The 34th annual edition of Operation Santa Claus will begin with a ribbon cutting at 3 p.m. Monday at 1828 1st Street, Camp Funston, Fort Riley.

The Fort Riley community, along with the help of Santa Claus, helps needy children and their families by providing gifts for local children of active-duty service members during the holiday season. Operation Santa Claus assists junior-enlisted service member families with financial difficulties during the holidays.

Operation Santa Claus is accepting donations of new, unwrapped toys in the $15-$20 price range for children ages birth to 18 years. Donation boxes are located throughout businesses in Junction City, Ogden and Manhattan.

Republican unity was the theme for candidates on the #RemainRed GOP bus tour that stopped in Junction City Thursday at Coach’s Neighborhood Grill and Bar.

Those on the tour, including Republican gubernatorial candidate Kris Kobach, called for Republican unity in the upcoming Nov. 6 elections. Kobach stated, “In a race like this it’s all get out the vote. The question is can we get our people to vote or are the Democrats going to get their people to vote? Whichever side does the better job of getting their people out they’re going to win.”

Kobach compared his views on issues to his Democratic gubernatorial opponent, Laura Kelly. One focus was on taxation. “You name it from taxes where I and Laura Kelly are on opposite ends of the spectrum. She’s voted for tax increase after tax increase. I’m wanting to cut taxes. We’re the highest taxed state in a five-state area, it’s really damaging our business, just hurting people’s pocketbooks.”

Kelly will campaign in Junction City on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. at Ike’s Place Neighborhood Grill and Bar.

Other Republican candidates who made the Junction City stop Thursday ranged from Kobach’s Lieutenant Governor running mate Wink Hartman to Attorney General Derek Schmidt and 1st District Congressman Roger Marshall.

Munson’s Prime restaurant in Junction City has received a Pathways to a Healthy Kansas Implementation Grant totaling $5,000 to go toward creating healthier menu options. New equipment purchased through the grant funds will enable the storage and preparation of fresh fruits and vegetables to provide healthier food choices for patrons and raise awareness of healthy choices.

The equipment consists of a griddle with base refrigerator and sandwich prep table. The table will allow cooks to store more fresh products and to safely create more health sides and sandwiches. The griddle will allow Munson’s Prime to use cooking options healthier than frying for many foods. In conjunction with the equipment purchase Live Well Geary County will enlist a dietitian to review the menu and assist with adapting receives to be healthier for customers. Healthy choices will be identified on the menu as “Live Well” items.

Owner Deanna Munson said, “Munson’s Prime was opened to serve the healthiest foods possible, often locally grown. if not prepared correctly the freshness and the pureness of the food can be lost. The equipment provided by the Pathways grant allows us to better achieve our goal of using unprocessed foods prepared in the healthiest manner. I am sure I speak for our customers as well, saying ‘thank you’ for this grant support.”

Geary County is one of 16 Kansas communities selected to participate in the Pathways to a Healthy Kansas program, which is the largest community grant program ever funded by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas.

Trick or treaters were out on Halloween night in Junction City, but perhaps the numbers weren’t as high as in previous years.

Police Captain Trish Giordano and other officers were on patrol during the trick or treating period Wednesday evening. ” I thought it went very well. There wasn’t near as many kids out this year as I’ve noticed in year’s past, but we had no incidents and it looked like everybody was having a good time. ”

Multiple churches in the community hosted Halloween parties for youth and their families.

The annual Geary County employee bake sale and raffle to raise funds for the local United Way began Wednesday from 9:30 to 3:30 and continues during those same hours on Thursday at the County Office Building.

( Photos courtesy of Kathy Tremont )

It is Halloween, and trick treaters will be out and about Wednesday evening.

In Junction City the hours set aside for that activity are 6-8 p.m. The witches wail ( emergency warning sirens ) will sound at 8 p.m. signaling an end to trick or treating.

Police Captain Trish Giordano said the JCPD will have regular shift working, taking calls for service. “I’m going to have four of my detectives and then our community involvement unit will be out so we’ll probably have an extra eight officers out just driving around making sure everybody is safe and having a good time.”

Some tips: children should trick or treat with an adult, cross the street at corners while walking using traffic signals and crosswalks, and when choosing a costume stay away from long trailing fabric.

Work has been under way to prepare the foundation for a stone structure to display two plaque reproductions of the Grand Army of the Civil War Arch in Heritage Park. Contractor Randy Heldstab is working on the project.

This is the Junction City Rotary Club’s Centennial Project for the community.

( Photo courtesy of Charles Volland )

The 8th Judicial District Nominating Commission has sent the names of three nominees for district judge to Governor Jeff Colyer, who has 60 days to decide who will fill the vacancy created by the January 1 retirement of Judge Maritza Segarra.

The 8th Judicial District includes Geary, Dickinson, Marion and Morris counties.

The nominees are Courtney D. Boehm, Hillsboro, Marion County Attorney; Andrea E. Purvis, Abilene, Dickinson County Attorney; and Britain D. Stites, Junction City, the city attorney for Junction City.

 

Who will pay for the street improvements and how much are still issues being decided as planning continues for a new Junction City High School.

The first draft of a development agreement was outlined for a joint city – county – school board audience on Monday at the C.L. Hoover Opera House. The Chief Operations Officer for the school district, David Wild, reported that the district and city are close in their initial proposals and he is hopeful an agreement can be reached soon.

They are talking about a roundabout and paving of what will be called Blue Jay Way on the east side of the school property. Wild outlined the proposed development agreement,  subject to Board of Education approval. “The district would share 70% of the soft or non-construction costs of the roundabout. KDOT is paying for the roundabout itself at $1.25 million. Those soft costs right now are identified at about $200,000.” The district would about $140,000 and the city $60,000, although there did not appear to be agreement on the city’s part when it came to the $60,000 share. The district would pay full cost of a 31-foot road on the east side of the school at a cost of $1.95 million. The wants to expand that to a 41-foot roadway and would pay the additional cost.

Farther north on there is interest on the part of the city in extending of the road from the northern part of the school boundary at a cost of about $2.2 million. But no final action is close right now.

On the west side of the school site the boundary line is being finalized and there will have to be future discussions with county officials about improvements to Munson Road, which is not currently paved. Who will pay for that work and how much must still be determined. Wild stated. “The big concern on the west side is whether the county has the funds to extend improvements of Munson Road north of the high school property north to Rucker Road. We heard that discussion tonight. They would hate to see that left as gravel road.” There have only been minimal discussions at this point.  County Commissioner Keith Ascher said, “My standpoint on it is, I think they need to be looking at all their options or what it’s going to take surrounding the school, and not focus so much on the building.”

There are talks ahead for city, county and school district officials on infrastructure funding for this project.

 

The work to replace the infield and foul territory at Rathert Field in Junction City with artificial turf has begun. The project is being paid for by the County, City and the R2B4 Bramlage Family Foundation.

The city also plans to redo the outfield with new grass.

The goal is to have the project complete by March 1st.

( Photos courtesy of Brian Field )