The CL Hoover Opera House, in cooperation with the Geary County Convention & Visitors Bureau, a division of the Junction City Area Chamber of Commerce, is proud to host the Tall Grass Film Festival satellite premiere of Bender.  Join us for this red-carpet event on Saturday, October 8th at 7:30pm and Sunday, October 9th at 2:00pm.  

Bender unveils the bizarrely true story of America’s first serial-killing family. The year is 1873 and travelers are mysteriously vanishing on the Kansas frontier. The troubled Doctor York goes searching for answers and stumbles upon the Benders, a homesteading family with an unnatural way of living off the land. As the elders of the family vie for dominance, their daughter Kate draws upon her supposed supernatural powers to will a better future, and a peculiar young boy is reared in the family trade – but unexpected visitors could threaten their seemingly quiet homestead. In this boldly restrained thriller, human hunger can be the most dangerous of traps.

Bender was partially filmed in Geary County at Sunrock Ranch and Rock Springs 4-H Center.in conjunction with the Geary County Convention & Visitors Bureau. Bender principle actors include James Karen, Buck Taylor, Leslie Woodies, Nicole Jellen, Linda Purl, Jon Monastero, Bruce Davison and Chance Caeden

Admission prices are $10 for General Admission and $25 for VIP tickets.  Purchase of a VIP ticket (available Saturday only) includes the movie, a post film-reception, and one drink ticket.

To purchase tickets, visit the CL Hoover Opera House website at www.jcoperahouse.org, call 785-238-3906, or visit the CL Hoover box office at 135 W. 7th Street, Junction City, KS.

TOPEKA – (September 29, 2016) – Two Manhattan organizations have been awarded more than $64,000 in grants to provide services for victims of crime, Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt announced today.

The grants were awarded to support the following programs:

• Sunflower CASA Project, Inc., $8,000 to support the Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program to ensure an increased number of children are able to benefit from volunteer advocacy through quality training and supervision.
• Sunflower CASA Project, Inc., $15,500 to provide supervised visitation and monitored exchange services to children and their non-residential parents.
• The Crisis Center, Inc., $41,410 to provide in-person, round-the-clock crisis intervention services, as well as safe shelter for victims of sexual and domestic violence in the five-county region.

The awards were made from the Protection from Abuse Fund, State Child Exchange and Visitation Centers Fund, and State Crime Victims’ Assistance Fund for Child Abuse and Neglect. The Protection from Abuse Fund is funded by State General Fund appropriations, marriage license fees, county court costs and municipal court assessments. The State Child Exchange and Visitation Centers is funded through marriage license fees and State General Fund appropriations. The State Crime Victims’ Assistance Fund is funded though the remittance of applicable fines, penalties and forfeitures from clerks of the district courts. The State Crime Victims’ Assistance Fund for Child Abuse and Neglect is funded through county court costs, municipal court assessments and State General Fund appropriations.

This year, the attorney general’s office awarded nearly $2.2 million in grants to local and state crime victim assistance organizations. More information on the grant programs and the full list of award recipients is available on the attorney general’s website at www.ag.ks.gov.

A recent study has Geary county ranked number one in the state, but not for the reason you may think.

Geary county, home to Junction City and Fort Riley is ranked as the most food insecure county in Kansas, surpassing number 2 ranked Riley county.

“A recent study just came out from the Kansas Health Foundation, that says Geary county has officially surpassed Riley county…as the most food insecure, meaning hungry  county in the state,” sad Miranda Klugesherz, Geary county Food Policy Council, a division of Live Well Geary County. “About 1 in every 5 people in Geary county experience hunger.”

The Food Policy Council was created in May 2015 as a resolution by the City Commission with 10 members appointed by City Commissioners.

As a part of Live Well Geary County, Food Policy Council members volunteer their time to help those in need.

“Our intention or our focus with the group is to help sustain a healthy food system and local foods here for the people and to help with policies and system changes,” said Susie Bilderback, Food Policy Council.

Live Well Geary County and The Food Policy Council are hosting a FEAST (Food, Education, Agriculture, Solutions, Together) on October 15th to “bring together voices in the community” regarding the hunger epidemic.

“Our goal is to at the end of the day leave with some sort of tangible product that members of the community, not just the Food Policy Council can move forward in the community and we can kind of tackle this hunger issue together, said Miranda Klugesherz.

In order for the FEAST to be successful, members of the community are invited to come and be heard as well as take part in necessary discussion for the county.

“This event is meant to engage every voice in the community; we recognize that hunger in our county and in our city is an extremely prevalent issue – what we don’t have are the voices of the individuals suffering from that kind of hunger – so this event is meant not only to engage stakeholders and community leaders, but also the voices of participants in the food system…that our food system isn’t benefiting,” said Miranda Klugesherz.

The FEAST will take place on October 15th from 1:00 pm until 5:00 pm at the C.L. Hoover Opera House at 135 W. 7th Street in Junction City.

A meal catered by Munson’s prime will follow from 5:00 until 6:00pm; refreshments will be provided by Geary County Farmer’s Market vendors.

There are three ways to register:

1. Online:  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/geary-county-feast-tickets-27027129873
2. Email: livewellgearycounty@gmail.com
3. Call Julie Hettinger at 785-762-5788 ext. 119

Register by September 30th.

 

 

Teams from five high schools gathered for the 26th annual Eco Meet at the Milford Nature Center on Wednesday.

First place with a score of 225.67 points went to Clay Center Team A. There was competition in multiple categories.

Miltonvale, Riley County, Wakefield, and Pike Valley were among the participating schools.

You can join in the conversation about food in Geary County during FEAST on October 15 at the C.L. Hoover Opera House.

Geary County Extension Agent Deb Andres said, “It’s an event where people can engage in the conversation about the hunger and food and security issues that are being faced by our county.”

Andres said they are looking for not just stakeholders and leaders of the county, but also for the average consumer “who is trying to stretch their food dollar, provide healthy meals for their family.”

The event is scheduled from 1-5 p.m. on the 15th.

If you plan to attend you need to pre-register. You can do so:

–online at gearycountyfeast.eventbrite.com

–livewellgearycounty@gmail.com

–by calling Julie Hettinger at 785-762-5788, ext. 119.

Fort Riley is hosting their post-wide yard sale Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon.

The general public is invited to attend the post-wide yard sale.

All community members, 16 and older, who do not have a Department of Defense ID card or a Fort Riley access badge or pass must enter through Henry Gate, located at Exit 301 off Interstate 70.

All visitors must present a valid form of identification. Go to https://www.riley.army.mil/Units/Garrison-Command/Emergency-Services/Access-Information/for a list of accepted ID.

Community members without DoD ID cards are encouraged to obtain a pass prior to Saturday to avoid delays.

The Geary County Sheriff’s Department has reported that Deputies responded to US 77 Highway mile post 158 for a two-vehicle injury accident. A 2001 Chevrolet driven by Gultekin Pitts, Junction City, was slowing down to turn and was struck from behind by a 2016 Kia driven by Jose Gomez, Junction City.

Pitt’s vehicle was pushed off the roadway and struck a guardrail. Pitts was transported to Geary Community Hospital for head and leg injuries.

—

Deputies responded to US 77 milepost 158 for a two-vehicle non-injury accident. A 2016 Mercedes driven by Felix Cabrera-Fernandez, Junction City, was slowing down for traffic and was struck from behind by a 2014 Kia driven by Dillon S. McCalmon of Junction City.

 

During the week of October 10-14, United Way of Junction City – Geary County will conduct its annual “Business Blitz Week” for the 2017 campaign. United Way board members and community volunteers will be contacting local businesses to pick up contributions toward the $140,000 campaign goal. Local businesses are asked to make a donation or pledge and challenge other businesses to also contribute to United Way. During the week, KJCK Radio will be reporting daily updates recognizing pledges or donations from these generous, community minded businesses.

Nicole Mader, Executive Director of United Way, said the purpose of the Business Blitz is to motivate the business community to make their contribution in the early stages of the campaign and in return to receive some public recognition for their support. It also helps to encourage other businesses to become participants in the community-wide effort to provide services.

United Way contributions will help fund specific programs within 13 agencies in the Junction City – Geary County area. They include the Armed Services YMCA, CASA of the 8th Judicial District, the Crisis Center, Delivering Change, Geary County Food Pantry, Girl Scouts, Housing & Credit Counseling, JC Family YMCA, Kansas Legal Services, the Open Door, the JC Pacesetters ( local Special Olympics team ), Salvation Army and Sunflower Bridge Child Exchange & Visitation Center.