HAYS, Kan. — Local students are among the 765 students who completed associate, bachelor’s or graduate degrees at Fort Hays State University in the fall 2016 semester.

Degrees are listed with majors and, in parentheses, areas of concentration. The graduates include 186 graduate degrees (master’s and education specialists) and 765 undergraduate degrees.

FHSU does not release degree lists until transcripts have been verified as having met all requirements for graduation.

Graduates are arranged alphabetically by home county, city and ZIP code.

DICKINSON
Abilene (67410)

• Skye Anne Roberts, a Bachelor of Science in elementary education.
• Kara Jo Wilkins, a Master of Science in education administration.

GEARY
Fort Riley (66442):

• Amber Denise Cunningham, a Bachelor of Business Administration in management.

Junction City (66441):

• Ashley Nicole Elmir, a Master of Science in instructional technology.
• Betty Jean Young, a Bachelor of Business Administration in management (human resource).

 

The Geary USD 475 Board of Education has accepted the recommendation of the Way Forward Junction City High School Steering Committee to pursue a new school at a new site.

Seemingly, the work for Steering Committee members was over after delivering their charge to the Board on Monday, but committee member Jim Schmidt said it’s still ongoing.

“I think there’s some opportunities to also have some very knowledgeable and talented people from the community to be involved in [that]; that was one of the charges that we put forward to the Board of Education is that ‘hey, you guys should not shoulder all this responsibility’ because at the end of the day you’ve got some very passionate, talented, intelligent people in this community that should play a role in this going forward,” said Schmidt.

Steering Committee members have now joined forces to campaign for a new school while spreading the facts and figures associated with that possibility.

As it was proposed to the Board, committee members favored a new school at a new site not to exceed $105 million and with no increase to the mil levy.

“That number came from a general estimate, and anybody’s that’s been in the construction industry understands that you’ve got to start somewhere, you’ve got to get an idea – and typically, in the houses I’ve built myself from a GC standpoint, it’s how many square feet do you want to build and what’s the average cost per square foot – and that’s ultimately how this high school number came together,” said Schmidt.

Educating the community will be the top goal for the committee.

“As we went through [that] process you could almost see the aha moment on some of the individual’s faces, including my own when you get that piece of information you needed to push you over the edge to ‘you know the time is now, the opportunity is there’ – even during the Town Halls you could see in the audience,” said Jeff Underhill, Committee member.

The Board voted 4-2 in favor of a new school at a new site.

The issue will now be taken to a bond election which has been scheduled for May 9th. Without the voter approval on the 9th, the State will not provide the necessary 48% aid to complete the project – thus, the project would fail.

 

The Fort Riley Exchange will help families send love to troops in Iraq, Afghanistan and Korea this Valentine’s Day.

The “Send Love to Your Love” event is a first for the Army and Air Force Exchange Service to deliver Valentine’s Day wishes live through social media to the post’s deployed troops.

A photo booth equipped with props will be available so Fort Riley families can create a community photo album that can be shared through social media. The event will be live streamed so the troops can see the outpouring of love in real time.

On Monday, February 13th families can go send love to troops in Korea, and on Tuesday, February 14th to Iraq and Afghanistan.

The event on Monday is from 6:00 to 7:00 pm and on Tuesday from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm and 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm at the Fort Riley Exchange, 2597 Trooper Drive.

For more information call the PX at 784-2026.

The City of Manhattan  has notified American Airlines that Manhattan Regional Airport would accept larger aircraft and make necessary airport security modifications to begin service with those larger planes on May 5th.

During the Manhattan City Commission meeting this week, commissioners expressed concern about the quick timeline and costs associated with making the security changes. However, City Administration has identified a recommended funding plan to allow the changes to occur.

ExpressJet Airlines notified MHK of its intent to begin operating on behalf of American Airlines with CR7 ( 65-seat ) planes on the airport’s three daily flights to Dallas-Fort Worth. According to federal regulations, an airport must have a complete Airport Security Program if the airline’s aircraft have 61 or more seats. The CR7 planes will have overhead and cargo space, an additional flight attendant and Wi-Fi capabilities. The larger planes also will have the ability to accommodate larger group travel and will experience 5-10 minute quicker in-air flight times.

The Junction City – Geary County Metropolitan Planning Commission has recommended approval on a special use permit for a former business incubator and warehouse building at 2715 Industrial Street as an applied behavior medical clinic. The site is near Old Highway 40 on the south side of Junction City.

Amanda Isaac works to help children diagnosed with autism. She needs more room than her current facility at 709 West 6th Street provides. The MPC was informed that at her current site Isaac is having to turn two to three clients per week away. With a larger facility she could serve more children and hire more staff.

The MPC recommendation goes to the Junction City Commission for final consideration.