate a motor vehicle without a valid license, arrested 07/08Philemon Turner, Domestic battery, arrested 07/08Recent 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.

Geary County Booking Photos July 9 

RILEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities damage at a fraternity house in Manhattan.

Just after 9:30a.m. Monday, officers filed a report of criminal destruction of property in the 1900 block of Platt Street, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report. approximately 9:41 AM.&nbsp;

 Alpha Gamma Rho reported a window at the property had been pried open by an unknown suspect. 

Total loss associated with this report is approximately $2,000. Anyone with information can contact&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rileycountypolice.org/287/Crime-Stoppers">Crime Stoppers</a>. Using Crime Stoppers allows you to remain anonymous and could qualify you for a cash reward of up to $1,000.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720534699880.png" alt="Google image" />
 <figcaption>Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>RILEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities damage at a fraternity house in Manhattan.Just after 9:30a.m. Monday, officers filed a report of criminal destruction of property in the 1900 block of Platt Street, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report. approximately 9:41 AM.&nbsp; Alpha Gamma Rho reported a window at the property had been pried open by an unknown suspect. Total loss associated with this report is approximately $2,000. Anyone with information can contact&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rileycountypolice.org/287/Crime-Stoppers">Crime Stoppers</a>. Using Crime Stoppers allows you to remain anonymous and could qualify you for a cash reward of up to $1,000.

RCPD investigating criminal damage at frat house

The Geary County Free Fair runs July 21st-25th at the Fairgrounds adjacent to South Spring Valley Road. There are pre-fair activities the week before ranging from the 4-H Public Revue Thursday evening July 18th to the 4-H Dog Show Friday evening July 19.&nbsp;The Junction City Rodeo will also be July 19th and 20th.

The Fair will include the 4-H Horse Show and the Pedal Pull on Sunday July 21st. Some other 4-H shows include the Dairy, Goat and Sheep&nbsp; Monday evening July 22nd, the Bucket Calf and Beef Tuesday evening the 23rd, Swine Wednesday evening the 24th 4-H Barbecue and Watermelon Feed plus the 4-H Project Auction and Livestock Sale on Thursday the 25th.

Other action during&nbsp; the Fair will range from the project and agriculture to horticulture and floriculture judging. There will also be 4-H and Open Class food sales.

The Junction City Fire Department will have a display Wednesday, July 24th.

The Geary County Free Fair runs July 21st-25th at the Fairgrounds adjacent to South Spring Valley Road. There are pre-fair activities the week before ranging from the 4-H Public Revue Thursday evening July 18th to the 4-H Dog Show Friday evening July 19.&nbsp;The Junction City Rodeo will also be July 19th and 20th.( Photos Ginger Kopfer )<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720474505627.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The Fair will include the 4-H Horse Show and the Pedal Pull on Sunday July 21st. Some other 4-H shows include the Dairy, Goat and Sheep&nbsp; Monday evening July 22nd, the Bucket Calf and Beef Tuesday evening the 23rd, Swine Wednesday evening the 24th 4-H Barbecue and Watermelon Feed plus the 4-H Project Auction and Livestock Sale on Thursday the 25th.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720474753659.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Other action during&nbsp; the Fair will range from the project and agriculture to horticulture and floriculture judging. There will also be 4-H and Open Class food sales.The Junction City Fire Department will have a display Wednesday, July 24th.

Attention will soon shift to the Fairgrounds

Patricia Purcell, Failure to appear, arrested 07/05

Caleb Ochal, Unlawful restraint, Domestic battery, arrested 07/05

Laquinta Brown, Outside warrant, arrested 07/05

Donald Hanna, Domestic battery, arrested 07/06

Frederick Swinson, Criminal trespass, Remain in defiance of order or owner, arrested 07/06

Jonathan Solberg, Battery against a law enforcement officer, Domestic battery, arrested 07/06

Izion Johnson, Interference with LEO, Obstruct/resist/oppose misdemeanor warrant service or execution, Driving under the influence, combination of drugs and alcohol, arrested 07/06

Noah Baker, Failure to appear, arrested 07/06

Iris Warren,&nbsp;Failure to appear, arrested 07/06

Xavier Jackson, Unlawful damage to property, Criminal deprivation of property, Domestic battery, arrested 07/06

Ashley Shanks, Disorderly conduct, arrested 07/06

Jasen Washington, Assault of a law enforcement officer, Operate a motor vehicle without a valid license, arrested 07/07

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.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720464316862.jpeg" alt="Alvine Gayle Sr., Possession of controlled substance, Use/possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body, Traffic contraband into correctional facility, Unauthorized possession of item at facility, Failure to appear, arrested 07/05" />
 <figcaption>Alvine Gayle Sr., Possession of controlled substance, Use/possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body, Traffic contraband into correctional facility, Unauthorized possession of item at facility, Failure to appear, arrested 07/05</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720464446390.jpeg" alt="Ricky Smith, Interference with LEO, Possession of stolen property, Driving while suspended, Failure to appear, arrested 07/05" />
 <figcaption>Ricky Smith, Interference with LEO, Possession of stolen property, Driving while suspended, Failure to appear, arrested 07/05</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720464513593.jpeg" alt="Kasder Soichy, Criminal threat, Battery, Physical contact in rude, insulting, angry manner, arrested 07/06" />
 <figcaption>Kasder Soichy, Criminal threat, Battery, Physical contact in rude, insulting, angry manner, arrested 07/06</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720466539172.jpeg" alt="Fred Morgan, Aggravated battery, Knowingly cause great bodily harm or disfigurement, arrested 07/06" />
 <figcaption>Fred Morgan, Aggravated battery, Knowingly cause great bodily harm or disfigurement, arrested 07/06</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720466678899.jpeg" alt="Megan Houston, Probation violation, arrested 07/06" />
 <figcaption>Megan Houston, Probation violation, arrested 07/06</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720466752943.jpeg" alt="James Huckman, Criminal damage to property without consent (Value $1,000), Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, arrested 07/06" />
 <figcaption>James Huckman, Criminal damage to property without consent (Value $1,000), Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, arrested 07/06</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720466850908.jpeg" alt="Emmanuel Najera, Flee or attempt to elude LEO by engaging in reckless driving, Reckless driving; Racing on highways, arrested 07/07" />
 <figcaption>Emmanuel Najera, Flee or attempt to elude LEO by engaging in reckless driving, Reckless driving; Racing on highways, arrested 07/07</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720467010078.jpeg" alt="Rhushane Carr, Use/possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body, Possession of marijuana, Assault, Domestic battery, Criminal restraint, Aggravated domestic battery, Choke in rude manner, Family member/dating relationship, arrested 07/07" />
 <figcaption>Rhushane Carr, Use/possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body, Possession of marijuana, Assault, Domestic battery, Criminal restraint, Aggravated domestic battery, Choke in rude manner, Family member/dating relationship, arrested 07/07</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720467155455.jpeg" alt="Mauricio Gomena, Use/possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body, Taxation, Drugs, No drug tax stamp for marijuana or controlled substance, Distribute marijuana 25- &lt;450 grams, arrested 07/07" />
 <figcaption>Mauricio Gomena, Use/possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body, Taxation, Drugs, No drug tax stamp for marijuana or controlled substance, Distribute marijuana 25- &lt;450 grams, arrested 07/07</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720467262725.jpeg" alt="Carlos Cotto, Criminal trespass, Unlawful damage to property, arrested 07/07" />
 <figcaption>Carlos Cotto, Criminal trespass, Unlawful damage to property, arrested 07/07</figcaption>
 </figure>Bonds have been posted. Photos are unavailable.Patricia Purcell, Failure to appear, arrested 07/05Caleb Ochal, Unlawful restraint, Domestic battery, arrested 07/05Laquinta Brown, Outside warrant, arrested 07/05Donald Hanna, Domestic battery, arrested 07/06Frederick Swinson, Criminal trespass, Remain in defiance of order or owner, arrested 07/06Jonathan Solberg, Battery against a law enforcement officer, Domestic battery, arrested 07/06Izion Johnson, Interference with LEO, Obstruct/resist/oppose misdemeanor warrant service or execution, Driving under the influence, combination of drugs and alcohol, arrested 07/06Noah Baker, Failure to appear, arrested 07/06Iris Warren,&nbsp;Failure to appear, arrested 07/06Xavier Jackson, Unlawful damage to property, Criminal deprivation of property, Domestic battery, arrested 07/06Ashley Shanks, Disorderly conduct, arrested 07/06Jasen Washington, Assault of a law enforcement officer, Operate a motor vehicle without a valid license, arrested 07/07Recent 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.

Geary County Booking Photos July 6-8

The right lane of eastbound I-70 near the Abilene exit in Dickinson County has been closed for concrete repair. The Kansas Department of Transportation will be removing and replacing damaged concrete. It is estimated that the project will be completed by August, weather permitting.

KDOT urges all motorists to be alert and obey the warning signs when approaching and driving through a highway work zone.&nbsp;

By Ashley PerezKDOTThe right lane of eastbound I-70 near the Abilene exit in Dickinson County has been closed for concrete repair. The Kansas Department of Transportation will be removing and replacing damaged concrete. It is estimated that the project will be completed by August, weather permitting.KDOT urges all motorists to be alert and obey the warning signs when approaching and driving through a highway work zone.&nbsp;

Lane closed on eastbound I-70 at Abilene

Monroe Street will be closed from July 8th thru July 15th from Grant Ave to 17th Street due to watermain repairs. Junction City Public Works made the announcement.

Monroe Street will be closed from July 8th thru July 15th from Grant Ave to 17th Street due to watermain repairs. Junction City Public Works made the announcement.

Portion of Monroe Street will be closed this week

The Geary County Sheriff's Department reported that on Sunday at 4:11 p.m. Deputies responded to the 1200 Block of Taylor Road for a single vehicle accident. Mathias Schoenhofer of Junction City was traveling south on Taylor Road in his 2014 Ford F150 when he realized he needed to turn around. 

Mathias began to reverse the vehicle, and in an attempt to get turned around he reversed too far into the eastbound ditch. This caused his vehicle to roll once before coming to a rest facing northbound. No injuries were reported, and the vehicle was removed by Gross Wrecker

The Geary County Sheriff's Department reported that on Sunday at 4:11 p.m. Deputies responded to the 1200 Block of Taylor Road for a single vehicle accident. Mathias Schoenhofer of Junction City was traveling south on Taylor Road in his 2014 Ford F150 when he realized he needed to turn around. Mathias began to reverse the vehicle, and in an attempt to get turned around he reversed too far into the eastbound ditch. This caused his vehicle to roll once before coming to a rest facing northbound. No injuries were reported, and the vehicle was removed by Gross Wrecker

Sheriff's Department accident report

RILEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating an alleged theft in Manhattan.

Just after 9:30a.m. Sunday, officers filed a report of theft in the 2300 block of Sky-Vue Lane, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report. 

A 38-year-old man reported a lock was cut from a trailer and a Hack Attack pitching machine, valued at approximately $2,600, and a Honda portable generator, valued at approximately $1,100, were taken by an unknown subject. 

Anyone with information can contact&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rileycountypolice.org/287/Crime-Stoppers">Crime Stoppers</a>. Using Crime Stoppers allows you to remain anonymous and could qualify you for a cash reward of up to $1,000.

RILEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating an alleged theft in Manhattan.Just after 9:30a.m. Sunday, officers filed a report of theft in the 2300 block of Sky-Vue Lane, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report. A 38-year-old man reported a lock was cut from a trailer and a Hack Attack pitching machine, valued at approximately $2,600, and a Honda portable generator, valued at approximately $1,100, were taken by an unknown subject. Anyone with information can contact&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rileycountypolice.org/287/Crime-Stoppers">Crime Stoppers</a>. Using Crime Stoppers allows you to remain anonymous and could qualify you for a cash reward of up to $1,000.

RCPD: $2,600 pitching machine taken from trailer

&nbsp;Geary USD 475 will be offering free grab-and-go breakfast and lunch meals with shelf-stable milk to any student, one to 18 years of age, at<a href="https://www.facebook.com/LincolnUSD475?__cft__[0]=AZVQ-hfpeNA1ildhJK7DCzOLz-70-Ga5HLSWM04lDGzDBBsEYZAVAelGIGkI9oVqVoGy1RF4ul0ETnWxZiwuaBnIjV2-WMLsLkDZQa2rhg_SZku7gSWIF5R_lf0kAe5jvNAZPRFrRn2Sm8K71D4HBebrEvPfg07dLDTfK7Vk0kq67p2pZqLOiTWD4lRIRjnIA7G6cewfcPBlIjXwevTRDIHt&amp;__tn__=-]K-R"> </a>Lincoln Elementary&nbsp; and<a href="https://www.facebook.com/SeitzUSD475?__cft__[0]=AZVQ-hfpeNA1ildhJK7DCzOLz-70-Ga5HLSWM04lDGzDBBsEYZAVAelGIGkI9oVqVoGy1RF4ul0ETnWxZiwuaBnIjV2-WMLsLkDZQa2rhg_SZku7gSWIF5R_lf0kAe5jvNAZPRFrRn2Sm8K71D4HBebrEvPfg07dLDTfK7Vk0kq67p2pZqLOiTWD4lRIRjnIA7G6cewfcPBlIjXwevTRDIHt&amp;__tn__=-]K-R"> Seitz Elementary</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;during the month of July from 11:30 a.m. through 12:30 p.m.&nbsp;&nbsp;

USD 475 release&nbsp;Geary USD 475 will be offering free grab-and-go breakfast and lunch meals with shelf-stable milk to any student, one to 18 years of age, at<a href="https://www.facebook.com/LincolnUSD475?__cft__[0]=AZVQ-hfpeNA1ildhJK7DCzOLz-70-Ga5HLSWM04lDGzDBBsEYZAVAelGIGkI9oVqVoGy1RF4ul0ETnWxZiwuaBnIjV2-WMLsLkDZQa2rhg_SZku7gSWIF5R_lf0kAe5jvNAZPRFrRn2Sm8K71D4HBebrEvPfg07dLDTfK7Vk0kq67p2pZqLOiTWD4lRIRjnIA7G6cewfcPBlIjXwevTRDIHt&amp;__tn__=-]K-R"> </a>Lincoln Elementary&nbsp; and<a href="https://www.facebook.com/SeitzUSD475?__cft__[0]=AZVQ-hfpeNA1ildhJK7DCzOLz-70-Ga5HLSWM04lDGzDBBsEYZAVAelGIGkI9oVqVoGy1RF4ul0ETnWxZiwuaBnIjV2-WMLsLkDZQa2rhg_SZku7gSWIF5R_lf0kAe5jvNAZPRFrRn2Sm8K71D4HBebrEvPfg07dLDTfK7Vk0kq67p2pZqLOiTWD4lRIRjnIA7G6cewfcPBlIjXwevTRDIHt&amp;__tn__=-]K-R"> Seitz Elementary</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;during the month of July from 11:30 a.m. through 12:30 p.m.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Students can get free breakfast and lunch meals in July

RILEY COUNTY—One person was hospitalized after a crash that occurred just before 10p.m. Sunday in Manhattan.

According to the Riley County Police Department activity report,&nbsp;a Dodge Caravan driven by Adebayo Wasiu Adenigi, 63, of Manhattan, struck a Chevy Sonic driven by Jonathan Holmes Fateley, 58, Manhattan in the 3200 Block of Windbreak Circle.

EMS transported Adenigi to Via Christi for treatment of an apparent medical event that occurred while driving.&nbsp; The RCPD released no additional information.

RILEY COUNTY—One person was hospitalized after a crash that occurred just before 10p.m. Sunday in Manhattan.According to the Riley County Police Department activity report,&nbsp;a Dodge Caravan driven by Adebayo Wasiu Adenigi, 63, of Manhattan, struck a Chevy Sonic driven by Jonathan Holmes Fateley, 58, Manhattan in the 3200 Block of Windbreak Circle.EMS transported Adenigi to Via Christi for treatment of an apparent medical event that occurred while driving.&nbsp; The RCPD released no additional information.

Manhattan man hospitalized after 2-vehicle crash

During my career in city management, there is one thing that has never changed. Bottom line is everyone feels TAXES are a 5-letter dirty word. It really makes no difference if it is Federal or State Income taxes, or property or sales taxes. We all pay and yes we all complain about taxes. I always say the first time I hated taxes was when I was very young and the price of a pack of baseball cards went from 10 cents to 15 cents. I knew the price had increased, but I had not planned for the sales tax, and I did not have that penny and could not buy a pack of cards that day.

Even though we complain about taxes, we all want services that a unit of government provides. When city crews pick up limbs and branches from last week’s storm as people are hoping the City does, there is a cost. To repair the streets, that we often hear about, it takes dollars. Yes, the City gets funding for projects through the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) such as the roundabout that work will begin next week at the south end of Washington Street. Yes, it will be an inconvenience, but it needs to be replaced.

I have heard it said that the best tax is one that someone else pays and I don’t have to. I can get everything I want, but it does not cost me as others pay for it. Maybe a great idea, but it does not work that way.

Let’s look at property owners here in Junction City. We not only pay property taxes to the City, but also to the County and the School District. In the case of Geary County, about 72% of the property taxes for the County are generated from property in the City. Of course, many County services benefit everyone in the County, however some such as Road and Bridge Department costs serve mostly in the rural area. I grew up on a farm in Ellis County and I know how important those roads are to the entire county and to the total economy.

For the last 9 months or so, there has been a discussion regarding the ambulance costs, how it should be funded, and who ultimately pays the bill. In Geary County the EMS is operated by the Junction City Fire Department. As you have heard before there is an old agreement where the City pays for 1/3 of the unreimbursed costs or operating the ambulance service, and the County pays 2/3rds. Sounds good, but when you consider the Junction City tax payer pays for the 1/3 and then 72% of the 2/3rds, it breaks down to City property owners are paying about 80% of the costs and all other property owners in the County pay about 20%.

Emergency Medical Services (EMS) are not cheap to operate. Ambulances and equipment costs continue to rise, drug costs are higher, and yes the cost for employees increase so we can be fully staffed with high quality staff. The issue with the EMS is no one knows when the next 911 call will come in and an ambulance must head out immediately with trained staff. It has been documented a number of times that there has been instances when 2 or 3 ambulances and crews are out at one time and last year there were almost 60 times when 4 ambulances were serving the citizens of Geary County simultaneously. Is that a luxury? Not if you are the one who needs that fourth ambulance and crew. In addition, the City Fire and EMS department provides rescue services and (even though not part of the EMS), the Fire department works with the County Sheriff staff and forming a joint dive team.

Yes, I will agree with a joint service there is a discussion of when an employee is a fireman and when they are an EMT. All of the Fireman are an EMT with a number being an A-EMT and I believe there are 15 paramedics at this time. Yes, that increases the costs, but what is wrong with a high-quality service?

If the amount the county pays for this service decreases, the City share will have to increase. Costs are not going down. Yes, that will mean higher taxes to City tax payers and possibly lower taxes for everyone else. In many counties such as Riley and Dickinson, EMS is a cost paid equally by everyone in the County, and not a higher rate for those in just one City. No doubt more EMS calls are in the City of Junction City than outside, but it is all in the County. Remember 65% or so of the County population and the 72% of the property taxes are here as well. As mentioned above, all the tax payers in Geary County pay for the County roads in the county. If those costs were only paid by property taxes generated from outside the city, the taxes to those not in the city would skyrocket.

If the county established an ambulance service for everyone outside city of Junction City and split away from the city, it could easily cost nearly as much or more as they have been asked to pay now. The difference is that this cost would be paid by 28% of the tax base the County pays bills with now. Yes city tax payers may see a smaller increase, but nothing in comparison. Simply not a good deal. Also an outside service would not provide the rescue services that are included now. Of course, the other option is to just put the burden on city tax payers and less on others. The bill has to be paid, but who pays it? During city budget sessions that has been discussed. If the costs are pushed back more to the city would property taxes need to increase, or would the city cut somewhere else?

If, you want to argue that there are costs such as public transportation that the county pays now that may need to paid by the city, I could understand. However, that cost would probably need to paid by the other cities as well.

Yes, TAXES are still and always will be the dreaded 5-letter word. Cut services, cut taxes. Maybe not the best answer. It has been and always will be about balance. You pay or I pay, maybe we both should pay.

By Allen DinkelJunction City ManagerDuring my career in city management, there is one thing that has never changed. Bottom line is everyone feels TAXES are a 5-letter dirty word. It really makes no difference if it is Federal or State Income taxes, or property or sales taxes. We all pay and yes we all complain about taxes. I always say the first time I hated taxes was when I was very young and the price of a pack of baseball cards went from 10 cents to 15 cents. I knew the price had increased, but I had not planned for the sales tax, and I did not have that penny and could not buy a pack of cards that day.Even though we complain about taxes, we all want services that a unit of government provides. When city crews pick up limbs and branches from last week’s storm as people are hoping the City does, there is a cost. To repair the streets, that we often hear about, it takes dollars. Yes, the City gets funding for projects through the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) such as the roundabout that work will begin next week at the south end of Washington Street. Yes, it will be an inconvenience, but it needs to be replaced.I have heard it said that the best tax is one that someone else pays and I don’t have to. I can get everything I want, but it does not cost me as others pay for it. Maybe a great idea, but it does not work that way.Let’s look at property owners here in Junction City. We not only pay property taxes to the City, but also to the County and the School District. In the case of Geary County, about 72% of the property taxes for the County are generated from property in the City. Of course, many County services benefit everyone in the County, however some such as Road and Bridge Department costs serve mostly in the rural area. I grew up on a farm in Ellis County and I know how important those roads are to the entire county and to the total economy.For the last 9 months or so, there has been a discussion regarding the ambulance costs, how it should be funded, and who ultimately pays the bill. In Geary County the EMS is operated by the Junction City Fire Department. As you have heard before there is an old agreement where the City pays for 1/3 of the unreimbursed costs or operating the ambulance service, and the County pays 2/3rds. Sounds good, but when you consider the Junction City tax payer pays for the 1/3 and then 72% of the 2/3rds, it breaks down to City property owners are paying about 80% of the costs and all other property owners in the County pay about 20%.Emergency Medical Services (EMS) are not cheap to operate. Ambulances and equipment costs continue to rise, drug costs are higher, and yes the cost for employees increase so we can be fully staffed with high quality staff. The issue with the EMS is no one knows when the next 911 call will come in and an ambulance must head out immediately with trained staff. It has been documented a number of times that there has been instances when 2 or 3 ambulances and crews are out at one time and last year there were almost 60 times when 4 ambulances were serving the citizens of Geary County simultaneously. Is that a luxury? Not if you are the one who needs that fourth ambulance and crew. In addition, the City Fire and EMS department provides rescue services and (even though not part of the EMS), the Fire department works with the County Sheriff staff and forming a joint dive team.Yes, I will agree with a joint service there is a discussion of when an employee is a fireman and when they are an EMT. All of the Fireman are an EMT with a number being an A-EMT and I believe there are 15 paramedics at this time. Yes, that increases the costs, but what is wrong with a high-quality service?If the amount the county pays for this service decreases, the City share will have to increase. Costs are not going down. Yes, that will mean higher taxes to City tax payers and possibly lower taxes for everyone else. In many counties such as Riley and Dickinson, EMS is a cost paid equally by everyone in the County, and not a higher rate for those in just one City. No doubt more EMS calls are in the City of Junction City than outside, but it is all in the County. Remember 65% or so of the County population and the 72% of the property taxes are here as well. As mentioned above, all the tax payers in Geary County pay for the County roads in the county. If those costs were only paid by property taxes generated from outside the city, the taxes to those not in the city would skyrocket.If the county established an ambulance service for everyone outside city of Junction City and split away from the city, it could easily cost nearly as much or more as they have been asked to pay now. The difference is that this cost would be paid by 28% of the tax base the County pays bills with now. Yes city tax payers may see a smaller increase, but nothing in comparison. Simply not a good deal. Also an outside service would not provide the rescue services that are included now. Of course, the other option is to just put the burden on city tax payers and less on others. The bill has to be paid, but who pays it? During city budget sessions that has been discussed. If the costs are pushed back more to the city would property taxes need to increase, or would the city cut somewhere else?If, you want to argue that there are costs such as public transportation that the county pays now that may need to paid by the city, I could understand. However, that cost would probably need to paid by the other cities as well.Yes, TAXES are still and always will be the dreaded 5-letter word. Cut services, cut taxes. Maybe not the best answer. It has been and always will be about balance. You pay or I pay, maybe we both should pay.

The 515 Report

The&nbsp; U.S. Army Garrison Fort Riley Change of Command and Change of Responsibility Ceremony will be held at the ware Parade Field at Fort Riley on Tuesday at 9:30 a.m.

Col. Michael J. Foote, is the outgoing garrison commander, and Col. Gerald Nunziato, Jr., incoming garrison commander;

Command Sgt. Maj. Jason R. Poulin, is the outgoing garrison command sergeant major, and Command Sgt. Maj. John T. Adkerson, is the incoming garrison command sergeant major.

During the change of command and change of responsibility ceremony, Col. Nunziato and Command Sgt. Maj. Adkerson will assume command and responsibility of the United States Army Garrison, Fort Riley. 

Military change of command ceremonies are a longstanding tradition that demonstrate the formal transfer of authority from one commanding officer to another. Likewise, the change of responsibility ceremony signifies the transfer of responsibility to a new senior non-commissioned officer. The ceremony reinforces noncommissioned officer authority in the Army and highlights their support of the chain of command.

Fort Riley Garrison releaseThe&nbsp; U.S. Army Garrison Fort Riley Change of Command and Change of Responsibility Ceremony will be held at the ware Parade Field at Fort Riley on Tuesday at 9:30 a.m.Col. Michael J. Foote, is the outgoing garrison commander, and Col. Gerald Nunziato, Jr., incoming garrison commander;Command Sgt. Maj. Jason R. Poulin, is the outgoing garrison command sergeant major, and Command Sgt. Maj. John T. Adkerson, is the incoming garrison command sergeant major.During the change of command and change of responsibility ceremony, Col. Nunziato and Command Sgt. Maj. Adkerson will assume command and responsibility of the United States Army Garrison, Fort Riley. Military change of command ceremonies are a longstanding tradition that demonstrate the formal transfer of authority from one commanding officer to another. Likewise, the change of responsibility ceremony signifies the transfer of responsibility to a new senior non-commissioned officer. The ceremony reinforces noncommissioned officer authority in the Army and highlights their support of the chain of command.

Fort Riley Garrison Combined Change of Command and Change of Responsibility Ceremony

Many small businesses owners are planning on retiring soon, but finding buyers to keep the businesses going can be a challenge, especially in rural areas.

&nbsp;By Brian Beach Harvest Public Media

The town of Stratton, Nebraska, used to have two grocery stores, two barber shops and a pharmacist.

But today, most of those businesses are long gone.

Late last year the town’s lone lumberyard and hardware store closed, too, adding to the empty buildings in town.

Owner Denis League, who is in his late 60s, spent a year trying to find a buyer. Yet none of the interested buyers could make the finances work in the tiny western Nebraska community.

“You’re dealing with a pretty small base and we’re just not getting enough business here to make it interesting to anybody else, as far as anybody else wanting to buy it,” League said.

Without League Builders Supply, customers now have to drive more than an hour and a half away to the nearest lumberyard.

“The people that have been coming here are just going to have to go somewhere else,” League said. “But a lot of people have gotten used to not coming here anyway.”

More than half of business owners are 55 years or older, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s Annual Business Survey. With the youngest Baby Boomers set to reach retirement age in 2030, it’s clear small business ownership will undergo a major transition. The Exit Planning Institute found in a recent study that 75% of business owners would like to exit their businesses within the next 10 years.

“There's a silver tsunami coming,” said Renee Wiatt, a research specialist with the North Central Regional Center for Rural Development at Purdue University. “There’s basically going to be this mass exodus of that baby boomer age who are going to all be retiring in the next five to 10 years.”

That wave is likely to hit rural areas especially hard.

The village of Stratton had a population of more than 600 in 1950.

Many other towns across the rural Great Plains and the Midwest have experienced similar losses.

Young people migrating to larger cities and leaving behind aging populations are contributing to the decline, according to Ness Sandoval, a sociology professor at Saint Louis University.

“In rural areas, you tend to see more people dying than are born,” he said. “That has to do with the brain drain — young people leaving and going to college, and not necessarily coming back home.”

<h2>Many small businesses owners are planning on retiring soon, but finding buyers to keep the businesses going can be a challenge, especially in rural areas.</h2><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1719931207344.png" alt="League Builders Supply, a lumberyard and store in Stratton, Nebraska, closed at the end of 2023 after owner Denis League retired. “I’m not going to say Stratton’s going to shrivel up and die because I’m not here, but I don’t think it’s going to help anything, and I feel bad about that,” he said.&nbsp;Brian Beach/Nebraska Public Media" />
 <figcaption>League Builders Supply, a lumberyard and store in Stratton, Nebraska, closed at the end of 2023 after owner Denis League retired. “I’m not going to say Stratton’s going to shrivel up and die because I’m not here, but I don’t think it’s going to help anything, and I feel bad about that,” he said.&nbsp;Brian Beach/Nebraska Public Media</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;By Brian Beach Harvest Public MediaThe town of Stratton, Nebraska, used to have two grocery stores, two barber shops and a pharmacist.But today, most of those businesses are long gone.Late last year the town’s lone lumberyard and hardware store closed, too, adding to the empty buildings in town.Owner Denis League, who is in his late 60s, spent a year trying to find a buyer. Yet none of the interested buyers could make the finances work in the tiny western Nebraska community.“You’re dealing with a pretty small base and we’re just not getting enough business here to make it interesting to anybody else, as far as anybody else wanting to buy it,” League said.Without League Builders Supply, customers now have to drive more than an hour and a half away to the nearest lumberyard.“The people that have been coming here are just going to have to go somewhere else,” League said. “But a lot of people have gotten used to not coming here anyway.”More than half of business owners are 55 years or older, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s Annual Business Survey. With the youngest Baby Boomers set to reach retirement age in 2030, it’s clear small business ownership will undergo a major transition. The Exit Planning Institute found in a recent study that 75% of business owners would like to exit their businesses within the next 10 years.“There's a silver tsunami coming,” said Renee Wiatt, a research specialist with the North Central Regional Center for Rural Development at Purdue University. “There’s basically going to be this mass exodus of that baby boomer age who are going to all be retiring in the next five to 10 years.”That wave is likely to hit rural areas especially hard.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1719931090132.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Shrinking rural populations</h2>The village of Stratton had a population of more than 600 in 1950.Today, it’s less than half that.Many other towns across the rural Great Plains and the Midwest have experienced similar losses.Young people migrating to larger cities and leaving behind aging populations are contributing to the decline, according to Ness Sandoval, a sociology professor at Saint Louis University.“In rural areas, you tend to see more people dying than are born,” he said. “That has to do with the brain drain — young people leaving and going to college, and not necessarily coming back home.”Sandoval knows firsthand.He grew up in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, a town of nearly 15,000 people in the state’s western panhandle.He said things have changed since he was a kid, as most businesses in the smaller towns have closed due to competition from larger retailers.“All these small businesses that surrounded Scottsbluff essentially are dead because they can't compete with a Walmart, they can't compete with Home Depot,” he said. “The margins are just too small.”Sandoval said he is concerned about the future of many rural small towns as the older generation retires without young people to replace them.“Once these Baby Boomers die and my generation, the Gen Xers die, I don’t see a lot of people moving there because they’re not the same type of communities that existed 20, 25 years ago,” he said.Yet Wiatt of the North Central Regional Center for Rural Development said the wave of retirements could also bring opportunities, as well.“Most businesses fail within the first five years from when they're started,” she said. “So, if there was an opportunity like that, to come into a business that’s established and try to run it, I think it's a great opportunity for these younger individuals to take some charge there,” she said.At Advance Iowa, an organization that helps businesses with ownership succession planning, Program Manager Stacy Mullinex said there are three primary questions that need to be asked when a business owner is looking to sell their business: when they want to see, what the value of the business is and who they are going to sell to.Mullinex said the third question is where more business owners struggle.But through Advance Iowa, Mullinex focuses on an employee ownership model where existing business employees can be trained to own the operation.“A lot of times, the people that already know the business really well, that already are vested in the community, they already know the consumers and they know how the business operates and runs, that’s the employees,” Mullinex said.She advocates for the worker cooperative model, where the owner sells the business to employees and then the workers own it as a group. “It’s kind of a win-win-win of opportunity for everybody,” she said.Mullinex said the owner wins because they are provided with a feasible buyer, the employees win through increased wealth and job satisfaction through ownership, and the local community wins by keeping a business in town.However, for businesses with no employees to sell to, Wiatt said many business owners are working further into old age to keep their operations running.“The retirement age is being pushed back for a lot of these farms and small businesses and family businesses,” she said. “I think it's just getting harder and harder to quit.”<h2>Working longer</h2>In the southeast Kansas town of Moran, population 466, Marilyn Logan is adamant that she does not plan on retiring soon.Logan, who is nearing 80 years old, is the part-owner and manager of Marmaton Market, the town’s lone grocery store.“I'm going to be here until they wheel me out to the ambulance in my chair,” she said.However, Logan is looking to hire someone to help her manage the grocery store and lighten her current workload of 60-to-80-hour weeks. That process hasn’t been easy.“We need younger people, but we need younger people with skills,” she said. “We don't have people in the town that are young enough to work that have the skills to work, and they're not interested in learning.”Most young people with skills, Logan said, move to larger cities where they can earn more money.“It’s hard to find somebody with the passion to stay in a small town and work at a lower wage to make a business succeed,” she said. “It’s also tough on them to stay here too, because there’s not a lot of things for them.”At Vitale’s Italian Restaurant and Pizzeria in Macomb, Illinois, Julie Dienst said her 86-year-old mother still comes to the restaurant each day to make the pizza sauce.“She is really a driving force behind the restaurant too, so it’s a passion for her,” Dienst said.The family has been running the restaurant since 1980, and while her mother is dedicated, Dienst said she’s ready to retire, along with Dienst’s older brother.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1719931304791.png" alt="The Dienst family has run Vitale’s Italian Restaurant and Pizzeria since 1980, when Julie’s father moved from Brooklyn to buy a pizzeria in a town with more room to expand. “My dad saw it and fell in love, so we’ve been here for 44 years,” Julie said.&nbsp;Provided By Vitale’s Italian Restaurant And Pizzeria" />
 <figcaption>The Dienst family has run Vitale’s Italian Restaurant and Pizzeria since 1980, when Julie’s father moved from Brooklyn to buy a pizzeria in a town with more room to expand. “My dad saw it and fell in love, so we’ve been here for 44 years,” Julie said.&nbsp;Provided By Vitale’s Italian Restaurant And Pizzeria</figcaption>
 </figure>Two years ago, the family put the restaurant on the market. But Macomb, the home of Western Illinois University, has lost a quarter of its population and is facing a declining university enrollment.Dienst said that’s made it a challenging market.“There are already several restaurants that are empty, so having one more restaurant for sale, even though we're not closed like these other places, it's just more competition, I guess,” she said.Dienst’s father came from Brooklyn to buy a pizzeria in a town with more room to expand. Since then, she said the family restaurant has seen generations of customers come through their doors.“I’m waiting on the grandchildren of people I waited on when I was in high school,” she said. “It’s really hard to put on a price on that.”This story was produced in partnership with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/harvestpublicmedia" target="_blank">Harvest Public Media,</a>&nbsp;a collaboration of public media newsrooms in the Midwest. It reports on food systems, agriculture and rural issues.&nbsp;

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