The Corps of Engineers reported on Monday that the Milford Lake elevation is 1163.66, up about 19-feet from the multipurpose pool elevation of 1144.40.

The current release is 25 cubic feet per second, while the inflow into the reservoir is 2,290 cfs. The downstream Waverly, Missouri gauge has been high, which prohibits any release from Milford Lake at this time.

Photographer Javon George also provided photo samples of the Corps of Engineer office at Milford Lake, and some of the public displays there.

( Photos courtesy of Javon George JCHS ).

 

 

Junction City, KS (October 7, 2019) — This week is National 4-H Week, during which millions of youth, parents, volunteers and alumni across the country will be celebrating everything 4-H. Geary County 4-H will observe National 4-H Week this year by showcasing the incredible experiences that 4-H offers young people and working to spread the word about 4-H.

The theme of this year’s National 4-H Week is Inspire Kids to Do, which highlights how 4-H encourages kids to take part in hands-on learning experiences in areas such as health, science, agriculture and civic engagement. The positive environment provided by 4-H mentors ensures that kids in every county in the country – from urban neighborhoods to suburban schoolyards to rural farming communities – are encouraged to take on proactive leadership roles and are empowered with the skills to lead in life and career.

4-H alumni around the country are always the first to acknowledge the significant positive impact 4-H had on them as young people; the hands-on opportunities and experiences that 4-H provides youth empowers them to become true leaders. In fact, research has shown that young people involved in Kansas 4-H are making responsible decisions, making connections, and growing in citizenship, leadership, and communication skills. The recent Kansas 4-H Impact Study showed that 91% of Kansas 4-H members have a plan for reaching their goals, 93% are connected with adults who are not their parents, 96% reported that they can make a difference through community service, and 4-H participants in their third year or more reported a 60% increase in their confidence in public speaking compared to newer participants.

To join 4-H, youth must be between the ages of seven and eighteen as of January 1, 2020. If you meet this requirement and want to find out what 4-H has for you, please contact the Extension Office at 785-238-4161. You can also check out the Geary County Extension website at www.geary.ksu.edu.

One 4-H member summed the program up well when she said, “4-H is an amazing program because kids and teens are learning from all these great experiences. We find confidence we never thought we had. We learn to lead and not follow. 4-H teaches skills that are not found anywhere else.” If you want to become a true leader, come check out the Geary County 4-H program!

Ginger Kopfer, Geary County Extension Agent

 

 

 

The ceremony honoring two Deputies has been postponed until 3:15 p.m. oct. 21st.

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Two Geary County Sheriff’s Deputies will be recognized at the Geary County Commission meeting on Monday for heroic achievement while on-duty June 8th.

According to information provided by the Sheriff’s Department they were on the night shift at 3:21 a.m. when they were dispatched to Auld Road and Brinkley Road for a man and woman who had driven their car into the water. That night shift included Lt. Aaron Parker and Sgt. Kyle Porter. Dispatch said a man and woman were standing on top of their vehicle as it was sinking into the flood waters.

Deputies Cayla Da Giau and James Garcia were among the officers arriving on scene. At that time the two subjects were clinging to a group of trees approximately 75 yards from the shore. They were in an area that had flooded due to the high lake water which was about 25-feet deep. Porter, Da Giau and Garcia told the two subjects to remain where they were but they ignored the commands and began to swim toward the Deputies. While swimming the woman was dragged under water by the man in their panic to make it to shore.

Deputies Garcia and Da Biau entered the water to keep both of the subjects from drowning. Both had begun to have trouble swimming as the Deputies made contact with them. Da Giau and Garcia grabbed ahold of both subjects and swam them back to shore.

The Sheriff’s Department released stated, “Without the selfless actions of Deputies Garcia and Da’Giau, both subjects would have likely drowned while trying to swim back to shore. Deputies Garcia and Da Giau’s courage and professionalism reflected great credit upon themselves and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Law Enforcement profession.”

The awards presentation is scheduled at approximately 3:15 p.m. Monday at the county commission meeting.

Hildebrand Farms Dairy, 5210 Rucker Rd., will host their annual Harvest Festival Saturday, Oct. 12 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. giving visitors the chance to experience a day on the farm and meet the family and dairy herd.

Highlights of the free event will include a picnic lunch, live music, ours of the farm, hay rack rides, corn pit sponsored by Kansas Corn, cow bouncy house, paint-your-own pumpkin, coloring contest and milking demonstrations from Southwest Dairy Farmers. The event is open to the public.

“The Harvest Festival is our opportunity to pull out all the stops and share our farm with the community,” Melissa ( Hildebrand ) Reed, operations manager, said, “Farming is very much a life style and we are blessed to have the support of so many that purchase glass bottle milk. The Harvest Festival is our way to give back.”

This year the Hildebrand family has expanded the corn play area at the festival to give children more room to play.

The picnic lunch will be hosted by Compassionate Ministries and will be served from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. or while supplies last. Cash or check, free-will donations assist in serving meals s part of the summer food program. Local singer and songwriter Savanna Chestnut will perform during the picnic between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Tours will be available every half hour beginning at 10 a.m. and ending at 2:30 p.m.  A member of the Hildebrand team will guide visitors through the milk barn, processing plant, free-stall barn and calf barn.

This year a variety of locally grown pumpkins will be available for purchase. The pumpkins are two for $10 or one for $6. Children can then paint a mini-pumpkin for $1. Cash is suggested for the mini-pumpkin painting.

Visitors can also sample Hildebrand Farms Dairy milks and summer sausages. Fresh milk, soft-serve ice cream, meat and other local farm products are available for purchase.

In the event of inclement weather check the farm’s Facebook page at Hildebrand Farms Dairy for updates on cancellation or postponement.

 

Returning Soldiers will eat steak on Saturday, Nov. 2 in the 5th Street Playground Park in Junction City. The All American Beef Battalion will provide the food for the soldiers who are being welcomed back home after deployments overseas.

The Director of the Military Affairs Council Craig Bender, said he reached out to the All American Beef Battalion. “That’s an organization in the Midwest that puts on a dinner for troops that are deploying or coming home.” Bender was notified this week that they would be supporting the event in Junction City.”So they will bring 500-plus Rib-eyes for all soldiers and family members of deployed soldiers. So we’ll have a Rib-eye steak, cheesy potatoes and green beans for all the troops that come out to the welcome home event.”

The welcome home is scheduled from noon until 3 p.m. on Nov. 2.

The Homecoming parade and pep rally took center stage for Junction City High School Thursday evening.

The parade rolled from the H.D. Karns Building to the senior high school, and was followed by a pep rally at Al Simpler Stadium. The Blue Jays host Highland Park in the homecoming football game at Al Simpler Stadium Friday night. You can hear the game on 107.9 FM and 1420 KJCK.

The grand opening for Riley’s Community Center was held on Post this week. The building that was formerly Riley’s Conference Center, has undergone renovation.

Junction City Commissioner Phyllis Fitzgerald attended the grand opening. “It still can be used for a lot of the same things, meetings and events. They’ve got a nice computer room, they’ve got a family room, got a fitness room with child activity space and a recreation room.”

The hours of operation for the center will be 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday, 11 a.m. until 8 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, and noon to 7 p.m. on Saturday.

Soldiers return to Fort Riley this month from overseas deployments.

During the weekly Junction City Commission meeting, Commissioner Tim Brown, provided an update. He noted that there was a Fort Riley representative at the recent Flint Hills Regional Council meeting, “who indicated, it’s good to know, that most units from Fort Riley will be back after October and then will be here through February. Almost all troops will be on the base from October to February. That’s a really good thing.”

Brown represents Junction City on the Flint Hills Regional Council.

The Junction City Commission has given their approval on a Phase Two project for the 5th Street

Playground Park. A new basketball court will be built.

Kendall Schoenrock of the Quality Play for All Committee told the commission this would follow the successful Phase One portion of the project that included new playground equipment. “Looking to continue that momentum with the approval to move forward with the basketball court, 50 feet by 80 feet. We’ve tag teamed the plans with Kaw Valley as well as Ed Lazear at the Parks Department.”

City Manager Allen Dinkel explained the City will lay the concrete. The cost estimate is in the $25,000 to $30,000 range, with the City paying half and Quality Play for All paying half of that expense.

Phase One of the project in the park included new playground equipment that has been installed.