JUNCTION CITY, KAN – Dressing a little casual is leading to big change at Kollhoff Pharmacy, 407 S. Washington. Kollhoff Pharmacy team members were given the opportunity to dress casual on Fridays if they provided a little change to the collection jar. Within a short period of time employees raised $250 which was matched by the pharmacy, giving them $500 to donate to Delivering Change, the Geary County Perinatal Coalition.

The staff quickly decided Delivering Change would be the beneficiary for many reasons, Sue Kollhoff, owner and co-CEO of Kollhoff Pharmacy, said. “Delivering Change continues to do exciting things for family wellness in Junction City.  We are happy to support such a great organization that continues to do so much for Geary County.”

According to deliveringchange.org, the non-profit was created in response to a growing need for improved access to healthcare, improved health of women of childbearing age, and improved outcomes for the babies born in the Geary County community.  The funds will allow the Delivering Change Navigators to purchase items for distribution to parents over the pregnancy and postpartum periods, with the goal of increasing patient engagement in Delivering Change programs. “Junction City has given so much to us and we are excited to give back,” Kollhoff said. “We are eager to see our employees continue to show passion in giving to the community.”

Kollhoff Pharmacy was opened in 2014 by pharmacists Sue and John Kollhoff. As the only family-owned retail and compounding pharmacy in the area, they are able to offer exceptional customer care. They provide pharmacy services for people and pets and free delivery in Junction City and Chapman.  For more information visit www.kollhoffpharmacy.com.

Sue Kollhoff, PharmD

Kollhoff Pharmacy

Teachers helped spur Roland Fabia on to major accomplishments in his future.

Speaking at the Celebration of Teaching banquet in Junction City Monday evening Fabia remembered some of the educators who helped him during his days in school. “In eighth grade it was Jim Pendarvis, my English teacher who spurred interest in literature for me. In high school it was Mr. Bennett who sparked my interest in government. Three words from another teacher impacted his life, “yet, proud and imagine.”

Fabia, a 1973 JCHS graduate, would go on to spend the majority of three decades as an Intelligence Officer with the Defense Intelligence Agency. He served in a variety of positions ranging from analyzing foreign military capabilities and counterterrorism  to support to senior policy makers and warfighters. He was selected by Vice President Cheney to serve as his briefer for the President’s Daily Brief in 2007. In 2009, Fabia was inducted to the Defense Intelligence Senior Level Service and was assigned as the DIA executive representative to the Department of Homeland Security. He completed his career in the DIA Information Technology Office where he worked to help ensure efficient, consistent and quality enterprise IT services, support and products were provided to more than 54,000 customers, including all of the Combatant Commands.

He told the Celebration of Teaching audience comprised of current and former USD 475 teachers that there was a qoute dealing with seeds and harvest. “When I hear it I think of teachers, to those who teach, because teachers plant the seeds but they don’t often get to see what blooms.”

Fabia also attended St. Xavier Elementary School and Junction City Junior High School. He holds a Master’s degree in National Security Studies from the National War College in Washington, D.C.

 

This is National Tourism Week. As part of the events for the Geary County Convention and Tourism Bureau, the CVB is sponsoring a “Find the Coin” Hunt. Each day at 5 p.m. beginning on Tuesday they will post a clue on the CVB Facebook page.

The Facebook address is www.facebook.com/GearyCountyCVB

 

Fort Riley is one of the installations being considered for a new U.s. Army  armored brigade combat team. That would comprise approximately 5,200 Soldiers.

During a visit to Fort Riley this past week the Secretary of the Army, Mark T. Esper, addressed that subject.

Esper stated, “We are going to convert an infantry brigade combat team to an armored brigade combat team. That is consistent with the direction the Army is heading with regard to returning capacity capability to fight the high end fight. There are a handful of posts, units if you will, that are in that running and Fort Riley is in that running. A decision will be made later this summer.”

During his visit to the installation Esper visited with 1st Infantry Division leadership, viewed Soldiers training, met with area community leaders and participated in a town hall meeting with Soldiers, spouses and Department of Defense civilians.

The public had an opportunity to bring their dog and cats to Heritage Park on Saturday for the Friends of Animals hosted Low Cost Vaccination and Microchip Clinic.

According to spokesperson Sally Maes said a year ago about 150 out of 200 available forms were printed out for people attending. This year the event went through 200 and an additional 200 forms had to be printed so the event was well received. There were a lot of activities. “They’re getting vaccinations, they’re getting microchips, they’re getting toe nails clipped and they’re visiting some of these vendors that came in.”

A microchip is a small seed-like device about size of a piece of rice which is inserted. “And it’s got a certain number on it. If you run a scanner over it, it picks it up and tells you who the owner is. It’s a way to find your pet if it gets lost.”

This was done in the past at the 4-H Center but was moved to Heritage Park this year. In the past it was part of an annual pet fair, but the Friends of Animals are developing new ideas for the future. Maes noted they’re working on Tails by Twilight for the Fall and Santa Paws, and other activities are in the works.

The Secretary of the Army, Mark Esper, said Friday there is nothing more troubling to him than when he learns a Soldier has taken his or her life. He addressed a news conference after a visit to Fort Riley.

Esper stated, “In my conversations with the chain of command nobody said it’s a lack of resources or a lack of effort, or in many ways a lack of understanding. ” He said,  It’s a challenge that affects not just the Army, but society at large.We have to tackle it because it’s too important to our Soldiers, our units. We’ve got to take care of them.”

The Secretary said he recently directed that NCO’s be back in charge of their Soldiers, “taking care responsibility for these issues, that we’re employing such as not in my squad. The Sergeant Major of the Army has endorsed where we call upon Soldiers to make sure they watch out for one another, they look for the warning signs of a Soldier who may be anxious or stressed out or depressed.” Esper added a holistic approach must be taken to address the issue.

There have been multiple suicide cases involving Fort Riley Soldiers in the past year.

During Esper also met with units and command teams. participated in a town hall meeting and met with military spouses during a luncheon. “So I’ve had a wonderful visit, a great opportunity to better understand the post. appreciate the great vast training areas it offers and really get a good sense of the readiness and preparedness of the 1st Infantry Division.” Fort Riley is one of four military installations under consideration as a possible future home for a new Armored Brigade Combat Team. Esper indicated that decision will be made later this summer.

Update:

KDOT and the Kansas Highway Patrol have confirmed that eastbound I-70 has been reopened to traffic.

KDOT reported that a section of an asphalt overlay had deteriorated into several loose pieces on the I-70 bridge over Clarks Creek. The bridge is structurally safe,but it was necessary to remove the broken pieces of asphalt so that they do not create a traffic hazard.

This was the same bridge but a different section that needed repair on a April 10. KDOT is planning a permanent repair project for the entire asphalt overlay on the bridge.

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Due to a problem with a bridge on Interstate 70 between the 303 and 304 exits eastbound traffic has been shutdown at that location.  It is being rerouted at exit 303 down K-18 into Manhattan and then back south out of Manhattan on K-177 to Interstate 70.

Geary County Sheriff Tony Wolf stated, “From what I’ve been told the bridge at the 304 out there has a section that’s doing the delamination stuff again. We’re having to shut down that portion of the interstate again until we can get KDOT out there to inspect the bridge and get it fixed back up.”

This problem, which involves a crumbling of a top layer of the roadway, happened a few weeks ago.

A check with police dispatch in Junction City revealed eastbound I-70 traffic in the early afternoon was backed up more than two miles.

 

The Geary County Sheriff’s Department has reported that Deputies responded late Thursday afternoon to Interstate 70 about four miles east of Junction City for a non-injury accident.

Cailley Crenshaw, Grandview Plaza, was driving her 1998 Toyota Corolla west bound when the vehicle slid on the wet roadway and struck a guardrail. There was minor damage to the driver’s side front of the vehicle.

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Deputies responded Thursday evening to U.S. 77 mile marker 157 for a non-injury accident. A southbound vehicle struck a  deer when it entered the roadway.

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Deputies responded Thursday evening to Acorn Resort for a reported theft from a boat. At approximately 12:35 a.m. someone took a depth finder, five fishing poles and pliers out of a boat that was at the dock. The case is under investigation.

The headline bands for Sundown Salute in Junction City are set.

According to the website for the Fourth of July time frame celebration, they include the Aaron Woods Band on Red Dirt Country Night June 29th, Ty Herndon performing on Country and Western Night June 30th, and on Christian Night July 1st it will be Aaron Shust.

On Soul Night on July 2nd the Spinners will be featured, on Rock and Roll Night July 3rd it will be Head East, and on July 4th which is Rockin’ Blues Night the feature performer will be Jonathon “Boogie” Long.

A new Orscheln Farm and Home store is coming to Junction City near the intersection of East Chestnut And South Washington Streets.

There has been an Orscheln store at 1023 South Washington for many years, but the store manager, Josh Wolnik, confirmed the company will build a bigger outlet at the new location. Dirt work and site preparation has been under way at the East Chestnut – South Washington Street location.

Wolnik stated that the new store will be larger in size. “It’s going to have some more departments, spread out our clothing area, actually put a new sporting goods department in so it’s going to be different than customers have been seeing lately. ” The exact size of the new store is not yet known but Wolnik noted it will be more than 35,000 square feet in size. The current store covers 29,000 square feet.

He indicated they’re aiming for an opening of the new outlet in the October time frame.