Geary USD 475 is sponsoring a Community-Wide Multicultural Fair in Heritage Park, Saturday, April 27th from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.

Participants can set up in booths to display art, artifacts, food, games, flags,  dancing and singing from various cultures. To participate contact Susan Pender at ( 785 ) 717-4045 or susanpender@usd475.org.

By Dewey Terrill

JC Post

A former 1st Infantry Division Soldier has been awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.

The prestigious honor was presented to former Sgt. Robert “Mike” Debolt Thursday at Fort Riley. Debolt, who had been assigned to 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, had previously received the Silver Star for his actions in 2008 in Afghanistan. The ceremony on Thursday upgraded that previous award. The Army ordered the upgrade after the completion of a comprehensive year-long Military Decorations and Awards Review, which was ordered by then Sec. of Def. Ash Carter.

Lt. Gen. Paul E. Funk II, III Corps and Fort Hood commanding general, hosted the ceremony. He told the audience Sgt. Debolt put his teammates first. “He wore his jersey, the cloth of our great nation, and our jersey was selflessness. He left his jersey in a better place.”

Funk stated it was a privilege this “American hero and extraordinary family.”

Debolt entered into the United States Army on Aug. 27, 2007, from Gahanna, Ohio. He deployed to Operation Enduring Freedom in 2008 with 3rd BCY, 1st Inf. Div. and was awarded the Silver Star on May 28, 2009, for his actions on Sept. 4, 2008 while serving as an infantry rifleman in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. After his vehicle struck an improvised explosive device and became engulfed in flames, Pvt. Debolt extracted himself and extinguished the flames covering more than half of his body. Realizing that his teammates were still trapped inside the burning wreckage, and ignoring his own extensive wounds and the continued enemy small arms and rocket propelled grenade fire directed at his vehicle, he helped to pull his teammates from the vehicle to safety while extinguishing the burning clothing.

Debolt fought through his own pain, refusing to leave his teammates until he himself was nearly incapacitated, from his own wounds and shock. His actions at the start of a concert enemy ambush helped save the life of one of his fellow soldiers while helping to prevent serious injury to another.

The Distinguished Service Cross is the military’s second highest valor decoration and is awarded for extreme gallantry and risk of life in actual combat with an armed enemy force.

Debolt currently resides in Zanesville, Ohio, where he owns and manages a barbershop.

By Dewey Terrill

JC Post

Work on an operational assessment has begun for Geary Community Hospital.

Hospital CEO Dr. Joe Stratton confirmed it’s in the early stages. “We’ve used a company by the name of Community Health Hospital Corporation of Dallas. They own some hospitals in the country, they manage some hospitals, they consult the hospitals. That’s their position with us at this point in time.”

Stratton explained when an operational assessment is done they are looking throughout the organization. “From the clinical operations side to the non-clinical side with revenue cycle, marketing and everything in between.”

Stratton stated they know at GCH that they will have to make some changes moving forward, like all hospitals in Kansas. “I think unfortunately the evidence of that is Horton, Oswego and Hillsboro and some of the struggles those hospitals have been having. We’re aware that.”

The Geary Community CEO added like all hospitals they’re hopeful medicaid expansion will occur. That still unresolved issue is in the Kansas Senate right now. “In the meantime we’ll just set all that aside,and look forward to operating more efficiently over the course of time.”

GEARY COUNTY— Three people died in an accident just after 5:30a.m. Wednesday in Geary County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2015 Chevy Camaro driven by Leroy Allen Myers, 58, Arab, AL., was west bound on Interstate 70 at the Kansas 177.

The vehicle entered the median, struck guard rail and vaulted over K177 highway coming to rest on the west side of K177.

Myers and passengers Joey Brannon Tidwell, 21, Albertvile, AL., and Halie Marie Davis, 23, Madison, AL., were pronounced dead at the scene. They were not wearing seat belts, according to the KHP

UPDATE:

I-70 was not impacted following the single vehicle three-fatality accident early Wednesday morning. Kansas Highway Patrol Trooper Ben Gardner confirmed there was some impact on K-177 Highway. “But there is some difficulty for people traveling up and down K-177 just as they get to the scene where they might be guided to a single lane as they navigate through that space.”

The identities of the victims are not yet known. The vehicle involved in the accident left Interstate 70 and wound up on K-177 below about 5:30 a.m. The site is in eastern Geary County south of Manhattan.

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There have been three fatalities in a single vehicle accident on I-70  near K-177 south of Manhattan.

A check with the Kansas Highway Patrol revealed there was a multiple fatality accident. It occurred about 5:30 a.m.

Authorities are working at the scene to gather information and trying to identify the victims. KHP Trooper Ben Gardner said it appeared the vehicle was traveling on I-70 and for an unknown reason left the roadway, went through the median for a time and then down below onto K-177 where it came to rest.

More information should be available later. We will pass it along on JC Post as soon as possible.

The Junction City Area Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon cutting at Kollhoff Pharmacy, 407 South Washington, on Wednesday. New improvements to the business have been unveiled.

Sue Kollhoff said when the pharmacy opened it had formerly been a Pizza Hut. “We pretty much took the shell, finished the floors and opened up the doors. With this remodel we expanded our dispensing area, we added a drive-thru, we just modernized everything so that it’s a really nice space for everyone to enjoy.

John Kollhoff explained with the improvements it will be a better patient experience. ‘It was a little bit closed in, a little bit uncomfortable I think to come in. Now patients have the option, they can use the drive-thru or they can come in and wait in our nice new waiting area.”

Kollhoff Pharmacy has been in business in Junction City for nearly five years.

Jolana Montgomery-Matney has served as director of the Geary Community Healthcare Foundation for nearly 23 years. She is preparing to retire, effective April 1st.

During a retirement reception for Montgomery-Matney Tuesday evening at the Courtyard by Marriott Geary County Convention Center, David Lauseng. who was involved in the interview and hiring of Jolana for the job, noted that during her tenure in addition to covering operating expenses she raised and donated $8.9 million dollars. $8.4 million of that total went to Geary Community Hospital and the remainder to other medical related projects in the community.

Lauseng remembered during the hiring process nearly 23 years ago one applicant came forward with the necessary enthusiasm and energy, “and a plan to make this work. Those key ingredients combined with her natural well-honed social skills made her an obvious choice to lead this foundation.

Montgomery-Matney advised those attending the reception to remember the last four letters of the word enthusiasm. “I am sold myself. Those words have been my guide, and they’ve made all of this possible. ” Jolana had one request for the audience. “Over the years you have asked a lot of me. But tonight I ask but one thing of you. Please, promise me…promise me that you will continue the support for this hospital and the healthcare foundation.” Montgomery-Matney received a standing ovation following her remarks.

There were multiple speakers during the reception including Junction City Fire Chief Terry Johnson, who said looking back at the support by the Foundation for the community, automatic external defibrillators are in all Junction City public buildings. “We have programs, we have equipment to make that difference. And through your drive in the Foundation you’ve allowed our emergency medical technicians, our firefighters to have the tools they need to make that difference. ”

Montgomery-Matney was presented with multiple plaques and honors during the reception. Other speakers included the Chair of the Geary Community Hospital Trustees, Mark Stenstrom; Geary Community Hospital CEO Dr. Joseph Stratton; the Vice President of the Central National Bank Trust Department, Duane Blythe; the Chief Nursing Officer at Geary Community Hospital Dawn Engel; USD 475 Director of Innovation, Mary Cay Stauffer; retired doctor and Hospital Trustee, John Kovac and Junction City Manager and Healthcare Foundation Board member Allen Dinkel.

Earlier Tuesday at the monthly Geary Community Hospital Board of Trustees meeting, Montgomery-Matney was honored by the Board and staff, and presented with a plaque recognizing her service for the Geary Community Healthcare Foundation.

Fort Riley’s Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation is scheduled to begin a conversion project of Riley’s Conference Center, 446 Seitz Drive this summer to a multi-functional recreation center facility.

David Roudybush, director of Fort Riley Family & MWR explains “the goal is to provide a space that enhances the quality of life for our families and still provides a venue for meetings and unit functions. Once the conversion is complete, the Recreation Center will remain the primary location for Town Hall meetings, Victory Welcome briefs and hosting large venues such as the Victory Banquet.

Key dates during the transition of the facility include:

. Currently, no new events requiring food and beverage are being accepted with an execution date after April 30.

• The final Dinner to Go will be March 28
• During the April 10 town hall, attendees will be invited to share their ideas regarding the facility conversion and future operations
• The last lunch buffet will be April 30

Riley’s Conference Center will temporarily close July 1 to facilitate minor renovations and installation of equipment and will reopen Oct. 1. On August 1, Family & MWR staff will begin scheduling official meetings to be held during Fiscal year 2020,and on Sept. 1, staff will begin scheduling all reservations for October and beyond.

For more information about Riley’s Conference Center call 785-784-1000 or visit https://riley.armymwr.com

By Dewey Terrill

JC Post

Geary County officials took steps on Monday to prevent Bergkamp Construction from using Munson Road to access the new Junction City High School construction site. USD 475 Chief Operations Officer David Wild said, “It caught us a little off guard. There is a development agreement under legal review that hasn’t been finalized yet.” Wild noted USD 475 had the understanding that there would not be any issues and the parties understood through goodwill the agreement would be finalized.

Wild told JC Post he spoke to the school district’s attorney Monday afternoon. “He is putting together the last of his comments relative to it. I reached out to Charles Stimatze ( Geary County Commission Chair ) and said under the spirit of partnership I’m not sure this is the direction we want to go.”

Wild made it clear the district will maintain Munson Road to a usable standard during construction. Following completion of construction the District will pave the road and then turn it back over to the county.

Stimatze stated, “We are waiting on the road maintenance agreement. We’ve got it all turned in, gave our stuff to their attorneys and we’re still waiting on them to do the road maintenance agreement..” JC Post asked if they jumped the gun on the work. ” I don’t know if they jumped the gun on the work and everything but there’s no road maintenance agreement so they cannot use Munson Road.

Wild is optimistic the issue will be resolved in the near future. K-18 Highway also accesses the property.