The Geary County Commission sitting as the Board of Canvassers on Monday reviewed the votes from last week’s general election for city commission, city council, and school board races plus the bond issue question for a new Junction City High School.

The school question passed 1,887 to 1,479 votes, meaning the State of Kansas will pay 47% of the cost of a new high school. The remainder of the funding will come from federal heavy impact aid money to be received by Geary USD 475.

A total of 3,488 ballots were cast in all races combined, resulting in a voter turnout of 21.81%.

In the Junction City Commission race three were elected including Tim Brown as the top vote getter with 1,663 votes followed by Jeff Underhill with 1,345 and Nicholas Allbritton with 1,025.

In the USD 475 Board of Education race for a four-year term three were elected including Sarah Talley as the top vote getter with 1,978 votes followed by Rina D. Neal with 1,738 and David S. Walker with 1,498. In the race for a two-year unexpired term on the USD 475 Board of Education LaDonna Junghans was elected with 1,728 votes.

In the Milford City Council where two were elected Mike Overbay received 45 votes and Joey King 40 votes.

In the race for mayor in Grandview Plaza Rick Geike finished with 65 votes as the top vote getter.

The Board of Canvassers reviewed the provisional ballots from the election, but there were no changes in the outcome of any race or question, only in vote totals.

Farm Bureau Financial Services employees in Manhattan has recognized two veteran colleagues for their military service, presenting them with handcrafted quilts.

Jeremy Roush and Viola Moore were presented with the quilts during an event at the company’s offices in Manhattan on November 10. The quilts, which were handcrafted by fellow employees at Farm Bureau Financial Services, were given to Roush and Moore in honor of Veteran’s Day on November 11, 2017.

Jeremy Roush, a maintenance technician who has been with Farm Bureau Financial Services for two years, said, “It’s an absolute honor to work for a company that recognizes my veteran status in such a thoughtful way.”

“Words cannot describe how much I appreciate this quilt,” said Moore, a commercial services coordinator who has been with Farm Bureau Financial Services for 22 years. “I would like to thank my colleagues for all of their work on this very special gift.”

The general election is Tuesday. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

You will need to present a valid photo ID in order to vote.

Local polling places include

Geary County Office Building

12th Street Community Center

4H/Senior Citizen Center

Junction City Municipal Building

Immanuel Lutheran Church

Grandview Plaza Community Center

Milford City Building

Find your polling place here.

The co-chair of the Say Yes to JCHS campaign, Jim Schmidt, said Monday he is proud of what the committee accomplished. He noted there is a possibility of a record turnout on Tuesday. Schmidt spoke to the Board of Education during their monthly meeting at the Devin Center in Junction City.

The other co-chair of the committee, Terrah Stroda asked urged those at the meeting to vote today ( Tuesday ), and to call everyone you know to ask them to vote.

The committee worked to support the proposed new Junction City High School project. Today ( Tuesday ) voters will go to the polls to cast ballots on a bond issue, which if approved would guarantee State funding for 47% of the project. The remainder of the money would come from heavy federal impact aid received by the school district. Officials with USD 475 have made it clear that there would be no increase in the property tax levy.

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Board of Education Chair Dr. Ferrell Miller told the BOE audience no matter what the outcome of the election he could not imagine any more could have been done on the part of that committee. Board member Brian Field stated Tuesday is the community’s chance to speak, and encourage everybody to get out and vote. Board member Carolyn Gaston thanked the committee for their efforts.

Voters can also cast ballots on Board of Education, city commission, city council and mayor candidates in the election.

You can get the results Tuesday night here at JC Post or on 1420 KJCK AM.

The Director of the Junction City Area Chamber of Commerce Military Affairs Council, John Seitz, has announced his intention to retire. He will step down from the post at the end of December.

Seitz made the announcement on the JC Now show on 1420 KJCK AM. “After seven-and-a-half plus years of doing this it’s time for me to have some fun, and not have to get up every morning, go welcome new soldiers and things like that. So I’m going to step down at the end of the year and let the Chamber find somebody else who can do my job. And I’m sure there are lots of people willing and able.”

Seitz plans to remain in Junction City after his retirement.  He estimated during his stint as MAC Director he has welcomed about 300 soldiers per week to Fort Riley.

He has coordinated Military Affairs Council breakfasts, which have gone from attendance of about 60 people to more than 100.

A combination of state and federal aid would pay for the cost of building a new Junction City High School.

USD 475 Superintendent of Schools Dr. Corbin Witt said it’s an opportunity to build a new high school without increase the local property tax levy. “We would use 47% state aid that is paid for the entire bond because we found that our sports facilities do not meet ADA compliance, so it will be 47% on the entire bond.

Federal heavy impact aid received by the school district would also pay for a large share of the project. The district has $41.5 million in the bank now and expects to receive additional heavy impact aid that will bring the total in the future to $85 million. Witt stated, “And then the current mill levy that is being used for the bond and interest will be the mill levy that we use going forward.

Witt made it clear that the funding for all infrastructure including roads and utilities, and whatever is necessary for a new school would be in the bond package.

Tuesday ( Nov. 7 ) is election day. On that day  voters in USD 475 will be asked to vote on a bond issue, that if approved, would result in the State of Kansas paying 47% of the cost of a new high school.

Union pacific railroad will host a special presentation on Monday at Fort Riley to express their appreciation for those serving in the Armed Forces, and to acknowledge their commitment to veterans. As part of the event the recently unveiled UP1943 commemorative locomotive will be on display at Fort Riley as it makes its maiden voyage on the UP system.

Kansas Secretary of Transportation Richard Carlson, Colonel John Lawrence and Union Pacific Assistant Vice President Liisa Stark will deliver remarks as part of a program which will be held at the First Territorial Capitol at 692 Huebner Road, Fort Riley at 10 a.m.

The UP1943 will remain on-site for public viewing until 6 p.m.

1420 KJCK GENERAL ELECTION CANDIDATE AND NEW JCHS CONSTRUCTION BOND ISSUE FORUMS

October 30, 2017

JC Commission Candidates Tim Brown – Bob Henderson – Heinrich Biggs (3 Segments)

October 31, 2017

JC Commission Candidates Jeff Underhill, Nicholas Allbritton and Michael Gray (3 Segments)

November 01, 2017

USD 475 Board of Education Candidates William Brooks, Rina Neal and Lawrence Young (3 Segments)

November 02, 2017

USD 475 Board of Education Candidates Sarah Talley – David Walker (2 Segments)

November 03, 2017

New JCHS construction Bond Issue – Dr. Corbin Witt, USD 475 Superintendent of Schools – David Wild, Chief Operations Officer; Melissa Sharp, JCHS Principal (3 Segments)

Listen this week, Monday thru Friday, October 30 thru November 3, and Monday, November 6 for our Election Forums from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. each morning.

Candidates for the Junction City Commission and Geary County USD #475 Board of Education will be in our studios to answer your questions about the issues.  We will also have representatives of the Geary County USD #475 School District in our studios to answer questions about the proposed bond issue for a new Junction City High School.  Then listen and watch JC Post on election night, Tuesday, November 7th for election results..

The remaining forum schedule includes Board of Education candidates LaDonna Junghans and Stephanie Holloway on Monday.

Below, you can view and listen to the Junction City Area Chamber of Commerce Candidate Forum from Monday, October 23, 2017.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=xWCxmidgskE