32 JCHS art students traveled to Hays for the 43^rd High School Art Exhibition hosted by FHSU’s Department of Art and Design on Wednesday.  Over 60 schools and 1100 high school students took part in the show.

A panel jury selected artwork for certificate of merit awards and 16 pieces from JCHS students won awards. Award winners included Cristina Baquero, Sam Pettitt, Jaedn Cooper, Brittany Webster, Megan Burfict, Jasmin Jackson (2 awards), Ariana Alexander (2 awards), Tessa Wilcox, Janine Olidan, Stephanie Austin, Kaylee Heller, Alyson Peek, Ashley Heuton, and Danny Young.

Update:

Riley County police issued a statement this morning on the search and location of Staff Sgt. Garett Michael Swift.

FORT RILEY, Kan. – The 1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley are seeking the public’s help in locating a Soldier who is missing.

Staff Sgt. Garett Michael Swift, a fire support specialist with Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 1st Battalion, 5th Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Inf. Div., was last in contact with his unit April 18 at 9 p.m. The 37-year-old drives a 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe, license number HAV 507.

At this time, Swift is only being sought to ensure his welfare.

Those with information regarding Swift are asked to call his unit at (785) 239-0568 or the Fort Riley Military Police Desk at (785) 239-6767.

When you walk in the Bradley Gym at Saint Xavier High School the Rams’ pride and history will be on full display.

Eleven banners depicting sports and team championships and activities in the history of the school from 1925 until 2017 are now hanging above the stage in the gym. They were on display during a public ceremony Tuesday that was attended by current students plus former coaches and players.

School Principal Shawn Augustine explained the project spearheaded in part by alumni member Dan Zoeller, began to

take shape this past fall. “In the month of October we started looking at what way can we give back to everyone that’s been through here, whether it’s been in academic, athletic activity whatever that may be.” The end result…the championship banners.

Several former athletes, students and coaches were in attendance. One of them was Sonny Ehm, who quarterbacked the 1959 CLC League championship football team. He remembers those years. “It was a running game then so we had three backs in eight-man football that could run. That was a distinct advantage. There wasn’t a whole lot of throwing, but there was a lot of running.

Former girls volleyball and basketball standout Leslie ( Wahle ) Goodwin was a part of the Saint Xavier Rams volleyball team that finished second in the One-A State Tournament in 1988 in western Kansas. “Our principal at the time, Bill Orth, when we made it to state he let us ride in his RV all the way out there. It was the most fun. ” Wahle added on a more serious note, “Seriously, going out there, the experience of doing something that Saint X hadn’t done in volleyball. It was really exciting.” She was also a key player on the team that finished fourth at state in her senior year at Saint X.

Among the former coaches in attendance were girls basketball coach Roger Diekman, boys basketball coach Dennis Throne, and boys basketball coach Ben Meseke. Throne was the head coach for the Rams when they knocked off top seeded Bennington in the Regional finals at the Bradley Gym. “What I remember about that game particularly, we never led until just the final seconds. Tim Lueke came down and hit a shot. Bennington player just kind of panicked and drove to the baseline, and we hemmed him in, he threw up a prayer and it missed.”

Current students at Saint Xavier were also in attendance for the ceremony on Tuesday afternoon at the Bradley Gym.

Geary County is the most food insecure county in Kansas – that is one claim to fame that many in the community are trying hard to dispel.

Wheels of Hope is an organization that provides food to local families as a supplement to the food that they might receive from other sources in the community.

Shelley Hoyle-Kite noted that the mission of the non-profit organization is  hope –help other people eat. “Our mission is to provide food to chronically hungry children and families in this community; so we deliver food on a monthly basis to a group of people that we’ve identified [as being in need].”

Wheels of Hope was officially founded in July 2014 as a way to combat food insecurity in the County.

“[Many] families do not have access to healthy, nutritious food – it’s not easily accessible to them; and we all know that we need healthy, nutritious food to live,” said Hoyle-Kite. “[Food] affects our mind, our body, and everything we do in life; it’s a very important need.”

Being ranked as the most food insecure county, didn’t come as a surprise to Hoyle-Kite who worked in the school district for many years and saw childhood hunger firsthand. “In my years in the school district, I’ve seen a lot of indicators [of food insecurity]; the children that [Wheels of Hope] serves are those kids that come to school Monday morning and just inhale their breakfast and you wonder if they’ve had a real meal – they’ve probably had snacks and stuff – but a real meal since Friday at noon.”

Since July 2014 Wheels of Hope has worked to address food insecurity by serving over 1000 local families. From July 2014 to the end of June 2015, 373 families were served. “From 2015 to 2016 we served 522 [families]…and then this year so far (from July 2016), we’ve served 451,” said Hoyle-Kite. “So we’re going to surpass that 522 [in 15-16] I’m pretty confident.”

A total of 1346 families have been served through the Wheels of Hope mobile food pantry.

Donations to the mobile pantry are welcome at the First United Methodist Church in Junction City, for more information click here. You can also receive more information on Facebook.

Volunteers are also needed for the ongoing effort.

For more information contact Shelley Hoyle-Kite at 238-6222 or tandskite@cox.net.

Offers.com compiled a list of some of the freebies you can take advantage of on Tax Day (Tuesday, April 18th); here are a few of the local offers:

• Arby’s – Chow down on free curly fries on Tax Day.
• Bruegger’s – Take home a Big Bagel Bundle with 13 bagels and two tubs of cream cheese for $10.40.
• Chili’s – Sip $6 blueberry and pineapple margaritas on Tax Day.
• McDonald’s – Call your local McDonald’s to find out what Tax Day deals are being offered. Deals may include:
  • Buy one, get one Big Mac or Quarter Pounder with cheese for $0.01, $0.15, or $0.25.
  • Free small French fries.
  • Hamburger for $0.59.
• Papa John’s – You can slice up a large pizza with up to three toppings and a two-liter soft drink for $10.40.
• Papa Murphy’s – Bring home two Take ‘N’ Bake Pizzas for $10.40.
• Pizza Hut – Take 30% off online orders.
• Sonic – Slurp down half priced drinks and slushies all day.
• Barnes and Noble – Receive 10% off any order.
• Dollar General – Score 10% off any order.
• Payless Shoes – You can receive 15% off any order.
• JetBlue – You could win a free, one-way flight if you owe taxes this year.
• Office Depot & Office Max – Get five pounds of document shredding for free.
• Staples – Print a coupon for up to two pounds of document shredding for free.

RILEY COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities in Riley County continue to investigate a hit and run accident and asking the public to help find a vehicle.

Just before 2a.m. April 13, police responded to a report of a hit and run injury accident that at the intersection of 12^th Street and Bluemont Avenue in Manhattan, according to a media release.

First responders found a pedestrian identified as Amber Wilhelm, 21, Manhattan, suffering from severe injuries after being struck by a vehicle.

On Tuesday, Wilhelm’s father released a statement  asking for help to find those responsible for the accident. (You’ll notice some background noise – that’s the sound of the machines helping keep Amber alive. She’s fighting for her life in critical care at Storming Vail in Topeka.)

Witnesses on scene described a light in color 2011 to 2016 Chevrolet or GMC extended cab pickup truck that hit her and then fled the scene headed westbound on Anderson Avenue.

Interviews with witnesses lead officers to believe there is a chance that the suspect vehicle will only have slight damage to its front end.

Wilhelm was transported to Via Christi and then flown to Stormont Vail where she remains in critical condition.

Anyone with information on a vehicle matching the description is encouraged to call police at 785-537-2112.

Challenge awards have been presented to Washington and Westwood Elementary Schools in Geary USD 475.

The awards are from the Confidence in Kansas Public Education Task Force, which named 76 schools in 33 public school districts as award recipients.

The Challenge Award recognizes Kansas schools that are making a notable difference in student achievement despite facing significant challenges in their school population.

Gene Taylor was introduced Monday morning as the new Athletic Director at Kansas State University. Taylor will begin work at the university on May 1st.

He was introduced by the President of Kansas State University Richard Myers.

https://soundcloud.com/user-472396287/ksu-athletic-director

The Volunteer of the Year and Distinguished Auxilian awards were announced at the annual Geary Community Hospital Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon Monday, April 10, at the hospital.

The 2016 Volunteer of the Year recipient was Liz Mankowski and the Distinguished Auxilian award winner was Gin Steinbrecker. Fifty-seven volunteers were recognized for 8,992.5 hours of service in 2016. Collectively, the volunteers have dedicated 429 years of service toward Geary Community Hospital.