Breast cancer is a disease that has touched the lives of everyone – maybe it was you, a friend, a family member – nonetheless, it affects us all.

In recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, there will be a Breast Cancer Awareness Program at the C.L. Hoover Opera House in Junction City.

Delilah Hamilton, one of the event Coordinators said that it will be a very informative event.

“Irma Patterson from the Health Department will be there educating [us] about breast cancer in women and men as well – a lot of people don’t realize that men can get breast cancer and it’s just as radical for them as it would be for a woman,” said Hamilton.

Known for the door prizes and giveaways, the event will be jam-packed at the Opera House.

“We will have a professional piano player that will be there performing some numbers for us…we’ll have a lot going on, we will have games that we will be playing and lots of door prizes,” said Hamilton.

And while the event is meant to be lighthearted, there will be testimonies and shared stories amongst the attendees.

“We’ll have testimonies by some survivors, and we’ll have testimonies also by some family members of people who did not survive to talk about what they went through as their family went through treatments…and how it affected the family,” said Hamilton.

This event is free and open to the public on Saturday, October 22nd from 10:00 am until 2:00 pm at the C.L. Hoover Opera House at 135 W. 7th Street in Junction City.

In order to accommodate everyone for the free lunch, Hamilton asks that everyone RSVP by October 19th by calling 226-2750 or 717-8630.

MANHATTAN – The annual “BeWitching in Westloop” treat trail is returning to the Westloop Shopping Center again this year. All young people are invited to dress in costume and receive treats from the Westloop businesses and friends of Westloop. The trail begins in front of the Bellus Academy where treat trail maps will be available. The map, once checked off by all the treat sponsors will serve as an entry into drawings for many prizes including free chicken nuggets and a prize from McDonalds, pizza parties, gift cards, and more.

There will be over 25 treat stops along the trail in Westloop. A costume contest with prizes  will be held at 6pm in front of Bellus Academy.

“BeWitching in Westloop” treat trail and fun night, Monday October 31, 4pm – 6:30 pm in the Westloop Shopping Center.

“BeWitching” is presented by the businesses of the Westloop Shopping Center.

For more information, please contact Ed Klimek, Westloop Association, at 785-587-4000.

FORT RILEY, Kansas – Military retirees will be shocked, informed, and entertained at the Fort Riley Retiree Appreciation Day Friday, October 21,
when General George S. Patton addresses the luncheon crowd.  General Patton’s character is skillfully portrayed by reenactor Roger Aeschliman, a Topeka bank executive and Army Reserve Colonel, who brings the storied
General to life in Patton’s own “pretty salty” words.

Retirees wishing to attend the lunch must make advance reservations by 5
p.m. Monday, October 17, by calling 785-239-3320 or by going online. The
registration form is available at
https://www.riley.army.mil/Services/RetireeServices.aspx.

Retirees, spouses, widows and widowers attending Retiree Appreciation Day
2016 will be greeted by Brigadier General Patrick Frank, deputy commanding
general, 1st Infantry Division, followed by informative presentations by a
Tricare and healthcare expert; Colonel John Melton, Irwin Army Community
Hospital commander; and the Commissary and PX managers. Tom Gray will
provide an entertaining and informative presentation on “How your GPS
Works.”

The day-long RAD 2016 offers something for all military retirees and their
spouses including the opportunity to get their flu shots and update other
vaccinations including tetanus, pneumonia, shingles and whooping cough.

Retirees planning to attend RAD 2016 will need to make advanced efforts
regarding their entrance onto Fort Riley if they don’t possess a
federally-issued photo identification card. A one-day pass is required for
those without a DoD ID card.  Passes are issued at the Henry Gate visitors
center located at exit 301 off Interstate 70.  To speed the process,
retirees can call the Retirement Services Office, (785) 239-3320, and ask to
be added to the Special Post Access List – then must enter the facility via
the Henry/Marshall Airfield Gate at exit 301 off Interstate 70.  Callers
need to provide their name, address, birthdate and state-issued driver’s
license number.

Doors to Riley’s Conference Center open at 8 a.m. with formal events getting
underway at 8:30 a.m. Informative health care and community activities
booths at the RAD “county fair” will be open from 8:30 a.m. until 3 p.m.
Some $4,000 in door prizes will be awarded via ongoing drawings throughout
the day.

For more information about the event, call (785) 239-3320.

Ben Bennett has stepped down from the chairman’s post on the Military Affairs Committee of the Junction City Area Chamber of Commerce. He will continue to serve on the committee as a county commission representative.

MAC Director John Seitz noted Bennett had served as chairman for about six years. Mick McCallister will serve as interim chairman until the next reorganization of the city commission in January.

Geary USD 475 Superintendent of Schools Dr. Corbin Witt will be out for awhile due to pending back surgery.

Dr. Beth Hudson, Associate Superintendent confirmed that Witt will have to miss some work time. “Dr. Witt is at home now waiting pending surgery. They haven’t got a date scheduled yet, but he’s hoping to get something on the calendar right away.”

Hudson noted Witt has missed some work time recently due to the back problem. “Just this week he’s been out all week. Here and there he’s been out but we decided this week he needs to stay at home. ” Hudson said Witt anticipates a 4-to-6 weeks recovery period after surgery before returning to work.

Hudson and Director of Business Operations Bill Clark will jointly oversee management of the school district operations.

The community survey being administrated by Patron Insight, a Kansas City-based market research organization, for USD 475 has now made an online version of the survey available atwww.usd475.org under the “Announcements” section of the website. (Direct link is https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2016USD475CommunitySurvey)

For those individuals in the community that are not called at random through the telephone survey now have an opportunity to give their opinion as well.

“Not everyone who lives within the district’s boundaries will be called, but we want to hear from all those who would like to share their opinions, said Hugh Davis, Executive Director of Communications. “That’s why this online survey was created.”

All responses are confidential and all surveys will go directly to Patron Insight. The district will not see any individual responses. The district will receive a summary report for online responses and a different report from the telephone survey of registered voters within the USD 47 boundaries.

This survey will give us an outstanding opportunity to hear from a cross-section of Geary County residents and military families regarding their opinions about our performance, and what our priorities should be for the future,” said Dr. Corbin Witt, Superintendent of Schools.

The survey currently plans to end at midnight on October 28^th.

Hugh Davis

Executive Director of Communications, USD 475

Junction City has reopened the application process for the Fire Chief position.

Rick Rook has served as the Interim Fire Chief for several months, but City Manager Allen Dinkel said they are opening the position to explore other options.

“We’ve had the [hiring] committee consider different applicants…and we’ll make the decision based on what’s best for the community,” said Dinkel.

City officials have previously expressed their confidence in Rook on numerous occasions – Dinkel wouldn’t comment if there was a problem promoting Rook or whether or not Rook is a finalist among the applicants for the Fire Chief position.

It is standard for those involved in the hiring process to not comment on the candidates or the specifics regarding the hiring process.

The Fire Chief position will be open for a period of three weeks.