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One Former Junction City Resident and His Family Avoid Damage from Hurricane Harvey

Kyle and Ginger Ediger family

Former Junction City Kyle Ediger and his family have endured Hurricane Harvey but escaped any injury or major damage to their home in League City, which is in the Houston area.

Kyle told JC Post they were extremely lucky. “None of our immediate neighborhood was flooded in. I think everybody was able to keep the water away. ” But just a few blocks it was a different story. “Clear Creek flooded the whole neighborhood and parks. Everybody had damage just a few houses down.

Kyle stated it was a stressful few days with the rain in the forecast. “Especially the first night when we got almost 20 inches of rain in six hours. Every time that it would start to rain, just cringe. But once the sun peeked through the clouds Tuesday night and the anxiety went way…it was such a beautiful sight.

Cleanup is expected to take months. “Right now I’m currently helping a family friend who does not have any flood insurance. We’ve got to completely gut out a 35-hundred square foot house, and try to get all furniture, appliances, floors, carpeting and walls torn down before the mold starts coming.” As for his family Kyle didn’t feel his three young children completely understood the storm. “They were cooped up in the house and they got a little stir crazy but they thought it was really cool seeing all the water, and seeing all the rain. My wife and I kind of cringed because the rain meant bad things for us.”

The end result is that the family made it through the hurricane. “Overall our family is good. We’re happy the sun is out, and right now just happy that we weren’t affected so we can help our friends and family here get back on their feet.”

Discussion about Possible JCHS Alumni Association

The discussion about the possibility of forming a JCHS Alumni Association and Hall of Fame is under way in the community.

Brian Field is one of those that have been involved in preliminary discussions on this project. “I think it’s time. There’s enough excitement in the community. We have an awful lot of alumni that live in Junction City or in this area that are active. We want to reach out and give some of the people outside of the community an opportunity to be involved and let them know how proud we are of Junction City High School and the things that we accomplish. So we think it’s the right time.

Fields added some ground work has been laid for this effort, and they can get the right people involved this is the time to make this happen. He mentioned some of those involved in the discussions on this topic. “Vaughn DeGuzman, Jeff Underhill, of course Matt Westerhaus Athletic Director at Junction City High School. There’s been several people and those are some of the key people.” Field stated they will try to pull in other area alumni.

He noted one of the possibilities that has been discussed is a Hall of Fame. “A lot of high schools have done it. It wouldn’t necessarily be just for sports but an academic hall of fame or people that have succeeded in life whether it be career wise, or maybe somebody has made a huge contribution of some kind.” Field said that would be another way to reach out to some of the alumni, “and find out about them, maybe get some bios and see what we can come up with.”

Animal Rescue Volunteer from Junction City to Help Hurricane Harvey Victims

Emily Fawcett

Emily Fawcett of Junction City will provide animal rescue services to victims of Hurricane Harvey in Texas

The owner of the Pampered Pet business and an animal rescue operation, Fawcett is traveling to Katy, Texas to provide assistance. “As soon as I get there I am getting to a staging area for animal rescuers. I will be administering first aid to a bunch of dogs and cats.”

Fawcett is taking along her boat, kayaks and medical supplies, “medical supplies and donations.” She confirmed she expects to be going into flood areas to provide help.

Fawcett stated a person can help in so many ways. “I’m just a person who can get in a vehicle and go do this. I have no fear of getting in the water, I have no fear of getting hurt, I have no fear of the dogs that might bite me. But then you have these wonderful beautiful people who I’m overwhelmed by that are making donations., whether you can donate a couple of dollars, donate a bag of clothes, or a bag of dog food or anything like that. I feel like we’re all here on this earth to ease other people’s suffering and just to give a little bit of love. I just feel that in my heart.”

In 2011 Fawcett deployed to help the victims of the Joplin, Missouri tornado.

Rescue tools

You Can View the Longhorn Parade

Cowboys will drive Texas longhorns to the stockyard and then into a rail car that will be pulled out of town by a steam engine during Trails, Rails and Tales Saturday in Abilene. The event marks the 150th anniversary of the Chisholm Trail, which is being celebrated over a three day period, Friday through Sunday.

The Longhorn Parade is scheduled at 10 a.m. Saturday. You can watch the parade at www.Facebook.com/VisitAbilene

Beson Says Goodbye

Dennis Beson

The outgoing Junction City Area Chamber of Commerce CEO, Dennis Beson issued a statement on Wednesday afternoon, his final day in that job, thanking Chamber members for their support. Beson’s had earlier submitted his resignation, effective August 30.

“I want to thank you for two years of great support and learning opportunities. I leave Junction City and Geary County knowing that I was able to assist in getting a number of good projects started and/or completed.   I am especially proud that our membership, which was at approximately 300 when I started, now sits at 387 with the end of year goal of 400 in sight. It was a great benefit for me personally, to facilitate our Crossroads of Leadership Program the past two years and assist the class members on their leadership journey. It was a pleasure to have shared meals, conversation, fellowship, and friendship with so many great people, not just from Geary County but from the entire region.
There will always be a special place in my heart for Junction City, Grandview Plaza, Milford, Fort Riley, the Flint Hills Region, and my time here in Kansas overall. I again want to thank you for your support, the way you welcomed me to the community, and your dedication to the Junction City Area Chamber of Commerce.”

Sincerely,
Dennis Beson

Award of Excellence for ATA Bus

Flint Hills Area Transportation Agency Executive Director Anne Smith ( Right ) accepts award.

The Flint Hills Area Transportation Agency, ATA Bus, has received an award of excellence from the Federal Transit Administration Region VII for the highest percentage increase in ridership.

The ATA Bus Board President Florence Whitebread said there was a 40% increase in ridership during the past year. “This increase was an increase of 9,223 riders, and it was among all rural transit providers in Kansas. This was all due to the big ridership increase that we’ve had in Geary County.

Whitebread was part of the initial discussions to bring the ATA Bus service to Geary County. She didn’t expect it to grow this fast. “I thought it would grow but I didn’t think it would grow this fast, and we have grown tremendously fast. I think in the first seven days that school has started I forget how many riders, but the increase in ridership in kids using it for school is tremendous.”

ATA Bus has both fixed route and on-call by appointment bus ride service. In addition to Geary County they also provide service in Riley and Pottawatomie Counties.

Outgoing Chamber CEO Receives a Surprise

The outgoing CEO for the Junction City Area Chamber of Commerce, Dennis Beson, who had submitted his resignation effective today, received a surprise Wednesday morning.

A going away reception was thrown by Chamber staff and members.

Beson didn’t know this was planned. “Totally surprised. Absolutely wasn’t expecting it, certainly didn’t have to do it and I just feel blessed people cared enough to come out and say goodbye like this.”

Beson said he was pretty speechless. “I didn’t want to say too much because this town has really become part of me and it’s really bittersweet to leave. It will always be a part of my heart and great people of this community. I just hope that after I’m gone people think about me in a fond way and know that I put my heart and soul into trying to make a difference.”

Beson has served as Chamber CEO since August of 2015.

EDC Director Mickey Fornaro-Dean will become the Interim CEO for the Chamber.

Sheriff’s Department Reports Early Morning Arrest on Drug Related Counts

The Geary County Sheriff’s Department has reported the arrest of William Fune, McCook, Nebraska in the 5800 block of Rucker Road on suspicion of Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Improper Driving on a Laned Roadway, Failure to Dim Headlights, White Light to the Rear and Driving Under the Influence. The arrest occurred at 2:15 a.m. Wednesday.

Economic Development Progress

Ventria Bioscience plans to expand their operations in Junction City this year by expanding their molecular biology lab, greenhouses, process development and analytical lab and processing capacity. That information is contained in the Economic Development Grow JC newsletter from the Chamber of Commerce.

The expansion of operations for the company will be an investment of more than $1.5 million and will increase the  Ventria Bioscience local workforce by more than 50%.

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The Junction City First group has made their first big contribution. Grow JC reported that the group contributed $100,000 to the Children’s Mercy project, which broke ground last month. Geary Community Hospital and Children’s Mercy Hospital are working on a project where space in the basement of GCH is being developed to house Children’s Mercy pediatric clinics.

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