Tanks, Bradley Fighting Vehicles and troops from the 1st Infantry Division safely crossed a man-made bridge of about 600 meters across a stretch of Milford Lake in the Madison Creek area Friday morning.

Lieutenant Colonel Joey Sullinger said Fort Riley partnered on this exercise with the Fifth Engineers from Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, including three active component bridging companies and one from the National Guard in the bridging operation over a 600-meter stretch of the reservoir. “That allowed an entire battalion of tanks and Bradley’s to cross it this morning. So you had dozens of armored vehicles and hundreds of U.S. Soldiers from the Big Red One crossing that bridge this morning.”

Ethan Wharton worked with the Fifth Engineer Battalion from Fort Leonard, Missouri on this bridging operation. He explained at the start of the bridge building work they did survey. “Identified the slips of the boat ramps that we’d be using. We sent our survey and design and construction crews to reinforce those slips. ” When that work was complete boats were launched into the water. “Once the boats had hit the water we began launching bridge bays. Each bay hit the water, a boat tied off to it and started navigating the water. And then bridges started being put together by the boats with a bridging crew.” They latched each bridge section together with a ramp on each end for entry and exit across the gap.

Sullinger noted this was the first time the majority of the Big Red One Soldiers had crossed a river “so they know they can do it safely, efficiently and relatively quickly when needed.”

The Geary County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau is preparing a blues and barbecue festival for September 21st and 22nd in downtown Junction City.

Those are the dates that would normally be set aside for the Jammin in JC festival, but that event could not be held this year. CVB Director Michelle Stimatze said they wanted to fill that slot. “Because Jammin in JC was cancelled for this year in hopes that we can have that event again next year. We will have vendors in the park, blues music, it will be a Friday and Saturday event.”

Stimatze said CVB contractor Rick Dykstra is working on lining up the blues bands, who will be both regional and national. There will be a barbecue competition. “We will have different divisions for barbecue and we’ll have more information coming up down the road.”

Free vendor spots have been offered to nonprofit organizations and businesses for the event.

The major training exercise “Gauntlet” is under way at Fort Riley this week.

The 1st Infantry DIvision has reported as part of that exercise Soldiers have been busy constructing a 600-meter temporary bridge across a section of Milford Lake and at least one armored company will cross the bridge early on Friday as part of a larger movement.

( Photos courtesy of 1st Infantry Division Public Affairs Office )

The thermometer is expected to hit the century mark today ( Thursday ) and remain in the upper 90-degree range the rest of the week in Geary County.

Assistant Geary County Emergency Management Director Curt Janke said stay inside as much as possible. “If you don’t have air conditioning try to make sure you at least have a fan. Drink plenty of water, if you literally have to do things do them in the morning where it’s a little cooler or wait until late evening to do them.”

You can get some air conditioned shelter at a location such as the Health Department. Among other ideas you could visit the Dorothy Bramlage Public Library or the Municipal Building Gymnasium.

Check on senior citizens. Janke stated if you have elderly neighbors or family living alone if nothing else call them at least one time per day. ” If you don’t get any answer get over and get them checked on.”