Oh what could have been.

Junction City ( 2-2 ) moved the ball well in the first half against an extremely talented Topeka High Trojan and had a chance to go in ahead at the halftime break, but mistakes in the form of penalties and fumbles proved costly. The Trojans ( 3-1 ) grabbed a 21-14 first half lead before Junction City tied it 21-21 all in the third quarter. From that point on the Trojans took control of the game to win 56-28.

Junction City had two fumbles including on a punt return, and a costly penalty that resulted in a touchdown pass play being called back.  Blue Jay coach Randall Zimmerman referred to a punt return where Junction City had the ball near the 50-yard line with a 7-0 lead but fumbled and lost the football. “That was a tough one. That was a great effort on our returner and they just got it out. We had a lot of momentum right there, moving the ball offensively, getting stops defensively. ”

Zimmerman referred to another key stretch where it was 14-14 and the Blue Jays had driven near the Trojans 20-yard line before fumbling. “They hadn’t stopped us in the first half and we fumble the football.
A short time later the Trojans had two big plays and went up 21-14 at the intermission.

It was Tribute to the Troops night at Al Simpler Stadium. The 97th Military Police were represented and supported the Blue Jays during the game.

It’s all about the music!  The Junction City Blues Music Festival runs Friday night and Saturday in the Heritage Park, downtown.

This festival is the substitute for Jammin In JC which was not held this year. The music begins at 5:30 p.m. Friday and continues until 10 p.m. The hours Saturday are 12:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.  There is no admission charge for the concerts.

Geary County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau Director Michelle Stimatze is hoping for a strong turnout from the public. “Well I’m hoping we get a pretty good crowd. I know we’ve had a lot of phone calls and a lot of facebook, people talking about it, sharing it. So we’re hoping we have a good crowd this year.”

Nine bands will perform blues music ranging from Smokers Blues Band to Joyride Blues Band.

JC’s BBQ and Grill will provide barbecue and other nonprofits will also be selling food in the park during the festival.

A Junction City contractor has been indicted on charges of selling more than $7,000 worth of methamphetamine to undercover investigators, U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister said.

Gerald W. Etherton, 59, Junction City, is charged with six counts of distributing methamphetamine. According to court records in April of this year the Kansas Bureau of Investigation and other law enforcement agencies began investigating Etherton, who owned Jerry’s Construction at 305 East 8th in Junction City. Undercover agents made a series of buys from Etherton ranging in amount from an ounce of methamphetamine for $600 to a quarter of a pound for $2,000.

If convicted Etherton faces a penalty of not less than 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $10 million on five of the counts, and up to 20 years and a fine of up to $1 million on one of the counts. The KBI investigated with the assistance of the Geary County Sheriff’s Department, Junction City Police Department and the Geary County Attorney’s Office. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Skip Jacobs is prosecuting.

The Kansas Department of Transportation Division of Aviation will host the fifth annual Fly Kansas Air Tour September 27-29.

KDOT has partnered with the Kansas Commission on Aerospace Education to promote aviation and economic growth. To date 59 pilots and 45 aircraft are signed up to participate in the tour.

One of the stops will include Freeman Field, the airport in Junction City, at 12:30 p.m Thursday, September 27. they will be in Junction City until 3 p.m.  Other stops on the 27th include Wellington, Hutchinson, Abilene and Salina. They will visit Clay Center, Rooks County and Great Bend on September 28, and and Rose Hill ( Derby ) on September 29.

All events will be free and open to the public.

A graphic drawing of the new Junction City High School main entrance was unveiled by architects at the Geary USD 475 Board of Education meeting this week.

Junction City High School has been using the academy style of education for 18 years in a building not completely designed for that purpose. Now a new high school is being designed with the academy structure in mind, but also with flexibility to accommodate future changes in education.

At a Monday evening Board of Education meeting Board President Tom Brungardt opened what became at times a tense discussion among other Board members and staff, when he posed the question about whether they were settled on building to the academy structure. After a lengthy and at times contentious discussion the Board voted 5-1 to allow building the structure with the academy system. Brungardt cast the lone no vote.

Board member David Walker made the motion early in the discussion. “Well there seemed to be some concern about which style of school we’re building. I thought we already voted on that but there seemed to be some question about whether we were going to use that system or not, the academy system. I was just trying to clarify that the architectural firm is designing a building that can be used for the academy system. Evidently it was needed.” The work will continue to plan for an academy structure, although there will be flexibility in the building.

Brungardt noted, “My point was that we’re building a building to meet a specific instructional style. Instructional styles change, I don’t think we should be doing that. I think we should be building a building that’s a little more flexible than that.”

Brungardt explained his point further, “My main concern was the science rooms, whether we put the science rooms all together or whether we have science rooms in each academy. I think it would be better to have science rooms all together, but the Board voted to put science rooms in each academy instead.”

JCHS Principal Melissa Sharp pointed out to the Board that Junction City High School is further ahead over any other schools on the academy system, and that this is the future of education. The academy system has been in place at JCHS since 2000, and planning for it began a few years before that.

Geary County 4-H member results at the State Fair have been provided by 4-H Extension Agent Ginger Kopfer.

Calen Boller was named the Reserve champion out of 37 entries in the young men’s clothing buymanship.

Tava Gustafson in photography received the Kansas 4-H Foundation Sunflower Award.

Logan Nabus in  photography receivd a Kansas 4-H Foundation Selection

Ava Oentrich had a photography Kansas 4-H Foundation Selection

Creytin Sanner had a photography Rock Springs Display Selection

Pathways to Fitness Day drew members of the community from all age ranges on Saturday. Activities ranged from community and youth races at Al Simpler Stadium to tobacco cessation and a groundbreaking for new ICARE fitness equipment in the Fifth Street Playground Park.

A Pathways to Healthy Kansas Grant grant totaling approximately $30,000 and private donations will fund the $45,000 needed for the ICARE equipment and a pair of benches in the park. Spokesman Harold Macumber said there will be six pieces of equipment for use by anyone, all ages. “it will also be handicapped accessible for a couple pieces of equipment. ”

Macumber noted the project was primarily started to provide exercise equipment for the elderly who bring their children and grand children to the Park. It would give the older residents an activity they could participate in instead of just sitting on a bench. Macumber estimated it will be two to three weeks before work begins to install the equipment. ICARE Executive Director Vicki Bobbitt Executive Director Vicki Bobbitt said once the equipment is installed they want the community to use it.

A tobacco resolution was read by Junction City Commissioner Phyllis Fitzgerald. A tobacco free zone sign was unveiled. “Just going to encourage everybody not to smoke in the park, children come and play. Just do your part and help to leave a fresher cleaner life and fresher air.” The signs will be posted in parks throughout the city with the exception of Heritage Park. While there are no formal penalties, the public is encouraged to self police the no smoking concept.

Other information on the purpose of Pathways to Fitness effort was provided during a program in the park and there were vendors also set up with their displays.