Chris Melgares of Manhattan captured first place in the Coors 10K Freedom Run in Junction City on Wednesday. he covered the 6.2 mile distance in 34:10. Michael Melgares of Manhattan was second with a clocking of 34:10 as well. Jacob Lovell of Junction City finished third in 38:18.

In the 5K race Joe Moore, Manhattan was first in 16:49, pat Melgares, Manhattan second in 17:19 and Cara Melgares of Manhattan third in 17:55.

The information was provided by the Manhattan Running Company, who coordinates the event. There were 113 runners in the 10K race and 227 in the 5K. Both races began and ended in the Heritage Park area in downtown Junction City.

The members of the 137th Engineer Company that served in Vietnam are having a reunion in Junction City during Sundown Salute.

They helped build the Milford Lake Dam before going to Vietnam. During a special presentation Tuesday night at the Courtyard by Marriott convention center they were presented Legacy Lapel Pins which are being awarded to Vietnam veterans. Lieutenant General Retired Perry Wiggins told the veterans as he presented them with the lapel pins it was on behalf of the nation and the Secretary of Defense. The pins were a recognition of their honorable and faithful service to this nation.

Unit Commander, Gary Farris said the members of the company did a lot of work on the Milford Reservoir before deploying to Vietnam. “We had formed our friendships and bonds with one another before we even left for Vietnam. It was very difficult to see one of our brothers killed. So each and every time we have a reunion I want to honor our guys that didn’t come back.”

Junction City Commissioner Phyllis Fitzgerald spoke during the ceremony and provided the Legacy Lapel Pins for presentation to the veterans. “It was to welcome the 137th Engineer Company Vietnam veterans home. I think we did that. We were able to have our Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Combat Veterans, some city officials, some folks from Manhattan here to welcome them back home.”

The members of the unit will ride in the Sundown Salute parade on Wednesday.

 

 

By USD 475

JUNCTION CITY, KAN.  – Geary County Schools USD 475 announced this week that, Kathleen Brennan has accepted the position of Assistant Principal at Fort Riley Middle School, which became open following former assistant principal, Shannon Molt’s move to the principal position.

Brennan previously of the Junction City Middle School, where she served as an Instructional Coach, attended Towson State University (Towson, Maryland), Armstrong Atlantic State University, Georgia Southern University (Savannah, Georgia), and Liberty University (Lynchburg, Virginia).

She has worked at Junction City Middle School since 2011 serving as both a teacher for technology and an Instructional Coach.

Brennan looks forward to her new assignment at Fort Riley Middle School.

The Geary USD 475 Board of Education has approved pay increases for district employees.

There will be an average three percent increase in the salary package for administrators returning to their positions  and one year of movement with an additional three percent on the base salary for classified employees.  That three percent range also includes salaried and occupational therapy employees.

The Director of Personnel Services Mona Manley indicated the teaching contracts have not yet been ratified, but the expectation for them includes an average three percent increase.  Ratification of the teaching contract has to be completed by the teachers and Board of Education. It is uncertain when that will occur, but it could possibly  be in August.

 

Saint Xavier High School will host their Alumni Basketball game on December 22nd at the Bradley Gym.

Former college football coach and sports broadcaster is contributing his support to the event.

The Geary County Sheriff’s Department has reported that Deputies responded to the 11,000 block of Old Highway 77 for a two-vehicle non-injury accident at 6:13 a.m. Tuesday.

Adam Mueller, Junction City, was traveling north bound in a 2005 Pontiac Bonneville when the vehicle hit the rear end of a 2017 Chrysler Pacifica driven by Chad Parrish, Junction City.

The Geary USD 475 Board of Education voted 4-3 during their annual reorganization to elect Tom Brungardt to serve as president of the board. By the same vote Dr. Anwar Khoury was elected vice president.

LaDonna Junghans was also nominated for president and David Walker for vice president. Both received three votes.

Brungardt, Khoury, Rina Neal and Sarah Talley voted for Brungardt for president and Khoury for vice president. Junghans, Walker and Jim Schmidt voted for Junghans to serve as president and Walker to be the vice president.

Brungardt is a longtime board member who had been serving as the president the past two months.

 

 

The K-18 Highway bridge over U.S. 77 on the west side of Junction City opened to traffic on Monday. That span had been the site of new bridge construction for approximately one-and-a-half years.

K-18 is a major route to the west side of the city near Spring Valley Road and out of town traveling west. It will once again be a major route for traffic entering and exiting the city.