Geary County was represented at the recent County Day at the Kansas Capitol.

Geary County representatives at the Kansas Capitol

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED TORNADO WATCH 16 IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM CST FRIDAY EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS IN KANSAS.

IN NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS CLAY                  CLOUD                 OTTAWA REPUBLIC              WASHINGTON 

IN NORTHEAST KANSAS BROWN                 JACKSON               MARSHALL NEMAHA                POTTAWATOMIE          RILEY 

THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF ABILENE, BELLEVILLE, BENNINGTON, BLUE RAPIDS, CLAY CENTER, CLIFTON, CONCORDIA, FRANKFORT, GREENLEAF, HANOVER, HERINGTON, HIAWATHA, HOLTON, HORTON, JUNCTION CITY, LINN, MANHATTAN, MARYSVILLE, MINNEAPOLIS, SABETHA, SENECA, ST. MARYS, WAMEGO, AND WASHINGTON

Tormado Watch issued

&nbsp; USD 475 has announced that there will be no school for all <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ECCUSD475?__cft__[0]=AZZkq4uY0XI3Xk0yS3YGpgvJ8zwYkQl3I_0Y1IfmfjwRPJ_U3IjV-UrCGdpeehMAoaAgy87ay4xJOfdEUVJnyXQkxA3tLmplZzAH4YRWUhkeP-FNt11jc-pLfuEAd6NVxSn9bvNONeNnJ4ToiEOuy1Qhz0u71gNoGPvSssNh48wKgS1VOudYfnOSo-TLFJyE6Pc&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">Early Childhood</a> and elementary students on Monday, March 9 as it is an elementary plan day in the district.

All secondary schools will be in session.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Elementary plan day is scheduled on Monday

Fort Riley leaders, Soldiers, and community members came together Thursday to launch this year’s Army Emergency Relief (AER) campaign, continuing a long tradition of Soldiers helping Soldiers.

For more than 80 years, AER has provided critical financial assistance to Soldiers and Families when they need it most—helping with unexpected emergencies, travel, housing needs, and more. The program stands as a powerful reminder that the Army community takes care of its own.



Fort Riley Kicks Off the Army Emergency Relief Campaign

Beginning at 11:30 AM, Friday Crews will be tapping a waterline located near 14th &amp; Jackson. Residents near 14th St between Madison to Jackson, may experience low to no water pressure until maintenance is complete. Maintenance is estimated to take 1 hour.&nbsp;&nbsp;

  Junction City Water Maintenance Alert:

The USD 475 Board of Education adopted a new board policy on INGG Facility Dogs in schools on Monday. The purpose of this policy is to establish board-authorized requirements for the use of facility dogs in district schools and programs, ensuring student safety, staff accountability, and compliance with applicable state and federal law.

The USD 475 Board of Education approved the recommendation from the staff to use approximately $224,851 on site and playground improvements at Lincoln Elementary.&nbsp;

&nbsp;Junction City High School English teacher, Patrick Hancock, was honored for being named the inaugural K-State College of Education Literacy Legacy Award recipient. The Literacy Legacy Award honors exceptional literacy educators who make a meaningful impact on student literacy learning. 

&nbsp;Junction City High School agriculture and FFA Chapter teacher Ashley Vahsholtz was recognized for being named the 2026 Kansas Association of Agricultural Educators Young Teacher of the Year. Laura Thompson of Ware Elementary was also recognized on Monday night for being named the 2026 Kansas Association of Special Education Administrators Special Education Professional of the Year.

The Junction City High School Family, Career and Community Leaders of America team, which consists of Mateo Fuentes, Kai Walsh, Brittney Dibben, Aubrey Goddard and Keileigh Johnston, was honored for being named the 2026 Kansas State Varsity LifeSmarts Champion at the Kansas State Finals on the campus of Wichita State University.&nbsp;

BOE highlights

On Friday at 2;33 a.m. the Geary County Sheriff's Office said that Deputies responded to a single vehicle accident on I-70 near mile marker 303. Kamyra Faust of Junction City, KS was traveling onto I-70 west from the K-18 Bypass when Kamyra lost control of the 2013 Chrysler 200 and slid into a guardrail before rolling off the road. She was transporting five passengers,all of whom sustained minor injuries and were transported to Stormont Vail Flint Hills.

 The vehicle was removed from scene by Renegade Wrecker Service.

Deputies work an accident

There will be a marketing campaign proposal on the Geary County Commission meeting agenda Monday. Commissioner Trish Giordano said that she wants to pitch an idea brought to their attention by Alan Bontrager and Rick Dykstra. "There's so many good things happening in the whole entire county that I think that we need to do a full-on marketing campaign to brag about our community, to show people that we are an excellent community to not only live but visit and work.'

Giorano wants the city, county, school district and businesses to see what a good community it is.

Once approval is gained she wants to get a baseline budget so a budget can be prepared, a committee formed, community members involved and perhaps a logo idea formed to get things going.

JC 1st has pledged $10,000 abd Giordano noted that she plans to ask the county commission to pledge $20,000 right now. She thought the City would consider contributing and local businesses would be surveyed for possible funding help.

The topic is on the county commission agenda at 12:30 p.m. Monday.

Marketing campaign proposal will go to the Geary County Commission

JUNCTION CITY, Kan. - Junction City High School had a strong showing this week at the SkillsUSA State Leadership and&nbsp;Skills Championships&nbsp;in Hutchinson. The Blue Jays had 21 students compete in 10 different events at the championships.

Individually, junior Brittney Dibben claimed gold honors&nbsp;in Prepared Speech to lead JCHS. By winning the competition, Dibben qualified for nationals, which will take place in Atlanta, Ga., in June. In all, JCHS had a total of 10 students claim either silver or bronze, respectively.&nbsp;

Prepared Speech:&nbsp;Brittney Dibben

&nbsp;Prepared Speech: Kennedy Moreland

Promotional Bulletin Board: Alison Dobbs, Kara Houck, Gabrielle Delory&nbsp;

Bronze&nbsp;Pin Design: Simone Williams

Job&nbsp;Skills&nbsp;Demonstration A: Zane Rock

JCHS Excels at SkillsUSA Championships ​​​

Outdoor enthusiast Rick Dykstra told the Junction City Commission this week that our potential is being ignored."Now Junction City has a North Star to guide us. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers just gave you one, a massive one."

The Corps recently announced that approximately 1.37 million visitors came to Milford Lake this past year. "We are a great outdoor destination with outstanding history, said Dykstra. "New soldiers do not see our world class back yard." He pointed out that Milford Lake is the number one quality of life factor, and why they stay.

Dykstra also supports military hardware and monuments at the entrance ways to Junction City. "So no one can drive in the city without knowing we're the home of the Big Red One."

He noted that the numbers provided by the Corps are the "gold standard for fedeal funding and infrastructure.&nbsp; They prove that Junction City sits on the doorstep of a massive active market."

Let's be bold. Let's transform&nbsp; our entrance way to reflect our pride." Let's become a base camp for our great outdoors and finally look like the hometown of Fort Riley."

Rick Dykstra sounds a wake up call

Junction City Area Chamber of Commerce

Junction City, KS — Turn the discipline, leadership, and determination gained in military service into a successful business venture. The Junction City Area Chamber of Commerce presents the 2nd Annual Vet EPiC (Entrepreneur Pitch Challenge), an educational program and pitch competition explicitly created for veterans, active duty military members, and military spouses to help them achieve their business goals in the civilian world.

Junction City and Geary County are home to a remarkable veteran and military community — making up nearly 20% of the local population, almost three times the national average of 6.1%. This extensive veteran community is a vital part of the local economy. Fort Riley, home to the 1st Infantry Division, generated approximately $2 billion in direct economic impact in fiscal year 2025, with the total regional impact exceeding $4.4 billion. Supporting our heroes as they transition to civilian life and entrepreneurial ventures strengthens the entire community.

Your Pathway to Entrepreneurial Success

Participants will sharpen their business skills through a four-class business education series designed to prepare them for the live pitch competition:

· Intro to Business: May 12, 2026

· Wrap-Up &amp; Pitch Preparation: June 2, 2026

These sessions provide tools and guidance to help participants develop a solid business plan, refine their ideas, and build confidence for the pitch competition.

The program culminates in a public pitch competition on June 23, 2026, from 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM at the C.L. Hoover Opera House, where participants will present their business concepts to a panel of judges for a chance to win $10,000 in total prize funding.

The pitch event is open to the public — whether you’re competing or cheering on the participants, this is an opportunity to support local veterans, network with entrepreneurs, and celebrate the innovation of our military-connected community.

Entrepreneurs in any stage — from concept to early growth — are encouraged to participate. 

The 2nd Annual Vet EPiC is made possible through the support of Network Kansas, Junction City First, and the C.L. Hoover Opera House, whose partnership helps empower military-connected entrepreneurs in the Flint Hills region.

Learn more and submit an application at: <a href="https://www.junctioncitychamber.org/vet-epic.html">https://www.junctioncitychamber.org/vet-epic.html</a>.

Space is limited, so early application is encouraged.

“This program is designed to help military-connected entrepreneurs turn their ideas into viable businesses,” said Mickey Fornaro-Dean, Director of Economic Development. “The 2nd Annual Vet EPiC provides the tools, mentorship, and visibility needed to move from concept to launch.” 

Contact the Junction City Area Chamber of Commerce with questions. 785-762-2632.

Veterans, Active Duty Military, and Spouses Invited to Apply for the 2nd Annual Vet EPiC

ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico —One person died after a small plane traveling from Kansas crashed on a golf course Friday in New Mexico.

Just after 11:30a.m., Albuquerque Fire Rescue was dispatched to the Los Altos Golf Course for a reported small plane that crash landed, according to a the department's social media page.

 Engine 9 arrived within five minutes of dispatch and found a&nbsp;the single-engine Cessna 400 Corvalis TT with two people stuck inside. The aircraft was not on fire but had significant damage. 

The two people were extricated from the plane and transported to&nbsp;The University of New Mexico Hospital where one was pronounced deceased.

The aircraft was registered out of Wichita, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. Flight radar indicated the plane took off from Wichita Friday morning.&nbsp; &nbsp;The NTSB and FAA will continue to investigate.

One dead after small plane from Kansas crashed in New Mexico

CHICAGO (AP) — From former presidents to an NBA Hall of Famer to prominent pastors, stories of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jesse-jackson-dies-43abb84d2ffc76d967f9a5596ebd0be1">the Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr.’s</a>&nbsp;influence on politics, corporate boardrooms and picket lines loomed large Friday at a celebration honoring the late civil rights leader.

The public tribute — with appearances by Grammy-winning gospel singers and Jennifer Hudson — felt at times like a church service and others like a political rally. Many, from former President Bill Clinton to the Rev. Al Sharpton, a civil rights leader and founder of the National Action Network, likened Jackson’s death to a call to action, from speaking out against justice to voting in the midterms.

Former President Barack Obama said Jackson's presidential runs in the 1980s set the stage for other Black leaders, including his own successful 2009 presidency and reelection.

“The message he sent to a 22-year-old child of a single mother with a funny name, an outsider, was that maybe there wasn’t any place or any room where we didn’t belong,” Obama said to the boisterous crowd of thousands. “He paved the road for so many others to follow."

The event drew a slew of elected U.S. leaders. Other notable attendees included actor and producer Tyler Perry, California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Colombian President Gustavo Petro, and political activist and theologian Cornel West. Detroit Pistons great and Chicago native Isiah Thomas also spoke at the event that lasted five hours.

The crowd gave an especially warm welcome to Obama, who launched his political career in Chicago, and credited Jackson with keeping him on his toes. He said he was grateful to Jackson for providing a “legacy of hope" in contrast with the current Republican leadership in Washington.

“We are living in a time when it can be hard to hope,” Obama said. “Each day we wake up to some new assault to our democratic institutions. Another setback to the idea of the rule of law, an offense to common decency. Every day you wake up to things you just didn’t think were possible.”

Clinton said Jackson made him a better president, while former Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris talked about Jackson's inspiring 1980s presidential runs and showed off campaign memorabilia she had kept from them.

President Donald Trump, who praised Jackson on social media after he died and also shared photos of the two of them, did not attend.

Thousands attend Jackson memorial service

The event honoring the protege of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and two-time presidential candidate followed memorial services&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jesse-jackson-memorial-services-chicago-649518382cd9f37a49fe393a6c9ec09b">that drew large crowds in Chicago</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jesse-jackson-lie-state-south-carolina-5e8200205d0b30ae55f7583984ae46c1">South Carolina,</a>&nbsp;where Jackson was born. Friday’s celebration — at an influential Black church with a 10,000-seat arena — was the largest.

Attendees waited in long lines outside the church as television screens played excerpts of some of Jackson’s most famous speeches. Inside, vendors sold pins with his 1984 presidential slogan and hoodies with his “I Am Somebody” mantra.

Marketing professional Chelsia Bryan said Friday that she decided to attend for the "chance to be part of something historic.”

“As a Black woman, knowing that someone pretty much gave their life, dedicated their life to make sure I can do the things that I can do now, he’s worth honoring,” Bryan said.

Jackson Jr.: Everyone has a Jackson story

Jackson died last month at age 84 after battling a rare neurological disorder that affected his mobility and ability to speak. His final public appearances included the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago.

"Every single person in here has a Jesse Jackson story,” his eldest son,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/primary-illinois-chicago-jesse-jackson-election-ca6fd203e953a9c6352026542309572f">Jesse Jackson Jr.,</a>&nbsp;said to the crowd. “The time he shook your hand, the time he prayed for you, the time he held you up, the time he prayed the funeral for somebody you know ... and he prayed you to a new course of existence.”

Sitting in the crowd was 90-year-old Mary Lovett. She said Jackson’s advocacy inspired her many times, from when she moved from Mississippi to Chicago in the 1960s, taught elementary school and became a mom. She voted for Jackson during his presidential runs and appreciated how he always spoke up for underrepresented people.

“He’s gone, but I hope his legacy lives,” she said. “I hope we can remember what he tried to teach us.”

Jackson's service was to the poor, underrepresented

Jackson's pursuits were countless, taking him to all corners of the globe: Advocating for the poor and underrepresented on issues including voting rights, health care, job opportunities and education. He scored diplomatic victories with world leaders, and through Rainbow PUSH Coalition, he channeled cries for Black pride and self-determination into corporate boardrooms, pressuring executives to make America a more open and equitable society.

Sharpton, who considered the late reverend a lifelong mentor, said he hoped attendees would take home some of the “Jackson fire.”

“Don’t sit here so holy and sanctified and act like you have no assignment yourself,” he said to the increasingly boisterous crowd. “We didn’t come this far to turn around now.”

Another son, Yusef Jackson, who runs the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, recalled how his father carried a well-worn Bible but also showed his faith by showing up to picket lines.

“He lived a revolutionary Christian faith rooted in justice, nonviolence and the moral righteousness,” he said. “He was deeply involved in the political struggles of his time, but his gift was that he could rise above them. It’s not about the left wing or the right wing. It takes two wings to fly. For him, the goal was always the moral center.”

A final homegoing service was scheduled for Saturday at Rainbow PUSH Coalition.

Services in Washington, D.C., were tabled after a request to allow Jackson to lie in honor in the United States Capitol rotunda&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jesse-jackson-funeral-plans-capitol-rotunda-2910a8ff9df4531f9fa4ed76404a9887">was denied by</a>&nbsp;House Speaker Mike Johnson, who said the space is typically reserved for select officials, including former presidents.

🎥Biden, Obama, Harris remember the late Rev. Jesse Jackson 

NEW YORK (AP) — Oil shot to its highest price since 2023 after surging again Friday because of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-israel-us-march-6-2026-6108249f19c4bc162eacd7847976c174">the Iran war</a>, and a weak update on the U.S. job market knocked stocks lower to cap Wall Street’s worst week since October.

The S&amp;P 500 dropped 1.3% after a report showed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jobs-unemployment-economy-inflation-trump-tariffs-075a0d33e0794b7c93b9b8a7302dab98">U.S. employers cut more jobs</a>&nbsp;last month than they created and after oil prices spiked above $90 per barrel. The combination of a weak economy and high inflation is a worst-case scenario for investors because the Federal Reserve has no good tool to fix both problems at the same time.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average plunged as many as 945 points before finishing with a loss of 453, or 0.9%, and the Nasdaq composite sank 1.6%.

“You can’t sugarcoat this report,” according to Brian Jacobsen, chief economic strategist at Annex Wealth Management. “A negative payrolls number combined with a big jump in oil prices will have traders worrying about stagflation risks.”

Stagflation is what economists call the miserable mix of a stagnating economy with high inflation, and a separate report released Friday added to the sourness after showing that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/retail-sales-spending-economy-75bf2d9c96a7650274bdb47fe97f9ac7">U.S. retailers made less money</a>&nbsp;in January than economists expected. It raised the disconcerting possibility that spending by U.S. households, the main engine of the economy, may be stretched near its maximum.

Usually when the economy is unsteady and the job market is weakening, the Federal Reserve cuts interest rates to give things a boost. Lower rates can make it easier for households to get mortgages and for companies to raise money to expand, while also lifting prices for stocks and other investments. The Fed cut its main interest rate several times last year and had indicated more were to come this year.

But lower interest rates can also make inflation worse. And the Fed’s hands may be increasingly tied because spiking oil prices are pushing inflation higher due to disruptions for the energy industry.

The price for a barrel of Brent crude, the international standard, leaped another 8.5% to settle at $92.69. It briefly rose above $94 to touch its highest level since September 2023.

A barrel of benchmark U.S. crude breached the $90 level for the first time since 2023 and jumped 12.2% to $90.90.

Oil prices have surged, with Brent up from near $70 late last week, as the war has expanded and included areas critical to the production and movement of oil and gas in the Middle East. Much will depend on what happens with the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/strait-hormuz-iran-energy-war-5b60e82ef2fc68e2b43aa570a32404dd">Strait of Hormuz</a>&nbsp;off Iran’s coast, where roughly a fifth of the world’s oil typically sails.

The U.S. government gave details Friday about a plan President Donald Trump announced earlier to offer insurance to ships crossing the strait, but it had little effect on the market.

If oil prices spike further, like to $100 per barrel, and stay there, some analysts and investors say it could be too much for the global economy to withstand.

To be sure, the U.S. stock market has a history of bouncing back relatively quickly following conflicts in the Middle East and elsewhere, as long as oil prices don’t jump too high for too long. Uncertainty about just how high oil prices will go this time around and for how long caused&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-iran-oil-trump-c9a42448cbc7afc35e959dd444614aa0">frenetic</a>&nbsp;swings across&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-iran-oil-trump-c9a42448cbc7afc35e959dd444614aa0">financial markets</a>&nbsp;this past week, sometimes&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-oil-gold-iran-trump-25fd9bfa1b20549a6cbbdee61b2ea05f">hour by hour</a>.

On Monday, the S&amp;P 500 tumbled to an immediate 1.2% loss at the start of trading but made it all back and ended the day with a tiny gain.

Trump’s most recent signal on the war was that he wants an “unconditional surrender” of Iran, apparently ruling out negotiations.

In the bond market, Treasury yields wavered, with higher oil prices pushing upward on them and the discouraging updates on the U.S. economy pulling downward.

The yield on the 10-year Treasury initially rose toward 4.19% before pulling back to 4.14%. That’s up from 4.13% late Thursday and just 3.97% a week earlier.

Smaller companies often feel the bite of high borrowing costs more because many need to borrow to grow. Smaller companies can also be more dependent on the strength of the U.S. economy for their profits than big multinational rivals, and the smallest stocks on Wall Street took Friday’s sharpest dives.

The Russell 2000 index of small stocks fell a market-leading 2.3%.

Among the big companies in the S&amp;P 500, companies with high fuel bills helped lead the way lower. Old Dominion Freight Line sank 7.9%, cruise line Carnival fell 5% and Southwest Airlines lost 5.3%.

All told, the S&amp;P 500 fell 90.69 points to 6,740.02. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 453.19 to 47,501.55, and the Nasdaq composite sank 361.31 to 22,387.68.

In stock markets abroad, indexes slumped in Europe following a better finish in Asia. London's FTSE 100 fell 1.2%, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng jumped 1.7%.

South Korea’s Kospi was nearly unchanged after plunging 12.1% Wednesday for its worst loss in history and then rebounding 9.6% Thursday.

AP Business Writers Chan Ho-him and Matt Ott contributed.

Oil surges to its highest price in almost three years

MORRIS COUNTY –&nbsp;The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) and the Morris County Sheriff’s Office are conducting a death investigation after human remains were found in rural Morris County, Kansas.&nbsp;

On Thursday, March 5, at approximately 6:30 p.m., the Morris County Sheriff's Office requested KBI assistance after skeletal remains were located in field near K-4 and S 2800 Road. KBI agents and the Crime Scene Response Team responded.

The Morris County Sheriff's Office and the KBI are aware of recent missing persons cases in the area. At this time, the identity of the deceased person has not been confirmed. Positive identification may take longer than typical cases due to the condition of the remains. An autopsy has been scheduled.

If you have information about this case, please contact the KBI at 1-800-KS-CRIME. Tips can also be submitted anonymously online at https://www.kbi.ks.gov/sar.

KBI: Skeletal remains found in rural Kansas field

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/mchilson/">Morgan Chilson</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/24/gov-laura-kelly-skeptical-kansas-houses-anti-tenure-legislation-will-reach-her-desk/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Southwest Kansas rancher Cole Gardiner is in recovery mode after a wildfire tore through 35,000 acres and kicked around 200 cattle.&nbsp;

Gardiner Angus Ranch, located near Ashland, has been in his family for 150 years. In his lifetime, Gardiner remembers only one other fire that was as devastating, the Starbuck Fire that occurred about nine years ago.&nbsp;

The Ranger Road fire, which started in Oklahoma on Feb. 17 and spread into southwest Kansas counties, burned more than 300,000 acres in both states. Winds gusted up to 68 miles per hour, Gardiner said, which allowed&nbsp;the fire to spread rapidly.

The fire burned through “quite a bit” of the Gardiner ranch and consumed pasture grass, destroyed fencing and killed&nbsp;cattle, Gardiner said.&nbsp;

“Grass will take awhile to replenish itself, I suppose, but hopefully when spring rains come, we’ll get along fine,” Gardiner said. “We’ll need to repair fence. We were fortunate enough to not lose much of our seed and hay, but a lot of folks did lose most of their seed and hay and lost all of their fencing.”

Although he takes as many steps as possible to fight off fire danger, Gardiner said doing so is difficult in an area known for its low humidity and lack of moisture.&nbsp;

“We get told lots about needing to do controlled burns, but A, they’re illegal, and B, once it gets to a certain level of aridity, dryness, when the humidity out here is 10% or less, it’s just anything that is there will catch pretty easily, especially with really high winds,” he said.&nbsp;

Ranchers&nbsp;mow frequently and some engage in controlled burns whenever possible, aided by the local volunteer fire department whenever possible.

“On days like (the Ranger Road Fire), we had breaks and guards and everything in place, but the wind was blowing 68 miles an hour,” Gardiner said. “They found embers in Wichita.”&nbsp;

Wichita is more than 150 miles away from Ashland.&nbsp;

Jason Hartman, state forester with the Kansas Forest Service, said fire danger is still high in the state.&nbsp;

“We won’t really, truly give kind of a sigh of relief until we get the green up,” he said. “That’s really when we can really put fire in the rear view mirror for the year.”

The Ranger Road fire was a challenge due to high winds in addition to lack of winter moisture and low humidity, Hartman said.&nbsp;

“It’s rarely any one factor by itself,” he said. “We had a pretty good growing season. In 2025, late summer and early fall, good moisture grew a lot of fuel for the fires. Then stack that on top of being really dry since then.”

Abrupt wind shifts make conditions “very challenging and very dangerous” for firefighters, most of whom are volunteers.&nbsp;

Gardiner said he and two others who work on the ranch are part of the fire department.&nbsp;

“It’s not a safe environment, but we try to follow a buddy system and do everything as safely as we can, given the circumstances,” he said. During the Ranger Road Fire, they fought for three days, with four or five-hour breaks for a shower and nap.&nbsp;

The Ranger Road Fire forced the evacuation of Ashland, Englewood, Herndon and Liberal for short periods of time.&nbsp;

Since then, a few smaller fires have broken out, Gardiner said, but they’ve been easily controlled.

The state remains on high alert, Hartman said. The Forest Service Division of Emergency Management and the fire marshal’s office coordinates and watches for areas of concern and whether state resources should be pre-positioned to speed the response.&nbsp;

Coordination includes considering needs for aviation assets, water trucks from the Kansas Department of Transportation, additional fire trucks from across the state and more, Hartman said.&nbsp;

Hartman and Gardiner said a lot of the preparation is trying to get the word out about volatile fire conditions.&nbsp;

Gardiner said he understood the Ranger Road fire started from a city burn pit and was the result of&nbsp;escaped&nbsp;embers.&nbsp;

“We’re getting more of these scenarios of the dry humidity, the high winds, the wind shifts, coupled with available fuels,” Hartman said. “Definitely the fire environment is becoming more volatile.”

Hartman said he&nbsp;hears from fire departments frequently that fires were never as big or intense as they are now.

Gov. Laura Kelly issued a state<a href="https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/emergency/kansas-executive-order-26-01-wildfire-relief" target="_blank">&nbsp;disaster declaration</a>&nbsp;in February, which makes emergency services available. The Legislature then ratified the emergency declaration and extended it through March 25.&nbsp;

People have been making donations of hay and other items to farmers and ranchers who were affected.&nbsp;

Cash donations can be made to the Ashland Community Foundation or to the Stockgrowers State Bank, where 100% of donations will be distributed. Hay and feed can be delivered to Ashland Feed &amp; Seed, (620) 635-2856, or Shaw Feedyard, (620) 805-4682.&nbsp;

Southwest Kansas remains alert for wildfires amidst extreme weather conditions

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement investigating another homicide in Kansas City, Missouri have identified the victim as 23-year-old&nbsp;Brandon Williams.

Just before 1p.m. Tuesday, police were dispatched to the area of 70th and Cleveland on a shooting call, according to KCPD Captain Jake Becchina. On arrival officers located a vehicle stopped in the road at that location. Officers were directed inside the vehicle where they located an adult male shooting victim later identified as Williams.

Officers rendered aid to Williams and called for EMS. EMS transported Williams to the hospital with life threatening injuries. Detectives responded to the scene to begin their investigation along side of crime scene investigators.

A short time later detectives were notified Williams had been pronounced deceased from his injuries at the hospital.

Preliminary information indicates Williams and multiple other people were at a location nearby on 71st Street. When they came in contact with one or more suspects. That interaction escalated to shots being fired and the victim was struck.

Williams and others entered a vehicle and left the scene and drove to the location where police contacted them on 70th and Cleveland

Police ID homicide victim found in vehicle in Kansas City

Washington (AP) — The State Department says more U.S. government chartered flights are bringing stranded Americans home from the Middle East daily, including one plane emblazoned with the New England Patriots’ logo.

The assistant secretary of state for public affairs posted a photo of Americans boarding the Patriots plane, at least the second such flight that landed at Dulles International Airport outside Washington on Friday.

Patriots owner Robert Kraft is a friend and supporter of Trump, but his football franchise did not arrange or pay for the flight, the social media post said.

“One of the companies the State Department contracted for charter flights also manages the New England Patriots team plane. This flight was entirely paid for by the State Department. The New England Patriots organization was not involved in this flight,” it said.

Plane used by NFL team bringing Americans from Mideast

SUMNER COUNTY —The National Weather Service reported several tornadoes across portions of southern Kansas Thursday night and early Friday.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The tornadoes were reported eight miles south of Milan, west of Corbin, south of Mayfield and near 8th Road and South Bluff Road in rural Sumner County.&nbsp; The National Weather Service will meet with emergency managers in Sumner County to evaluate damage from the storms.

Severe weather in Major County, Oklahoma also killed a mother and her daughter Thursday night. Major County is approximately 140 miles south of Wichita.

The National Weather Service reported at least four tornadoes touched down in Grant and Alfalfa counties in western Oklahoma causing damage.

NWS reported several tornadoes in southern Kansas 

GALLE, Sri Lanka (AP) — An&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sri-lanka-iran-middle-east-ship-sinking-69191dde43154c5176a8aeacc9128748">Iranian warship that was sunk by a U.S. submarine near Sri Lanka</a>&nbsp;had participated in naval exercises hosted by India before heading out into international waters in the Indian Ocean on its way home, New Delhi said.

The sinking underscored the scope of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-israel-us-march-05-2026-6a76668997a43855cc37eff7f4829615">U.S.-Israeli war with Iran and its spread</a>&nbsp;in the Middle East and beyond. It also ignited a debate in India about maritime security in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/indian-ocean">Indian Ocean</a>&nbsp;— a region where New Delhi maintains a significant naval presence.

On Wednesday, Sri Lanka’s navy recovered 87 bodies and rescued 32 Iranian sailors from the IRIS Dena, which sank in international waters off the coast of the island nation — a rare instance of a submarine torpedoing a ship since World War II.

Sri Lanka’s navy said it had responded to a distress signal from the IRIS Dena, but by the time it reached the location, there was no sign of the ship, just patches of oil and sailors floating in the water. The rescued mariners were taken to a hospital in the town of Galle, on Sri Lanka’s southern coast.

U.S. Defense Secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-hegseth-caine-drones-israel-fa3999b365ad4c15c54c7c62940e34d3">Pete Hegseth</a>&nbsp;said the sinking illustrates the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/iran-war-israel-trump-lebanon-march-05-2026">U.S.-Israeli military operation against Iran</a>&nbsp;is stretching beyond its borders and described the IRIS Dena as a “prize ship.” U.S. President Donald Trump has said one of the key objectives of the war is to wipe out Iran’s navy.

A video released by the U.S. Department of Defense on X showed the moment of the torpedo attack. The Iranian ship appears to be hit by an underwater explosion that causes it to break apart, as a large plume of water rises up in the air.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused the U.S. Navy of committing an “an atrocity at sea” in sinking the frigate and said on social media on Thursday that the United States “will come to bitterly regret” the attack.

Araghchi said the IRIS Dena had been carrying “almost 130” crew.

India’s navy and defense ministry said the Iranian warship had participated in the International Fleet Review and the multilateral naval exercise MILAN 2026, organized by the Indian navy in the port of Visakhapatnam from Feb. 15 to Feb. 25. The ministry said 74 countries had joined the events.

The Iranian warship was seen sailing at sea during the exercises in a Feb. 17 post on X by the Indian navy. Another image showed several of its crew members posing on deck with the Iranian flag in the background.

Araghchi stressed that the frigate had been “a guest” of India’s navy. The Indian government has not yet publicly commented on the incident.

Another Iranian ship enters a Sri Lankan maritime area

Sri Lanka’s media minister and government spokesperson, Nalinda Jayatissa, told parliament on Thursday that another Iranian ship has entered Sri Lanka’s exclusive economic zone, an area beyond its immediate territorial waters where it has rights over natural resources.

Jayatissa did not provide further details about the ship or the number of people on board. He said the government was trying to “minimize the loss of lives and safeguard regional peace” but did not elaborate.

India has long viewed the Indian Ocean as central to its security, with its navy regularly conducting patrols and multinational exercises to safeguard key sea lanes used for global trade and energy shipments. It has also traditionally sought to maintain a careful diplomatic balance in tensions between the U.S. and Iran while emphasizing on diplomacy and talks.

Indian opposition leaders, however, on Thursday questioned the government’s lack of response to the incident, saying the sinking of the warship so close to India’s maritime neighborhood warranted an official statement.

The opposition Indian National Congress party slammed what it called “silence” from Prime Minister&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/narendra-modi">Narendra Modi</a>&nbsp;‘s government.

“The conflict has reached our backyard, with an Iranian warship sunk in the Indian Ocean. Yet the Prime Minister has said nothing,” opposition leader Rahul Gandhi wrote in a post on X.

Kanwal Sibal, a former diplomat who served as India’s foreign secretary from 2002 to 2003, wrote on X that India was “far from politically or militarily responsible for the U.S. attack,” but its “responsibility is at a moral and human plane.”

“The U.S. has ignored India’s sensitivities,” Sibal said. “The ship was in these waters because of India’s invitation.”

Saaliq reported from New Delhi. Associated Press journalist Bharatha Mallawarachi in Colombo, Sri Lanka, contributed to this report.

New details on Iranian warship sunk by the US 

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement are investigating another homicide in Kansas City, Missouri.

Just after 4:30pm Thursday were dispatched to a reported shooting at an apartment building in the 1200 block of Askew in Kansas City, according to KCPD Captain Jake Becchina.

Officers were led into an apartment inside the building. There they located a shooting victim unresponsive. Officers called for EMS into the scene who declared the man deceased.&nbsp;

 Preliminary investigation indicates that a caller responded to the apartment and observed the victim injured and unresponsive inside. The caller then called 911 for police and ambulance. There are not any suspects in custody at this time.&nbsp;If anyone was in the area around the building and heard or saw anything or has any information, they are asked to contact Homicide detectives directly at 816-234-5043 or the TIPS Hotline anonymously at 816-474-TIPS. There is a reward of up to $25,000 for information submitted anonymously to the TIPS hotline.

KCPD: Shooting victim found dead in apartment

The Junction City Blue Jays beat the Dodge City Red Demons on Wednesday night at the Blue Jay Event Center at Junction City High School. The Blue Jays now advance to the substate championship game on Saturday.&nbsp;

Game recap Junction City 70, Dodge City 56

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