The Say Yes to JCHS Campaign Kick-Off party is Tuesday night at 6 p.m. at the C. L. Hoover Opera House. There will be guest speakers and a Blue Jay Meet and Greet.
The aim of the event is to involve more community members in the upcoming JCHS bond election set for November 7th. Those in attendance will have the opportunity to hear from city leaders, current students and others as they share the impact a “Yes” vote will have on the current and future students and on the community.
If voters says yes to the bond issue then USD 475 is eligible to obtain funding for 47% of the project from the State of Kansas. The remainder of the funding would come from federal heavily impacted military aid. Officials have made it clear there will be no increase in the local property tax levy.
The seventh annual Jammin in JC blues and barbecue festival wrapped up Saturday night with a good review by one of the coordinators of the event, Bob Cevera.
Unlike a year ago when rain spoiled the Saturday schedule, this year it was a little warm but dry for the festival. Cevera provided his overall assessment. “The talent, the music was fantastic. Crowds were down a little bit. I don’t know what the reason is, weather maybe a little bit, lot of things going on but the people who were here had a great time and loved it all.”
Cevera estimated the two day total this year in the four to five thousand range. He wants to see the festival return next year.
He noted he was happy to get The Delgado Brothers and Vince Johnson back for Jammin in JC this year. “They didn’t get to play last year, and I’ve been looking forward to hearing them both. But they both did a great job tonight.”
The sale of apple pies, commanding general mounted color guard, static military equipment displays and a major fish acquarium were just some of the activities during the Apple Day celebration at Fort Riley on Saturday.
A total of 1,544 apple pies were prepared for sale to the public during the event, with the proceeds going to support Historical and Archaeological Society of Fort Riley activities. One of the Pie Queens for the event, Maggy Gray, said approximately 100 volunteers helped prepare the pies.
Speaking Saturday morning she stated traffic in the pie tent had been steady. “I can’t believe at 9:20 a.m. that the lines have gotten. We’ve already sold out of our whole baked pies. ” Frozen pies and pie by the slice remained for sale but by the end of the day those were expected to be gone. Gray stated, “It’s been really fun, a lot of hard work. There’s been moments that were very stressful, but overall I think I’m going to look back and this is going to be one of the most rewarding weeks of my life.”
Pie Queen Pamela Quichocho, said this has been an interesting experience. “It’s been a lot of fun. The best part for me has been the volunteers, and being part of something bigger than ourselves.”
Libby Custer’s recipe for apple pie, dating back to the 1860’s, was used to make the pies. She addressed the use of the proceeds Quichocho said, “It goes back to the community to the history of Fort Riley, to keeping it here, and keeping in the public eye.”
The blues and barbecue festival, Jammin in JC, begins in downtown Junction City Friday evening.
The first performing groups include the Norman Jackson Band at 5 p.m. followed by the Heather Newman Band at 6:35 and the Amanda Fish Band at 8:15.
The festival continues with blues music Saturday afternoon and continuing through the evening.
There will also be a barbecue competition. Coordinator Lance Custer said 34 teams have signed up. “Two teams that were on the show, Barbecue Pit Masters” who are coming into town. We’ve got three or four teams that sell their own rubs or sauces on the open market. We’ve got some good teams coming in.”
The barbecue contest results will be announced at 3:55 p.m. Saturday.
People visiting the north parking lot at Geary Community Hospital on Thursday had a chance to sample goods at the Farmer’s Market and fill out the new Live Well Geary County community health needs assessment survey.
The survey is part of the process with the Blue Cross Blue Shield grant received by Live Well to help improve the health of the community. Interim Director Mike Bilderback said they are required to do the survey. “That will help us to define some of the needs in the community. And we’re hoping to collect in the next month-and-a-half at least two thousand, maybe three or maybe even four thousand surveys. Should give us a clear idea of the pathways we need to go to make improvements.”
The pathways include community policy, resident and community well being, food retail, healthcare, restaurants, schools and work sites.
Those attending the event had a chance to purchase food products and children had opportunities to experience an obstacle course, games, and the pumpkin patch. Despite the mid-90’s temperatures, the turnout for the event was strong.
Live Well Geary County has received the first $100,000 of their $500,000 three-year grant to support their efforts.
A Live Well Geary County and GCH Community Health Needs Assessment will be undertaken in the community.
This will be done to assess the community perception and health needs.
According to Geary Community Hospital Marketing Director Nikki Davies per the Affordable Care Act this is required every three years for non-profit hospitals. Also, Blue Cross Blue Shield, is requiring similar data to administer the $500,000, four-year Pathways to a Healthy Kansas grant.
The survey will help to better understand the needs of the community and opportunities for physical activity, healthy eating and smoking cessation.
There are seven pathways in the BCBS grant. They include community policy, resident / community well being, food retail, healthcare, restaurants, schools and work.
Link to survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NZM5LPN
There will not be an earthquake if a potential alliance forms between Geary Community Hospital in Junction City and Salina Regional Health Center. GCH Administrator Dr. Joseph Stratton told a Hospital Auxiliary audience Wednesday that they will “not fire everybody or shut down all the programs at Geary Community.”
Approximately two years ago GCH signed an affiliation agreement with Stormont Vail Hospital in Topeka and they were able to save money. But at the turn of this year Geary Community officials felt they needed to decide to proceed alone or find a different partner. Different proposals from hospitals were considered but the leaders at Geary Community felt more comfortable with Salina Regional.
Stratton stated on the idea of an affiliation or deep relationship with Salina Regional,” it’s not decided yet. We’re going through a due diligence process in the next few months to see if we’re going to come into a full relationship with them. ”
Stratton noted that many other hospitals in Kansas have affiliations. For example Hays Medical Center is affiliated with KU Hospital, Via Christi which operates in Manhattan is owned by Assensia in St. Louis, Ventura Healthcare System in Denver is affiliated with several western Kansas hospitals.
Stratton stated that at GCH “we think we have something to offer. This is a positive thing.” He said not all patients would be sent to Salina Regional, but some of the doctors from that facility could come to Geary Community where the specialists needed are not available.
Crime statistics comparing the present to one year ago at this time show a reduction in the number of crimes in Junction City.
Police Chief Dan Breci said there has been a 9% drop from one year ago. “The good news is, when we look at crime stats the big year is 1989. We were running over 3,100 Part One crimes which is basically murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, theft, car theft, the big seven types of serious crime.” Breci added in 2016 there were 890 Part One crimes. He called the drop from approximately 3, 100 down to 890 incredible. “So crime is continually going down.”
Breci reported the information to the Junction City Commission Tuesday night.
Emily Fawcett of Junction City has returned from two recent trips with her pet rescue service to assist victims of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma.
She said she has been involved in the rescue of everything from dogs and cats to chickens and goats. “The people of Texas were really really kind to us. Then Florida was just like a whole other animal. I feel like on some levels they over prepared. I felt like on some levels they under prepared. ” Fawcett added in Florida it was like she did a lot of humanitarian work calming tempers.
In Florida she noted there was some flooding in locations, but not a lot. “Lots of downed power lines, lots of palm trees down, stuff like that. But the devastation I saw at Harvey was a lot more.
“I did a lot more grueling work in Texas. That was a lot of grueling work I did in Texas. My brain was used more in Florida than my physical strength. In Harvey I was lots more hands-on, going out and getting animals, taking care of animals, things like that. And by the time Irma passed, and did everything that she did, everywhere that we went to stage everybody was kind of over prepared. And that governor was like take your pet with you.” They were allowed to be taken inside any hotel or shelter.
Fawcett indicated she has more trips planned to assist hurricane victims.
Nuns4Fun will present “Bible Bingo” at the C.L. Hoover Opera House on Friday, October 6 at 7:30 p.m.
Vicki Quade, creator of the hit comedy, Late Nite Catechism, brings to life a new comedy, Bible Bingo: An Act of Charity…in Two Acts.
The new show is about the Catholic culture of fundraising and bingo.
In this interactive comedy the parish needs money and the Archdiocese has a new bingo department. bring the two together and you have a night of bible trivia, audience interaction, improvised moments, and a funny quiz about the Holy Family.
In this interactive bingo show, you’ll actually play bingo, and still learn about what it means to be Catholic. The show is designed to appeal to children and adults.
The C.L. Hoover Opera House is presenting Bible Bingo with a dinner option that can be added on to the purchase of your ticket.
Patrons can purchase tickets through the website at www.jcoperahouse.org or by calling the box office at ( 785 ) 238-3906.
