The final draft report for the Master Plan for Freeman Field, the airport in Junction City, was presentedthis week at the City Commission meeting.

City Manager Allen Dinkel explained this airport is one of the top 15 in the state for those that do not have regional service. “It does bring some impact to our community. The master plan just kind of gives a footprint of what we expect the airport to be for the next five to ten years.”

Dinkel indicated some of the future improvements would include clearing some of the tree area around the airport to protect existing space. “And either buy some land or get some easements where we can control that. I think that’s going to be the first step. I think long term, maybe build some more T-Hangars out there for rental.” That would allow for more planes to be housed.

Future steps include a public hearing on the plan, then review by the FAA and final approval by the Junction City Commission.

The Geary County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau will have a new logo.

CVB Director Michele Stimatze said it will include the Junction City script with Geary County Kansas and the Convention and Visitors Bureau underneath.

The three wavy lines of yellow, rust and blue are designated to represent the junction of three rivers in the local area. The blue line can also represent the Flint Hills.

Stimatze noted they plan to release the logo in the two to four weeks once necessary changes are made for items such as the CVB stationary.

February 5, 2018

Outstanding Elementary Music Teacher Named

New street banners highlighting destination tourism attractions in Junction City and Geary County will be posted on utility poles on South Washington and East Chestnut Streets.

The project is a partnership between the Geary County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau and Westar Energy, Consolidated Printing, Geary County and Junction City.’

The Director of the Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, Michele Stimatze, said the new banners will be placed on South Washington from I-70 to 5th & Washington, and on East Chestnut Street. A total of 60 banners will be placed. The banners are two-foot by four-foot in size.

The project was unveiled during a press conference at the Geary County Office Building. Stimatze stated, “We just basically wanted to put something out for the different area attractions that we have in Junction City and Geary County. ” She added people visiting the community can see what the community has to offer.

Attractions to be highlighted include historic Fort Riley, the Buffalo Soldier Memorial, Rathert Stadium, Freedom Park, Geary County Historical Museum, Kansas Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the headwaters of the Kansas River, the C.L. Hoover Opera House, part of the Flint Hills, Rolling Meadows Golf Course, the National Biplane Fly-In, Milford Lake, the Milford Nature Center, Kansas First Territorial Capitol and Geary State Lake.

The banners will be put up in the near future.

The 68th District State Representative in the Kansas House, Dave Baker, has proposed a bill on automobile sales tax.

Baker stated the tax revenue would be returned back to the city and county where the vehicle is registered. “Because the city and county where the car is registered are the governing entity that have to provide services for that automobile, not the place where its’ sold.”

Baker is hopeful of getting a hearing on that bill by the House Tax Committee where there would be testimony on both sides of the issue. “Right now I’m kind of counting noses on districts in the state. It looks like out of the 125 districts I believe about 110 of us are going to be beneficiaries on this bill. But the ones who are on the other side, the 15, they are big recipients on sales tax. There will be a lot of dollars coming out of those cities coming back to our areas where the tax should be collected anyway.”

Baker said he hopes to get the proposal out of committee, and is lining up as much support as he can. He added it’s a big items for his district. The 68th District does include a portion of Junction City and Geary County.

The Junction City Area Chamber of Commerce presented a series of annual awards during their banquet this past week at the Courtyard By Marriott Convention Center.

The Business of the Year honor went to the R2B4 Bramlage Family Foundation, Citizen of the Year to the Stage Family, CVB / Tourism Award to the Run for the Wall Committee, the Eldon L. Hoyle Economic Development Award to Ventria Bioscience, Ambassador of the Year to Linda Couch, the Ambassador Dream Team Award to Brian Peterson, Brent Rees, Linda Couch, Maureen Gustafson and Fredia Warren and the new Seitz Family Military Community Award to Harold Wilson, Ligia Paquette and Ted Hayden.

Outgoing Chamber of Commerce Chair Stan Hambright and the recently retired John Seitz were also recognized for their efforts in support of the Chamber.

 

Chapman High School went into lock down and a K-9 search was done at the school on Friday, but by early afternoon the situation had ended. Everyone was safe.

Kevin Diercks, Chapman Police Chief, reported that his department got a call from administrators regarding a social media post that was a concern. A concerned student had brought it to their attention. “In this social media video was a short video of three individuals playing with a firearm. Two were Chapman High School students. That is all that the video included, no threats, no speaking, no voices, no threats were made against the school or anybody in particular.”

Diercks said one of the students had recently expressed an interest in the Columbine shootings, which led to a heightened concern that required authorities to take the situation seriously. “All individuals involved were located, detained and questioned. The video was not made in the City of Chapman, it was made in another community.”

Diercks confirmed the Dickinson County Sheriff’s Office interviewed and investigated a couple of locations throughout the county but no threats were found. The Kansas Highway Patrol also helped in the investigation and no threats were found. Diercks added it did not appear any threats were made. “But the situation had to be taken seriously in this day and age. It appears everybody was safe, the school did go into lock down per their policy.”

The lock down went into effect about mid-morning and had ended by 1:15 p.m.

Two of the three individuals ( boys )  questioned in this case were students at Chapman High School. Diercks said at this time there are no charges. The individuals were detained, interviewed and released.

A total of 253 students at Junction City High School were honored for their work in the classroom at the Academic Letter Banquet Thursday night.

Those students in the sophomore, junior and senior classes achieved a 3.5 or higher grade point average through three, five or seven semesters depending on grade level they are at in school.

Keynote speaker Terrah Stroda told the students their future holds great promise and in front of her in the Shenk Gym were 200-plus reasons why. Her message was powerful.

Stroda detailed her own family’s struggles with health related issues, and how cancer claimed the lives of her husband and her mother, and her own bout with cancer that she overcame. “And with cancer, very challenging faith journey and people, relationships, and death and the roller coaster of life happens guess what…you will always be a Blue Jay. You see you are made different. You aren’t just academically prepared here, you’re life prepared here.”

The occasion marked the 24th annual Academic Letter Banquet at Junction City High School.

 

 

There are a number of ways the Junction City / Geary County United Way is serving the community.

For some United Way is where you go to get your taxes done for free, or the person who will rake your leaves. For other others United Way is the agency who once a year will ask for money through payroll deductions.

The United Way office hosts several events each year that provide support to the community. Stuff the Bus brings in monetary donations as well as school supplies that are then distributed to USD 475 and St. Xavier, to be used for the students. Day of Caring brings together over 50 volunteers who then go into the community and provide basic yard services to the elderly and disabled. The VITA ( Volunteer Income Tax Assistance ) Program, provides free tax preparations for those who qualify in Geary County.

United Way of Junction City / Geary County also provides support to 15 different agencies within Geary County.

To continue to provide services and assistance to the community help is needed. United Way Executive Director Nicole Mahder said the 2018 campaign goal is $140,000. As of January they have raised $93,129, leaving $46,871 that still needs to be raised. You can donate at www.unitedwayjcgc.org

Junction City police have reported the arrest of Holly Kathleen Boase, 30, and John Charles Boase Jr. 41, both of Emporia on multiple allegations including Fleeing and Eluding LEO, Damage to Property / Motor Vehicle Accident from Fleeing and Eluding, Reckless Driving and Theft against both of them.

John Charles Boase Jr. was also arrested on suspicion of No Proof of Insurance and Driving while License was Suspended plus a warrant from Chase County for an alleged Probation violation and a warrant from Saline County charging Failure to Appear.

Holly Kathleen Boase was also arrested on a Chase County warrant alleging Probation Violation, a Salina Municipal Court warrant alleging Probation Violation, and McPherson District Court warrant charging

Failure to Appear. She was also arrested on another McPherson District Court warrant and a McPherson Municipal Court warrant but the charges contained in those warrants were not revealed.

The pair were arrested at 9:10 a.m. Wednesday in the 700 block of West 4th Street.