Local – Page 637

Smoky Hill River Festival Road Trip to Salina

Posted on April 4, 2017April 4, 2017

June 8th through June 11th are the dates for the 41st annual Smoky Hill River Festival in Salina.

Executive Director Brad Anderson estimated the festival draws anywhere from 60,000 to 85,000 people to that central Kansas City. The event features concerts on four stages, kids creative area, art displays and sales , and numerous festival items.

Anderson noted admission buttons go on sale on May 1st. “A $10 admission button for an advanced price gets somebody in for all four days.” He also added, “You get four stages of entertainment, 130 exhibiting artists, a huge free activity area for kids and access to a beautiful park. You can even bring your own cooler. ” The cost of the buttons at the gate in Salina’s Oaklawn Park during the festival will be $15. The advance buttons go on sale in multiple locations and cities including Dillons stores in Junction City and Manhattan.

Among the groups providing entertainment are the Melbourne, Australia band Jakubi on Friday night, June 9th. They offer a combination of guitars, hip-hop beats and sailing synth rhythms. Also. the Delta Saints from Nashville, Tennessee will perform on Saturday night, June 10th at 8:30 p.m. Their music is steeped in rock’n roll’s buildings blocks — country, rhythm & blues, soul and gospel.

Other performing groups will range from the Brady Weston Band to Parsonsfield plus Ciera Mackenzie and her band.

There will be art for sale ranging from weaving, basket making and clay sculptors to sandpaper art and fancy butterflies. Magic sculptures, one of a kind buttons, card scratch art, spray bottle painting are also part of the lineup.

Artyopolis is the children’s area with activities ranging from LegoLand and Game Street to children’s entertainment on stage.

New food at the festival this year will include Buffalo Burgers, Salmon Tacos, Fresh Fruit Skewers drizzled in chocolate, Mango Coconut Sticky Rice, Red Veggie Curry, and the Sloppy Joe Slider. Other food and drink products will stretch from Cajun Chicken on a Stick and Donuts by the Dozen to Dippin’ Dots Ice Cream and Homemade Root Beer, plus Bierocks and a Ribeye Steak Sandwich.

This year’s festival t-shirt features an original “mandala” inspired design created by Festival artist Angie Pickman. The design was created using symbols that represent every aspect of the Festival. Donors contributing $100 or more to the Festival receive an original fine art print.

Coach Bill Snyder completes cancer treatment, returns to work

Posted on April 4, 2017April 4, 2017

Snyder on the big screen monitor during last month’s Big 12 Basketball tournament-photo courtesy Sprint Center

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Bill Snyder doesn’t spend as much time in the office these days, and it gnaws at him just as much as an overthrown pass, missed tackle or blown blocking assignment.

The longtime Kansas State coach with the infamous work ethic has been limited the past few weeks by treatments for throat cancer — or more specifically, the side effects from the treatment. The diagnosis came shortly before the Wildcats’ bowl game and the chemotherapy regimen began earlier this year. Snyder recently went through the final round of treatment.

Still, it hasn’t kept the 77-year-old away from the Wildcats as they begin preparing for the season. He’s been on the field the first four spring practices, meticulously dissecting each of them, just as he has been for nearly three decades.

JCHS Chamber Choir to perform in NYC Lincoln Center

Posted on April 4, 2017April 4, 2017

The Junction City High School Chamber Choir has been selected to perform in New York City at the Lincoln Center of Performing Arts with guest Conductor Eric Whitaker.

The Lincoln Center is where the Metropolitan Opera sings.

Michael Brown, JCHS Choir Director, said that being selected is quite an honor. “Eric Whitaker is probably the most famous American choral composer currently, and he’s written over 35 works and has received Grammy awards and is also the creator of the virtual choir that you can see on Youtube.”

Ironically, it was one of Brown’s former students that suggested the current students audition for the experience.

“One of my past students actually said ‘Michael Brown, we need to audition for this’ and I saw a link from a company – DCINY – that is bringing Eric Whitaker in, and you had to fill out information and submit an audition” said Brown. “They initially closed the auditions because they had so many applicants go in and then you had to set up an appointment; and I set up an appointment to submit [an audition] and we used our state KMEA performance that we had from February…and we received a letter that we were accepted to perform.”

The trip to the Big Apple will be April 2018 and will also include a performance on the New York Philharmonic Stage.

Approximately 25 to 30 students will participate in the trip as well as five to seven chaperones. The cost is $1700 per person; fundraising efforts will begin in the near future for the trip.

National Weather Service Issues Flood Watch

Posted on April 4, 2017

The National Weather Service in Topeka has issued a Flood Watch for portions of east central Kansas, north central Kansas, and northeast Kansas, including the following counties: Dickinson, Anderson, Coffey, Douglas, Franklin, Geary, Lyon, Morris, Osage, Shawnee, and Wabaunsee, Clay, Brown, Jackson, Jefferson, Marshall, Nemaha, Pottawatomie, and Riley.

This Flood Watch is in effect from 7 PM CDT this evening through Wednesday afternoon.

Recent rainfall has caused the ground to become saturated and the rainfall forecast for tonight and Wednesday morning is likely to run directly off into area streams and rivers. This could lead to flooding on rivers and streams.

Minor flooding of the flood plain along the rivers is the most likely impact. There could also be some moderate flooding on a small scale depending on where the heaviest rain falls. Moderate flooding could potentially close area roads.

A Flood Watch means there is a potential for flooding based on current forecasts.

Check with JC Post and 1420 KJCK throughout the day for updates and be alert for possible Flood Warnings. Those living in areas prone to flooding should be prepared to take action should flooding develop.

Sheriff’s Department purchases new warehouse for asset forfeiture vehicles, evidence

Posted on April 4, 2017April 4, 2017

Asset forfeiture is a process used at the local, state, national and international level where law enforcement can seize and take ownership of property used in the commission of a crime.

(For more information, visit the Kansas Legislative Research Department.)

In Geary County, the collection of asset forfeiture items by law enforcement continues to grow. The Sheriff’s Department has confirmed the purchase of a new warehouse to house asset forfeiture vehicles and evidence.

According to Geary County Sheriff Tony Wolf, this is the second warehouse purchased by the Department for the purpose of housing asset forfeiture evidence.

“I have one small [warehouse] that is over on 10th Street and I knew when we bought it we were going to outgrow it very quickly, and we did; at that time [when it was acquired] I had a lot of vehicles, Junction City’s warehouse was full, we had nowhere else to go with the vehicles we were storing, and I needed something and needed something fast,” explained Wolf. “It suited our needs [at that time], and it still suits our needs; but [the new one] is a lot bigger and a lot better for what we need here.”

The newly purchased warehouse is in the 300 block of East 7th Street, and was purchased from Gail Cynova.

“We did some bargaining with the owner [of the warehouse], and I purchased the building for $235,000 out of drug forfeiture money,” said Wolf. “This is not taxpayer money…this has no effect on taxes, or budgets or anything like that – this comes out of the asset forfeiture funds.”

Asset forfeiture vehicles and evidence are seized from arrests and following convictions. At the completion of the court cases, the seized vehicles can then be sold with the monies received going into a special fund. The money in the special fund can only be used for one-time capital purchases – not for regular business operations.

Pianist Gary Kirkpatrick, Sunday at the C.L. Hoover Opera House

Posted on April 4, 2017April 3, 2017

Pianist Gary Kirkpatrick will be at the C.L. Hoover Opera House in Junction City, on Sunday, April 9th.

Hailed as “a great teacher as well as a great performer”, internationally acclaimed pianist and Junction City native Gary Kirkpatrick is recognized throughout the world as one of America’s foremost soloists, chamber musicians and teachers.

This show is sponsored by Junction City High School classes of 1958, 1959 and 1960.

Tickets are $18 for adults, $15 for military and seniors, and $5 for students 18 and under.

For tickets call the Box Office at 238-3906 or click here to purchase online.

Police Arrest Two on I-70

Posted on April 4, 2017

The Junction City Police Department has reported the arrest of two Illinois residents on Interstate 70 on drug related allegations. The arrests occurred Monday near mile marker 309 eastbound I-70 about 10 miles east of Junction City.

The JCPD reported that William Robert Leach, 37, was arrested on suspicion of Possession With Intent to Distribute, No Tax Stamp, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Speeding, Unsafe Lane Change and Obstructed Tag, Ivan James Kochopolous, 41, was arrested on suspicion of Possession With Intent to Distribute, No Tax Stamp and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Easter Brunch Buffet and Egg Hunt

Posted on April 4, 2017April 3, 2017

There will be an Easter brunch buffet and egg hunt on Sunday, April 9th at the Courtyard by Marriott in Junction City.

The event will be from 9:00 am until 1:00 pm on Sunday. The brunch buffet for adults is $11.95 and children ages 3 to 12 are $8.95.

Children 12 and under are welcome to participate in the Easter egg hunt.

Board of Education Formally Delays School Bond Election

Posted on April 4, 2017April 3, 2017

Front entrance to current Junction City High School building.

The Geary USD 475 Board of Education has approved a motion to delay the bond issue election on a proposed new Junction City High School project until further notice. The election had originally been scheduled for May 9th, but the late arrival of heavy federal impact funding for the project has led to a decision to delay the election, which is necessary to try and secure voter approval so state aid can be received to help pay for a new facility.

No new date has been set for the election, but the Board was informed the approximate $12 million federal payment is expected in the May or June time frame.

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Corbin Witt told the Board of Education he didn’t want the project to go to the polls without the impact aid money in the bank, and when that payment is received the Board can then set an election date and move forward.

If voters approve the bond issue, then USD 475 qualifies for state aid that would cover 48% of the cost of the project. The federal heavy impact aid money received by the district would finance the remainder. There would be no increase in the local property tax levy.

On a related note Monday evening, Witt also reported that the district has received a commitment letter from the state ensuring that the state aid is good even if there is a delay in the election.

Register for 4-H Camp Today!

Posted on April 4, 2017April 3, 2017

Are you looking for something fun for your kids to do this summer; look no further than Geary County 4-H.

4-H Camp is open to youth in grades 2 to 7. Registration is now open.

This annual event will be held June 4-7 at Rock Springs 4-H Center. Rock Springs is located 12 miles southwest of Junction City.

Campers will join other youth from Geary, Dickinson, Riley, Pottawatomie, and Wabaunsee counties.

Swimming, archery, horseback riding, crafts, and canoeing are just a few of the many opportunities waiting for youth at the camp.

The cost is $225 with registration due by May 10. You do not have to be a 4-H member to sign up for camp!

Contact the Geary County K-State Research & Extension Office at 238-4161, check out https://www.geary.k-state.edu/4-h/ or visit the Extension office at 119 E. 9th Street in Junction City for more information.