Fans young and old packed Heritage Park Monday night to hear the American rhythm and blues vocal music group, “The Spinners.” The group first formed in 1954 and today still has one remaining original member, Henry Fambrough.
The Spinners performed tunes ranging from “The Rubberband Man” and “I’ll Be Around” to “Could It Be I’m Falling in Love” and “Games People Play.”
A huge crowd enjoyed a one hour and 20 minute concert as part of Sundown Salute. The chairman of the organizing committee, Terry Heldstab, said it was the biggest crowd so far during this year’s celebration. “They’re the most common, genuine guys you could ever hope to meet. They’re just very down to earth,” Heldstab added, “They’re just cool guys.”
At the start of their performance the group took time to thank the Ladies of Order Eastern Star from Junction City for the welcome meal they provided to The Spinners following their arrival in Junction City. And then they opened a one hour and twenty minute show that had the fans cheering and clapping to some of the songs that have become familiar to many over the years.
Geary County Commissioner Keith Ascher and Junction City Mayor Pat Landes thanked the Sundown Salute Committee for their work in preparing and hosting Sundown Salute. Ascher reminded the public this celebration is not a six-day event but a year-long event, the committee does the work for free and puts in a lot of hours. Key sponsor Lacer Motors received a big thank you for helping support Sundown Salute as did the City and County for their efforts on behalf of the celebration.
WABAUNSEE COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just before 11a.m. Monday in Wabaunsee County.
Photo By Shawn Wheat-courtesy WIBW TV
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2006 Volvo semi driven by Patrick L. Cooks, 49, Apopka, FL., was westbound on Interstate 70 just east of Vera Road.
The vehicle sustained a tire blowout causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle. The truck went right of the roadway and struck a culvert on the north side of Interstate 70 causing disabling damage.
Cooks was transported to the hospital in Topeka. He was properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.
The Geary USD 475 Board of Education will consider pay raises for classified employees and administrators Monday evening. The BOE meets at 5:30 p.m. at the Devin Center.
The recommendation for the Board to consider is one year of movement with an additional three percent on the base salary for classified employees, and a three percent average increase in the salary package for administrators returning to their positions.
Contracts for teachers for the coming school year are not yet finalized. Those negotiations are still in progress.
For the second month in a row Junction City temperatures were well above normal. For the eighth month in a row precipitation was below normal. These two factors working in unison create a picture that isn’t positive for plants or agriculture.
The average daily high during June was 90.4, 6.1 degrees above normal (and even above the average daily high of 90.1 for July!). The average overnight low was 69.3, 6.9 degrees above normal. This gave us a monthly mean temperature of 79.8, 6.4 degrees above normal (and one degree above normal for July, traditionally our hottest month of the year.) The hottest day of the year was on the 28th when we hit 102 degrees. The coolest reading for June was 59 degrees the morning of June 2nd. There were two temperature records set in June and three tied. All were for record high, low temperatures. The overnight lows of 76 on the 15th and 78 on the 28th broke the old record high lows for those dates of 73 on the 15th, set in 1956, 1994 and 2016, and 76 on the 28th set in 1959 and 1990. The following overnight lows tied the records for those dates: 75 on the 13th was reached in 1950 and 2017, the low of 76 on the 14th tied the record set in 1952 and the low of 76 on the 17th tied the record set in 2016. Temperatures reached 100 or above only twice during the month and those were late in the month. In a month when the average daily high shouldn’t reach 90 until the last few days of the month, daily highs reached 90 or above on 17 days. Overnight lows failed to drop below 70 degrees on 15 days. Long term average overnight lows should be below 70 all through June.
A very discouraging pattern continued through June with rains occurring during the evening to the north and west of our region, running out of moisture and energy by the time they got to us and then rebuilding the following day to our south and east. Drought monitor maps are showing this pattern very clearly. June is traditionally our wettest month with 4.80 inches of rain. In June Milford Lake received 2.04 inches and Junction City received 1.99 inches of rain. The driest June on record was in 1966 when 0.20 inches of rain was all that could be mustered. The wettest June on record was 1965 when 11.90 inches of rain deluged the region. Normal year to date rainfall through the end of June is 16.65 inches. Junction City has received 8.36 inches of rain (50% of normal) and Milford Lake has received 7.32 inches (44% of normal). This is second only to 1966 for the driest first six months of the year. In 1966 we had only received 4.32 inches of precipitation through the first half of the year. 1966 went on to be the driest year on record with only 15.61 inches of precipitation for the entire year. If we go back to September of 2017 and figure accumulated rainfall we have received 12.64 inches of precipitation, 50% of normal. This is drier than any equivalent time in records dating back to 1930.
If we look at the last two months and hold them in relation to July, then things aren’t boding well for us. July is typically the hottest month of the year. Average daily highs through the month of July don’t change much ranging from 90 through 92 over the entire month. Likewise, overnight lows tend to stay right around 67 for the entire month. Those are based on long term statistical projections. What we see is a trend of temperatures slowly warming until about the 19th before starting a long and very gradual decline as we move on into August. (August is the second hottest month of the year). Unfortunately, long term average rainfall also starts to decline during July with expected rainfall of only 4.07 inches for the month. If we were to reach that level it would be the first time that we had average or above average rainfall since last October.
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RILEY COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities are investigating a reported sexual assault.
On Sunday, police filed a report for rape in Manhattan involving an 11-year old girl as the victim, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.
A-15-year-old and a 14-year old boy known to the victim are listed as the suspects, according to police.
Due to the nature of the crime, police released no additional details early Monday.
The Geary USD 475 Board of Education will conduct their annual reorganization Monday evening. The Board meets at 5:30 p.m. at the Devin Center.
The agenda includes the election of a president and vice president.
The Board will also consider two superintendent search firms. One will be hired to help with the search for the district’s next superintendent of schools. The companies being considered include McPherson & Jacobson LLC and Ray and Associates Inc.
Current superintendent Dr. Corbin Witt has announced his intention to retire following the upcoming school year.
Aaron Shust and his band performing at Sundown Salute Sunday evening.
Nichole Nordeman and Aaron Shust performed on the Sundown Salute stage in front of Heritage Park Sunday evening. Cooler weather and an audience of a few thousand greeted their arrival.
The vice president for the Geary County Ministerial Association Brad Seifert said they were blessed and thankful for the entire day. There was a good crowd for the Sundown Salute community worship service Sunday morning. “And then tonight what a blessing it is to have two great performers. So we’re very thankful for the crowd.”
Seifert praised the Sundown Salute committee on their work. “Just to make everything easier for us. They’ve done a great job of promoting.” He noted about 15-20 churches are involved in the ministerial alliance.
The Monday evening entertainment lineup for Sundown Salute will include disco and soul music. “Kyle and Friends” will perform from 6-7 p.m., Disco Dick and the Mirror Balls from 7:30 – 8:30 and The Spinners from 9 – 10:15 p.m.
Sundown Salute continues through Wednesday.
Sundown Salute concert audience Sunday evening in Heritage Park.
TOPEKA – The Office of the State Fire Marshal, along with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and Safe Kids Kansas, remind Kansans of the importance of safety around fireworks during this Fourth of July holiday season. Fireworks can be dangerous to both adults and children if not handled properly.
According the Kansas Syndromic Surveillance Program, there were 154 reported fireworks-related injuries during the Fourth of July holiday in 2017. Injuries to the hands were most common and hands or fingers were involved in 38 percent of identified emergency department visits. The eyes, face, or head were involved in over a quarter (28.5 percent) of all visits. The most common victims of fireworks injuries are adult males and children.
According to statistics from the Kansas Fireworks Injury Survey, a voluntary reporting system for Kansas hospitals, adult males
represented 40 percent of all reported fireworks-related injuries, with another 40 percent of reported fireworks injuries affecting children under the age of 18.
“Serious injuries and fires are very likely to occur when fireworks are not handled properly,” Doug Jorgensen, Fire Marshal for the State of Kansas, said. “While the safest approach to enjoying fireworks is to visit public fireworks displays conducted by trained professionals who know how to properly handle fireworks, we understand that individuals will be purchasing and participating in their own displays. We
urge you to be vigilant and cautious to ensure a safe and fun Fourth of July.”
Transient guest revenues for Geary County are up 32% for the month of June from a year ago at the same time.
Geary County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau Director Michelle Stimatze said that 32% increase equates to more than $15,000 for the month. In June of 2017 the total was $47,342.56 while in June of 2018 the total was $62,514.15. “We’re really excited. I think a lot of things play into the total. The hotels have been extremely busy this summer as Milford Lake.
Possible reasons for the increase include the lack of blue green algae problems at the lake, meaning more possible visitation. Stimatze stated, “We’ve had a difference in the water cycle out at Milford Lake as far as no blue green algae. The businesses around the area of Milford Lake have been really busy this summer.
Usage of the hotels by families and friends visiting Soldiers who have returned to Fort Riley from a deployment to Europe could be another factor.
The transient guest tax is paid by users of lodging facilities in Geary County.
