The new Walmart Neighborhood Market on Junction City’s west side is now officially open.

During a ribbon cutting ceremony held Wednesday morning Ben Bennett, Geary County Commission Chairman explained to the stores manager, Patrick Carrell, that the store is something the community has been waiting on for quite some time.

“Patrick this is something that people on this side of town have been looking forward to for a long time. That we needed a grocery store, not because we weren’t served, just because of convenience more than anything,” said Bennett.

Hundreds of people turned out for the ribbon cutting, all of the 160+ parking stalls were full by approximately 7:20 am and parking spilled out onto Caroline Avenue.

That’s something that Mick McCallister, Junction City Mayor expects to see quite a bit.

“I think this facility, this store, is going to be full. It’s going to be full all day long,” said McCallister.

Traffic in and out of the new store was a concern for the City but McCallister indicated that they did address some of those concerns.

“I don’t think it’s quite going to be the issue that it was going to be, because now that we’ve properly striped some of those areas and made turning lanes, so it’s going to be a little bit easier.”

The 41,000 square foot building has been under construction since March at 1723 McFarland Road on the west side of Junction City.

 

The Walmart Neighborhood Market opens for business at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday.

The 41,000 square foot building has been under construction since March at 1723 McFarland Road on the west side of Junction City.

Patrick Carrell, Store Manager, said the final merchandise was being stocked Tuesday afternoon. A number of employees have been hired to work at the new outlet. “We’ve hired up to 100 associates so we have a lot of energetic associates ready to go.”

Grocery items are a key focus for the Walmart Neighborhood Market.

 

The Geary County Sheriff’s Department and Geary County Rural Fire Department responded to the Milford Lake area near the Fish Hatchery Sunday night for a report of a burning vehicle.

Sheriff’s Department Detective Lieutenant Brian L. Hornaday reported that on scene, Deputies found a 2008 Dodge Charger owned by Korey Wainwright, Fort Riley, fully engulfed in flames.  Investigators have determined that it was an act of arson.

No one was injured during the incident.

If you have information related to this case contact the Geary County Sheriff’s Department at 238-2261 or Crime Stoppers at 785-762-TIPS. You can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000 for any information leading to the arrest of the person ( s ) responsible.

The crowd cheered, the band played, and there were standing ovations for approximately 150 Vietnam veterans at Fort Riley on Friday.

The occasion….a Welcome Home Ceremony hosted by Fort Riley.

This is the 50th anniversary year of the Vietnam War. During the Welcome Home event Major General Wayne Grigsby Jr. told the veterans they were part of the long legacy of warriors that graced the history of this country.

“We honor here the burdens borne by our brothers and sisters that served in Vietnam fully knowing that they were not embraced as they should have been when they came home. The failure of our nation to care for the Vietnam veterans did not keep them from caring for one another, and all our veterans. Vietnam veterans have gone above beyond to make sure that the current generation….my generation, of soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines, do not have the same experience they did.”

The audience at Building 853 at Marshall Army Airfield joined inthe singing of the Big Red One song and the Armed Forces Medley during the program.

Afterwards, Vietnam Veteran Buzz Bruzina of Junction City called the ceremony “Unforgettable absolutely. It brings tears, chokes me up.”

Vietnam veteran Jim Fawcett felt the ceremony helped. “Oh yeah, I still got some ghosts I got to get rid of, but it helps.” On his message to fellow Vietnam veterans Fawcett stated simply, “Welcome home!

 

                                                 Vietnam Veteran Weldon Falwell

Teacher contract negotiators have reached a tentative agreement on 2015-16 teaching contracts in Geary USD 475.

Junction City Education Association President Cathy Rankin explained they avoided the next step of fact finding. “I think we both realized that going to fact finding would not be good for anybody. It wouldn’t be good for the kids, it wouldn’t be good for the teachers, and it wouldn’t be good for the district.”

Board of Education member Dr. Ferrell Miller explained they reached agreement in their Thursday negotiating session on two unresolved issues….one involving elementary school teacher collaborative planning time. “And the other was considering some compensation for those teachers who work at the Freshman Success Academy and travel daily to the high school ( Career Academy Campus ).”

Rankin said there will be a meeting on Tuesday with Human Resources to get the words of the agreement down, then it goes to the JCEA board on Thursday for approval. Once that is approved it will go to the bargaining unit for a ratification vote next week. If the teachers approve it the school board would then have to consider final approval of the agreement before it can go into effect.

The Geary County Sheriff’s Department is reporting two early morning non-injury vehicle accidents.

The first accident was reported at 5:19 am Thursday when Deputies responded to the 4100 block of Lyons Creek Road, in reference to a one vehicle accident with a deer.

Jason Roberts, of Junction City had been driving eastbound on Lyons Creek Road in a 2006 Chevrolet 2500 pickup, when his vehicle struck a deer in the road. There were no injuries reported in the accident.

The second accident was reported at 6:30 am as Deputies responded to Houston Road in Milford, in reference to a one vehicle roll-over accident.

Karlie Koprowski, of Milford, had been driving her 2001 Ford Escort south on Houston Road, when she lost control of the vehicle. The vehicle left the roadway, rolling once and coming to rest on its top. There were no injuries in the accident.

Seven of nine USD 475 teacher contract issues on which negotiators disagreed were resolved on Tuesday. The talks on the 2015-16 teaching contracts have been at impasse but there was progress in this latest session at the Devin Center.

Negotiators for the Board of Education and Junction City Education Association met. BOE member Dr. Farrell Miller agreed the teams got close to reaching a settlement. “We got seven out of the nine, so in an hour-and-a-half meeting that’s pretty good work.”

The two issues that remain unresolved include travel time for teachers moving to different buildings during the school day, and collaboration time so teachers can meet and work together during the day in collaboration.  Those issues will be addressed during a negotiating session scheduled at 4 p.m. Thursday at the Devin Center.

“We are closer to coming to a resolution than we were a couple of weeks ago. This is a very good session. I think we worked really well together, and made lots of progress.”

Junction City Education Association President Cathy Rankin feels negotiators are close to reaching a tentative agreement. “Yes, tonight was very productive, and we’re very excited. There’s only two things now that we really need to work on.”

On the two issues still to be resolved, Rankin said, “JCEA would like all of the duty requirements within a 40-hour week, and the District would like collaboration time within the student contact time. On the con side of that JCEA wants to be able to make sure that teachers have a sufficient amount of individual prep time. And so we are working on some creative solutions to this problem.”

If the negotiating teams reach a tentative settlement the proposed contract would have to go to the teachers for a ratification vote, and if approved there to the Board of Education for a final ratification vote before it could become effective.  If the negotiators do not reach a tentative settlement the next step would be a fact finding hearing on the unresolved issues where testimony and evidence could be presented.

 

Numerous teachers and members of the public expressed their concern Monday to the Geary USD 475 Board of Education about the ongoing impasse in teacher contract negotiations.

This is a sample of their comments to the BOE during a public comments  session at the monthly Board meeting at the Devin Center.

–Mary Lowe, Walmart employee, urged the Board to get the issue resolved, get along and be a team player.

–Crystal Rankin, 2nd grade teacher at Westwood Elementary School, addressed teacher plan time, noting the goal is to provide outstanding services to students and families, and teachers must be available 24-hours per day. She added when the teacher’s planning time is reduced the impact is great.

–Michael Whaley, Fort Riley Middle School, asked why a lawyer is representing the administration in negotiations and why he is not a member of the district. He also stated separately, “This new contract isn’t taking care of our people. People don’t respond to control. They respond to leadership.” Whaley also stated, “You can’t buy our teachers passion and dedication.”

–Linda Powers said some people that are making decisions aren’t sure what teachers do or who they are. She also noted the school culture depends on satisfied and eager staff.

–Retired teacher Mary Louise Stahl told the board this is a “wonderful school district.” During her comments she was “sad to see niggling away at plan time.” She urged the Board not to devalue their teachers, saying they’re doing a fine job. She told the Board, Do your best for these folks.”

–Retired teacher, elementary school principal, and Human Resource Director for the District, Sara Talley, that the District has entered extra innings and encouraged the Board this ( negotiations ) can be done. She added they have the desire and skills, and it’s time to make the tough decisions.

The Board of Education took no action after the public comments on the negotiations topic. But a negotiating session was already scheduled for Tuesday at 4 p.m. at the Devin Center.

Superintendent Dr. Corbin Witt confirmed earlier Monday during the Tuesday session issues would be clarified, there would be an attempt to make sure the negotiators are on the same page, and see if there is any opportunity to come to an agreement on a proposed contract that could be taken to a vote before fact finding occurs. If there is no agreement a fact finding hearing where evidence and testimony could be presented would be necessary.

FORT RILEY, Kan. – Soldiers returning from deployment today are often met
with family, friends and fanfare, but that wasn’t always the case decades
ago as troops came home from fighting in the Vietnam War.

To properly honor the Soldiers who fought in the conflict and the sacrifices
they made, the 1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley will host a Vietnam
Veterans Welcome Home Ceremony Nov. 6 on Fort Riley.

“The 1st Infantry Division – the nation’s First Division – will do what it
can to render proper thanks and honor to those who served in Vietnam during
a welcome home ceremony,” said Maj. Gen. Wayne W. Grigsby Jr., 1st Inf. Div.
and Fort Riley commanding general. “We, joined by our partners in the
Central Flint Hills Region of Kansas, owe a welcome home to our Vietnam
heroes that they deserve, that they never got.”

All veterans from all branches of the Armed Forces who served during the
Vietnam era are invited to take part in the welcome-home ceremony. Those
wishing to participate are asked to send an email to 1stIDEvents@gmail.com to RSVP.

Members of the public are encouraged to attend the ceremony to welcome the
Vietnam War veterans. The ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. on Marshall Army
Airfield.

Anyone entering Fort Riley who appears to be age 16 or older is required to
show a valid Department of Defense ID Card, Riley Access Pass or Riley
Access Badge. Visitors without a DOD ID card who wish to enter Fort Riley
are reminded that a temporary Fort Riley Access Pass or Badge is required.
If you know the exact date of your visit, it is highly recommended to get a
temporary pass or badge early by stopping by the Visitor Control Center or
emailing usarmy.riley.imcom-central.mbx.des-vcc@mail.mil. If you are unable
to get a pass early, make sure to allow extra time the day of your visit to
get through processing at the Visitor Control Center.

The Visitor Control Center (Building 885) is located by the Henry Gate
Access Control Point (Exit 301, U.S. Interstate Highway 70) and is open 24
hours a day, seven days a week.