The regional training campus at Fort Riley will be named in honor of the late Lieutenant General Richard Seitz, Junction City.

The dedication ceremony is scheduled at 10 a.m. Wednesday, and is open to the public. Seitz passed away June 8th, 2013.

During his 35-year military career, Seitz played a crucial role as a leader during some of our country’s most turbulent times. In 1939 he accepted a commission as a second lieutenant and attended jump-school-only the sixth class the Army had ever held-and thus became one of the Army’s first paratroopers.

At age 25 he was pinned on major….and wias given command of the 2nd Battalion of the 517th Parachute Infantry Regimental Combat Team, and shortlyafter, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel and, as the Army’s youngest battalion commander led his unit throughout its historic combat operations in Europe, including the Battle of the Bulge.

Seitz settled in Junction City after his retirement, and was active with local and area organizations.

The training area is being dedicated in appreciation of his contributions to the military, the United States, and the Flint Hills region.

 

This week, U. S. Senator Jerry Moran has indicated he will introduce legislation to eliminate “gun-Free Zones” at American military installations and military recruitment centers. Sen. Moran’s legislation would allow active-duty members of the Armed Forces stationed on American soil — including military recruiters — to carry weapons to defend themselves if they choose to do so.

“What happened in Chattanooga can never happen again,” Sen. Moran said. “The U.S. Constitution guarantees the ‘right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed,’ yet our men and women in uniform are being preventedfrom exercising this constitutional right when fulfilling their duties on American soil. Just because a member of our Armed Forces is not deployed to an active war zone does not mean they are safe from those who wish to do harm. Members of our military are targets for those who do not share our values — both at home and abroad. If the members of our Armed Forces at the Chattanooga military recruitment centers had been allowed to exercise their 2nd Amendment Rights, the outcome of the attacks could have been very different. These brave individuals must be empowered to defend themselves and others from violence and acts of domestic terrorism.

 

Members of the Junction City Police Department, Geary County Sheriff’s Department, and Kansas Highway Patrol will conduct DUI Check Lanes Friday and Saturday.

The focus is to detect and deter drunk drivers.

Drunk Driving. over the Limit. Under Arrest is a national campaign organized by NHTSA, which focuses on combining high-visibility enforcement with heightened public awareness efforts. The campaign is designed to remind motorists that impaired driving is no accident, and will not be dealt with lightly.

 

FORT RILEY, Kan. (AP) — Fort Riley officials say the fort’s marina is closed because of high levels of toxic blue-green algae at the north end of Milford Lake.

The marina is expected to remain closed until the lake conditions improve. The south end of Milford Lake is open, but is under a public health warning, which means boating and fishing are allowed, but swimming is discouraged.

Beaches in a separate section were closed earlier after the Kansas Department of Health and Environment added the area to their blue-green algae watch list last week.

Health officials say some blue-green algae produce toxins that pose a health risk to people and animals.

According to the National Weather Service of Topeka, we’ll have one more day of this hot and humid weather before a brief cool down brings some relief from the humidity on Tuesday. The morning showers and storms will move off to the east by the late morning. However there is a chance storms could redevelop late this afternoon or this evening. Thunderstorms will continue to pose a heavy rainfall hazard, and may be capable of some strong wind gusts as well.

Flash Flood Watch
Hazardous Weather Outlook

Today: Mostly cloudy. Occasional showers and thunderstorms in the morning…then chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the upper 80s. Northeast winds up to 5 mph shifting to the northwest in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation 80 percent.

Tonight: Mostly cloudy with a 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms in the evening…then partly cloudy after midnight. Lows in the mid 60s. North winds 5 to 10 mph.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 80s. Northeast winds 5 to 10 mph.

Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy. Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after midnight. Lows in the lower 60s. East winds up to 5 mph.

Wednesday: Mostly cloudy with a 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the lower 80s. Southeast winds up to 10 mph.

Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy with a 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the upper 60s.

Thursday: Mostly sunny. Highs around 90.

Thursday Night: Partly cloudy with slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the lower 70s.

Friday: Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 90s.

Friday Night: Partly cloudy with slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the lower 70s.

Saturday: Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 90s.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy with a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the lower 70s.

Sunday: Mostly sunny with slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the lower 90s.

 

Written by Susan Berhow on ksu.edu.

MANHATTAN — Philanthropic gifts and commitments by alumni, friends, parents, faculty, students and corporate partners of Kansas State University totaled $141.5 million in the fiscal year that ended June 30.

This level of philanthropic support marks the third most successful year in charitable giving in the more than 70-year history of the Kansas State University Foundation, and the fourth consecutive year fundraising has topped $100 million.

“The support of our alumni and friends is a resounding endorsement of the leadership of the university and future of Kansas State University,” said retired Gen. Richard Myers, Arlington, Virginia, chairman of the KSU Foundation board of directors. “The K-State family continues to come together year after year in support of our great university, and I am excited for the bold future we will build together.”

Of the $141.5 million total, 34 percent is available for the university’s use immediately, while donors gave 66 percent through endowed gifts, pledges and deferred gifts, which will be utilized by the university at some point in the future.

“Increasingly, one of the most important funding sources for K-State are philanthropic dollars received through the KSU Foundation,” said Greg Willems, president and CEO of KSU Foundation. “The foundation plays an essential role in the university’s future by working with our generous alumni and friends to make a difference in the lives of our students, faculty and staff. This year’s success validates that K-Staters understand that the difference between good universities and great universities is private support. The impact of these gifts will be felt throughout the academy and will fuel the inspiration and innovation needed to reach the university’s goals, both in the near and long term.”

One of the most notable aspects of this year’s results was the $53 million in endowed gifts and commitments. Endowed gifts provide long-term funding for the purpose they support, including student scholarships and faculty chairs and professorships, and create a legacy for the donor. The growth of the Kansas State University endowment pool, managed by the KSU Foundation, also had a successful year, with the market value nearly hitting the $500 million mark.

WESTMORELAND, Kan. (AP) — Police are investigating after they say a Westmoreland man shot two people.

According to a news release from the Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office, the man was arrested early Sunday and faces aggravated battery and attempted second-degree murder charges. Officers responded to two calls around 2:30 a.m., and found the suspect and the two victims outside the suspect’s home.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports the victims had injuries that were not life-threatening.

According to police, the suspect was taken into custody without incident and is being held without bond at the Pottawatomie County Jail.

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Parents of equestrian athletes at Kansas State University are questioning the school’s decision to cancel the program now that the NCAA plans to continue supporting it.

The university’s Athletics Department says the sport’s viability remains unclear and the department won’t reverse its decision.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that parents raised the issue after the Waco, Texas-based National Collegiate Equestrian Association announced on its website Thursday that the NCAA had shelved an internal recommendation to cut off support for Division I equestrian. That internal recommendation dated to September 2014 and was cited by Kansas State soon after it revealed plans to scrap the sport in 2016 and replace it with women’s soccer.

The 4-H Food & Food Preservation Judging opens the Geary County Free Fair at 1 p.m. Monday at the 4-H Center on South Spring Valley Road in Junction City.

The judging will be followed by the 4-H Food Sale from 1:30 until 7 p.m.

Open Class Arts & Crafts, Textiles entries are being accepted from 3-7 p.m., and Open Class Photography entries are being accepted from 4-6:30 p.m.

4-H entries will be accepted along with Open Class Floriculture, Horticulture, and Agriculture entries from 4-7 p.m.

The evening schedule of activities on Monday include Horse-Drawn Carriage Rides 5-7 p.m., Homemade Ice Cream Social 6-8, the opening of the Inflatable Amusements and the Money Pit from 6:30 – 8:30, the 4_h Horse Show at 7 p.m. and the Pedal Pull at 7:30 p.m.   The Open Class Photography Judging is also at 7:30 p.m.

The fair continues Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.

The Junction City Little Theater kicks off their 66th theatrical season with the sci-fi musical Little Shop of Horros at the C. L .Hoover Opera House Aug. 27, 28, 29, and 30.

The husband – wife team of Michael and Jennifer Brown will direct the show.

The show will include veteral JCLT performers Drew Horton, Desiree Brown, Stuart Workman, Brian Hagemeister, Jordan Biggs, Aaron Engleman, Beth Arneson, Bella Omann, Payton Tabb, Zavier Valentin, Hal Keller, Aubrey Hitchcock, and Jim Crawford.

In this dark comedy, cowardly floral assistant Seymour Krelbourn discovers a new and unusual plant which he names Audrey II after his coworker crush. The foul-mouthed carnivorous plant promises to being Seymour fame and fortune as long as he continues to feed here what she desires most, BLOOD! Little does Seymour know the ravenous plant’s maniacal plans for world domination.

Showtimes for Aug. 27, 28, and 29 will be 7:30 p-m, with a 2 p.m. matinee on August 30. Tickets are $18 for adults, $16 for military, and $11 for children under 18.

For ticket reservations call the box office at 238-3906, or visit www.jcoperahouse.org.