Sundown Salute opened for a five night run in downtown Junction City Friday evening.
Here are some of the sights.
Sundown Salute 2017 Opens
Category: Featured
“Walking Inspirations” – United Way Executive Dir. thanks top donors
Walking inspirations.
That’s the name Nichole Mader, United Way Executive Director, gave to the many donors who contributed to the United Way campaign.
“I see you, I see the sacrifices that you’re making, I see the dedication that you’re giving,” said Mader. “It’s important to show that they’re setting the example for everyone else.”
And those setting the example as top individual contributors for this campaign include: Dick and Betsy Young, Robert Munson, Maxine Junghans, Betty Waters, Amanda Rolfs, Tom Rolfs, Kasey Fielder, Donald Reinsch, Jeanette Felix, Barbara Craft, and E.J. Rolfs.
“These are our top contributors, they’re willing to donate that extra $5 a month…they’re putting the needs of others and the needs of the community at a level that all of us should aspire to do,” said Mader. “To me, they’re walking inspirations.
The final United Way of Junction City – Geary County campaign total is $130,825.51.
“We were just shy of $9000 of hitting our goal; we were 93.4 percent of our goal, we were very, very, very close.”
Top business donors include: Central National Bank, Dillon’s Store #44, Union Pacific Railroad, Jellison Benevolence Society, Weary Family Foundation, Ben Kitchens Painting, Wal-Mart, Exchange Bank, Intrust Bank, and KS State Bank.
Central National Bank pledged $25,000 to the United Way of Junction City – Geary County.
State Treasurer helps return over $38,000 in unclaimed assets to Geary County residents
Meeting with Kansans in their own communities was part of the reason State Treasurer Jake LaTurner visited Junction City Friday afternoon.
The other reason – the $3 million in Geary County reason, was to give away unclaimed properties.
“We’re giving away unclaimed properties, talking about Learning Quest – the education savings account, and we’re talking about the able act which encourages people living with a disability to save for their future,” said LaTurner.
LaTurner noted that he was able to return over $38,000 in unclaimed assets in just two hours to Geary County residents.
“I don’t think people should have to call some distant bureaucrat in Topeka to experience the services of the State Treasurer’s office; we think they ought to be able to experience them in their home county,” said LaTurner. “We’re having a great experience, meeting a lot of great people.”
LaTurner was sworn in as the State Treasurer in April of this year.
Westar Energy, Salvation Army donating over 150 fans to community
Part of the neighborhood, part of the community…that’s who we are.
Over 150 people in need received a free fan today courtesy of Westar Energy and the Salvation Army.
Brad Kessel, Manhattan Director of Division Operations for Westar, said that after today 460 fans will have been distributed in the immediate region.
“In Junction City, we have 165 fans; we’ve already done Manhattan, Wamego, and Marysville,” said Kessel. “[Westar] kind of ramped it up this year; across our company it’s 4,600 fans being given out this year which is substantially more than we’ve done in the past.”
The fan distribution is an annual community outreach for Westar Energy.
“[We] think it’s important that we can help our customers however we can, whether it’s trying to help them with their bills or providing these fans to them,” said Kessel. “We want to be part of the neighborhood, part of the community – because that’s who we are.”
Mary Scott, Senior Field Consultant for Service Extension for Salvation Army, said the heat is a big concern this time of year.
“Westar reached out to partner with the Salvation Army; today our target is the disabled, the elderly – we’re targeting families with children and anyone that really has a need,” said Scott. “We really just want to keep everyone safe during those summer days.
The fan distribution is from 10:00 am until 1:00 pm outside the Geary County DMV at 139 E 8th Street in Junction City.
Updated: Lightning believed to be cause of early morning fire in Chapman
UPDATE:
City Administrator John Dudte confirmed that there were no injuries from the fire.
Dudte informed JC Post that a police officer on duty noticed a significant lightning strike and soon after a passerby called 911 reporting significant smoke coming from the residence.
Dudte noted that neighbors of the 114 E Second Street residence reported electrical system damages related to lightning.
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Dickinson County Fire Department 1 (DKFD1) was called to assist the Chapman City Fire Department on a house fire at 114 E Second Street early Friday morning.
It is believed that lightning struck the home, causing the fire, according to Paul Froelich, DKFD1 Chief.
The occupants were not home at the time and the fire was reported by a passerby at 3:40 am.
DKFD1 responded with a rescue unit and 2 trucks. District 1 made entry and extinguished the fire.
JC Post will update this story as more information becomes available.
Structure fire causes $100,000 in damage, one firefighter treated for minor injury
A fire just before 11:00 am Thursday, June 29th has caused $100,000 in damage. The Junction City Fire Department (JCFD) responded to 407 W 2nd Street for a reported structure fire.
Arriving units found smoke coming from the attic area and utilized a thermal imaging camera to find a hot area in the corner of an upstairs bedroom. After opening the ceiling they found heavy fire throughout the entire attic.
Firefighters used forced ventilation to vertically push smoke and heated gases out of the structure.
One firefighter was treated at Geary Community Hospital for a bite from a dog that the firefighter rescued during operations. He was released for duty later that day.
After an investigation by the JCFD and State of Kansas Fire Marshal’s Office the fire was determined to be accidental.
UPDATED: Severe Thunderstorm Warning CANCELLED–Severe Thunderstorm WATCH in effect
1:05 am
…THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR CENTRAL DICKINSON…GEARY…
SOUTH CENTRAL RILEY AND NORTHWESTERN MORRIS COUNTIES IS CANCELLED…
The storm which prompted the warning has weakened below severe
limits, and no longer poses an immediate threat to life or property.
Therefore the warning has been cancelled. However gusty winds are
still possible with this thunderstorm.
A severe thunderstorm watch remains in effect until 500 AM CDT for
central and east central Kansas.
————
12:44AM:
The National Weather Service in Topeka has issued a
* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for…
Central Dickinson County in central Kansas…Geary County in east central Kansas…
South central Riley County in northeastern Kansas…Northwestern Morris County in east central Kansas…
* Until 130 AM CDT
* At 1244 AM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Enterprise,
moving east at 40 mph.
HAZARD…60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.
SOURCE…Radar indicated.
IMPACT…Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage
to roofs, siding, and trees.
* This severe thunderstorm will be near,
Chapman and Woodbine around 100 AM CDT.
Junction City around 115 AM CDT.
Grandview Plaza around 120 AM CDT.
Dwight around 130 AM CDT.
This includes Interstate 70 between mile markers 269 and 310.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.
Torrential rainfall is occurring with this storm, and may lead to
flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.
12:31AM:
…A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1245 AM CDT
FOR DICKINSON COUNTY
At 1230 AM CDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line
extending from near Niles to near Carlton, moving east at 45 mph.
HAZARD…60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.
SOURCE…Radar indicated. A wind gust of 68 mph was measured at
Salina from this storm shortly after midnight.
IMPACT…Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage to
roofs, siding, and trees.
These severe storms will be near…
Abilene around 1240 AM CDT.
Talmage and Moonlight around 1245 AM CDT.
This includes Interstate 70 between mile markers 267 and 288.
——————
The National Weather Service in Topeka has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for… Dickinson County in central Kansas…Until 1245 AM CDT
At 1211 AM CDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line extending from near Bennington to 3 miles east of Assaria, moving east at 45 mph.
HAZARD…60 mph wind gusts.
SOURCE…Automated surface observation site. A gust of 64 mph was
measured at Salina.
IMPACT…Expect damage to roofs, siding, and trees.
This includes Interstate 70 between mile markers 267 and 288.
Sundown Salute 2017: Ottaway Amusements Carnival opens Friday evening
“We stay til the fun is done.”
The Ottaway Amusements Carnival opens tomorrow evening for day one of Sundown Salute 2017.
Danny Ottaway, Owner, said roughly fifty workers will prep the rides and games for the thousands of thrillseekers expected to enjoy them over the holiday weekend.
“It’s a lot of work, but we pride ourselves on being clean, and our people are clean; let’s face it – carnival people, we’re stereotyped” said Ottaway. ” I’m the fourth generation in my family to run my company; and I try to my very best ability [to ensure] that when people come out here, they see really the opposite of what they would expect from a traveling carnival in both the equipment and the personnel.”
The carnival takes roughly 10 to 12 hours to setup and clean.
There are 18 rides this year, including the feature attraction The Freak Out.
“I feel as if we’ve got a really nice array of rides and games – not just for the adults, we’ve got super nice kiddie rides,” said Ottaway. “[The Freak Out] was brand new when we got here last year…this has taken amusement rides to the next level; this is a ride that typically you’d see more in a theme park as oppose to a traveling carnival.”
Other rides include the Tilt-o-whirl, Spyder, the Viper, and Rockstar ride to name a few.
Single tickets for the rides are $3.50 each or 10 tickets for $28 ($2.80 each); wristbands are available again this year for 4 -5 hours of unlimited rides at $25 each.
The Ottaway Amusements Carnival opens at 5:00 pm on Friday, June 30th. Saturday July 1st through Monday, July 3rd the carnival opens at 1:00 pm daily. On Tuesday, the Fourth of July the carnival opens at 11:00 am.
Westar Energy to donate fans to local Salvation Army, benefitting Junction City residents
Westar energy will team up with the Salvation Army on Friday, June 30th from 10:00 am until 1:00 pm to distribute fans to elderly and disabled people.
Fans will be distributed to people without access to air conditioning or other means of staying cool during hot and humid weather.
Fans will be distributed at the Geary County DMV Office – Courthouse Annex, 139 E 8th Street, Junction City.
Teaming up with the Salvation Army, Westar will have fan distributions in various locations throughout the month. Westar’s local gift of fans is part of a $60,000 fan contribution that equaled out to 4,600 fans. Quadrupling the number from the previous year, these fans are meant to help relieve some of the sweltering summer heat for elderly and disabled members of the community who do not have a fan or air conditioning in their home or the means to purchase one.
The Westar Energy In Motion trailer will also be on hand and staffed by customer service specialists who can provide account assistance, energy efficiency tips, and even a bottle of water.
Dorothy Bramlage Public Library American Girl Tea Party – Register today!
The Dorothy Bramlage Public Library will host their annual American Girl Tea Party on Saturday, July 8th, at 2:00 p.m.
The library’s American Girl Tea Party program was created in association with the American Girl book series, which features different fictional girls of multiple cultures from various time periods in American history. A number of these books are mysteries, and in keeping with the mystery theme, this year’s Tea Party involves solving the mystery of what happened to the tea.
Who has ever heard of a tea party without tea? It has been stolen! Girls are invited to put their sleuthing skills to work and help us figure out who the culprit is.
This year the Tea Party will be hosted in the ballroom at the Marriott Convention Center. The elegant atmosphere of this location will make the event even more special for young ladies in attendance.
Girls are welcome to don their party dresses for this occasion or to come in casual clothing. They may also bring their American Girl dolls (or other dolls) if they desire.
Seating is limited. Registration is required and ends on Thursday, July 6, or once all seats are filled. To register, contact the library at 238-4311 and ask for the Young People’s Department.