A delegation of approximately 15 community leaders from Junction City have been attending the Association of the United States Army convention in Washington D.C. this week.

City Manager Allen Dinkel said they have shown that they support the military including Fort Riley and how they can find a way to diversify the community. The Chamber EDC hosted a reception for vendors attending the AUSA sessions in the hope that future business can be attracted to Junction City and Geary County. DInkel stated,  “Quite a few people in there and again you’d never know when that’ll happen but I’m very positive about the contacts that we’re making.”

The delegation has visited with Army leaders and federal elected officials and staff from Kansas as well during their trip.

JCHS officials have confirmed that the Junction City Blue Jay Marching Band earned an overall 1 or Superior rating at the Central States Marching Festival Saturday at Kansas State University.

Approximately 40 high school bands from the region participated in the festival.

 

The funeral service for the last surviving Buffalo Soldier of the 9th Horse Cavalry was held Monday morning at the Junction City Church of the Nazarene. Albert Curley, 96, died September 22nd at Brookdale Senior Living in Junction City.

Curley was remembered for his long service in the U.S. Army. He spent 28 years on active duty, and retired in 1969 with the rank of 1st Sergeant.  During his time in the service he received the Bronze Star, Purple Heart and World War II Service Medal.

Interviews he gave during his lifetime included one given online in 2012 where he described the Buffalo Soldiers, and noted their name was given to them by the Cheyenne warriors.

After his retirement Curley and four other former Buffalo Soldier troopers in Junction City worked to raise money for the life-size Buffalo Soldier Monument which was built as a tribute to the Buffalo Soldiers. It is located in a park on 18th Street.

Albert Curley is survived by two children, eight grandchildren and multiple great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

 

The last living Buffalo Soldier in Junction City, Albert Curley, died September 30th at Brookdale Senior Living in Junction City.  His funeral service is set for 10 a.m. Monday, October 8th at the Junction City Church of the Nazarene, 1025 South Washington Street.

Curley retired from the U.S. Army in 1969 after a career that saw him become one of the storied Buffalo Soldiers, a member of one of the all African-American cavalry and infantry units activated between the late 1800s and the mid-1900s.   During his military career Curley received a Purple Heart, Bronze Star and World War II Victory Medal.

During an interview last week his son, Albert Curley II, noted that his father’s thoughts on serving as a Buffalo Soldiers went back to the beginning of those troops. “The Buffalo Soldiers, they got the worst gear, the worst horses, and sometimes they were led by people who didn’t want to be there. And yet they had the lowest desertion rate, the highest morale.” He also stated. “We go back three generations of Buffalo Soldiers and they fought hard for equality and for their rights. But they also fought for everybody else’s rights when they fighting for those rights, and they knew that. Dad kept that attitude, he kept that philosophy that we are all the same and everybody is to be treated with respect and honor, and recognized for what they are.”

The Department of State in Washington D.C. held an event called, The Day in the Life of a Buffalo Soldier. Curley stated his father was interviewed and asked if he had any bitterness or feelings about discrimination he’d experienced. “He said no. He had accomplished what he set out to accomplish.”

The elder Curley helped other community work members to establish a Buffalo Soldier Monument near 18th Street on the former Pawnee Park site on the north side of Junction City. His son stated, “For them to convert that to Buffalo Soldier Park was a true accomplishment, and he was very very proud of that.”

Curley will be buried with full military honors at the Kansas Veterans’ Cemetery near Manhattan.

He was always smiling, a man liked by his co-workers, and someone who will be missed.

Fallen Geary County Corrections officer Felix K. Florez was remembered by his family and colleagues during a memorial service in Junction City on Saturday. He died after a shooting incident in Manhattan on September 22nd. Florez was off-duty at the time of the incident.

Florez was a 2014 Manhattan High School graduate who worked for a time with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, and later moved back to Manhattan to be closer to his family. He had worked as a corrections officer for the Geary County Sheriff’s Department for a few months and planned to try and become a deputy for the department.

Those attending the service at the Flint Hills Church remembered that Florez had a contagious smile on his face, was family oriented, and enjoyed laughing and joking.

Sheriff’s Department Captain Brian Hornaday presented a framed photo of Felix and another of the Law Enforcement Memorial to members of Florez’ family. Hornaday noted the members of the Department had lost a brother, but they could be comforted by knowing Felix is in a better place.

The Last Call for Felix Florez as it would be heard over radio dispatch wrapped up the service. When there was no answer from Officer Florez radio Number 497, that number was declared out of service. It has been retired.

 

The Junction City Blue Jays won the battle for the Sportsmanship Trophy ( Silver Football ) over the Manhattan Indians, 9-7, Friday night at Al Simpler Stadium.

The Blue Jays scored on a five-yard touchdown run by Russell Wilkey with 11:54 remaining in the fourth quarter to go ahead 9-7. Manhattan ( 5-1 ) blocked the extra point. The Indians drove back down inside the Blue Jay 25 but Junction City held on defense, and the Indians could not put another score on the board. The Junction City defense did not give up any points in the second half.

Defensive back Aaron Hamilton had three interceptions in the game and Chris Randolph also turned in a strong rushing performance for the Blue Jays ( 4-2 ).

Blue Jay coach Randall Zimmerman stated, “Tonight’s ballgame against a tremendously good, disciplined Manhattan team, you know our kids just kept grinding.” In the first half Junction City moved the ball inside the five-yard line of the Indians but a fumble at the goal line occurred on one series, and on the other they had to settle for a Jaden Kell field goal.

The Silver football was presented to the Blue Jays on the field by Manhattan players after the game.

The Great American Rivalry Series was also present at the game at Al Simpler Stadium. They presented a championship trophy to the winning team.

( Photos courtesy of Rick Dykstra ).

 

The new Junction City High School moved one step closer to reality Friday afternoon with the formal groundbreaking for the project.

JCHS Principal Melissa Sharp stated, “To the student body past, present and future you deserve an outstanding facility of this magnitude. Be proud. It is our desire to make this the best education and training facility in the region for you and your post-secondary dreams.”

Plans call for the new school to be built and in use by August of 2021 at a location on the west side of the city, north of K-18 Highway. Federal heavy impact and state aid are funding the project.

 

A federal jury has found a Morris County man guilty of downloading child pornography from the internet, U.S. Attorney McAllister said.

Wesley Wagner, 54, White City, was convicted of one count of receiving child pornography and one count of possessing child pornography. During the trial the prosecutor presented evidence that the FBI seized a server belonging to a now-defunct website called Playpen that provided users access to child pornography. The FBI used computer forensics to identify the site’s users, including Wagner. Based on that information the FBI obtained a warrant to search the defendant’s home.

Sentencing is set for January 7th. Wagner faces a penalty of not less than five years and not more than 20 years in federal prison on the charge of receiving child pornography, and up to 10 years on the possession charge.

The groundbreaking for the new Junction City High School is set for 2:30 p.m. on Friday. The location is near the intersection of Munson Road and K-18 Highway. The new high school will be built on the north side of K-18.

The goal is to have the new school built and in service to students by August of 2021.

A combination of federal heavy impact aid and state aid is being used to finance the project.

Fort Riley Garrison Commander Colonel Stephen Shrader will serve as the guest speaker for the groundbreaking ceremony.

 

 

Geary County rural firefighters responded to 10014 Quarry Road about five miles north of Junction City just after eight o’clock Wednesday night. A thunderstorm was moving through the area at that time.

Garry Berges, Rural Fire Chief, stated it appeared a house was struck by lightning. No one was injured. “The Geary County Fire Department responded with five trucks and 18 personnel, we also had an ambulance from Junction City Fire ( Department ) come and assist us due to the nature of being a structure fire. Looks like damage is around $10,000.”

There was damage to the attic and garage at the residence, and minor damage to the rest of the house. The two residents, who have not yet been identified, should be able to resume living in the house once some repairs are completed.