The Dorothy Bramlage Public Library is donating $1,200 to the rebuilding effort for the Ellis Memorial Library in Port Aransas, Texas, population 4,054.  The building and contents were heavily damaged during Hurricane Harvey in August and the subsequent mold generated from the heat and moisture.

From the many school and public libraries destroyed by the summer’s hurricanes, Ellis Memorial Library was chosen by the DBPL staff as the site for the relief effort.  The Board of Trustees pledged the amount of money collected in fines during the month of November to the cause and the Friends of the Library accepted donations during their annual book sale.  A donation box was also at the Circulation Desk throughout the month.  The combined total from all sources was $1,200.

Library staff member Donna Porter, Head of Circulation, has been in contact with Geanette Dailey, EML Director, who said that the donation will be applied toward replacing their collection, furniture and shelving, all of which were destroyed.

Susan Moyer, Director

Dorothy Bramlage Public Library

Junction City Commissioner Pat Landes wants to develop a request for a proposal as part of a project to market the numerous vacant Land Bank lots on the west side of the city.

Landes reported this week that he and city manager Allen Dinkel have met with a couple of realtors, and they’re considering at developing the R-F-P. “What we’re looking at doing is create a request for proposal for the Land Bank to employ a listing agent, which would basically be a real estate firm, and they would be the ones that actually do the marketing of the lots. There would be a fee to purchase the lot which would be split between the listing agent and the realtor that is buying the property.” Landes said they would do the leg work. The city staff does not have the time to do all of that.

Landes added it needs to be done now so by spring builders can hopefully begin building again the lots can begin moving.

Proposals on the idea will be brought to the next Land Bank Board meeting.

Fort Riley, in conjunction with VFW Post 1281 (Herington) and the VFW Kansas Auxiliary, will host a Wreaths Across America ceremony at the post cemetery Dec. 16 at 11 a.m.

Brig. Gen. Stephen Smith, 1st Infantry Division deputy commanding general for support, is scheduled to provide remarks and Chaplain (Col.) Timothy Walls will provide the invocation.  Service representatives will place ceremonial wreaths for each of the armed forces, the Coast Guard, Merchant
Marines and POWs/MIAs.  Afterward, wreaths will be placed on individual military gravesites in the cemetery.

Wreaths Across America holds simultaneous observances in more than 1,200 locations in all 50 states and 24 national veteran cemeteries on foreign soil.  The intent is to remind people that “Every Stone Has a Story” and to teach younger generations about the value of honoring those who sacrificed
to protect America’s freedoms.  The organization’s motto is “Remember, Honor, Teach.”

The Fort Riley ceremony is made possible through donations and volunteers.

The La Nina climate phenomenon in the South Pacific Ocean is contributing to weather conditions that are expected to be warm and dry with low humidity. It’s leading to concerns about the possibility of an increase in winter wildfires from the mid-South across the Plains states.

Geary County Extension Agent Chuck Otte said there has not been a significant rainfall since mid-october and there have been above average temperatures. There have been major wildfires the past two years in southern Kansas. He knows it’s possible that could occur in this east central Kansas area. “Absolutely, the past two springs it’s just by an act of God that we haven’t had what they’ve seen in south central Kansas. Two springs in a row an entire county has burned basically. That could happen somewhere in the Flint Hills.

Otte noted there have been some strong wind events recently. “You get a fire going with one of those kind of wind events. You’re not going to stop it. It’s going to run.”

The extension agent said common sense and caution apply. Don’t have outdoor fires, don’t be throwing smoking materials out the car window as you’re going down the road.”

In Geary County Otte said the soil surface is not damp, all the thatch and vegetation is dry but there is some good soil moisture so the 2018 wheat crop is not suffering yet.