The Mitch and Jenna Langvardt Family have been involved in Geary County 4-H for many years. They were honored Thursday evening at the annual Extension Council meeting with the 2017 Geary County Extension Appreciation Award.

4-H officials reported that Mitch was a Geary County 4-H member as a youth and served as a Geary County 4-H King. Jenna’s father was a long time director of Rock Springs 4-H Camp. After college Mitch worked as a county extension agent in Ellsworth County before returning to Geary County to work in the family business at JC Livestock Sales. Their children Trent, Kyler and Macey were also life-long 4-H members in Geary County.

What makes them so deserving of the award is the effort that the family maintains an ongoing involvement in 4-H work and in Extension in general. Mitch and Jenna have served as club leaders, the family as junior leaders and project leaders. For many years Mitch and Jenna organized the BBQ at the 4-H Fair. Mitch ensures that the sale barn is prepared and ready for the 4-H beef weigh-in and tagging each February, and both of them attend Extension meetings on occasion. Kyler has taken photos of the 4-H members involved in the Free Fair auction and their projects.  The family member’s willingness to help anywhere there is a need in the community was also cited.

The family was recognized as the Geary County 4-H Family of the Year in 2008 and Mitch as the Geary County Outstanding 4-H Project Leader in 2012.

 

 

Advanced Call Center Technologies in Junction City cut the ribbon Thursday morning at their 2031 South Spring Valley Road location,  signifying their reopening to the community.

ACT is a business process outsourcing company. In Junction City they provide inbound customer service for companies around the world in the financial services and telecommunication sectors. Executive Vice President for Sales Hunter Croft, said effectively immediately they hope to add approximately 200 jobs at the Junction City facility over the coming months, bringing them to more than 500 total jobs here at the end of the hiring process. “It’s a great opportunity for folks to come in and be a customer service advocate, but also we need leadership in the supervisor and manager ranks as well as potentially trainers and quality analysts.”

Community members toured the facility Thursday and attended the ribbon cutting.

Advanced Call Center Technologies has been in Junction City for about four years.

An Abilene business, Peterson Monuments & Design Inc., has come to the aid of Highland Cemetery in Junction City.

Vandals recently overturned and damaged some tombstones in the cemetery. Linn Peterson said some of the monuments that were tipped over were large, “weighed 2,500 – 3,000 pounds and needed special equipment and expertise.”

Peterson stated they considered themselves a long-time partner with the Junction City community. “We were able to go over the other day and set some of them up.” Peterson Monuments were happy to help. “Ironically it was on Veteran’s Day, and one of the first ones we put up was for a veteran that had passed away back in the 30’s, and he was a master sergeant. It just kind of seemed right to, being able to take care

of it at that time.”

Junction City police responded to the cemetery following the discovery of the overturned headstones to begin their investigation into the case. No arrests have been reported.