Boots, Chaps and Cowboy Hats will support improvements to Medical Arts Building One suites at Geary Community Hospital.

The 17th annual edition of this western fundraising event hosted by the Geary Community Healthcare Foundation is set for Friday, June 14th, at Acorns Resort Conference Center. Tickets to the fundraiser are $50 each, and the deadline for reservations is this Friday, June 7th.

Foundation spokesperson Sharolyn Adams explained the event is informal. “This is a kick up your heels or just sit back and relax. It’s kind of an escape from the day to day of your work week.”

Adams said the Rusty Laffoon Band from Kansas City will perform during the event. “Other activities will include a BBQ meal, and live and silent auctions. Adams stated that among the auction items there will be a K-State flag made out of purple heart wood, “a five-piece of European style whiskey decanter and four glasses set plus a $100 gift card to Frontier Spirits, a couple of rounds of golf and some golf balls, and some Scotch from Scotland.

Other auction items will range from a canvass picture of Union Station after the Royals won the World Series, a one-half day / four hour fishing trip for up to six people and lunch at the Cove Bar & Grill, Baskin Robbins ice cream, Mary Kay gift basket, two tickets to a KSU football game and a Brigade VIP package. Jim Clark Chevrolet- Cadillac will provide cleaning and servicing for your vehicle.

There are multiple sponsors for Boots, Chaps and Cowboy Hats. They include Central National Bank Wealth Management & Trust Services; Eagle Radio KJCK 1420; KS State Bank; and Valley View Senior Life; our band sponsors: Intrust Bank and Total Care Dentistry, Larry T. McGary, DDS; and our underwriters: Jerry and Sharolyn Adams; Animal Care Clinic-Dr. Mark and Debbie Stenstrom; Dawn and Larry Engel; Flint Hills Veterinary Hospital-Julie Ebert, DVM; FroYo-Kendall and Dr. Meghan Schoenrock; Godfrey’s Indoor Shooting and Archery Ranges-Todd Godfrey; Joe and Jane Handlos; Heldstab Appliance-Terry and Peggy Heldstab; Johnson Funeral Home-Sam Steiner; Kollhoff Pharmacy-John and Sue Kollhoff; JDHQ Hotels-Courtyard by Marriott; Darrel and Kaye McCaleb-McCaleb Electric; Next Home-Steven L. Burch; Security Solutions; Small’s Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning-Bob and Lynn Small; Sunflower Bank; Total Care Dentistry-Larry T. McGary, DDS; and Charles and Katharyn Volland.

The Corps of Engineers is targeting a reduction of about one and one-third of a foot in the water level at Milford Lake. The flow on the Smoky Hill River has seen reduction in recent days.

The end result is that the risk of flooding in Geary County appears lower for the moment, but local officials ranging from emergency and law enforcement authorities to public works and elected officials met today ( Tuesday ) in Junction City to be prepared, just in case it becomes necessary to react in the future.

“I think we’re on the downhill for now, but big rainfall up north could put us back into having another one of these meetings,” said Geary County Emergency Management Director Garry Berges.

Those attending the meeting learned the Corps of Engineers has received a waiver from their district officce to release 4,000 cubic feet of water per second. The operations project manager for the Corps at Milford Lake, Bill Whitworth, said how long the release is extended depends on changing conditions downstreat on the Missouri River east of Kansas City. “But right now we can release up to four thousand until we get down by another foot and a third from where we are right now. Then we’ll hold it at that level. And that level represents 80% of our flood pool. ”

If it becomes necessary at some future point there could be shelter beds at the JC Church of the Nazarene and sand bags could be provided by the Corps. Right now those are not considered necessary.

Former longtime downtown city building and maintenance employee Kenny Langdon is being remembered in Heritage Park. A new pergola has been built in the park and now carries the sign Kenny Langdon Memorial Shade Shelter.

Langdon passed away in 2016 but for many years was a fixture downtown serving the public.

This was a former Crossroads of Leadership Class project, explained class member Katrina Higby. “Kenny was a big part of downtown. Everybody kind of knew Kenny as a staple for the park and for the business community. Mr. Godfrey ( Todd ) was able to choose the name as our naming rights sponsor. He felt that there was no better representation for something like this in the park to show our gratitude for what Kenny meant to this community.”

Godfrey told those who gathered in the park for a sign unveiling ceremony that Kenny gave a lot to the community and didn’t expect a lot in return, and Langdon was a perfect fit for the recognition. Mayor Pat Landes noted it was a great way to honor Kenny.

Other work on the project was provided by RM Construction, Kaw Valley Engineering and architect Bret Deam.

UPDATE:

For the first time since March 12th the Corps of Engineers has begun to increase the amount of water being released from Milford Lake. According to Operations Project Manager Bill Whitworth the plan is to gradually increase the outflow up to 4,000 cubic feet per second on Monday.

The water began to flow out of the tubes on Monday morning.

The Corps had kept the release at low flow of 25 cfs since March 12 in order to prevent flooding downstream. By increasing the release up to 4,000 cfs the goal is to lower the level by about a foot and a half. As of Monday morning that level had been reported at approximately 1175.75.

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Geary County Emergency Management reports that the Corps of Engineers will begin releasing 4,000 cubic feet of water per second from Milford Lake on Monday.

The Corps has been required to hold water at the 25 cfs low-flow level since March 12th due to the need to retain water to prevent downstream flooding.  As of Sunday the lake level had exceeded 1172 feet.

 

 

By Dewey Terrill

JC Post

An Awareness for a Safe Community event in Heritage Park in Junction City drew friends, family members and citizens concerned about those who have lost their lives due to violence.

The event was coordinated by Mary Snipes, whose son Felix Snipes, was a fatal shooting victim in Junction City last August. “Today is a wonderful day. It went awesome. The community love, surrounding communities coming together as one.” Snipes added that her heart was overflowing.

One hundred small orange flags flew in the park in front of the bandstand. They represented 100 people killed per day in this country due to gun violence.

Snipes is starting a chapter of Moms Demand Action which is a nonprofit organization that works toward making a safe community. Snipes stated, “If you want a safe environment for your kids, your neighbors, Moms Demand Action is the way to go. You are advocating as well as you are having that bond or that organization that you can grow with.”

The first meeting of the Moms Demand Action in Junction City will be June 22nd. To get involved contact Mary Snipes and there will also be an information / signup booth during the Juneteenth Celebration next Saturday. There will be collaboration with a Moms Demand Action chapter in Manhattan. ”

Information provided to the public during the Saturday event ranged from the necessity of having a community to one that is growing together. The need for love and a desire for a safer community were key topics.

By Dewey Terrill

JC Post

The final edition of the National Biplane Fly-In attracted warm, sunny weather, a strong turnout from the public….and BIPLANES!

Those who attended at Freeman Field, the airport in Junction City, had a chance to view up close, restored biplanes and visit with the pilots. There were numerous other activities ranging from children’s train rides to a Chris Cakes pancake feed. Pilots flew their planes to the airport from multiple states.

Jim Clark was among those who helped start this event and supported it over the years. His emotions were mixed on Saturday. “We’ve had a beautiful day, we’ve got a great bunch of aviators, the public has come out and supported our youth education program with their five dollars to park, and people are seeing what a great little airport we have. I’ve got to be happy.”

Although this is the final biplane fly-in there will be other fly-ins in the future at Freeman Field. Clark said there will be a Kansas Aviation Fly-In the first Saturday of June next year. “Biplanes will still come in but we’re taking the focus primarily from biplanes to all planes because we have too many people say well I didn’t fly a biplane and didn’t know I could come. ” Clark added they want to welcome all planes so it will become a general aviation fly-in.

Heritage Park in Junction City will be the site for an awareness for a safe community event today  (  Saturday ).

Mary Snipes lost her son, Felix Snipes, last August in Junction City after a shooting incident. She is coordinating the activities in Heritage Park Saturday. “This is just to bring awareness to our community and our surrounding communities.”

The event has an educational purpose. Snipes stated, “The purpose is to bring acknowledgement, vigilance to suicide, depression, gun violence, domestic violence, bullying, gun safety, self esteem, self image, drunk driving, child abuse, substance abuse, human trafficking, positive thinking neighborhood watch, any type of senseless acts of violence by sharing acts of love, encouragement and praise in the process.

Through her experience, Snipes noted she wants to bring about a positive change.

Beginning at 4 p.m. there will be a sharing of information at booths in the park, and about 5:30 p.m. there will be speakers sharing their personal stories.

The Junction City Brigade used a five-run seventh inning to defeat the Kansas City Knights on opening night for the summer collegiate baseball team at Rathert Field 8-5.

Junction City got three hits in that seventh inning including a double down the left field line by Carson Zenter as the Brigade broke open a 2-2 tie. The Knights rallied in the top of the ninth to close to win three, but left two men on bases as the game came to an end. The teams rematch at 7 p.m. Saturday in Kansas.

Coach Derek Francis said the game started with a great atmosphere with the fans, “first pitches and stuff. I think there was a little of bit of nerves with our team. It started out as a 2-2 game and then we kind of turned on there for a little bit and then got out to do some good things.”

The Brigade won the Mid Plains League championship last summer, but only four players return from that team.

Francis said he like the fact that the Brigade got after it on the base paths. “I think we probably had seven or eight stolen bases.” He also praised starting Riley Taylor of Oklahoma State for his work on the mound, and the relief pitching by Thane McDaniel, the KU signee from Junction City. His brother, Trae McDaniel also hit a big double and drew two walks in the win.

The contest was the first one on the new playing surface that features an artificial turf infield and sod outfield.  The game drew a strong fan turnout.

The night wrapped up with a big fireworks show by Bennett Fireworks of Junction City.

By Dewey Terrill

JC Post

Biplanes will be visible in the sky over Junction City this weekend.

The National Biplane Fly-In is set for this weekend in Junction City. It is being billed as the grand finale for the event. Although organizers plan to conduct future fly-in’s this will be the last one focusing on biplanes.

Many of the pilots will arrive on Friday but the main public viewing day is Saturday at the airport, Freeman Field.

There will be a Chris Cakes pancake feed from 7 – 10 a.m., aircraft judging from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and the public can view the plans and visit with the pilots at the airport. Admission is $5 per carload. There will be vendors including food service provided by the Geary County Historical Society and biplane train rides for children.

 

Baseball season is here. That means the Junction City Brigade summer collegiate team will begin playing at Rathert Field Friday night when they host the Kansas City Knights in a 7 p.m. ballgame.

The team has been practicing at Rathert Field the past two days, and there was a public meet and greet for the squad Thursday evening at the ballpark.  Royals Hall of Famer and former pitcher Dennis Leonard was in attendance. In addition to visiting with fans while signing baseballs and posing for pictures, he also got a look at the new playing surface at Rathert Field. “I think it’s pretty awesome.” He also added, “To have a field like this that these college kids come here and play on I think is pretty awesome. The town itself, they support them really well andI hope the kids appreciate what they get.”

Leonard noticed the Mid Plains League championship trophy won by the Brigade last season. “I see this trophy, it seems like they do pretty good here winning championships.”

You can hear the Brigade game against the Knights on 107.9 FM and 1420 KJCK AM.