History buffs had an opportunity to view everything from a one room school house to a Civil War encampment Saturday on the west side of Junction City.

The occasion was the ‘Celebrating Past Times’ event sponsored by the Geary County Historical Society.

Historical Society President Florence Whitebread noted the Fort Riley Mounted Color Guard set up the encampment with horses.

Whitebread said on Saturday, “We have the old Wetzel log cabin church out here. We have another log cabin with people doing some of the early day chores in it, and we’re roasting weenies and marshmallows over an open fire.” The location was the Historical Society’s Spring Valley Historic Site.

The public could also view the St. Joseph’s Church and Cemetery in eastern Geary County on Saturday, and on Sunday attend a car show at the Museum grounds….a first time event for the Historical Society.

A check with Donnie Whitebread revealed there were approximately 35 cars in the show. They ranged from a 1955 Chevrolet to newer Chevrolet Camaro automobiles.  There was a strong turnout for that show.

BELLVILLE- Two people were injured in an accident just before 2:30 p.m. on Sunday in Republic County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1995 pickup driven by Jonathan D. Shelly, 36, Bellville, was westbound on U36 six miles west of Bellville preparing to turn left onto 110 Road.

A 1997 Peterbilt semi driven by Colt J. Davies, Wamego, was also westbound and rear-ended the pickup.

Shelly and a passenger Leon L. Davis, 34, Henderson, KY., were transported to Republic County Hospital.

Davies was not injured.

The KHP reported all were properly restrained at the time of the accident.

U.S. Senator Jerry Moran has called on Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman U.S. Senator John McCain  and ranking member U.S. Senator Jack Reed to consider legislative language in the Fiscal Year 2016 Defense Authorization Bill to prioritize funding to maintain the current size of each of the Armed Services, and prevent further reduction in the size of the military’s force structure.

Moran noted despite a dangerous world with increasing demands on the service members and military families who call Kansas home, Department of Defense resources to protect the country and its citizens from conventional threats and terrorist attacks are dwindling. The Armed Services, particularly the Army, are facing potential force reductions that could put our nation’s defense at risk.

Moran said, “Fort Leavenworth’s unparalleled professional military education and Fort Riley’s vast training capability are essential to the Army when developing the American soldier. I have been working to make certain the Army understands the defense community in Kansas is committed to support Fort Leavenworth, Fort Riley, the Kansas Army National Guard as well as the Army as a whole. I will continue to work on maintaining troop levels at our bases in Kansas and across the country so that our nation’s defense and those who serve are ready and equipped to safeguard Americans from terrorists who attempt to destroy and attack our way of life.”

The American Red Cross will hold a blood drive in Junction City Thursday and Friday at the Municipal Building.

The hours are 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday ( April 30 ) and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday ( may 1 ).

The local blood drive coordinators Annette and Jim Ray reported that donors with all blood types are needed, especially those with types O negative, A negative, and B negative. Whole blood can be donated every 56 days, and double red cells may be donated every 112 days, up to three times per year.

SALINA, Kan. (AP) — Former two-term Kansas Gov. John Carlin has started a website to share his concerns about the direction state government is heading.

The Salina Journal reports that one of the hottest issues for John Carlin is financing education. Carlin says companies locate in state where there is quality education. He added that it worries him that there is an appearance that the state is backing away from supporting public education.

Carlin, now 74, is teaching at Kansas State University. As a Democrat in a Republican state, the dairy farmer from Smolan said he built grassroots support before selling causes and solutions in Topeka, and that required many reaches across the aisle.

Carlin says that in many ways, “the public has been left out the last few years.”

Junction City police reports included arrests.

–Michael Oscar Aiken, 24, Junction City, suspicion of Criminal Threats, 3 counts Aggravated Assault. The arrest occurred in the 900 block of West 8th Street.

–Henry John Mason, 36, Junction City on suspicion of Aggravated Endangering of a Child, arrested at  115 West 11th.

–Bradley Priddyhess, 24, Junction City, suspicion of Domestic Battery, Damage to Property, arrested at North Park Drive #11.

–Tynacia Brown-Hill, 19, Wichita, Driving Without a License, arrested in the 200 block of West 6th Street.

–Christopher Lee Harold, 46, Junction City, Driving While Suspended, arrested at 1001 North Washington Street.

–Athena Paretha Love, 22, Junction City, arrested in the 300 block of West 6th Street on a Geary County District Court warrant alleging Probation Violation.

Monday through Thursday temperatures will gradually warm each day. There is a small chance of showers Monday night south of Highway 57 in east central Kansas as an upper level low moves across Oklahoma. Otherwise mostly clear nights and mostly sunny days are expected Tuesday through Thursday.

Today: Cloudy in the morning then becoming partly sunny. Highs around 61. East winds 10 to 15 mph with gusts to around 25 mph.

Tonight: Partly cloudy. Lows around 41. Northeast winds 5 to 15 mph. Gusts up to 25 mph in the evening.

Monday: Mostly sunny. Highs around 64. Northeast winds 10 to 15 mph.

Monday Night: Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 40s. North winds 5 to 10 mph.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 60s. Northeast winds 5 to 10 mph.

Tuesday Night Through Thursday: Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 40s. Highs in the lower 70s.

Thursday Night And Friday: Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 50s. Highs in the mid 70s.

Friday Night And Saturday: Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 50s. Highs in the upper 70s.

FAIRVIEW – A Kansas woman was injured in an accident just before 12:30 p.m. on Saturday in Brown County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee driven by Vincent A. Gann, 25, Solomon, was northbound on U.S. 75 ten miles south of Fairview.

The vehicle rear-ended a 2008 Ford Escape driven by Theodore J. Leonard, 41, Manhattan, that was turning westbound onto 130th from U.S. 75.

A passenger in the Jeep Tara E. Gann, 23, Junction City, was transported to the hospital in Horton.

Both drivers avoided injury and all were properly restrained at the time of the accident according to the KHP.

Geary USD 475 Schools in Review Activities early in the coming week include:

–Parents and families of Morris Hill Elementary School are invited to the school all week to have lunch with their student, participate in recess and be a part of the lesson in the classroom. A book fair, A.R. Family Night & Carnival will also be held during the week.

–At Junction City Middle School there will be activities on Tuesday from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. There will be a tour of student learning, mysteries in history, book projects, book trailers, poetry, music history, mathematics and more.

Schools in review activities are planned at additional schools in the district on Thursday and Friday, including Seitz, Ware, Milford, Fort Riley, Grandview, and Eisenhower Elementary Schools, plus  Junction City High School.

RUSSELL –Tornadoes, large hail, and high winds rolled across the state on Friday night.

Multiple tornadoes touched down in rural areas of Scott County and residents in northeast Ellis County reported a tornado.

Greeley County residents in southwest Kansas needed a snowplow to clear Kansas Highway 27 north and south Tribune. Several areas of Russell County received damage from tennis ball size hail and wind gusts reported over 70 and 80 miles per hour.

Portions of Riley and Geary County reported .75 inches of moisture. Northern Clay County and several areas of north Central Kansas received over 2 inches of rain.
Dickinson County had one report of .75 inches.