Grant funds received by the Flint Hills Regional Council (FHRC) could be utilized to help with the development of the Kansas African American Historical Trail.

Junction City has two locations targeted for that trail – the Buffalo Soldier Monument, and Rathert Field.

Jim Sands, FHRC, spoke with JC Post about the potential use of $25,000 in grant funding.

“They want to make it interactive with Kansas tourism,” said Sands. “Twenty five thousand ($25,000) doesn’t sound like a lot, but if we get a good portion of that we can improve visitation and get ‘heads in beds’ in our own area.”

‘Heads in beds’ refers to creating overnight stays in local hotels.

The trail includes various locations across the state including Nicodemus, Minneapolis and Dunlap, among others.

The FHRC met on June 16th in Alma.

Earlier this year, the Geary County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau (CVB) voted to recommend the approval of a $3000 expenditure to help pay for the installation of two signs for the historical trail’s stops in Junction City.

“Initially, out of the 14 or 15 points in Kansas, we were going to get one sign…[now] we’re going to get two signs; we have a lot more than that [as far as] historical sites in our city, but at least we’re on the map for the Kansas African American Historical Trail,” said Sands. “We’ll get people in [town] and once we get them in they’ll see the rest of it with our city efforts.”

GEARY COUNTY- One person was injured in an accident just before 6p.m. Saturday in Geary County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee driven by Natalie A. Blair, 32, Shawnee, was eastbound on Interstate 70 seven miles east of Chapman in the right lane.

The vehicle began drifting to the right off of the roadway and through the ditch.

It traveled between the bridge pillar and the embankment and rolled several times before coming to rest on the passenger side in the south ditch.

Blair was transported to the Geary Community Hospital. She was properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

A severe thunderstorm cell developed in Dickinson County and moved east through southern Geary and northern Morris into Wabaunsee County Saturday evening.

In Geary County the Emergency Management Director, Garry Berges reported there were small tree branches knocked down by the storm and some gravel washed out onto a road leading to the Geary State Lake. The storm moved quickly east at about 30 mph.

Three different severe thunderstorm warnings were issued before the storm moved out of the Geary – Morris County area.

A severe thunderstorm watch was put into effect for numerous counties until two a.m. In the east central Kansas region they included Geary, Dickinson, Riley, Pottawatomie, Morris, Saline, Marion and Wabaunsee counties.

With the very warm temperatures forecast for the weekend and heat indexes expected to be well over 100 degrees – it’s the perfect opportunity to cool off at the City pool.

Assistant Manager Erica Howard said that this Summer season has been off to a good start with attendance numbers higher than the first few weeks of the season in 2016.

Howard said that even though there will be a lot of people cooling off at the pool this weekend, she will be keep an eye on the lifeguards and staff as well.

“We have them take a break after every hour when it’s so hot, and we make sure they drink a lot of water.”

There is also a concession stand for pool attendees.

The City pool is open daily from 1:00 pm to 7:00 pm.