Junction City High School senior Corbin Sanner will receive the principal nomination from U.S. Senator Jerry Moran for admission to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

Moran made the announcement following a tour of Junction City High School, which was being led by students at the senior high, including Sanner. Moran called it a great development in Corbin’s life. “And it’s an opportunity for me to help young men and women in Kansas pursue their dreams. A principal nomination from a United States Senator means that Corbin is accepted into the United States Military Academy assuming his academic and physical capabilities are sufficient and we have no reason to think that’s anything but the case.” Moran said he has the opportunity to nominate a number of people but the principal nomination is the guarantee for admission to West Point.

Sanner was present when Moran made the principal nomination announcement in the Shenk Gymnasium at Junction City High School. He had been one of the student tour leaders, but had no inkling the Senator would make that type of announcement. “I couldn’t stop smiling. A smile grew that I just….massive amounts of excitement within me.”

It was the biggest day so far in Corbin’s high school career. “I’d have to say yes because this is really a big day for my future.” Sanner received a round of applause from the other students, and school administrators in attendance at the announcement by Senator Moran.

Junction City High School and Geary Community Hospital are teaming up for breast cancer awareness Friday night at Al Simpler Stadium when the Blue Jays host the Emporia Spartans in football.

In addition to the Junction City fans wearing pink, the football team will wear pink socks, the coaches pink hats, the band drum majors pink plumes, the color guard pink flags, and the cheerleaders pink pom-poms.  All of those attending the game are encouraged to join in the “Pink Out’ and wear pink in some fashion.

Junction City High School Athletic Director Matt Westerhaus and the Director of Radiology at Geary Community Hospital, Kyle Ibarra, will talk about this upcoming event on the “JC Now” show Tuesday morning at 7:48 on 1420 KJCK AM.

The 4-H / Senior Center provided the backdrop Sunday for the annual Geary County 4-H Awards Night. The event culminates a year of hard work by 4-H members and support from the community.

The Outstanding 4-H Family of the year was the John and Phyllis Boller family. Phyllis said she and John were 4-H members when they were young, and that was going to be a part of growing up for their son, Calen. The award meant a lot to this family, explained Phyllis. ” We wouldn’t be involved with the community as much without 4-H and it is just an excellent organization to get kids out there, and really be out in the community, helping in the community, and it really does support leadership.”

Mason Muto and Lauren Moon were named the Outstanding Boy and Girl Award recipients.

Mason is a member of the Humboldt 4-H Club, saying 4-H has brought him close with the community and taught him a lot about leadership. He plans to attend Wichita State University in the future to study aerospace engineering.

Lauren said the award means a lot. “I love 4-H. 4-H has given me so much and it’s just awesome that I got recognized for it tonight. She plans to attend Emporia State University to study biology education.

Nellie Smith was recognized with a 4-H Appreciation Award for purchasing one or more 4-H projects each year at the fair. In 2013 she began donating funds to the 4-H Foundation for the Ray and Nellie Smith Scholarship. So far that has totaled $11,000.

Numerous other awards were presented including the Fair Trophy to the Clarks Creek 4-H Club, the Herdsman Trophy to the Lyon Creek 4-H Club, Geary County Outstanding 4-H Project Leader to Jacque Shane, 2017-18 4-H Ambassadors including Lindsey Ascher, Kacey Butler, Rylie Ellis, Lauren Moon, Mason Musto, Calen Boller, Kaitlyn Butler, Cody Haycook, Macie Muto and Jada Nabus. The I Dare You Award went to Lindsey Ascher and Aleeya Williams, the Outstanding Reporter Notebook to Josie Strauss of the Lyon Creek 4-H Club, and the Rob Smith Citizenship Award to Tava Gustafson.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Geary County experienced the first snow of this fall – winter season Sunday night. Extension Agent Chuck Otte reported that two inches of snow fell. Otte said is it the earliest snowfall on record? Probably not, but it is an early snowfall.

A coat of wet snow blanketed cars and lawns, but no major problems were reported by police dispatch.

The new Dorothy Bramlage Public Library project is moving forward. Members of the Junction City Area Retired School Personnel received an update from Dr. Mary Devin and Library Director Susan Moyer this week.

The goal is to raise funds from the private sector and not use public money to build a new library.

The current 35-year old facility consists of 14,000 square feet serving a population of 37,000 people. That can be compared to the Abilene Public Library, which serves 7,000 people with 19,000 square feet and the Atchison Public Library which serves 11,000 people with 17,000 square feet. The proposed project will make the Dorothy Bramlage Public Library more proportionate to the size of its service population and more in tune with the needs and uses of today’s libraries as venues for community gatherings and activities. The new building will nearly double the library’s size from 14,000 square feet to 26,000 square feet and will include more accessible technology, larger children and youth areas, additional meeting space and more rooms for collaboration and additional space for library holdings and library staff.

The cost to build the new facility has been estimated at $7 million. FUnding for the project will come from a variety of sources ranging from a community capital campaign to national foundations, federal grants, and other federal funding sources.

To volunteer to help with the campaign contact Susan Moyer at the Dorothy Bramlage Public Library by calling 238-4311.

GEARY COUNTY — One person was injured in an accident just before 4p.m. Friday in Geary County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2012 Ford Fiesta driven by Deborah B. Koelling, 61, Lindsborg, was westbound on Interstate 70 just west of McDowell Creek Road.

The Ford left the roadway, entered the north ditch and went down an embankment.

Koelling was transported to Geary Community Hospital. She was properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

The Geary USD 475 Board of Education is currently scheduled on November 5th to recognize the design of the new Junction City High School as substantially complete. It means there would not be a lot of change in the future except for internal work in the building. USD Chief Operations Officer David Wild explained it would give the District and architects the ability to move forward on construction documents and the project could then be turned over to Hutton Construction in April.

One member of the school board Jim Schmidt has some concerns, indicating right now his level of comfort is less than 50%, and he assumed 80-90% would be preferable. Schmidt has noted there are too many corners included in the building. “I believe we need to be smart where we put our money and the ultimate value that it brings to the education of the kids. At the foundation of it all that’s what I’m asking. Where are we going to spend the money in the best way possible to serve the kids of USD 475.” Schmidt argues with less corners on the structure that would leave funding for other projects tied to the new school.

One point is whether redoing the design would cost the District more money and possibly delay the work on the new school. Schmidt will meet with the architects and Wild to discuss his concerns.

The Board of Education received an update on the JCHS project Monday evening.

 

The Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army, General Mark Milley, praised both the Fort Riley and Fort Leavenworth communities for their support to the Army, and reinforced that both installations are vital to the future of the Army. The office of Senator Jerry Moran reported the General’s comments to an Association of the United States Army gathering in Washington D.C.

Milley noted that Fort Riley will experience an increase in soldiers over the next few years as the Army continues to grow in end-strength.

Senator Moran welcomed Milley and the Undersecretary of the Army Ryan McCarthy to the AUSA Fort Riley – Central Kansas Chapter event on Tuesday during the annual AUSA meetings.

“I was pleased to spend an evening alongside Kansans representing our Army communities and the Army’s most senior leaders who have an appreciation for the tremendous support our state provides soldiers and their families, ” said Sen. Moran. “I’m thankful General Milley and Undersecretary McCarthy shared how invaluable Fort Leavenworth and Fort Riley are to the Army and experienced firsthand the enduring commitment of kansans. A strong national defense requires a ready and robust Army and I will continue to work to make certain the Army is fully equipped and ready to fight and win against any adversary.”

Sen. Moran also visited the Economic Development Commission of the Junction City Area Chamber of Commerce Business event on Tuesday at AUSA, where the Chamber exhibited opportunities for defense companies to grow their business in the Junction City and Geary County region.

‘I support the mission of the Economic Development Commission and all they do to grow, expand diversity the pillars of our economy in central Kansas and across the state,” said Sen. Moran. “I believe we need more of these efforts to increase our presence in defense-related industries across the state so that Kansas jobs continue to grow and attract a talented workforce of individuals who can contribute to the cutting edge of defense while living in local communities with Kansas values.”

 

The 8th Judicial District Nominating Commission will convene at 9 a.m. October 29 in the Geary County Courthouse, 138 East Eighth, Junction City. They will interview nominees to fill a district judge vacancy in Geary County created by the January 1 retirement of Judge Maritza Segarra.

Interviews are open to the public.

The 8th Judicial District is composed of Dickinson, Geary County, Marion and Morris counties.

The nominees are:

–Christopher E. Biggs, Junction City, who is a former Geary County attorney and currently in private practice with Knopp and Biggs in Manhattan.

–Courtney D. Boehm, Hillsboro, county attorney in Marion County.

–Antonio R. Cruz III, Junction City, assistant Geary County attorney

–Cole A. Hawver, Manhattan, an attorney in the Junction City Public Defender Office.

–Andrea E. Purvis, Abilene, Dickinson County Attorney

–Britain D. Stites, Junction City, Junction City Attorney

–David E. Yoder, Newton, Harvey County Attorney

The commission will select from three to five nominees whose names will be submitted to the governor to fill the position according to statutory qualification and residency requirements. If there are not three nominees who reside in the judicial district who are deemed qualified by the commission, the commission may consider nominees who reside outside the district. The governor has 60 days after receiving the names to decide whom to appoint.

After serving one year in office the new judge must stand for a retention vote in the next general election to remain in the position. If retained, the incumbent will serve a four-year term.

The 8th Judicial District Nominating Commission consists of Justice Marla Luckert of the Kansas Supreme Court as the nonvoting chair, Darrel Bryant, Council Grove; Carolyn Gaston, Milford; Kevin Harris, Abilene, James Hefley, Hillsboro; Arvid Jacobson, Junction City; Darrell Miller, Dwight; Douglas Thompson, Abilene; and secretary Edwin Wheeler Jr., Marion.