“Come and get educated about the issues in our state that affect African-Americans,” – That’s the invitation from Bonita Gooch, the President of the Kansas Black Leadership Council.

Gooch, as well as leaders from across the state, will take part in the Kansas Black Leadership Council Platform Convention this Saturday, October 1st in Junction City.

“We chose Junction City as a central location in the state, that we thought people could get to fairly easily,” said Gooch. “Leaders from across the state will gather to develop a platform to present to elected officials on the State level ahead of the 2017 legislative session…so what we’re doing is developing a platform of issues of importance to African-Americans that we would hope the Legislature would consider in 2017.”

The topics to be discussed during the convention came directly from African-Americans across the state.

“We conducted a survey from citizens across the state to see what their concerns were, and we will be using the survey results as a guide in developing our platform; some of the issues that were covered under that survey were voter registration, economic development, public safety, education, health – those were the five main areas of consideration,” said Gooch.

Experts in their various fields will present information and educate attendees during the convention; in addition to specific platform ideas from the Black Leadership Council being presented.

The free convention will be held on Saturday, October 1st at the C.L. Hoover Opera House in Junction City. It begins at 10:00 am with registration at 9:30 am. A buffet style ‘working lunch’ will be offered for $10, but it is not mandatory to purchase the lunch in order to attend.

“If nothing else, come and get educated about the issues in our state that affect African-Americans,” said Gooch.

 

Junction City Little Theater opens one of Shakespeare’s most well-known comedies, Much Ado About Nothing.

Show dates are October 14th and 15th at 7:30 pm in the Junction City Little Theater Annex located across the street from the C.L. Hoover Opera House.

They will also perform a matinee on October 16th at 2:00 pm.

“Much Ado About Nothing revolves around the obstacles of the union of two lovers – Claudio and Hero, and the relationship between Benedick and Beatrice who love to hate each other. However, through the manipulation of others, each relationship is turned upside down.”

Tickets are available at the door, $10 for adults and $5 for children under the age of 18.

First time JCLT Director Harrison Lamb said,”With a combination of a world famous author, a stellar cast, and a love for storytelling, this comedy is a must see! Much Ado, a story of how love, laughter and little white lies can fix anything.”

For more information contact Brittany Lamb at the JCLT at 238-3871.

By Theo Stavropoulos 

National Voter Registration Day is Tuesday, Sept. 27. The upcoming elections on Nov. 8 provide an opportunity for all to exercise their right to vote, and this nationwide day of observance is set aside to help engage more people in this important civic duty.

The Staley School of Leadership Studies and the K-State Student Governing Association have partnered with the communication studies department to host five booths across campus where students, faculty, staff and community members can register to vote.

In addition to campus partnerships, the Manhattan community also will be engaged through the support of the Manhattan League of Women Voters and the #VoteMHK project.

Locations and times for campuswide voter registration:

• 1-4 p.m. in the Nichols Hall lobby.
• 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Hale Library’s lower level.
• 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 7-8 p.m. in the Leadership Studies Building.
• 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the K-State Student Union.
• 4-7 p.m. in the Chester E. Peters Recreation Complex.

Following this day of civic action, join members the K-State and Manhattan community at 6 p.m. Sept. 27 in the Leadership Studies Building’s Town Hall as the Staley School hosts Judge Arnold-Burger of the Court of Appeals and Justice Biles of the Kansas Supreme Court. Learn about the judicial retention votes on the ballot in November and their importance in deciding the future of the state of Kansas.

A reception will follow the presentation from 7-8 p.m. Meet and talk with the judges, connect with other civic-minded individuals, or even register to vote. All are welcome and encouraged to engage.

In October, Kansas State University Libraries will honor alumnus and Abilene native Marlin Fitzwater with an exhibit, “Marlin Fitzwater: From Wheat Fields to White House.”

Fitzwater, who received an honorary doctorate from Kansas State University in 2015, has donated his personal papers to the Richard L.D. & Marjorie J. Morse Department of Special Collections at K-State Libraries.

The items in the exhibit represent a small sample of the donation. Visitors will be able to examine correspondence, publications, photos, memorabilia and official government documents, all of which will be available to future generations of researchers.

The exhibit opens at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 4. The evening will include a 6:30 p.m. conversation with Fitzwater. He will reflect on his time as the only press secretary in U.S. history appointed by two president, both Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush. Guests must RSVP, as space is limited. Contact Darchelle Martin at martin05@k-state.edu or 785-532-7442.

Fitzwater was born in Salina, raised in Dickinson County near Abilene, and graduated from Kansas State University in 1965. In 1983 Fitzwater joined the White House staff, where he remained for 10 years, including six as press secretary.

The exhibit will remain on display through March 17, 2017.

People are using the aTa Bus service in Junction City.

Florence Whitebread, Geary County Commission Chair, said she is amazed at the number of people riding the buses in Junction City. “We had over 1,000 people in the month of August ride our fixed routes. And we had almost 600 people ride the demand response routes. These are the ones where they have to call 24-hours in advance. So that was over 15-hundred people riding those. And then the inter-city shuttle between Junction City and Manhattan had over 700 riders.”

The County added the fixed route aTa bus service this year. Prior to that it was available by appointment only.

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — A Manhattan, Kansas, businessman who once was a backup quarterback at Kansas State faces November sentencing after admitting in court that he had improper sexual contact with a former high school student.

Zachary Burton, 38, pleaded guilty Monday in Riley County to one count of unlawful sexual relations.

Authorities say the female student went to Riley County High School, where Burton was an assistant boys’ basketball coach and substitute teacher.

Burton owns a business called Fieldhouse Development Inc.

Burton’s sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 15.

For years, soldiers, retirees and their families have enjoyed Custer Hill Golf Course on Fort Riley – soon, it will be a just a memory. 

Custer Hill Golf course will close at the end of the month as announced last week as part of several budget cuts and constraints to Fort Riley, and the Family, Morale, Welfare and Recreation.

Mick McCallister, Mayor of Junction City, wants to keep up the quality of life for soldiers and their families.

“We’ve been talking with John Bernstein, and Ed Lazear, and the City Manager (Allen Dinkel) to figure out how we can incorporate those quality of life issues that they’re diminishing out at Fort Riley – how we could pick those up here in Junction City, or in the Flint Hills region and more in particular, the golf course – we’ve been looking at that,” said McCallister.

City officials have been involved in discussion with the Fort Riley Garrison command team on creating a partnership with Rolling Meadows Golf Course at Milford Lake.

“It’s under very strong consideration,” said McCallister. “Colonel Lawrence is very excited about being able to partner with Junction City and Rolling Meadows, and we are very excited to be able to partner with families and soldiers that continue wanting to play golf.”

For now, McCallister said they are looking at costs and coming to an agreement for a three month span, with the intention to create a fee structure in the future.

“No matter what the cost is, whether it’s a military discount…there could be more rounds in golf, which is a win-win situation the more soldiers and families that want to play golf that cannot at Fort Riley, could play at Rolling Meadows if we partner with the Army, it’s just a win-win situation – they get to play golf and we get more rounds,” said McCallister.

No official agreements have been made at this time.

 

The United States Air Force Academy Band Rampart Winds will perform a free public concert at the Kansas State University School of Music Kirmser Hall on October 19th at 7:30 pm.

Free tickets are available by visiting the Kansas State University box office or by sending a self-addressed stamped envelope with the number of tickets you would like to:  Kansas State University School of Music, ATTN:  USAF Academy Band Rampart Winds, 109 McCain Auditorium, 1501 Goldstein Circle, Manhattan, KS 66506.

Tickets are encouraged, but not required for admission.

You can call 785-532-3831 for more information.

The band features “something for everyone”. Audience members can enjoy a variety of musical styles such as original works, standard and contemporary classical literature, traditional American classics, and patriotic songs.

The USAF Academy seeks to touch lives through the emotional impact of music while displaying the utmost professionalism of the United States Air Force.