By Dewey Terrill
JC Post 

A series of youths have been selected by United Way of Junction City to participate in the new 2019 United Way Student program.

One of those is Cadence Childers, a Ft. Riley Elementary School student.

A United Way student understands the importance of a strong community, how a strong community can come together to create answers to problems that they are facing, thinks of others as well as ways to bring each other up instead of breaking each other down. A strong community thinks of the safety and security of each other. Community could mean their classroom, school or neighborhood. United Way students know how to Live United.

Students selected must show traits ranging from a positive attitude and compassion for others to leadership skills and be a good representative of their school.

Other 2019 United Way students include Emily Varnado of Fort Riley Middle School, Mackenzie Briemann of Seitz Elementary, Ashley Picazo – Sheridan Elementary, Brooke Draper – Milford Elementary, Keileigh Johnston – Spring Valley Elementary, and Julianna Hodge – Ware Elementary School.

 

By Dewey Terrill

JC Post

Geary County Extension Agent Chuck Otte says this winter has been the roughest he has seen in his 37 years in this area.

“It’s been constantly wet since October, even before that.  Fertilizer didn’t get applied last fall, trying to get it on this spring. We’ve got wheat, we’ve got brome grass that needs to be fertilized, should have been fertilized a month ago. Everything is too wet to get in there.”

Otte noted farm producers will have to do the best they can. Field work would normally have begun by now along with fertilization for the corn crop. Everyone is in a holding pattern.

When it comes to livestock the situation has been difficult. “The livestock producers have got it very, very rough right now, especially the folks with cow-calf herds. The storms, the extreme cold, we had below zero for a couple of days in early March. There’s way above average death of calves.”

The mud has also been challenging, leaving a lack of dry places for livestock. “And it was a short hay year in addition to that. So my heart goes out to them because it has been a very rough winter.” Frost just went out of the ground last week so there is some drainage and drying that is beginning to occur. But it has been one tough winter!

Geary County personnel are working as fast as they can to repair the roads damaged by ice, snow and rain over the course of a difficult winter.

Commission Chairman Charles Stimatze said Monday with all of the snow, rain, freezing and thawing some roads are “in pretty bad shape and they’re doing the best they can to get out there. They don’t want to get too many dump trucks out there because it could make it worse.”

Stimatze added the crews are hauling gravel and doing as much as they can as fast as possible. “Asking everybody in the county just kind of be patient. They’re doing what they can.”

There is an 80-percent chance of rain in the forecast for Tuesday.

In 2018, Live Well Geary County conducted a survey to examine the perceptions of Geary County residents about the issues of healthy eating, active living and tobacco cessation. The annual survey is part of the Pathways to a Healthy Kansas grant that was received by the Live Well Geary County coalition,  Pathways is a Blue Cross and Blue Shield initiative.

In response to the question “In general how would you rate the overall health of our community,” 84 percent of the survey respondents rated Geary County unhealthy to somewhat healthy.

Through the Pathways initiative, LWGC worked with I.C.A.R.E. to complete a project to install multigenerational fitness equipment in 5th Street Park and with Geary Community Hospital to implement new wellness programs.

Survey results showed 80 percent of respondents were supportive of a policy prohibiting tobacco use in local parks. At LWGC’s request the City Commission adopted a resolution prohibiting tobacco use in youth recreation areas, including parks. LWGC is also partnering with local agencies to promote tobaccofreejc.org, a “one-stop” website for tobacco cessation efforts in the community.

In rating their level of agreement with the statement “In general, my community has sufficient options for healthy eating,” 32 percent of respondents do not think that the community has sufficient options for healthy eating.

LWGC is helping local restaurant owners complete environment assessments. Changes that may be considered include providing half-size portions, healthier menu selections, fresh fruits and vegetables, and nutrition and calorie information.

Students in area school districts including Geary USD 475, Chapman, Manhattan/Ogden and St. Xavier plus Kansas State University return to the classroom today following the completion of the spring break period.

In Geary USD 475 the winter weather recovery plan begins for elementary schools. They will add ten minutes to the end of their school day beginning today. By following that plan the elementary school students will not need to make up additional days of school at the end of the year.

For elementary schools in Junction City, Grandview Plaza and Milford school will now end for the day at 3:25 p.m., at Fort Riley Elementary School at 3:10 p.m. and at Seitz Elementary School at 3:40 p.m.

By Dewey Terrill

JC Post

A new exhibit featuring Geary County history through the letters of the alphabet opens April 27th at the Geary County Historical Museum. The title is “G” is for Goat Gland: An Alphabetical History of Geary County.”

Museum Curator Heather Hagedorn explained in the “G” section of the exhibit the late Dr. John Brinkley will be featured including a goat gland operation he practiced at one time in Milford. “So the Brinkley part is going to be just one part of it. Every letter of the alphabet will be represented.” For examples under “C” there will be displays on celebrity sightings in Geary County and things dealing with homesteaders under the letter “H.” Some of the celebrities included will range from Buffalo Bill Cody to Wild Bill Hickok and Shirley Temple.

Under the letter “R” Rathert field will be covered. Hagedorn said, “We are working on a fun, interactive display for Rathert.” She added it should be a good part of the exhibit where you may want to take some photos.

Museum Director Katie Goerl noted at least six months of work will have gone into preparation of the exhibit by the time it opens.

East Ninth Street will be represented by the letter “N” explained Hagedorn. “That is actually one of the things that we are looking for community help with. We would love to have photos and objects from the businesses that were once on East Ninth Street as part of the exhibit.   Call Hagedorn at the museum if there is something you can contribute. The telephone number is 238-1666. Also, if there are some artifacts or photos from old Milford that existed before the Milford Lake Dam was built, those are also needed.

Under the letter “K” KJCK will be featured including some artifacts from the radio station. L is limestone representing the fact that there are limestone buildings in the area, and Washington is for Washington Street featuring artifacts from stores that have been or are on that street.

Goerl stated an interactive scavenger hunt is being planned in conjunction with the exhibit which will involve searching through the entire alphabet in the history of Geary County.

The exhibit will be for two years, with items donated on a two-year loan before they’ll be returned to the owners.  Hagedorn did note, however, if items need to be loaned for a shorter period of time museum officials will work with them.

 

CASA ( Court Appointed Special Advocates ) of the 8th Judicial District will host a Cheers for CASA event on Saturday, March 23rd in Junction City at the George Smith Reception Hall.

CASA Executive Director Lisa Hatt said it will be a “blind wine tasting. Each team of two to three people will bring three bottles of the same wine. Everybody that gets to come is going to taste the wines and they’ll rate them, and then whichever team brings the winning wine that everybody thinks tastes the best they take one bottle of all the different wines that are brought there as a prize.”

There will also be a 50-50 raffle, silent auction and door prizes.

The funds raised will be used to support the local abused, neglected and trafficked children served by CASA. Casa volunteers serve as a voice in the courtroom for children.

CASA of the 8th Judicial District serves Geary, Dickinson, Morris and Marion counties.

By Dewey Terrill

JC Post

All options are on the table for consideration when it comes to feeding hungry children in the Westwood area of Junction City this summer.

As planning continues for summer efforts to help feed hungry children in the community, and have lunch. Live Well Geary County Chairman Joe Handlos noted that they are looking at a potential site where kids could attend and have lunch. “And with that type of model it would be a reimbursable model. We’re also researching the pros and cons of doing an aTa bus / delivery model where we would go out in the community and actually have food available for kids.” No final decisions have been made at this point. The matter is still under review.

The Westwood area is considered a food desert area, which means it is a significant distance from a grocery store. Approximately 500 children live in the Westwood area.

Summer picnic parties and lunch efforts are held in June and July in the community to help local youth during the months they are not in school.

The Director of the Governor’s Military Council, Perry Wiggins, wants to see development of defense industry in the region.

As part of his duties Wiggins works to support Fort Leavenworth, McConnell Air Base and Fort Riley, but he told a Military Affairs Council meeting in Junction City that about 65-70 percent of his effort is focused on Fort Riley because the post has the largest contingent of military. The biggest issue from an economic impact standpoint for the region is the stress created by deployments.

He wants to see defense industry in this area, “a third leg here, particularly in this region. We have a division unit and installation here and we don’t have a whole lot of footprint with regards to defense industry. It’s an opportunity for us to take a look, try to target some of those organizations and get them here on the ground.”

Wiggins added it would provide stability equilibrium in the region, so it is not so impacted by deployments or force structure changes.

Wiggins knows it will take some time to bring in defense industry. “I think it’s going to take some time because it’s not easy.” He called it a horizon. “It’s not a 10-meter target. It should be probably a 50 to 100-meter target. And we should do this methodically so that it makes sense for the community. “He also looked at the issue from a broader view. But more importantly it makes sense overall and collectively as we have Soldiers departing the installation, for example, separating or retiring and they can join that particular type of workforce because they’re very familiar with defense.”

 

Public records show a deal has been made that would allow an Aldi grocery store to be located at 520 East Chestnut Street in Junction City.  That is the site of the former Ashley Furniture store.

During the monthly Economic Development Commission meeting in Junction City, board member Steve Struebing mentioned the subject. He later talked with JC Post and  referred to public documents that have been filed. “All I know is that approximately two weeks ago a Kansas City based real estate development company purchased the building on East Chestnut Street formerly occupied by Ashley Furniture, and there is a memorandum of lease recorded that indicates Aldi has signed a 10-year lease on the building. I presume they’re going to open a grocery store there but all I know is what’s of public record.”

No timetable is known.

There has been speculation in recent weeks about plans for Aldi to open a grocery store in Junction City, but the company has not made any formal announcement. Aldi does operate a grocery store in Manhattan.