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1st Infantry Division to Honor Outgoing Deputy Commanding General

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Brig. Gen. Patrick Frank, Fort Riley and 1st Inf. Div. Acting Senior Commander

FORT RILEY, Kan. – The 1st Infantry Division will honor Brig. Gen. Patrick

D. Frank, the outgoing acting senior commander of the division and Fort Riley, in a Victory with Honors Ceremony at 4 p.m. June 27 at the “Big Red One” headquarters building.

Frank assumed duties as the acting senior commander in October 2016. He previously served as the deputy commanding general for support for the 1st Infantry Division, executive officer to the International Security Assistance Force / Operation Resolute Support commander and executive officer to the vice chief of staff of the Army.

The brigadier general will next serve as the deputy commanding general of
the Army Cadet Command, Fort Knox, Kentucky. Taking his place as the acting
senior commander is Brig. Gen. William A. Turner, deputy commanding general
for sustainment for the Combined Joint Forces Land Component Command –
Operation Inherent Resolve, Baghdad.

The Victory with Honors ceremony will include remarks by Frank, Turner and
British Army Maj. Gen. Doug Chalmers, deputy commanding general, III Corps,
Fort Hood, Texas.

K-State Touts Top Value

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MANHATTAN — For the third year in row, a national study finds Kansas State University is the best education value in Kansas.

K-State again tops SmartAsset’s study of which schools provide the best bang for the educational buck in the Sunflower State. The study measures tuition, living costs, average scholarships and grants, starting salary upon graduation and retention rates at 10 Kansas schools to determine its best value schools. SmartAsset is a financial data and technology company.

Among the factors keeping K-State at the top of the list include having the highest average starting salary for new graduates and the highest student retention rate in the state — both by wide margins over other Kansas schools.

“K-State students and our graduates are directly benefiting from a remarkable return on their investment,” said Pat Bosco, vice president for student life and dean of students. “A high-paying job in your area of interest — and most often in the state of Kansas — is the immediate goal of many of the students we serve. Students, family members and employers — everybody wins by choosing to attend K-State and by hiring K-Staters. This index value is huge and no one is even close to matching the return in investment K-Staters have enjoyed for the past three years.”
The average starting salary for a new K-State graduate is $48,300, which is up $400 from last year’s study and is $1,400 higher than the average for a new graduate of the University of Kansas, the second-place school in this category. K-State’s student retention rate of 83 percent was 3 percent higher than second-place KU’s.

The good news, Bosco said, is that K-State’s retention rate is continuing to climb, with the freshman-to-sophomore rate at 85.11 percent. He credits K-State’s first-year retention programs, called K-State First, for increasing student retention. The university also is ensuring college is affordable by awarding $230 million in financial aid, including $29 million in scholarships, each year. With more than 250 degrees and options and student services such as free tutoring, financial counseling and career placement, Bosco said the university is committed to helping students graduate and find good jobs.
“Progress toward graduation, jobs and affordability are K-State priorities because they are so important to our students and prospective students,” Bosco said. “This study shows we are succeeding.”

Along with K-State and KU, the schools in the study included Baker University, Emporia State University, Fort Hays State University, Friends University, MidAmerica Nazarene University, Pittsburg State University, Washburn University and Wichita State University.

K-State News and Communications Services
Division of Communications and Marketing

Details Reported on the Removal of Former 1st Infantry Division CG

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Major General Wayne Grigsby Jr. ( courtesy photo )

The details are being revealed on the move last September by the U.S. Army to relieve the former commanding general of the 1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley, Major General Wayne Grigsby Jr. of his command.

The Washington Post has reported that the Army demoted the former commander of the 1st Infantry Division for having “an inappropriate relationship” with a junior officer.

Grigsby was reprimanded and demoted from major general to brigadier general after investigators learned that he had called and texted a female captain more than 850 times over 10 months and was spending time at her home, according to Army documents obtained by the Washington Post.

Grigsby received a formal reprimand from the Army in April and is scheduled to retire August 1st. Both he and the unidentified female captain declined to talk to investigators but Grigsby did submit a letter to the Army accepting responsibility for his inappropriate behavior. Grigsby told the Post he was embarrassed and disappointed in myself. He apologized for causing pain to his family and the Army.

Documents show the Army and Pentagon inspectors general received a number of complaints last year from Soldiers at Fort Riley who suspected Grigsby was having an affair and it was affecting his ability to lead.

When Grigsby was relieved of command at Fort Riley the Army cited a “loss of confidence” in his ability to lead. No other details were provided at that time.

22 years and still kickin’; Kicker Country Stampede June 22-24

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Twenty two years later and Kicker Country Stampede maintains it’s status as one of the largest music events/festivals in this part of the country.

Wayne Rouse, Founder, said that the success behind the music festival is thanks to the support of the region.

“The Manhattan/Junction City area and the Topeka area have been very good to us, the Convention and Visitor’s Bureau has been a huge help; we have a lot of great people that help put this on and that’s our success,” said Rouse.

Headline performers this year include Chris Stapleton, Thomas Rhett and Alan Jackson.

“Thomas Rhett – he’s very popular right now, and Chris Stapleton – we’re very honored to have him, he’s only playing at one other festival,” said Rouse. “And we have a lot of great other artists too – Old Dominion, Maddie and Tae, Brothers Osborne, A Thousand Horses, Big & Rich, Tucker Bethard – and that’s just to name a few.”

There are five stages at Country Stampede so there will never be “dead time.”

Several vendors will be in attendance include the “human foosball” game, giant beer pong, food and other music festival favorites.

Kicker Country Stampede is Thursday, June 22nd through Saturday, June 24th at Tuttle Creek State Park in Manhattan.

Tickets are still on sale, for more information visit: https://www.countrystampede.com/#tickets.

 

Milford Lake Under Blue Green Algae Warning Status

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The Corps of Engineers at Milford Lake have announced that the Kansas Department of Health & Environment results from lake samples taken this past Monday have been received. Due to high blue green algae cell counts this week all zones of the reservoir, including Zones A, B and C are in a “Warning” status.

A “Warning” indicates that blue green algae is present at a level considered unsafe for people and animals. Contact with lake water should be avoided. But boating on the lake is allowed during a warning.

Lake users are reminded that within any lake zone, blue green algae may appear or disappear suddenly and move as the wind shifts. Boaters should always use caution and move to a clearer portion of the lake.

The designated swim beaches at the Corps of Engineers and Milford State Park will be closed until next week’s test results are known.

On Friday the Project Operations Manager for the Corps at Milford Lake, Bill Whitworth, clarified the status of swimming at the lake. He noted the Corps did close their designated swimming beaches but did not prohibit swimming in the lake. They are advising lake users to observe local conditions and use their judgement to swim or not. Young swimmers, elderly swimmers, those in poor health and pets are advised to err on the conservative side and avoid contact, but again, swimming is not prohibited.

Vietnam Veterans Welcome Home Ceremony Scheduled

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The 1st Infantry Division is continuing its commitment to honoring our Vietnam-era veterans with a Vietnam Veterans Welcome Home Ceremony Aug. 23 at Fort Riley. This will be our third ceremony honoring the 50th anniversary of the #VietnamWar, and veterans will be joined by active-duty Soldiers from the 1st Inf. Div. returning from deployments.

The ceremony is open to all veterans and the public is encouraged to attend. Veterans are asked to RSVP to 1st Lt. Stephanie Preekett at 785.240.3866 or by email at rileywelcomehome@gmail.com and to arrive at the ceremony location (Building 837 on Marshall Army Airfield near the Henry Gate) no later than 2:30 p.m.

( Information provided courtesy of 1st Infantry Division Facebook )

Nine Core Values Golf Tournament Fundraiser

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The nine Core Values Golf Tournament fundraiser for the GreatLife Junction City program location will be Wednesday, July 12th at GreatLife Junction City.

Aaron Wall of The First Tee Manhattan, announced that the tournament on the 12th in Junction City will begin at 3 p.m. This will be a nine-hole four-person scramble. Dinner will follow the tournament, which is open to all ages.

The cost to enter the tournament is $200 per team or $50 per person. That will cover greens fee and cart, a player gift, tournament prizes plus a meal and drink will be provided. All proceeds will go directly towards the GreatLife Junction City program location. Call or email Aaron Wall to register. ( 785-341-1992 or aaronw@thefirstteemanhattan.org ).

Sponsorship opportunities are also available including $100 hole sponsorship, tee sign and program recognition.

Spring Valley Open House Set for Saturday

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Schoolhouse at Spring Valley Historic site.

The Geary County Historical Society will host an open house at their Spring Valley Historic Site from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.

This is billed as a kid-friendly event featuring a tour of the site, including the one-room school house, outdoor games like sack races and jacks. There will be historic demonstrations such as woodchopping, children’s chores and wood carving.

The site includes the original Spring Valley schoolhouse where classes were held from 1873 until 1958, the Little Cabin, which captures the life of a pioneer on the plans, and the historic Wetzel Cabin where the first Lutheran services were held in Kansas.

Kansas State University Construction and Renovation Adds New Space

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Kansas State University infrastructure improvement projects in the last five years are building the university up to become a top university.

“By the start of the fall 2017 semester, the university will have added or renovated more than 1 million square feet of space on the Manhattan campus in the last five years,” said K-State President Richard Myers. “These improvements with new technology and energy-efficient infrastructure help increase collaborative learning, multidisciplinary interaction and productivity for our students, faculty and staff — all part of the university’s goal to become a Top 50 public research university by 2025.”

On the Kansas State University Polytechnic Campus in the past five years, the university has renovated the Welcome Center, Outreach Center and the unmanned aircraft systems laboratory. New construction includes the Smoky Hill UAS Pavilion, one of the largest enclosed unmanned flight facilities in the nation, and the Bulk Solids Innovation Center.

The current and upcoming large-scale projects:

Seaton Hall renovation and expansion — The Seaton Complex is on schedule and expected to be ready for students and faculty in August. The 194,000 square feet of improvements include interdisciplinary design labs, an outdoor teaching amphitheater, a green roof, secure exhibit and gallery space, 20,000 square feet of fabrication and product design labs, collaborative spaces and an atrium commons. Watch the progress on a live webcam. On Oct. 13, the College of Architecture, Planning & Design will host a dedication of the newly constructed section, Regnier Hall, named in honor of the family who gave the lead gift.

K-State Student Union renovation — Throughout the 110,000-square-feet renovation, the Union has remained open to serve students and now features a new south facade with large picture windows, collaborative student lounges, consolidated student activities offices, and expanded coffee house and dining options. Wildcat Chamber, formerly the Little Theatre, reopened June 1 and includes new furniture and technology. The Union Station by JP’s, a partnership between the Union and the university’s Housing and Dinning Services, will open in fall 2017 and will emphasize locally sourced ingredients. The renovation project was approved by a student body vote in April 2013, which increased privilege fees to help fund the $31 million project. It is expected to be finished in fall with a remodel celebration scheduled Oct. 13.

Bill Snyder Family Stadium phases IV and V — Work in phases four and five of the stadium project includes adding video and ribbon boards and making sound system improvements around the stadium for an increased fan experience. A new limestone wall ties into Vanier Complex at the north end, and the club level on the east side is receiving cosmetic improvements. All are expected to be completed in August.

Pittman freezer renovation — Approved by the Kansas Board of Regents in March 2016, the project updates the university’s mass food storage freezer to maintain safe food storage for Housing and Dinning Services. The cost of the project is paid through Housing and Dining auxiliary funds. The project is expected to be complete in July.

Trotter Hall renovation — Expected to be complete by the spring 2018 semester, the nearly 13,000-square-foot renovation in Trotter Hall will separate the anatomy labs, microanatomy labs and student study space to give teaching faculty and students more functional areas for each task. Before construction, these areas were combined in one large area on the third floor. The renovation also will include more efficient features for teaching and learning of animal anatomy; ADA-compliant restrooms, including a shower; and life and fire safety improvements. The $4.7 million renovation is funded by private gifts and College of Veterinary Medicine general fees funds.

K-State Office Park — The Kansas State University Foundation broke groundon June 8 for phase II, which will add 59,000 square feet to the K-State Office Park. The Office Park is expected to attract corporate partners who want to work with the university faculty and students. Phase II, funded by a private foundation investment, tax credits and city economic development loans, will feature accommodations of up to 35 tenants, intentional co-working areas and a restaurant. The phase is expected to be complete in August 2018.

Electrical systems improvements — Approved by the Kansas Board of Regents on June 14, the university will start upgrading the electrical systems of 18 buildings on the Manhattan campus. Some systems haven’t been updated since 1923, which has caused power outages in a few buildings affecting students, faculty and staff. Service upgrades of transformers and low-voltage service for buildings in phase one and planning for phase two will start in August and are expected to be complete August 2018 and June 2019, respectively. The upgrades will be paid from bonds issued by the Kansas Development Finance Authority.

Agronomy Education Center — To be built next to Kansas State University’s agronomy farm north of Kimball Avenue, the center will include climate-controlled teaching facilities and an exhibition hall to facilitate technology sharing and outreach. Construction is expected to start in winter 2017-2018.

In the past five years, the university has added a new College of Business Building, Engineering Hall, Wefald Hall, Equine Performance Testing Facility, Purebred Beef Unit, the Kansas State University Foundation building as part of phase I of the K-State Office Park, and the Manhattan Campus Chilled Water Distribution and Plant Infrastructure project, which has given the university about seven miles of chilled water cooling pipes for most Manhattan campus buildings. The university also has renovated the Chester C. Peters Recreation Complex, East and West WW1 Memorial Stadium to include the new Berney Family Welcome Center, many new Jardine Apartments, and built or renovated many K-State Athletic facilities.

In addition, several repair and rehabilitation projects are scheduled for fiscal year 2018. The projects include roof replacement and maintenance, repair to campus infrastructure, utility maintenance, fire code compliance, painting, stone replacement and repair, repairs and updates to general use classrooms, and building repairs on the Manhattan and Polytechnic campuses.

A Big Event for the Big Red One

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The stories of 100 1st Infantry Division Soldiers who retired in the Junction City area were in the spotlight at the Military Affairs Council Breakfast before a big audience at the Courtyard by Marriott Convention Center Thursday morning.

This project to tell the Soldier’s stories was undertaken by Junction City Mayor Phyllis Fitzgerald, herself a veteran of Desert Storm and the Big Red One. She cited the statistics for this project which showed 30 of the stories were about veterans of Vietnam, four who served in Korea, 31 Desert Storm. 59 in Iraq and 15 from the war in Afghanistan. Fitzgerald interviewed the veterans, wrote the stories and delivered a completed story to each veteran. She told the audience that all of the stories will go into historical records at the 1st Infantry Division Museum at Cantigny, Illinois and a copy will be sent to Fort Riley.

Fitzgerald was honored during the breakfast by being named an honorary lifetime member of the Big Red One and was also presented with a Quilt of Valor recognizing her for service. She received a standing ovation. Fitzgerald commented on the attendance at the breakfast by the veterans and seeing the project come together. “It was very overwhelming, very honorable and it made me feel really, really good. I think the feel of the audience is the same, that we were able to get as many of the veterans out of the 100 to attend, and  then our community leaders, our community business people, the military from Fort Riley, it was a very, very exciting time for everybody.”

Three veterans spoke during the event including Tim Echevarria who said he started his military career at Fort Riley in January of 1955, and later after two tours in Vietnam ended his career at Fort Riley. He stated, “I will always be a Big Red One Soldier.” Steve Milton told his story about being deployed to Ramadi, Iraq with the division, and Don Able noted no one else has as much pride in their unit as do the Big Red One Soldiers.

Each of the veterans attending received a copy of the book with the Soldier’s stories.

 

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