Apostolic Academy reports that their students will be the first to use a new gym floor being installed in Riddle Hall on Rucker Road. The Hall is part of the Westberg Education Complex, which includes the school, gymnasium, a bus barn and ball field.
The floor is a tile grid system made of composite material purchased from Sport Court. The wheat colored flooring with gold trim is designed to overlay the existing gymnasium floor. Basketball and volleyball courts are outlined in orange.
Riddle Hall is used by the school and for church events, banquets and receptions plus a variety of small group activities.
The seventh annual Wounded Warrior Family Support Tour made its way through Junction City this afternoon and was met with a modest turnout.
Sapp Brothers nationwide has partnered with the Wounded Warriors Family Support High Five Tour.
General Manager of the Junction City Sapp Brothers location Rachelle Wickline said that anyone is welcome to come and just hang out and enjoy the free food.
“What we’re doing is taking this car across the country, it will actually criss cross the country four times…what we’re doing is asking for a minimum five dollar donation to sign the car,” said Sandy Bentch, Event Coordinator.
Bentch said they have a goal of raising $1 million to provide mobility equipped vehicles to wounded veterans.
After the tour stop in Junction City, the car will head to Salina later this afternoon.
The car can be signed at the Sapp Brothers in Junction City until 1:00 Monday afternoon.
To learn more about the Wounded Warriors Family Support, to track the car as it travels across the country, or if you are a combat veteran or know one in need of services please visit https://www.wwfs.org/.
MANHATTAN — The Pride of Wildcat Land, the Kansas State University Marching Band, will be joined by band alumni and high school bands from across the state for Band Day at the football game Saturday, Sept. 24, between the Wildcats and Missouri State.
The more than 2,000 performers on the field during halftime of the game will represent past, present and future members of the Pride of Wildcat Land, said Frank Tracz, professor of music and director of bands at Kansas State University.
“Band Day is a wonderful way to not only showcase the band, but the university as well,” Tracz said. “We bring students onto our campus who have never been here before, expose them to great people, and provide them with an experience that they will enjoy and remember for a long, long time. And, in many cases, we light the ‘purple fire’ within these young people to give us a good look for their future education.”
The 2016 Band Day song selections include “March of the Resistance,” “Uma Thurman,” “1812 Overture” and the well-loved “Wabash Cannonball” and “Wildcat Victory.”
The following high school bands are scheduled to participate in Band Day:
Wabaunsee High School, Alma; Great Bend High School, Great Bend; Halstead High School, Halstead; Herrington Junior-Senior High, Herrington; Junction City High School and St. Xavier Catholic High School, both inJunction City; Lincoln Junior-Senior High School, Lincoln; Manhattan High School, Manhattan; Marysville High School,Marysville; Jayhawk-Linn High School, Mound City; Mulvane High School, Mulvane; Pretty Prairie Junior-Senior High School, Pretty Prairie; Blue Valley High School, Randolph; Riley County High School, Riley; Rossville Junior-Senior High School, Rossville; Rock Creek High School, St. George; Scott Community High School, Scott City; Spearville High School, Spearville; Remington High School, Whitewater; and Jefferson County North,Winchester.
TOPEKA — Jennifer M. Farr, a fifth-grade teacher at Lincoln Elementary School in Junction City (Geary County Schools Unified School District 475), and Lori J. Stratton, a high school English and reading teacher at Wamego High School (Wamego USD 320), were named Region 1 finalists for the 2017 Kansas Teacher of the Year award during a ceremony held Saturday, Sept. 10, in Salina. This award recognizes excellent teaching in the elementary and secondary classrooms of the state.
As finalists for the Kansas Teacher of the Year distinction, Farr and Stratton each received a $2,000 cash award from Security Benefit, the major corporate partner for the Kansas Teacher of the Year program. In addition, they are each now eligible to be named Kansas Teacher of the Year, which will be announced during ceremonies in Wichita on Nov. 19.
Farr and Stratton were among six Teacher of the Year semifinalists from Region 1, which covers the first U.S. congressional district.
Other semifinalists were John Wolters, a sixth-grade mathematics and English/writing teacher at Amanda Arnold Elementary School in Manhattan (Manhattan-Ogden USD 383); April Baugh, an elementary physical education and health teacher at Linn Elementary School in Dodge City (Dodge City USD 443); Jessica Bowman, a high school journalism and English teacher at Canton-Galva Junior-Senior High School in Canton (Canton-Galva USD 419); and Kelly Knedler, a high school choral and vocal music teacher at Dodge City High School (Dodge City USD 443).
Each of the semifinalists received a red marble apple with a wooden base, compliments of The Master Teacher in Manhattan.
This year, 103 educators across the state were nominated for the Kansas Teacher of the Year distinction.
Nominations are made in each of four regions in the state. The Kansas State Department of Education, sponsor of the Kansas Teacher of the Year program, appoints regional selection panels comprised of teachers, education administrators and higher education representatives to select semifinalists and finalists from each region.
Each panel selects six semifinalists — three elementary teachers and three secondary teachers. From those semifinalists, the panel in each region then selects one elementary finalist and one secondary finalist. The Kansas Teacher of the Year is selected from among the state’s eight regional finalists.
The mission of the Kansas Teacher of the Year program is to build and utilize a network of exemplary teachers who are leaders in the improvement of schools, student performance and the teaching profession.
The Kansas Teacher of the Year team, comprised of the Teacher of the Year and state finalists, serve as ambassadors for education in Kansas, making public appearances across the state promoting education and the teaching profession.
The individual selected as the Kansas Teacher of the Year is eligible for national distinction as National Teacher of the Year.
The National Teacher of the Year program is a project of the Council of Chief State School Officers in partnership with the Voya Foundation.
Approximately 1,500 apple pies were made over a four-day period by about 150 volunteers per day for the annual Apple Day event at Fort Riley.
Pie Queen Lauren Bolen noted that funds raised from the sale of the pies help finance the Historical and Archaeological Society of Fort Riley activities. “Use the funds to help with different projects around Fort Riley to help preserve and share the history of the area with the general public.”
Boxes of apple pies and raw apples were sold during the event. “We get a lot of people online that are just excited and they look forward to it every year. ” In one case an entire group of Boy Scouts from Shawnee, Kansas came through the apple pie line.
Other activities at the event ranged from historical reenactments to youth performances. Apple Day typically attracts several thousand visitors to Fort Riley.
A General George Armstrong Custer historical reenator was among those participating in Apple Day.
Today was a day of remembrance – 15 years later, the terrorist attacks that took place on September 11, 2001 are etched in to our memories forever.
Bradley White, Lieutenant Paramedic of the Junction City Fire Department, was the keynote speaker at the 9/11 Commemoration Ceremony held in Heritage Park Sunday afternoon.
“September 11, 2001 – a day that stands in many of our minds present here today, whether it brings you back to where you were when time seemed to stand still,” said White. “Whether you were sitting in your school classroom or over your morning coffee in the firehouse…many of us here remember the terrible day that not only changed the lives of a few thousand families…it is an event, a significant piece of our recent history that has somehow or someway changed all of our lives.”
Vice Mayor/City Commissioner Phyllis Fitzgerald was the emcee for the event whom reflected on her memories from that day.
“Today is a day for all of us to remember, to reflect, and serve our nation and our communities,” said Fitzgerald.
Junction City Police Chief Dan Breci and Fire Chief Rick Rook took part in a special wreath ceremony as a part of the 9/11 Commemoration.
First responders from Junction City, Grandview Plaza, Fort Riley, Geary and Dickinson counties were in attendance in what turned out to be a community thank you to the servicemen and women.
After the benediction, Fitzgerald had one request of everyone in attendance: “If you see a soldier, if you see a fireman, if you see a policeman – shake their hand and tell them thank you.”
What many remember as a somber day in history turned out to be one of appreciation, support and love for the community – hand shakes, hugs and photographs were shared amongst all in Heritage Park.
The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 affected Americans globally in a way that no other tragedy in our modern era had previously.
Melissa Stifter, wife of late Sgt Joseph Stifter
Where were you when terrorists hijacked planes and declared war on our country; little did any of us know, it would submerge the United States in to the longest conflict in history.
“No mission to difficult, no sacrifice too great – duty first; the motto of the 1st Infantry Division is perhaps the most fitting way to describe the heroic actions of our nation, our first responders, our army and our Big Red One soldiers and families,” said Deputy Commanding General Patrick Frank, 1st Infantry Division.
Melissa Stifter recalled being in high school on September 11, 2001 – but she did not foresee the direct impact the war on terror would have on her future family.
“He was a strong man, and he was older when he joined the military, but he wanted to be able to help [his country],” said Stifter tearfully remembering her late husband SGT Joseph F. Stifter Bravo Battery, 1st Battalion, 7th Field Artillery, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Tea, 1st Infantry Division.
SGT Stifter died in combat in Iraq on January 28, 2016.
J. Stifter was amongst those honored in the 9/11 Commemoration Ceremony on Fort Riley Sunday morning; many soldiers whom knew Sgt Stifter personally were in attendance.
“We were pretty close, all of us that were in Iraq [together] were really close” said SSG Tylor Enright, Bravo 1st Battalion, 7th Field Artillery, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division. “He was very loving, very dedicated, and he was a soldier…we all miss Sgt Stifter…but we know that he is smiling down on us right now and that he appreciates everything that everybody is doing for him and his family.”
J. Stifter’s name was added to a memorial with the names of 214 other soldiers from the 1st Infantry Division at Fort Riley that paid the ultimate sacrifice in the war on terror.
“The soldiers that we lost…those soldiers still remain a part of the 1st Infantry Division; just as we always say in our Warrior Ethos, ‘no comrade is left behind’, and we truly believe that – that’s why we have ceremonies like we had here today where we honor the sacrifice of those soldiers that we lost from the 1st Infantry Division and we continue to keep their families as a part of our family here at 1 id,” said Deputy Commanding General of the 1st Infantry Division, General Patrick Frank.
In the midst of the heart-wrenching ceremony remembering the lives of the many fallen heroes, there was the smile and innocence of a child – Olivia Stifter – that gave everyone a little hope.
“It will be tough to explain [it] to her, but I think [ceremonies like this] will help her understand and help her realize how great of a dad she had,” said Melissa Stifter, mother to Olivia who will be three in October.
The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 didn’t end on that day, they didn’t end with the collapse of two buildings – they took the lives of countless civilians, first responders and military personnel.
To all of those working day in and day out toward keeping us safe – thank you for your tireless, selfless duty to our cities, counties, states and our nation – thank you.
**Gold Star lapel pins are presented to surviving spouses, parents and immediate family members of military personnel killed in combat.**
1st Infantry Division officials and Fort Riley are preparing for the 100th anniversary of the Big Red One in 2017.
In a premiere event, Major General Wayne Grigsby Jr. and Division Command Sergeant Major Joseph Cornelison will travel to West Point this weekend for the Army vs. Rice football game. The commanding general and members of the 1st Infantry Division Band will play a role in several events highlighting the 1st Infantry Division.
The game kicks off at 11 a.m. and will be televised nationally on CBSSN ( CBS Sports Network ). You can watch it on Cox Cable, Channel 260, Direct TV channel 221, and on DISH TV on Channel 158.
Major General Grigsby will lead the Army team as they run onto the field just before kickoff. The Army team will run out with the 1st Infantry Division flag, the Black Knights Parachute Team will fly in the 1st Infantry Division flag, the 1st ID Spirit video will play during a commercial break in the first quarter, and LTC Dave Siry will discuss a short history of the Big Red One during a commercial break in the second quarter.
At halftime the 1st Infantry Division Band will join the West Point Band and NYPD Police Band in performances that pay tribute to our heroes and first responders.
