Pat Landes has been reelected by his fellow city commissioners to serve as mayor of Junction City for the coming year. The city commission conducted their annual reorganization Tuesday night.

Pat Landes will also serve on the Economic Development Commission and on the Library Board, Ronna Larson on the Metropolitan Planning Organization, Jeff Underhill the Chamber of Commerce Board, Al Gordon the Military Affairs Council and Richard Pinaire on the ATA Bus Board.

The commission has opted not to renew membership in the Flint Hills Regional Council.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1704247432552.jpeg" alt="Pat Landes" />
 <figcaption>Pat Landes</figcaption>
 </figure>By Dewey TerrillJC PostPat Landes has been reelected by his fellow city commissioners to serve as mayor of Junction City for the coming year. The city commission conducted their annual reorganization Tuesday night.Ronna Larson was reelected vice mayor.Pat Landes will also serve on the Economic Development Commission and on the Library Board, Ronna Larson on the Metropolitan Planning Organization, Jeff Underhill the Chamber of Commerce Board, Al Gordon the Military Affairs Council and Richard Pinaire on the ATA Bus Board.The commission has opted not to renew membership in the Flint Hills Regional Council.

Pat Landes will continue to serve as mayor

JUNCTION CITY - According to a post made on social media shortly after 10:00 am on Tuesday, January 2, 2024, Junction City Fire Department had extinguished a vehicle fire, while two other crews responded to separate ambulance calls.

Firefighters made quick work of extinguishing the fire.

Fire crews were called to the parking lot at the corner of E. Ash Street and S. Washington street to extinguish the vehicle.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1704234651386.jpeg" alt="JCFD vehicle fire, picture from JCFD" />
 <figcaption>JCFD vehicle fire, picture from JCFD</figcaption>
 </figure>JUNCTION CITY - According to a post made on social media shortly after 10:00 am on Tuesday, January 2, 2024, Junction City Fire Department had extinguished a vehicle fire, while two other crews responded to separate ambulance calls.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1704234677887.jpeg" alt="JCFD vehicle fire, picture from JCFD" />
 <figcaption>JCFD vehicle fire, picture from JCFD</figcaption>
 </figure>Firefighters made quick work of extinguishing the fire.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1704234695541.jpeg" alt="JCFD vehicle fire, picture from JCFD" />
 <figcaption>JCFD vehicle fire, picture from JCFD</figcaption>
 </figure>Fire crews were called to the parking lot at the corner of E. Ash Street and S. Washington street to extinguish the vehicle.<div><iframe src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d3144.3830786590197!2d-96.82950500000005!3d39.01571540000001!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x87bc493674b9b81f%3A0x57d12b176f5cad3f!2sE%20Ash%20St%20%26%20S%20Washington%20St%2C%20Junction%20City%2C%20KS%2066441!5e1!3m2!1sen!2sus!4v1704234526320!5m2!1sen!2sus" width="600" height="450" style="border:0;" allowfullscreen="" loading="lazy" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade"></iframe></div><div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FJCKSFD%2Fposts%2Fpfbid027nSKvCR7PEmA68vKmFr9UnZkDf1KU2o81grmvrww6DJ2j9ouD3LePcznPpiWvb45l&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="665" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div>

Junction City Fire Dept. extinguishes vehicle fire on Tuesday morning

The ongoing EMS issue between Geary County and Junction City included another chapter on Tuesday. County Commission Chairman Keith Ascher noted that the staff will meet and figure out the November - December bill owed by the county to the city and then report back to the county commission next Monday. He mentioned an approximate $91,000 amount for November.&nbsp; December must still be determined.&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;Ascher feels it's important to settle up with the city for 2023. He noted, "I think we're really close."

If the county governing body approves a resolution next Monday it could then go to the city commission Jan.16.

The ongoing EMS issue between Geary County and Junction City included another chapter on Tuesday. County Commission Chairman Keith Ascher noted that the staff will meet and figure out the November - December bill owed by the county to the city and then report back to the county commission next Monday. He mentioned an approximate $91,000 amount for November.&nbsp; December must still be determined.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Ascher feels it's important to settle up with the city for 2023. He noted, "I think we're really close."If the county governing body approves a resolution next Monday it could then go to the city commission Jan.16.

County keeps moving forward on EMS Services issue

RILEY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting at a house party and have made an arrest.

On Sunday, police arrested 18-year-old Marc Oliver on a warrant for requested charges of&nbsp;&nbsp;1st degree murder, aggravated battery, criminal discharge of a firearm and a probation violation, according to a media release from the Riley County Police Department.

In the early morning on October 21, the Riley County Police Department Communication Center received several 911 calls reporting gunfire. When officers arrived on scene, they found 2 male victims with gunshot wounds. A 3rd male victim later arrived at the hospital with a gunshot wound from the incident.&nbsp;

Within a week of the shooting, detectives arrested Cordarius Gowdy, 21; Damerius McGee, 18, both of Ogden and Christopher Stowers, 21, of Manhattan on probable cause offenses of attempted first-degree murder aggravated battery and one count of firing into an occupied dwelling.&nbsp;

Oliver was issued total bond of $1,000,000. All four suspects remain confined in the Riley County Jail.&nbsp;

RILEY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting at a house party and have made an arrest.On Sunday, police arrested 18-year-old Marc Oliver on a warrant for requested charges of&nbsp;&nbsp;1st degree murder, aggravated battery, criminal discharge of a firearm and a probation violation, according to a media release from the Riley County Police Department.In the early morning on October 21, the Riley County Police Department Communication Center received several 911 calls reporting gunfire. When officers arrived on scene, they found 2 male victims with gunshot wounds. A 3rd male victim later arrived at the hospital with a gunshot wound from the incident.&nbsp;Within a week of the shooting, detectives arrested Cordarius Gowdy, 21; Damerius McGee, 18, both of Ogden and Christopher Stowers, 21, of Manhattan on probable cause offenses of attempted first-degree murder aggravated battery and one count of firing into an occupied dwelling.&nbsp;Oliver was issued total bond of $1,000,000. All four suspects remain confined in the Riley County Jail.&nbsp;

Police arrest 4th suspect for Manhattan house party shooting

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.

Xavier Peoples, Failure to appear, arrested 12/28

Lisa Ewing, Transporting an open container, DUI-Liquor/Drugs, arrested 12/28

Lacy Green, Failure to appear, arrested 12/29

Vanda Vereen, Transporting an open container, Driving under the influence of Drugs/Alcohol, arrested 12/29

Thomas Carter, Probation violation, arrested 12/29

Tucker Brunner, Possession of marijuana, Use/possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body, arrested 12/30

Malcom Hiram, Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs: Felony, arrested 12/30

Lori Chesney-Drewey, Interference with LEO, Obstruct/resist/oppose misdemeanor warrant service or execution, arrested 12/30

Tyler Roberts, Domestic battery, arrested 12/30

Chad Bennett, Diversion violation (Two counts), arrested 12/30

Shannon Smelley, Interference with LEO, Theft &gt;$1,500 &lt; $25,000 pocket picking, arrested 12/31

Manix Jonathan, Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, arrested 12/31

Jeffrey Clark, Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, arrested 01/01

Meagin Woods, Failure to appear, arrested 01/01

Marquez Thomas, Battery, Criminal restraint, arrested 01/01

Crystal Anderson, Outside warrant, arrested 01/02

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/2024/1/1704213339118.jpeg" alt="David Lopez-Ocon, Failure to appear, arrested 12/28" />
 <figcaption>David Lopez-Ocon, Failure to appear, arrested 12/28</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1704214464791.jpeg" alt="Sarah Swan-Swenson, Theft by deception: Value $1,500 to $25,000, Forgery: Making or altering a written instrument, arrested 12/29" />
 <figcaption>Sarah Swan-Swenson, Theft by deception: Value $1,500 to $25,000, Forgery: Making or altering a written instrument, arrested 12/29</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1704214550021.jpeg" alt="Addie Cook, Improper use of roadway by pedestrian, Assault, arrested 12/31" />
 <figcaption>Addie Cook, Improper use of roadway by pedestrian, Assault, arrested 12/31</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1704214633336.jpeg" alt="Erakdrik Erakdrik, Uniform criminal extradition act, Arrest prior to requisition, arrested 12/31" />
 <figcaption>Erakdrik Erakdrik, Uniform criminal extradition act, Arrest prior to requisition, arrested 12/31</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1704214700077.jpeg" alt="Edgar Espino Mejia, Operate a motor vehicle without a valid license, Obstructing legal process in felony case, Arrest by LEO: Warrant arrest, arrested 12/31" />
 <figcaption>Edgar Espino Mejia, Operate a motor vehicle without a valid license, Obstructing legal process in felony case, Arrest by LEO: Warrant arrest, arrested 12/31</figcaption>
 </figure>Bonds have been posted. Photos are unavailable.Xavier Peoples, Failure to appear, arrested 12/28Lisa Ewing, Transporting an open container, DUI-Liquor/Drugs, arrested 12/28Lacy Green, Failure to appear, arrested 12/29Vanda Vereen, Transporting an open container, Driving under the influence of Drugs/Alcohol, arrested 12/29Thomas Carter, Probation violation, arrested 12/29Tucker Brunner, Possession of marijuana, Use/possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body, arrested 12/30Malcom Hiram, Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs: Felony, arrested 12/30Lori Chesney-Drewey, Interference with LEO, Obstruct/resist/oppose misdemeanor warrant service or execution, arrested 12/30Tyler Roberts, Domestic battery, arrested 12/30Chad Bennett, Diversion violation (Two counts), arrested 12/30Shannon Smelley, Interference with LEO, Theft &gt;$1,500 &lt; $25,000 pocket picking, arrested 12/31Manix Jonathan, Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, arrested 12/31Jeffrey Clark, Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, arrested 01/01Meagin Woods, Failure to appear, arrested 01/01Marquez Thomas, Battery, Criminal restraint, arrested 01/01Crystal Anderson, Outside warrant, arrested 01/02Recent 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 Dec 29 - Jan.2

The McRaes have hosted the Junction City drive on their wedding anniversary for 15 years

[JUNCTION CITY, KAN. – Jan 2, 2024] – Tom and Joyce McRae have different plans for their 55th&nbsp;anniversary.

&nbsp;They are rolling up their sleeves to host and donate at the annual Junction City Blood Drive.

“Anyone can go to dinner or on a cruise for their anniversary, but anyone can also host a blood drive. It’s just a more important thing to do,” said Joyce. “Donating on our anniversary was Tom’s idea. Naida Sanders had done it seventeen years and was retiring. I went to give blood and my iron was too low. I started crying and she said, ‘Oh, I got you!’ and we’ve been together ever since!”

She has since given over 12 gallons of blood and counting. Tom’s current total is 14 gallons, starting from when he eighteen years old and enlisted in the military.

“They volunteered the whole company to donate. Notice I said ‘they’?” he laughed.

Their values for donation were passed along to their family, with two children and a son-in-law regularly donating blood. Even when the elder McRaes travel, if their donation time draws near, they use the Red Cross Blood Donor app to schedule a vacation donation. So far they have donated in 12 states, including Alaska, Texas, Florida, Illinois, Utah, Alabama, and Nebraska.

After fifteen years of hosting the blood drive, they are closing this particular chapter of service. They still plan to donate and help at future drives. They recounted “some crazy drives” over the years, like when a five-hour computer outage stopped donations but donors made the 40-mile trip back to their drive to make good on their appointment, and meeting a man who gave 33 gallons of blood over his lifetime only donating in Junction City. They have also made many friends along the way, including their Red Cross blood drive account manager, Kristi Ingalls. Tom keeps a list of contacts to give flyers before every drive. Churches especially are helpful to this drive, with congregants from the Junction City First United Methodist church making up a large part of the donor base.

The drive has a goal of 98 units. Grateful volunteers plan to have cake to share with the donors to celebrate the McRae’s legacy.

There is a possible new host for the drive, but nothing has been confirmed. Whoever that may be, Joyce leaves them with this wisdom: “Just enjoy it. It’s really a pretty good thing. The people are fun and they’re there because they want to be. Nobody tackles them and says, ‘you have to give blood today!’ Just have fun with it.”

The McRaes have hosted the Junction City drive on their wedding anniversary for 15 years[JUNCTION CITY, KAN. – Jan 2, 2024] – Tom and Joyce McRae have different plans for their 55th&nbsp;anniversary.&nbsp;They are rolling up their sleeves to host and donate at the annual Junction City Blood Drive.“Anyone can go to dinner or on a cruise for their anniversary, but anyone can also host a blood drive. It’s just a more important thing to do,” said Joyce. “Donating on our anniversary was Tom’s idea. Naida Sanders had done it seventeen years and was retiring. I went to give blood and my iron was too low. I started crying and she said, ‘Oh, I got you!’ and we’ve been together ever since!”She has since given over 12 gallons of blood and counting. Tom’s current total is 14 gallons, starting from when he eighteen years old and enlisted in the military.“They volunteered the whole company to donate. Notice I said ‘they’?” he laughed.Their values for donation were passed along to their family, with two children and a son-in-law regularly donating blood. Even when the elder McRaes travel, if their donation time draws near, they use the Red Cross Blood Donor app to schedule a vacation donation. So far they have donated in 12 states, including Alaska, Texas, Florida, Illinois, Utah, Alabama, and Nebraska.After fifteen years of hosting the blood drive, they are closing this particular chapter of service. They still plan to donate and help at future drives. They recounted “some crazy drives” over the years, like when a five-hour computer outage stopped donations but donors made the 40-mile trip back to their drive to make good on their appointment, and meeting a man who gave 33 gallons of blood over his lifetime only donating in Junction City. They have also made many friends along the way, including their Red Cross blood drive account manager, Kristi Ingalls. Tom keeps a list of contacts to give flyers before every drive. Churches especially are helpful to this drive, with congregants from the Junction City First United Methodist church making up a large part of the donor base.The drive has a goal of 98 units. Grateful volunteers plan to have cake to share with the donors to celebrate the McRae’s legacy.There is a possible new host for the drive, but nothing has been confirmed. Whoever that may be, Joyce leaves them with this wisdom: “Just enjoy it. It’s really a pretty good thing. The people are fun and they’re there because they want to be. Nobody tackles them and says, ‘you have to give blood today!’ Just have fun with it.”By Logan Wright

Couple retires from anniversary tradition: hosting Red Cross blood drives

MANHATTAN —Garrison Keillor returns to Kansas State University's McCain Auditorium to present his "<a href="https://mccain.k-state.edu/events/2023-2024/24-01-13-a-prairie-home-companion.html" target="_blank">A Prairie Home Companion 50th Anniversary</a>" show at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 13, as part of the&nbsp;<a href="https://mccain.k-state.edu/" target="_blank">McCain Performance Series</a>.

The 140-minute performance celebrates the famed last live radio variety show, featuring Keillor's stand-up comedy on the beauty of being 80. The show also includes favorite comedy sketches, such as Guy Noir: Private Eye, The Lives of the Cowboys and Duane's Mom. Audiences will also hear the latest news from Lake Wobegon and a word or two from show "sponsors" Real Hot Coffee, the American Duct Tape Council, Guy’s Shoes and the Ketchup Advisory Board, as well as an extended commercial from Powdermilk Biscuits.

Tickets are available online at&nbsp;<a href="https://mccain.k-state.edu/" target="_blank">mccain.k-state.edu</a>&nbsp;or at the ticket office in the McCain lobby from noon to 4 p.m. Wednesdays through Fridays. Tickets are also available by phone at 785-532-6428 during the same hours.

&nbsp; K-State News and Communications Services Division of Communications and Marketing&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1704213979072.jpeg" alt="Longtime "A Prairie Home Companion" host Garrison Keillor is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the radio show with a live performance 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 13, at Kansas State University's McCain Auditorium." />
 <figcaption>Longtime "A Prairie Home Companion" host Garrison Keillor is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the radio show with a live performance 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 13, at Kansas State University's McCain Auditorium.</figcaption>
 </figure>MANHATTAN —Garrison Keillor returns to Kansas State University's McCain Auditorium to present his "<a href="https://mccain.k-state.edu/events/2023-2024/24-01-13-a-prairie-home-companion.html" target="_blank">A Prairie Home Companion 50th Anniversary</a>" show at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 13, as part of the&nbsp;<a href="https://mccain.k-state.edu/" target="_blank">McCain Performance Series</a>.The 140-minute performance celebrates the famed last live radio variety show, featuring Keillor's stand-up comedy on the beauty of being 80. The show also includes favorite comedy sketches, such as Guy Noir: Private Eye, The Lives of the Cowboys and Duane's Mom. Audiences will also hear the latest news from Lake Wobegon and a word or two from show "sponsors" Real Hot Coffee, the American Duct Tape Council, Guy’s Shoes and the Ketchup Advisory Board, as well as an extended commercial from Powdermilk Biscuits.Tickets are available online at&nbsp;<a href="https://mccain.k-state.edu/" target="_blank">mccain.k-state.edu</a>&nbsp;or at the ticket office in the McCain lobby from noon to 4 p.m. Wednesdays through Fridays. Tickets are also available by phone at 785-532-6428 during the same hours.&nbsp; K-State News and Communications Services Division of Communications and Marketing&nbsp;&nbsp;

Radio legend Garrison Keillor brings 'A Prairie Home Companion 50th Anniversary' show to McCain  

Resolution of the EMS Services issue will be a key topic for the Geary County Commission in 2024. That's a sentiment of Commissioner Keith Ascher.&nbsp;

The County and City have been in disagreement over the amount that will be paid by the County for their share of the cost of EMS. This past week Ascher noted that city and county staffs had been meeting and as of the end of December were getting closer and talking. "I am very optimistic that we're going to get this resolved and obviously we need to do something new with that old 1967 ( joint ) agreement. It's just a matter of sitting down and talking through it and coming up with figures. I know staff is working on it."

Ascher pointed to another key issue. "We're going to rewrite our finance policy for procurement of items that we buy through our purchase policy.

The commissioner noted that they always work to support citizens with the best and most efficient services at a reasonable cost.

Resolution of the EMS Services issue will be a key topic for the Geary County Commission in 2024. That's a sentiment of Commissioner Keith Ascher.&nbsp;The County and City have been in disagreement over the amount that will be paid by the County for their share of the cost of EMS. This past week Ascher noted that city and county staffs had been meeting and as of the end of December were getting closer and talking. "I am very optimistic that we're going to get this resolved and obviously we need to do something new with that old 1967 ( joint ) agreement. It's just a matter of sitting down and talking through it and coming up with figures. I know staff is working on it."Ascher pointed to another key issue. "We're going to rewrite our finance policy for procurement of items that we buy through our purchase policy.The commissioner noted that they always work to support citizens with the best and most efficient services at a reasonable cost.

Keith Ascher looks ahead at 2024

Lawmakers chopping previous 6.5% tax on groceries to zero on Jan. 1, 2025

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

TOPEKA — Gov. Laura Kelly said the next scheduled reduction in the state’s sales tax on groceries on Jan. 1 would cut the rate in half to 2 percent and enable shoppers in Kansas to avoid $150 million annually in food costs.

The agreement embraced by the 2022 Legislature and the governor established a three-year approach that included a Jan. 1, 2023, drop in the state sales tax on groceries from 6.5 percent to 4 percent. The next step on Jan. 1 moves the state’s assessment to 2 percent on food, food ingredients and certain prepared foods. That would trigger a reduction in state tax collections of $12.5 million per month.

Kansas would join the majority of states by exempting groceries from state sales tax collections on Jan. 1, 2025. Local government sales taxes would still apply to groceries.

“By taking a middle-of-the-road approach,” Kelly said, “we have been able to continue putting money back in the pockets of every Kansan.”

In 2021, Kelly recommended the Republican-led Legislature pass a bill abandoning the state sales tax on groceries. She again called for sacking of the state’s sales tax on food in 2022. The Legislature didn’t bite. Lawmakers, pressured to act in an election year, agreed to the stair-step idea.

In 2022, the Senate unanimously voted for the food sales tax reduction plan. An overwhelming majority of House members agreed. Kelly signed the bill.

The step down from 6.5 percent to 4 percent saved consumers shopping for groceries in Kansas an estimated $187 million during 2023. The compounding influence of the previous and upcoming decline to 2 percent would provide consumers an estimated $500 million in sales tax reductions by the end of 2024, Kelly said.

During a bruising recession in 2010, Democratic Gov. Mark Parkinson agreed to raise the statewide sales tax from 5.3 percent to 6.3 percent to prevent cuts in core social service and education programs. That law promised to draw the rate back to 5.7 percent after three years.

In 2012, Republican Gov. Sam Brownback signed a bill aggressively reducing the state’s income tax, especially for some business owners. It was an experiment in supply-side economics inspired by conservative consultant Arthur Laffer. A soft economy and the refusal of Kansas politicians to reduce state spending to match tax revenue losses led to years of painful budget problems.

Brownback leaned harder on the state sales tax in an attempt to sustain his quest to eliminate the state’s income tax. In 2013, he signed legislation repealing the 2010 law that promised to shrink the state sales tax rate to 5.7 percent. Instead, Brownback reset the rate at 6.15 percent. It allowed him to include in the legislation provisions that would gradually lower the Kansas income tax.

“It has been difficult,” Brownback said at that time. “We’re on a path to growth. Now we’re set.”

In 2015, however, the state government continued to be plagued by revenue shortfalls. Brownback returned to the well. He secured an increase in the state sales tax rate to 6.5 percent.

Brownback’s income tax strategy was repealed by the GOP-controlled House and Senate in 2017 over the Republican governor’s veto. The state’s sales tax, including on groceries, was left unchanged.

The 2019 Legislature passed a bill that would have slashed state tax revenue by at least $500 million over three years. It included a reduction in the food sales tax. Kelly vetoed that bill, arguing it would jeopardize the state’s financial health in a way reminiscent of Brownback policy.

In 2022, Kelly proposed immediate elimination of the state sales tax on groceries and the Legislature offered the three-year phase out associated with food purchases. The state sales tax for non-grocery purchases has stayed at 6.5percent, but that plan cut the food sales tax to 4 percent on Jan. 1, 2023. It is to be rolled back to 2 percent on Jan. 1, 2024, and decline to zero on Jan. 1, 2025.

None of this maneuvering at the Capitol altered city or county sales tax rates, which also apply to grocery purchases in Kansas. In Missouri, that state’s sales tax on groceries is 1.2 percent. Oklahoma charges a 4.5 percent statewide sales tax on groceries. Nebraska and Colorado exempt groceries from the state sales tax.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1703862975530.jpeg" alt="A bill approved by the 2022 Legislature and signed by Gov. Laura Kelly initiated a three-year phase out of the state's 6.5% sales tax on groceries. The next step in the plan is a decline from 4% to 2% on Jan. 1. It will be eliminated at the state level on Jan. 1, 2025. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>A bill approved by the 2022 Legislature and signed by Gov. Laura Kelly initiated a three-year phase out of the state's 6.5% sales tax on groceries. The next step in the plan is a decline from 4% to 2% on Jan. 1. It will be eliminated at the state level on Jan. 1, 2025. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Lawmakers chopping previous 6.5% tax on groceries to zero on Jan. 1, 2025</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Gov. Laura Kelly said the next scheduled reduction in the state’s sales tax on groceries on Jan. 1 would cut the rate in half to 2 percent and enable shoppers in Kansas to avoid $150 million annually in food costs.The agreement embraced by the 2022 Legislature and the governor established a three-year approach that included a Jan. 1, 2023, drop in the state sales tax on groceries from 6.5 percent to 4 percent. The next step on Jan. 1 moves the state’s assessment to 2 percent on food, food ingredients and certain prepared foods. That would trigger a reduction in state tax collections of $12.5 million per month.Kansas would join the majority of states by exempting groceries from state sales tax collections on Jan. 1, 2025. Local government sales taxes would still apply to groceries.“By taking a middle-of-the-road approach,” Kelly said, “we have been able to continue putting money back in the pockets of every Kansan.”In 2021, Kelly recommended the Republican-led Legislature pass a bill abandoning the state sales tax on groceries. She again called for sacking of the state’s sales tax on food in 2022. The Legislature didn’t bite. Lawmakers, pressured to act in an election year, agreed to the stair-step idea.<h2>Political ping pong</h2>In 2022, the Senate unanimously voted for the food sales tax reduction plan. An overwhelming majority of House members agreed. Kelly signed the bill.The step down from 6.5 percent to 4 percent saved consumers shopping for groceries in Kansas an estimated $187 million during 2023. The compounding influence of the previous and upcoming decline to 2 percent would provide consumers an estimated $500 million in sales tax reductions by the end of 2024, Kelly said.During a bruising recession in 2010, Democratic Gov. Mark Parkinson agreed to raise the statewide sales tax from 5.3 percent to 6.3 percent to prevent cuts in core social service and education programs. That law promised to draw the rate back to 5.7 percent after three years.In 2012, Republican Gov. Sam Brownback signed a bill aggressively reducing the state’s income tax, especially for some business owners. It was an experiment in supply-side economics inspired by conservative consultant Arthur Laffer. A soft economy and the refusal of Kansas politicians to reduce state spending to match tax revenue losses led to years of painful budget problems.Brownback leaned harder on the state sales tax in an attempt to sustain his quest to eliminate the state’s income tax. In 2013, he signed legislation repealing the 2010 law that promised to shrink the state sales tax rate to 5.7 percent. Instead, Brownback reset the rate at 6.15 percent. It allowed him to include in the legislation provisions that would gradually lower the Kansas income tax.“It has been difficult,” Brownback said at that time. “We’re on a path to growth. Now we’re set.”<h2>Shopping for a deal</h2>In 2015, however, the state government continued to be plagued by revenue shortfalls. Brownback returned to the well. He secured an increase in the state sales tax rate to 6.5 percent.Brownback’s income tax strategy was repealed by the GOP-controlled House and Senate in 2017 over the Republican governor’s veto. The state’s sales tax, including on groceries, was left unchanged.The 2019 Legislature passed a bill that would have slashed state tax revenue by at least $500 million over three years. It included a reduction in the food sales tax. Kelly vetoed that bill, arguing it would jeopardize the state’s financial health in a way reminiscent of Brownback policy.In 2022, Kelly proposed immediate elimination of the state sales tax on groceries and the Legislature offered the three-year phase out associated with food purchases. The state sales tax for non-grocery purchases has stayed at 6.5percent, but that plan cut the food sales tax to 4 percent on Jan. 1, 2023. It is to be rolled back to 2 percent on Jan. 1, 2024, and decline to zero on Jan. 1, 2025.None of this maneuvering at the Capitol altered city or county sales tax rates, which also apply to grocery purchases in Kansas. In Missouri, that state’s sales tax on groceries is 1.2 percent. Oklahoma charges a 4.5 percent statewide sales tax on groceries. Nebraska and Colorado exempt groceries from the state sales tax.

Next phase of Kansas’ gradual repeal of state sales tax on food to yield savings of $150 million

RILEY COUNTY —Authorities are working to determine the cause of a fire at a home in Manhattan.&nbsp; Just before 1:30p.m. New Year's Day, fire crews were dispatched to a house fire at 1433 Legore&nbsp; Lane, according to a media release from the Manhattan Fire Department.&nbsp;

Crews found a 2-story home with smoke showing, made access to the basement apartment and quickly extinguished a fire located in the kitchen.&nbsp; 

The residence was occupied by one occupant at the time of the fire, who was able to exit the structure prior to units arrival on scene . The occupant of the basement apartment was displaced as a result of the fire.&nbsp; 

Loss is estimated at $5,000 to contents and $10,000 to the structure. The owner is listed as Lane and Elizabeth Mills of Manhattan.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1704204919758.png" alt="photo Manhattan Fire Dept." />
 <figcaption>photo Manhattan Fire Dept.</figcaption>
 </figure>RILEY COUNTY —Authorities are working to determine the cause of a fire at a home in Manhattan.&nbsp; Just before 1:30p.m. New Year's Day, fire crews were dispatched to a house fire at 1433 Legore&nbsp; Lane, according to a media release from the Manhattan Fire Department.&nbsp;Crews found a 2-story home with smoke showing, made access to the basement apartment and quickly extinguished a fire located in the kitchen.&nbsp; The residence was occupied by one occupant at the time of the fire, who was able to exit the structure prior to units arrival on scene . The occupant of the basement apartment was displaced as a result of the fire.&nbsp; Loss is estimated at $5,000 to contents and $10,000 to the structure. The owner is listed as Lane and Elizabeth Mills of Manhattan.&nbsp;&nbsp;

New Year's Day fire at home in Manhattan

One year ago on Jan. 1, 2023 Stormont Vail Health - Flint Hills campus opened for business, succeeding the former Geary Community Hospital in Junction City. Since then there have been improvements.

Tracey Duran, Interim Administrator and Regional Nursing Director, said they have worked hard to make a great foundation. There is a ways to go but she noted that they're paving a path to make the facility a long sustaining hospital.

Turnover has decreased, 50 to 60 people have been added, multiple physicians have been added and all are staffed through Stormont Vail. "There's a new life in the building. And I've heard many community members come and tell me that. Man, it's just a different vibe there now."

There are currently no less than 1,100 patients treated in the emergency room each month compared to less than 1,000 prior to 2022. Duran pointed to trust that is being gained in the community and good reviews that have been received from patients. Two more E-R doctors will also be added in February. 

More patients are also being seen on the inpatient unit as well. "So really our goal is to keep care in the community. We don't want you to have to travel to Manhattan or Topeka to receive your care," said Duran.

New things are also being tried. Telemedicine has been brought for cardiology consults and with diabetes management to help with insulin needs.

A lot of hospitals are full so the facility in Junction City is able to help surrounding communities. "We've recently had multiple patients that are in different communities around Kansas that needed advanced imaging. We have a great imaging department and we were able to bring those patients in, do the imaging studies that were needed and then send them back home. That reduced travel time for those patients.

In January procedural pain management treatment will be brought to the&nbsp; facility. Duran said that will involve multiple procedures and not&nbsp; the medication side of pain management.

The Stormont Vail Health Flint Hills Campus provides increased access to specialized medical treatment and serves to support economic prosperity and quality of life in Junction City.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675446338370.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By Dewey TerrillJC PostOne year ago on Jan. 1, 2023 Stormont Vail Health - Flint Hills campus opened for business, succeeding the former Geary Community Hospital in Junction City. Since then there have been improvements.Tracey Duran, Interim Administrator and Regional Nursing Director, said they have worked hard to make a great foundation. There is a ways to go but she noted that they're paving a path to make the facility a long sustaining hospital.Turnover has decreased, 50 to 60 people have been added, multiple physicians have been added and all are staffed through Stormont Vail. "There's a new life in the building. And I've heard many community members come and tell me that. Man, it's just a different vibe there now."There are currently no less than 1,100 patients treated in the emergency room each month compared to less than 1,000 prior to 2022. Duran pointed to trust that is being gained in the community and good reviews that have been received from patients. Two more E-R doctors will also be added in February. More patients are also being seen on the inpatient unit as well. "So really our goal is to keep care in the community. We don't want you to have to travel to Manhattan or Topeka to receive your care," said Duran.New things are also being tried. Telemedicine has been brought for cardiology consults and with diabetes management to help with insulin needs.A lot of hospitals are full so the facility in Junction City is able to help surrounding communities. "We've recently had multiple patients that are in different communities around Kansas that needed advanced imaging. We have a great imaging department and we were able to bring those patients in, do the imaging studies that were needed and then send them back home. That reduced travel time for those patients.In January procedural pain management treatment will be brought to the&nbsp; facility. Duran said that will involve multiple procedures and not&nbsp; the medication side of pain management.The Stormont Vail Health Flint Hills Campus provides increased access to specialized medical treatment and serves to support economic prosperity and quality of life in Junction City.

Stormont Vail Health Flint Hills Campus makes a positive community impact

Julia Debes Kansas Wheat

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Wheat farmers, grain trade representatives and state and national wheat organization staff members got to walk a figurative mile in the shoes of their end-use customers this month during a flour milling short course at the IGP Institute at Kansas State University.&nbsp;

The IGP Institute organizes this course annually as a deep dive into milling and baking processes. This year’s course, conducted December 11-13, 2023, was designed to give wheat growers and industry personnel training in the basic principles of flour milling and a greater understanding of the relationship between wheat quality and flour performance. Eighteen participants representing seven states participated in this year’s course. They got a firsthand look at the ins and outs of what it takes to take wheat from the kernel to the loaf or other wheat food product.&nbsp;

Chris Tanner, vice president of the Kansas Association of Wheat Growers and a farmer from Norton, Eric Sperber, CEO of Cornerstone Ag in Colby, who serves as an industry representative on the KAWG board, and Kansas Wheat Vice President of Communications Marsha Boswell participated in the short course. Farmers from Idaho, Oregon, North Dakota, Oklahoma and Montana, representatives from national wheat organizations, as well as wheat breeders from South Dakota also attended the course, providing each other with a unique viewpoint of the quality needs throughout the wheat and flour supply chain.

“From a grower’s perspective, wheat is wheat. I took it for granted,” Tanner said. “I thought you just ground it into flour and made bread. That was definitely oversimplified. Most people have a mindset that you run it through the mill once, but I didn’t know it went through so many breaks.”

In addition to classroom lectures, the course included hands-on practical training in K-State’s milling and baking laboratories. The group members learned about the milling differences in the six classes of wheat, principles of wheat cleaning and conditioning, an explanation of major milling equipment and the process of wheat and flour blending, as well as the impact of grade, wheat quality characteristics and mill performance on flour extraction. At the milling laboratory in Shellenberger Hall on the K-State campus, the participants divided into groups to mill all six classes of U.S. wheat.&nbsp;

“There’s an intricate process to get every last piece of flour extracted to get a decent margin,” Tanner said. “The flour miller’s margin is thin, like the farmer’s. The things we do on the farm impact the mill’s bottom line.&nbsp;

“There are people every step along the way that care about getting the best product to the consumer. Everyone along the industry chain is trying to bring the highest quality product to market,” he said.

At the Hal Ross Flour Mill, attendees walked through the machinations and process of an actual flour mill and learned about the various products a mill can produce.&nbsp;They milled both hard red winter and soft white wheat in the mill.

“Having been in the wheat trading business for 30 years, I found the course to be enlightening,” Sperber said. “The milling side of the course really resonated with me. It was helpful to see the dynamics of the milling process. Milling wheat into flour is much more complex than just grinding the seed. My anticipation was that you ran the wheat through the mill once and you had bran, germ and flour. I had no concept of the streams it went through to maximize the endosperm.”

In the baking lab, attendees also learned about the different flour and dough testing methods that end-use customers use to evaluate the quality and functionality of each load of wheat. They also participated in baking tests to see the variation in products like bread, cakes and cookies when using different classes of wheat.&nbsp;

“The classroom instruction on the baking and flour qualities was interesting,” said Sperber. “I didn’t know about the care of trying to not damage the starch from the baking side of it.”

Tanner agreed, saying, “When you buy a bag of flour, you think it’s flour. I learned about the different flours made from the classes of wheat. In the baking lab, I didn’t get the flour I needed to make a loaf of bread, so instead I made a brick.”

Ultimately, the short course pulls back the curtain on the technical aspects of how differences in wheat class and qualities impact the final product on a consumer’s plate. The farmers and staff who attended the course left with valuable knowledge of how to better meet the needs of their customers.&nbsp;

Learn more about the technical, research-based training offered by K-State through the IGP Institute at&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001kAHRaBZvRAcAWhSwKA447VYoZAHdzIKpWtQnIDEw6_z6moOhh7cS4pm_wfC4R1C3InkKMXZGz842n7yZnAhePgqPU9zUfCOZQbzinNPZn8M41kPCVIsMfH2_u_IxhRWN9g6522bZzd674vUzeoWDin9idkIsIuGU&amp;c=NDjRI2srZWb9w8UUk_Zc8e6FNQ4WJjVRCw8zSqEd4_RCc6MsBSPnRA==&amp;ch=kfLe6-nSVc3tdrJ3w5T5VTwG7rnothwijPaVC9OnGL64OL0sBa-4GQ==">grains.k-state.edu/igp/</a>.

Julia Debes Kansas WheatMANHATTAN, Kan. – Wheat farmers, grain trade representatives and state and national wheat organization staff members got to walk a figurative mile in the shoes of their end-use customers this month during a flour milling short course at the IGP Institute at Kansas State University.&nbsp;The IGP Institute organizes this course annually as a deep dive into milling and baking processes. This year’s course, conducted December 11-13, 2023, was designed to give wheat growers and industry personnel training in the basic principles of flour milling and a greater understanding of the relationship between wheat quality and flour performance. Eighteen participants representing seven states participated in this year’s course. They got a firsthand look at the ins and outs of what it takes to take wheat from the kernel to the loaf or other wheat food product.&nbsp;Chris Tanner, vice president of the Kansas Association of Wheat Growers and a farmer from Norton, Eric Sperber, CEO of Cornerstone Ag in Colby, who serves as an industry representative on the KAWG board, and Kansas Wheat Vice President of Communications Marsha Boswell participated in the short course. Farmers from Idaho, Oregon, North Dakota, Oklahoma and Montana, representatives from national wheat organizations, as well as wheat breeders from South Dakota also attended the course, providing each other with a unique viewpoint of the quality needs throughout the wheat and flour supply chain.“From a grower’s perspective, wheat is wheat. I took it for granted,” Tanner said. “I thought you just ground it into flour and made bread. That was definitely oversimplified. Most people have a mindset that you run it through the mill once, but I didn’t know it went through so many breaks.”In addition to classroom lectures, the course included hands-on practical training in K-State’s milling and baking laboratories. The group members learned about the milling differences in the six classes of wheat, principles of wheat cleaning and conditioning, an explanation of major milling equipment and the process of wheat and flour blending, as well as the impact of grade, wheat quality characteristics and mill performance on flour extraction. At the milling laboratory in Shellenberger Hall on the K-State campus, the participants divided into groups to mill all six classes of U.S. wheat.&nbsp;“There’s an intricate process to get every last piece of flour extracted to get a decent margin,” Tanner said. “The flour miller’s margin is thin, like the farmer’s. The things we do on the farm impact the mill’s bottom line.&nbsp;“There are people every step along the way that care about getting the best product to the consumer. Everyone along the industry chain is trying to bring the highest quality product to market,” he said.At the Hal Ross Flour Mill, attendees walked through the machinations and process of an actual flour mill and learned about the various products a mill can produce.&nbsp;They milled both hard red winter and soft white wheat in the mill.“Having been in the wheat trading business for 30 years, I found the course to be enlightening,” Sperber said. “The milling side of the course really resonated with me. It was helpful to see the dynamics of the milling process. Milling wheat into flour is much more complex than just grinding the seed. My anticipation was that you ran the wheat through the mill once and you had bran, germ and flour. I had no concept of the streams it went through to maximize the endosperm.”In the baking lab, attendees also learned about the different flour and dough testing methods that end-use customers use to evaluate the quality and functionality of each load of wheat. They also participated in baking tests to see the variation in products like bread, cakes and cookies when using different classes of wheat.&nbsp;“The classroom instruction on the baking and flour qualities was interesting,” said Sperber. “I didn’t know about the care of trying to not damage the starch from the baking side of it.”Tanner agreed, saying, “When you buy a bag of flour, you think it’s flour. I learned about the different flours made from the classes of wheat. In the baking lab, I didn’t get the flour I needed to make a loaf of bread, so instead I made a brick.”Ultimately, the short course pulls back the curtain on the technical aspects of how differences in wheat class and qualities impact the final product on a consumer’s plate. The farmers and staff who attended the course left with valuable knowledge of how to better meet the needs of their customers.&nbsp;Learn more about the technical, research-based training offered by K-State through the IGP Institute at&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001kAHRaBZvRAcAWhSwKA447VYoZAHdzIKpWtQnIDEw6_z6moOhh7cS4pm_wfC4R1C3InkKMXZGz842n7yZnAhePgqPU9zUfCOZQbzinNPZn8M41kPCVIsMfH2_u_IxhRWN9g6522bZzd674vUzeoWDin9idkIsIuGU&amp;c=NDjRI2srZWb9w8UUk_Zc8e6FNQ4WJjVRCw8zSqEd4_RCc6MsBSPnRA==&amp;ch=kfLe6-nSVc3tdrJ3w5T5VTwG7rnothwijPaVC9OnGL64OL0sBa-4GQ==">grains.k-state.edu/igp/</a>.

Wheat Scoop: Wheat leaders take a deep dive into milling and baking during K-State short course

The 21st Little Apple New Year's Eve Event is scheduled&nbsp; Sunday night in Manhattan's Aggieville.

There will be music throughout the evening leading up to a countdown and Apple Drop at midnight signifying the end of 2023 and the beginning of a new year.

The 21st Little Apple New Year's Eve Event is scheduled&nbsp; Sunday night in Manhattan's Aggieville.There will be music throughout the evening leading up to a countdown and Apple Drop at midnight signifying the end of 2023 and the beginning of a new year.

Celebrate New Year's Eve in Aggieville

You can expect a chilly New Year's Eve with temperatures in the 22-28 degree range at midnight, according to the National Weather Service.

Daytime highs should be in the 32=38 degree range.

You can expect a chilly New Year's Eve with temperatures in the 22-28 degree range at midnight, according to the National Weather Service.Daytime highs should be in the 32=38 degree range.

New Year's Eve forecast

Kiss urges ‘kinder…gentler’ approach to goal-setting

K-State Research and Extension news service

MANHATTAN, Kan. – When it comes to pursuing goals, Kansas State University family resource management specialist Elizabeth Kiss thinks even a little progress means a lot.

“Often when it comes to goal-setting, we think it’s all or nothing,” Kiss said. “We think, ‘I have to do this’ or “I have to be focused…’ That is not necessarily the best or most successful way to achieve what you’re looking for.”

Instead, she said, take the long view on goals.

“Think about this: there are 168 hours in a week,” Kiss said. “How much of that time do we actually need to achieve our personal, financial, health or other goals? Some things only take about an hour a week. You can make a big amount of progress on a project by spending an hour or two a week on a regular basis.”

Put into practice, Kiss notes a couple examples: If you want to read a book, but feel overwhelmed, spend just 5-10 minutes a day reading. Or if a goal is to get in better physical shape, dedicate 15-20 minutes a few times a week as an entry point.

Kiss said: “Take a kinder, more gentler approach to your goals.”

In her job, Kiss spends a good deal of time helping individuals and families use their family’s resources – including money – to achieve their goals. Her approach to goal-setting works when managing the family’s finances, too.

“If you want to increase your family’s emergency fund…what you could to do is plan to put aside a small amount each month, perhaps as little as $10 per month,” she said. “That might not seem like a lot, but over a year, that’s $120 for your emergency fund that you didn’t have previously.”

Kiss encourages families to talk about goals, particularly when it comes to spending money. When appropriate, involve kids, she says, particularly as they grow older and transition into helping with such expenses as vehicles, insurance, weddings and more.

“Many of us are fearful that we will out-live our money; we wonder how we are going to stay active, interested, curious…all of those things,” Kiss said. “That all has to do with family resource management. I always say that successful money management is that you get to the end of your life and you have some money left…and you’re meeting your goals, whatever they are.”

K-State Research and Extension has an online publication titled,&nbsp;<a href="https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/MF2721.pdf">How Are You Doing? A Financial Checkup</a>, to help keep people on path to meet their life’s goals. The publication is available online from the&nbsp;<a href="https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/">K-State Research and Extension bookstore</a>.

“Sometimes – whatever goals you’re setting – you don’t take your intended actions,” Kiss said. “Don’t beat yourself up. Wherever you’re at, just keep thinking ahead. Share your goals, write them down and review them periodically; but don’t obsess over them.”

More information on personal well-being, including family resource management, is also available at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/about/statewide-locations.html">local extension offices in Kansas</a>.

<h2>Kiss urges ‘kinder…gentler’ approach to goal-setting</h2>Dec. 26, 2023K-State Research and Extension news serviceMANHATTAN, Kan. – When it comes to pursuing goals, Kansas State University family resource management specialist Elizabeth Kiss thinks even a little progress means a lot.“Often when it comes to goal-setting, we think it’s all or nothing,” Kiss said. “We think, ‘I have to do this’ or “I have to be focused…’ That is not necessarily the best or most successful way to achieve what you’re looking for.”Instead, she said, take the long view on goals.“Think about this: there are 168 hours in a week,” Kiss said. “How much of that time do we actually need to achieve our personal, financial, health or other goals? Some things only take about an hour a week. You can make a big amount of progress on a project by spending an hour or two a week on a regular basis.”Put into practice, Kiss notes a couple examples: If you want to read a book, but feel overwhelmed, spend just 5-10 minutes a day reading. Or if a goal is to get in better physical shape, dedicate 15-20 minutes a few times a week as an entry point.Kiss said: “Take a kinder, more gentler approach to your goals.”In her job, Kiss spends a good deal of time helping individuals and families use their family’s resources – including money – to achieve their goals. Her approach to goal-setting works when managing the family’s finances, too.“If you want to increase your family’s emergency fund…what you could to do is plan to put aside a small amount each month, perhaps as little as $10 per month,” she said. “That might not seem like a lot, but over a year, that’s $120 for your emergency fund that you didn’t have previously.”Kiss encourages families to talk about goals, particularly when it comes to spending money. When appropriate, involve kids, she says, particularly as they grow older and transition into helping with such expenses as vehicles, insurance, weddings and more.“Many of us are fearful that we will out-live our money; we wonder how we are going to stay active, interested, curious…all of those things,” Kiss said. “That all has to do with family resource management. I always say that successful money management is that you get to the end of your life and you have some money left…and you’re meeting your goals, whatever they are.”K-State Research and Extension has an online publication titled,&nbsp;<a href="https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/MF2721.pdf">How Are You Doing? A Financial Checkup</a>, to help keep people on path to meet their life’s goals. The publication is available online from the&nbsp;<a href="https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/">K-State Research and Extension bookstore</a>.“Sometimes – whatever goals you’re setting – you don’t take your intended actions,” Kiss said. “Don’t beat yourself up. Wherever you’re at, just keep thinking ahead. Share your goals, write them down and review them periodically; but don’t obsess over them.”More information on personal well-being, including family resource management, is also available at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/about/statewide-locations.html">local extension offices in Kansas</a>.By Pat Melgares

Patience is key to meeting goals, says K-State expert

Geary County implemented a new Capital Improvement Program in 2023. Keith Ascher, County Commission Chairman, said officials are looking long range at what needs to be assessed, fixed and their goals. "We implemented the CIP Program and that's going well."

Ascher noted that some dollars were shifted into the program. "It helps out with our facilities account."

The commissioner also pointed to another accomplishment in2023, the courthouse security building which carried an investment of about $750,000 through ARPA funds and the new CIP. The need for the facility was first noticed in 2020 after COVID for both security and distancing of the public.

There was a $97,000 CIP project involving the 4-H Beef Barn.

Geary County implemented a new Capital Improvement Program in 2023. Keith Ascher, County Commission Chairman, said officials are looking long range at what needs to be assessed, fixed and their goals. "We implemented the CIP Program and that's going well."Ascher noted that some dollars were shifted into the program. "It helps out with our facilities account."The commissioner also pointed to another accomplishment in2023, the courthouse security building which carried an investment of about $750,000 through ARPA funds and the new CIP. The need for the facility was first noticed in 2020 after COVID for both security and distancing of the public.There was a $97,000 CIP project involving the 4-H Beef Barn.

Commissioner Ascher sees the benefits of the County's Capital Improvement Program

Depending on when you read this, It will either be my last column for 2023 or the first for 2024.

As we head out to purchase groceries in 2024, you will notice that the sales tax for food has dropped another 2% as the state portion drop from 4 to 2% and on January 1. 2025 the state sales food sales tax is eliminated. You may know, the State of Kansas has a 6.5% sales tax for items other than food and food was at that level in 2022.

The drive to a zero-food sales tax does not include any local sales taxes as they will remain unchanged. Now this is not just for Junction City and Geary County but across the State. Only 6 of the 105 counties in Kansas do not have a local county sales tax and even then some cities in those counties do have a local city sales tax. The cities without a sales tax in those counties is very few and not sure if any have a store that sells food. So, if you go to Manhattan or any other City in Kansas to purchase food items, there will be a sale tax charged in nearly all of those cities.

Yes, I did testify at a Kansas House of Representatives Committee Hearing last March regarding food sales. The issue was about eliminating food from the local sales tax. None of the City or County representatives opposed removing the state portion of sales tax on food but were concerned about the impact of the loss of revenue on a local basis. For Junction City we conservatively calculated that eliminating the local

sales tax on food would lower revenue by over $1.5 million per year. One of two things would have to occur. Either increase property taxes or cut services such as street repair and maintenance. In addition, Geary County and the 2 other cities would have suffered a loss in revenue as well. I am not disagreeing of the value of lowering the sales tax on food as it would be beneficial to some, but the shifting in funding would come into play.

Presently, the City of Junction City has a local 2% sales tax. !% is for the City General Fund and the other is for debt service. That portion retires on December 31, 2030. There is a possibility that it could end sooner since sales tax revenues have been strong, but that will be a decision of the City Commission at some time. Geary County has a .25% sales tax for aa bond on the Hospital and a 1% general sales tax. This 1% is split between the County and the 3 cities by a state formula. State sales taxes are created by the Kansas Legislture. Local sales taxes all have to be approved by the voters. Yes, the County or City governing bodies may place the question on the ballot, but ultimately the voters decide.

Yes, revenue is important to City. I know some of you say that the City focuses on that issue, but there is good reason. Without revenue the Police Department or Fire Department would not provide the services they do to keep the community safe and secure. Lack of revenue would impact the ability to make improvements in the parks or less street work would be done each year. And yes I know many of you are saying more work needs to be done on City streets or in alleys, but it takes “dollars” to make that happen. The recent discussion about the EMS service is about the dollars needed to operate the service. A cut in County Funding means increased costs to property owners in the City.

A couple of weeks ago, a resident sent me a note asking about her property taxes and the increase from last year. Even though the property taxes are collected by the County, I could get on the computer and make some calculations. Of course, like many of us, her home value as appraised by the County, had increased from 2022. In fact, hers was at the same percentage as the average for the City. Like many, the increase was to the City,

County and School District. The good thing is that our homes and property are increasing in value as we all want our investments to be worth more tomorrow than they are today. Yes, I know some of you say property taxes are too high here. Yes the increase in property value has increased taxes but it has in other communities as well. As a former State Senator from North Central Kansas used to say, “if you want to cut taxes tell me which service or program you use that can be cut.” It is easy to say to cut taxes, but we seldom want to cut services, In fact most want the City to do more such as investing in the clean-up and improvement of Grant Avenue. It doesn’t happen without dollars as the property owners will probably walk away and not pay the costs. Yes, the debt the City got itself into about 15 years or so ago, has had its impact, but “it is what it is” and we continue to move forward to taking care of that issue. Not a simple task, but as a community we have done well.

Depending on when you read this, It will either be my last column for 2023 or the first for 2024.As we head out to purchase groceries in 2024, you will notice that the sales tax for food has dropped another 2% as the state portion drop from 4 to 2% and on January 1. 2025 the state sales food sales tax is eliminated. You may know, the State of Kansas has a 6.5% sales tax for items other than food and food was at that level in 2022.The drive to a zero-food sales tax does not include any local sales taxes as they will remain unchanged. Now this is not just for Junction City and Geary County but across the State. Only 6 of the 105 counties in Kansas do not have a local county sales tax and even then some cities in those counties do have a local city sales tax. The cities without a sales tax in those counties is very few and not sure if any have a store that sells food. So, if you go to Manhattan or any other City in Kansas to purchase food items, there will be a sale tax charged in nearly all of those cities.Yes, I did testify at a Kansas House of Representatives Committee Hearing last March regarding food sales. The issue was about eliminating food from the local sales tax. None of the City or County representatives opposed removing the state portion of sales tax on food but were concerned about the impact of the loss of revenue on a local basis. For Junction City we conservatively calculated that eliminating the localsales tax on food would lower revenue by over $1.5 million per year. One of two things would have to occur. Either increase property taxes or cut services such as street repair and maintenance. In addition, Geary County and the 2 other cities would have suffered a loss in revenue as well. I am not disagreeing of the value of lowering the sales tax on food as it would be beneficial to some, but the shifting in funding would come into play.Presently, the City of Junction City has a local 2% sales tax. !% is for the City General Fund and the other is for debt service. That portion retires on December 31, 2030. There is a possibility that it could end sooner since sales tax revenues have been strong, but that will be a decision of the City Commission at some time. Geary County has a .25% sales tax for aa bond on the Hospital and a 1% general sales tax. This 1% is split between the County and the 3 cities by a state formula. State sales taxes are created by the Kansas Legislture. Local sales taxes all have to be approved by the voters. Yes, the County or City governing bodies may place the question on the ballot, but ultimately the voters decide.Yes, revenue is important to City. I know some of you say that the City focuses on that issue, but there is good reason. Without revenue the Police Department or Fire Department would not provide the services they do to keep the community safe and secure. Lack of revenue would impact the ability to make improvements in the parks or less street work would be done each year. And yes I know many of you are saying more work needs to be done on City streets or in alleys, but it takes “dollars” to make that happen. The recent discussion about the EMS service is about the dollars needed to operate the service. A cut in County Funding means increased costs to property owners in the City.A couple of weeks ago, a resident sent me a note asking about her property taxes and the increase from last year. Even though the property taxes are collected by the County, I could get on the computer and make some calculations. Of course, like many of us, her home value as appraised by the County, had increased from 2022. In fact, hers was at the same percentage as the average for the City. Like many, the increase was to the City,County and School District. The good thing is that our homes and property are increasing in value as we all want our investments to be worth more tomorrow than they are today. Yes, I know some of you say property taxes are too high here. Yes the increase in property value has increased taxes but it has in other communities as well. As a former State Senator from North Central Kansas used to say, “if you want to cut taxes tell me which service or program you use that can be cut.” It is easy to say to cut taxes, but we seldom want to cut services, In fact most want the City to do more such as investing in the clean-up and improvement of Grant Avenue. It doesn’t happen without dollars as the property owners will probably walk away and not pay the costs. Yes, the debt the City got itself into about 15 years or so ago, has had its impact, but “it is what it is” and we continue to move forward to taking care of that issue. Not a simple task, but as a community we have done well.

The 515 Report by Allen Dinkel

The University of Kansas surveyed more than 200 workers in chain retail settings about their job satisfaction. “They've been treated, in a lot of cases, like a commodity instead of a health care worker,” one industry professional said.

By&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/bek-shackelford">Bek Shackelford-Nwanganga</a> <a href="https://www.kcur.org/">Kansas News Service&nbsp;</a>

Pharmacy work is a tough job, according to Amanda Applegate with the Kansas Pharmacists Association. There are, of course, many prescriptions to fill. Filling those also means keeping in mind whether the prescribed medication is best for the patient, whether it is covered by their insurance and more.

And it gets more difficult when it’s inside a bustling retail store, like Walgreens or Target. That’s a recipe for a hectic job.

“If you are in a hospital environment, you don't necessarily have somebody walking by you and asking where the steaks on sale are or where the Tylenol is,” Applegate said. “There is an additional layer of distraction.”

Applegate said retail pharmacists and pharmacy technicians also struggle with performance quotas set by their employers.

A study by professors at the University of Kansas illustrates the differences between pharmacy work in retail and independent or hospital settings.

The study, recently published in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.japha.org/article/S1544-3191(23)00363-1/fulltext" target="_blank">Journal of American Pharmacists Association</a>, surveyed 129 pharmacists and 111 pharmacy technicians at both retail and independent pharmacies in Kansas and Missouri.

Angela Gist-Mackey was the lead author of the paper. Her team began collecting data in 2019 and finished in 2020, just before the pandemic. Survey participants were categorized into three pharmacy settings: retail, independent and health care systems.

Going into the study, Gist-Mackey hypothesized that a person’s role in a pharmacy would determine their overall satisfaction.

“But surprisingly, that was not the case. Role didn't predict any of that,” Gist-Mackey said. “In fact, it was more of the context that people were working in.”

The survey showed that pharmacy workers in retail situations, though paid the same as their independent or hospital pharmacist counterparts, were far less satisfied with pay and benefits.

“Maybe it's because what I have to put up with in my chain pharmacy workplace doesn't seem worth the pay,” Gist-Mackey said.

Applegate agrees. She now serves as director of practice development for the Kansas Pharmacists Association, but she previously worked in the retail pharmacy field for more than a decade. Applegate said the workload at retail pharmacies can often be hard to handle, especially because a lot of retail pharmacies only staff one pharmacist at a time and don’t schedule enough technicians to help.

Concerns about working conditions, pay and staffing came to a head this fall, when workers at CVS and Walgreens stores across the nation walked out. At least a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/podcast/up-to-date/2023-09-29/kansas-city-cvs-pharmacists-just-walked-out-on-the-job-heres-why" target="_blank">dozen CVS locations</a>&nbsp;in the Kansas City metro, on both sides of the state line, shuttered temporarily while workers were on strike.

Applegate said work safety was one of the No. 1 priorities for striking workers. She said sometimes, retail pharmacists have up to 1,000 prescriptions to fill and not enough support to safely fill them. In addition, they often work long hours without breaks.

“It's oftentimes very hard to step away from that workflow to go to the bathroom, to get a bite to eat, to take a breath after something very difficult has happened,” she said. “That day-to-day environment is a pressure cooker in a lot of cases.”

Applegate said to her knowledge, Walgreens and CVS have made some changes to how stores are operated, but pharmacists are still spread thin.

Gist-Mackey said when she and her team presented their work to editors at the Journal of American Pharmacists editors, they received pushback on their findings.

“One of the reviewers … said, ‘You're taking a stab at retail pharmacies, specifically. I'm not sure that your data really supports this,’” Gist-Mackey said.

The editors dropped their complaints when the strikes began, Gist-Mackey said.

She imagines conditions have gotten worse for retail pharmacy workers post-pandemic, as they are essential health care workers.

During her time at a retail pharmacy, Applegate said her worst shift was on Christmas Eve.

“It's a time of a lot of anxiety; tensions are running high in a lot of cases anyways,” Applegate said. “So something very small may turn into a very big thing that leads to a patient harassing a pharmacist or a member of their staff.”

Applegate said overall, harassment of pharmacists and pharmacy workers is on the rise. During this holiday season, Applegate said she’s received more calls from pharmacy workers reporting harassment in the past two weeks than she has in the past year.

In Applegate’s opinion, a lot of the harassment is because the public does not see pharmacy workers as health care professionals.

“They've been treated, in a lot of cases, like a commodity instead of a health care worker,” she said.

Applegate said customers sometimes don’t understand that pharmacists cannot control things like medicine prices.

“I think the best thing is to be kind to everybody,” Applegate said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1703784990382.png" alt="A CVS pharmacy at 9521 Mission Road in Overland Park, Kansas. This location, and about a dozen others in the Kansas City metro, closed temporarily this fall due to staff walkouts. Photo by Bek Shackelford-Nwanganga/Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption>A CVS pharmacy at 9521 Mission Road in Overland Park, Kansas. This location, and about a dozen others in the Kansas City metro, closed temporarily this fall due to staff walkouts. Photo by Bek Shackelford-Nwanganga/Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>The University of Kansas surveyed more than 200 workers in chain retail settings about their job satisfaction. “They've been treated, in a lot of cases, like a commodity instead of a health care worker,” one industry professional said.</h2>By&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/bek-shackelford">Bek Shackelford-Nwanganga</a> <a href="https://www.kcur.org/">Kansas News Service&nbsp;</a>Pharmacy work is a tough job, according to Amanda Applegate with the Kansas Pharmacists Association. There are, of course, many prescriptions to fill. Filling those also means keeping in mind whether the prescribed medication is best for the patient, whether it is covered by their insurance and more.And it gets more difficult when it’s inside a bustling retail store, like Walgreens or Target. That’s a recipe for a hectic job.“If you are in a hospital environment, you don't necessarily have somebody walking by you and asking where the steaks on sale are or where the Tylenol is,” Applegate said. “There is an additional layer of distraction.”Applegate said retail pharmacists and pharmacy technicians also struggle with performance quotas set by their employers.A study by professors at the University of Kansas illustrates the differences between pharmacy work in retail and independent or hospital settings.The study, recently published in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.japha.org/article/S1544-3191(23)00363-1/fulltext" target="_blank">Journal of American Pharmacists Association</a>, surveyed 129 pharmacists and 111 pharmacy technicians at both retail and independent pharmacies in Kansas and Missouri.Angela Gist-Mackey was the lead author of the paper. Her team began collecting data in 2019 and finished in 2020, just before the pandemic. Survey participants were categorized into three pharmacy settings: retail, independent and health care systems.Going into the study, Gist-Mackey hypothesized that a person’s role in a pharmacy would determine their overall satisfaction.“But surprisingly, that was not the case. Role didn't predict any of that,” Gist-Mackey said. “In fact, it was more of the context that people were working in.”The survey showed that pharmacy workers in retail situations, though paid the same as their independent or hospital pharmacist counterparts, were far less satisfied with pay and benefits.“Maybe it's because what I have to put up with in my chain pharmacy workplace doesn't seem worth the pay,” Gist-Mackey said.Applegate agrees. She now serves as director of practice development for the Kansas Pharmacists Association, but she previously worked in the retail pharmacy field for more than a decade. Applegate said the workload at retail pharmacies can often be hard to handle, especially because a lot of retail pharmacies only staff one pharmacist at a time and don’t schedule enough technicians to help.<h2>Retail workers on strike</h2>Concerns about working conditions, pay and staffing came to a head this fall, when workers at CVS and Walgreens stores across the nation walked out. At least a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/podcast/up-to-date/2023-09-29/kansas-city-cvs-pharmacists-just-walked-out-on-the-job-heres-why" target="_blank">dozen CVS locations</a>&nbsp;in the Kansas City metro, on both sides of the state line, shuttered temporarily while workers were on strike.Applegate said work safety was one of the No. 1 priorities for striking workers. She said sometimes, retail pharmacists have up to 1,000 prescriptions to fill and not enough support to safely fill them. In addition, they often work long hours without breaks.“It's oftentimes very hard to step away from that workflow to go to the bathroom, to get a bite to eat, to take a breath after something very difficult has happened,” she said. “That day-to-day environment is a pressure cooker in a lot of cases.”Applegate said to her knowledge, Walgreens and CVS have made some changes to how stores are operated, but pharmacists are still spread thin.Gist-Mackey said when she and her team presented their work to editors at the Journal of American Pharmacists editors, they received pushback on their findings.“One of the reviewers … said, ‘You're taking a stab at retail pharmacies, specifically. I'm not sure that your data really supports this,’” Gist-Mackey said.The editors dropped their complaints when the strikes began, Gist-Mackey said.She imagines conditions have gotten worse for retail pharmacy workers post-pandemic, as they are essential health care workers.<h2>Holidays pile on stress</h2>During her time at a retail pharmacy, Applegate said her worst shift was on Christmas Eve.“It's a time of a lot of anxiety; tensions are running high in a lot of cases anyways,” Applegate said. “So something very small may turn into a very big thing that leads to a patient harassing a pharmacist or a member of their staff.”Applegate said overall, harassment of pharmacists and pharmacy workers is on the rise. During this holiday season, Applegate said she’s received more calls from pharmacy workers reporting harassment in the past two weeks than she has in the past year.In Applegate’s opinion, a lot of the harassment is because the public does not see pharmacy workers as health care professionals.“They've been treated, in a lot of cases, like a commodity instead of a health care worker,” she said.Applegate said customers sometimes don’t understand that pharmacists cannot control things like medicine prices.“I think the best thing is to be kind to everybody,” Applegate said.

Retail pharmacy workers in Kansas, Missouri are unhappy with their pay and working conditions

Pat Landes, Al Gordon and Richard Pinaire will take their oath of office for the Junction City Commission on Tuesday night. The oaths will be taken at 6:55 p.m. and the governing body meets at 7 p.m. at 701 North Jefferson.

During their meeting the Commission will conduct their annual reorganization which will include election of a mayor and vice mayor.

Appointment of city commissioners to boards and committees will also be an agenda item.

Pat Landes, Al Gordon and Richard Pinaire will take their oath of office for the Junction City Commission on Tuesday night. The oaths will be taken at 6:55 p.m. and the governing body meets at 7 p.m. at 701 North Jefferson.During their meeting the Commission will conduct their annual reorganization which will include election of a mayor and vice mayor.Appointment of city commissioners to boards and committees will also be an agenda item.

New Junction City Commissioners will take the oath of office

&nbsp; Veolia Water operates both wastewater plants for the City of Junction City.&nbsp; &nbsp;City Manager Allen Dinkel said that they continue to have issues with items being flushed that cause problems at the plant.&nbsp; 

Dustin Lingenfelter of Veolia provided information:

"Our wastewater treatment system is receiving an increased volume of non-flushable items such as baby wipes, wet wipes and paper towels. All of these materials place undue stress on wastewater treatment facilities, which are not designed to receive them. While the so-called “flushable” wipes concern is not new to wastewater facilities, we have noticed an upward trend of them reaching the wastewater plants. We ask that our community members pay extra attention to what they are using and remind you not to flush anything other than toilet paper down the toilet.

&nbsp; Veolia Water operates both wastewater plants for the City of Junction City.&nbsp; &nbsp;City Manager Allen Dinkel said that they continue to have issues with items being flushed that cause problems at the plant.&nbsp; Dustin Lingenfelter of Veolia provided information:"Our wastewater treatment system is receiving an increased volume of non-flushable items such as baby wipes, wet wipes and paper towels. All of these materials place undue stress on wastewater treatment facilities, which are not designed to receive them. While the so-called “flushable” wipes concern is not new to wastewater facilities, we have noticed an upward trend of them reaching the wastewater plants. We ask that our community members pay extra attention to what they are using and remind you not to flush anything other than toilet paper down the toilet.It is important to keep in mind that flushing anything other than toilet paper can create expensive problems for homeowners and your local publicly funded facilities. Flushing wipes (even those labeled “flushable”) and other non-toilet paper materials causes clogs, backups, equipment and pipe breakages, and can even force raw sewage back into peoples’ homes. Because we are a public utility, the cost to repair these damages is unfortunately borne by the taxpayers. We want to avoid any and all of these problems and allow our facility workers to focus on their jobs to keep our facility performing at the highest level to return properly treated water back to our local environment.Properly addressing this issue requires each of us to be extra mindful. We ask that you pay close attention to what is being used in your home, and make sure you are only flushing toilet paper and properly disposing of all other materials. Please remember, anything other than toilet paper should be tossed in your wastebasket."The following products are NOT flushable and must be disposed of in a waste basket:● Paper towels● Napkins● Kleenex and other tissues● Wet wipes/baby wipes(Even those labeled as “flushable” wipes)● Diapers● Feminine hygiene products● Gauze/Band-AidsGREASE: Along with not flushing the above listed items, Veolia also strongly recommend not rinsing grease down your sinks as it can/will coagulate and solidify around the impeller on your grinder pump resulting in, at a minimum, diminished pumping capacity or even worse, total failure.