While participating in the Presidential Leadership Scholars Program earlier this year Junction City Resident, Traci Scott had to come up with a project she could complete.

Scott then created the Green Dress Project, which she said started with a frustration she had at the time.

“I still see young girls, they come into a professional environment and they were killing their career before they even had the chance to get it started,” said Scott.

The Green Dress Project is a program focused on empowering young girls, from underserved communities, learn how to make the transition from a college environment to a professional environment, and avoid career ending mistakes.

Through the project Scott is looking for young women between the age of 17-25, who want to learn how to develop values, resumes and soft skills employers say are lacking in new hires.

The project’s program will be held on Saturday, August 15th, from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Dorothy Bramlage Public Library in Junction City. To sign up you can contact Scott by calling (202) 320-0158 or by email at thegreendressproject@gmail.com.

Nicole Graham, BSN, RN, of Junction City, Kan. is the August Employee of the Month at Geary Community Hospital.

Graham works in the Women’s Center at GCH.

According to coworkers Nicole is a dedicated and hardworking employee at GCH. Not only does she work as a floor Registered Nurse in the Women’s Center but she has also trained and covered as the nursing coordinator.

She is willing to jump in and help out any situation. On her days off, if help is needed, she will figure out a way to come in and help. Both her coworkers and patients adore Nicole and she is a real asset to GCH.

Update:

Junction City Public Works Director Ray Ibarra has confirmed that the fire hydrant has been replaced and the water has been turned back on.

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Crews with the Junction City Public Works Department are currently changing out a water hydrant in the 1400 block of Westwood Dr.

Water is shut off in that area, but is expected to be back on within the next two hours.

The new Chief Executive Officer for the Junction City Area Chamber of Commerce is officially on the job.

Dennis Beson is the new CEO of the Junction City Area Chamber of Commerce and spent the morning of his first day on the job at the new teachers breakfast put on by the Chamber of Commerce.

“It is my pleasure and I had a good opportunity to meet the staff, and spend some time with the staff on Friday. I’ve had the opportunity to ride my bicycle around town on Saturday and I’ve seen all that is to be seen,” said Beson.

Beson went on to say that he is looking forward to the job and is welcoming anyone to stop by the Chamber offices to say hello to him as well as the rest of the staff.

He comes to Junction City from the Saginaw area of Michigan where he provided leadership training for Merrill Technologies Group. Previous experience also includes working as a consultant with Thumb Works and Great Lakes Bay Michigan Works as a consultant with skills in training and work force development programs. He is a 1992 graduate of Michigan State University, holding a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Interdisciplinary Humanities.  Beson has been an active member of the Three Bay Area Chambers of Commerce for more than 15 years.

About 24 Soldiers with Company C, 230th Financial Management Company, 541st Combat Sustainment Support Battalion of the 1st Infantry Division Sustainment Brigade, are set to return to Fort Riley in the near future following a nine-month deployment to Bagram and Kabul, Afghanistan. The deployment was in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Freedom’s  Sentinel.

While deployed, the Soldiers provided financial management operations, to include pay support to all service members, civilians and contractors to the eastern, northern and capital regions of Afghanistan. They accurately dispersed U.S. and Afghan currency while facilitating a near-cashless battledfield and paying-agent process and enhancing the development of host-nation banking systems.

The unit deployed in early November.

 

Teacher contract negotiations will continue this week in Geary USD 475 at the Devin Center.

The sessions are scheduled from 4:30 – 7:30 p.m. Tuesday and 1-6 p.m.on Thursday.

A contract for the coming school year has not yet been finalized, but the salary offer proposed by the Board of Education calls for the teachers to receive an average increase of 6.5 percent.  The Board is also offering an increase in funding for the supplemental salary schedule for employees who handle extra duty, such as coaches.

Other unresolved issues heading into the session on Tuesday include benefits, professional day and meetings issues.  Negotiators have reached agreement on teacher discipline and the teacher appraisal process.

 

The new season at the C. L. Hoover Opera House begins with the gala ‘If These Walls Could Talk’ on Saturday, Oct. 3 at 7:30 p.m.

The show will celebrate moments that are part of the Opera House History from classical and country to Broadway to Vaudeville.

In addition to regular tickets for the show there will be a limited number ( 100 ) of Premium Patron Passes to the Gala. This pass costs $100 per person and includes one ticket to the Gala, a $75 tax-deductibe donation to the Opera House and entry to the post-gala reception. There you will be able to meet the guest artists.

For tickets call the Box Office at ( 785 ) 238-3906.

The Junction City Area Chamber of Commerce welcomed approximately 140 new teachers to the Junction City and Geary County area this morning during the Chamber’s annual new teacher breakfast.

The breakfast serves as an opportunity for the Chamber to welcome the new teachers and show them what Junction City/Geary County has to offer.

“We are thrilled that you are joining our community. The job’s that you have educating our young people is vitally important. We are very, very proud of Geary County USD 475 and very thankful for the jobs that you all do,” opened Mark Ediger, Chairman of the Chamber Board of Executive Directors.

The new teachers heard from a number of community leaders,  including Geary County Commission Chairman, Ben Bennett, who explained that 50 years ago he was just like them, a new teacher in USD 475.

“I was going to stay a couple of years and then move on to something better,” said Bennett. “Fifty years and I’m still here.

“There are a lot of good places where you could be, but this is one of the best you could ever be. It’s never changed. With the dedication of the community, of the school district, the county, and the city have all worked together to make this a tremendous place to live and a tremendous place to be.”

Bennett also had a challenge for the new teachers,”Get to know people in this community, be a part of it, and give to it as it will give back to you.”

New teachers reported Monday to begin orientation to the district. All teachers will report for duty day’s and professional development days on August 10th. School kicks off for grades 1-12 with a half a day on August 17th and the first full day of school will be August 18th. The first day of school for Kindergarten will be August 20th.

Geary County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested Dakota Miller, Alta Vista and Rogelio Rodriguez-Sala, Council Grove, at mile post 25 on K-57 late Sunday night.

The Sheriff’s Department reported that Miller was arrested on suspicion of Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Speed in Excess, Insurance Required, Minor in Possession of Alcohol, and Transporting an Open Container, while Rodriguez-Sala was arrested on suspicion of Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Transporting an Open Container.

According to the National Weather Service of Topeka, there is a chance for storms late this afternoon and overnight mainly across northeast Kansas. A few of these storms may be strong with damaging winds, large hail, and localized heavy rainfall. The rain chances continue through Friday. Storms may be strong again on Tuesday and widespread heavy rain is possible for eastern KS Tuesday night. Localized flooding will be possible overnight into Wednesday morning.

Hazardous Weather Outlook

Today: Mostly sunny. A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the lower 90s. Southeast winds up to 10 mph.

Tonight: Mostly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the upper 60s. Southeast winds 5 to 10 mph.

Tuesday: Partly sunny with a 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 80s. South winds 5 to 15 mph.

Tuesday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Lows in the upper 60s. Southeast winds 5 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation 60 percent.

Wednesday: Partly sunny with a 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 80s. East winds around 5 mph.

Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy with slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the upper 60s.

Thursday: Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 80s.

Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy in the evening then becoming partly cloudy. A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the upper 60s.

Friday: Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 80s.

Friday Night: Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 60s.

Saturday: Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 80s.

Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy with a 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the upper 60s.

Sunday: Partly sunny with a 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs around 90.