JUNCTION CITY, KAN. – Geary County Schools USD 475 announced this week that, Mr. Nathan Downs has accepted the position of Executive Director of Special Education which became open following the resignation of former Executive Director, Rebekah Helget.
Downs has been with USD 475 as the Special Education Coordinator at Junction City High School for the past year. Prior to that, he served as a School Psychologist in the Manhattan-Ogden Schools and for the USD 320 Special Services Cooperative. Downs was also a Crisis Case Manager at the Crawford County Community Mental Health Center prior to working in education.
Nathan Downs graduated from Pittsburg State University with a Psychology degree before completing his EdS in School Psychology. He completed a Masters in Educational Leadership at Kansas State University.
For inquiries please contact Matthew Droge, Executive Director of Marketing and Media Relations for Geary County Schools USD 475.
Riders rolling up South Washington Street to Heritage Park
Run for the Wall riders traveling across the nation made Junction City a stopping point Sunday.
During a ceremony in Heritage Park the guest speaker, Vietnam Veteran Ray Calore, touched on a number of issues. The ride helps draw attention to the POW-MIA issue but he touched on a topic he called LKA….Last Known Alive. Those are primarily pilots who were shot down over North Vietnam and Laos. “Who were alive on the ground, radioed that they were alive on the ground, had their signals sent forward that they were alive on the ground either about to be captured or had been captured.”
Calore explained authorities knew that they were alive in captivity. “Why weren’t those people brought home in 1973? They call it Operation Homecoming, sure, for 591. And now dribble by dribble we’re getting boxes of bones but not the ones who were last known alive. So keep that in your mind when we’re talking about the return of our missing, unaccounted for military personnel. ” If there is evidence of their loved ones being alive on the ground, Kalore added the families deserve more than boxes of bones.
Calore, who resides today in Merriam, Kansas, touched on other issues ranging from the need for a permanent Secretary of Veterans Affairs to homeless veterans.
Approximately 500 riders and passengers combined made the trip into Junction City off of Interstate 70 and then traveled up South Washington Street for a ceremony in Heritage Park. They are then spending Sunday night in Junction City before heading east Monday morning to Wentzel, Missouri. Their end goal is the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C. That number was up substantially from one year ago.
Ride Coordinator Harlan Olson, Longmont Colorado, said Junction City is probably at the top of the list for a welcome. “Especially those flags down there ( on South Washington Street ). If a rider doesn’t come in there with a lump in his throat, especially if you’re a veteran. And a veteran. Especially in my case a Vietnam veteran that didn’t get that 40-50 years ago it feels good.”
At the conclusion of the ceremony the Vietnam Veterans in the group were presented with special lapel pins recognizing their service.
Audience for ceremony in Heritage Park
Earlier Run for the Wall photo
Riders rolling up South Washington Street to Heritage Park during Run for the Wall in 2018.
Riders parked their motorcycles plus other vehicles and gear on Fifth Street adjacent to Heritage Park.
One Harley pulled a trailer bearing a car that served as a storage unit.
Motorcycles parked by Heritage Park
The color guard for the Run for the Wall ceremony.
Ray Calore speaking during the Run for the Wall ceremony.
State Run for the Wall Coordinator Carl “Rusty” Brown speaking during the Run for the Wall ceremony.
Junction City Lady Jay Track Team, Regional Champions. ( Photo courtesy Blue Jay Athletics Twitter feed. )
The Junction City Lady Jays claimed the team title in the Class 6A Regional meet at Lawrence Free State. The Blue Jays boys finished third in the team standings.
JCHS results included Hannah Reynolds, Savannah Adams and Sherrie Jones qualifying for the state meet in the shotput, and Reynolds set a new JCHS record in the discus with a throw of 135’7.”
Some other athletes also qualifying for state were Keiana Newman, won the 300 hurdles and the 110 hurdles, the Lady Jay 4 x 400 relay and 4 x 100 relay teams, Michelle Smith third in the 1600 meters and Tiara Smith third in the 400 meters. For the Blue Jay boys they included Ian Sanchez, who finished third in the 200 meters, Juan Tovar third in the 800 meters, Jamarcus Plato who won the boys 300 hurdles and the 110 high hurdles, , Leslie Etheridge third in the 400 meters, Antonio Porter fourth in the triple jump, Izayiah Moore and Ian Sanchez in the 100 meters, Xavier Cason third in the shotput, the boys 4 x 400 relay finished second and the boys 4 x 100 finished second.
Standout Lady Jay sprinter Lyric Holman has been excelling in the 100, 200 and 400 meter dash events this season, and running on the 4 x 100 and 4 x 400 relay teams. According to Coach Randall Zimmerman in the finals of the 100 meter dash at regional Holman pulled a hamstring. As a result she was unable to qualify for state in the 100, 200 and 400 meter dash events. She has been listed as an alternate for the two relay teams, meaning if she is able to recover in time she could still run at state in those races. Holman is a senior at JCHS.
The state track meet is next Friday and Saturday in Wichita.
The program to spruce up the appearance of East Chestnut Street in Junction City moved forward on Friday.
Flowers and shrubs are being planted in 16 different flower boxes along that street. Local organizations and individuals helped sponsor this project, which was spearheaded by Junction City Commissioner Phyllis Fitzgerald.
Ten seniors from Junction City High School that attended Westwood and Lincoln Elementary Schools visited the schools on Thursday. The students will graduate from JCHS on Saturday.
The total value of the scholarships awarded to members of the Class of 2018 at Junction City has been calculated at approximately $1.3 million.
One prestigous scholarship was awarded to Jadie Chauncey by the Rudd Foundation. It covers the cost of her college education beyond any other scholarships she received. “They cover the cost of all tuition, books, fees and housing after scholarships that you have already won that have been applied to your account.” Chauncey will study psychology at Wichita State University. She is one of only 200 Rudd Foundation Scholarship winners this year in Kansas.
Matthew Guida received an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point. That appointment carries a value of $350,000.
Jordan Dombrowski received multiple scholarships including a Kansas State University Henry J. Putnam Scholarship valued at $30,000. She plans to major in elementary education, and is hopeful in the future of teaching on a military installation or DOD school. She would like to return to USD 475 to teach for a few years.
Gage Panion was the recipient of an Army ROTC Scholarship valued at $42,150 from K-State, Tyler Gromlovits an Academic / Athletic Bowling Scholarship valued at $80,000 from Baker University, and Chloe Smith a Boston University Grant worth $35,000. The Bonecutter – Geary Community Schools Foundation scholarship of $1,000 went to Meghan Smith. That one traditionally is awarded to the student in the class with the highest grade point average.
State of Kansas Governor’s Scholars in the top one percent of the senior class included Jiahao Chen, Leah Ervin, Anne Kim and Meghan Smith. Joshua Nieves received the Dale Dennis Excellence in Education Award, while Ashton Wiegand and Paile Norriega were recipients of the Kansas State High School Activities Association Citizenship Award.
State of Kansas Designated Scholars included Sidney Budinas, Jadie Chauncey, Alora Duran, Leah Ervin, Anne Kim and Meghan Smith.
Three Governor’s scholars in the Top 1% of the Senior Class, Jiahao Chen, Leah Ervin, Anne Kim.
Junction City High School seniors have pulled their senior prank.
When teachers arrived at school Thursday morning they found school furniture ranging from school desks to a small love-seat couch in their parking spots outside the building. Seniors were lined up on the top row of the Al Simpler Stadium watching as teachers arrived.
A strength and conditioning class was given the job of returning the furniture into the school.
Wednesday was the final day of classes for the seniors at JCHS. Their commencement is scheduled Saturday evening at Al Simpler Stadium.
FORT RILEY — Approximately 250 Soldiers with the 2nd Armored BrigadeCombat Team, 1st Infantry Division, are back in Kansas following a nine-month deployment to Europe in support of Atlantic Resolve.
Soldiers arriving in Salina on Wednesday -image courtesy 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division
Their plane landed in Salina Wednesday.
The “Dagger” brigade deployed to Europe in September 2017 as the second iteration of heel-to-toe rotations of U.S. armored brigades in Europe, designed to provide a continuous U.S. armored presence for the foreseeable future. While deployed, 2nd ABCT trained closely with NATO allies to build interoperability between their forces and strengthen their collective defensive capabilities to deter aggression in the region.
One of the special highlights from the deployment was the three deployment readiness exercises the brigade conducted, where units moved company-size elements from Poland and Germany into the Baltic region on a 48-hour notice. This sent a powerful message that they could rapidly respond to crises anywhere, at any time if called upon.
The redeployment ceremonies for the Second Brigade Combat Team are due to continue through late May and early June. A total of about 3,000 Soldiers will eventually return to Fort Riley from the deployment to Europe.
JUNCTION CITY, KAN. – Geary County Schools USD 475 announced this week that, Kristy Walter has accepted the position of Assistant Principal at Junction City Middle School.
Walter previously served as the Assistant Principal for 3 years at Topsail Middle School in Hampstead, North Carolina before moving to Junction City in February. Prior to serving as the assistant principal, she was a Principal Intern at Laney High School and South Topsail Elementary in North Carolina.
Walter has taught grades 2, 4, and 5 and was a Reading Specialist prior to moving to educational leadership. Ms. Walter has a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management and Organization from Mount Olive College in North Carolina and has obtained an Elementary Education certification from the University of North Carolina. She has also earned a Masters in School Administration.
A one vehicle accident late Monday night claimed the life of a 17-year old 2018 Chapman High School graduate.
Dickinson County Sheriff Garreth Hoffman confirmed Colin M. Henderson, 17 was the fatality victim. Henderson had just graduated from Chapman High School this past Sunday.
Authorities were called to a location near the 3200 block of Rain Road in Dickinson County just before 11:30 p.m. Monday for a one vehicle accident. Hoffman reported that Henderson was driving a vehicle that left the road, hit a culvert for a field or drive way entrance and overturned. Henderson was ejected from the vehicle. The cause of the accident is unknown.
The sheriff also confirmed that there was no indication of any alcohol or drugs at the scene of the accident.
Posted By: USD 475
