Planning time, professional development and retention of quality teachers are among many items receiving discussion in Geary USD 475 teacher contract talks.

It’s early in the interest based bargaining process.

Board of Education member Brian Field, who is a member of the bargaining team, said it’s important to have professional development for the teachers. “Especially since we’ve gone to the one-to-one technology. We need to make sure that they’re up to date on all the technology. ” Field pointed to not only computers, but the smart board technology being used in the classroom. “I think it’s important that they’re kept up to date on all of those useful tools that they have in the classroom, and it’s important they know how to use so we can convey what we need to the students.”

JCEA negotiating team member Pam Rickard said topics receiving attention during problem solving discussions Tuesday during negotiations included implementation of surveys to the teachers at both the beginning and end of the school year to learn their needs and plan accordingly. “We also looked at having HR and JCEA review and revise exit surveys” The results of those exit surveys would also be administered to JCEA.

Rickard also noted they also looked at having HR and JCEA review and recommend revisions to current mentor programs in the district. There was some general consensus reached by negotiators on those topics, but no final agreement has been approved. Typically contract talks continue into the late spring.

The next IBP session is scheduled April 21st at the Devin Center.

The number of controlled burns in Geary County on Tuesday totaled 78.

That information was provided by Rural Fire Chief Garry Berges, up from an earlier number of 60 fires. Berges said there were plans to burn 39,232 acres in the county on Tuesday. There was no major damage or injuries.

The Junction City Breakfast Optimist Club will have a fundraiser at Ike’s Place on Goldenbelt Boulevard in Junction City on Saturday ( April 15 ). The Club will receive a portion of the cost of each meal purchased between 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. and then again from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Donations are welcomed to support youth activities in Geary County. Some of those include the JCHS Blue Jay Band, the Fort Riley Special Needs Rodeo, I.C.A.R.E., Girl and Boy Scouts, Geary County Girls Softball Association, Court Appointed Special Advocates and other youth organizations.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) and U.S. Representative Roger Marshall (R-KS-01) recently introduced congressional resolutions (S. Res. 115 and H. Res. 267) to formally recognize the 100th anniversary of the First Infantry Division – officially nicknamed “The Big Red One” – based at Fort Riley, Kan.

“Americans are forever indebted to the brave soldiers of the Big Red One to whom our nation owes so much,”said Sen. Moran. “Since delivering the first Allied victory of World War I, the Fighting First has led the way on battlefields around the world. Kansans are proud to claim the First Infantry Division as their own and this anniversary is an occasion to pay tribute to the more than 13,000 soldiers who lost their lives in battle over the last century. To the fallen – and to the men and women of the Big Red One who uphold their legacy today – thank you and God bless you.”

“Since 1917 in World War I, the Big Red One has led our fighting forces and protected our nation from threats around the world,” said Sen. Roberts. “I am proud to introduce this resolution to recognize the valiant efforts of these men and women in uniform over the past 100 years and honor the lives of the 13,000 soldiers of the 1st Infantry Division who have made the ultimate sacrifice during their service to our nation. It is an honor to represent Ft. Riley and the 1st Infantry Division, and we are forever grateful for the service of the Big Red One.”

“On this upcoming anniversary, we honor and admire the tradition of leadership from the First Infantry Division,” said Rep. Marshall. “For 100 years, the Big Red One has led the way in combat, and have been an integral part of maintaining the freedoms we enjoy today. We also recognize the more than 13,000 soldiers of the Big Red One who have given their lives in the service of their country. One of the greatest honors of my job is to represent the Big Red One at Fort Riley, and we work to honor them today and every day.”

The oldest continuously serving unit of the U.S. Army, the Big Red One has led and supported our fighting forces in conflicts around the globe since World War I. Since its organization on June 8, 1917, the division’s efforts have made the difference for our armed forces as they fought bravely to protect our nation from threats, global and domestic. Those in the Big Red One who gave their lives for our freedoms are memorialized at monuments throughout the United States and Europe, including Normandy, France, overlooking Omaha Beach and sites in Belgium and the Czech Republic. You can find the full text of the Senate resolution here and the House resolution here.

The ribbon cutting and grand opening of the new Lieutenant General Richard J. Seitz VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic is Friday at 1:30 p.m.

The Director of the Veterans Administration Eastern Kansas Health Care System, Rudy Klopfer, along Senator Jerry Moran, 1st Infantry Division Deputy Commander Brig. Gen. Patrick Frank, and members of the Seitz family will be in attendance for the ceremony. The facility is named after the late Lieutenant General Richard J. Seitz.

Also in attendance will be the Director of the Veterans Integrated Service Network Dr. William Patterson, as well as various service organization, state, military and local community leaders.

The clinic, which broke ground last June, is a near 10-thousand square foot medical facility offering increased staff and specialty care to a higher level of health care for veterans close to home, while improving the coordination of care and customer satisfaction for veterans and their family members within this geographic region.

The new VA Clinic is located at 1169 Southwind Drive just south of Ash Street at US 77 in Junction City.

Smoke filled the sky in Geary County on Tuesday. The reason….controlled burns of grasslands.

According to Geary County Rural Fire Chief Garry Berges there were 60 burns on Tuesday ranging from 10 acres to one 10,000 acre burn on the Moyer Ranch in the southeast part of the county.

Only two burns required attention from firefighters. One on Reynolds Road west of Milford Lake burned approximately 10 acres of grassland. Another small one occurred on Burley Hill where authorities kept an eye on the fire and did some back burning to prevent it from reaching a pair of houses.

No one was injured, and there was no structure damage.

April 11, 2017 – Flint Hills Regional Council (FHRC) is hosting a public workshop for the Flint Hills / Fort Riley Joint Land Use Study (JLUS). The workshop will be held on May 4, 2017 at 7:00 p.m. at the following location: Grandview Plaza City Hall, 402 State Street, Grandview Plaza, Kansas 66441.

The meeting will consist of a presentation and discussion to provide the community with a project update and review the current study findings. After the presentation, the JLUS team will be available for questions from the community.

The community plays a crucial role in the drafting of the study. Community input provides varying perspectives and differing opinions to ensure that the plan is well rounded and encompassing of the community. Bookmark the website and Facebook page to keep up to date with the latest news! www.fortrileyjlus.com or www.facebook.com/fortrileyjlus.

The FHRC in cooperation with Fort Riley, local jurisdictions, state and federal agencies and organizations, is preparing a JLUS to address the primary military operations conducted within the region. The JLUS is intended to strengthen the relationship between the military installation and the civilian community by examining the issues associated with the growth and development of the communities in proximity to fort operations. The final report will propose recommendations that will provide for these communities to continue to thrive within the Flint Hills Region while maintaining the mission of the Fort.