The five-day Sundown Salute celebration begins Wednesday and runs through Sunday. There will be free concerts, fireworks and a parade.

Convention and Visitor’s Bureau Director Michelle Stimatze said the theme is Tribute to America.”We have plenty of entertainment, the carnival, vendors, we have 50-plus vendors that will be in the park, our beer tent, we have some really neat things for the kids this year.” Hedrick’s Promotions petting zoo and camel rides will be part of the attractions.

The Sundown Salute parade is scheduled at 10 a.m. Thursday and the Freedom Run activities will begin at 7 a.m. with both a 5K and 10K. There is also a one mile-fun Kid’s Run at 8:30 a.m. This will be the 43rd year for the Freedom Run. The annual Veterans Ceremony will be held at noon in Heritage Park.

Concerts performers will range from the tribute group KC/DC at 9:05 p.m. Wednesday to Hairball at 9 p.m. Friday. The Christian Night performers will be Kaylee Keller at 6:30 p.m. and Josh Wilson at 8 p.m. on Sunday, July 7th.

Ottaway Amusements carnival will be operate downtown all five days of Sundown Salute.

By Dewey Terrill

JC Post

Former Geary County Sheriff Tony Wolf has been placed on 12 months supervised probation and ordered to pay restitution totaling $2,200 plus costs and fees. That was the controlling sentence handed down in Geary County District Court on Friday morning for Wolf, who in April. pleaded no contest and was found guilty of one felony count of Theft, and a misdemeanor charge of Misuse of Public Funds.

Wolf submitted his resignation from the sheriff’s post in April following his convictions.

In District Court on Friday the court followed the recommendation of the attorneys and the plea agreement in the case, and sentenced Wolf to 12 months supervised probation on each count. But they are to run concurrently, meaning 12 months is the controlling term.

Wolf stated in court, “I’m sorry. This is tough, this is real tough,” and he apologized. Wolf was remorseful, “I’m sorry this had to work out this way,” and also told the community that he was sorry.

According to the factual basis outlined in court in April, Wolf authorized an expense of $530 against a county credit card to purchase tires for a friend’s vehicle but initially claimed it was a payment to a confidential informant for drug information which was false. Later he admitted to a KBI adgent that the tires were purchased for a friend. Those funds were credited by the vendor back to the credit card and Wolf later paid the vendor.

In the second case Wolf used state asset forfeiture funds to purchase items ranging from weapons and ammunition to a scope. Wolf turned in a list on that, but it did not include six items including a scope. He will make the $2,200 restitution in that case.

As a result of his felony conviction Wolf cannot own, use or possess a firearm for five years.

 

The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory from 1 to 8 p.m. for both Friday and Saturday.

Afternoon high temperatures are expected to rise into the low to upper 90s with heat index values surging from 103 to 107 degrees.

Heat-related illnesses are possible for those who spend a prolonged amount of time outdoors or for thosewho are more susceptible to heat, such as young children and the elderly.

During the advisory period you should try to limit your outdoor activiteis, if possible remain in an air-conditioned building and check up on relatives and neighbors. While outside, drink plenty of water, wear light and loose fitting clothing, and reduce strenous activities.

Registration is open for the Time Travel Camp at the Geary County Historical Society July 10th thorugh the 12th. Participants will learn about the Soldiers who shaped Geary County’s past. Each day will focus on a specific time in history including the Cavalry, World War I and World War II.

The hours for the camp will be 9 a.m. to noon each day for youth ages 8 to 13. The cost to attend is $25. Registration is open until July 2nd. Registsration forms are available at the museum or via email. To register contact Jennifer Dixon at gearyhistoryprograms@gmail.com or call ( 785 ) 238-1666.

The camp will be titled “Fort History.” Fort Riley was home to U.S. Cavalry units from its earliest days, until the 1940s, when the Army transitioned away from horse-mounted forces. During World War I and World War II the installation was used primarily for training troops at Camp Funston, and the entire community helped the war effort. Campers will participate in hands-on activities and presentations with each themed day of camp. They will range from making ropes used for Army horses to getting a front-row seat at the Fort Riley Commanding General’s Monted Color Guard reenactment with horses and weapons

The public can attend the demonstration by the Commanding General’s Mounted Color Guard in the back yard of the Museum at 11 a.m. on July 10th.

A substantial amount of site work on the new Junction City High School was completed in April. Rains were extensive in May, but the Chief Operations Officer for USD 475, David Wild, said there has been progress.” We’re now about right on schedule. The ball diamonds are done to grade. You can go out and look out over the site and see them up on the north end of the construction zone.”

Wild said the pad for the school building is under development. “You can also see it now taking shape and you can also see where the pad will drop off a few feet as it feeds into the new gymnasium. Probably start putting footings in place mid to late August time frame.”

Wild confirmed there will be multiple gyms in the building, including the main fieldhouse type gymnasium and an auxiliary facility that will have capacity for two gymnasiums in it. The Board of Education will have the option of expanding that to three, with that decision anticipated sometime in September.

The goal is to have the entire school completed and in use by August of 2021.

You can purchase and shoot off fireworks beginning Thursday in Junction City and Geary County.

Rural Fire Chief Garry Berges said the hours for the rural area of the county are 8 a.m. to midnight. “There are five fireworks stands that have applied for a permit, paid the necessary fee in the county. They are able to operate starting tomorrow through midnight July 5th.”

Within Junction City you can shoot fireworks:

–June 27th 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

–June 28th 8  a.m. to midnight

–June 29th 8 a.m. to midnight

–June 30th 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

–July 1st 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

–July 2nd 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

–July 3rd 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

–July 4th 8 a.m. to midnight

‘–July 5th 8 a.m. to midnight

UPDATE:

The Geary County Sheriff’s Department has identified the victim in an all terrain vehicle accident Tuesday as Mark Jackson, 48, Milford.

Authorities said Jackson was on his ATV spraying a field off Ava Road when it overturned and rolled down an embankment. Jackson was found pinned under the ATV.

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Geary County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a field off Ava Road in the rural part of the county Tuesday afternoon for a report of an unresponsive man pinned under an ATV ( All Terrain Vehicle ).

Upon arrival of Deputies and Junction City Fire / EMS the subject was found deceased. He has been identified as a Milford resident, and family notifications have begun. The Sheriff’s Department said they are withholding the name of the victim to allw the family time to make all notifications and have time to grieve.

The Department issued a statement saying “Our thoughts and prayers are with the family during their time of grieving.”

By Dewey Terrill

JC Post

This wet spring and early summer is having an impact on everything from farm production to trees and recreation.

Geary County Extension Agent Chuck Otte said the “water system is full” and described it as “absolutely saturated” from Hays east through Kansas, meaning rainfall received will cause water to runoff.

In Geary County as in other locations the weather has posed a challenge for farmer producers trying to  plant crops. Otte stated there was a two-week window where they could get in the fields to plant crops. “A lot of soybeans are coming up standing in water right now. No crop that we grow can take a lot of standing water. Corn can take some, soybeans can’t take very much at all. There’s going to be impacts when it’s all said and done.” The wheat harvest will also be late this year, and it’s possible combines may not be cutting in the fields until July. The fields are muddy and the wheat has not dried down at this point.

Otte said when it comes to trees he’s probably seen as many them go down as he has seen in the past three years. “Broken up from stores or literally tip over where they stand. A lot of trees are having leaf diseases right now.”

Recreation has been impacted as well. Milford Lake is open but many campsites and boat docks have had to be closed due to high water.

The Corps of Engineers prepared to release 5,000 cubic feet of water from Milford Lake on Tuesday with the forecast calling for that to increase to 7,000 cfs on Wednesday. There were flood warnings for minor lowland flooding along the Smoky Hill River and Lyons Creek earlier this week,

 

 

 

 

Geary County Commission Chairman Charles Stimatze said Monday that there have not been any discussions yet with PlayJC.org officials on their proposal to streamline local youth sports and activities.

PlayJC.org representatives unveiled their ideas last week which included the sharing of information to the public, supporting existing programs and site development.  Stimatze said at this point he does not yet have any thoughts on the issue. “Just got an email that they want to come and visit with us because obviously we weren’t there. I was at a Sundown Salute meetijg so I couldn’t make it. The next day I talked to Kendall Schoenrock ( PlayJC.org )  a little bit so we kind of got an update, but I got an email today ( Monday ) that they want to come in and visit with us about it.”

Stimatze confirmed that they are working to schedule the discussion in the near future.

In addition to the three primary goals Schoenrock suggested last week that a five-year plan be followed to build momentum and allow the community to buy in. He said the project would include formation of a website for all things youth sports related in the region. PlayJC.org would be partnership driven, have a nonprofit led vision, stakeholder collaboration, and then a longer term plan. He added that the organization could provide league marketing and promotion services, support new league development, facilitate existing resources and standardize the registration process.

Bobby Whitten of Junction City has been honored through the Modern Woodmen’s Hometown Hero Program for his countless hours of service to the community.

This past Saturday Whitten was recognized for his work with kids as a DARE Officer, school resource officer, in sports and as a police officer and photographer.

As part of the Hometown Hero Program. members of the Junction City Modern Woodmen Chapter 317 presented Whitten with a certificate and a $100 grant award to be donated to the charitable organization of his choice. Whitten selected Food Pantry of Geary County to receive the donation.

“Volunteers form the foundation of a strong community.” said Brenda Boyd, local Modern Woodmen volunteer leader. “Modern Woodmen’s Hometown Hero Program gives us the chance to thank those who selflessly give their time to make the world a better place.”