The 12th annual Friends of Animals Pet Fair & Walk for Life will be held April 16 at the Geary County 4-H Senior Citizens Center at 1025 South Spring Valley Road.

You can bring your pet for numerous pet friendly activities. They include a low cost vaccination clinic, pet products, vendors, walk for life, a silent auction, pooch pie eating contest, pet memorial balloon release, doggy derby, horse drawn carriage rides, photo booth, caricature artist, raffles, games, and food & beverages.

Admission is $2, and that includes lunch.

The event will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on April 16.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback has until April 8 to act on a school funding plan approved by legislators in hopes of satisfying a recent state Supreme Court order.

The Republican-dominated Legislature delivered the bill to the GOP governor’s office Tuesday. The state constitution gives Brownback 10 days to review the measure.

Lawmakers approved the bill last week to give the Supreme Court adequate time to review it.

The high court ruled last month that the state isn’t giving poor districts their fair share of more than $4 billion in annual state aid. The justices said lawmakers had until June 30 to fix the problems and threatened to shut down schools statewide.

The plan redistributes $83 million in aid for the 2016-17 but prevents any school district from losing money.

Army IT management regionalized at Fort Riley
By Margaret Ziffer
Fort Riley Public Affairs

To keep up with major information technology advancements over the past decade, the U.S. Army’s IT management program has evolved to stay ahead of the changes.  The latest strategy-regionalization-is evolving at Fort Riley, Kansas, with the expansion of the Network Enterprise Center, or NEC.

The regionalization process started in late 2014 and divided Army
installations into eight sections across the United States.  It was then
when Fort Riley became home to the Midwest regional NEC.  Eventually, every Department of Defense installation with a NEC located within the Midwest region will fall under Fort Riley’s regional management.

It didn’t take long after the stand-up of the NECs that the Army started
thinking one step further-about “regionalization and what the command and control structure should look like,” said Robert Windham, Fort Riley’s NEC Midwest regional director.  “Our name changed, but it was more than a name change, it was a cultural change.  There was a complete change in mindset on the part of both employees and leaders.  I wouldn’t even say it was an evolution-it was more like a revolution.”

The goal of regionalization is to streamline IT processes and services, to
help save taxpayer dollars and minimize the effects of tight budgets and
personnel shortages.  The Midwest regional campus at Fort Riley will take over many of the functions currently being performed at individual
installations, increasing efficiency.

“Right now, every post, camp and station has their own campus area network,” Windham said.  “Every post, camp and station has network people.  At every post, camp and station you have somebody who is responsible to scan the network looking for vulnerabilities and another person who takes those results and applies patches.  At every post, camp and station, there is somebody who images computers.

“So instead of every post, camp and station trying to do everything, they
can concentrate on core things,” Windham added.  “We know we can’t always hit every computer, so (even with personnel cuts) there will still be some people (at individual locations).  But that’s how we go toward compensating for losing people-by leveraging technology and the network.”

But leveraging technology does not necessarily mean personnel cuts for
everyone.  Even though some positions at other installations are going away due to downsizing, Fort Riley’s NEC workforce is growing, specifically, with higher-level positions in the GS-11 to GS-13 pay grades.  These positions are critical to fill in order for Fort Riley’s NEC to fully assume its role as a regional headquarters.

“A typical organization has a pyramid structure-there’s a few high-graded jobs at the top and a lot of lower-graded jobs at the bottom.  What’s happening at Fort Riley is that the pyramid is getting a little more like this,” Windham explained, shaping his hands like a V.

Fort Riley’s new authorizations will be filled by identifying people at
other NECs who are impacted by reductions and interested in relocating to the Flint Hills.  Those employees will be have priority for hiring at Fort Riley and, afterward, remaining jobs will be advertised to the public.

“There have been a lot of jobs advertised and we have a number of people that are coming here from other installations.  That’s good for us and for the local communities because it brings in families that otherwise may have never been here in Kansas or in the Flint Hills Region,” Windham said.

He added that the process of regionalization is good news for Army civilians looking for a future in the IT field because it provides increased
opportunities for upward mobility.

“There are three kinds of people-people who have a job, people who have a job and recognize it’s a career, and people working for the Army who consider it a profession.  So for those last two, this is a great thing,” he said.

NECs are capable of providing a wide variety of services to their
installations, ranging from the obvious-computers, desktops, the network-to other systems people might not expect, such as programming and running radios for law enforcement, firefighters and military police, and a variety of security services, IT-related services and traditional security services.

Anyone interested in applying for a position at the Midwest regional NEC
should visit www.usajobs.com to see vacancies and submit a resume.

Release from the Kansas Board of Regents

(Topeka, Kansas) – The Kansas Board of Regents met Monday morning by phone to select Regent Dennis Mullin of Manhattan as chair of the Kansas State University Presidential Search Committee. Over the coming weeks, steps will be taken to finalize the committee’s membership and charge for this closed search.

“It will be important for all parts of the K-State community to be represented, including students, faculty, staff, alumni, athletics, endowment, and the wider Manhattan community,” stated Regent Mullin. “I am looking forward to working on behalf of the entire Wildcat family to find the next president of this great university.”

The Board is reviewing candidates for the position of Interim President, with plans to make a decision within the next couple of weeks.

Addressing the accomplishments of President Schulz, Regent Shane Bangerter, chair of the Kansas Board of Regents, began:

“The mission of Kansas State University is to foster excellent teaching, research, and service to advance the well-being of Kansas and the nation.” He continued, “The Board is greatly appreciative of President Kirk Schulz and the time he spent at Kansas State University, where under his watch, K-State has achieved record levels in research expenditures, overall student enrollment, and student body diversity. For the fourth consecutive year, private giving has exceeded $100 million, demonstrating an ongoing belief by countless individuals in the direction of this historic university. A true champion of strategic planning, President Schulz has done wonderful things for this university and the entire state of Kansas, setting the institution in the right direction to create the workforce tomorrow’s economy will need. We wish him well as his journey in higher education continues.”

Junction City police have reported the arrest of a 66-year old Texas man, Edward Colyer, on suspicion of Drug Proceeds and Speeding. The arrest occurred just after 6 p.m. Monday at mile marker 304 on I-70 five miles east of Junction City.

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The JCPD reported the arrest of three people at 1810 Caroline Avenue just before 1 a.m. Tuesday. They included Akeem Davis, 21, and Kassadie Davis, 21, both of Junction City on suspicion of Possession of Marijuana with Intent, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Aggravated Child Endangerment.  Also arrested was Richard Goodrum Jr., 20, Junction City on suspicion of Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Unsettled weather the next couple of days with increasing chances for storms through mid-week according to the National Weather Service of Topeka. Scattered showers may be seen this morning, with more chances for showers and thunderstorms overnight tonight. Wednesday has the best potential for strong to severe storms, mainly east of a Hanover to Junction City to Herington line associated with a frontal passage. These storms will have the potential to produce damaging winds, large hail, and a tornado cannot be ruled out. There are still some uncertainties in the specifics of this system, so stay tuned for any updates.

Today: Breezy. Mostly cloudy. A 20 percent chance of rain showers in the morning. Highs in the mid 60s. South winds 15 to 25 mph with gusts to around 35 mph.

Tonight: Breezy. Mostly cloudy. A 20 percent chance of rain showers and thunderstorms after midnight. Lows in the mid 50s. South winds 15 to 25 mph.

Wednesday: Mostly cloudy in the morning then becoming mostly sunny. A 40 percent chance of rain showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 70s. South winds 15 to 20 mph with gusts to around 30 mph.

Wednesday Night: Colder. Partly cloudy with chance of rain showers and thunderstorms in the evening…then mostly cloudy with slight chance of rain showers after midnight. Lows around 40. West winds 10 to 15 mph with gusts to around 25 mph. Chance of precipitation 30 percent.

Thursday: Cooler. Mostly sunny. Highs around 60. Northwest winds around 15 mph with gusts to around 25 mph.

Thursday Night: Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 30s.

Friday: Sunny. Highs in the lower 50s.

Friday Night: Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 30s.

Saturday: Warmer…sunny. Highs in the upper 60s.

Saturday Night: Clear. Lows in the lower 40s.

Sunday: Sunny. Highs in the lower 70s.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 40s.

Monday: Sunny. Highs in the lower 70s

MANHATTAN- Trial has been set for a Kansas man in a fatal traffic accident that killed his 6-year-old daughter.

Joshua Mall, 39, of Riley, KS, appeared in Riley County court on Monday for an arraignment.

He was arrested for 2nd degree murder following an accident on October 5, 2015.

Police in Manhattan reported Mall lost control while driving his 2001 Ford Ranger in the 2400 block of Tuttle Creek Boulevard. Mall collided into a 2013 Chevy Cruz, and immediately left the roadway and collided with a tree.

A child in the Ford, Madilyn Mall, 6, Riley, was transported to Via Christi where she died.

Mall plead not guilty to charges of murder in the 2nd degree, involuntary manslaughter while driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, possession of a controlled substance, transportation of alcohol in an open container and transporting a child without safety seat or restraints.

A four-day trial was scheduled for August 23-26.

The new fifth movie screen is now open at the B&B Junction City Gem Theatre.

Clint Francis, Bramlage Investments, said they had a space adjacent to the theatre that was vacant. “We were able to put a fifth screen in there. It’s a smaller house, but it allow us to put an extra movie in each week.” There are 37 seats in that particular auditorium.

Francis said the new theatre looks similar to the other four, but it has stadium seating. That means there is a sloped floor with each row stepping up seven inches.

The financing for the project was provided by a partnership between Bramlage Investments and B&B Theatres.

The Flint Hills Regional Leadership Program, Class of 2015-16, will collaborate with the 12th Street Community Center to plan and implement Junction City’s first community garden.

Class member Kaitlin McGuire said the Flint Hills Regional Leadership Program’s goal is to develop the skills of future leaders to help make the Flint Hills region the best place in Kansas to live, work, and raise their children. The class hopes to continue that vision by creating a garden in the community that will bring people together, build community leaders, and foster the development of community identity and spirit.

A groundbreaking ceremony for the garden will be held Thursday, A[pril 21 at 2 p.m. at the 12th Street Community Center, 1002 West 12th Street. On Friday, May13, the leadership class will host students USD 475 who will be taught leadership skills and have a hand in constructing the garden for a ribbon cutting and grand opening ceremony later that day.

The garden site will consist of eight garden plots which can be broken up into smaller plots if needed. By-laws and a Board of Directors to oversee the garden are in the process of being created. Initially plots will be allocated to groups and organizations to manage, with plots for families and individuals opening in the future. Some produce from the plots will be used to benefit community programs.

The project team is looking for supplies, donations, and volunteers to make the garden a success. So far community support has been evident. Those organizations and businesses who have provided support include Bayer Construction, Blueville Nursery, Central National Bank, City of Junction City, Corvias Military Living, Geary County Extension Office, Home Lumber Floors To Go, Kansas State University Agronomy, Orscheln Farm & Home. and Waters True Value.

For more information or to see how you can contribute contact McGuire at 785-762-2632. You can visit the Garden’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/12garden.