A local committee is working on a project that would improve the Playground ( Fifth Street ) and Bramlage Skate Park facilities.
Joy Davis told the Junction City Commission the Playground Park needs renovations for safety reasons, and new playground equipment. She noted it would improve the quality of life for children and families, and be an opportunity to showcase the park for Junction City. “While we were researching the needs for Playground Park Ed Lazear made us aware of the safety issues at the Bramlage Skate Park ( on Grant Avenue ).” Davis made it clear they will be two projects. Grants and donations will be sought for both efforts.
On the Playground Park project a $400,000 community development block grant will be sought in 2017. The cost estimate on the improvements targeted for that facility has been calculated at $350,000. Proposed improvements range from an area in the park for older children and a music area to a school bus area, new playground equipment, and an artificial turf like surface.
Davis informed the Junction City Commission there are different grants designated just for Skate Parks. “what needs to be repaired on it is the metal. There’s a lot of sharp edges on those metal ramps, and the kids are getting hurt on them.
Junction City Commissioners were generally positive in their reaction to the idea. Their approval would be necessary in the case of grant applications, but no city funding is being sought for these projects.
Fire crews on the scene of Monday’s fire in Manhattan-photo courtesy Manhattan Fire Department
MANHATTAN, Kansas, October 18. 2016 – On Tuesday afternoon, fire investigators with the Office of the State Fire Marshal, Manhattan Fire Department, Fort Riley Department, and Junction City Fire Department, concluded the scene investigation of the Founders Hill Apartment fire located at 1401 College Avenue Building G. The building has been released to the property management company, First Management, Inc.
Fire investigators determined that the fire started on the second floor balcony in the southwest corner of the building. The fire quickly spread up the building, pushed by strong southerly winds, by means of the balconies above and had reached the attic area prior to the fire department arrival. Improperly disposed of smokingmaterials were found in the area of origin and could not be ruled out as the cause.
The loss to the building is now estimated as $3.5 million dollars with an additional $500,000 loss to the contents.
There are 41 residents that continue to be displaced by the fire.
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RILEY COUNTY – Investigators are still working to determine the cause of Monday’s Founder’s Hill apartment building fire in Manhattan.
Just after 3:30 p.m. on Monday, the Manhattan Fire Department was dispatched to 1401 College Avenue Building G, for a report of a structure fire, according to a media release.
The fire was immediately upgraded to a third alarm, bringing neighboring fire departments for assistance.
The building is a total loss with an estimated value of $2 million to the structure. A total 91 residents were evacuated at the height of the fire, with 45 remaining displaced indefinitely.
Six pets were rescued from the fire, with two pets still unaccounted for at this time.
The fire was considered under control in just less than three hours.
Residents watch Monday apartment building fire in Manhattan
There were no injuries.
The property management company is First Management, Inc. of Lawrence, Kansas, and the owner is listed as Manwest LLC, also of Lawrence. First Management Inc. has provided motel rooms for the affected residents. The American Red Cross is also on scene and is offering assistance to residents. Kansas State University students affected can receive assistance by calling the Kansas State University Office of Student Life at (785) 532-6432.
With new leadership at the helm, the “Fighting First” has cased it’s colors in preparation for deployment.
Major General Joseph M. Martin assumed command of the 1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley in a ceremony that doubled as the Deployment Ceremony for the division.
“Unexpected but absolutely welcomed,” said the new Commanding General of the 1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley.
Martin was assigned to command the post and Division after the abrupt removal of Maj. General Wayne Grigsby Jr. on September 26th.
“It’s unbelievable that I’ve been given this opportunity and I will treat it as such as I continue to command this great division and its legacy,” said Martin.
The new Commanding General is no stranger to Fort Riley. As a Captain he was assigned to the 37th Armor Regiment in the 1st Infantry Division where he commanded Company B during Operation Desert Storm; and years later Martin returned to Fort Riley where he commanded the 2nd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division and deployed with them to northwest Baghdad, Iraq.
“It was unexpected, but it is absolutely welcomed not just for me but for the entire Martin family,” said MG Martin. “I was born and raised here as a company grade officer so I understand Fort Riley, I know the community and I understand the Division, I know the training area, I know the people – I know the people of the community.”
Martin is thankful for the opportunity to return to Fort Riley and lead the historic Division.
“It’s very important to be able to take an opportunity like this and shape the organization, help them to build up readiness, enable them to succeed in what they do and more important than that it’s dealing with the people that are here and working with the people of the great community – this is a fantastic community in the Flint Hills Region,” said Martin.
Faith and a fondness for the region make the emotional assumption of command for Martin very special.
“It is a huge amount of emotions coming in to this position, because if you had asked me in 1990 when I came to Fort Riley as a young Captain if I would have had this opportunity, I would have laughed at you; God and the army has seen it that I am to command the First Division and I’m honored to be here,” said Martin.
The Division cased their colors as part of the Deployment Ceremony as they prepare to take over for the 101st Division at the Combined Joint Force Land Component Command Headquarters in Iraq.
“I will continue to build upon the professionalism that this Division displays and the honor that it displays each and every opportunity that it has and when it deploys,” said Martin.
The Division will work in a coalition with 19 other countries to help the Iraqis defeat ISIS.
Major General Joseph M. Martin, Commanding General 1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley
L to R: Lieutenant General Sean B. MacFarland, Commanding General, III Corps and Fort Hood; Major General Joseph M. Martin, Commanding General 1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley
Lt. Gen. MacFarland, Maj. Gen. Martin and Senator Jerry Moran
Commanding General, Maj. Gen. Martin
casing the colors
casing colors
troops passing in Final Review
Leann Martin (in red), wife of MG Martin; Kylie (in blue) daughter
flowers to be presented to wife and daughter of Commanding General Martin
The Junction City Middle School Holiday Market is Saturday, November 19 from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. Craft vendors are still being accepted.
The schedule that day also includes a pancake feed from 7 – 11 a.m. in the City Middle School cafeteria. The cost is $4 per person.
The Holiday Market, which will allow you to do holiday gift shopping, will be in the school’s gym area. There will be booths filled with antiques, florals, baked goods, baskets, candles, crafts, stained glass, jewelry, wood crafts, ceramics, Watkins Products, Premiere Design, Oragami Owl, Tupperware, Pampered Chef, health products, ornaments, scrapping, embroidery and more. Booth sizes are 10′ x 10′ for $30.Cafeteria size tables ( 30 x 63 ) are $5 apiece.
Funds raised support the school’s Renaissance program for students.
Beginning October 31 and continuing through November 4, the Junction City Police Department will join other Kansas law enforcement agencies to stop what has been likened to an epidemic in Kansas. In 2014, 28 children ages infant to 17 lost their lives due to car crashes in Kansas. Sadly, half of those children were not wearing seat belts, and eight of them were ejected from the vehicle.
Starting on October 31 and continuing through November 4, law enforcement across Kansas will be extra-vigilant when patrolling around schools.
The Junction City High School JROTC Blue Jay Battalion Raiders Team took third place overall at the Leavenworth Raider competition last Saturday. They participated in uphill climbs, a 10K ruck march, obstacle courses and other events.
The team also placed second in Rope Bridge, and third in Critical Carry / Life Saving.
The Geary County jail population reached 160 inmates as of this past Monday morning.
Geary County Commission Chair Florence Whitebread noted the total dropped to about 150 approximately a week ago, but then climbed back up. “I don’t know what the problem or the answer is to the cause but we’re certainly carrying a lot of people in our jail.”
Whitebread added she signs checks as the regional juvenile detention center where there recently 19 inmates. “Lot of meals to cook and a lot of work when you have that many prisoners. Those people that are jailers in both those facilities are certainly earning their keep with that many.”
Junction City was one of eight cities in Kansas and Missouri where Operation Cross Country X was conducted by the FBI Kansas City Division along with local, state and federal partners. The operation, which focused on underage sex trafficking, ran from October 13-16 in Kansas City, Missouri, North Kansas City, Kansas City, Kansas, Independence, Missouri, Overland Park, Wichita, Topeka and Junction City.
According to the FBI the results of the combined law enforcement effort led to the recovery of five children who were being victimized through prostitution ranging in age from 15 to 17 years old. Additionally, four female adult human trafficking victims were identified and recovered. The operation also included the arrests of 12 pimps and 14 johns on state and federal charges.
The FBI confirmed for JC Post none of the children or female adult human trafficking victims were recovered in Junction City. The numbers for Junction City included the arrest three johns and three adult prostitutes.The Junction City Police, Geary County Sheriff’s, and Riley County Police Departments all participated in the investigation.
Operation Cross Country X was an international effort focusing on underage sex trafficking. This was the tenth iteration of FBI-led initiative which took place across the United States and, for the first time, also took place in several countries around the world.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A man has been sentenced to one year and four months in prison for helping a would-be jihadist’s unsuccessful attempt to plant what they thought was a bomb at an Army post in northeast Kansas.
A federal judge sentenced 29-year-old Alexander Blair on Tuesday. The Topeka man was accused of loaning $100 to 21-year-old John T. Booker Jr. to store an explosive device. It actually was a fake bomb built by FBI informants.
Prosecutors allege Booker intended to plant it outside Fort Riley in support of the Islamic State group. Blair pleaded guilty in May to a conspiracy charge.
Blair’s attorney sought five years’ probation, arguing Blair has an unusual genetic personality disorder. Prosecutors pushed for the maximum five-year prison term.
Booker pleaded guilty in February to two felonies. He hasn’t been sentenced.
Associate Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Beth Hudson, has been named the interim superintendent of schools for Geary USD 475.
She was appointed to the post due to major back surgery needed by Superintendent Dr. Corbin Witt, and the necessary recovery period associated with it. Witt will be absent from the district for an unspecified amount of time.
A local committee is working on a project that would improve the Playground ( Fifth Street ) and Bramlage Skate Park facilities.
