We have a brand new updated website! Click here to check it out!

Category: Local

St. Louis Couple, Edward Jones Contribute $2 Million Total to Sales Program at K-State

Posted on

 

MANHATTAN — Doug and Vicki Hill, St. Louis, Missouri, and financial services firm Edward Jones have collectively contributed $2 million to the National Strategic Selling Institute, or NSSI, in the College of Business Administration at Kansas State University.

The funds will be used to invest in faculty, enabling growth of the program.

“We want to contribute to the evolution of the National Strategic Selling Institute program into a full-fledged sales major,” said Doug Hill, Kansas State University alumnus and senior partner and former managing partner at Edward Jones. “Those who choose this major will be able to take the courses necessary to decide whether they want to pursue a career in sales. Through the institute, students get the opportunity to experience sales as a profession. Edward Jones hires a lot of individuals and provides extensive training before they begin building their practices. Students coming out of the NSSI program at K-State already have strong sales skills, which gives them a leg up on the competition and enables them to be more successful right out of college.”
“We are seeing incredible success in our students and their careers,” said Dawn Deeter, director of the National Strategic Selling Institute. “They all have jobs when they graduate, and they go on to be very successful in their careers. Research shows that students coming out of programs like the National Strategic Selling Institute tend to bring in revenues faster than their peers and stay in their first jobs longer, so there’s an advantage for everyone. Students are better prepared and they’re happier in their careers. Employers like Edward Jones are happy because their new hires are doing a good job serving clients and they tend to stay around.”
Kevin Gwinner, Edgerley family dean of the College of Business Administration, says these gifts are a smart investment in the future of industries relying on sales professionals.

 

“Knowledge of and experience in sales can be utilized in many different industries, from retail to agriculture to financial services,” Gwinner said. “There is always a need for people who are skilled in sales. Being able to grow our nationally recognized National Strategic Selling Institute program so more students have the opportunities to hone their strategic selling skills not only benefits K-State but also any industry that relies on sales people. I thank Doug and Vicki Hill and Edward Jones for supporting the National Strategic Selling Institute at K-State. It’s a far-reaching investment that will have a positive ripple effect.”
Philanthropic contributions to Kansas State University are coordinated by the Kansas State University Foundation. The foundation is leading Innovation and Inspiration: The Campaign for Kansas State University to raise $1.4 billion for student success, faculty development, facility enhancement and programmatic success.

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

Drones a Topic for Commissioners

Posted on

Commissioners from across Kansas learned about drones, and their use as they attend the Kansas County Commissioners Association convention in Junction City this week.

There are numerous topics being addressed but one focused on the legal standing and understanding drones.

Lisa Woody, Rawlins County Commissioner, pointed out farmers will be using them, “and what rights they have in our county as far as over their land, and over county land what parameters there are.”

Woody added drones could help in big snowstorms. ” Rather than risk our people’s lives, and we’re short on emergency help anyway. We could send drones out to see if there are any stranded motorists, or anybody missing.” She noted they could also be used to check on cattle without using human lives to handle that task.

Randall Allen, Secretary for the Association, noted the application of drones and the regulatory impact of drone technology were to be addressed. Another key topic to be covered included a report on the events in Hesston in February of 2016. A shooter shot and killed three people and wounded 14 in Newton and Hesston, Kansas including in and outside an industry building. The shooter was killed by a police officer.

Allen stated those in attendance were from 42 counties. The group included nearly 90 commissioners.

The convention began Wednesday and continues until noon on Friday.

 

New Filing for USD 475 Board of Education

Posted on

There  been new candidate filings for a seat on the Geary USD 475 Board of Education.

According to the Geary County Clerk’s Office Lawrence R. Young of rural Dwight filed for election to a regular, or four year term and Rina D. Neal of Junction City has filed for a regular term. The other candidates for four year terms include Sarah Talley, William Brooks and Sammy Harris. Current Board President LaDonna Junghans has filed for election to an unexpired term of approximately two years on the BOE.

The filing deadline is noon today ( Thursday ).

Westar and partners band Peregrine falcon chicks; ask the public to help name them

Posted on
Hadley Spreer, 6, had a front row seat to this morning’s peregrine falcon chick banding. Hadley watched as Brad Loveless, left, Westar Energy executive director of environmental services, and, John Arent, a volunteer with the University of Minnesota Raptor Center, completed the banding of two peregrine falcon chicks born on the rooftop of Westar’s Topeka headquarters earlier this year. Hadley’s parents, Megan and Aaron Spreer, both work at Westar Energy

PRESS RELEASE

Westar Energy is inviting the public to help name two peregrine falcon chicks born this spring as part of Westar’s falcon preservation efforts. This morning, Westar Energy employees and volunteers banded two male Peregrine falcon chicks, who were born earlier this spring in a nest atop Westar Energy’s headquarters in downtown Topeka, Kansas.  Brad Loveless, Westar Energy executive director of environmental services, was joined by John Arent, a volunteer with the University of Minnesota Raptor Center, to complete the banding.

Peregrine falcons are fitted with metal leg bands to provide researchers with valuable data on peregrine survival rates, dispersal distances, and population growth rates. The standard leg band for Peregrines is a silver metal band issued by the federal Bird Banding Lab. The band is inscribed with a unique 9-digit code that allows birds to be identified during future re-sightings or captures. To report seeing one of these bands, visit the ReportBand.gov website.

To view this morning’s banding, visit https://www.facebook.com/westarenergy.  To submit names for the falcons, add your suggestions to the company’s Facebook page post.

Brad Loveless, right, Westar Energy executive director of environmental services, and at left, John Arent, a volunteer with the University of Minnesota Raptor Center, begin the banding two peregrine falcon chicks born on the rooftop of Westar’s Topeka headquarters earlier this year

From a low of 39 nesting pairs of peregrine falcons in the U.S. in 1972, more than 1,000 pairs exist today. Westar has been an important part of this successful falcon recovery program. To learn more about Westar’s peregrine falcon conservation efforts, visit https://www.westarenergy.com/peregrine-falcons.

Additional background on Peregrine falcons can be found at: https://www.audubon.org/fieldguide/bird/peregrine-falcon

One of the world’s fastest birds; in power-diving from great heights to strike prey, the Peregrine may possibly reach 200 miles per hour. Regarded by falconers and biologists alike as one of the noblest and most spectacular of all birds of prey. Although it is found on six continents, the Peregrine is uncommon in most areas; it was seriously endangered in the mid-20th century because of the effects of DDT and other persistent pesticides.

Cans for KS Honor Flights fundraiser breakfast at American Legion Post 45

Posted on

The American Legion Post 45 will host a fundraiser breakfast benefitting Kansas Honor Flights on Saturday, June 3rd from 8:00 am until 11:00 am.

The menu includes biscuits and gravy, scrambled eggs, hash browns, sausage, orange juice and coffee for $7.

Warren Vincent will be in attendance to collect donated aluminum cans for the Cans 4 Kansas Honor Flights to send veterans from Kansas on a three day, two night trip to Washington, D.C. to visit the memorials.

The American Legion Post 45 is located at 201 E 4th Street in Junction City.

For questions call 238-2432.

Law Enforcement Torch Run

Posted on

It is expected that 1,175 officers from more than 97 agencies will carry the “Flame of Hope” throughout 52 counties in Kansas as they travel to the annual Kansas Special Olympics Summer Games in Maize, Kansas on June 2nd. The Law Enforcement Torch Run is a series of statewide runs which will travel approximately 1,312 miles throughout the state.

Locally, the Torch Run will be today ( Thursday ) and include the communities of Wamego to Manhattan to Fort Riley and ending in Junction City.

The Torch Run will start at the Wamego Sports Complex at 8 a.m. and then go to Manhattan and on southwest to Ogden, ending at the Fort Riley Gate.

The Torch will then be passed to Fort Riley officers at the Ogden Gate and travel Huebner Road to Grant Avenue in Junction City. It will stop at Grant Park in Junction City, and then be carried by Junction City Officers west on Grant Avenue, cross over Washington Street to Jefferson Street, south on Jefferson to 6th Street and stop at Heritage Park at 6th and Jefferson.

 

 

UPDATED: Filing deadline at NOON today

Posted on

UPDATE:

JC Post will reach out to all new candidate filings for a statement. Check back throughout the day for updates.

Also tune in to 1420 KJCK at 5:00 pm for interviews, as well as First News Coverage on air at 6:00 am, 7:00 am and 8:00 am tomorrow morning.

—

There will be an August 1st primary election for the Junction City Commission. Ten candidates have filed for election to three available seats.

The primary election will knock out four candidates and six will go on to the November general election.

—

The Geary County Clerk has informed JC Post of two new candidate filings this morning.

Rina Neal, Junction City, has filed for election a regular four year term on the USD 475 Board of Education.

Neal, a 1998 graduate of Junction City High school, said that she’s passionate about education and being an advocate for youth.

“I’m just a community servant, and I feel this is an important endeavor for me to give back to my community,” said Neal. “My goal [if elected] would be to engage more of the community and do some more education with the people in the community in terms of parents and staff and getting them more involved in terms of budgeting and being informed about the School Board meetings; and then advocating for the youth and providing opportunities for the youth in the community.”

Neal is married with two children and works in finance.

Lawrence R. Young, Dwight, has also filed for election to a regular four year term on the USD 475 Board of Education.

Stephanie Holloway has filed for the unexpired term on the USD 475 School Board challenging current Board President LaDonna Junghans.

David Walker has also filed to a regular four year term on the USD 475 School Board.

Nicholas Albritton has filed for the Junction City Commission; this brings the total to ten, which will require an August primary election in the City Commission race.

———

Thursday, June 1st has never been a more interesting day of the year.

The filing deadline for seats on the Junction City Commission and Geary USD 475 Board of Education are today – at noon.

There are three seats up for election in the City Commission, as Commissioners Mick McCallister, Jim Sands, and Mike Ryan have all decided not to seek re-election.

The candidates for City Commission as of May 31st include: (select each person’s name for more information)

If the candidate list reaches ten, there will be an August primary election ahead of the November general election.

In the Geary USD 475 Board of Education there are four seats up for grabs – three to a full four year term and one to an unexpired two year term.

LaDonna Junghans, current Board President, has filed for election to the unexpired two year term; William “Bill” Brooks, Sammy Harris, and Sarah Talley, all of Junction City, have filed for election to a full four year term.

Current Board member Carolyn Gaston announced that she would not seek re-election; Board member Brian Field has not yet indicated whether or not he will seek re-election.

Again, the filing deadline is noon TODAY.

Check with JC Post throughout the morning for updates, and an official look at the candidates after the noon deadline.

Also tune into 1420 KJCK for on-air updates.

Possible Upgrades to County Roads Under Review

Posted on

Three intersections on Old Highway 40 need some upgrades.

Ben Bennett, Geary County Commission Chairman, said that a study was undertaken by Kaw Valley Engineering on old Highway 40. The three intersections are west of Britt Road; they need new signage and there are additional concerns about the line of sight and safety at the intersections.

“That would be at Taylor Road, at Old Milford Road, and at Dickson Road – which are where all those roads intersect with Old 40.”

Bennett noted that the concerns at the intersections will be addressed.

Beson Named Sundown Salute Executive Director

Posted on

Junction City Area Chamber of Commerce CEO Dennis Beson is the new executive director of Sundown Salute.

Dennis Beson, Sundown Salute Executive Director

Beson recently began helping with sponsorships for the Fourth of July celebration,  and Wednesday was approved for the executive director’s position by the Sundown Salute Committee.

Calling Sundown Salute an iconic event for Junction City, Beson told JCPost.com he was very excited to help. He witnessed a Sundown Salute celebration for the first time in 2016. “It’s a great event, there’s a lot of great people, there’s been great people in the past, there’s been great people now. It is a team. Our president of the board, Nikki Londene, has done a fantastic job of recruiting some great acts at a reasonable price.”

One fact noted during the committee meeting on Wednesday, was that one segment of the concerts, the country music acts, have been receiving numerous shares and likes on Facebook.

The celebration will include concerts ranging from rock to country music. There will be numerous other events ranging from performances by the Old Abilene Town Gunfighters to a parade and the Ottaway Amusements carnival will be in operation for five days, June 30th through July 4th.

Copyright Eagle Radio | FCC Public Files | EEO Public File