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Brigade marks 100 years as it returns to Kansas from Korea

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photos courtesy 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division-facebook

FORT RILEY, Kan. (AP) — Members of America’s first brigade are returning to Fort Riley this month as the brigade celebrates its 100th birthday.

About 200 soldiers in the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, based at Fort Riley returned to the fort Saturday night. The rest of the 3,700 will return during the next few months.

The brigade was organized in May 1917 and has participated in nearly every campaign since World War I. Its nickname is the Devil Brigade.

The brigade is beginning to return from its current mission in South Korea.

Sundown Salute 2017 to thrill with musical entertainment

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The musical lineup for Sundown Salute 2017 has been announced with far more acts than originally anticipated.

The reorganized Sundown Salute Committee has been hard at work addressing an inherited $30,000 debt while trying to maintain the integrity of the annual celebration.

Dennis Beson, Chamber of Commerce CEO, formally endorsed Sundown Salute earlier this year and has been hard at work helping the committee bring the festival to life.

“If things go like they’re supposed to go, when people come out and attend the events and we avoid rain, then not only should we be able to break even, but we’ll also be able to pay off a lot of the debt that we were given when we started this project,” said Beson.

Debt has been the dark cloud hanging over the event for months, but the reorganized committee has made conscious efforts to be financially responsible.

“A big part of the reason that I wanted to come and help is that they had a lot of good things going; they were very economical with [musical] acts,” said Beson.

June 30th is the first day of Sundown Salute with DJs and dance party music, Quiet Riot headlines on Saturday, country music on Sunday, heavy metal on Monday, and patriotic themed music on the Fourth of July.

“I think we have a really wide spoke, wide variety of genres.”

Over fifteen musical acts are scheduled for the five day celebration, with twelve featured artists/groups; how did they manage to do so much, with less?

“I think what you probably won’t see this year that maybe you’ve seen in the past are some of the during the day type events where maybe we had BMX bikes, or maybe there was a magician,” said Beson. “I think the focus this year is much more on music – so that’s where I think we’ve cut a lot; we’ve just been good stewards of the money that people are sponsoring.”

Aside from the small daytime acts, Sundown Salute 2017 won’t cut corners when it comes to community favorites. The Ottaway Amusements Carnival will still provide games and rides for all five days, and the fireworks show is expected to be much more efficient than in past years.

Featured lineups for the June 30th through July 4th celebration include:

  • Friday, June 30th: 5:00 pm – DJ Dmoe, 6:45 pm – DJ Supa Dave, 8:30 pm – Mike Scott
  • Saturday, July 1st: 6:00 pm – Madman’s Diary, 7:30 pm- The Banned, 9:00 pm – Quiet Riot
  • Sunday, July 2nd: 6:00 pm – Adam Capps, 7:30 pm – Matt Mason, 9:00 pm – Tate Stevens
  • Monday, July 3rd: 6:00 pm – Brassknuckle Boulevard, 7:30 pm – Waffle Stomp, 9:00 pm – Season’s After
  • Tuesday, July 4th: 7:30 pm – 1st Infantry Division Rock Band, 9:00 pm – 1st Infantry Division Band

The annual car show will be on Saturday, July 1st at 8:00 am, and the Abilene gunfighters will perform three shows on Saturday. The fireworks show is scheduled for Tuesday, July 4th at 10:15 pm (or at dark).

Sponsors are still needed for Sundown Salute; for more information call 785-414-8611 or email sundownsalutejc@gmail.com.

 

County Commission Chairman Says the aTa Bus Numbers are There

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ATA Bus is asking for $260,000 in funding for 2018 from Geary County, the same total funded by the County this year.

Ben Bennett, Geary County Commission Chairman, released the information, and he also had a message. “For those who are disbelievers I asked her ( Anne Smith ) what’s going on with the aTa financing,and the numbers that she has just presented. Those numbers are authentic and they are audited, and she will stand behind those numbers because she has to sign off to certify federal and state KDOT requirements.”

Bennett said he’s hearing from a lot of people who report that they follow the buses as they travel around and they’re empty. “And she says yes that is true, but the numbers she has presented to us are real. So people are riding the bus. There are some adjustments that will be made after the fiscal year.” The commissioner added that is a federal fiscal year and not a calendar year. Anne Smith serves as the director of aTa Bus.

According to numbers provided at the weekly Geary County Commission meeting there were 12,606 fixed route rides in Junction City and 5,479 demand response rides provided in Geary County by ATA Bus in fiscal year 2017, which ran from July 1, 2016 until April 30, 2017.

The commission has not taken any final action on the budget funding request.

Kansas woman dies in 3-vehicle Dickinson Co. crash

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DICKINSON COUNTY- A Kansas woman died in an accident just before 7p.m. Tuesday in Dickinson County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2004 Infinity QX driven by Ron R. Larsen II, 32, Enid, OK., was southbound on U.S. 77.

The driver failed to stop at the stop sign at U.S. 56 and collided with a westbound 2001 Buick Century driven by Ellen F. Granzow, 54, Herington, that was just entering the intersection.

The collision caused the Buick to enter a private yard.

The Infinity continued southbound and collided head-on with a 2011 Nissan Murano driven by Lori L. Fruechting, 55. Marion, which was stopped at a stop sign.

Granzow and Larsen were transported to the hospital in Herrington where she died.

Fruechting was not injured. She was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

Kansas weekly gas price increase among nation’s largest, but state still enjoys 11th least expensive gas in America

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May 30, 2017 – As the busy summer driving season kicked off with last weekend’s Memorial Day holiday, Kansas experienced the 7th largest increase in gas prices in the United States over the past week, with average pump prices rising 4 cents to $2.21 per gallon (See attached graphic). However, Kansas drivers are still experiencing the 11th lowest gas prices in the nation.
Despite the average gas price increase over the past week in Kansas, many of the regularly reported cities in the state (See chart below) are enjoying lower gas prices than a month ago, the exceptions being Manhattan and Wichita. All are showing prices that are flat or showing only single digit percentage increases from this time a year ago.
This week’s Kansas cities with the state’s gas price extremes are:
HIGH: Wilson – $2.50
LOW: Galena – $2.00
National Summary
Today’s national average is $2.37 – one cent more than a week ago, two cents more than a month ago and five cents more than a year ago. Rising gasoline demand has resulted in dropping gasoline inventories across the country, according to the latest Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) report. Last week, U.S. demand for gasoline jumped 252,000 b/d to 9.7 million b/d, the highest level this year, while gasoline inventories dropped by 800,000 barrels (bbl). If the trend continues, consumers can expect to see summer gasoline prices potentially return to the high prices seen in April, when the national average for a gallon of gasoline was $2.42.
Great Lakes and Central States Region Summary
The region continues to see the most volatility of any market in the country. Prices dropped by as much as seven cents in some states while increasing by four cents in others. Despite seeing increases ahead of Memorial Day weekend, Ohio (-7 cents), Indiana (-6 cents), Michigan (-6 cents) and Kentucky (-3 cents) are all posting cheaper gas prices than a week ago, while Missouri (+5 cents), Kansas (+4 cents), Iowa (+4 cents), Wisconsin (+4 cents), Minnesota (+3 cents) and Nebraska (+2 cents) all saw prices increase on the week.
Gas Price Trends in Select Kansas Cities
Today
Last Week
Last Month
Last
Year
Change Over Last Year
National
$2.37
$2.36
$2.39
$2.32
2%
Kansas
$2.21
$2.17
$2.23
$2.16
2%
Emporia
$2.16
$2.16
$2.20
$2.11
2%
Garden City
$2.11
$2.16
$2.27
$2.11
0%
Hays
$2.21
$2.25
$2.32
$2.14
3%
KCK
$2.24
$2.17
$2.27
$2.24
0%
Lawrence
$2.27
$2.16
$2.30
$2.26
0%
Manhattan
$2.18
$2.22
$2.14
$2.17
0%
Pittsburg
$2.11
$2.11
$2.15
$2.09
1%
Salina
$2.19
$2.17
$2.21
$2.10
4%
Topeka
$2.16
$2.17
$2.26
$2.09
3%
Wichita
$2.23
$2.13
$2.21
$2.16
3%
Bordering states and rank in lowest gas prices around the country
State
Current Avg.
Rank Today
Last Week
Oklahoma
$2.12
5
6
Missouri
$2.15
8
7
Kansas
$2.21
11
10
Colorado
$2.37
21
24
Nebraska
$2.31
23
16
Motorists can find current gas prices along their route with the free AAA Mobile app for iPhone, iPad and Android. The app can also be used to map a route, find discounts, book a hotel and access AAA roadside assistance. Learn more at AAA.com/mobile.
AAA provides automotive, travel and insurance services to 56 million members nationwide and 331,566 members in Kansas.  AAA advocates for the safety and mobility of its members and has been committed to outstanding road service for more than 100 years.  The not-for-profit, fully tax-paying member organization works on behalf of motorists, who can now map a route, find local gas prices, discover discounts, book a hotel and track their roadside assistance service with the AAA Mobile app for iPhone, iPad and Android.  For more information, visit www.aaa.com.

Brigadier General Frank to move to Fort Knox for next duty assignment

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Brig. Gen. Patrick Frank, Mayor Phyllis Fitzgerald

The chief of staff of the Army announced assignments of general officers today which included the Acting Senior Commander of Fort Riley and the 1st Infantry Division Brigadier General Frank.

Frank, Deputy Commanding General of Fort Riley and 1st Infantry Division became the Acting Senior Commander upon the deployment of Major General Martin to Iraq in 2016.

Frank has been reassigned as the Deputy Commanding General of the Army Cadet Command in Fort Knox, Kentucky.

There is no official confirmation on when Frank will depart Fort Riley.

Coach’s Grill and Bar Up for Possible Sale

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Coach’s Grill and Bar at 720 Caroline in Junction City is on the market.

Adam Wilkey and Chris McCurdy are the owner operators.

JCPost.com talked with Wilkey who said they are introducing the idea of putting the business on the market. “This has been our 18th year that we’re working on now, getting ready to turn. Been a blessing, real excited, can see if there’s an opportunity out there to move on or put somebody else in this position. We’re just excited about what we’ve done here.” He confirmed the business is healthy, and has a new menu and website.

Wilkey stressed in the meantime Coach’s Grill and Bar will continue to operate, and at this point they have not been approached by anyone interested in buying the business. He also confirmed he has no plans to leave Junction City, even if the business sells.

 

 

 

Milford Lake Outflow Decreased

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The Corps of Engineers decreased the outflow from Milford Lake down to 2,000 cubic feet per second on Tuesday.

The Corps reported that the decrease is due to the Waverly gauge downstream on the Missouri River being high or above criteria. Tuttle Creek Lake and Perry Lake also reduced outflows.

Officials hope to increase outflows near the weekend or when downstream conditions allow.

The West Rolling Hills boat ramp will be closed Wednesday and the Farnum Creek boat ramp will be closed most of Thursday due to chip and seal of roadways and parking lots. The Corps plans to reopen the boat ramps as soon as possible.

12th Street Community Center Courts to Reopen

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The basketball courts at the 12th Street Community Center will reopen for use on June 9th.

The Director of the Junction City Recreation Department, Donna Swihart, said the courts were refinished, sanded down all the way to bare wood. “Generally speaking after about 15 years they recommend that they take them all the way down, and it was close to 20. So we hired a great group and they came in and took it down to the bare wood, restriped it, repainted it, refinished it and they look fantastic.” The Lankford Company did the work.

In the past the courts had Jayhawk and Wildcat logos in the middle, but that was not included with the new project. Swihart noted the cost of registered trademarks was a little bit high.

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