Senator Jerry Moran continues to work to help attract the Army to place a new armored brigade combat team at Fort Riley.

On Friday he met with Lieutenant General Robert Abrams, U.S. Army Forces Command ( FORSCOM ) commanding general at Fort Riley. Moran said he’s concerned the analysis used by the Army to make those decisions need to be transparent.

The Senator stated, “We need to understand what the criteria are. And so we’ve been going through the analysis that the Army has completed about the potential of taking a brigade and placing it someplace in the United States, and what it would cost the Army. We wanted to make certain that the Army was taking into account all the features that Fort Riley offers, and to make certain that we understood the selection process. We want to make sure that it’s an objective decision, not a subjective one.”

Moran said Abrams is a significant component of the decision making process relating to training and the cost of training. He added Abrams agrees that one of the primary assets of Fort Riley is the available training space and lack of encroachment and environmental concerns.

Moran noted he asked Abrams to help officials get more information from the Army. “But two, please remain a vocal supporter of Fort Riley for a new brigade, either one that is being contemplated now, the ABCT Brigade, or additional forces that would be brought to a post sometime in the future.”

 

Major General Joseph Martin turned over command of the 1st Infantry Division to Major General John Kolasheski Friday morning at the Fort Riley Cavalry Parade Field.

During the ceremony accompanying the change of command Martin stated the 1st Inf. Div. has received a lot of accolades in recent years, and it’s because of what the Soldiers do every day. “We train hard to build readiness at Fort Riley, and there’s tank tracks and impact craters littering the training area at Fort Riley to prove it to anybody that wants to see it.

“Martin says building readiness is an idea that can only be fulfilled

 

when all members of the team are focused on the task. “Nothing that we do in the Big Red One is ever possible without the contribution of each and every Soldier in this division.”

Kolasheski said he was proud to once again be a Big Red One Soldier. “Brave, responsible and on point for the nation, serving in America’s 1st Division at one of it’s premier installations.” Kolasheski most recently served as

deputy chief of staff for the U.S. Army Forces Command at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He previously served with the 1st Inf. Div. as the division’s deputy commanding general for maneuver from June 2015 to May 2016, and in various positions with the division from July 2001 to May 2005.

 

Friday, United Way of Junction City/Geary County accepted a donation for $1,099.86 from JC’s BBQ & Grill.

On Saturday, May 26^th, JC’s BBQ & Grill held an invitation only event with a percentage of sales going to United Way of Junction City/Geary County.

( Photo — Raina Tomlinson, General Manager JC’s BBQ & Grill and Nichole Mader, Executive Director United Way of Junction City/Geary County. )

A steady stream of traffic flowed through the Geary Community Hospital north parking lot during the first Farmers Market of the season.

Nikki Davies, Marketing and Public Relations Director for GCH, credited with probably being the biggest opening day market in the five year history of the event. “We have a lot of new vendors, a lot of the same vendors from last year, a lot bigger setup and a lot more customers as well.”

The Extension Office shared information with those attending the market. Deb Andres, Extension Agent, reported there was information on an upcoming class at the WIC office in Junction City. “It starts June 20th and you call the WIC office to get registered for that. We’ve also been sharing information about making healthy choices.”

The next Farmers Market will be Thursday, June 14th, from 4-7 p.m.