Indian mascot decorates the basketball gym at Hays High School
MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Native American mascots are popular among Kansas high schools even as a national debate brews over whether they should be eliminated.
The Manhattan Mercury analyzed a list of all the high school mascots in Kansas.
Fourteen schools have the mascot name “Indians,” making that the fourth most popular in the state. One of those schools is in Manhattan, where the school board is considering changing it. Advocates say the mascot is offensive or insensitive to American Indians.
Manhattan has used an Indian mascot since 1940. A push to change the mascot in 2001 was unsuccessful.
The list obtained from the Kansas State High School Activities Association also shows that three schools use Redskins; two use Redmen. Wamego uses Red Raiders. Two use Chieftains; two use Braves.
The steering committee for the possible project for Junction City High School will be comprised of approximately 50 community members.
These community members will review different possible options for a new building for high school students in Geary USD 475 .
There will be seven steering committee meetings from October 13th through January 5th where they hope to gather enough information to make a recommendation to the Board of Education in January on possibly moving forward with a new high school.
JC Post has obtained a list of community members, including high school students whom will give input and either serve on the Steering Committee directly, or serve as a resource for committee members.
One issue to be discussed for the steering committee in addition to the possibility of a new school, will be whether that building will house grades 9 through 12, or 10 through 12. The approximate estimate of $85 million was for a three-grade facility, so including the freshman under one building could increase cost estimates.
Those on the committee/serving as a resource to the committee include:
Montika Allen-Atkinson, Westwood Elementary
Keith Ascher, Geary County farmer/rancher
Dennis Beson, Chamber of Commerce CEO
Vic Davis, Attorney
Justin Hoover, Geary Rehab owner
Mick McCallister, Mayor of Junction City
Mark Ediger, General Manager KJCK radio
Pat Landes, City Commissioner
Ben Kitchens, Businessman
Patty Schoenrock, Schoenrock Realtors
Robert Munson, Central National Bank
Jean Garvey, JCHS
Samantha Stunkel, Senior at JCHS
Cadin Sanner, Sophomore at JCHS
Shirley Avant-Ferguson, Education Center on Fort Riley
Buzz Bruzina, Community member
Lonnie Clark, State Representative
Pam Dombrowski, USD 475 Secondary Math Specialist
Mark Edwards, Attorney
Leisa Foster, Armed Forces Bank
Trish Giordano, JCPD
Honey Grant, Grandview Plaza City Council
Valerie Guy, KJCK Account Exec.
John Montgomery, Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army
Leon Osburn, Kaw Valley Engineering
Ronnie Roberts, First Christian Church Pastor
Ashley Powers King, Delivering Change
James Russell, USD 475 Boys and Girls Club Director
Jeff Underhill, Young Professionals of JC
Dave Baker, 68th District State Representative
Stephanie Bogenhagen, Principal
Gerald Gerloff, Community member
Angie Greenwood, Realtor
Rina McCoy, Parent
Dan Roether, Parent
Jennifer Ruffley, KSU Clinical Instructor
Jim Schmidt, VP of Engineering at Mechanized Design
Christina Spencer, FRMS Parent
Sara Talley, Geary County Health Department
Terrah Stroda, Flint Hills OB/GYN
Jamel Wilcox, Central National Bank
Jodie Wilkey, Owner of Coach’s Bar and Grill
Lawrence Baker, Retired Military/parent
Lyn Green, Parent/District employee
Ron Johnson, Jim Clark Chevrolet/Parent
Alix Kunkle, Daily Union
Rina McCoy (Neal), Accountant for City of Manhattan/Parent
FORT RILEY, Kan. – A 1st Infantry Division Soldier who had been missing for several days has been located.
Pvt. Solomon Yoseph Grice, a fire control repairer with 101st Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Inf. Div., went missing Oct. 2 and was found by local law authorities in Nevada Oct. 4.
The 1st Inf. Div. and Fort Riley thank the public for their assistance in this matter.
CLEVELAND (AP) — Authorities say a man charged with murder in the slaying of a former Kansas State University football player outside a Cleveland hookah bar has been arrested.
U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott says officers arrested 27-year-old Jean Blevins during a traffic stop Tuesday in Cleveland. Court records don’t show an attorney for Blevins, who also is charged with manslaughter and assault.
Cleveland.com reports court records indicate Blevins is accused of disposing of a gun his brother used to fatally shoot 26-year-old David Garrett in October 2014. Authorities say Jean Blevins’ brother fired into a crowd after a fight, striking Garrett.
Barry Blevins pleaded guilty in August to involuntary manslaughter.
Kansas State’s website shows defensive back Garrett played at T.W. Harvey High School in Painesville before joining Kansas State’s team in 2009.
DICKINSON COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities in Dickinson County are investigating a report of vandalism.
Sometime during the overnight hours of October 1, suspects caused extensive damage throughout Bicentennial Park in Abilene, according to a social media report from police.
Due to the damage, the restrooms located in the park will be closed through the winter.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the Abilene Police Department at (785)263-1213 or Dickinson County Crime Stoppers at 1-888-5DK-TIPS. If your information helps lead to an arrest in this case, you may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.00 and remain completely anonymous.
A tornado watch and severe thunderstorm warnings dominated the weather pattern in the region Tuesday evening. Rain fell in Junction City but the city was never under any warnings. There were severe thunderstorm warnings for northern Dickinson County, northwest Geary, Clay, southwest Riley County and southwest Morris County.
The National Weather Service reported from the Clay County Emergency Manager that there was damage to a few structures, likely agricultural buildings, from 22nd to 25th Road from Utah to Valley View in Clay County. The
Saint Xavier School and Parish officials are in the process of working on a capital fundraising campaign. It is called “A history of Faithfulness and a Future of Hope” with the subtitle “Toward the Next 150 Years.”
Father Gale Hammerschmidt noted the goal is to improve the physical plant. Some of the projects targeted include heating and air conditioning improvements. ADA accessibility, new roofs on some of the buildings, work on the outside front steps of the church, a gathering space in the church, the church sound system, and there is a desire to create a parish hall in the basement of the oldest school building. Air conditioning improvements would include the air conditioning of the Bradley Gym.
A feasibility study by Betty Johnson Associates of Lawrence was done ahead of the campaign. Hammerschmidt indicated they would like to raise $1 million. The feasibility study showed perhaps not quite that much could be raised, but Saint Xavier could get close.
Hammerschmidt said with this campaign, on one particular Sunday home visitors will take envelopes to the homes of the parishoners. “Each home visitor will have to visit three, four, maybe five homes of parishoners. Campaign materials will be put in an envelope, and potential pledge amounts as well. And then one week later our home visitors will return to that home.” They will receive the pledges in the envelope and bring them back to campaign officials.
Hammerschmidt commented that many of the Saint Xavier buildings are more than 100 years old. The church was built in 1906. The oldest of the school buildings was built in the 1916-1919 time frame, and the newest building in the 1950s. The Parish history dates back to 1867.
The campaign is expected to wrap up by December 3 when the Parish kicks off the celebration of the 150th year of their existence. Hammerschmidt said it will be the Feast of Saint Francis Xavier. “If you go to many communities throughout the world one thing that they love to do is to celebrate that day in which their patron has it’s feast. Here in Junction City we’ll be celebrating Saint Francis Xavier Day on December 3. We’ll be doing that at Flagstop Resort out there by Milford Lake.” That event will culminate with a Polar Plunge activity. Community leaders are being sought to dive into the cold waters of Milford Lake on December third.
Maintaining strong relationships with legislators and the army is a top priority for city/county officials as they attend the annual Association of the United States Army (AUSA) meeting in Washington, D.C.
“I think one of the most important parts of the trips is always to keep relationships with everybody…and to keep moving forward with a lot of processes that have benefits to Junction City and Fort Riley,” said Allen Dinkel, City manager.
L to R: City Manager Allen Dinkel, City Commissioner Phyllis Fitzgerald, County Commissioner Ben Bennett, Mayor Mick McCallister
Dinkel cited last year’s visit as an instrumental part in getting the housing numbers reduced on Fort Riley.
“Last year we talked about removing some of the houses on Fort Riley and we feel last year’s visits were very important in moving that process forward; and part of it is we always thank our representatives [at the meetings]…so we want to make sure we thank them but also keep forwarding our needs to them all the time,” said Dinkel.
Junction City Mayor Mick McCallister believes in the power of face to face conversations, and this year his goal is addressing the blue green algae problem that has become a statewide issue.
“One of the biggest issues that we’ve discussed so far today and will continue to discuss tomorrow is the blue green algae…a long term fix needs to be done,” said McCallister.
Officials from Junction City spent much of today meeting with Senator Moran, Senator Roberts, and Representative Pompeo addressing the statewide issue that is blue green algae.
“Some of the issues that we’ve had is testing issues and how it’s tested on Monday and not advertised until Thursday…we’ve asked them to look at and talk to the Corps of Engineers and see if we could get a more timely result so it didn’t affect, or falsely affect our lake condition a week away from the testing,” said McCallister.
Some have criticized the need for city officials to travel as far as Washington, D.C. seeking changes or concerns locally.
Phyllis Fitzgerald, City Commissioner, said that the face to face dialogue shows a deep concern for and strength within the local Junction City – Geary County community.
“By coming to Washington, D.C. and doing face to face meetings and also interacting with the military, whether it’s our local representatives or the representatives in Washington, D.C., it’s a continuation of building that partnership, that relationship and together we are all sharing what we all believe are the main issues and needs of our community,” said Fitzgerald.
The AUSA meeting continues through October 5th in Washington, D.C.
JC Post received an update from the city/county officials as they head in to the final day of the annual meeting.
The 21st annual Junction City Area Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade theme is “Light Up the Christmas Spirit”.
Staying true to the theme, Exchange Bank will be collecting non-perishable food items during the parade to help those in need during the holiday season.
Bernadean Sykora, Event Organizer, said they don’t have a goal in mind but they are donating everything to the Wheels of Hope organization.
To participate, bring a non-perishable food item to Exchange Bank located at 702 N. Washington or 1036 W. 6th Street in Junction City, during business hours.
Both banking locations have begun accepting non-perishable food donations – so you can stop in today, or on the night of the parade there will be volunteers in the crowds with carts collecting donations.
The parade begins at 5:30 pm.
“I think it would light up the Christmas Spirit by giving,” said Sykora.
Again, donations can be dropped off beginning today.
