During the week of Nov. 12 – 15, construction crews will prepare to shift traffic to the southbound lane of Henry Drive between the railroad bridge to the Kansas River bridge. Traffic will continue to be restricted to one lane through the work zone, controlled by a traffic signal. Reconstruction of the northbound lane will begin Nov. 18 and continue through February 2020.

Once the first phase of the project, from the Kansas River to the railroad is completed, work will begin on phase two in late February, from the roundabout at Ray Rd. to the river bridge.

Throughout the project, traffic will be limited to one lane through the work zone, controlled by a traffic signal. Fort Riley expects the Henry Drive project to be completed by July.

Drivers should expect long delays and may want to consider alternate routes during this construction. Fort Riley urges all drivers to be alert, use caution, obey reduced speed limits and be prepared to slow down or stop. The Visitor Control Center at Exit 301 will remain open during this project.

Construction updates will be posted on the official Fort Riley Facebook page and the Fort Riley website at https://home.army.mil/riley/.

Kirk Hutchinson
Public Affairs Specialist
Fort Riley Garrison Public Affairs Office

 

Lawrence Whatley, Junction City, is the latest recipient of a Quilt of Valor. It was awarded to him at the American Legion Post 45 home Monday evening.

Whatley served in the U.S. Army from 1954 until 1980, including service from 1969 to 1970 in Vietnam. He retired from military service in 1980 with the rank of E-8.

Coordinator Donna Martinson said the Quilt of Valor awarded to Whatley is number 329 through the Central Flint Hills Quilt of Valor Project, which was begun in 2015, the 40th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War.

Contributions to support the project may be left at the Military Affairs Council Office at 222 West 6th Street. Checks should be made payable to the Quilt of Valor Foundation, with Central Flint Hills Area listed in the memo space. Quilt makers are also needed. Contact Donna Martinson for more information at 785-238-7303.

Rolling Meadows Golf Course has been a staple in Geary County since April of 1981. Designed by architect Richard Watson, the course opened after three years of construction. Tree lined fairways and tees, 29 sand bunkers and six lakes comprise the course.

Practice facilities include a driving range, and golf instruction with Darrel Penland is also available.

Javon George recently captured photos of the course.

 

Marine Corps veteran, Daniel Jackson, referred to comments by Ronald Reagan during the Veterans Day observance in Junction City, noting that the former president said freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.

Jackson spoke at the C. L. Hoover Opera House. ” We didn’t pass it on to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected and handed on for them to do the same. ” Jackson said we live in the greatest nation. “We are the greatest nation on earth because of the incredible patriots such as yourselves, and those who have answered the call before you to defend our nation and our way of life.”

Jackson, who is the current Geary County Sheriff, stated that we gather on Veterans Day to thank veterans and celebrate their gallantry in service. “But as veterans I think we would be remiss to not also use Veterans Day to invigorate our commitment to each other and to those who still fight their inner demons.”

Jackson noted that 22 veterans per day commit suicide and thousands of veterans are homeless. ” Countless number of veterans have lost their families, their homes, their jobs, all because of the unhealed wounds of the mind and soul.”

Jackson added as a nation we need to take better care of our veterans, veterans need to be politically active and urge lawmakers to do better by veterans, and even more importantly veterans need to engage with one another. “Every veteran knows a buddy who is or has struggled with the inner wounds. More and more programs are being developed by veterans for veterans to help with their needs. We need to seek out those programs and support them until there are no more veterans committing suicide or in need. ”

 

 

 

Geary County Sheriff’s Deputies James Garcia and Cayla Da Giau were honored during this past week’s Sheriff Department Town Hall meeting at the McDowell Creek Community Center.

Garcia and Da Giau received proclamations from Governor Laura Kelly for their life saving efforts this past June 8th at Milford Lake.

The Sheriff’s Department noted that the Deputies were dipatched to Auld Road and Brinkley Road for a man and woman who had driven their vehicle into flood water. They were standing on top of the vehicle as it was sinking into the water.

When the subjects began swimming toward the Deputies they started sinking so the Deputies entered the water to help them to safety.

State Representatives Dave Baker and Lonnie Clark were in attendance for the presentation of the proclamation to the Deputies. In addition to Sheriff Daniel Jackson and other Sheriff’s Department officials, Geary County Republican Committee Chair Rick Roberts and the members of the Geary County Commission, Keith Ascher, Ben Bennett and Charles Stimatze were also in attendance.

The Geary County Veterans Alliance holds their Veterans Day observance Monday at 11 a.m. at the C. L. Hoover Opera House.

Geary County Sheriff Daniel Jackson will serve as the keynote speaker. Minister Lee Sarvis of the Second Missionary Baptist Church will give the invocation and benediction,  Casaundra Baker the national anthem and the Miller Family will lead the pledge of allegiance.

There will be a musical presentation by Quittin Time, which includes M.L. Stahl, Bob Cervera and Brian Clark.

The presentation and posting of the colors and the retirement of colors will be overseen by the JROTC at Junction City High School. Sergeant Major ( Ret. ) Jim Sands will serve as the Master of Ceremonies.

The Junction City Blue Jays scored two touchdowns in the first 24-seconds of the game and moved on to a 54-7 win over previously unbeaten Dodge City in the second round of the Class 6A postseason playoffs.

On the first play from scrimmage for Junction City, Chris Randolph went 80-yards for a touchdown. Junction City then recovered the ensuing kickoff at the Dodge City 30-yard line and one play later Andrew Khoury hit Quavez Humphreys on a touchdown pass play over the middle of the field.

Junction City led 27-7 at halftime and then scored four more touchdowns in the second half. Russell Wilkey scored three touchdowns in the game for the Blue Jays.

Junction City ( 8-2 ) will advance to round three of the playoffs to meet the Topeka High Trojans ( 9-1 ) next Friday night at Hummer Sports Park in the capitol city. Dodge City finished their season with a final record of 9-1.

There have been numerous improvements for the Sheriff’s Department and jail facility in Geary County since Daniel Jackson was appointed to serve as sheriff.

Jackson told a Town Hall meeting audience this week that a pair of washers and dryers valued at $35,000 apiece need replacement. “Every skylight in the jail was leaking so we were able to replace all the skylights in the jail. Our elevator has been condemned. They make 514 meals a day up in the jail, so all that food has to be transported up via elevator. but right now it’s condemned. We’re still using it to move food but we can’t have anybody ride in it.  So we’re looking at getting that replaced as well. That’s going to be a fairly expensive project.”

There are plans to put a set of flagpoles in front of the Sheriff’s Department, new office space was built for an IT employee, some administrative space was remodeled, some new cameras have been placed in the jail.

 

Geary County Sheriff’s Department authorities are alerting the public to be aware that a suspect in a stolen vehicle case Thursday night is at-large.

Undersheriff Eric Coffman said about 10 p.m. the Patrol Division chased a vehicle that was stolen out of Shawnee County southbound on Humboldt Creek Road. “Got the vehicle stopped finally in the area of Folk Road. The passenger was located but the driver had fled on foot and is still outstanding.”

Coffman said the suspect is 40-years old, a light-skinned black male subject, 5’6 150 and was last seen wearing a t-shirt and blue jeans. “He is still outstanding. We have no reason to believe he is dangerous other than the fact that he was in a stolen vehicle. His criminal history doesn’t show anything dangerous. But always be aware.”

Desiree Granstra was named the millionaire tycoon in the Game of Life at the Junction City Area Chamber of Commerce Community Game Night fundraiser Thursday evening.

Granstra received prizes at the end of the evening. ” I won a bottle of champagne, some fancy champagne. I won a fancy box of Game of Life, a money necklace, dollar signs, very fancy.” There were other prizes as well.

Granstra said winning was all about who you know. “I took a lot of money from a lot of other people.” Participants went to different game stations and gave their Life money for potentially more money in return.  Granstra noted that “Bowling for Babies was her strongest game station.

Chamber Member Relations Coordinator Amy Garner said some of the funds raised will go toward the Chamber budget for the year. “And then we will also be giving a portion of it to the McKinney-Vento program for homeless families in Junction City.