The American Red Cross is reaching out to local communities to ask for help as blood donations are going to hospitals as quickly as they come in.
A Junction City Blood Drive took place on Thursday, July 20th and Friday, July 21st at the Junction City Municipal Building.
Coordinator Tom McRae reported that the blood drive exceeded the goal of 65 units on Thursday by four units. Similarly, the community responded on day two of the blood drive by going 16 units over the goal of 45 units.
There were several first time donors that participated.
Jerry Moran, the Republican U.S. Senator from Kansas, garnered a little extra attention this week as one of the Republican Senators who announced opposition to the GOP Healthcare bill meant to replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
Moran said his opposition was based on the fact that the bill neither repeals the ACA or replaces it with something that would allow premiums to decrease.
“We’d end up with the worst of both worlds – continued government involvement in healthcare decisions, intrusion into families’ lives and their relationship with their physician – and at the same time, we don’t end up with a result in which healthcare is more affordable.”
Moran added that a new plan must be “beneficial and get rid of the bad features of Obamacare.” “Healthcare, in my view, ought to be addressed by looking at what drives up the cost unnecessarily and instead Congress – beginning with Obamacare – spent all of its efforts trying to figure out who pays for healthcare.”
Part of the reason that Moran’s opposition sent shock waves through Congress is because the current Senate bill is GOP backed.
“While I know that there is some politics involved in the issue of Obamacare – the real goal here is not in Republicans and Democrats – it’s in finding the role that government should play in healthcare in a way that improves the access to affordable healthcare for Americans.”
In his conversations with Kansans concerned about family members and access to affordable healthcare, Moran notes that this is “very personal”.
“While there is some cry that we just need to do something – in my view, we need to do something that is actually beneficial and not harmful,” said Moran. “This is 20 percent of the United States economy; I would suggest that we have Congressional hearings, bring in the experts – let’s not just tinker with Obamacare, let’s not just tinker with Medicaid.”
Moran maintains that his goal is to repeal Obamacare, but he could not support the new Senate bill proposal.
Moran, Senator Mike Lee of Utah, Susan Collins of Maine and Rand Paul of Kentucky, all were in opposition of the GOP healthcare bill.
In-person advanced voting for the August 1st Junction City only primary election has begun at the Geary County Clerk’s office.
Rebecca Bossemeyer, Geary County Clerk said that the deadline for in-person advanced voting in the Clerk’s office is Monday, July 31st at noon.
Advanced ballots can also be requested through the mail. “The deadline that some can request that a ballot be mailed to them is the now Tuesday before the election, and for this election that is July 25th,” said Bossemeyer.
To request a mailed ballot visit https://ks-geary.manatron.com/. Mailed ballots with a post mark on or before election day will be counted if they are received in the Clerk’s office no later than Friday, August 4th.
The County offices are located at 200 E 8th Street in Junction City. For additional information contact the Clerk’s Office at 238-3912.
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The August 1st primary election was required by law because the number of candidates was more than three times the number of open positions.
Ten candidates filed for election by the June 1st deadline – one candidate Michael A. Morris, has since decided to not pursue an active campaign for office. Due to State law, the primary election must still occur.
1420 KJCK will host three candidate forums Tuesday, July 25th, Wednesday, July 26th, and Thursday, July 27th ahead of the August 1st primary election. The forums will be at 8:00 am each day with different candidates participating each morning.
A complete list of the candidates can be found below:
Junction City’s newest Dollar General store at 1940 N Monroe Street is now open.
There will be an “official grand opening” on Saturday, July 29 at 8 a.m. with free prizes and special deals. The first 50 adult shoppers at the store will receive a $10 Dollar General gift card and the first 200 shoppers will receive a Dollar General tote bag with complimentary product samples.
“Dollar General is committed to delivering a pleasant shopping experience that includes a convenient location, a wide assortment of merchandise and great prices on quality products,” said Dan Nieser, Dollar General’s senior vice president of real estate and store development. “We hope our area customers will enjoy shopping at Dollar General’s new location.”
Traditional Dollar General stores employ approximately six to 10 people.
This is the third Dollar General Store in Junction City; the other two are located on West 6th Street and South Franklin Street.
Every five years the city of Dwight hosts a major celebration – to mark over 125 years of existence as a city.
Celebrations this year for the Dwight Summerfest begin on Friday, August 4th with a setup of the Historic Encampment at the Dwight City Park.
Lacy Autry, part of the Celebration committee, said that Saturday’s events begin at 7:00 am with a 5K run.
“The Manhattan Running Company is actually putting the race event together for us,” said Autry. “With the registration [of the race] you actually get a t-shirt for the Dwight Summerfest.”
Masonic Lodge No. 357 will host free cancer screenings at the Dwight Library.
“They will be setting up pretty early in the morning, they bring an elaborate mobile station,” said Autry. “You can go from 9:00 am until noon and set your appointment; and they will start filling those appointments after noon and keep going until everybody has been seen.”
The screenings are for skin and prostate cancer, colon cancer home screening kits, BMI tests, and facial sun damage assessments.
Dwight is located about 20 miles south of Junction City in Morris County.
9:00 am until noon: Registration for Cancer Screenings at Dwight Library
Noon to 6:00 pm: Cancer Screenings
10:00 am: parade with the Fort Riley Mounted Color Guard and 1st Infantry Division band in the lead
11:00 am to 3:00 pm: Show and See Car Show with a Retro Girl Contest at the Ball Field
11:00 am: Tractor show at the west side of the Dwight Elevator
11:00 am to 3:00 pm: Mini-train rides, hop on at Main St. near library
11:15 am and noon: History in a Trunk – Coming to Kansas Trunk & Children’s Chores Trunk at the Dwight United Methodist Church Sanctuary
12:30 pm: Wildlife Exhibit at the Dwight United Methodist Church Sanctuary
12:30 pm to 3:00 pm: Fine Art show at the Grocery Store on Main St.
12:30 to 3:00 pm: hands on art activities for all ages at the Grocery Store on Main St.
2:00 pm: Antique Tractor Auction, east side of Dwight Elevator
Noon to 6:00 pm: Music in the Dwight City Park
noon: 1ID Band
12:30: Arnie and Jean Boyd
1:00: Tallgrass Express Band
1:45: JC Naz Praise Band
2:30: Tallgrass Express Band
3:15: Morgan Poole
3:45: makenzie Ochoa
4:00: Darin Whitson
5:30: Hanna Stillwell
5:45: Jeremy Harmison
7:00 pm to 10:00 pm: DJ Dance with Nick Morgan as the DJ, Dwight City Park
Other activities throughout the day include bounce tents at the Ball Field, a horseshoe tournament at the Dwight City Park, kids games east of the Dwight United Methodist Church, and bingo at the Dwight United Methodist Church. Food and drinks vendors will also be for sale and various merchandise sales will be located in the Community Building.
There will also be a Community Worship at 10:00 am on Sunday, August 6th at the Dwight Community Building. A potluck meal will follow the worship service.
For more information visit the Dwight Summerfest 2017 Facebook page.
The Geary County Rural Fire Department has been notified by FEMA that the Department has been awarded an Assistance to Firefighter Grant totaling $205,000. The federal share of the grant is $195,239 and the local match totals $9,761.
The grant will be used to replace a 1981 tanker unit that carries 1,800 gallons of water. The new unit will carry 2,000 gallons of water and will be sent to all major fires in the county once it is received. This tanker will be the major source of water since the majority of the rural area of Geary County is not served by fire hydrants.
Geary County has one year to have the replacement truck in service. Fire Chief Garry Berges and Assistant Fire Chief Curt Janke have begun the process to work on obtaining the new tanker unit.
Dewey Terrill will be broadcasting from the Geary County Free Fair Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday July 25th, 26th and 27 for 1420 KJCK. The reports will feature interviews with 4-Hers, Fair leaders, volunteers and Extension staff. Our coverage sponsored by Central National Bank, Coryell Insurors, Geary County Farm Bureau, Farm Bureau Insurance, Screen Machine Sports, Millennium Bank, Champions Car Wash and Sunflower Bank.
The American Red Cross blood drive in Junction City continues Friday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Municipal Building.
Walk-in donors are welcome.
Coordinator Tom McRae reported that the blood drive exceeded its’ goal of 65 units on Thursday by four units. At one point there were five first time donors attending at the blood drive at the same time.
( L-R ) 2017 Geary County 4-H Queen Lauren Moon and 4-H King Caleb Boller.
Lauren Moon, 16, was named 2017 Geary County 4-H Queen and Calen Boller, 16, the 2017 4-H King Thursday night. Samantha Shefelton was named a member of the Royal Court. The recognition occurred during the 4-H Public Revue.
Moon, who is a member of Brookside 4-H Club, said she was nervous before the announcement was made at the conclusion of the Public Revue. ” I felt really confident about my speech, my application, and I was just hoping for the best.” Boller, who is a member of the Humboldt Creek 4-H Club,
Boller said being named king was a big honor for him. “I’m really happy to be king. Had a couple kings in my family in the past. I’m just really excited to promote 4-H and do the best I can.”
The naming of the royalty comes just ahead of the Geary County Free Fair, which runs Monday through Thursday of next week.
The 4-H / Senior Center was packed for the Public Revue, which required extra chairs to be set out for the audience. Extension Agent Ginger Kopfer noted it was the biggest turnout during her 17th year in that job. She was unsure why there was such a large turnout. “We are up in numbers and participation so that brings more parents, and grandparents and siblings. But there were a lot of community members here, and I think that’s great.”
In clothing construction the Junior Division Reserve Champion entry belonged to Tava Gustafson and the Grand Champion to Hanna Miller. In the Intermediate Division Emmy Gfeller was the Reserve Champion and Paige Roeser Grand Champion. In the Senior Division both the Reserve and Grand Champion entries came from Lindsey Ascher.
For constructed fashion revue the Junior Division Reserve Champion was Gracie Erichsen and the Grand Champion Hanna Miller. In the Intermediate Category Emmy Gfeller was the Reserve Champion and Paige Roeser Grand Champion. For the Senior Division Jordyn Hubley was the Reserve Champion and Lindsey Ascher Grand Champion.
In the Boy’s Buymanship category Cole Goodwin had the Reserve champion entry and Ethan Goodyear was the Grand Champion in the Junior Division. For the Intermediate Division Elijah Schmidt was the Grand Champion, and in the Senior Division Mason Muto was the Reserve Champion while Calen Boller was the Grand Champion.
For Girl’s Buymanship the Junior Division Reserve Champion was Tava Gustafson and the Grand Champion Morgan Nabus. In the Intermediate Division Ava Oentrich had the Reserve Champion entry while Jada Nabus was named Grand Champion. In the Senior Division the Reserve Champion was Lindsey Ascher and the Grand Champion was Aleeya Williams.
There is an emergency need for blood donations.
