Junction City officials are tired of the eyesore created when people leave their yard grass clippings in the streets.

The City is doing something about it. Staff and legal counsel are working on an ordinance that could lead to fines for violators.

Cheryl Beatty, Assistant City Manager, said under the current blight code the City can only give seven to ten days notice to clean it up, and must witness the offense occurring. They feel the seven to ten day period needs to be eliminated. It must be immediate. “So what we’re going to do is develop a new ordinance that we’ve seen other cities do. Make this an issue of a property owner liability issue in which we can have our inspectors issue tickets. They can issue them a warning ticket to say you can have so many hours, or 24 hours, to clean it up. If you don’t we’re going to make that ticket into a fine. And then they have to pay a fine in Municipal Court.”

Commissioner Pat Landes said Tuesday night it is past time to do something about the people who blow grass clippings into the street, and it’s time for a little punishment. Other commissioners had similar sentiments. Mayor Mick McCallister noted the only time you get somebody’s attention is when you get in their pocketbook. Commissioner Mike Ryan said a way needs to be figured out to target people leaving grass in the street, and bring about a change in attitude.

The Junction City Area Chamber of Commerce has announced the hiring of Eddie Reeder, Junction City, for the independent contract position of Sports Complex Project Manager. He will work to help determine if a sports complex position is feasible for Junction City, how it could possibly done and would operate.

Reeder is a graduate of North Carolina State University with  Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management. He comes to the position in Junction City from a program director position with the Mcpherson ( Kansas ) Family YMCA and Recreation Commission.

“I’ve always been interested in sports, not only the impact that sports have on the kids but also the possibilities within the community, and especially with a facility like this that’s a revenue generator for Geary County and Junction City. It’s a prime location in the state. When I first started reading about it I jumped on board right away. I think it’s a great idea.”

Chamber CEO Dennis Beson announced Reeder’s hiring. “He’s essentially going to be focused on a couple of main areas. First he’s going to be writing a business plan for the sports complex, how it’s going to happen….all of the parts, and pieces, property location, how much funding, he’s going to be responsible for doing some, probably grant writing, or at least hiring a grant writer and figuring out what the cost is going to be.”

Reeder will be paid through a one cent transient guest tax levied by the County for the project, with the total amount not exceeding $50,000. That money comes from the tax revenues paid by users of hotel and motel lodging facilities.

Beson is hopeful a plan can be developed by the end of six months, and possibly sooner, so that officials have a good idea if the development of a sports complex project can happen.

 

 

 

The Geary County Commission is proposing to raise the county property tax levy for 2017 by 6.126 mills.

The commission adopted the proposed 2017 budget for publication on Monday. On August 29 the governing body will conduct a public hearing and consider final approval of the spending plan.

Florence Whitebread, Geary County Commission Chair, pointed to rising social costs as a major factor in the need to increase the tax levy. “She noted the County’s jail population since the jail was funded one year ago has gone up, as one example. “It’s just these social costs that are running us up. We were talking about the animals at the animal shelter.” Whitebread noted 160 animals came into the shelter in the month of June, for example. “That’s a tremendous load. So many of our departments are seeing these big increases.”

The commission could choose to lower the tax levy before final approval but they cannot raise it further than the current proposed increase.

If the six mill increase is approved it would mean the county commission has raised the property tax levy approximately 20 mills over the course of the last three years.  Declining funding from the state is considered a key reason why that has been necessary.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The first day of school in Geary USD 475 is Monday (August 15 )  for most students.

At Junction City High School all students will attend classes for a full day from 8:30 a.m. to 3:35 p.m. That is a change from years past when only ninth graders and new students attended on the first day.

At Junction City and Fort Riley Middle School sixth graders and new students will attend for a half day from 7:50 a.m. to 11 a.m.  At most elementary schools students in grades one through five will attend from 8 a.m. to 11:25 a.m. , but at Fort Riley Elementary students will attend from 7:45 to 11:10, and at Seitz Elementary from 8:15 to 11:40 a.m.

The first day of school for kindergarten will be August 18. Early Childhood classes begin Tuesday August 23 with AM classes from 8:15 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. and PM classes from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

On Tuesday, August 16,  all students in grades 1-12 will attend classes for a full day.

The Courtyard by Marriott Convention Center was the site for the 2016 Years of Service Luncheon.

LaDonna Junghans, School Board President opened the luncheon with warm remarks. 

“In this room is a lot of knowledge and expertise and wisdom. We have so much appreciation for each one of you and we do hope that the young people that have just arrived take time to listen to you and learn from you because you are a great resource,” said Junghans referring to the 100 plus new – many young – teachers in the District.

The 35 year honorees:

• Vicki Hall – Westwood Elem
• Lynn Inkman – Grandview Elem
• Melanie Laster – Jefferson Elem
• Shari Ryker – Westwood Elem
• Doris Scripter – Franklin Elem
• Diana Spriggs – Fort Riley Middle School
• Barbara Stewart – Mary E. Devin Center
• James Russell (did not attend)

As noted by her presenter, Diana Spriggs’ best memory teaching over the years:  “A former elementary student saw her in McDonald’s and said, ‘you haven’t aged,’ and ‘the good teachers always stay looking young’.”

Beth Hudson, Associate Superintendent, on Melanie Laster’s best quality:  “What I respect most about Melanie is that she is a USD 475 person to the core, and she’s always going to do what’s best for the district no matter what and she finds the best about any situation and makes adjustments.”

The 30 year honorees:

• Brenda Breese – Spring Valley Elem
• Stacey Cooke – JCHS
• Randy Wewer – JCHS
• Dana Williamson – Ware Elem

Deb Gustafson, Principal Ware Elementary, on her longtime friend and colleague Dana Williamson:  “You c an not, absolutely can not have a bad day when you’re around Dana Williamson; no matter what is happening at school, no matter what is happening in her personal life she will find a way to put a positive spin on it, and that characteristic is very, very unique…and that’s absolutely and truly what I appreciate the most about her.”

Stacey Cooke, Junction City High School, reflecting on 30 years in USD 475:  “In 2004 our son passed away and I wasn’t sure what I was going to do, but I knew it wasn’t going to be teaching anymore. That May, one of my former students came to see me and she said ‘Mr. Cooke, you probably don’t remember me, but one day you told me something – that I would someday find what it was I was going to do with my life and I would do it and I’d be very good at it’ – she’d joined the Air Force and she was in Bosnia extracting burn victims from the war. I drove home that evening, and everything had changed – I said ‘Cooke, you made a difference with that one’ – and I’m still here.”

The 25 year honorees:

• Denise Boller – Eisenhower Elem
• Linda Bongers – Professional Learning Center
• Margaret Chambers – Spring Valley Elem
• Daneen Deam – Franklin Elem
• Kathryn Goetsch – Lincoln Elem
• Eileen Hackley – Westwood Elem
• Sherry Martin – JCHS
• Michelle McDaniel – JCMS
• Marilyn Newlon – Early Childhood Center
• Sarah Reynolds – JCHS
• Loyce (Cathy) Striggow – Washington Elem
• Michele Wetklow – Westwood Elem
• Kathy Williams – Mary E. Devin Center

Barbara Stewart, Mary E. Devin Center, was announced as retiring in December, and also Margaret Chambers, Spring Valley Elementary, as retiring after this school year.

Dr. Corbin Witt, Superintendent of Schools for USD 475 said it bets:  “Thank you for your perseverance, thank you for giving your lives to education.”

 

 

Former State Representative Allan Rothlisberg of Grandview Plaza was injured in an accident Wednesday morning in Riley County on McDowell Creek Road.

Rothlisberg informed JC Post that he was involved in the accident on McDowell Creek Road, suffered a neck injury, was taken by private vehicle to Irwin Army Community Hospital at Fort Riley, and then transported by ambulance to Stormont Vail Hospital in Topeka. He will undergo surgery next week.

As of Thursday afternoon Rothlisberg was still hospitalized at Stormont Vail, but was hopeful he would be dismissed on Friday until the surgical procedure next week.

Rothlisberg explained he was traveling to Manhattan for a Flint Hills Veterans Coalition meeting when his Sebring convertible hit a pile of gravel in an area where road work had been under way, he lost control of the vehicle. The car was totaled in the accident.

Rothlisberg served as a Republican representative for the 65th District in the Kansas House from January 2013 to January 2015. That district includes a portion of Junction City.

 

Senator Jerry Moran spoke with JC Post and announed that the new Irwin Army Community Hospital has set a date for a ribbon cutting ceremony.

“Finally a ribbon cutting is scheduled, and my understanding is that patients soon thereafter will be admitted to [the new] Irwin Army Hospital – and that date has been determined to be October the 12th,” said Moran.

Adjacent to the oldest army hospital in the nation, the new Irwin Army Community Hospital has been long overdue to open with countless delays and setbacks.

“Finally after a long wait, a long, long wait, our servicemen and women, our retired military are going to have access to a new and updated state of the art facility,” said Moran.

Moran credits the Commanding General of Fort Riley Wayne W. Grigsby Jr. with helping bring the opening of the hospital to fruition.

“The Commanding General at Fort Riley has been so helpful, he really has taken a lead and taken charge of making certain that the delays came to an end and the hospital was opened,” said Moran.

Hopefully, this ribbon cutting stays on track and as scheduled – mark your calendars for October 12th at the new Irwin Army Community Hospital.

 

The Junction City Area Chamber of Commerce is asking businesses, community partners, and everyone in town to do their part to help keep the image of Junction City a positive one.

Dennis Beson, Chamber of Commerce CEO, says that maintaining the image of Junction City is a community effort.

“It’s important that every citizen, business owner, city/county agency – it’s all a team effort – we have to be out there cleaning up the image of our city and it takes each property, each residence, to create a better whole,” said Beson.

First impressions to visitors can go a long when trying to increase local revenue and keep people in Junction City.

“When people come to your town and look around and see that there’s garbage, there’s uncut grass, restaurants don’t have the weeds cut or trimmed – they’re probably going to make a determination that they’re not going to stop and stay there,” said Beson.

The more local revenue and visitors there are it then becomes easier to recruit and talk to other businesses and restaurants about locating in Junction City or Geary County – they see potential to earn on their investment.

“When a business comes looking to locate in a town, a very big part of what they do when they locate is – first of all ask questions about population and things like that – but they generally do a drive around town to see ‘what does the town look like/what is the image of the town’ and do they want to locate a business here, is it viable,” said Beson.

Everyone can do their part to help with the image of the city. It starts with simple things like maintaing your lawn, or your business’ lawn, keep the outside of your home and business neat and take pride in the image Junction City projects to the world.

City Ordiance: Section 235.210: – Weeds To Be Removed:  It shall be unlawful for any owner, renter, lessee, tenant or other person occupying or having charge or control of any premises to premit weeds to remain upon said premises or any area between the property lines of said premises and the certerline of any adjacent street or alley including, but not specifically limited to, sidewalks, streets, alleys, easements, rights-of-way and all other areas, public or private. All weeds are hereinafter defined are declared a nuisance and are subject to abatement, penalty, or both, as hereinafter provided.

“What we are asking you to do is make a concentrated effort to pick up any trash, remove/spray weeds, address any building issues, and just simply make sure that your property is in the best condition it can be.” – Junction City Area Chamber of Commerce

 

The Geary County Historical Society is celebrating YOU – the soldier, Veteran, grand-daughter, son, mother of a soldier.

Heather Hagedorn, Geary County Historical Museum Curator, said that it was a perfect decision to unveil this exhibit in 2017.

“We decided to do The Year of the Soldier in 2017 for a variety of reasons – there’s a huge historical importance here because it’s the 100th anniversary of the Big Red One, it’s also the 100th anniversary of America entering World War I – and so, the combination of things just made it the perfect year to do that,” said Hagedorn.

In addition to working on the exhibit, Historical Society Executive Director Katie Goerl is working on getting a Junction City staple recognized nationally.

“One thing I am doing to help prepare for The Year of the Soldier is trying to get the arch in Heritage Park on the National Register of Historic Places; so I’m working with the Rotary Club on that project and we hope to have that dedicated next year,” said Goerl.

Hagedorn’s task for 2017 is large, but she wants to recognize every soldier that has spent time in Geary county.

“We’re hoping to kind of cover all of the soldiers that have spent time in Geary county starting with the 1800s,” said Hagedorn.

In order to meet their goal, Hagedorn is asking for your help.

“We’d love for people to come in and share either objects that they might have – objects that they had or their father or mother or anyone who was involved with the military might’ve had; come in and share those items on loan or tell stories – I’d love to record them – so we’re kind of trying to do a little of everything, I’d love to tell as many stories as possible,” said Hagedorn.

The museum has public hours from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm but Hagedorn is available from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm to hear stories or meet with those that wish to stop by – just ring the bell outside at 530 N. Adams in Junction City.

To share your stories, artifacts, or contribute in any way for The Year of the Soldier call 238-1666 or email gearyhistory@gmail.com.

Teachers are back to work, Walmart’s school supplies aisle has been run amuck and speed trailers are out in the various school zones – yep, it’s almost back to school time for students.

Monday, August 15th is the start day for nearly all of USD 475 students, and it’s important to note the school zone speed limits in your area.

Captain Chuck Leithoff, Community Involvement Unit of the Junction City Police Department, said that they have speed reminders up to caution drivers that students will be out commuting to school next week.

“This week we’ve got the speed trailer out at the different school zones, just kind of with a warning up that school starts on Monday; and it will be flashing the 20 just to remind people that school zones will be in session starting next week,” said Leithoff.

Leithoff said that all school zones are 20 mph speed limits but the time in which that speed is enforced varies.

• Elementary school speed zones are in effect from 7:30 am – 8:30 am and 2:45 pm – 3:45 pm
• Middle school from 7:15 am – 8:15 am and 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm
• Saint Xavier Catholic school from 7:45 am – 8:45 am
• Freshman Success Academy from 8:00 am – 9:00 am and 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
• JCHS from 7:45 am- 8:45 am, 11:00 am – 1:30 pm, and 3:15 pm- 4:15 pm

Back to school can be an exciting time for many students and they may not be the most attentive to the roads while commuting to school.

“We just ask for drivers to be careful and we ask parents to remind the kids to be attentive to traffic,” said Leithoff.

Leithoff said that back to school also means more traffic out on the roads.

“Parents take their children to school and plus we’re going to have buses out on the road…so we probably will see more traffic around the schools, especially during those times,” said Leithoff.