The Geary County Commission Monday indicated their agreement for a proposal to have the Convention and Visitor’s Bureau to serve as the organizer, or coordinator for the annual Sundown Salute celebration in Junction City. They were agreeable to it on a one year trial basis.

During discussion at the county commission meeting it was noted by CVB staff that the city commission was in agreement with the idea. But one more important step is still necessary in the process, before it could become final. According to CVB Director Michelle Stimatze the Sundown Salute Committee must still consider the proposal. They have not yet taken any action.

During a report to the county governing body, Stimatze noted planners would looking at a three to four day Sundown Salute celebration next year, and not six days as was the case in 2018. There could be a possible soft opening the first night, activities could start later in the evening, and they could possibly move to bigger bands performing at the celebration in order to bring in more attendance. A need for more activities in the park was also cited in order to maintain attendance.

On a separate topic Stimatze reported that the blues festival in the downtown area this year will be a smaller event and the CVB may have to play a bigger part next year when they hope to return to Jammin in JC. The Jammin in JC event had to be called off this year, but the CVB has stepped in to help sponsor and coordinate a festival in September this year in the Heritage Park area downtown.

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On the subject of conventions, Stimatze reported that there are more conventions in Junction City this year. That’s an area where the Convention and Visitor’s Bureau is involved.

The Geary County Sheriff’s Department community involvement unit is working on a project called Camp Shield.

Brian Hornaday, Captain, stated they have been fundraising with a need of about $25,000. “Thanks to members of the community we were able to raise a substantial amount of money.” Hornaday reported that the Geary County Commission gave approval for use of $25,000 from the alcohol fund. which involves money derived from a tax in Kansas on alcohol. “Everything’s in fast forward now with all the planning stages.”

Camp Shield will be designed to help children in the fifth or sixth grade age range come out of their shell, explained Hornaday. “Quiet kids, sit in the back of the class, really shy, maybe some that have been bullying victims or could potentially be bullying victims. “He added they are working with the school district during the upcoming school year to identify those children.

“We’re going to take 30. That’s our maximum capacity for this year starting off.”

Camp Shield will begin May 28, 2019. and will be an annual event.

If you remember the television show, “Hee Haw”, then you have an idea of the entertainment provided by the production of “Hoo Haw” Saturday night at the C.L. Hoover Opera House.

To help kick off the celebration of the 120th anniversary year of the Opera House and the 10th anniversary year of major renovations to the building, “Hoo Haw” was performed on stage. The show was a production by actors at the Columbian Theater in Wamego.

There were corny jokes, country and gospel music, an impersonation of Minnie Pearl and plenty of laughter for the audience that included Keith Ascher. “Oh, it just brings back a lot of good memories, good wholesome fun that we used to grow up watching TV.  When he asked if he watched Hee Haw in the past Ascher stated, “Religiously.” Deb Andres enjoyed the gospel groups that performed, noting they had done an awesome job, while Florence Whitebread enjoyed the music. “I just like the whole way the show was being done. It’s a cute, fun show.”

Opera House Co-Director Joe Markley said the Columbian Theater has been performing this show for 11 years, noting it’s basically a take-off on Hee Haw. “It’s a great live band, great singing, funny jokes and just a very entertaining evening. Markley during the 120th year celebration officials want to celebrate the Opera House still being in existence and moving forward into the future. The building was first built in 1882 but a fire in 1898 caused major damage  and the facility was then rebuilt that same year.

The activities Saturday evening also included an outdoor block party in front of the Opera House where the Junction City Little Theater, Smithfield and Freddy’s all provided food for that event.

The Junction City High School Marching Band conducted a preview show Friday night as they concluded their annual week of Band Camp at Al Simpler Stadium.

Marching drills to songs including the Blue Jay Fight song were performed by the band. 

Jared Morris, Band Director, said they wanted to show the parents the hard work undertaken by the students during the past week. “They had practices the week before that as well. So we wanted to show them the fundamental things that we’re working on to learn how to be good marchers and good performers, and then also show them some of the songs we learned and the formations that we learned.”

Morris reported that 23 members of the JCHS Marching Band have been selected for an Honor Band that will perform at the K-State – South Dakota football September 1 in Manhattan. “They’re going to go on Friday night ( August 31 )  and have a long practice with the other Honor Band students and with the K-State directors. And then on Saturday, they’re going to perform at the football game. They’ll play at halftime and they’ll sit in the stands with the K-State Band.”

The Stuff the Bus effort to obtain school supplies for needy children in Geary County has met its goal.

United Way Director Nicole Mahder said Friday, “The community was amazing because we hit goal on everything. ” Mahder said they raised just over $1,500 dollars in financial donations and more than 10,000 items in school supplies.

The supplies will be distributed to local schools next week.

Volunteers helped with the collections this summer at Walmart on East Chestnut, Dillons on 6th Street plus at several business outlets, and Geary Community Hospital.

Twenty-five years ago this time the Junction City area had just come through the big flood of 1993.

Water poured out of the Milford Lake emergency spillway while the Republican and Smoky Hill Rivers flooded.

During a JC Now program on 1420 KJCK AM, a former Park Manager for the Corps of Engineers at Milford Lake, Harvey Brink noted the flood was a first time experience for that reservoir. “So it’s an uncontrolled spillway with the idea it’s developed that way. All Corps of Engineers, all dams were built that way with an uncontrolled spillway.”

Brink stated uncontrolled means there is no idea where the water going over the spillway is going to go “and how it’s going to affect because of different situations.” In this case a unique one-time cut had to be made across K-57 Highway southeast of the Milford Lake Dam to give the water someplace to go so it wouldn’t cut off U.S. Highway 77.

On the north side of Junction City water coming out of the Republican River crept south for several blocks down Grant Avenue. Sand bags and sand were brought in with volunteers filling them for use in stopping the water in multiple locations. Current Geary County Emergency Management Director Garry Berges oversaw the sand bagging operation. “We set up at the old Gibson building, which is the 300 block of Grant Avenue, because Gibson’s was closed at that time. The sand company just kept bringing in semi-loads of sand. We had volunteers, we probably had 200 – 300 at a time in there tying them.” Berges estimated 10,000 or more sand bags were used.

The worst of the flooding hit in late July and extended for a period of several days. On the south side the Smoky Hill River jumped out of its banks and flooded low-lying farmland along the south side of Interstate 70. There was also other flooding in the region, particularly on the northeast side of Manhattan where water came through Tuttle Creek Reservoir.

There is advance voting interest in Geary County in the upcoming August 7 primary election.

Geary County Clerk Rebecca Nordyke noted Wednesday that comparing numbers now to the city – school election last August, and the August 2014 primary there are a few more voters now at this point than total voters in those two elections. ” So our numbers are up a little bit in comparable elections, but not significantly up. I do feel like we have had more people coming in the office over the past couple of days than we did last week.”

You can participate in advance voting at the county clerk’s office from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. the rest of this week, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, and on Monday from 8:30 a.m. until noon.

Elected officials seeking reelection in Geary County are running unopposed so there are no races there. Voters will be casting ballots in the Governor and Secretary of State primary elections.

The Stuff the Bus campaign is pushing toward a goal of 10,000 school supply items and $1,500 in donations to support the effort.

United Way Director Nicole Mahder said Monday afternoon that as of that point 8,973 items had been donated, and $1,293.01 had been contributed. Collections continue through this Friday.

There are a number of drop-off points in the community including Central National Bank, Exchange Bank, Geary Community Hospital, Intrust Bank. Karen Jameson State Farm, Landmark National Bank, Sunflower Bank and Millenium Bank. You can also drop off supplies at the United Way office at 139 East 8th Street through Friday 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.

The supplies will be distributed to needy children in Geary County schools in time for the upcoming school year.

The annual Float Your Boat Cardboard Races are August 11th at the Gathering Pond area at Milford Lake.

The Geary County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau has prepared the rules and regulations for the event, which is open to the public.