Fort Riley, January 20, 2017 – Fort Riley and 1st Infantry Division leaders officially opened the Tax Center Jan. 19. The center is located in Building 7034, at the corner of Normandy and Bullard on Custer Hill.

“This is the 15th year the Tax Center has been in operation at Fort Riley, and we’ve saved our clients millions of dollars in filing fees over that time,” said Fort Riley Garrison Commander Col. John Lawrence.

The center, part of the 1st Infantry Division’s Staff Judge Advocate office, provides free tax preparation assistance to military members, including active duty, active Army Reservists on orders for more than 30 days, retirees and eligible family members.

The staff of highly trained tax preparation consultants promises excellent customer service while helping to ease a traditionally stressful yearly activity.

For more information, visit https://www.riley.army.mil/Units/Staff/Staff-Judge-Advocate/Tax-Center or call the Tax Center at 785-239-1040.

Geary Community Hospital is sponsoring a Ladies Night Out on Tuesday, February 21st at the Courtyard by Marriott in Junction City.

February is Women’s Heart Health month and the American Heart Association’s designated Go Red for Women campaign.

Admission to the event is $25 which includes heavy appetizers, swag bags, door prizes and a vendor fair.

Heather Ryan, a heart attack survivor, will be the guest speaker.

The event begins at 5:30 pm on February 21st and all in attendance are encouraged to wear red.

For more information or to reserve tickets call 210-3307.

Manhattan, KS, January 19, 2016– January 21 through May 14, the Flint Hills Discovery Center invites you to come meet Max, a 7-year-old learning about MyPlate’s eating guidelines in school. Tonight the MyPlate appears in Max’s dream, and it can fly! So, he and his best pal Munch climb aboard and go off on a healthy food adventure.

“Getting kids to eat healthy and exercise is always a challenge, but To My Plate and Beyond will help the entire family see a healthy lifestyle in a whole new light,” said Stephen Bridenstine, Public Program Coordinator. “It’s fun and interactive and all in one place!”

With the To My Plate and Beyond Exhibit, sponsored by Via Christi, children can get hands-on in the Supermarket with the Great Grain Grab game and let their voices and feet fly to the sounds of musical raps of healthy choices. Next, soar through the Urban Garden in a rainbow of colors, each one representing a different health benefit. Hungry yet? It’s time to compile plates of food at drive-through and sit down restaurants. Get moving to the music at Hot Plate, a life-size game that challenges children to identify different foods by toe-tapping on footpads.

While the exhibition is designed for children, the FHDC will be encouraging people of all ages to adhere to their New Year resolutions through promotions, events and camps. Free Go See It! lectures by Via Christi health professionals will focus on heart health, fitness and nutrition. One trail from Manhattan Parks and Recreation’s Trail Guide will be highlighted each week. A social media contest will be held encouraging community members to walk the trails, with a rental at the FHDC as a grand prize. In addition, the public can submit photos of their healthy dishes to the FHDC Facebook page to win bi-weekly prizes. Manhattan Community Gardens will also be featured throughout the duration of the exhibit, and children’s Adventure Camps will focus on health and nutrition.

Recreational trails will be highlighted throughout the area and free Go See It! lectures will focus on heart health, fitness and nutrition. Summer camps for children will also revolve around health.

“Focusing on the My Plate nutrition guide, we’ve planned our spring programs to help meet those New Year resolutions,” said Bridenstine. “Our monthly Go See It! lectures will feature registered dieticians and nurses from Via Christi who will teach about healthy lifestyle choices. We’ve even planned our spring Adventure Camps to show kids a whole new side of healthy eating.”

To My Plate and Beyond was organized by the Purdue Agriculture Exhibit Design Center and made possible through the support of the American Dairy Association and Indiana’s Dairy Farm Families.

Press Release from Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Department:

On Monday January 16 at about 3:53 p.m Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Deputies as well as Riley County Police Officers responded to Wal-Mart, 101 East Bluemont, Manhattan, Pottawatomie County. The victim in this matter reported that a male individual had made a transaction at the business using what was believed to be counterfeit 100 dollar bills.

Responding Officers were able to locate the suspect near the business. The suspect, 38 year old Jack William Landis was taken into custody. Landis who was unable to provide a place of residence was taken into custody for theft by deception, and making a false writing. He is currently being held at the Pottawatomie County Jail, bond having been set at $15,000.

The investigation into this matter continues as other similar incidents have been reported in the area. Anyone who may have information related to this incident is encouraged to contact the Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office at 785-457-3353.

The 2017 Regional Leaders’ Retreat is Friday, January 20th and Saturday, January 21st at the Olathe Conference Center.

Chamber of Commerce members representing Geary, Riley and Pottawatomie counties will be in attendance to discuss various issues ranging from economic development actions taken during the past year to a report from Fort Riley.

Dennis Beson, Junction City Area Chamber of Commerce CEO, said that the conference is so far removed from the communities involved in order to help facilitate uninterrupted work toward common goals for the Flint Hills region.

“It’s been a really great collaborative effort going on out there and I’m very much looking forward to this retreat this year because it gives us an opportunity to really talk with our regional partners, see where we’re at and see what are some of the areas that we can focus on from Geary county’s perspective,” said Beson.

Brigadier General Patrick Frank, Fort Riley and 1st Infantry Division Commanding General will give a report from Fort Riley previewing the 100th Anniversary of the 1st Infantry Division, the Matrix Design Group report, and informing the community on the many efforts taking place on the installation.

Beson noted that Lieutenant General Perry Wiggins, Director of Governor’s Military Council, will also provide an update and report.

“He’s already making a tremendous advantage for us, I think, just for the region – he’s a go-getter, he’s a well spoken guy and I’m really excited that he’s with us,” said Beson.

Other topics to be covered include a strategy to update the Joint Land Use Study for the Flint Hills Region, the future of multi-modal transportation in the region, and the impact of Kansas State University athletics.

The retreat can be live-streamed on Friday beginning at noon on JC Post by clicking the Leaders’ Retreat tab on the home page.

1420 KJCK will provide coverage in reports throughout the day Friday and Saturday.