DICKINSON COUNTY—Law enforcement are reporting more fake cash circulating in Kansas.

On multiple occasions this week, individuals have attempted to pass fake $100 bills at Abilene businesses, according to a social media report from police.

The bills are not counterfeit but rather movie prop money. Please consider taking time to educate your employees on spotting these types of bills, and do not hesitate to contact the Abilene Police Department if you believe you have received one.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737832903693.png" alt="Photo Abilene Police" />
 <figcaption>Photo Abilene Police</figcaption>
 </figure>DICKINSON COUNTY—Law enforcement are reporting more fake cash circulating in Kansas.On multiple occasions this week, individuals have attempted to pass fake $100 bills at Abilene businesses, according to a social media report from police.The bills are not counterfeit but rather movie prop money. Please consider taking time to educate your employees on spotting these types of bills, and do not hesitate to contact the Abilene Police Department if you believe you have received one.

Police report more fake movie money in Kansas

&nbsp;Soldiers from Kansas are being deployed to help secure the U.S. southern border.

Fort Riley issued a statement on Saturday.

1st Infantry Division to deploy Soldiers to southern border

The 1st Infantry Division from Fort Riley will deploy approximately 200 Soldiers to the southern border to protect and defend the territorial integrity of the United States as directed by the President. Under the direction of U.S. Northern Command and Joint Task Force North, the 41st Combat Engineer Company-Armored and the 977th Military Police Company will augment the 2,500 forces already at the border supporting Customs and Border Protection’s southern border mission.

 U.S. Northern Command&nbsp; announced elements of the following units have been activated as part of USNORTHCOM’s mission to bolster security at the United States southern border:

These approximately 1,500 active-duty personnel from the U.S. Army and the U.S. Marine Corps are deploying to the southern border to augment the approximately 2,500 service members already deployed supporting Customs and Border Protection’s southern border mission.&nbsp;

On Saturday, Kansas U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, released the following statement after the announcement that Kansas troops from Fort Riley will be deployed to the southern border:

“My heart is with Kansas families and loved ones as soldiers from Fort Riley are sent to protect and secure our borders. Kansans and Americans across the country extend our deepest gratitude to them for keeping us safe. Under the previous administration, over 2 million known illegal alien gotaways entered our country – something that should have never happened, and compromised our national security.&nbsp;

President Trump is determined to stop the dangerous flow of fentanyl, cartels, and unvetted illegal immigrants coming into the United States and will protect our homeland.&nbsp;

The exact number of personnel will fluctuate as units rotate personnel and as additional forces are tasked to deploy once planning efforts are finalized.&nbsp;Specific units will be announced as soon as more information is made available.&nbsp;These military forces will support enhanced detection and monitoring efforts and repair and emplace physical barriers.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737830991463.png" alt="Photo by Pfc. Kanneth Barnet, 19th Public Affairs Detachment" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Pfc. Kanneth Barnet, 19th Public Affairs Detachment</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;Soldiers from Kansas are being deployed to help secure the U.S. southern border.--Fort Riley issued a statement on Saturday.1st Infantry Division to deploy Soldiers to southern borderThe 1st Infantry Division from Fort Riley will deploy approximately 200 Soldiers to the southern border to protect and defend the territorial integrity of the United States as directed by the President. Under the direction of U.S. Northern Command and Joint Task Force North, the 41st Combat Engineer Company-Armored and the 977th Military Police Company will augment the 2,500 forces already at the border supporting Customs and Border Protection’s southern border mission.-- U.S. Northern Command&nbsp; announced elements of the following units have been activated as part of USNORTHCOM’s mission to bolster security at the United States southern border:<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737839008559.png" alt="Photo U.S. Northern Command" />
 <figcaption>Photo U.S. Northern Command</figcaption>
 </figure>From the U.S. Army:<ul>
 <li>977th Military Police Company, Fort Riley, Kansas</li><li>41st Combat Engineer Company-Armored, Fort Riley, Kansas</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>Headquarters, 89th Military Police Brigade, Fort Cavazos, Texas</li><li>Headquarters, 720th Military Police Battalion, Fort Cavazos, Texas</li><li>401st Military Police Company, Fort Cavazos, Texas</li><li>202nd Military Police Company, Fort Bliss, Texas</li><li>Headquarters, 716th Military Police Battalion, Fort Campbell, Kentucky</li><li>23rd Military Police Company, Fort Drum, New York</li><li>549th Military Police Company, Fort Stewart, Georgia</li><li>530th Combat Engineer Company-Armored, Fort Stewart, Georgia</li><li>569th Combat Engineer Company-Armored, Fort Carson, Colorado</li><li>Headquarters, 759th Military Police Battalion, Fort Carson, Colorado</li><li>66th Military Police Company, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington</li>
 </ul>From the U.S. Marine Corps:<ul>
 <li>Detachment from 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st&nbsp;Marine Division, Camp Pendleton, California</li><li>Detachment from 7th Engineering Support Battalion, 1st&nbsp;Marine Logistics Group, Camp Pendleton, California</li>
 </ul>These approximately 1,500 active-duty personnel from the U.S. Army and the U.S. Marine Corps are deploying to the southern border to augment the approximately 2,500 service members already deployed supporting Customs and Border Protection’s southern border mission.&nbsp;On Saturday, Kansas U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, released the following statement after the announcement that Kansas troops from Fort Riley will be deployed to the southern border:“My heart is with Kansas families and loved ones as soldiers from Fort Riley are sent to protect and secure our borders. Kansans and Americans across the country extend our deepest gratitude to them for keeping us safe. Under the previous administration, over 2 million known illegal alien gotaways entered our country – something that should have never happened, and compromised our national security.&nbsp;President Trump is determined to stop the dangerous flow of fentanyl, cartels, and unvetted illegal immigrants coming into the United States and will protect our homeland.&nbsp;The exact number of personnel will fluctuate as units rotate personnel and as additional forces are tasked to deploy once planning efforts are finalized.&nbsp;Specific units will be announced as soon as more information is made available.&nbsp;These military forces will support enhanced detection and monitoring efforts and repair and emplace physical barriers.&nbsp;

Soldiers from Fort Riley deployed to help secure the border

The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) has announced the recipients of the 2025 Kansas Horizon Award, a program recognizing the outstanding teaching skills of new educators.&nbsp;

The 32 educators chosen for this prestigious award will be honored at a special ceremony during the Kansas Exemplary Educators Network (KEEN) State Education Conference&nbsp;on Feb. 21, in Topeka.

The Kansas Horizon Award program, sponsored by KSDE, allows all school districts in the state to nominate one elementary and one secondary teacher for the award. To be eligible, teachers must have successfully completed their first year of teaching and have performed in such a way as to distinguish themselves as outstanding.

Four elementary and four secondary classroom teachers may be selected for the award from each of the state’s four regions that correspond to the state’s U.S. congressional districts.

Recipients of the 2025 Kansas Horizon Award were notified of their selection by Kansas Commissioner of Education Dr. Randy Watson.

The 2025 Kansas Horizon Award recipients are as follows:

Denise Acosta, Spring Valley Elementary School, Geary County USD 475

Jasmine Colle, Hillsboro Middle/High School, Durham-Hillsboro-Lehigh USD 410

Jason Dester, Topeka West High School, Topeka USD 501

Brennen Feeback, Fort Scott High School, Fort Scott USD 234

Makayla Gray, Burlington Elementary School, Burlington USD 244

Michael Lager, Junction City High School, Geary County USD 475

Alyssa Larson, Gray Hawk Elementary School, Basehor-Linwood USD 458

Trenton Lowry, North Lawn Elementary School, Neodesha USD 461

Dalton Kraus, Victoria Elementary School, Victoria USD 432

Emma Lidstrom, Coronado Elementary School, Salina USD 305

Anglie Linden, Lyons Middle School, Lyons USD 405

Jessyka Mikkelson, Southeast of Saline Elementary School, Southeast of Saline USD 306

Rylie Sanders, Buhler High School, Buhler USD 313

Sarah Schlottman, Abilene High School, Abilene USD 435

Kiley Seidl, Haven Grade School, Haven USD 312

Brayden Smith, Hays High School, Hays USD 489

Sarah Alas, Delaware Ridge Elementary School, Bonner Springs USD 204

Ryleigh Diskin, Ray Marsh Elementary School, Shawnee Mission USD 512

Marie Jones, Scarborough Elementary School, Olathe USD 233

Brock LaPlante, Spring Hill High School, Spring Hill USD 230

Tara Mulcahy, Broadmoor Elementary School, Louisburg USD 416

Steve Murray, Olathe West High School, Olathe USD 233

Allaire Pigg, Turner High School, Turner USD 202

Eric Reece, Central Heights Middle School, Central Heights USD 288

Viridiana Arias, Maize South High School, Maize USD 266

Lexie Bullinger, Robert M. Martin Elementary School, Andover USD 385

Joshua Isaacs, West Elementary School, Valley Center USD 262

Tyler Kohlman, Amelia Earhart Elementary School, Goddard USD 265

Matt Miller, Truesdell Middle School, Wichita USD 259

Anna Patton, Augusta Middle School, Augusta USD 402

Hannah Reynolds, Eisenhower High School, Goddard USD 265

SubmittedThe Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) has announced the recipients of the 2025 Kansas Horizon Award, a program recognizing the outstanding teaching skills of new educators.&nbsp;The 32 educators chosen for this prestigious award will be honored at a special ceremony during the Kansas Exemplary Educators Network (KEEN) State Education Conference&nbsp;on Feb. 21, in Topeka.The Kansas Horizon Award program, sponsored by KSDE, allows all school districts in the state to nominate one elementary and one secondary teacher for the award. To be eligible, teachers must have successfully completed their first year of teaching and have performed in such a way as to distinguish themselves as outstanding.Four elementary and four secondary classroom teachers may be selected for the award from each of the state’s four regions that correspond to the state’s U.S. congressional districts.Recipients of the 2025 Kansas Horizon Award were notified of their selection by Kansas Commissioner of Education Dr. Randy Watson.The 2025 Kansas Horizon Award recipients are as follows:Region 2Denise Acosta, Spring Valley Elementary School, Geary County USD 475Jasmine Colle, Hillsboro Middle/High School, Durham-Hillsboro-Lehigh USD 410Jason Dester, Topeka West High School, Topeka USD 501Brennen Feeback, Fort Scott High School, Fort Scott USD 234Makayla Gray, Burlington Elementary School, Burlington USD 244Michael Lager, Junction City High School, Geary County USD 475Alyssa Larson, Gray Hawk Elementary School, Basehor-Linwood USD 458Trenton Lowry, North Lawn Elementary School, Neodesha USD 461Region 1Dalton Kraus, Victoria Elementary School, Victoria USD 432Emma Lidstrom, Coronado Elementary School, Salina USD 305Anglie Linden, Lyons Middle School, Lyons USD 405Jessyka Mikkelson, Southeast of Saline Elementary School, Southeast of Saline USD 306Rylie Sanders, Buhler High School, Buhler USD 313Sarah Schlottman, Abilene High School, Abilene USD 435Kiley Seidl, Haven Grade School, Haven USD 312Brayden Smith, Hays High School, Hays USD 489Region 3Sarah Alas, Delaware Ridge Elementary School, Bonner Springs USD 204Ryleigh Diskin, Ray Marsh Elementary School, Shawnee Mission USD 512Marie Jones, Scarborough Elementary School, Olathe USD 233Brock LaPlante, Spring Hill High School, Spring Hill USD 230Tara Mulcahy, Broadmoor Elementary School, Louisburg USD 416Steve Murray, Olathe West High School, Olathe USD 233Allaire Pigg, Turner High School, Turner USD 202Eric Reece, Central Heights Middle School, Central Heights USD 288Region 4Viridiana Arias, Maize South High School, Maize USD 266Lexie Bullinger, Robert M. Martin Elementary School, Andover USD 385Joshua Isaacs, West Elementary School, Valley Center USD 262Tyler Kohlman, Amelia Earhart Elementary School, Goddard USD 265Matt Miller, Truesdell Middle School, Wichita USD 259Anna Patton, Augusta Middle School, Augusta USD 402Hannah Reynolds, Eisenhower High School, Goddard USD 265

Local educators honored in 2025 Kansas Horizon Award program

TOPEKA, Kan. – Preliminary estimates reported by the Labor Market Information Services (LMIS) division of the Kansas Department of Labor (KDOL) and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) show a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 3.6% in December. This is an increase from 3.5% in November and an increase from 2.6% in December 2023,&nbsp;according to a media release from the Kansas Department of Labor.

Seasonally adjusted job estimates for Kansas indicate total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 1,200 from November. Total nonfarm includes private sector and government employers. Private sector jobs increased by 500 over the month, while government increased by 700.

The unemployment rate in Riley County is steady and remains at 3.1 percent.&nbsp; The rate in Geary and Pottawatomie counties is also unchanged from November. Geary County is steady at 5 percent. Pottawatomie County at 2.7 percent.&nbsp; Wabaunsee saw a drop from 3 to 2.7 percent.&nbsp; Dickinson County saw a jump from 3.4 percent in November to 5.5 percent.

“Kansas ended the year with little change in the labor market,” said labor economist, Emilie Doerksen. “Total nonfarm jobs increased by 1,200 over the month while the unemployment rate edged up to 3.6%.”

Since December 2023 Kansas’ seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs have increased by 18,400. This change is due to an increase of 13,300 private sector jobs and an increase of 5,100 government jobs. 

Complete Kansas labor market information for December is available here.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737731421687.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. – Preliminary estimates reported by the Labor Market Information Services (LMIS) division of the Kansas Department of Labor (KDOL) and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) show a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 3.6% in December. This is an increase from 3.5% in November and an increase from 2.6% in December 2023,&nbsp;according to a media release from the Kansas Department of Labor.Seasonally adjusted job estimates for Kansas indicate total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 1,200 from November. Total nonfarm includes private sector and government employers. Private sector jobs increased by 500 over the month, while government increased by 700.The unemployment rate in Riley County is steady and remains at 3.1 percent.&nbsp; The rate in Geary and Pottawatomie counties is also unchanged from November. Geary County is steady at 5 percent. Pottawatomie County at 2.7 percent.&nbsp; Wabaunsee saw a drop from 3 to 2.7 percent.&nbsp; Dickinson County saw a jump from 3.4 percent in November to 5.5 percent.“Kansas ended the year with little change in the labor market,” said labor economist, Emilie Doerksen. “Total nonfarm jobs increased by 1,200 over the month while the unemployment rate edged up to 3.6%.”Since December 2023 Kansas’ seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs have increased by 18,400. This change is due to an increase of 13,300 private sector jobs and an increase of 5,100 government jobs. Complete Kansas labor market information for December is available here.

Jobless rate remains steady in Geary and Riley County

In a battle of two undefeated teams in class 6A West, the Derby Panthers beat the Junction City Blue Jays 67-57 in the semifinals at the 82nd annual Dodge City Tournament of Champions. 

The Blue Jays got off to another sluggish start on Friday, falling behind to the Panthers and committing six first-quarter turnovers. Derby led JC 13-11 after the first quarter. 

Much like Thursday's game against Bishop Caroll, the second quarter was better for Junction City, but shots kept falling for the Panthers, and Derby led by five, 31-26 at halftime. 

In the third quarter, both teams went on several runs, and the game remained in reach for Junction City, trailing 42-39 after three quarters. 

After trailing all game, and by nine at one point in the second half, the Blue Jays went on a run and took their first lead at 53-51 midway through the fourth quarter. Junction City senior Larkin Turner made the go-ahead basket and then, was quickly assessed a technical foul. Derby capitalized on the opportunity, made both free throws off the technical foul, tied the game, and turned it into a 12-0 run, to lead 63-53 late in the game. Junction City never recovered and lost their first game of the season by a final score of 67-57. 

Two Blue Jay players were in double digits for the semifinal game. Senior Larkin Turner finished with 16 points, and senior Jackson Austin finished with 11 points. 

Junction City falls to 8-1 on the season and will play Wichita Heights (10-1) on Saturday in the third-place game at 4:00 p.m.

You can hear the game on 107.9 FM / 1420 KJCK Radio.

By Anthony GorgesJC PostIn a battle of two undefeated teams in class 6A West, the Derby Panthers beat the Junction City Blue Jays 67-57 in the semifinals at the 82nd annual Dodge City Tournament of Champions. The Blue Jays got off to another sluggish start on Friday, falling behind to the Panthers and committing six first-quarter turnovers. Derby led JC 13-11 after the first quarter. Much like Thursday's game against Bishop Caroll, the second quarter was better for Junction City, but shots kept falling for the Panthers, and Derby led by five, 31-26 at halftime. In the third quarter, both teams went on several runs, and the game remained in reach for Junction City, trailing 42-39 after three quarters. After trailing all game, and by nine at one point in the second half, the Blue Jays went on a run and took their first lead at 53-51 midway through the fourth quarter. Junction City senior Larkin Turner made the go-ahead basket and then, was quickly assessed a technical foul. Derby capitalized on the opportunity, made both free throws off the technical foul, tied the game, and turned it into a 12-0 run, to lead 63-53 late in the game. Junction City never recovered and lost their first game of the season by a final score of 67-57. Two Blue Jay players were in double digits for the semifinal game. Senior Larkin Turner finished with 16 points, and senior Jackson Austin finished with 11 points. Junction City falls to 8-1 on the season and will play Wichita Heights (10-1) on Saturday in the third-place game at 4:00 p.m.You can hear the game on 107.9 FM / 1420 KJCK Radio.

Blue Jays suffer first loss of the season

The Geary County Sheriff's Department has confirmed the arrest of Junction City Commissioner Alovence "Al"Gordon on a requested charge of Domestic Battery. 

Junction City police were called to the 1700 block of Clover Drive just before 5 p.m. Thursday and the Geary County Sheriff's Department was called into investigate the incident. Also arrested at the same location on a requested charge of Domestic Battery was Corieyonna Trice.

The Sheriff's Department confirmed both are free on bond.

The Geary County Sheriff's Department has confirmed the arrest of Junction City Commissioner Alovence "Al"Gordon on a requested charge of Domestic Battery. Junction City police were called to the 1700 block of Clover Drive just before 5 p.m. Thursday and the Geary County Sheriff's Department was called into investigate the incident. Also arrested at the same location on a requested charge of Domestic Battery was Corieyonna Trice.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737757141297.jpeg" alt="Alovencce "Al " Gordon" />
 <figcaption>Alovencce "Al " Gordon</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737757177729.jpeg" alt="Corrieyonna Trice" />
 <figcaption>Corrieyonna Trice</figcaption>
 </figure>The Sheriff's Department confirmed both are free on bond.

Authorities confirm the arrest of a Junction City Commissioner

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.

Joe Roman, Failure to appear, arrested 01/22

Mashaun Baker, Outside warrant, arrested 01/22

Vincent Holman, Driving while suspended, arrested 01/22

Kiara Wooldridge, Operate a motor vehicle without a valid license, Possession of opiate, opium, narcotic or certain stimulant, Possession of marijuana, Use/possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body, arrested 01/23

Dexter Johnson, Failure to appear, arrested 01/23

Zachary Caron, Failure to appear, arrested 01/23

Melvin Sanford,&nbsp;Failure to appear, arrested 01/23

Ricky Smith, Theft-Pocket picking,&nbsp;Failure to appear, arrested 01/23

Chrystal Gibson, Unlawful damage to property, arrested 01/23

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/2025/1/1737753222942.jpeg" alt="Jalen Clark, Domestic battery, Unlawful damage to property, arrested 01//23" />
 <figcaption>Jalen Clark, Domestic battery, Unlawful damage to property, arrested 01//23</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737753270056.jpeg" alt="Luis Vasquez Gonsalez, Criminal trespass, arrested 01/23" />
 <figcaption>Luis Vasquez Gonsalez, Criminal trespass, arrested 01/23</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737753342407.jpeg" alt="Thomas Ariaz, Criminal threat, arrested 01/23" />
 <figcaption>Thomas Ariaz, Criminal threat, arrested 01/23</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737753459296.jpeg" alt="Darien Manning, Aggravated kidnapping, Aggravated burglary, Locked dwelling for felony, Theft, Domestic violence, sexually motivated, Rape, Sexual intercourse without consent and use of force, arrested 01/23" />
 <figcaption>Darien Manning, Aggravated kidnapping, Aggravated burglary, Locked dwelling for felony, Theft, Domestic violence, sexually motivated, Rape, Sexual intercourse without consent and use of force, arrested 01/23</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737753547036.jpeg" alt="Christopher Olmstead, Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, arrested 01/23" />
 <figcaption>Christopher Olmstead, Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, arrested 01/23</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737753585186.jpeg" alt="Alovence Gordon, Domestic battery, Knowing rude physical contact with family member or dating relationship, arrested 01/23" />
 <figcaption>Alovence Gordon, Domestic battery, Knowing rude physical contact with family member or dating relationship, arrested 01/23</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737753641628.jpeg" alt="James Gayle, Failure to appear, Probation violation, arrested 01/23" />
 <figcaption>James Gayle, Failure to appear, Probation violation, arrested 01/23</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737753680992.jpeg" alt="Corrieyonna Trice,&nbsp;Domestic battery, Knowing rude physical contact with family member or dating relationship, arrested 01/23" />
 <figcaption>Corrieyonna Trice,&nbsp;Domestic battery, Knowing rude physical contact with family member or dating relationship, arrested 01/23</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737753755424.jpeg" alt="Anthony Martinez-Flores, Criminal damage to property,&nbsp; felony, Criminal restraint, Aggravated domestic battery, Impede breath, Blocking nose/mouth of family/dating relationship, arrested 01/24" />
 <figcaption>Anthony Martinez-Flores, Criminal damage to property,&nbsp; felony, Criminal restraint, Aggravated domestic battery, Impede breath, Blocking nose/mouth of family/dating relationship, arrested 01/24</figcaption>
 </figure>Bonds have been posted. Photos are unavailable.Joe Roman, Failure to appear, arrested 01/22Mashaun Baker, Outside warrant, arrested 01/22Vincent Holman, Driving while suspended, arrested 01/22Kiara Wooldridge, Operate a motor vehicle without a valid license, Possession of opiate, opium, narcotic or certain stimulant, Possession of marijuana, Use/possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body, arrested 01/23Dexter Johnson, Failure to appear, arrested 01/23Zachary Caron, Failure to appear, arrested 01/23Melvin Sanford,&nbsp;Failure to appear, arrested 01/23Ricky Smith, Theft-Pocket picking,&nbsp;Failure to appear, arrested 01/23Chrystal Gibson, Unlawful damage to property, arrested 01/23Recent 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 Jan. 23-24

Upcoming future leaders were honored during a 20 under 40 reception in Manhattan Thursday evening. The event was held at the Museum of Art and Light.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737740414605.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Upcoming future leaders were honored during a 20 under 40 reception in Manhattan Thursday evening. The event was held at the Museum of Art and Light.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737740589013.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>

20 under 40 are honored

Riley COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just before 2p.m. Thursday in Riley County.

According to the Riley County Police Department activity report, a Lincoln MKZ driven by Eugene Fells, 85, of Herrington struck a Mazda Tribute driven by Carrie Baker, 50, of Manhattan at the corner of S. 10th Street and Fort Riley Boulevard.&nbsp;&nbsp;

EMS transported Baker to Via Christi for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. Fells was issued a citation for failure to yield at a red light, according to the RCPD.

Riley COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just before 2p.m. Thursday in Riley County.According to the Riley County Police Department activity report, a Lincoln MKZ driven by Eugene Fells, 85, of Herrington struck a Mazda Tribute driven by Carrie Baker, 50, of Manhattan at the corner of S. 10th Street and Fort Riley Boulevard.&nbsp;&nbsp;EMS transported Baker to Via Christi for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. Fells was issued a citation for failure to yield at a red light, according to the RCPD.

Manhattan woman hospitalized after 2-vehicle crash

By ANDREW RAYO FTC If it’s not scammers spamming your phone with texts or filling up your inbox with emails, it’s your mailbox crammed with ads and other mail you didn’t ask for. The junk messages and mail might seem endless, but there are some ways to help scale it back.

Scammers send phishing texts and emails that look legitimate to trick you into giving them personal or financial information. Legitimate companies might send mail that you just don’t want things like magazines, catalogs, or prescreened offers of credit and insurance. While these aren’t necessarily scams, they can pile up quickly.

To help cut down on spam texts and emails, use filters. Check if your mobile phone has options to filter and block texts from unknown senders. Some call-blocking apps can also help block unwanted messages. Many popular email providers (like Gmail or Yahoo Mail) have strong <a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-recognize-and-report-spam-text-messages">spam filters</a> turned on by default. If any spam gets into your inbox, mark it as spam or junk. You can also <a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-stop-unwanted-emails-texts-phone-calls">unsubscribe from unwanted emails</a>. Getting fewer unwanted emails helps you avoid clicking on links that can lead to phishing attacks. Additionally, report unwanted messages, as they often lead to scams. Use your phone’s report junk option or forward unwanted texts to 7726 (SPAM) and unwanted emails to your email provider.

To help cut down on junk mail, <a href="https://dmachoice.thedma.org/">register with the Direct Marketing Association</a> to decide what types of mail you do and donâ€™t want from marketers. You can also <a href="https://www.optoutprescreen.com/">opt out of getting prescreened credit and insurance offers</a> in the mail. You can choose to opt out for five years or permanently.

Learn more about how to get fewer spam texts, emails, and junk mail. If you spot a scam, report it to the FTC at <a href="https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/">ReportFraud.ftc.gov</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1732645350652.jpeg" alt="FTC SCAM" />
 <figcaption>FTC SCAM</figcaption>
 </figure>By ANDREW RAYO FTC If it’s not scammers spamming your phone with texts or filling up your inbox with emails, it’s your mailbox crammed with ads and other mail you didn’t ask for. The junk messages and mail might seem endless, but there are some ways to help scale it back.Scammers send phishing texts and emails that look legitimate to trick you into giving them personal or financial information. Legitimate companies might send mail that you just don’t want things like magazines, catalogs, or prescreened offers of credit and insurance. While these aren’t necessarily scams, they can pile up quickly.To help cut down on spam texts and emails, use filters. Check if your mobile phone has options to filter and block texts from unknown senders. Some call-blocking apps can also help block unwanted messages. Many popular email providers (like Gmail or Yahoo Mail) have strong <a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-recognize-and-report-spam-text-messages">spam filters</a> turned on by default. If any spam gets into your inbox, mark it as spam or junk. You can also <a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-stop-unwanted-emails-texts-phone-calls">unsubscribe from unwanted emails</a>. Getting fewer unwanted emails helps you avoid clicking on links that can lead to phishing attacks. Additionally, report unwanted messages, as they often lead to scams. Use your phone’s report junk option or forward unwanted texts to 7726 (SPAM) and unwanted emails to your email provider.To help cut down on junk mail, <a href="https://dmachoice.thedma.org/">register with the Direct Marketing Association</a> to decide what types of mail you do and donâ€™t want from marketers. You can also <a href="https://www.optoutprescreen.com/">opt out of getting prescreened credit and insurance offers</a> in the mail. You can choose to opt out for five years or permanently.Learn more about how to get fewer spam texts, emails, and junk mail. If you spot a scam, report it to the FTC at <a href="https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/">ReportFraud.ftc.gov</a>.

FTC: Dealing with spam texts, emails, and junk mail

Fort Riley had a direct economic impact of more than two billion dollars in 2024. Garrison Commander Col. Gerald Nunziato provided the numbers for the Post during a Military Affairs Council Breakfast in Junction City.

The total economic impact was calculated at $2,047, 159, 088. Using a multiplier the impact totaled ,503, 79, 994. Payroll equaled $1,312, 233, 352, education $2, 053,31 and veteran expenditures $346,099,761. There were 4,758 Fort Riley affiliated families living in the surrounding communities. breaking that number down 1,375 lived in Geary County and 931 in Riley County.

There were 13,500 troops assigned to the installation. Right now much&nbsp; of the 1st Infantry Division is participating in a National Training Center rotation. The total Fort Riley connected population was figured at 59, 389.

The team effort with area communities was stressed.

Other notes included the mention that the Society of the 1st Division reunion this year will be in Oak Brook, Illinois. 

The Quilt of Valor program needs quilter volunteers. Contact Donna Martinson.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737729764328.jpeg" alt="Fort Riley Garrison Commander Col. Gerald Nunziato&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Fort Riley Garrison Commander Col. Gerald Nunziato&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>By Dewey TerrillFort Riley had a direct economic impact of more than two billion dollars in 2024. Garrison Commander Col. Gerald Nunziato provided the numbers for the Post during a Military Affairs Council Breakfast in Junction City.The total economic impact was calculated at $2,047, 159, 088. Using a multiplier the impact totaled ,503, 79, 994. Payroll equaled $1,312, 233, 352, education $2, 053,31 and veteran expenditures $346,099,761. There were 4,758 Fort Riley affiliated families living in the surrounding communities. breaking that number down 1,375 lived in Geary County and 931 in Riley County.There were 13,500 troops assigned to the installation. Right now much&nbsp; of the 1st Infantry Division is participating in a National Training Center rotation. The total Fort Riley connected population was figured at 59, 389.The team effort with area communities was stressed.Other notes included the mention that the Society of the 1st Division reunion this year will be in Oak Brook, Illinois. The Quilt of Valor program needs quilter volunteers. Contact Donna Martinson.Other&nbsp;

Fort Riley makes a major economic impact

By&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/skyler-rossi">SKYLER ROSSI</a> Harvest Public Media

Bird flu has killed millions of hens in recent weeks, shrinking the supply of eggs and hiking up prices at grocery stores.

You can blame bird flu for high egg prices at the grocery store.

A dozen large, Grade A eggs cost an average of $4.15 in the U.S. last month – a nearly 37% increase from the year before – according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/cpi.pdf" target="_blank">data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</a>. That’s a much larger jump than the 2.5% increase of overall food prices.

The last time that average price was above $4 was&nbsp;<a href="https://data.bls.gov/timeseries/APU0000708111" target="_blank">two years ago</a>, when the cost for a dozen eggs spiked to a record $4.82.

The egg industry has been impacted by a surge of bird flu cases in recent weeks. More than 13 million egg-laying hens died in December due to the virus – the most of any month last year –&nbsp;<a href="https://downloads.usda.library.cornell.edu/usda-esmis/files/g445cd121/6395z2696/sj13bz31x/LDP-M-367.pdf" target="_blank">according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture</a>. And another 3.3 million died in early January.

The losses are a big factor in higher egg prices, said Jada Thompson, a poultry economist at the University of Arkansas who researches how diseases impact markets.

“One of the hard parts is there's this regional concentration of production,” Thompson said. “And so when a disease is going through and hitting farms in that area, it's gonna affect multiple farms, and that's gonna affect the supply of eggs – and that supply then will affect our prices.”

There are also other factors that impact prices, such as the typical uptick in demand for eggs during the holiday season and costs for inputs like feed and labor, Thompson said.

“All of those things are going to be coupled together, and then you add this very strong reduction of egg supply, and it's going to drive prices up and down,” she said.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza has infected&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/situation-summary/data-map-commercial.html" target="_blank">more than 130 million birds</a>&nbsp;in the U.S. since it first emerged in 2022, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.

Bird flu appeared in dairy cattle for the first time last year, and has infected&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/situation-summary/mammals.html" target="_blank">more than 900 cows</a>&nbsp;since last spring. More than 60 humans have also contracted the virus, mostly from working directly with sick animals on poultry or dairy farms. Most of the symptoms have been mild, and the health risk for humans is currently low,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/situation-summary/index.html" target="_blank">according to the CDC</a>.

The virus is spreading to flocks as migratory birds fly south for the winter, said Yuko Sato, a poultry extension veterinarian at the Iowa State University Veterinary Diagnostic Lab. But the new strain in cows makes the situation different from previous years.

“Instead of just migratory birds being a potential source of the infection, now we also have to worry about potential interactions with infected dairy herds that could potentially transmit the virus to domestic poultry,” she said.

The virus has an extremely high fatality rate in birds, Sato said. Many birds die within a day or two — so when bird flu is confirmed on a farm, it affects the entire flock.

“Essentially, all of the birds that's on that site will be depopulated, meaning they'll all be put down, in order to control the virus and to make sure it's contained in one area to not spread to other premises,” Sato said.

Outbreaks are particularly hitting the middle of the U.S. hard, because there are a lot of large egg producers, Thompson said. Iowa, Ohio and Indiana produce the highest volume of eggs in the country,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nass.usda.gov/Charts_and_Maps/Poultry/eggmap.php" target="_blank">according to the USDA</a>.

“The disease specifically has stuck around in the Midwest,” Thompson said. “And part of that is a bit of climate, a bit where wild bird migratory patterns have gone through. And so they've been disproportionately affected.”

Producers will be hatching more chicks to make up for the losses, Thompson said. But it’s difficult to know for sure how bad the disease will be, and it’s expensive to keep too many birds.

“Everybody's trying to find the best solution to mitigate disease impacts and maintain profitability,” Thompson said. “Because if egg prices are high, we don't buy as many eggs ... they still need to sell their egg, so this is an issue for both producers and consumers.”

Thompson expects egg prices will fall again as there are fewer bird flu cases and the egg supply recovers. But more outbreaks of the virus could push prices back up.

“We'll have to keep an eye on how many outbreaks there are and where those are happening,” she said.

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;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737565489017.png" alt="A HyVee grocery store in Columbia, Missouri, is sharing information with shoppers about the impacts of recent bird flu cases on the egg supply. Egg prices across the country have soared in recent weeks because of losses caused by the virus. Photo by&nbsp; Skyler Rossi/Harvest Public Media&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>A HyVee grocery store in Columbia, Missouri, is sharing information with shoppers about the impacts of recent bird flu cases on the egg supply. Egg prices across the country have soared in recent weeks because of losses caused by the virus. Photo by&nbsp; Skyler Rossi/Harvest Public Media&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/skyler-rossi">SKYLER ROSSI</a> Harvest Public Media<h2>Bird flu has killed millions of hens in recent weeks, shrinking the supply of eggs and hiking up prices at grocery stores.</h2>You can blame bird flu for high egg prices at the grocery store.A dozen large, Grade A eggs cost an average of $4.15 in the U.S. last month – a nearly 37% increase from the year before – according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/cpi.pdf" target="_blank">data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</a>. That’s a much larger jump than the 2.5% increase of overall food prices.The last time that average price was above $4 was&nbsp;<a href="https://data.bls.gov/timeseries/APU0000708111" target="_blank">two years ago</a>, when the cost for a dozen eggs spiked to a record $4.82.The egg industry has been impacted by a surge of bird flu cases in recent weeks. More than 13 million egg-laying hens died in December due to the virus – the most of any month last year –&nbsp;<a href="https://downloads.usda.library.cornell.edu/usda-esmis/files/g445cd121/6395z2696/sj13bz31x/LDP-M-367.pdf" target="_blank">according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture</a>. And another 3.3 million died in early January.The losses are a big factor in higher egg prices, said Jada Thompson, a poultry economist at the University of Arkansas who researches how diseases impact markets.“One of the hard parts is there's this regional concentration of production,” Thompson said. “And so when a disease is going through and hitting farms in that area, it's gonna affect multiple farms, and that's gonna affect the supply of eggs – and that supply then will affect our prices.”There are also other factors that impact prices, such as the typical uptick in demand for eggs during the holiday season and costs for inputs like feed and labor, Thompson said.“All of those things are going to be coupled together, and then you add this very strong reduction of egg supply, and it's going to drive prices up and down,” she said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737565779992.png" alt="&nbsp; Chart:&nbsp;Skyler Rossi/Harvest Public MediaSource:&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://data.bls.gov/dataViewer/view/timeseries/APU0200708111;jsessionid=885E1E8D976CC87DAEF37097559DF675">U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</a>Created with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.datawrapper.de/_/cI5I6" target="_blank">Datawrapper</a>" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp; Chart:&nbsp;Skyler Rossi/Harvest Public MediaSource:&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://data.bls.gov/dataViewer/view/timeseries/APU0200708111;jsessionid=885E1E8D976CC87DAEF37097559DF675">U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</a>Created with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.datawrapper.de/_/cI5I6" target="_blank">Datawrapper</a></figcaption>
 </figure>Highly pathogenic avian influenza has infected&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/situation-summary/data-map-commercial.html" target="_blank">more than 130 million birds</a>&nbsp;in the U.S. since it first emerged in 2022, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.Bird flu appeared in dairy cattle for the first time last year, and has infected&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/situation-summary/mammals.html" target="_blank">more than 900 cows</a>&nbsp;since last spring. More than 60 humans have also contracted the virus, mostly from working directly with sick animals on poultry or dairy farms. Most of the symptoms have been mild, and the health risk for humans is currently low,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/situation-summary/index.html" target="_blank">according to the CDC</a>.The virus is spreading to flocks as migratory birds fly south for the winter, said Yuko Sato, a poultry extension veterinarian at the Iowa State University Veterinary Diagnostic Lab. But the new strain in cows makes the situation different from previous years.“Instead of just migratory birds being a potential source of the infection, now we also have to worry about potential interactions with infected dairy herds that could potentially transmit the virus to domestic poultry,” she said.The virus has an extremely high fatality rate in birds, Sato said. Many birds die within a day or two — so when bird flu is confirmed on a farm, it affects the entire flock.“Essentially, all of the birds that's on that site will be depopulated, meaning they'll all be put down, in order to control the virus and to make sure it's contained in one area to not spread to other premises,” Sato said.Outbreaks are particularly hitting the middle of the U.S. hard, because there are a lot of large egg producers, Thompson said. Iowa, Ohio and Indiana produce the highest volume of eggs in the country,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nass.usda.gov/Charts_and_Maps/Poultry/eggmap.php" target="_blank">according to the USDA</a>.“The disease specifically has stuck around in the Midwest,” Thompson said. “And part of that is a bit of climate, a bit where wild bird migratory patterns have gone through. And so they've been disproportionately affected.”Producers will be hatching more chicks to make up for the losses, Thompson said. But it’s difficult to know for sure how bad the disease will be, and it’s expensive to keep too many birds.“Everybody's trying to find the best solution to mitigate disease impacts and maintain profitability,” Thompson said. “Because if egg prices are high, we don't buy as many eggs ... they still need to sell their egg, so this is an issue for both producers and consumers.”Thompson expects egg prices will fall again as there are fewer bird flu cases and the egg supply recovers. But more outbreaks of the virus could push prices back up.“We'll have to keep an eye on how many outbreaks there are and where those are happening,” she said.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;

Egg prices soaring again; here’s why, what to expect

Kansas State Department of Education

TOPEKA — The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) on Thursday issued a statement in response to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security directive issued Tuesday, Jan. 21, to rescind previously issued guidelines for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) enforcement actions that limit law enforcement in or near “sensitive” areas, which include schools and churches.&nbsp;

The Kansas State Department of Education is aware of concerns raised because of the recent announcement that certain policies of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security have changed.&nbsp;Specifically, the federal government revoked the directive issued in 2021 that limited conducting immigration enforcement actions in or near protected areas such as schools, hospitals, and places of worship, except in specific limited circumstances.&nbsp;Tuesday’s action did not change the law, nor did it increase the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s authority.&nbsp;To that end, we remind school personnel that their ultimate responsibility is the education and protection of all students.&nbsp;All students have a constitutionally protected right to receive an education.&nbsp;Schools are advised to continue to follow the law and abide by their board-approved policies regarding investigations and/or arrests on school grounds. KSDE wishes to assure school personnel, parents, and the students of Kansas that we will not share any student data without a warrant, subpoena, or other lawfully issued court order.

At this time, we believe the best thing schools can provide to their respective communities is an assurance that they will continue to comply with all state and federal laws protecting student information and student safety.&nbsp;We also suggest schools update emergency contact information for all families.

Kansas State Department of EducationTOPEKA — The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) on Thursday issued a statement in response to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security directive issued Tuesday, Jan. 21, to rescind previously issued guidelines for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) enforcement actions that limit law enforcement in or near “sensitive” areas, which include schools and churches.&nbsp;The Kansas State Department of Education is aware of concerns raised because of the recent announcement that certain policies of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security have changed.&nbsp;Specifically, the federal government revoked the directive issued in 2021 that limited conducting immigration enforcement actions in or near protected areas such as schools, hospitals, and places of worship, except in specific limited circumstances.&nbsp;Tuesday’s action did not change the law, nor did it increase the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s authority.&nbsp;To that end, we remind school personnel that their ultimate responsibility is the education and protection of all students.&nbsp;All students have a constitutionally protected right to receive an education.&nbsp;Schools are advised to continue to follow the law and abide by their board-approved policies regarding investigations and/or arrests on school grounds. KSDE wishes to assure school personnel, parents, and the students of Kansas that we will not share any student data without a warrant, subpoena, or other lawfully issued court order.At this time, we believe the best thing schools can provide to their respective communities is an assurance that they will continue to comply with all state and federal laws protecting student information and student safety.&nbsp;We also suggest schools update emergency contact information for all families.KSDE recommendations:<ul>
 <li>Schools should ensure emergency contact information is updated for all families.</li><li>Ensure all school personnel follow the district’s board-approved policies regarding investigations and/or arrests on school grounds.</li><li>Schools should issue a reminder that no student information can be shared without parental consent or a warrant, subpoena, or other lawfully issued court order.</li>
 </ul>

Kansas Dept. of Education statement on immigration raids

Jodi Mason was the guest speaker at the JC Breakfast Optimist Club meeting on January 22 in Jim Clark’s Chevrolet showroom. Jodi grew up south of Abilene, graduated from Chapman High School. Following graduation from college, she became a teacher at Hanover High School, where she taught agricultural classes.

She shared that “every day, countless members of our community face the harsh realities of under-employment, food insecurity, domestic violence, sudden homelessness, mental health struggles, and a lack of resources. These challenges can feel insurmountable when there is the sense of being stuck in a cycle of trying to survive. The Magdalene Project believes that with hard work and someone being there to help a better life is attainable through support, education and empowerment.”

The Project has been in existence for about two years. The mission of the Magdalene Project is to assist our neighbors in securing the basic items needed to live a life of dignity, such as food, clothing, and hygiene items, and to aid them in transitioning to a better life by obtaining health and mental health care, life skills training, employment, VA resources, permanent housing, addiction therapy and advocacy.

Ways those in need are served are through Sunday weekly community dinners held at the Knights of Columbus Hall, a mobile outreach trailer, case management, advocacy and social services, free veterinary clinics with KSU Veterinary Medicine, providing a warming shelter, the Annual Health Fair in Heritage Park collaboration with social services partners and special events.

Jodi told the Optimist Club members that “we want to do what we can to give people hope.” The Magdalene Project gets funding through grants, group donations, church and individual donations. Volunteers are needed especially during the times when a warming shelter is put in place and in assisting with Sunday meals.

For more information contact Jodi Mason at jodi.themagproject@gmail.com, visit the Magdalene Project website or Facebook page.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737688144409.jpeg" alt="Pictured left to right are Nita Miller, JC Breakfast Optimist Club President; Jodi Mason with the Magdalene Project receiving a donation from the Optimists from Ron Johnson, JC Breakfast Optimist Club Treasurer.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Pictured left to right are Nita Miller, JC Breakfast Optimist Club President; Jodi Mason with the Magdalene Project receiving a donation from the Optimists from Ron Johnson, JC Breakfast Optimist Club Treasurer.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>By Dr. Ferrell MillerJC Breakfast Optimist ClubJodi Mason was the guest speaker at the JC Breakfast Optimist Club meeting on January 22 in Jim Clark’s Chevrolet showroom. Jodi grew up south of Abilene, graduated from Chapman High School. Following graduation from college, she became a teacher at Hanover High School, where she taught agricultural classes.She shared that “every day, countless members of our community face the harsh realities of under-employment, food insecurity, domestic violence, sudden homelessness, mental health struggles, and a lack of resources. These challenges can feel insurmountable when there is the sense of being stuck in a cycle of trying to survive. The Magdalene Project believes that with hard work and someone being there to help a better life is attainable through support, education and empowerment.”The Project has been in existence for about two years. The mission of the Magdalene Project is to assist our neighbors in securing the basic items needed to live a life of dignity, such as food, clothing, and hygiene items, and to aid them in transitioning to a better life by obtaining health and mental health care, life skills training, employment, VA resources, permanent housing, addiction therapy and advocacy.Ways those in need are served are through Sunday weekly community dinners held at the Knights of Columbus Hall, a mobile outreach trailer, case management, advocacy and social services, free veterinary clinics with KSU Veterinary Medicine, providing a warming shelter, the Annual Health Fair in Heritage Park collaboration with social services partners and special events.Jodi told the Optimist Club members that “we want to do what we can to give people hope.” The Magdalene Project gets funding through grants, group donations, church and individual donations. Volunteers are needed especially during the times when a warming shelter is put in place and in assisting with Sunday meals.For more information contact Jodi Mason at jodi.themagproject@gmail.com, visit the Magdalene Project website or Facebook page.

JC Breakfast Optimist Club learns about the Magdalene Project

The Junction City Brigade will be moving to the Kansas Collegiate League for the 2025 baseball season. Team officials made the decision to make the move after Junction City won eight of the 11 championships in the history of the Mid Plains League.

Brigade Vice-President Joel Poole said the change "is a big deal for us." He described it as a different level of baseball, There will be Division I players on the teams. They will bring in talented players and a different set of patrons.

Brigade General Manager Cecil Aska said in addition to Junction City the other teams in the league will include the Kansas Cannons, Newton Rebels, Kansas City Monarchs and teams that play in Great Bend, Haysville, Kingman, Derby, and Rose Hill ( Wichita ). Junction City also plans to line up some nonconference games.

There will not be any league tournament but the top three teams in the final conference standings will earn bids to the National Baseball Congress tournament in Wichita.&nbsp;

Micah Cannon will be the new Brigade head coach. He is a graduate assistant at Emporia State. Nicholas George and Tyler Ross will be the assistant coaches. All of the position players have been recruited for the team and approximately five to six pitchers have also committed to Junction City. More will be recruited.

Cecil Aska confirmed there are plans for a new outfield fence at Rathert Field, a new scoreboard and a small deck in the beer garden

The hard dollar impact of the Brigade in 2024 totaled $24, 348. Visitors spent an average of $70 per day in the community.

Road trips will often be longer for the team and the possible purchase or leasing of vans is under consideration.

There may be some live streaming of games.

The 2025 schedule is expected to be out in the next couple of weeks.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1656131227109.jpeg" alt="Rathert Field" />
 <figcaption>Rathert Field</figcaption>
 </figure>By Dewey Terrill&nbsp;JC PostThe Junction City Brigade will be moving to the Kansas Collegiate League for the 2025 baseball season. Team officials made the decision to make the move after Junction City won eight of the 11 championships in the history of the Mid Plains League.Brigade Vice-President Joel Poole said the change "is a big deal for us." He described it as a different level of baseball, There will be Division I players on the teams. They will bring in talented players and a different set of patrons.Brigade General Manager Cecil Aska said in addition to Junction City the other teams in the league will include the Kansas Cannons, Newton Rebels, Kansas City Monarchs and teams that play in Great Bend, Haysville, Kingman, Derby, and Rose Hill ( Wichita ). Junction City also plans to line up some nonconference games.There will not be any league tournament but the top three teams in the final conference standings will earn bids to the National Baseball Congress tournament in Wichita.&nbsp;Coaching StaffMicah Cannon will be the new Brigade head coach. He is a graduate assistant at Emporia State. Nicholas George and Tyler Ross will be the assistant coaches. All of the position players have been recruited for the team and approximately five to six pitchers have also committed to Junction City. More will be recruited.Rathert Field ImprovementsCecil Aska confirmed there are plans for a new outfield fence at Rathert Field, a new scoreboard and a small deck in the beer gardenBrigade NewsThe hard dollar impact of the Brigade in 2024 totaled $24, 348. Visitors spent an average of $70 per day in the community.Road trips will often be longer for the team and the possible purchase or leasing of vans is under consideration.There may be some live streaming of games.The 2025 schedule is expected to be out in the next couple of weeks.

Junction City Brigade will join a new league

In a rare midweek afternoon game, the Junction City Blue Jays played their first game of the Dodge City Tournament of Champions on Thursday afternoon at the United Wireless Arena. After losing to Bishop Carroll in their last two meetings at the TOC, the Blue Jays won 50-36.

Bishop Carroll won the opening tip and scored the first points of the game. The Golden Eagles then jumped out to a 10-2 lead before Junction City senior Jeremias Cruz hit back-to-back three-pointers to cut the lead to 10-8 after the first quarter.

Both sides remained sloppy in the second quarter, but the Blue Jays shots began falling, and JC took a 20-17 lead into halftime.

After 11 first-half turnovers, the Blue Jays were much cleaner in the second half and only committed two turnovers the rest of the game.

Junction City led by eight points with two minutes to go in the game, and then senior Ja’Twaan Williams hit two three-pointers to give the Blue Jays a 50-36 win over the Golden Eagles.

The Blue Jays had two players in double digits, seniors Jeremias Cruz and Ja’Twaan Williams both with 10 points.

With the win, JC stays undefeated and goes to 8-0.

Junction City will play in the Tournament of Champions semifinal game against Derby on Friday at 6:00 p.m. You can hear the game live on 107.9 FM / 1420 KJCK Radio.

Other day two matchups in the tournament find Wichita Heights playing Kansas City Piper in the winner's bracket. In consolation play Dodge City will meet Bishop Carroll while Maize South will meet Andover Central.

By Anthony GorgesJC PostIn a rare midweek afternoon game, the Junction City Blue Jays played their first game of the Dodge City Tournament of Champions on Thursday afternoon at the United Wireless Arena. After losing to Bishop Carroll in their last two meetings at the TOC, the Blue Jays won 50-36.Bishop Carroll won the opening tip and scored the first points of the game. The Golden Eagles then jumped out to a 10-2 lead before Junction City senior Jeremias Cruz hit back-to-back three-pointers to cut the lead to 10-8 after the first quarter.Both sides remained sloppy in the second quarter, but the Blue Jays shots began falling, and JC took a 20-17 lead into halftime.After 11 first-half turnovers, the Blue Jays were much cleaner in the second half and only committed two turnovers the rest of the game.Junction City led by eight points with two minutes to go in the game, and then senior Ja’Twaan Williams hit two three-pointers to give the Blue Jays a 50-36 win over the Golden Eagles.The Blue Jays had two players in double digits, seniors Jeremias Cruz and Ja’Twaan Williams both with 10 points.With the win, JC stays undefeated and goes to 8-0.Junction City will play in the Tournament of Champions semifinal game against Derby on Friday at 6:00 p.m. You can hear the game live on 107.9 FM / 1420 KJCK Radio.Other day two matchups in the tournament find Wichita Heights playing Kansas City Piper in the winner's bracket. In consolation play Dodge City will meet Bishop Carroll while Maize South will meet Andover Central.

Blue Jays win round one game in Dodge City TOC

Washington, D.C.&nbsp;– U.S. Senators Roger Marshall (KS), Jerry Moran (KS), James Lankford (OK), and Markwayne Mullin (OK) introduced legislation to delist the Lesser Prairie Chicken as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. First District Representative Tracey Mann introduced the House companion legislation.&nbsp;

“In listing the lesser prairie-chicken, the Biden Administration prioritized the interests of radical environmentalists over rural America. Kansas and surrounding states have contributed millions of public and private dollars to conservation efforts that are committed to preserving the lesser prairie-chicken,”&nbsp;said Marshall.&nbsp;

“This work resulted in increasing the population of the bird well before the unnecessary and heavy-handed decision to list it. Fortunately, with this bill, we can undo the burdensome government micromanagement of agriculture and industry in western Kansas and celebrate the voluntary, locally-driven conservation efforts.”

“Listing the lesser prairie chicken as a threatened or endangered species is disruptive to Kansas farmers and ranchers and harmful to rural communities,”&nbsp;said Moran. 

“We need more rain, not regulations, to protect the future of this bird. I will continue to work with local communities to bolster voluntary solutions to protect the habitat of the lesser prairie chicken without placing unnecessary burdens on landowners in Kansas.”

“America’s farmers, ranchers, and agricultural producers are the original conservationists of the land,”&nbsp;said Mann.

"For more than a decade, farmers, ranchers, private landowners, agricultural and energy producers have enacted voluntary conservation efforts to preserve the lesser prairie-chicken’s population. Despite these efforts increasing the population by more than 15,000, President Biden’s U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ignored the facts and decided that the federal government is better equipped to manage these populations than local citizens. 

"This bill is the first step in rolling back burdensome regulations from the previous administration that handcuffed Americans. I look forward to working with President Trump and the DOGE Caucus to roll back these senseless regulations and to get our country back on track," Mann said.

In 2023, Senators Marshall, Moran, Lankford, and Mullin&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.marshall.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sens-marshall-moran-lankford-mullin-lead-the-charge-to-strike-down-biden-lesser-prairie-chicken-listing/">led</a>&nbsp;the charge to strike down the Biden Administration’s listing of the Lesser Prairie Chicken (LPC) as part of the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The measure passed both the Senate and the House before then-President Biden&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.marshall.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senator-marshall-releases-statement-on-bidens-veto-of-the-lesser-prairie-chicken-cra/">vetoed</a>&nbsp;the resolution. This bill will de-list the LPC as endangered or threatened under the ESA and prohibit future re-listing efforts.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681936081724.jpeg" alt="Lesser prairie chickens in northwest Kansas. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Lesser prairie chickens in northwest Kansas. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>Office of Sen. MarshallWashington, D.C.&nbsp;– U.S. Senators Roger Marshall (KS), Jerry Moran (KS), James Lankford (OK), and Markwayne Mullin (OK) introduced legislation to delist the Lesser Prairie Chicken as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. First District Representative Tracey Mann introduced the House companion legislation.&nbsp;“In listing the lesser prairie-chicken, the Biden Administration prioritized the interests of radical environmentalists over rural America. Kansas and surrounding states have contributed millions of public and private dollars to conservation efforts that are committed to preserving the lesser prairie-chicken,”&nbsp;said Marshall.&nbsp;“This work resulted in increasing the population of the bird well before the unnecessary and heavy-handed decision to list it. Fortunately, with this bill, we can undo the burdensome government micromanagement of agriculture and industry in western Kansas and celebrate the voluntary, locally-driven conservation efforts.”“Listing the lesser prairie chicken as a threatened or endangered species is disruptive to Kansas farmers and ranchers and harmful to rural communities,”&nbsp;said Moran. “We need more rain, not regulations, to protect the future of this bird. I will continue to work with local communities to bolster voluntary solutions to protect the habitat of the lesser prairie chicken without placing unnecessary burdens on landowners in Kansas.”“America’s farmers, ranchers, and agricultural producers are the original conservationists of the land,”&nbsp;said Mann."For more than a decade, farmers, ranchers, private landowners, agricultural and energy producers have enacted voluntary conservation efforts to preserve the lesser prairie-chicken’s population. Despite these efforts increasing the population by more than 15,000, President Biden’s U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ignored the facts and decided that the federal government is better equipped to manage these populations than local citizens. "This bill is the first step in rolling back burdensome regulations from the previous administration that handcuffed Americans. I look forward to working with President Trump and the DOGE Caucus to roll back these senseless regulations and to get our country back on track," Mann said.Background:&nbsp;In 2023, Senators Marshall, Moran, Lankford, and Mullin&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.marshall.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sens-marshall-moran-lankford-mullin-lead-the-charge-to-strike-down-biden-lesser-prairie-chicken-listing/">led</a>&nbsp;the charge to strike down the Biden Administration’s listing of the Lesser Prairie Chicken (LPC) as part of the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The measure passed both the Senate and the House before then-President Biden&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.marshall.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senator-marshall-releases-statement-on-bidens-veto-of-the-lesser-prairie-chicken-cra/">vetoed</a>&nbsp;the resolution. This bill will de-list the LPC as endangered or threatened under the ESA and prohibit future re-listing efforts.

Moran, Marshall and Mann introduce bill to delist lesser prairie chicken

There are multiple positions up for election this year in Geary County.

According to information compiled by County Clerk Courtney Gilbert positions on the ballot include:

--Two city council members and a mayor in Milford

--Two city council members and a mayor in Grandview Plaza

--And three positions on the Geary USD 475 Board of Education.

If necessary a primary election date would be Aug. 5. The general election date is Nov. 4.

By Dewey TerrillJC PostThere are multiple positions up for election this year in Geary County.According to information compiled by County Clerk Courtney Gilbert positions on the ballot include:--Three on the Junction City Commission--Two city council members and a mayor in Milford--Two city council members and a mayor in Grandview Plaza--And three positions on the Geary USD 475 Board of Education.If necessary a primary election date would be Aug. 5. The general election date is Nov. 4.

Local elections lineup 2025

Love, music, and fine dining come together this Valentine’s season aboard the Abilene &amp; Smoky Valley Railroad’s Valentine’s Smoky Valley Limited Dinner Train.

The two-hour journey departs from Abilene’s historic Rock Island Depot at 5 p.m. on Saturday, February 15. The short trip takes passengers on a scenic ride through the Smoky Hill River Valley to Enterprise, Kansas. The experience blends history, charm, and romance.

Guests will board beautifully restored passenger coaches, including the Enterprise, Chicago, and Eveland Creek, where they will be treated to a prime rib dinner prepared by Chef Amanda Collins of Amanda’s Bakery &amp; Bistro in Abilene. Adding to the ambiance, the Abilene High School Select Choir will perform romantic serenades featuring classic love songs. Passengers can also enjoy optional indulgences, including wine, beer, and chocolate, available for purchase.

With only 160 tickets available, the event offers an intimate and exclusive celebration of love. Tickets are $100 per person, plus taxes and fees, and can be reserved at <a href="http://www.asvrr.org">www.asvrr.org</a>.

This Valentine’s dinner train promises an enchanting evening, blending fine dining, live music, and the historic charm of the official State Heritage Railroad of Kansas.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737644062216.jpeg" alt=" Abilene Smoky Valley Railroad (A&amp;SVR) volunteer Steve Smethers. Photo Courtesy Visit Abilene, Kansas" />
 <figcaption> Abilene Smoky Valley Railroad (A&amp;SVR) volunteer Steve Smethers. Photo Courtesy Visit Abilene, Kansas</figcaption>
 </figure>SubmittedLove, music, and fine dining come together this Valentine’s season aboard the Abilene &amp; Smoky Valley Railroad’s Valentine’s Smoky Valley Limited Dinner Train.The two-hour journey departs from Abilene’s historic Rock Island Depot at 5 p.m. on Saturday, February 15. The short trip takes passengers on a scenic ride through the Smoky Hill River Valley to Enterprise, Kansas. The experience blends history, charm, and romance.Guests will board beautifully restored passenger coaches, including the Enterprise, Chicago, and Eveland Creek, where they will be treated to a prime rib dinner prepared by Chef Amanda Collins of Amanda’s Bakery &amp; Bistro in Abilene. Adding to the ambiance, the Abilene High School Select Choir will perform romantic serenades featuring classic love songs. Passengers can also enjoy optional indulgences, including wine, beer, and chocolate, available for purchase.With only 160 tickets available, the event offers an intimate and exclusive celebration of love. Tickets are $100 per person, plus taxes and fees, and can be reserved at <a href="http://www.asvrr.org">www.asvrr.org</a>.This Valentine’s dinner train promises an enchanting evening, blending fine dining, live music, and the historic charm of the official State Heritage Railroad of Kansas.