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High
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81° | Breezy. Partly sunny. A 20 percent chance of showers late in the morning. Highs in the lower 80s. South winds 15 to 25 mph. |
Category: Local
Fire Damages Downtown Business
A fire reported on Saturday morning resulted in extensive damage to Rex’s Smoke Shop at 1824 North Washington Street. No one was injured.
According to the Junction City Fire Department there was extensive damage to the structure from smoke and fire. The Fire Department did rescue one black lab, who was not injured and has been returned to his family.
The fire was reported at approximately 8 a.m. Information on the cause of the blaze has not been released at this point.
The fire resulted in damage to the front part of the business. The owner, Richard Rexrode, confirmed there was no insurance.
The FIre Department reported that as a result of the fire those living around 11th and Washington street area may have noticed discoloration in their water and should run their tap five to ten minutes. That should result in clear water, but if it does not contact Junction City Public Works.
Chamber Members to be Surveyed
Membership retention and recruitment at the Junction City Area Chamber of Commerce are being surveyed so the organization can continue to improve the services and benefits provided to members.
The survey is being undertaken the Member Relations Specialist at the Chamber, and Central Michigan University graduate student Kaitlin McGuire.
She reported that current Chamber leadership is actively working to determine the best direction for the future of the Chamber, and would like to ask members to participate in the survey. Members are asked to respond by October 11.
The data collected will provide useful information to better understand the Chamber’s membership and their needs. The information also allow leadership to develop an action plan for maintaining current membership numbers, while working to grow the membership base and increase members’ engagement and value. Results of the study will be presented to the Chamber Board of Directors.
Watch Out for Deer on the Roadways
Fall is here and AAA Kansas is warning drivers to be more cautious on the roads.
Deer mating season is right around the corner, and October, November and December are the worst months of the year for motor vehicle collisions with animals. A collision with a deer or other animal can cause significant damage to your vehicle, if not destroy it, and could result in serious injuries or fatalities for drivers or passengers. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in 2015, there were 186 fatalities from collisions with animals nationwide.
“Animal-vehicle collisions start to increase in October and peak in mid-November,” said Shawn Steward, spokesman for AAA Kansas.
In the event of a collision with animal, AAA Kansas recommends that following the collision, call the police or sheriff, avoid approaching the deer or animal, put the vehicle’s hazard lights on, and if possible move the vehicle to a safe location out of the roadway and wait for help to arrive.
Saturday Forecast
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High
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79° | Partly sunny. Chance of sprinkles. Highs in the upper 70s. Southeast winds 5 to 15 mph. |
Geary County Youth to Celebrate National 4-H Week October 1-7
Junction City, KS (September 29, 2017) — For the 75th consecutive year, millions of youth, parents, volunteers and alumni across the country will be celebrating National 4-H Week during the first full week of October. Geary County 4-H will leverage National 4-H Week this year by showcasing the incredible experiences that 4-H offers young people and working to spread the word about 4-H.
4-H alumni around the country are always the first to acknowledge the significant positive impact 4-H had on them as young people; the opportunities and experiences that 4-H provides youth empowers them to become true leaders. In fact, research has shown that young people involved in Kansas 4-H are making responsible decisions, making connections, and growing in citizenship, leadership, and communication skills. The recent Kansas 4-H Impact Study showed that 91% of Kansas 4-H members have a plan for reaching their goals, 93% are connected with adults who are not their parents, 96% reported that they can make a difference through community service, and 4-H participants in their third year or more reported a 60% increase in their confidence in public speaking compared to newer participants.
To join 4-H, youth must be between the ages of seven and eighteen as of January 1, 2018. If you meet this requirement and want to find out what 4-H has for you, please contact the Extension Office at 785-238-4161. You can also check out the Geary County Extension website atwww.geary.ksu.edu.
One 4-H member summed the program up well when she said, “4-H is an amazing program because kids and teens are learning from all these great experiences. We find confidence we never thought we had. We learn to lead and not follow. 4-H teaches skills that are not found anywhere else.” If you want to become a true leader, come check out the Geary County 4-H program!
Ginger Kopfer, Geary County Extension Agent
USD 475 will Hold Town Hall and Tours Prior to Bond Election
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Overall enrollment at 6 state universities shows slight drop
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Board of Regents says enrollment at public universities fell less than 1 percent this fall.
Enrollment figures released Friday show enrollment increased more than 3 percent at Fort Hays State University and Wichita State University. The University of Kansas reported a 1.1 percent increase in fall enrollment compared with last fall.
Kansas State University reported the largest enrollment drop, of 4.1 percent. Emporia State’s enrollment declined 2.6 percent and enrollment was down 2.7 percent at Pittsburg State.
The Topeka Capital-Journal reports cumulative enrollment at the six state universities was down 239 students, or 0.25 percent.
The 19 community colleges in Kansas reported 1,500 fewer students enrolled, while the state’s technical colleges added nearly 1,000 students.
K-State President Richard Myers: A Call for Leadership
In the wake of national debate surrounding justice and equality, Kansas State President Richard Myers released a statement Friday morning to students and faculty to address the issue on the K-State campus.
Dear K-State students, faculty and staff,
The national debate around justice and equality has intensified over the past several months. Most recently,the National Football League has become embroiled in controversy over players kneeling during the national anthem. At the core of these issues are legitimate concerns about justice and equality, contrasted with the individual freedoms so many Americans have fought and worked to protect.
The K-State family is not immune from these national debates nor a stranger to the controversies. This year we have already seen anonymous postings of white supremacy posters, genuine concerns by our students who benefit from DACA about their ongoing status, and troubling visa issues among our international students, faculty and staff.
During times of stress and uncertainty, we often look for touchstones to center us and help deal with anxieties and frustrations. While our first reaction is often to seek an immediate response, we are well served to remember
our long-standing foundations. Our touchstones include the Bill of Rights and the United States Constitution, federal and state laws that protect our privacy (such as FERPA), and more locally, our K-State community principles.
We continue to come back to these touchstones because they are powerful, thoughtful, and stand the test of time. Perhaps the most important support comes from family, whom we naturally lean on for comfort and counsel in stressful times. None of our families are perfect, including the K-State family, but we always pull together when needed the most.
I encourage all of us to be personally aware of the things we can control, and those we cannot. We cannot control whether our national leaders are divisive or inspire us to pull together as a nation. We cannot control anonymous hate messages posted under the cover of darkness. But we can control how we let these disgusting events affect our campuses, communities and culture. This needs to be our focus.
We can continue to work together to solve issues and support one another. For instance, we can ensure we have the right organizational structure and leadership to move us forward on diversity and inclusion. We can provide legal and other support to our DACA students. And, we can react to the national debate in a way that makes us a model and inspires others to pull together to solve our societal issues versus driving us apart.
To me, this is the essence of our K-State family. Now is the time for all of us — students, faculty and staff — to show the way. It is who we have been, who we are, and who our next generation will be.
Are you ready to help lead?
Sincerely,
Richard B. Myers
President
Kansas State University
Police Reporting Multiple Burglaries of Construction Sites
Junction CIty police have issued a social media report that there have been multiple burglaries of construction sites in which power tools and other construction materials have been taken.
If you have information contact the Junction City Police Department at 785-762-5912 or leave an anonymous webtip at Crime Stoppers. You could be eligible for a cash reward.