With an Army that is continuously evolving and becoming more technologically advanced, Soldiers and civilians from the local community gathered for a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new unmanned aircraft system facility May 2 at Fort Riley’s Marshall Army Airfield.

The facility is home to Company F,1st Attack Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Aviation Regiment, 1st Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Infantry Division.

Col. John M. Cyrulik, commander of the 1st CAB, reflected on the first hangars built on Fort Riley more than 90 years ago. He said those original facilities housed canvas and plywood biplanes, which at the time were cutting-edge technology.

Cyrulik said the world-class aviation training and maintenance facility will support the latest in advanced aviation technologies, the MQ-1C Gray Eagle unmanned aircraft system and the “Phoenix” company Soldiers that are responsible for operating and maintaining the systems.

“This is the result of years of effort by many dedicated men and women of our Fort Riley and ‘Big Red One’ team and continued support by local, state, federal officials and partners,” Cyrulik said.

Maj. Gen. Wayne W. Grigsby Jr., 1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley commanding general, agreed with Cyrulik.

“This is historic event that took many people to pull off,” Grigsby said. “This is just one more example of how our combined efforts make Fort Riley the best place to live, train, deploy from and come home to in the Army.”

Grigsby said Fort Riley has a surprising link to aviation history, in spite of being a cavalry post.

Grigsby dove further into history, stating that in 1921, the Fort Riley Flying Field was selected as a cross-country refueling point and the home of the 16th Observation Squadron. The location and proximity to the Smokey Hill Flats and the Kansas River was ideal for both the Army and local residents. Once the facilities and hangars were completed in 1923, it was proclaimed Marshall Field after Brig. Gen. Francis C. Marshall, the assistant chief of cavalry, who died in a plane crash in 1922.

“Now, Marshall Army Airfield is the place where Army aviation will forge a foundation of training and tactics that will take advantage of the enhanced and modern technological advances in aviation,” Grigsby said. “It will extend the commander’s battlefield, decrease the risk to air assets and improve aviators’ situational awareness without compromising their attack positions.”

Grigsby said this hangar and the entire Aviation Center of Excellence demonstrate the hard work leaders and the community have put into making sure Soldiers have the very best training before they go into combat.

Sgt. Jarrett Allen

1st ID Public Affairs

The Acting U.S. Attorney has issued a news release that includes the federal indictment of David Lee McKinney, 24, Junction City on three counts. The allegations include Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking, and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm Following a Felony Conviction.

The crimes are alleged to have occurred December 29, 2015 in Geary County.

If there is a conviction, count one carries a possible maximum penalty of 20 years, count two a penalty of not less than five years and a fine up to $250,000, and count three a maximum possible penalty of 10 years and a fine up to $250,000.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Federal court documents show that a 29-year-old Topeka man plans to plead guilty to a conspiracy charge in connection with a plot last year to bomb the Fort Riley military base.

Alexander E. Blair’s attorney filed a request Thursday to change the not guilty plea entered for him last year by a federal magistrate.

A change-of-plea hearing is May 23.

Blair is charged with helping 21-year-old John T. Booker Jr. of Topeka in planning to plant a bomb outside the Army installation in northeast Kansas to aid the Islamic State group.

Blair could face up to three years in prison.

Booker pleaded guilty in February to two charges under an agreement with prosecutors calling for him to spend 30 years in prison. He has not yet been sentenced.

WASHINGTON (AP) – Michelle Obama says the next White House occupant should keep making it a national priority to support service members, veterans and their families.

Mrs. Obama and Jill Biden created a nationwide initiative called “Joining Forces” in 2011 to support active-duty and retired service members and their families. It includes finding jobs for retiring and returning veterans and helping spouses transfer professional licenses when they move to another state.

The first lady announced Thursday that 40 companies have pledged to hire more than 110,000 veterans and military spouses over the next five years.

Online retailer Amazon says it will hire 25,000 veterans and military spouses during that time.

KDOT is working this Thursday and Friday on a box underpass on Crider Road where it goes under I-70.

Geary County Emergency Management Director Garry Berges said Crider Road is shut down from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days from Easy Jack Road to Old 40 Highway. It will be reopened when KDOT is not working on the scene.

I-70 traffic will not be impacted. KDOT will have a bucket truck under the interstate since some of the concrete roof is falling down.

There will be a warming trend through the end of the week with highs in the 80’s by Friday, according to the National Weather Service of Topeka. There is a chance for strong to severe storms beginning on Saturday afternoon and lasting through Monday. Heavy rainfall and flooding will also be possible Saturday night through Sunday.

Today: Sunny. Highs in the upper 70s. Northwest winds up to 5 mph shifting to the north in the afternoon.

Tonight: Clear. Lows around 50. Southeast winds up to 5 mph shifting to the south after midnight.

Friday: Sunny. Highs in the mid 80s. South winds 5 to 15 mph.

Friday Night: Mostly clear. Lows around 60. South winds 5 to 15 mph.

Saturday: Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 80s. Southwest winds 5 to 15 mph.

Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy with a 50 percent chance of rain showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the upper 50s.

Sunday: Partly sunny with a 50 percent chance of rain showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 70s.

Sunday Night: Rain showers and thunderstorms likely. Lows in the upper 50s. Chance of precipitation 60 percent.

Monday: Partly sunny with a 50 percent chance of rain showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 70s.

Monday Night: Mostly cloudy with a 50 percent chance of rain showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the mid 50s.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny with a 40 percent chance of rain showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 70s.

Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy in the evening then becoming mostly cloudy. A 30 percent chance of rain showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the mid 50s.

Wednesday: Partly sunny with a 30 percent chance of rain showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the lower 70s.

The Junction City Commission has adopted a resolution forming a Food Policy Council.

Mayor Mick McCallister said it important for the community. “we fully support that resolution so they ( organizations ) can get more grant funding.”

McCallister said the Food Policy Council brings all the organizations in the city that have a policy for food under one umbrella. This will allow policy and a board to determine grant funding, a plan for future action, and how to fill existing gaps.

A marketing plan is developed for the Junction City Land Bank.

The Director of Planning and Zoning David Yearout said the Board of Directors for the Land Bank authorized staff to prepare an agreement with the Board of Realtors to work with the realtors to market Land Bank lots. “We’ll enter into an agreement with them regarding paying commissions if they’ll bring us sales and also information that we’ve gathered up and make it available to them.” The goal is to make more information available to the buying public about what is occurring in Junction City.

There are numerous vacant housing lots on the west side of the city that are included in the Land Bank and are available for sale.