Fort Riley will celebrate a new water park with a ribbon cutting ceremony this Friday, June 30th.

The new facility, Custer Hill Aquatic Park, includes a pool with zero-depth entry, a lazy river, waterslides and a climbing wall-replaces a swimming pool built in the 1960s.

Construction of the $3.5 million project was overseen by Fort Riley’s Directorate of Public Works and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

To celebrate the grand opening, admission to the new facility is free all day Friday, June 30.

 

UPDATE:

Financial concerns are a key part of the reason behind a Geary County decision to issue a notice of withdrawal from the consolidated Chamber of Commerce master agreement.

The Geary County Commission has sent a letter to city and chamber of commerce officials ahead of a July 1st deadline. This does leave time for discussion and negotiation because a withdrawal would not become effective December 1st.

Commissioner Keith Ascher said when he campaigned for office the concept of consolidation was fine, but from a closer viewpoint there are now some issues. The biggest one is financial. He discussed the declining transient guest tax revenues which are paid by users of hotel lodging facilities. “In an email last Friday that I received, we all received, we got some disturbing news that they were down again which should have been an up month. That timeliness prompted us to have some serious discussion on what to do. That’s what led to our motion and vote.”

Ascher added several factors play into the decreased numbers and one of them is more competition in the outlying areas.

Ascher noted there needs to be a better job of focusing on the marketing and promotion of tourism, conventions and the outdoors. He said the County is strapped to have the money because the transient guest tax numbers are down, county contributions to the Chamber to participate in the consolidation are steadily increasing so they’re “being squeezed on both ends.”

If there were concerns the County was required to submit a letter by July 1st. Ascher explained it buys tome time for discussion and they’re willing to have meetings with Chamber officials to see what can be found. The final date for any action to withdrawal from the consolidated agreement would be December 31st.

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Geary County has issued notice to withdraw from the master agreement for the consolidated Junction City Area Chamber of Commerce.

The Geary County Commission, through a letter drafted by their legal counsel, gave notice on Tuesday to Chamber and Junction City officials of their intention to withdraw from the agreement on December 31st. The notice was given prior to a requirement that the notice must be given on or before July 1st.

JCPost.com talked with Chamber Board President Stan Hambright and Mayor Phyllis Fitzgerald Tuesday night to see if they know why the County wants to withdraw. They do not, but Fitzgerald is taking a wait and see attitude. “Well the only thing that I know is like we stated earlier, we got that letter hand delivered to us today and we’re just going to have to see what the County does as far as their negotiations back with the Chamber, and we’re just going to have to wait and see how that’s going to turn out.”

Fitzgerald announced during a Tuesday evening City Commission budget session that the letter had been received, and read it publicly during the meeting.

JCPost.com was able to contact Geary County Commission Chairman Ben Bennett at his residence. He chose not to comment on the reason for the desire to withdrawal, but said that he did not vote for it. Other members of the county commission, Keith Ascher and Charles Stimatze, have not yet been contacted.

In 2016 the county commission which then consisted of Bennett and two now former members, Florence Whitebread and Larry Hicks, expressed a desire for the county to withdraw from the master agreement with Whitebread and Hicks wanting discussion. At that time Bennett strongly supported maintaining a consolidated chamber. There were discussions and negotiations, and eventually the county voted to approve the master agreement.

Four agencies are under the consolidated chamber umbrella including the Membership Enhancement Division, the Military Affairs Council, the Convention and Visitor’s Bureau and the Economic Development Commission.

 

 

Fort Riley and the First Infantry Division bid farewell to Acting Senior Commander Brigadier General Patrick D. Frank, but not before sending him off with a Victory with Honors ceremony.

Frank assumed duties as the Acting Senior Commander in October 2016 having previously served as the Deputy Commanding General for Support for the First Infantry Division (1ID).

A native New Yorker, Frank’s heart lies in Kansas.

“The intersection of Army values and Kansan values are what make Fort Riley such a special place to serve,” said Frank. “It is tough to leave the First Infantry Division.”

He and his wife Jennifer asked to come back to Fort Riley after previously serving in the 1st Infantry Division.

“I served as a Battalion Commander in combat with the Big Red One, I put battle streamers on the colors of the 28th Infantry Regiment – the Black Lions, that means a lot to me,” said Frank. “To look [in the crowd] and see those veterans that you served with when you were a Battalion Commander, a Lieutenant Colonel – that’s what it means to be a Big Red One soldier.”

The Victory with Honors ceremony ended with over 100 guests in attendance lining up to give Brig. Gen. Frank  and his wife Jennifer their well wishes.

“Those people that came through the line today, they’re all the supporters of the 1st Infantry Division, so all of our families that live off post, our soldiers that live off post – they take care of them, they bring them into their communities and make them feel like they’ve been neighbors there for 20 years; that’s why it’s important for us to tell the community how much they mean to this Division.”

British Army Major General Doug Chalmers, Deputy Commanding General III Corps in Fort Hood, Texas, presided over the ceremony. He noted that Brig. Gen. Frank had a unique ability to connect with the community through his strong interpersonal skills and humble nature.

Frank will next serve as the Deputy Commanding General of the Army Cadet Command at Fort Knox, Kentucky. Taking his place as the Acting Senior Commander is Brigadier General William A. Turner, the Deputy Commanding General for Sustainment of the Combined Joint Forces Land Component Command – Operation Inherent Resolve, Baghdad.

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NEWS RELEASE

The GCH LaVerne Allen Memorial Scholarship committee is pleased to announce Ryan Coffman and Madisyn Riffel as the recipients of the 2017 LaVerne Allen Memorial Nursing Scholarship.

Madisyn Riffel, a 2017 graduate of Abilene High School, plans to attend Fort Hays State University in the fall to pursue a nursing degree. Madisyn currently works as a Certified Nurse Aide and a Dietary Aide for Memorial Hospital in Abilene. “For as long as I can remember, I have always had a concern for others and tend to put their needs before my own,” said Madisyn. “I really took an interest into nursing a few years ago when I began taking biology courses. I researched the pathway and discussed my options with several family-friends who are nurses. I continue to fall in love with the rewarding task of being a caretaker, an assistant and a friend to patients.”

Ryan Coffman, a 2017 graduate of Junction City High School, plans to attend Washburn University in the fall to attain her nursing degree and eventually become a Certified Nurse Midwife. Ryan currently works for Geary Community Hospital as a Certified Nurse Aide in the Women’s Center. Ryan stated “I was born with the desire to become a nurse. I believe it is in my genes since both of my parents have served and protected the public for over 25 years each. Perhaps nursing is my way to feel the joy of public service in my heart. I looked up to LaVerne Allen, being her neighbor throughout my childhood was a learning experience. Mrs. Allen showed me compassion, love and responsibility while she was frequently looking after me. When she passed, I knew I wanted to put as much love and compassion into everything just like her.”

LaVerne Allen was a dedicated Registered Nurse who worked at Geary Community Hospital for 61 years. The LaVerne Allen Memorial Nursing Scholarship was established by LaVerne’s granddaughter, Amy, to honor her grandmother’s contribution to the nursing profession with the thought of helping individuals achieve their goal of becoming a Registered Nurse and giving back to their community.

Each recipient will receive $500 for the 2017-18 school year. Donations to the LaVerne Allen Memorial Nursing Scholarship can be made to the Geary Community Healthcare Foundation, P.O. Box 3015, Junction City, Kansas 66441.

Over 7000 people attended the Symphony in the Flint Hills on the Deer Horn Ranch in Geary County earlier this month.

Christy Davis, Symphony in the Flint Hills Executive Director, said that 60 percent of those in attendance were from the Kansas City area, a figure that is relatively common.

“There’s a greater economic impact from the community itself when we bring people from the outside, it’s people who spend money that aren’t local folks; but it’s important that we continue to work to share our message within the Flint Hills itself, because the people who live in the Flint Hills are the ones who are here to protect it,” said Davis.

While the event sells out of tickets each year, Davis noted there are still perceptions to overcome.

“People hear our name, and they have an idea of what a symphony is, and I think it’s very important for people to understand that at Symphony in the Flint Hills at our signature event – it’s the landscape that’s the star of the show,” said Davis. “It’s really about enhancing appreciation for the landscape; and we do that with all different kinds of music.”

With the focus on the landscape, Davis said that the event gives people access to areas of the tall grass prairie they normally wouldn’t be able to see.

“People see some of it when they’re driving on the turnpike, they think of that rolling natural landscape; but there are a lot of places that are very remote that people don’t see,” said Davis. “[You’re] never going to get out into the middle of the open prairie like we provide access to through our event, and we create infrastructure for that.”

Symphony staff build paths and roads giving people access to areas that is “generally on private land.”

The economic impact to the Flint Hills region has been in excess of $100 million over the past twelve years. Davis noted that each year the event is held, it is about a $10 million economic impact.

Approximately 900 visitors stayed in hotels in Junction City or surrounding areas, with over 1150 visiting or spending time in Junction City.

Recipients of the Pathways to a Healthy Kansas grant will be announced on Friday, June 30th.

Live Well Geary County applied for the $500,000 grant on behalf of the entire community; if awarded, the money will be given over a three year period.

Susie Bilderback, Live Well Geary County, said that the first $100,000 will go directly to the Live Well group.

“There is seven pathways involving different areas – education/the school district, the hospital, food retail, healthcare, restaurants, worksite wellness, community policy and community well-being – so we’re going to be hitting all of those different areas with funding,” said Bilderback. “It’s pretty prescribed, it’s not like whatever you want to do you get to use this money for by any means; you have to do what [they] would like you to do and then you have an opportunity to get the rest of the funds.”

Sixteen communities across Kansas were awarded site visits. Junction City/Geary County hosted the grant committee for a site visit last month where various community members spoke in support of Live Well Geary County.

“Everyone showed up that day to really give the support of Live Well Geary County and show that we’re all here for one reason and that’s to make this community a healthier place,” said Nikki Davis, Geary Community Hospital Marketing Director. “The three pillars that are going to be addressed in this grant are smoking cessation, nutrition, and exercise; Geary County is ranked one of the most obese and food insecurity in the state with the highest smoking rate.”

Live Well Geary County previously applied for the Pathways to a Healthy Kansas Grant and received a site visit but was not awarded.

The grant is funded by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas in order “to provide community coalitions with the tools and resources needed to remove barriers and engage their communities in ways that enable healthy eating and tobacco-free, active living to become a way of life.”

Welcome to Junction-ville, the City’s business district where you can find food, entertainment and shopping.

Junction-ville was the name given to an idea to create a business district in the community in order to drive tourism. The idea was part of a joint meeting with City, County and School District representatives as they discussed ways to help the community to grow.

“The idea that was brought up by Mr. Brooks (USD 475 Board of Education) was to create a little area like Junction-ville or Junction City-ville and make that a little district of businesses, coffee shops and places to hang out,” said Phyllis Fitzgerald, Mayor of Junction City.

Although the name is quirky at best – the idea created discussion to reach visitors through a mobile app.

“Some people will say, ‘well there’s nothing to do in Junction City’ – well, if we had an app, a Junction-ville app for instance, and that app was tied to the current events and things that are going on, the businesses here, places to eat, and places to stay…it would be like a one-stop shopping for having fun, eating and enjoying your stay,” said Fitzgerald.

Fitzgerald noted that “first impressions are lasting” and what may start as an influx of visitors, could turn into future homeowners.

City Manager Allen Dinkel said that it’s important to have the discussion regarding ways to promote the community with the three major entities – the City, the County, and the School District.

“If we get more people living in this town, that means more children go to school which means more State tax dollars for our schools which then drives population up, which then sells our community,” said Dinkel. “These three entities do need to work together and the more cohesive we get, the better we will be.”

No formal action was taken during the discussion.