Oscar-winning screenwriter Kevin WIllmott will deliver the first lecture in the new lecture series supported by the R2B4 Bramlage Family Foundatiuon and the Hoover-Koken Foundation at 2 p.m. Sunday at the C.L. Hoover Opera House.

Willmott, a Junction City native, received an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay for BlackKkKlansman along with co-writers Spike Lee, Charlie Wachtel and David Rabinowitz.

During his remarks in Junction City Willmott will address the topic “Why I Love Junction City.”  Bob Bramlage told JC Post the idea for a lecture series was an interest of both Teresa Bramlage with the R2B4 Bramlage Family Foundation and Richard Pinaire with the Hoover-Koken Foundation. Bramlage called the lecture series “a great opportunity to bring some people who have grown up in Junction City, and have been very successful back to town to revisit their hometown and give something back to this community. I think it will be a great opportunity for them to do that.”

Willmott will be available to meet with the public at a reception following his lecture at the Opera House.

A professor of film at the University of Kansas, Willmott has written and produced other movies during his career. He is a graduate of St. Xavier High School. He received a Bachelor of Art degree in Drama from Marymount College in Salina, and received a Master of Fine Art degree in Dramatic Writing from New York University, Tisch School of the Arts.

 

Now that Tony Wolf is required to resign as sheriff effective immediately following his convictions on one felony and one misdemeanor criminal count in Geary County District Court, a new sheriff must be appointed for Geary County.

The Geary County Republican Central Committee will hold a convention of precinct committeemen and committeewomen to appoint a nominee to finish the unexpired term of the sheriff.

The Republican Party Chair for the county, Rick Roberts, said the convention will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 4th at the Geary County 4-H / Senior Citizens Center. “Only precinct committeemen and women can nominate, and there’s a seconding process once that is in place. Then we’ll have a question and answer period that will last about 30 minutes for each candidate to introduce themselve. It will be like a job interview.”

The convention will be open to the public who would like to watch but only precinct committeemen and precinct committeewomen can ask questions, make nominations. and vote on a candidate. Once the convention makes a selection a recommendation letter will be sent to the governor.

The unexpired term that needs to be filled runs until early January 2021.

UPDATE:

An investigation into a fire at a vacant house at 134 West 15th Street on the corner of 15th and Franklin was under way on Friday. No one was injured in the blaze which was reported to authorities about 7:45 a.m.

Fire Chief Terry Johnson said upon arrival they found flames in the building, but no one was living there. Later Friday morning he said officials were still under investigation on the building. “Some of the evidence we need to look at and see if it ‘s undetermined or if it’s something else.

Johnson provided a rough damage estimate of $40,000 to the house. The State Fire Marshall’s Office was contacted to send in an investigator to assist in the case.

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Junction City firefighters responded Friday morning to a house fire at the corner of 15th and Franklin. No injuries have been reported. It’s still unclear if it was a vacant house.

According to the Fire Department the blaze was brought under control, and as of 8:30 a.m. firefighters were still working at the scene.

 

Do not expect the predictable from Reza. He is a master of illusion.

Reza will perform at the C.L. Hoover Opera House this ( Friday ) evening at 7:30 p.m. He said the show is like a rock concert with magic shows. “There are a lot of production elements that make the show really unique and really cool, light, sound, video walls. It’s a sensory overload in addition just to interactive cool managing,”

Members of the can audience can choose to be involved in the show on stage. Reza said there are about a dozen opportunities. He said the show appeals to multiple demographics.

One of his sensory illusions in the show will be the appearance of a real helicopter. He added other huge grand illusions will also be part of the show.

Reza performs in Branson and also tours with his show. This is his second visit to the C. L. Hoover Opera House.

Tickets are on sale at the Opera House.

Superhero Saturday and the Flash Dash Fun Run is scheduled Saturday at the Outdoor Aventure Park at Fort Riley.

The day begins with the Flash Dash 2-mile Fun Run, free for all ages, and then paying customers cam use all open access features at the Outdoor Adventure Park, including the rock wall, foot golf, archery, hatchet throwing, paintball, bounce house and the family ropes course.

The admission for all access at Outdoor Adventure Park is $12 in advance and $15 the day of the event.

High

71°

Sunny. Highs in the lower 70s. Northeast winds 5 to 10 mph shifting to the southeast in the afternoon.

By Dewey Terrill

JC Post

The second annual food drive for Wheels of H.O.P.E. is scheduled May 3rd and 4th at the two Walmart outlets and Dillons in Junction City.

The goal is to fill their food pantry so efforts can continue to serve the 80-85 families that Wheels of H.O.P.E serve each month. The organization distributes almost 6,000 food items each month, which reflects food for 3-5 days.

Board member Shelly Kite says the drive will run 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days. “The purpose of the food drive is to collect food donations for our mission which is to feed chronically hungry children and families in Geary County, in USD 475 particularly.”  Wheels of H.O.P.E. serves families once per month in a food distribution. They are a mobile food pantry.

Kite said, “The donations from the community last year received extremely good support. In fact year we collected 11,898 items from the Geary County – Junction City community.”

Board member Molly Schuckman said several organizations provide volunteer assistance ranging from the Girl Scout Troop 1641 and 4-H Clubs and Ambassadors to Kappa Epsilon, the Spring Valley Elementary School student council. and the Junction City High School Kay Club.

Kite stated they began because those members who were in the school district became aware there were many “chronically hungry children, or families that did not have access to healthy food. Kids didn’t get a lot to eat over the weekends, and especially during the summer which is another reason why this food drive is so critical here in May.”

Community members are invited to donate food at any of the three sites on May 3rd and 4th.

The seven banks in Junction City – Fort Riley are participating in a friendly competition to collect the most food during the week of April 29th and May 3rd. Employees and customers are invited to donate during that week. The banks are Intrust Bank, Exchange Bank. Central National Bank. KS State Bank. Sunflower Bank, Armed Forces Bank in Junction City and Fort Riley, and Landmark Bank.

Mowry Custer Realtors and Ft. Riley Area Rentals are also collecting food Monday – Friday at 522 North Eisenhower from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Volunteers are needed to work at the sites. You can sign up at Wheels of HOPE Junction City Facebook page, Community Wide Food Drive.