The American Red Cross will conduct a blood drive July 23-24 at the Junction City Municipal Building. The hours will be 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the 23rd and8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the 24th.

Coordinators Joyce and Tom McRae noted that right now there is a critical need. Blood donations are being distributed to hospitals as fast as donations are coming in. Donations are urgently needed now to help ensure blood types A, B & O do not go missing.

68th District State Representative Dave Baker will seek another two-year term in the Kansas House of Representatives. Baker has announced that he has filed for reelection.

Baker was first elected in 2016. He said during his time in the House they have gotten the fiscal business of the state in order and state debt is not increasing. He noted that there have been key investments in state government that will help serve the people in Kansas, aand they have made needed reforms in the foster care system.

Baker said decades old lawsuits have been ended, education funding has been crafted to help educate students and support teachers, legislation has been passed to provide another option for health insurance, and the Rural Revitalization Colmmittee is researching solutions to help make rural Kansas a sustainable place to live and work.

Baker added that technology is changing the state and there is a need to establish a workable plan, and how it will be funded. He noted that property is the main issue that constituents have expressed concerns about and there will be changes made in the near future. He said working with other legislators to achieve a positive solution is his goal, and listening to constituents will be critical.

A portion of Junction City and Geary County are included in the area covered by the 68th District.

Thunderstorms moved through the Geary County area Wednesday morning. No major problems have been reported.

Two thunderstorm warnings were in effect for parts of Geary County but they have ended.

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The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm watch until 10 a.m. Wednesday for multiple counties including Geary, Dickinson, Riley, Pottawatomie, Wabaunsee, Douglas, Clay, Ottawa, Washington, Jackson, Jefferson, Marshall, Nemaha, Brown and Shawnee counties.

Junction City, Abilene, Herington, Clay Center, Manhattan, Wamego, Alma and Alta Vista are among the numerous cities included in the watch area.

Thunderstorms swept through north central Kansas early Wednesday morning.

Junction City Public Works has announced that the 2019 Street Maintenance Program is beginning today ( Tuesday ).

Traffic on Caroline Avenue will be inconvenienced during road improvements since the contractor will be milling the roadway. Motorists need to follow the posted work zone signs and pay attention to the construction traffic.

The area being milled is on Caroline Avenue from Ash Street to St. Marys Road.

Access to all home owners within the affected area will be provided.

The work involved in the project will consist of milling two inches of existing roadway for the new two inch asphalt overlay, and some curb and gutter replacement.

Junction City Public Works personnel are repairing a failed sanitary storm drain pipe in the 500 block of North Eisenhower Drive. As a result Eisenhower Drive will be closed from 6th Street to 5th Street.

The Public Works Department reported that Eisenhower Drive traffic will be inconvenienced during  the road repairs. Motorists will need to follow the posted detour and work zone signs, and pay attention to the construction traffic.

Access will be provided for home owners and businesses in impacted  block.