The longtime director of the Geary County Convention & Visitor’s Bureau, Connie Hall will retire, effective this Friday, December 16.

Hall told JC Post after a lengthy consideration there’s a financial benefit for her to retire at this time. “It is in my retirement benefits through KPER’s, sick leave and vacation time.”

Hall has been employed with the CVB for approximately 25 years as administrative assistant, marketing director, and since 2000 as the executive director. She cites the lobbying work to get the convention center built as one of the big highlights during her tenure as executive director. “We worked really hard and steady on that, and were able to, through people in town, contact J.Q. Hammons, and to get a first class convention center here.” Hall added for many years they had to turn down conventions and meetings because there was no locale that met their needs. “Seeing that as a plus it was really great for the community to have that piece of additional business here. ”

Hall referred to the convention & visitor’s bureau advisory committee by saying everyone who has sat on that committee have been fantastic people with their hearts in tourism. “The CVB will continue to go far, and they’ve got some really good people that are right here in it now, and they have the capability of leading it further.”

 

Gifts, toys, and smiles from both children and adults were part of the Shop with a Cop Christmas shopping experience on Saturday at the Walmart Supercenter in Junction City.

Members of the Junction City Police, Geary County Sheriff and Grandview Plaza Police Departments provided breakfast and took children who had been recommended for the program to purchase Christmas gifts.

Al Babcock with the Junction City Police Department said approximately 70 kids participated, with each getting a $100 gift card to spend as they choose. Toys were a popular gift choice. Babcock said the kids were excited. ‘They’re kind of overwhelmed by all the toys that are here so it’s kind of a hard choice to make.” Babcock added it made the officers real good.

Prior to the shopping trip the children were treated to breakfast at the Second Missionary Baptist Church.

A 500,000 bushel grain bin that was about half full of corn collapsed in White City Wednesday morning.

There were no injuries.

Chris Blackledge, Morris County Emergency Management Director, reported that the grain bin was owned by Mor-Kan Grain. “Emergency crews responded and found that the grain bin had come straight down.  It was 500,000 bushel capacity, but it was only 250,000 bushels ( full ) of corn and was spilled all over the ground.”

Blackledge stated there were four employees at the elevator at the time, about 10:45 a.m. They were not injured. The cleanup process will begin today ( Thursday ).

The cause of the collapse is unknown at this time.

Blackledge said the elevator employees heard a loud commotion outside. “Looked and saw a big cloud of grain dust. And then they could see the side of the bin had opened up, and corn was coming out. It was kind of coming to the ground and tearing itself apart.”

In a unanimous decision, the Manhattan-Ogden USD 383 Board of Education voted to retain the Manhattan High School Indian image and name.

Board members quarrelled over their decision for nearly an hour during the December 7th meeting before ultimately agreeing upon an official course of action and voting to retain the Indian name and image – with conditions.

Those conditions include the creation/formation of a committee in January 2017 of stakeholders, administrators, students, community members on either side of the argument, etc. to address at least the following statements and return to the Board with a decision on a further course of action by their September 6, 2017 meeting:

1. find a proper way to honor Frank Prentup and his legacy; creation of a scholarship (Board member offered to put up money that will be matched by community members), naming of a building, structure, some space with the Prentup name
2. creating and implementing a teaching program for students, and staff – suggestions included a freshman orientation highlighting the Native American plight and how to properly honor and respect Indigenous peoples
3. explore the creation of a mascot for students to rally around distinct from Indian name and image
4. establish true cost and timeline for phasing out or removal of Indian image/name

Board President Marcia Rozell stressed that the decision was to retain the mascot, and the creation of the committee will not be to remove the Indian name and image but to find a common ground and proper way to honor Frank Prentup.

Frank Prentup was a beloved Manhattan High School football coach that brought prominence and a winning tradition to the school. Students and staff would often refer to Prentup, a Native American, as Chief – a term of endearment for the man who brought pride to Manhattan High School. In 1940 the student body voted “Indian” as their school mascot/symbol.

Prentup’s son, Duke, spoke at an open forum last week begging the Board not to remove his father’s legacy from the high school and to retain the Indian name and image.

For now, Manhattan Indians still stands.

Roanna Fultz is the December Employee of the Month at Geary Community Hospital. Fultz works in the Rago Radiology department at GCH.

Roanna has worked at Geary Community Hospital since 2002 and is recognized by co-workers for her unfailing patient-focused attitude. Her commitment to patients was shown recently when Roanna learned that a patient with stage 4 cancer was waiting – after having been discharged from the ER at 6:45 am – for a 2:30 pm radiology appointment. The patient’s family was uncomfortable taking the patient home in their current condition. Roanna stepped in, taking the initiative to get the patient moved up in the schedule to be seen at 10:00 am. The patient’s family was very complimentary of Roanna and greatly appreciated her intervention. This example is just one of many times when Roanna has gone above and beyond for our patients.

In all she does, Roanna Fultz displays her commitment to delivering excellent care with integrity and respect at every step of the way. She is an asset to the GCH family and we are proud to recognize her great work.

Musicians have always been a part of the military tradition and legacy – but for many years, being a musician wasn’t recognized as an official “job”.

The First Infantry Division Band has formally been in existence since 1943, and today’s soldiers are living out their dreams as professional musicians.

1SG Terrina Anderson, 1st Infantry Division Band senior enlisted and Acting Commander said she’s always asked ‘so what do you really do?’. “I play clarinet, and it’s awesome…we hire professional musicians, you have to be able to play an instrument we’re not going to teach you how to play and most people have a college degree or some college where they studied music.”

The 1st ID Band is one of a few military bands that have their own dedicated professional building. That level of professionalism has allowed them to be a fan favorite in the Flint Hills Region, especially in the four years that they’ve held Holiday Concerts in conjunction with the Junction City Community Band.

“We’re professional musicians, the Army recognizes that we deserve professional equipment, [and] professional facilities,” said Anderson.

This year’s Holiday Concert is titled the Fort Riley 100th Anniversary Holiday Revue. Junction City Community Band Director Victor Wong said it’s a special opportunity for them to join forces for the free community concert. “It’s a pleasure to be able to play with an adult band [and] it’s just a lot of fun for us.”

Twenty seven Fort Riley soldiers and seven members of the Junction City Community Band will join efforts. This event will feature theatrical excerpts and singing highlighting SFC Delvalle from the Military Police Battalion.

Wong, as well as Kansas State University Band Director Frank Tracz will serve as Guest Conductors during the Holiday Revue in lieu of First Infantry Division Band Commander, CW2 Matthew David’s absence due to deployment.

SPC Lawrence Evans, Holiday Revue Producer said that even from afar CW2 David is leading the band and offering his support. “Even though he’s not here to conduct, he arranged half the concert…this is how genius he is, he hears it and then writes it down in all of the parts for the concert – Home Alone, the White Christmas medley, the White Christmas overture, [and] Sleigh Ride the Ella Fitzgerald version.”

1SG Anderson said it’s “invigorating” to have a Commander that can lend his talents and leadership in that way. “It’s not required of him and certainly not all Commanders can do that, but he’s just really special in that he can provide us with stuff and it’s really motivating to the band…we have this perfect piece of music that’s just for us and it makes us sound really good.”

This year’s concert will feature holiday greetings from deployed soldiers including Fort Riley and 1st Infantry Division Commanding General Joseph M. Martin and CSM Joseph C. Cornelison.

Garrison Commander Colonel John Lawrence will be the guest emcee during Friday’s show, and 1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley Acting Senior Commander Brig. General Patrick D. Frank will host Saturday evening.

The Holiday Revue is Friday, December 16th and Saturday, December 17th at 7:30 pm at the C.L. Hoover Opera House in Junction City.

This event is free. For more information, contact the Box off at 238-3906.

 

Junction City, Kansas: This afternoon Central National Bank presented a check for $25,155.27 to the United Way of Junction City – Geary County in support of their 2017 Campaign. Central National Bank staff spent the month of October raising funds for United Way.

“Each year the staff at Central National Bank enjoy coming together and planning activities such as bake sales, a silent auction, bingo contests and other fun events. We also have the opportunity to serve meals to the community with all raised funds going to the United Way organization. It is great to see the community come together to support these events,” said Lindsey Snider, Commercial Loan Officer and captain of the United Way team at Central National Bank. “The new, fun event this year was Pie-sident,which consisted of five of our management team members competing to get a pie in the face. Employees could pay to vote for the winner.”

“These special fundraising activities, combined with our strong employee payroll deduction program, as well as a company donation, have been the key to our successful campaigns,” said Snider.

This is the tenth year in a row that Central National Bank has been named a Platinum Pacesetter, a designation given to organizations who raise over $15,000 in funds for the campaign.

“As a community bank, we recognize the importance of giving back to our community,” said Robert Munson, Central National Bank Junction City President. “Each year I am so pleased at the tremendous job that our staff does with the United Way Campaign here at Central National Bank. This year’s campaign total of over $25,000.00 was absolutely amazing! A large majority of the total funds raised is directly attributable to the efforts and generosity of our staff, either from their contributions through our staff payroll deduction program, or from the special activities and events held during our internal United Way Campaign.”

“As a business that has been in Junction City and Geary County for the past 132 years, we want to assist with programs that improve this community and help its citizens. The United Way of Junction City –Geary County provides a tremendous service to this community; Central National Bank is very pleased to be one of the pacesetter organizations with regard to the United Way’s fundraising efforts in this community.”

“Central National Bank would like to thank all of the staff who helped to organize the internal drive,”added Munson. “Each year it takes personal contributions and a great amount of effort to raise such a significant amount of money.”

The team who led the bank efforts this year consisted of: Lindsey Snider, Scott Rock, Jeanette Felix,Carrie Green, Andrew Haynes, Jamel Wilcox, Pam Diekmann and Amanda Rolfs.

About Central National Bank

Central National Bank is based out of Junction City, Kansas. Founded in 1884, Central National Bank has bank locations in 22 communities across Kansas and Nebraska. Their mission has always been to support and strengthen local communities through employee involvement, corporate citizenship and technological innovation.