The Historical Archaeological Society of Fort Riley will host a Historical Chat at the Post Cemetery on Sunday, November 6th at 2:00 pm. The cemetery is located at 191 Huebner Road on Fort Riley.
The 1st Infantry Division & Calvary Museum Director, Dr. Bob Smith, will lead attendees on a tour of the cemetery.
The tour will start at the top of the hill, where attendees will learn the history of the soldiers, veterans and family members buried in the cemetery.
This event is free and children are welcome; no pets.
A new mural is being painted on the south side of the Gun Junction building at 6th and Washington. The project, which is partially completed, is being undertaken by members of the 2015-16 Junction City Area Chamber of Commerce Crossroads of Leadership class, with direction from Junction City Arts Council President Michael Gray.
Geary County Commission Chair Florence Whitebread called the mural an eye catcher. “It looks terrific. I think it will do more to upgrade Junction City than anything that has happened here currently or in the past for some time.” Whitebread called the project a great thing to “have happen at a very focal point in the community.”
The mural is based on an “1897 JJ Pennell collection photo named the Five Railroad Section on Hand Wagon.”
Halloween is historically a night of tricks and treats for many, but it can also bring out a criminal element. The Junction City Police Department will have several officers patrolling the streets during tonight’s Halloween festivities.
“We’re going to have some extra patrols out, some of our detectives are going to be out in unmarked cars and then we have some other officers that are going to be out and about; some of the officers will be driving around with their lights on…so it lets people know that we’re out in the neighborhood,” said JCPD Community Involvement Unit Captain Chuck Leithoff.
Leithoff said that additionally, parents shouldn’t send their trick-or-treaters out alone.
“We ask the parents to go with the children of course…to make sure that the kids are aware, they’re alert and watching what they’re doing,” said Leithoff.
Halloween costumes should also be easily visible, whether they are light in color or the child is wearing some type of reflective clothing; parents should also make sure that children can see properly if wearing a mask.
Leithoff said that drivers should also be mindful of excitable children. “We caution the drivers to because the little ones are excited and anxious to get out there and go trick-or-treating so we really caution the drivers to slow down in those neighborhoods and just be really, really cautious.”
As always parents should check all candy before consumption, and throw away anything that has been tampered with or opened.
As for creepy clowns in Junction City?
“Fortunately, in Junction City we haven’t had any of those [creepy clown sightings] this year, but our guys are aware of it and we’re sensitive to that and we’ll keep an eye on it…there’s no law against dressing up as a clown, if that’s what they want to do, but it can become a problem if they make [unlawful] contact or threaten or do something along those lines,” said Leithoff. “We’re aware of what’s going on and we’ll be vigilant.”
Jim Hoy, Emporia State University Professor of English and Director of the Center for Great Plains Studies
Junction City, KS: Most Kansans are familiar with the stories of grasshoppers so big that cowboys could ride them, or summers so hot that corn popped in the field. At the annual meeting of Geary County Historical Society on Nov. 14, Emporia State University professor Jim Hoy will explore the facts and fiction behind these tall tales in his presentation and discussion, “Kansas Legends and Folktales.”
The historical society’s annual event kicks off with a roast beef dinner at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 14, in the museum auditorium at 530 N. Adams St. in Junction City. The meeting of the Board of Directors begins at 7:15, followed by the presentation and discussion by Jim Hoy. The meeting and presentation are free to attend, while dinner tickets cost $14.
Hoy’s presentation explores the exaggerated narratives of Kansas, which help us understand the character of our state and its people. This presentation will explore some of the many legends and folktales from around the state, and what they say about the communities that keep these stories alive.
A Flint Hills native and an authority on the folklife of ranching, Jim Hoy is a professor of English and the director of the Center for Great Plains Studies at Emporia State University. He has lectured internationally on the folklife of ranching and is the co-author of “Plains Folk,” a syndicated newspaper column.
The menu for the annual dinner features cowboy fare, including roast beef, baked beans potatoes au gratin, green beans with bacon and almonds, cornbread, and a fall dessert. To RSVP for the dinner or to purchase tickets, contact museum staff at 785-238-1666.
“Kansas Legends and Folktales” is part of the Kansas Humanities Council’s Kansas Stories Speakers Bureau, featuring presentations and discussions that examine our shared human experience—our innovations, culture, heritage, and conflicts.
The Kansas Humanities Council conducts and supports community-based programs, serves as a financial resource through an active grant-making program, and encourages Kansans to engage in the civic and cultural life of their communities. For more information about KHC programs,
contact the Kansas Humanities Council at 785-357-0359 or visit the KHC website at www.kansashumanities.org.
For more information about “Kansas Legends and Folktales” and the annual meeting, contact Geary County Historical Society at 785-238-1666 or email GearyHistory@gmail.com.
This year’s Junction Function is only a few days away! Don’t miss your opportunity to attend by purchasing your tickets TODAY! The event will be on November 3, 2016!
We hope you will join us for an evening of fun and networking to support your chamber. The deadline to register for the event is Monday, October 31st.
If you plan to join us for this fun evening, please indicate if you would prefer to decorate your own table with a theme of your choice or if you would prefer the committee decorate it for you.
Table pricing is $400 for full table or $225 for half tables, and individually or military priced tickets can be purchased if need. If you have any questions or want to participate, please let us know.
In addition, U.S. Marine and 1964 Olympian Billy Mills from the University of Kansas was inducted into the Marine Corps Marathon Hall of Fame. Mills won the gold medal in the men’s 10 thousand meter run.
Jaydon Zima was named the Outstanding Girl and Calen Boller the Outstanding Boy at the annual Geary County 4-H Awards Banquet Sunday evening.
On winning the Outstanding Girl Award, she said, “It means a lot to me that the 4-H actually thinks I’m outstanding, and they think I’m well worthy of this award.” This past year Zima also served as a 4-H Ambassador, and at the County Free Fair received a medal in both the Senior Foods & Nutrition and Visual Arts categories.
Boller enjoyed the award for Outstanding Boy. ” It means a lot to me that I got recognized for all my hard work.”A member of the Humboldt 4-H Club, he was a 4-H Ambassador for 3015-16 as well, and won county fair medals in the Senior categories in Beef, Clothing Buymanship, and Foods & Nutrition.
The Historical Archaeological Society of Fort Riley will host the 33rd Annual Tour of Homes on Saturday, December 3rd.
