By Erin Turner, Morris Hill Library Media Specialist, and the USD 475 Marketing and Media Department.
Morris Hill Elementary second graders recently presented their Wax Museum projects. Each student researched famous “failures” and chose someone they related to or emulated. They spent time researching that person and then typed a report about them.
To make their projects come to life, students dressed as their famous inventor and acted as wax figures with a “button” on their hand. When their button was pushed, they came to life by performing a short blurb about their chosen inventor.
According to the Geary County Attorney’s office bond has been set at $2 million for 33-year old Dorian Green, Junction City, in a Geary County District Court case. Green was arrested Christmas evening on suspicion of First Degree Murder in the Christmas Day shooting of Jenna Schafer, 31, Junction City. A status check / preliminary hearing has been scheduled in Geary County District Court for Green on January 8th, although it is not unusual after the status check for the initial preliminary hearing setting to be continued to a later date.
Police reported that they responded to 948 grant Avenue Number 154 on Christmas Day where they found Schafer dead from an apparent gunshot wound. Green was arrested several hours later.
Listeners to 107.9 FM / 1420 KJCK heard a new format that went into effect Thursday morning. Emphasizing music from the 1970;s, 80’s and 90’s, there is also local and national news coverage, weather, and the JC Now community affairs and topics programs. Mark Ediger is hosting the morning show with Dewey Terrill providing news updates.
Sports broadcasts including the Junction City Blue Jays and Lady Jays, Kansas State Wildcats, Kansas City Royals and Chiefs plus the Sports Saturday show will continue to air on the stations.
Local news will also be available online at JC Post.
The Geary County Rural Fire Department has acquired a new brush unit fire truck. It is a former 5-ton military truck. The total cost was about $60.000.
The truck, which was primarily built by volunteer firefighters, carries 930 gallons of water. It will be stationed at the Clark’s Creek Rural Fire Station.
Junction City police have confirmed that one person is dead and one is in custody following a shooting incident on Christmas Day.
Police responded to 948 Grant Avenue #154 at about 9:30 a.m. for a deceased female. Upon arrival officers located Jenna Schafer, 31, Junction City dead from an apparent gunshot wound.
Detectives and officers worked throughout the day developing a suspect. At approximately 6:25 p.m., Dion Green, 33, Junction City, was arrested on suspicion of First Degree Murder in connection with the incident.
If you have information on this case call Crime Stoppers adt 785-762-8477 or leave a webtip on the link located on the JCPD Facebook page. You can remain anonymous.
The deployment cycle continues for Fort Riley 1st Infantry Division troops.
During a recent visit on the JC Now program on 107.9 FM and 1420 KJCK, the Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army, Mark Edwards noted that one brigade is training for their next deployment. “Second Brigade got back and they’re training now getting ready to back to NTC, the National Training Center. They’re the ones that you hearing firing all the time at the moment, trying to get ready to go.” Troops often train at NTC before they deploy overseas.
Another brigade is prepared to go to Europe in the near future. “The 1st Brigade will be shipping out here. They’ve already loaded all their equipment. They’re going to head for the port of Charleston. It will go on over the holidays. The equipment is going to head on to Belgium. Our 1st brigade will join up with their equipment and head on out of Belgium over to Poland. ”
A brigade typically consists of approximately 3,500 soldiers.
In some cases Christmas trees have been up for a few weeks. Remember to water them.
Junction City Fire Chief Terry Johnson said, “if you have a live tree make sure it has plenty of water. Don’t miss a day, don’t miss a moment to make sure it’s got plenty of water so that keeps the needles fresh. Watch you Christmas lights, especially if you have pets. Some pets have a tendency to chew on things. So you have to be careful with that. Keep the burnable combustible things away from any heat source, away from candles. Keep candles away from curtains, things like that.”
Johnson added we need to be more aware of what we’re doing this time of year because more things have been added to our lives to celebrate the season. “We just want folks to have a happy, safe, merry Christmas and a happy and safe New Year.”
Saint Xavier High School alumni and students were able to renew acquaintances and enjoy basketball Saturday night at the Bradley Gym. The occasion was the second Alumni Game, and the first one since 2014.
There was a co-ed basketball game preceded by tours of the school, mass, and a chili feed. In the basketball game the Blue Team defeated the White City team 54-41, although the real focus of the evening was the camaraderie and fun playing basketball and not the score.
Lyn Jones, Brad Shelton and Dennis Throne were the honorary coaches. That meant sitting together on the bench and enjoying the game, which consisted of two halves…one 20 minutes and the other 30 minutes long. Jones, who just retired from Saint Xavier School last year put his role in perspective with a humorous observation. “Well I didn’t do much coaching. Like a good coach is supposed to I turned it over to my assistants.”
Shelton enjoyed his return to where he coached and taught from 1996 until 2000. “I didn’t tell much to the players. Us coaches kind of joked around a little bit. Strategy-wise there wasn’t much strategy. Just sit back and relax and enjoy the ride.” One thing that was different from a normal game is that all the coaches sat together on the white ( the winning ) team bench. Shelton also had a humorous comment. “Well that’s where they told us to go, but I guess all these coaching minds got us a W though, huh? Today Shelton is a baseball coach at Tonganoxie High School.
Throne arrived at Saint Xavier in 1985 and taught and coached at the school until 1992. “I had a good
( L-R ) Honorary Coaches Lyn Jones, Dennis Throne and Brad Shelton
experience here. I had some pretty good athletes. They can say what they want about coaching. Coaching is overrated when you’ve got good athletes. I was just blessed to have some good kids.” Today Throne is a girls golf and girls basketball coach at Council Grove High School. He plans to retire from those coaching jobs after this school year. He retired from teaching six years ago.
Dan Zoeller worked to coordinate the event. While the attendance was not as high as it was in 2014, there were still a good turnout. “It’s always good when a lot of the alumni come back and we’re able to get the current students to play against us alumni and show them how we used to play back in the 2000 era, how good we used to be.” The basketball game consisted of players of all ages from junior high to alumni dating back to 1962.
Saint Xavier School Principal Shawn Augustine enjoyed bringing people back to the school for this event. Some funds were also raised for the school through raffles, donations and a chili feed. He noted that the Saint Xavier Foundation also offered to provide some matching funds.
Just a few of the players in the basketball game included Jeff, Joshua and Jacob Keating, Melissa Simanko, Tyler Engstrom, David Smith, Thane Kramer, Kristel Jahnke, Dan Zoeller, Grace Richardson, Tony Reese, Gerald Woydziak, Teresa Woydziak, Steven Matthews, Patrick Beavers, Kevin Campbell, Audrey Lichtensteiger, Lauryn Peterson, Clifford Crites III, Jacob Copas, Heston jahnke, Simon Engelhardt, John Wanek, Chris Hesard, Debra Woydziak, Chris Heard, Keon Jackson, Adam Whitaker, Michael Rominger, Andrew Schwanke, Thaine Kramer, Judy Lienemann, DJ Shin, Cameron Augustine, Brady Sexton-Snow, Damon Smith, Landon Berry, Tamia Stamper, Gracie Lichtensteiger, Jacob Berry, Steven Wahle and Bob Wahle.
( L-R ) Honorary Coaches Lyn Jones, Dennis Throne and Brad Shelton
The Central Flint Hills Area Quilt of Valor Project Friday night joined a national celebration in recognition of the 200,000th Quilt of Valor to be awarded through the Quilt of Valor Foundation.
Veterans and service members who have been awarded a Quilt of Valor were invited to bring their quilt to the celebration and were honored by participating in a Quilt of Valor parade. Quilt of Valor quiltmakers and those in the area wanting to express their gratitude to military veterans and service members wee also invited attend. Also, one of the highlights was the awarding of a Quilt of Valor to a local Vietnam veteran.
Donna Martinson hosted the event. ( Photos courtesy of Nita Miller )
Geary Community Hospital wrapped up their holiday projects this week which included the Salvation Army Angel Tree and Operation Care – Wheels of H.O.P.E.
Geary Community Hospital employees and affiliates along with the Harley Owners Group adopted 50 kids for Christmas this year. Tags representing each child were placed on a tree in the GCH main lobby with wish lists to fulfill. All were completed.
GCH teammates and affiliates send off all the gifts to the Salvation Army for distribution.
In Operation Care various departments at GCH teamed up for a food drive challenge and collectively donated 769 pounds of food and 116 turkeys for families in need this season. The Harley Owners Group also donated toward the cause with warm winter clothing and various donations. All food and turkeys were donated to Wheels of H.O.P.E. for distribution.
GCH teammates gather with warm winter clothing and food items for Wheels of H.O.P.E.
The information was provided by the Hospital’s marketing and public relations director Nikki Davies.
