PLEASANTON, Kan. (AP) — Authorities in eastern Kansas have detonated a Civil War-era cannonball that had been on public display for two decades before officials determined it was live ordnance.
Kansas City television station KMBC reports that the cannonball had been on display for 20 years at a Pleasanton museum before it was detonated Friday afternoon.
The 90-pound (40.82-kilogram) cannonball was donated to the Trading Post Museum. It had originally been purchased in the Chesapeake Bay area in the 19th Century.
A visitor to the museum Thursday noticed a fuse in the cannonball and alerted museum officials that it might still be live. Museum officials contacted authorities, and Fort Riley’s Explosives Ordnance Disposal Unit later came out to detonate it in a controlled environment.
WASHINGTON — U.S. Congressman Roger Marshall, M.D. is pleased to announce the appointments of three 1st Congressional District high school students to U.S. military service academies. This year a panel of military veterans interviewed nine students vying for appointments to the country’s elite service academies.
Following the Military Service Academy interview process, Keaton Koenig, Blaise Hayden, both from Manhattan, and Rudolph Rodriguez, from Salina, received nominations from Rep. Marshall. All three students have officially accepted appointments to attend a military service academy for their post-high school education.
“We’re proud to have these young leaders that are anxious to protect and serve our country,” Congressman Marshall said. “This is a rare and excellent achievement that Kansans across the state should be proud of.
Keaton, Blaise, and Rudolph work hard in both the classroom and their communities and their drive will suite them well in their respected academies. It’s an honor to make these nominations and I look forward to following their success.”
Koenig, son of Emily and Kris Koenig, is a senior at Riley County High School where he participated in varsity football, basketball, wresting and track and maintained a 4.0 GPA. He will attend the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., this fall.
Hayden, daughter of Eileen and Curtis Hayden, is a senior at Manhattan High School and participated in the varsity swim team while maintaining a 4.36 GPA. She will attend the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., this fall.
Rodriguez, son of Matt and Kristy Rodriguez, is a senior at Southeast of Saline High School, where he participates in football, wrestling and baseball, while maintaining a 3.9 GPA. He will attend the United States Naval Academy Prep School in Newport, RI. this fall.
The formal grand opening for the new Orscheln Farm & Home store at 121 East Chestnut Street was held on Friday. The grand opening activities continue Saturday.
Store Manager Scott Kent said the building is brand new. “Great facility. We’ve got LED lighting, we’ve got so much more that’s added to this. We’ve got sporting goods. It’s just bigger, it’s cleaner, it’s better. ” Clothing is another strong area.
Kent said he loved the openness and brightness of the store.
Tyler Gonzales has been named to head the Junction City Blue Jay wrestling program.
Gonzalez, wrestled at Shawnee Heights High School, and for Fort Hays State in college. Since then he has served as an assistant coach at Colby Community College and Shorter University in Georgia. He spent the last two years as an assistance coach at Discovery Canyon Campus High School. Gonzales also has served stints in the USA Wrestling and U.S. Olympic Committee offices.
Gonzales is the son of current Manhattan High School head coach Robert Gonzales, and was coached by his father at Shawnee Heights High School. “He supports me no matter what. We’ve talked about it, obviously, with me being there next to him in Junction City.” Tyler added they just look forward to seeing each and not necessarily as a town rivalry. They will look forward to the times that they can collaborate together. “The way that he and I have discussed it is we’d rather be fighting each other for a state championship title than any other team.”
Tyler said his early goals for the Blue Jay program will be to become acclimated to the wrestling community, get in touch with the returning varsity and junior varsity wrestlers, expectations moving forward, and learn about traditions from the athletes. “There are a lot of kids walking the hallways that I would love to see wrestling and begin wrestling at Junction City so growing my passion through other students in the hallways will be important for me.”
Partly sunny with slight chance of rain showers in the morning, then cloudy with rain showers likely and chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs around 70. South winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation 70 percent.
Four members of the Geary County community were honored for their military service Friday in Junction City.
They included Levi “Sarge” Nelson, Raymond Padel, Andrew Craddieth and Craig Bender.
The quilts were presented during a ceremony at JC Transportation where Nelson, Padel and Craddieth are employed. Bender is the current Military Affairs Director for the Junction City Area Chamber of Commerce.
Nelson, 97 years old, has worked for JC Transportation for 30 years.
Levi “Sarge” NelsonAndrew CraddiethRaymond PadelCraig Bender
The Junction City Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors has approved a new website for the organization.
The Golden Shovel agency based in Denver will work with the Chamber to create the new web site. Chamber officials do not feel the current web site has been effective in the recruitment and informing business prospects about the community.
Chamber CEO Mickey Fornaro-Dean said there will be a four-year contract of $14,987 per year. The Economic Development Commission had recommended the new web site be developed.
The City of Junction City CLEAN Team will celebrate Earth Day by hosting their 11th annual Operation Clean Sweep on Saturday, April 27 from 8:30 a.m. until noon.
Volunteers are needed for the event.
Volunteers should report to Spin City at 915 South Washington at 8 a.m. on the 27th. Bring gloves and drinking water. Lunch will be provided.
Over the last 10 years, volunteers for Operation Clean Sweep have removed 15.42 tons of trash from Junction City.
Eagle Communications Inc. announced this week the acquisition of Salina-based Mid America Productions.
The professional audio-video production house has been in business since 1983 creating video content for a variety of business partners, as well as event support, photo services, web design and data transfer services.
The three-person crew of Corey McKee, Karl Sneath and Kevin Bourne bring 55 years of combined video production and editing experience to Eagle.
“Eagle strives every day to help businesses succeed by connecting them to their customers,” said Travis Kohlrus, Eagle Communications vice president. “We believe the addition of MAP to the Eagle portfolio can enhance the level of service we can provide from training and recruitment videos to legal and documentary videos, continuing our quest of keeping our communities … connected.”
“The video production company, started in 1983 by my late husband, Rick Weber, will continue to operate at 1510 E. Iron in Salina. It’s very rewarding to know that MAP and its employees will continue to provide professional video and multimedia services to our many customers and corporate clients,” said Mid American Productions owner/manager Judy Weber. “I am very thankful to have had such dedicated and knowledgeable employees over the years, and I wish them and Eagle every success.”
Mid America Productions’ portfolio can be seen HERE.
“I’m excited for this acquisition,” said Katie Dorzweiler, Eagle Marketing Solutions director. “For over 15 years, Eagle has been creating high-quality, award-winning video production services to main street businesses. With the addition of Mid America Productions, we can now offer long-play commercial video serving both the internal and external promotional needs of our clients. Video is increasingly relevant for businesses to market themselves through television, online search engines and through social media. Eagle is now well positioned to provide clients access to all of these platforms.”
Eagle Communications Inc. is a Kansas-based Broadband Services and Media Company with over 280 employee-owners. The company operates 28 radio stations in Kansas, Nebraska and Missouri, as well as broadband systems in 60 Kansas, Nebraska and Colorado communities. The company also offers e-business solutions, web hosting, telephone service, high-speed internet, and wireless internet in most service areas. For more information log on to www.eaglecom.net.
Disclosure: Eagle Communications is the parent company of JC Post.
The committee that prepared the Hometown Christmas celebration has decided that the Junction City community needs a summer kickoff event.
Committee member Teresa Bramlage outlined the plan for the Chamber of Commerce Board of directors and JC Post on Thursday. ” We decided that Junction City needed a summer kickoff event so we decided to do something that’s youth inspired. It’s an inspirational Hip Hop group, The Reminders, that will be coming on June 15th.”
There will be Hip Hop 101 for young kids, another Hip Hop class for all ages and the performance by the Reminders.
Bramlage noted there are a lot of details to work out, but the plan is to block off one block of 7th Street downtown between Washington and Jefferson Streets. The R2B4 Bramlage Family Foundation will be a sponsor for the event, but other sponsorships are also being sought.
The organizers want to engage the community and attract a younger population to the C.L. Hoover Opera House.
Pleasanton museum before it was detonated Friday afternoon.
