Junction City Police Chief Dan Breci will wrap up a three-year stint as the leader of the JCPD when he retires on Sept. 20. He has worked in law enforcement for 46 years including nearly 20 years with the Junction City Police Department.

Breci feels it’s time step down. “I just turned 65 and it’s time to go and enjoy life. ”

Breci said he plans to travel and visit with family. He called the last three years in the police chief role challenging and rewarding. “It was something that I always wanted to do. I always envisioned myself one day as being a chief of police. I have had a great time dealing with the public in this city.”

City Manager Allen Dinkel said the position is being advertised. A nationwide search is being conducted and some applications have already been received. Dinkel added application review will begin on Sept. 3, and sometime during the next month he will make a decision on an interim chief.

By Dewey Terrill

JC Post

Former Under Secretary of the Army Patrick Murphy touched on a variety of topics during a speech to a Military Affairs breakfast audience in Junction City on Tuesday.

Murphy said the U.S. has the number one military and number one economy in the nation, and there is a drive to create and build new things. “We need to make sure that we are understanding in this global economy that we’re competing not just in business but with education to create this next generation of leaders.”

Murphy served two overseas combat deployments, including one in Bosnia in 2002 an another in Iraq in 2003. He became the first Iraq war veteran elected to Congress, representing Pennsylvania beginning in 2007. He authored several groundbreaking pieces of legislation into law including the 21st Century GI Bill and the raising of the federal minimum wage.

He pointed to small business development in the past by veterans. There is a wide gap in the percentage of businesses. “When we had 16-million veterans in World War II half of them came back and started their own small business. ” He also noted that in his generation of Iraq – Afghanistan veterans less than five percent begin their own small business.

During his time as Acting Secretary, Murphy initiated opening up more than 2,500 AAFES retail stores for the first-ever tax-free online shopping which has increased sales to more than $6.7 billion.

In the private sector Murphy  co-founded WorkMerk in 2018, a business-to-business tech company focused on employee engagement and wearable technology. Formerly with the Philadelphia Sixers, Eagles and Phillies, Murphy has consulted for the CEOs of CrossFit, Spartan Race and other national platforms committed to mental resiliency, physical performance and elite talent.

By Dewey Terrill

JC Post

Members of PlayJC.org informed the Geary County Commission Monday about their desire to spend the next six months working to transition into new programs including inviting outside participants to visit the Junction City area for tournaments.

They asked the commission for $7,860 to continue to pay the salary of their one employee, build on what they have in place, and to host new tournaments that attract visitors to the region. PlayJC.org has worked to establish a website where there is central information focusing on youth sports in the region, and where you can volunteer.

Committee spokesman Kendall Schoenrock said they’re focused on trying to provide new assumptions on tournaments and other activities going into the winter and spring of next year. “The specific request is to help us prove the assumptions that we have about the next steps with this group. ” Schoenrock added that they are seeking some county assistance. “Maybe the next conversation is for us to go and pass the hat and see what other community funds are out there. We’re seeing a lot of good traction with PlayJC and we’re excited to see where this goes.”

Terrah Stroda with PlayJC.org wants to see tournaments in Junction City. ” I want more people coming to Junction City, eating here, staying here, enjoying our new playground and looking at this town as potential, not only  just for a weekend but perhaps even longer than that.”

The county commission was supportive of the funding request but took no final action. They directed PlayJC.org to speak with the convention and visitor’s bureau, who could make a recommendation to the governing body.  Commission Chairman Charles Stimatze said the county will see what they can come up with. “We’ll see what’s out there and see what we can do.”

The elected officials noted that there is some funding in the county’s Parks and Recreation budget and there is money available in a one cent transient guest tax fund that could possibly be used for special projects.

Schoenrock noted a lot of local youth are going out of town mostly due to availability and not necessarily due to better coaching. PlayJC.org wants the activities to be in Junction City, and there have been people approaching them about holding tournaments. He noted a request for $10,000 to $15,000 could go to the City late this year, assuming PlayJC.org hits all of their other milestones. Their intent is to collaborate with Junction City Parks and Recreation.

Stimatze noted that it will be important to make different entities understand that PlayJC.org doesn’t want to take over, but just wants to help. Schoenrock also noted that they are not attempting to change leagues, while Stroda pointed to a desire for a private – public sector collaboration.

PlayJC.org is connected to the Quality Play for All Committee that is working to upgrade the 5th Street Playground Park.