The 1st Infantry Division Band performed in concert Friday evening at the C. L. Hoover Opera House. The seats were full for the first of two weekend concerts by the Band at the Opera House. They will also perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.
There is no admission charge.
By Dewey Terrill
jc post
The federal Office of Economic Adjustment has informed Geary USD 475 that the district is one of five school districts that will be invited to apply for a grant for a new elementary school. The facility would be located at Fort Riley.
David Wild, Chief Operations Officer for USD 475, made the announcement on Thursday. “We’re currently looking at standing that grade school up in the vicinity of Jefferson Elementary, and once that school is commissioned we would decommission Jefferson Elementary as well as Morris Hill Elementary. A final decision on placement is still under review, but the new school would replace two current older elementary schools.
This plan was announced by the school district some time ago, and language was asserted into the national Defense Authorization Act securing Fort Riley as one of five sites chosen for a new school. Wild confirmed the plan is to apply for $25 million to cover the cost of the new school, and the cost of removing the two older facilities.
Wild noted it would probably be 24 to 36 months before the new elementary school is commissioned.
By Dewey Terrill
JC Post
A few years ago the Economic Development Commission in Junction City financed a new website for the organization to help inform prospects and recruit business and industry. they have since paid $400 per month or $5,000 per year for that website. It’s not working the way it was intended.
That problem was a big focus of discussion at the monthly EDC board meeting on Thursday. Chamber of Commerce CEO, Mickey Fornaro-Dean, reported some of the problems included too much text on the site, many of the links aren’t live and google maps, which can be pricey for users, were included.
Fornaro-Dean confirmed an upgrade is needed. ” We have an attractive website but for what we’re trying to do with economic development it’s not a useful website.” The EDC staff has been given the task of determining that should be taken in addressing this problem. “How do we make it more presentable, how do we get the data and the analytics and the information that our clientele needs.”
Later in their meeting the EDC board did accept a marketing proposal for Junction City to advertise in the national site selector magazine but they also supported the upgrade of the web site. That recommendation goes to the Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.
By Dewey Terrill
JC Post
A group of senators including Kansas Senator Jerry Moran have introduced the proposed Forever GI Bill Housing Payment Fulfillment Act.
It would ensure the VA reimburses veterans for missed or underpaid Forever GI Bill housing benefits. During a recent visit to Junction City Moran stated there has been case work where veterans called indicating they had encountered a problem with their GI Bill and benefits, particularly their housing. “You can be enrolled at a college, a university, a community college and not getting your housing payment through some computer snafu at the Department of Veterans Affairs. Initially it seemed that the VA was going to just look the other way. In fact they announced that the past benefits that were due would not be made up.
The new bipartisan legislation would ensure the Department of Veterans Affairs reimburses veterans formissed or underpaid Forever GI Bill housing benefits.
The 1st Infantry Division Band will perform holiday concerts Friday and Saturday evenings at the C.L. Hoover Opera House. The concerts are scheduled at 7:30 p.m. There is no admission charge.
Fort Riley, in conjunction with the Fourth District, State of Kansas, Veterans of Foreign Wars and VFW Auxiliary will host a Wreaths Across America ceremony at the post cemetery Dec. 15 at 11 a.m.
Col. Stephen Shrader, Fort Riley Garrison Commander, is scheduled to speak. Service representatives will place ceremonial wreaths for each of the armed forces, Merchant Marines, Gold Star families and POWs / MIAs. Afterward wreaths will be placed on individual military grave sites in the cemetery.
Wreaths Across America holds simultaneous observances in more than 1,400 locations in all 50 states and 24 national veteran cemeteries on foreign soil. The intent is to remind people that “Every Stone Has a Story” and to teach younger generations about the value of honoring those who sacrificed to protect America’s freedoms. The organization’s motto is “Remember, Honor, Teach.”
The Fort Riley ceremony is made possible through donations and volunteers.
This is the twelfth year Fort Riley has been involved with the annual event.
Junction City police are reporting via social media that over the weekend fake bills were passed at several businesses in town. These bills were all denominations and had the words FOR MOTION PICTURE USE ONLY.
By Dewey Terrill and Dr. Ferrell Miller
JC Post
Parents as Teachers is a national research-based education and family support program that serves parents with children infant to 5 years of age. It provides support and information on the development of the child and prepares the child for Kindergarten.
Representatives of the USD 475 Parents as Teachers program, Brianna Vacanti and Sue Gwaltney spoke to the JC Breakfast Optimist Club Wednesday morning.
Vacanta stated, “The screenings used in the program helps determine the tools parents need to work with their child,
A unique feature of the program is that para-educators, who have a preferred Bachelor’s degree in early childhood education, go into the homes of families that qualify. Those para-educators work with parents and the child or children to engage both in activities that help identify benchmarks of mental and / or social growth or lack of growth. “All families have strengths. This is not a program that tells parents how to raise their child, but provides parents with resources and activities to increase mental and social engagement of their child. ”
To identify parents who may need services, representatives of the program attend community events, receive referrals from pediatricians and “Delivering Change,” the Health Department and parents who have been or are currently involved in the program. There is a Parents as Teachers Facebook page with contacts and messaging available for more information. Financial support of the program comes from an Early Childhood Block Grant and a Parents as Teacher grant. The telephone number for Parents as Teachers is 785-717-6900.
JUNCTION CITY, KAN. – It was announced December 7, 2018, that Natasha Goodman, from Morris Hill Elementary, would be the USD 475 nominee for Master Teacher. She will apply for the award over the coming weeks and represent USD 475 in the Master Teacher 2019 process. Emporia State University established the Kansas Master Teacher awards in 1954. The awards are presented annually to teachers who have served the profession long and well and who also present the good qualities of earnest and conscientious teachers. To be eligible for nomination, each candidate must have taught or served in an instructional leadership role for at least five years in any Kansas P-12 or higher education school.
“I believe in looking at our students through a lens that expands past academics. I have found that investing in them as a person creates a lasting relationship; not only with me but with their school experience. As an elementary teacher, I have the unique opportunity of early engagement. I can set the tone for a child’s academic experience and feeling of self-efficacy. I make each choice with consideration of that immense honor.” – Natasha Goodman
Natasha Goodman attended Middle Tennesee State University where she received her Bachelors of Science in Early Childhood Education and is currently working on her Master’s degree at Walden University. She taught Kindergarten from 2009-2015 in Tennesee and Alabama and then moved to Fort Riley where she currently teaches second grade at Morris Hill Elementary. Natasha has a long list of honors and awards including 2016 KJCK’s Teacher of the Month and Clarksville Montgomery Counties Distinguished Teacher recipient 2013-2014. Natasha has been an NEA Representative since 2008 and currently serves as the Building Representative. In addition, she is a nominee for the 2020 Kansas Teacher of the Year and was a Shining Star recipient in November 2018.
The Central Flint Hills Area Quilt of Valor Project is joining a national celebration in recognition of the 200,000th Quilt of Valor to be awarded. The local celebration will be Friday, December 21, 7:30 p.m. at the American Legion Post #45, 201 East 4th Street in Junction City.
Veterans and service members who have been awarded a Quilt of Valor are invited to bring their quilt to the celebration and be honored by participating in a Quilt of Valor Parade. Families and friends of the Quilt of Valor recipients are invited to attend as are the quilt makers, those who have supported the Central Flint Hills project through financial and other contributions, those who nominated a recipient and those wanting to express their gratitude to military veterans and service members.
A highlight of the evening will be the awarding of a Quilt of Valor to a local Vietnam veterans.
To date, the Central Flint Hills Area Quilt of Valor Project has awarded 285 Quilts of Valor to veterans and service members in the area. The mission of the Quilt of Valor Foundation is to cover service members and veterans touched by war with comforting and healing Quilts of Valor.
