Seven times in the past ten years the Junction City Brigade have won the Mid Plains League's Cowdin Cup championship. One of those titles was achieved in 2023.

During a sponsor thank you dinner Thursday night the Brigade General Manager Cecil Aska noted that attendance and spending for Brigade games at Rathert Field were up. Total attendance was calculated at 5,742, the third highest ever for a Brigade season.&nbsp;

According to the numbers compiled for the summer collegiate baseball team game day revenue totaled $42,813, salaries paid $25,234 and purchases made totaling $130,891. An average out of town visitor spends $70 a day which creates $356,790 in new dollars. There were approximately 230 of those visitors that stayed overnight.

Over the 11 years of the Brigade's existence the fan count for attending their games at Rathert Field has totaled a combined 50,962.

There will be a new head coach for the Brigade in 2024. Aska confirmed that the new coach will be Chandler Bloomer, an assistant coach for Barton County Community College in Great Bend. He will succeed Garret Francis who received a promotion at Coffeyville Community College.

Aska reported that two teams will not play in the Mid Plains League in 2024 including the Sabetha Bravos and Topeka Farmers. That leaves the conference with five teams. As a result some other teams have been added to the Brigade schedule such as the U.S. Military WarDogs and the Great Bend Bat Cats.

You can expect to see improvements at Rathert Field this summer, with the beer garden looking a little different, hopefully with some shade. There have been preliminary conversations between Brigade and city officials on that topic.

Aska also indicated that the University of Kansas wants to send three or four players to compete for the Brigade this summer.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1706238656614.jpeg" alt="Junction City Brigade General Manager Cecil Aska" />
 <figcaption>Junction City Brigade General Manager Cecil Aska</figcaption>
 </figure>By Dewey TerrillJC PostSeven times in the past ten years the Junction City Brigade have won the Mid Plains League's Cowdin Cup championship. One of those titles was achieved in 2023.During a sponsor thank you dinner Thursday night the Brigade General Manager Cecil Aska noted that attendance and spending for Brigade games at Rathert Field were up. Total attendance was calculated at 5,742, the third highest ever for a Brigade season.&nbsp;According to the numbers compiled for the summer collegiate baseball team game day revenue totaled $42,813, salaries paid $25,234 and purchases made totaling $130,891. An average out of town visitor spends $70 a day which creates $356,790 in new dollars. There were approximately 230 of those visitors that stayed overnight.Over the 11 years of the Brigade's existence the fan count for attending their games at Rathert Field has totaled a combined 50,962.There will be a new head coach for the Brigade in 2024. Aska confirmed that the new coach will be Chandler Bloomer, an assistant coach for Barton County Community College in Great Bend. He will succeed Garret Francis who received a promotion at Coffeyville Community College.Aska reported that two teams will not play in the Mid Plains League in 2024 including the Sabetha Bravos and Topeka Farmers. That leaves the conference with five teams. As a result some other teams have been added to the Brigade schedule such as the U.S. Military WarDogs and the Great Bend Bat Cats.You can expect to see improvements at Rathert Field this summer, with the beer garden looking a little different, hopefully with some shade. There have been preliminary conversations between Brigade and city officials on that topic.Aska also indicated that the University of Kansas wants to send three or four players to compete for the Brigade this summer.

Brigade celebrate their 2023 year

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jennifer-shutt/">JENNIFER SHUTT</a>,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://stateline.org/2023/11/17/cursive-makes-a-comeback-by-law-in-public-schools/">Stateline</a>

WASHINGTON — Congress has spent more than six years avoiding its responsibility to reauthorize the National Flood Insurance Program, using a series of stopgap bills to extend the life of the program that has issued nearly 5 million policies.

The lackadaisical approach to brokering a five-year reauthorization of the program was one of several topics the U.S. Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee discussed Thursday during a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.banking.senate.gov/hearings/reauthorization-of-the-national-flood-insurance-program-local-perspectives-on-challenges-and-solutions">hearing</a>&nbsp;on challenges local communities have with flooding and the federally run insurance program.

“Flooding is the most common and costly natural disaster facing the country,” said Ohio Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown, chairman of the committee. “It’s devastating to families and businesses and communities in every state.”

The National Flood Insurance Program, he said, is not only responsible for writing policies for homeowners and businesses but for trying to mitigate the impacts of future flooding.

Scott criticizes outdated maps, lack of data

South Carolina Republican Sen. Tim Scott, ranking member on the panel, said that Congress must implement “substantial reforms” when it reauthorizes the NFIP.

“The program is financially insolvent with over $20 billion in debt,” Scott said. “Instead of educating communities and homeowners on the risks they face, the program’s outdated flood maps and lack of transparent data often obscures the risks.”

The NFIP pays out about 30% of its “resources” to roughly 1% of “properties that consistently and repeatedly are flood victims again and again and again,” Scott said.

“That’s an opportunity for us to look to the local communities to create strategies to perhaps not rebuild there,” Scott said, adding that Congress cannot allow the program to lapse.

Scott also noted that at some point lawmakers need to talk about a “comprehensive” approach to catastrophic events, noting that different regions of the country experience different natural disasters like wildfires, tornadoes and hurricanes.

“If you live in America, the fact is simple — we, the taxpayers, have paid out hundreds of billions of dollars over the last 10 years because of catastrophic occurrences,” he said.

Lawmakers need to address how the size and scope of all natural disasters impacting homeowners and the economy, especially when the cost of repairing or rebuilding reaches a level that private insurance companies cannot handle, he said.

“Without that comprehensive approach, we really are missing the target by a mile,” Scott said.

Louisiana GOP Sen. Bill Cassidy said affordability of NFIP policies is becoming increasingly difficult for homeowners or businesses in particularly flood prone areas, including his home state.

“NFIP’s new risk assessment policy called Risk Rating 2.0 has made flood insurance simply impossible to afford; in some cases policies rising over 1,000%,” he said.

“At this point, we know that we’re in an actuarial death spiral, where people will be dropping insurance because they can no longer afford (it); therefore a smaller number of people for whom to put on the risk. Therefore, more expensive premiums and therefore more people drop,” Cassidy added.

Michael Hecht, president &amp; CEO of Greater New Orleans, Inc., testified that the new pricing system for flood insurance has caused some premiums to increase substantially, leading to significant problems for people and business owners who need to operate along the coast.

Hecht told the committee that 50% of U.S. grain exports leave through the port of South Louisiana and that the new pricing should take that into account.

“If our workers cannot live there, this is going to have impacts on our ability to supply America and the world with food,” Hecht said.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency, which manages the NFIP, projects that about 900,000 people will cancel their policies, representing a 20% drop in participants, he said.

Congress should take that into consideration when it reauthorizes the NFIP by requiring a “thorough and holistic analysis of economic impacts, mandating FEMA’s transparency through the release of a usable public facing risk calculator and also a rating appeals process,” Hecht said.

The cap on insurance premium increases should be lowered from 18% to 9%, he said.

Daniel Kaniewski, managing director at Marsh McLennan insurance company, told the committee that hazard mitigation is one of the more important things that Congress can do to address the costs of flooding and recovery.

“Not only does it protect existing homeowners against their existing risk, it helps protect homeowners in the future and …&nbsp; anyone else who purchases that home in the future against future risks,” Kaniewski said. “It also gets at the affordability issue, because if you’ve reduced your risk, you should also be able to reduce your rates.”

Flood insurance out of reach for some families

Steve Patterson, the mayor of Athens, Ohio, told senators that rising prices for some flood insurance policies will price them out of many families’ budgets.

“In Athens and Athens County, the median household income is around $42,000, so it’s much lower than the national average,” Patterson said.

“It is a challenge to have that added burden, especially those who are living within the floodplains within the city and throughout the county,” Patterson added. “It’s going to be an exceptional burden on them to echo the already existing cost of living increases that we’re all experiencing.”

New Jersey Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez said that pricing people out of the National Flood Insurance Program creates issues for those homeowners if they eventually experience flooding as well as for the policyholders left in the NFIP.

“Insurance is about spreading risk, right?” he said. “The wider the pool, the less the costs. The smaller the pool, the higher the cost. And that drives people out at the end of the day.”

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jennifer-shutt/">JENNIFER SHUTT</a>,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://stateline.org/2023/11/17/cursive-makes-a-comeback-by-law-in-public-schools/">Stateline</a>WASHINGTON — Congress has spent more than six years avoiding its responsibility to reauthorize the National Flood Insurance Program, using a series of stopgap bills to extend the life of the program that has issued nearly 5 million policies.The lackadaisical approach to brokering a five-year reauthorization of the program was one of several topics the U.S. Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee discussed Thursday during a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.banking.senate.gov/hearings/reauthorization-of-the-national-flood-insurance-program-local-perspectives-on-challenges-and-solutions">hearing</a>&nbsp;on challenges local communities have with flooding and the federally run insurance program.“Flooding is the most common and costly natural disaster facing the country,” said Ohio Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown, chairman of the committee. “It’s devastating to families and businesses and communities in every state.”The National Flood Insurance Program, he said, is not only responsible for writing policies for homeowners and businesses but for trying to mitigate the impacts of future flooding.<h2>Scott criticizes outdated maps, lack of data</h2>South Carolina Republican Sen. Tim Scott, ranking member on the panel, said that Congress must implement “substantial reforms” when it reauthorizes the NFIP.“The program is financially insolvent with over $20 billion in debt,” Scott said. “Instead of educating communities and homeowners on the risks they face, the program’s outdated flood maps and lack of transparent data often obscures the risks.”The NFIP pays out about 30% of its “resources” to roughly 1% of “properties that consistently and repeatedly are flood victims again and again and again,” Scott said.“That’s an opportunity for us to look to the local communities to create strategies to perhaps not rebuild there,” Scott said, adding that Congress cannot allow the program to lapse.Scott also noted that at some point lawmakers need to talk about a “comprehensive” approach to catastrophic events, noting that different regions of the country experience different natural disasters like wildfires, tornadoes and hurricanes.“If you live in America, the fact is simple — we, the taxpayers, have paid out hundreds of billions of dollars over the last 10 years because of catastrophic occurrences,” he said.Lawmakers need to address how the size and scope of all natural disasters impacting homeowners and the economy, especially when the cost of repairing or rebuilding reaches a level that private insurance companies cannot handle, he said.“Without that comprehensive approach, we really are missing the target by a mile,” Scott said.<h2>Louisiana flooding</h2>Louisiana GOP Sen. Bill Cassidy said affordability of NFIP policies is becoming increasingly difficult for homeowners or businesses in particularly flood prone areas, including his home state.“NFIP’s new risk assessment policy called Risk Rating 2.0 has made flood insurance simply impossible to afford; in some cases policies rising over 1,000%,” he said.“At this point, we know that we’re in an actuarial death spiral, where people will be dropping insurance because they can no longer afford (it); therefore a smaller number of people for whom to put on the risk. Therefore, more expensive premiums and therefore more people drop,” Cassidy added.Michael Hecht, president &amp; CEO of Greater New Orleans, Inc., testified that the new pricing system for flood insurance has caused some premiums to increase substantially, leading to significant problems for people and business owners who need to operate along the coast.Hecht told the committee that 50% of U.S. grain exports leave through the port of South Louisiana and that the new pricing should take that into account.“If our workers cannot live there, this is going to have impacts on our ability to supply America and the world with food,” Hecht said.The Federal Emergency Management Agency, which manages the NFIP, projects that about 900,000 people will cancel their policies, representing a 20% drop in participants, he said.Congress should take that into consideration when it reauthorizes the NFIP by requiring a “thorough and holistic analysis of economic impacts, mandating FEMA’s transparency through the release of a usable public facing risk calculator and also a rating appeals process,” Hecht said.The cap on insurance premium increases should be lowered from 18% to 9%, he said.Daniel Kaniewski, managing director at Marsh McLennan insurance company, told the committee that hazard mitigation is one of the more important things that Congress can do to address the costs of flooding and recovery.“Not only does it protect existing homeowners against their existing risk, it helps protect homeowners in the future and …&nbsp; anyone else who purchases that home in the future against future risks,” Kaniewski said. “It also gets at the affordability issue, because if you’ve reduced your risk, you should also be able to reduce your rates.”<h2>Flood insurance out of reach for some families</h2>Steve Patterson, the mayor of Athens, Ohio, told senators that rising prices for some flood insurance policies will price them out of many families’ budgets.“In Athens and Athens County, the median household income is around $42,000, so it’s much lower than the national average,” Patterson said.“It is a challenge to have that added burden, especially those who are living within the floodplains within the city and throughout the county,” Patterson added. “It’s going to be an exceptional burden on them to echo the already existing cost of living increases that we’re all experiencing.”New Jersey Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez said that pricing people out of the National Flood Insurance Program creates issues for those homeowners if they eventually experience flooding as well as for the policyholders left in the NFIP.“Insurance is about spreading risk, right?” he said. “The wider the pool, the less the costs. The smaller the pool, the higher the cost. And that drives people out at the end of the day.”

Major changes in federal flood insurance program urged by U.S. Senate panel

High school seniors and current Kansas college students have until Friday, March 15, 2024, to apply for one of two $1,000 scholarships from Kansas Wheat honoring industry leaders Herb Clutter and David Radenberg. The scholarships — each worth $1,000 — continue a proud tradition of supporting the future of the Kansas wheat industry.&nbsp;

“Inspired by the enduring legacies of Herb Clutter and David Radenberg, Kansas Wheat is proud to help empower the next generation of the Kansas wheat industry,” said Justin Gilpin, CEO of Kansas Wheat. “Through these scholarships, we honor the passion of these industry leaders and help to provide opportunities for future leaders in agriculture.”

Administered by the Kansas Association of Wheat Growers (KAWG), the Herb Clutter Memorial Scholarship will award one $1,000 scholarship per year to a college or university-bound incoming freshman from Kansas pursuing a career in the field of agriculture. To be eligible for the scholarship, applicants must plan to be a full-time student at any two or four-year Kansas college or university.&nbsp;

Recipients will be selected based on academic achievement, leadership qualities and career objectives focused around the field of agriculture. The scholarship will be toward tuition for the student’s college or university education. The scholarship is non-renewable.

The Herb Clutter Memorial Scholarship was established in 2009 to honor Herb Clutter’s influential role in organizing leadership groups on behalf of Kansas wheat producers, and is supported by the generosity of the Herb Clutter family. Herbert W. Clutter was a farmer from Holcomb and the first president of the National Association of Wheat Growers, which was established in 1948. Clutter encouraged Kansas wheat farmers to organize as a strong, unified voice, which led to the formation of the Kansas Association of Wheat Growers in 1952. He encouraged research in education and industrial uses of wheat, improved variety development and methods to produce the best product at the lowest cost. Clutter’s efforts led to the formation of the Kansas Wheat Commission by the Kansas legislature in 1957.

Apply for the Herb Clutter Memorial Scholarship by completing the scholarship application at&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001L5o7XaHeHIr6pEdfj3nmFZEXL3EuWSHUIaGOTiE797rkNhxbbhxaUKxunF0WAtvtCjHoiXV_sYrvRoG2CVDBtDhrNoYDP-wHkA0NTd8KD1Q_PXaHwHLDLaABV0Xx6ewbp0wGDrF5O6IMCVDaw5TEBw==&amp;c=rmEVSClHGq2zmWPJLZ6yxRENSwl9vhVEUEbPBKVjvnl8Eb4c4cCoQg==&amp;ch=4Da59yiqjX4-IhXZ3Bf1fK1C4hFSyqwnWDmaxVCImLDqP-Ox0nP8RQ==" target="_blank">kswheat.com/clutter</a><a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001L5o7XaHeHIr6pEdfj3nmFZEXL3EuWSHUIaGOTiE797rkNhxbbhxaUKxunF0WAtvtCjHoiXV_sYrvRoG2CVDBtDhrNoYDP-wHkA0NTd8KD1Q_PXaHwHLDLaABV0Xx6ewbp0wGDrF5O6IMCVDaw5TEBw==&amp;c=rmEVSClHGq2zmWPJLZ6yxRENSwl9vhVEUEbPBKVjvnl8Eb4c4cCoQg==&amp;ch=4Da59yiqjX4-IhXZ3Bf1fK1C4hFSyqwnWDmaxVCImLDqP-Ox0nP8RQ==" target="_blank">.</a>&nbsp;The application includes a 400-500 word essay discussing why the applicant has chosen to pursue a career in agriculture. The selection committee will use this essay, along with the student’s application, in determining the scholarship winner.&nbsp;

The David Radenberg Memorial Scholarship will award one $1,000 scholarship to a current undergraduate or graduate student from Kansas who is pursuing a career in the field of agriculture. Preference will be given to students pursuing a career related to the improvement of wheat, including but not limited to wheat genetics, wheat agronomics, wheat breeding, plant pathology, Extension and bioinformatics.&nbsp;

To be eligible for the scholarship, applicants must be enrolled as a full-time student at any two- or four-year college or university in Kansas. Incoming freshmen or transfers are not eligible.&nbsp;

David Radenberg was a lifelong wheat farmer in Claflin, Kansas, where his family has farmed for more than 100 years. He represented central Kansas on the Kansas Wheat Commission from April 2011 to March 2020, including serving as chairman from August 2018 to May 2019. Radenberg was also a founding board member of the Kansas Wheat Commission Research Foundation.

During his tenure as a commissioner, he supported wheat research and international marketing efforts, including attending the 31st annual Latin American Millers Conference in Lima, Peru, in 2013. At the time, he expressed how he enjoyed sharing with millers, bakers and merchandisers about the research investments Kansas farmers are making to provide a better-quality product.&nbsp;

In 2013, Radenberg also visited multiple Pacific Rim countries to promote U.S. wheat. The contrast between third-world poverty he saw in thriving modern cities left an impression on him and reinforced his support of wheat research to help feed a hungry world.

Apply for the David Radenberg Memorial Scholarship by completing the scholarship application at&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001L5o7XaHeHIr6pEdfj3nmFZEXL3EuWSHUIaGOTiE797rkNhxbbhxaUArs9FNsd6055wS6Xdlvy1Eplx1O3V4qkuUX3prWBo3YsVWxlPznwdMMhvgduphRiitKEDFiasS1fnBgjyKfpS15peyTLAoAvw==&amp;c=rmEVSClHGq2zmWPJLZ6yxRENSwl9vhVEUEbPBKVjvnl8Eb4c4cCoQg==&amp;ch=4Da59yiqjX4-IhXZ3Bf1fK1C4hFSyqwnWDmaxVCImLDqP-Ox0nP8RQ==" target="_blank">kswheat.com/radenberg</a>. The application includes a 400-500 word essay discussing why the applicant has chosen to pursue a career in agriculture. The selection committee will use this essay, along with the student’s application and a statement of financial need, in determining the scholarship winner.

For both scholarships, the application and associated documents must be submitted to Kansas Wheat at 1990 Kimball Ave, Manhattan, KS 66502, by Friday, March 15, 2024. Learn more or download the scholarship applications at&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001L5o7XaHeHIr6pEdfj3nmFZEXL3EuWSHUIaGOTiE797rkNhxbbhxaUArs9FNsd605DNba4R4QhVTER-HXt3CRQgcYm2yAfQFVzNXb_h1czUNzK5QfciE_jx42iEqzvExCl3EDlOQtuyooF-y2ByvMgE44r_kmsm2XOEb_4bUYc0o=&amp;c=rmEVSClHGq2zmWPJLZ6yxRENSwl9vhVEUEbPBKVjvnl8Eb4c4cCoQg==&amp;ch=4Da59yiqjX4-IhXZ3Bf1fK1C4hFSyqwnWDmaxVCImLDqP-Ox0nP8RQ==" target="_blank">https://kswheat.com/growers/outreach/</a>. More information is also available by contacting 785-539-0255 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:kawg@kswheat.com">kawg@kswheat.com</a>.

<a href="https://hutchpost.com/download" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to download the Hutch Post mobile app. <a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/5e73b532afae0f4d5f5d90ea" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to sign up for the daily Hutch Post email news update.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1655426692793.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>JULIA DEBES Kansas WheatHigh school seniors and current Kansas college students have until Friday, March 15, 2024, to apply for one of two $1,000 scholarships from Kansas Wheat honoring industry leaders Herb Clutter and David Radenberg. The scholarships — each worth $1,000 — continue a proud tradition of supporting the future of the Kansas wheat industry.&nbsp;“Inspired by the enduring legacies of Herb Clutter and David Radenberg, Kansas Wheat is proud to help empower the next generation of the Kansas wheat industry,” said Justin Gilpin, CEO of Kansas Wheat. “Through these scholarships, we honor the passion of these industry leaders and help to provide opportunities for future leaders in agriculture.”<h2>Herb Clutter Memorial Scholarship</h2>Administered by the Kansas Association of Wheat Growers (KAWG), the Herb Clutter Memorial Scholarship will award one $1,000 scholarship per year to a college or university-bound incoming freshman from Kansas pursuing a career in the field of agriculture. To be eligible for the scholarship, applicants must plan to be a full-time student at any two or four-year Kansas college or university.&nbsp;Recipients will be selected based on academic achievement, leadership qualities and career objectives focused around the field of agriculture. The scholarship will be toward tuition for the student’s college or university education. The scholarship is non-renewable.The Herb Clutter Memorial Scholarship was established in 2009 to honor Herb Clutter’s influential role in organizing leadership groups on behalf of Kansas wheat producers, and is supported by the generosity of the Herb Clutter family. Herbert W. Clutter was a farmer from Holcomb and the first president of the National Association of Wheat Growers, which was established in 1948. Clutter encouraged Kansas wheat farmers to organize as a strong, unified voice, which led to the formation of the Kansas Association of Wheat Growers in 1952. He encouraged research in education and industrial uses of wheat, improved variety development and methods to produce the best product at the lowest cost. Clutter’s efforts led to the formation of the Kansas Wheat Commission by the Kansas legislature in 1957.Apply for the Herb Clutter Memorial Scholarship by completing the scholarship application at&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001L5o7XaHeHIr6pEdfj3nmFZEXL3EuWSHUIaGOTiE797rkNhxbbhxaUKxunF0WAtvtCjHoiXV_sYrvRoG2CVDBtDhrNoYDP-wHkA0NTd8KD1Q_PXaHwHLDLaABV0Xx6ewbp0wGDrF5O6IMCVDaw5TEBw==&amp;c=rmEVSClHGq2zmWPJLZ6yxRENSwl9vhVEUEbPBKVjvnl8Eb4c4cCoQg==&amp;ch=4Da59yiqjX4-IhXZ3Bf1fK1C4hFSyqwnWDmaxVCImLDqP-Ox0nP8RQ==" target="_blank">kswheat.com/clutter</a><a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001L5o7XaHeHIr6pEdfj3nmFZEXL3EuWSHUIaGOTiE797rkNhxbbhxaUKxunF0WAtvtCjHoiXV_sYrvRoG2CVDBtDhrNoYDP-wHkA0NTd8KD1Q_PXaHwHLDLaABV0Xx6ewbp0wGDrF5O6IMCVDaw5TEBw==&amp;c=rmEVSClHGq2zmWPJLZ6yxRENSwl9vhVEUEbPBKVjvnl8Eb4c4cCoQg==&amp;ch=4Da59yiqjX4-IhXZ3Bf1fK1C4hFSyqwnWDmaxVCImLDqP-Ox0nP8RQ==" target="_blank">.</a>&nbsp;The application includes a 400-500 word essay discussing why the applicant has chosen to pursue a career in agriculture. The selection committee will use this essay, along with the student’s application, in determining the scholarship winner.&nbsp;<h2>David Radenberg Memorial Scholarship</h2>The David Radenberg Memorial Scholarship will award one $1,000 scholarship to a current undergraduate or graduate student from Kansas who is pursuing a career in the field of agriculture. Preference will be given to students pursuing a career related to the improvement of wheat, including but not limited to wheat genetics, wheat agronomics, wheat breeding, plant pathology, Extension and bioinformatics.&nbsp;To be eligible for the scholarship, applicants must be enrolled as a full-time student at any two- or four-year college or university in Kansas. Incoming freshmen or transfers are not eligible.&nbsp;David Radenberg was a lifelong wheat farmer in Claflin, Kansas, where his family has farmed for more than 100 years. He represented central Kansas on the Kansas Wheat Commission from April 2011 to March 2020, including serving as chairman from August 2018 to May 2019. Radenberg was also a founding board member of the Kansas Wheat Commission Research Foundation.During his tenure as a commissioner, he supported wheat research and international marketing efforts, including attending the 31st annual Latin American Millers Conference in Lima, Peru, in 2013. At the time, he expressed how he enjoyed sharing with millers, bakers and merchandisers about the research investments Kansas farmers are making to provide a better-quality product.&nbsp;In 2013, Radenberg also visited multiple Pacific Rim countries to promote U.S. wheat. The contrast between third-world poverty he saw in thriving modern cities left an impression on him and reinforced his support of wheat research to help feed a hungry world.Apply for the David Radenberg Memorial Scholarship by completing the scholarship application at&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001L5o7XaHeHIr6pEdfj3nmFZEXL3EuWSHUIaGOTiE797rkNhxbbhxaUArs9FNsd6055wS6Xdlvy1Eplx1O3V4qkuUX3prWBo3YsVWxlPznwdMMhvgduphRiitKEDFiasS1fnBgjyKfpS15peyTLAoAvw==&amp;c=rmEVSClHGq2zmWPJLZ6yxRENSwl9vhVEUEbPBKVjvnl8Eb4c4cCoQg==&amp;ch=4Da59yiqjX4-IhXZ3Bf1fK1C4hFSyqwnWDmaxVCImLDqP-Ox0nP8RQ==" target="_blank">kswheat.com/radenberg</a>. The application includes a 400-500 word essay discussing why the applicant has chosen to pursue a career in agriculture. The selection committee will use this essay, along with the student’s application and a statement of financial need, in determining the scholarship winner.For both scholarships, the application and associated documents must be submitted to Kansas Wheat at 1990 Kimball Ave, Manhattan, KS 66502, by Friday, March 15, 2024. Learn more or download the scholarship applications at&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001L5o7XaHeHIr6pEdfj3nmFZEXL3EuWSHUIaGOTiE797rkNhxbbhxaUArs9FNsd605DNba4R4QhVTER-HXt3CRQgcYm2yAfQFVzNXb_h1czUNzK5QfciE_jx42iEqzvExCl3EDlOQtuyooF-y2ByvMgE44r_kmsm2XOEb_4bUYc0o=&amp;c=rmEVSClHGq2zmWPJLZ6yxRENSwl9vhVEUEbPBKVjvnl8Eb4c4cCoQg==&amp;ch=4Da59yiqjX4-IhXZ3Bf1fK1C4hFSyqwnWDmaxVCImLDqP-Ox0nP8RQ==" target="_blank">https://kswheat.com/growers/outreach/</a>. More information is also available by contacting 785-539-0255 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:kawg@kswheat.com">kawg@kswheat.com</a>.<a href="https://hutchpost.com/download" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to download the Hutch Post mobile app. <a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/5e73b532afae0f4d5f5d90ea" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to sign up for the daily Hutch Post email news update.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

Applications open for Kansas Wheat Scholarships honoring industry leaders

The Junction City Lady Jays were defeated by the Olathe East Hawks 60-41 on Thursday night in a make-up game at Junction City High School.&nbsp;

Despite their best first quarter of the season, and leading for most of the opening quarter, the Lady Jays were unable to knock off Olathe East. Turnovers once again haunted the Lady Jays as they turned the ball over nearly 30 times.&nbsp;

Seniors Amyah O'Neal led the way with 18 points, and fellow senior Sara Rexrode added 12 points. The two seniors combined for 30 of the teams 41 total points.&nbsp;

With the loss, the Lady Jays drop to 1-11 on the season. Their next action is Tuesday, Jan. 30, at Topeka Hayden in another make-up game.&nbsp;

The Junction City Blue Jays have a knack for playing in close games this season. The Blue Jays defeated the Emporia Spartans 46-41 in another thrilling game.&nbsp;Junction City led for most of the game, and even held a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter. 

The Blue Jays were once again led in scoring by junior Larking Turner, who finished with a game high 13 points. Junior Jackson Austin, normally a sharp shooter, only had one three point make tonight, but hit six straight free throws to extend the lead for Junction City and help secure the victory. Ja'Twaan Williams added eight points for the Blue Jays, and both Lovell Autry and Tre Ruffin both scored seven points.&nbsp;

With the victory, the Blue Jays improve to 11-2 on the season, their best start under head coach Nick Perez. Junction City will now host the defending 6A state champion Blue Valley Northwest on Tuesday, Jan. 30, at Blue Jay Event Center.&nbsp;

By Anthony GorgesJC PostGirls RecapThe Junction City Lady Jays were defeated by the Olathe East Hawks 60-41 on Thursday night in a make-up game at Junction City High School.&nbsp;Despite their best first quarter of the season, and leading for most of the opening quarter, the Lady Jays were unable to knock off Olathe East. Turnovers once again haunted the Lady Jays as they turned the ball over nearly 30 times.&nbsp;Seniors Amyah O'Neal led the way with 18 points, and fellow senior Sara Rexrode added 12 points. The two seniors combined for 30 of the teams 41 total points.&nbsp;With the loss, the Lady Jays drop to 1-11 on the season. Their next action is Tuesday, Jan. 30, at Topeka Hayden in another make-up game.&nbsp;Boys recapThe Junction City Blue Jays have a knack for playing in close games this season. The Blue Jays defeated the Emporia Spartans 46-41 in another thrilling game.&nbsp;Junction City led for most of the game, and even held a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter. The Blue Jays were once again led in scoring by junior Larking Turner, who finished with a game high 13 points. Junior Jackson Austin, normally a sharp shooter, only had one three point make tonight, but hit six straight free throws to extend the lead for Junction City and help secure the victory. Ja'Twaan Williams added eight points for the Blue Jays, and both Lovell Autry and Tre Ruffin both scored seven points.&nbsp;With the victory, the Blue Jays improve to 11-2 on the season, their best start under head coach Nick Perez. Junction City will now host the defending 6A state champion Blue Valley Northwest on Tuesday, Jan. 30, at Blue Jay Event Center.&nbsp;

Lady Jays fall to Olathe East, Blue Jays defeat Emporia in make-up games

Ohemaa Sarpong is a senior at Junction City High School in the Science, Engineer, and Health (SEH) Academy. She is the daughter of Joyce and Joseph Sarpong.

During her time at JCHS, Ohemaa has been involved in the Technology Student Association (TSA), National Honor Society, Tennis, Swim, Multicultural Club, and Class Committees. She completed some STEM research for JCHS last school year and is a state officer for the Kansas TSA.

Ohemaa is the President of the high school’s TSA and Vice President of National Honor Society. She has 30 documented hours of service learning. Ohemaa volunteers at the Fort Riley Library, her church, and Victory Chapel Vacation Bible School.

Nancy Dettmer, Scholarship and Internship Coordinator at Junction City High School, nominated Ohemaa for the Optimist Club’s Student of the Month Recognition. She wrote that “Ohemaa is one of the shining stars at JCHS. She has been a pleasure to have in class for the past two years. When her family got transferred to California, Ohemaa found a way to continue to be a Blue Jay by staying in Junction City to finish her senior year and live with the Matt Micheel family. She is a top-notch student, a hard-working athlete, and a joy to be around. She helps those around her in any way she can and has a beaming smile that brightens everyone’s day. I’ so very blessed to have been able to have her as a student.”

Ohemaa received a $25.00 gift certificate from JC’s BBQ &amp; Grill. her mother flew in from California to witness Ohemaa receiving recognition at the Hampton Inn in Junction City.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1706223982021.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By Dr. Ferrell MillerOhemaa Sarpong is a senior at Junction City High School in the Science, Engineer, and Health (SEH) Academy. She is the daughter of Joyce and Joseph Sarpong.During her time at JCHS, Ohemaa has been involved in the Technology Student Association (TSA), National Honor Society, Tennis, Swim, Multicultural Club, and Class Committees. She completed some STEM research for JCHS last school year and is a state officer for the Kansas TSA.Ohemaa is the President of the high school’s TSA and Vice President of National Honor Society. She has 30 documented hours of service learning. Ohemaa volunteers at the Fort Riley Library, her church, and Victory Chapel Vacation Bible School.Nancy Dettmer, Scholarship and Internship Coordinator at Junction City High School, nominated Ohemaa for the Optimist Club’s Student of the Month Recognition. She wrote that “Ohemaa is one of the shining stars at JCHS. She has been a pleasure to have in class for the past two years. When her family got transferred to California, Ohemaa found a way to continue to be a Blue Jay by staying in Junction City to finish her senior year and live with the Matt Micheel family. She is a top-notch student, a hard-working athlete, and a joy to be around. She helps those around her in any way she can and has a beaming smile that brightens everyone’s day. I’ so very blessed to have been able to have her as a student.”Ohemaa received a $25.00 gift certificate from JC’s BBQ &amp; Grill. her mother flew in from California to witness Ohemaa receiving recognition at the Hampton Inn in Junction City.

JC Breakfast Optimist Club JCHS Student of the Month is Ohemaa Sarpong

Opera House Gala activities begin at 5:30 p.m. Saturday at the C.L. Hoover Opera house. This event is a fundraiser for the new Education Building which is being renovated at 131 West 7th Street, adjacent to&nbsp; the Opera House.

The Education Building is intended to accommodate primarily youth education. Opera House Co-Director Sheila Markley said, "It's going to offer us so many advantages. We are just busting at the seams with people rehearsing here and there, and where do they go. Now people are going to have a place and it's going to be wonderful."

Tickets are $50 and they can be obtained at the Opera House or from Sheila Markley or Opera House board members. The schedule includes registration at 5:30 followed by a social hour. Then at 6:30 the focus shifts to the lobby and then the Opera House theater for the JC Can Dance event. Three groups will be competing including The Dance Moms, The Vital Signs and The Teachers Pets.

Everyone buying a ticket gets a ballot, and if you want to up the ante it's another one dollar per vote. Silent auction items will be located in the Opera House lobby.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1706223647092.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By Dewey TerrillJC PostOpera House Gala activities begin at 5:30 p.m. Saturday at the C.L. Hoover Opera house. This event is a fundraiser for the new Education Building which is being renovated at 131 West 7th Street, adjacent to&nbsp; the Opera House.The Education Building is intended to accommodate primarily youth education. Opera House Co-Director Sheila Markley said, "It's going to offer us so many advantages. We are just busting at the seams with people rehearsing here and there, and where do they go. Now people are going to have a place and it's going to be wonderful."Tickets are $50 and they can be obtained at the Opera House or from Sheila Markley or Opera House board members. The schedule includes registration at 5:30 followed by a social hour. Then at 6:30 the focus shifts to the lobby and then the Opera House theater for the JC Can Dance event. Three groups will be competing including The Dance Moms, The Vital Signs and The Teachers Pets.Everyone buying a ticket gets a ballot, and if you want to up the ante it's another one dollar per vote. Silent auction items will be located in the Opera House lobby.

Opera House Gala is set for Saturday night

The new Geary County Sheriff is scheduled to be sworn in at 11 a.m. Monday at the County Office Building. Eric Coffman has been recommended by the Geary County Republican Central Committee for the post. That recommendation was submitted to Governor Kelly for approval.

The commission will be in session from 10 a.m. until just after noon on Monday. The agenda also includes an executive session a 11:30 a.m. on legal matters regarding EMS Services.

The new Geary County Sheriff is scheduled to be sworn in at 11 a.m. Monday at the County Office Building. Eric Coffman has been recommended by the Geary County Republican Central Committee for the post. That recommendation was submitted to Governor Kelly for approval.The commission will be in session from 10 a.m. until just after noon on Monday. The agenda also includes an executive session a 11:30 a.m. on legal matters regarding EMS Services.C

New Sheriff will take the oath of office

by BECKY GOFF Little Apple Post/JC Post

MANHATTAN - On Thursday morning, Pawnee Mental Health announced appointment of new Chief Executive Officer.

Michael Rezkalla, MPA, MA was named the new CEO following a national search process.

Anne Browne, outgoing Governing Board Chair headed the search committee which included incoming Governing Board Chair, Kathy Webster, Cawker City, incoming Foundation Board President, Wayne Sloan, Manhattan, Governing Board Treasurer, Barb Wise, Beloit, and Kyle Kessler, Topeka, CEO of the Association of Community Mental Health Centers of Kansas, Inc.

“We are delighted to welcome Rezkalla, as our new CEO,” says Anne Browne. “His exceptional leadership skills, strategic insights, and industry knowledge make him the ideal choice to lead Pawnee into the future.”

Michael Rezkalla replaces Robbin Cole, who served as CEO and retired after 28 years with Pawnee Mental Health.&nbsp;

Rezkalla most recently worked as the VP of Operations and Chief Operating Officer of UMass Memorial Community Healthlink, Worcester, MA.&nbsp;

“I am immensely humbled by the Search Committee’s commitment to the mission of the organization and grateful for their decision to select me for this role. I would like to seize this opportunity to thank everyone who participated in the search process including but not limited to Ms. Anne Browne, Board Chair, and all members of the Search Committee,” says Rezkalla. “Ms. Robbin Cole leaves big shoes to fill. Her legacy of accomplishments, advocacy for the advancement of mental health services, and passion for the mission of the organization are significant, and humbling. I look forward to spending some time learning from her before she transitions out of her role in May 2024.

Rezkalla will start at Pawnee Mental Health on March 4th, 2024 and will work alongside Cole through the month of March and into April.&nbsp;

Cole stated, “I am grateful for and humbled by the opportunity I have had to serve Pawnee Mental Health and the committees in Pawnee’s service area for more than 28 years. I’m delighted to help facilitate the smooth transition for Michael and Pawnee. We are fortunate to have someone of Michael’s experience, skills, and vision to build on Pawnee’s foundation and lead the organization to new heights of service to our communities.” 

Cole’s official retirement date will be May 1, 2024.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1706195890787.jpeg" alt="Michael Rezkalla, picture from Pawnee Mental Health" />
 <figcaption>Michael Rezkalla, picture from Pawnee Mental Health</figcaption>
 </figure>by BECKY GOFF Little Apple Post/JC PostMANHATTAN - On Thursday morning, Pawnee Mental Health announced appointment of new Chief Executive Officer.Michael Rezkalla, MPA, MA was named the new CEO following a national search process.Anne Browne, outgoing Governing Board Chair headed the search committee which included incoming Governing Board Chair, Kathy Webster, Cawker City, incoming Foundation Board President, Wayne Sloan, Manhattan, Governing Board Treasurer, Barb Wise, Beloit, and Kyle Kessler, Topeka, CEO of the Association of Community Mental Health Centers of Kansas, Inc.“We are delighted to welcome Rezkalla, as our new CEO,” says Anne Browne. “His exceptional leadership skills, strategic insights, and industry knowledge make him the ideal choice to lead Pawnee into the future.”Michael Rezkalla replaces Robbin Cole, who served as CEO and retired after 28 years with Pawnee Mental Health.&nbsp;Rezkalla most recently worked as the VP of Operations and Chief Operating Officer of UMass Memorial Community Healthlink, Worcester, MA.&nbsp;“I am immensely humbled by the Search Committee’s commitment to the mission of the organization and grateful for their decision to select me for this role. I would like to seize this opportunity to thank everyone who participated in the search process including but not limited to Ms. Anne Browne, Board Chair, and all members of the Search Committee,” says Rezkalla. “Ms. Robbin Cole leaves big shoes to fill. Her legacy of accomplishments, advocacy for the advancement of mental health services, and passion for the mission of the organization are significant, and humbling. I look forward to spending some time learning from her before she transitions out of her role in May 2024.Rezkalla will start at Pawnee Mental Health on March 4th, 2024 and will work alongside Cole through the month of March and into April.&nbsp;Cole stated, “I am grateful for and humbled by the opportunity I have had to serve Pawnee Mental Health and the committees in Pawnee’s service area for more than 28 years. I’m delighted to help facilitate the smooth transition for Michael and Pawnee. We are fortunate to have someone of Michael’s experience, skills, and vision to build on Pawnee’s foundation and lead the organization to new heights of service to our communities.” Cole’s official retirement date will be May 1, 2024.

Pawnee Mental Health names new CEO

--Beginning next Monday Junction City - Geary County United Way will start scheduling appointments for the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program. This free program involves free tax preparation assistance.

--There will be a Saint Patty's Day Potato Bar fundraiser on Friday, March 15th from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Episcopal Church of the Covenant. You can get delivery, dine in or drive up. The cost will be $8 for a baked potato with all of the fixings. Wendy's will be providing half of the chili.

--Beginning next Monday Junction City - Geary County United Way will start scheduling appointments for the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program. This free program involves free tax preparation assistance.--There will be a Saint Patty's Day Potato Bar fundraiser on Friday, March 15th from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Episcopal Church of the Covenant. You can get delivery, dine in or drive up. The cost will be $8 for a baked potato with all of the fixings. Wendy's will be providing half of the chili.

United Way News Notes

&nbsp;The Local Emergency Planning Committee held a special meeting Wednesday to receive authority for Geary County to participate in a multi-county Commodity Flow Study.&nbsp; The committee provided approval from the LEPC members in attendance to sign the necessary paperwork for the Commodity Flow Study.

The project will construct and publish a comprehensive report on the goods that are moving through the particular area of interest. The study will identify hazardous materials transportation flow patterns in the study area, identify fixed facilities that handle, store, and transport hazardous materials, perform a general assessment of issues regarding hazardous materials transport, and perform an analysis of the data and assess vulnerabilities.

Transportation Research Board’s Guidebook for Conducting Local Hazardous Materials Commodity Flow Studies is designed to support risk assessment, emergency response preparedness, resource allocation, and analyses of hazardous commodity flows across jurisdictions. This Guidance needs to be followed for all hazardous materials commodity flow survey (HMCFS) projects funded with HMEP grant program funds. To view this guidance or to order it, please refer to the link http://www.trb.org/Publications/Blurbs/165775.aspx.

&nbsp;The Local Emergency Planning Committee held a special meeting Wednesday to receive authority for Geary County to participate in a multi-county Commodity Flow Study.&nbsp; The committee provided approval from the LEPC members in attendance to sign the necessary paperwork for the Commodity Flow Study.The project will construct and publish a comprehensive report on the goods that are moving through the particular area of interest. The study will identify hazardous materials transportation flow patterns in the study area, identify fixed facilities that handle, store, and transport hazardous materials, perform a general assessment of issues regarding hazardous materials transport, and perform an analysis of the data and assess vulnerabilities.Transportation Research Board’s Guidebook for Conducting Local Hazardous Materials Commodity Flow Studies is designed to support risk assessment, emergency response preparedness, resource allocation, and analyses of hazardous commodity flows across jurisdictions. This Guidance needs to be followed for all hazardous materials commodity flow survey (HMCFS) projects funded with HMEP grant program funds. To view this guidance or to order it, please refer to the link http://www.trb.org/Publications/Blurbs/165775.aspx.

Commodity Flow Study Project receives approval

Recent Booking Activity for the Geary County Detention Center. All persons included in this post are innocent of crimes until proven guilty in a court of law.

Bonds have been posted. Photos are unavailable.

Barbara Kitt-Hedberg, Operate a motor vehicle without a valid license, arrested 01/24

Recent Booking Activity for the Geary County Detention Center. All persons included in this post are innocent of crimes until proven guilty in a court of law.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1706198743030.jpeg" alt="Michael Herrick, Probation violation, Failure to appear, arrested 01/24" />
 <figcaption>Michael Herrick, Probation violation, Failure to appear, arrested 01/24</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1706198782735.jpeg" alt="Marion Robinson, Failure to appear, arrested 01/24" />
 <figcaption>Marion Robinson, Failure to appear, arrested 01/24</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1706198811921.jpeg" alt="Cynthia Lynch, Domestic battery, arrested 01/25" />
 <figcaption>Cynthia Lynch, Domestic battery, arrested 01/25</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1706198846954.jpeg" alt="Zachary Franklin, Failure to appear, arrested 01/25" />
 <figcaption>Zachary Franklin, Failure to appear, arrested 01/25</figcaption>
 </figure>Bonds have been posted. Photos are unavailable.Barbara Kitt-Hedberg, Operate a motor vehicle without a valid license, arrested 01/24Recent Booking Activity for the Geary County Detention Center. All persons included in this post are innocent of crimes until proven guilty in a court of law.

Geary County Booking Photos Jan. 25

By BECKY GOFF Little Apple Post

MANHATTAN - Just before 6:00 pm on Wednesday, fire crews were called out to 5216 Stone Crest&nbsp; Drive on the report on the structure fire.

When Manhattan Fire Department crews arrived on scene, they found a one-story single-family home with a fire in the basement.

Firefighters were able to get the fire contained within 10 minutes of arriving on scene.

Nineteen firefighters on six fire apparatus responded to the fire, with the last crew leaving just after 8:00pm.&nbsp;

Loss due to the fire was estimated at $10,000 to contents and an additional $10,000 in damage to the structure.

The owners of the property are listed as Corey and Laverne Williamson.

The cause of the fire was determined to be unattended cooking.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1706152359158.jpeg" alt="Structure fire in Manhattan, picture submitted" />
 <figcaption>Structure fire in Manhattan, picture submitted</figcaption>
 </figure>By BECKY GOFF Little Apple PostMANHATTAN - Just before 6:00 pm on Wednesday, fire crews were called out to 5216 Stone Crest&nbsp; Drive on the report on the structure fire.When Manhattan Fire Department crews arrived on scene, they found a one-story single-family home with a fire in the basement.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1706152853530.jpeg" alt="Riley County EMS responding to structure fire, picture submitted" />
 <figcaption>Riley County EMS responding to structure fire, picture submitted</figcaption>
 </figure>Firefighters were able to get the fire contained within 10 minutes of arriving on scene.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1706152900740.jpeg" alt="Structure fire in Manhattan, picture submitted" />
 <figcaption>Structure fire in Manhattan, picture submitted</figcaption>
 </figure>Nineteen firefighters on six fire apparatus responded to the fire, with the last crew leaving just after 8:00pm.&nbsp;Loss due to the fire was estimated at $10,000 to contents and an additional $10,000 in damage to the structure.The owners of the property are listed as Corey and Laverne Williamson.The cause of the fire was determined to be unattended cooking.

MFD: Structure fire causes $20K in damage Wednesday evening

The Junction City Blue Jays basketball team defeated the Hayden Wildcats by a final score of 70 - 45 on Wednesday night at Hayden High School in Topeka.&nbsp; The Blue Jays had 3 players score in double digits, Larkin Turner with 16 points, junior Jackson Austin with 15 points, and senior Stewart Mitchell with 12 points.&nbsp; Junction City lead from start to finish, and their largest lead was 32 points.

It'll be a quick turn-around for Junction City as the Blue Jays host the Emporia Spartans Thursday night at Junction City High School.&nbsp; The Lady Jays will also be in action Thursday night with a make-up game against Olathe East.&nbsp; The girls will&nbsp; start play at 6:00pm and the boys will immediately follow, around 7:30pm.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Junction City Blue Jays basketball team defeated the Hayden Wildcats by a final score of 70 - 45 on Wednesday night at Hayden High School in Topeka.&nbsp; The Blue Jays had 3 players score in double digits, Larkin Turner with 16 points, junior Jackson Austin with 15 points, and senior Stewart Mitchell with 12 points.&nbsp; Junction City lead from start to finish, and their largest lead was 32 points.It'll be a quick turn-around for Junction City as the Blue Jays host the Emporia Spartans Thursday night at Junction City High School.&nbsp; The Lady Jays will also be in action Thursday night with a make-up game against Olathe East.&nbsp; The girls will&nbsp; start play at 6:00pm and the boys will immediately follow, around 7:30pm.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Blue Jays Pick Up 10th Win of the Season With 25 Point Win Over Topeka Hayden

SALINE COUNTY —A Kansas woman was injured in an accident just before 10:30a.m. Wednesday in Saline County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2005 Ford Explorer driven by Lisa&nbsp;Voeltz, 64, Abilene, was northbound on Kansas 143 at North Fifth Street.

The driver suffered a medical emergency.The SUV left the right side of the highway, struck a signpost, a tree and came to rest in the east ditch.

EMS transported Voeltz to Salina Regional Health Center. She was properly restrained, according to the KHP.

SALINE COUNTY —A Kansas woman was injured in an accident just before 10:30a.m. Wednesday in Saline County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2005 Ford Explorer driven by Lisa&nbsp;Voeltz, 64, Abilene, was northbound on Kansas 143 at North Fifth Street.The driver suffered a medical emergency.The SUV left the right side of the highway, struck a signpost, a tree and came to rest in the east ditch.EMS transported Voeltz to Salina Regional Health Center. She was properly restrained, according to the KHP.

Kansas woman hospitalized after SUV strikes a tree

The annual Eagle Days event hosted by the Milford Lake Nature Center will run from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. Saturday. This event will be free to the public.

Pat Silovsky, Milford Lake Nature Center, noted that the bald eagle population is down this year, but has also picked up in recent days with the cold weather.

There will be three free bus tours at the lake at 9, 10:15 and 11:30 a.m. to view the bald eagles. There will also be Live Bird Programs at the Nature Center at 9:15 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and noon. Crafts and other festivities are also scheduled from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m.

The Milford Nature Center is located at 3415 Hatchery Drive below the Milford lake Dam.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1706137515831.jpeg" alt="( Photo - Geary County CVB )" />
 <figcaption>( Photo - Geary County CVB )</figcaption>
 </figure>The annual Eagle Days event hosted by the Milford Lake Nature Center will run from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. Saturday. This event will be free to the public.Pat Silovsky, Milford Lake Nature Center, noted that the bald eagle population is down this year, but has also picked up in recent days with the cold weather.There will be three free bus tours at the lake at 9, 10:15 and 11:30 a.m. to view the bald eagles. There will also be Live Bird Programs at the Nature Center at 9:15 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and noon. Crafts and other festivities are also scheduled from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m.The Milford Nature Center is located at 3415 Hatchery Drive below the Milford lake Dam.

Eagle Days will be held Saturday

The line has been repaired and is back on line.

Geary County Rural Water District&nbsp; Four has a split hydrant on McGeorge Road. According to a social media release from the District they will be shutting off water to that area. Streets affected include McGeorge, Meadowvale and Rolling Meadows. They have service back on as soon as possible.

UPDATE:The line has been repaired and is back on line.----Geary County Rural Water District&nbsp; Four has a split hydrant on McGeorge Road. According to a social media release from the District they will be shutting off water to that area. Streets affected include McGeorge, Meadowvale and Rolling Meadows. They have service back on as soon as possible.

Split hydrant repairs are complete

&nbsp;DENSE FOG ADVISORY WILL BE IN EFFECT FROM 9 PM WEDNESDAY EVENING TO NOON
CST THURSDAY...



Visibility will be one quarter mile or less in dense fog.&nbsp; This is for all of east central, north central and northeast Kansas
  areas.&nbsp;

Hazardous driving conditions will be possible due to low visibility.


A Dense Fog Advisory means visibilities will frequently be
reduced to less than one quarter mile. If driving, slow down, use
your headlights, and leave plenty of distance ahead of you.&nbsp;

&nbsp;DENSE FOG ADVISORY WILL BE IN EFFECT FROM 9 PM WEDNESDAY EVENING TO NOON
CST THURSDAY...

Visibility will be one quarter mile or less in dense fog.&nbsp; This is for all of east central, north central and northeast Kansas
 areas.&nbsp;Hazardous driving conditions will be possible due to low visibility.
A Dense Fog Advisory means visibilities will frequently be
reduced to less than one quarter mile. If driving, slow down, use
your headlights, and leave plenty of distance ahead of you.&nbsp;

National Weather Service issues a Dense Fog Advisory

K-State specialist says adults need to plan to have a purposeful post-career life  

By Lisa Moser, K-State Research and Extension news service 

MANHATTAN, Kan. — Ah, retirement…what working person hasn’t dreamed of the day when they can just walk away from all the day-to-day stresses of a career? 

As dreamy as it might sound to some, without having a plan for how to spend all the unscheduled free time, retirement may not be exactly as it was imagined. 

“When you have your eyes set on retirement without a plan about how you are going to spend the time, it can be a bit of a shock and can disrupt your life by bringing about emotions about a lack of purpose,” said Erin Martinez, K-State Research and Extension specialist and associate professor of adult development and aging. 

She advises folks to not only have a financial plan for retirement, but also to take time to think through what they want to accomplish in retirement. 

“You don’t have to know exactly what you are going to do day-to-day, but spend time reflecting on what you value and what you want your big priorities in retirement to be,” Martinez said.  

Knowing that will help folks move through what Martinez refers to as the stages of retirement: honeymoon, disenchantment, reorientation, retirement route, termination. 

While honeymoon refers to newfound freedom, Martinez said it can be followed by feelings of disenchantment if they haven’t found a new purpose. During the reorientation phase, folks find new activities and form a plan for their retirement years along with settling into a new routine. 

Termination, Martinez said, can either refer to ending the retirement plan by going back to work, but more commonly it means that the retiree needs to reduce their involvement due to declining health.  

For some folks, shifting from full-time work to part-time work is a beginning retirement strategy, Martinez said. 

“Talk with your employer to see if you can step into a part-time role or see what other options there might be even if it has never been done before,” Martinez said.  

Looking for volunteer opportunities is another way to find a purpose in retirement.  

“Older adults make up a significant part of the volunteer workforce and there are a lot of great opportunities out there,” Martinez said. She said Volunteer Kansas is a great website to explore when looking for ideas. 

Serving others is one way that older adults can keep themselves physically and mentally healthy, Martinez said. 

“As you shift in retirement, you can go from volunteering at school events to helping out at the senior center allowing you to make different friends in new spaces,” Martinez said. “Socialization is incredibly important to healthy aging.”  

As part of the retirement plan, it is important to communicate with one’s family about the plan so that adult children are not making assumptions about how the retiree is going to spend their time. That is true for couples as well, according to Martinez. 

“Oftentimes we see struggles in couple dynamics in retirement because we all have our own ideas of what I should do in retirement but also what my partner should do during retirement, and those ideas may not always align,” Martinez said. 

She advises couples to talk through their retirement goals and have a clear plan of what they hope to accomplish.  

“If you are privileged enough to retire at the same time, it is great to embrace the journey together,” Martinez said.  

She added: “Mentally preparing for retirement involves a lot of internal processing about what is most meaningful to you and what you want your retirement legacy to be.” 

For more information on this topic, read So Now What? Tips for Managing Life after Retirement. 

K-State specialist says adults need to plan to have a purposeful post-career life By Lisa Moser, K-State Research and Extension news service MANHATTAN, Kan. — Ah, retirement…what working person hasn’t dreamed of the day when they can just walk away from all the day-to-day stresses of a career? As dreamy as it might sound to some, without having a plan for how to spend all the unscheduled free time, retirement may not be exactly as it was imagined. “When you have your eyes set on retirement without a plan about how you are going to spend the time, it can be a bit of a shock and can disrupt your life by bringing about emotions about a lack of purpose,” said Erin Martinez, K-State Research and Extension specialist and associate professor of adult development and aging. She advises folks to not only have a financial plan for retirement, but also to take time to think through what they want to accomplish in retirement. “You don’t have to know exactly what you are going to do day-to-day, but spend time reflecting on what you value and what you want your big priorities in retirement to be,” Martinez said. Knowing that will help folks move through what Martinez refers to as the stages of retirement: honeymoon, disenchantment, reorientation, retirement route, termination. While honeymoon refers to newfound freedom, Martinez said it can be followed by feelings of disenchantment if they haven’t found a new purpose. During the reorientation phase, folks find new activities and form a plan for their retirement years along with settling into a new routine. Termination, Martinez said, can either refer to ending the retirement plan by going back to work, but more commonly it means that the retiree needs to reduce their involvement due to declining health. For some folks, shifting from full-time work to part-time work is a beginning retirement strategy, Martinez said. “Talk with your employer to see if you can step into a part-time role or see what other options there might be even if it has never been done before,” Martinez said. Looking for volunteer opportunities is another way to find a purpose in retirement. “Older adults make up a significant part of the volunteer workforce and there are a lot of great opportunities out there,” Martinez said. She said Volunteer Kansas is a great website to explore when looking for ideas. Serving others is one way that older adults can keep themselves physically and mentally healthy, Martinez said. “As you shift in retirement, you can go from volunteering at school events to helping out at the senior center allowing you to make different friends in new spaces,” Martinez said. “Socialization is incredibly important to healthy aging.” As part of the retirement plan, it is important to communicate with one’s family about the plan so that adult children are not making assumptions about how the retiree is going to spend their time. That is true for couples as well, according to Martinez. “Oftentimes we see struggles in couple dynamics in retirement because we all have our own ideas of what I should do in retirement but also what my partner should do during retirement, and those ideas may not always align,” Martinez said. She advises couples to talk through their retirement goals and have a clear plan of what they hope to accomplish. “If you are privileged enough to retire at the same time, it is great to embrace the journey together,” Martinez said. She added: “Mentally preparing for retirement involves a lot of internal processing about what is most meaningful to you and what you want your retirement legacy to be.” For more information on this topic, read So Now What? Tips for Managing Life after Retirement.

Planning for a good retirement

Geary USD 475 has announced that the District will host a community listening session on Thursday, Feb. 8th at Fort Riley Middle School. The doors will open at 6 p.m.

Topics to be covered will include the National Elementary Honor Society, STEM is coming to USD 475, New Graduation Requirements and Thrive Award recognition.

Geary USD 475 has announced that the District will host a community listening session on Thursday, Feb. 8th at Fort Riley Middle School. The doors will open at 6 p.m.Topics to be covered will include the National Elementary Honor Society, STEM is coming to USD 475, New Graduation Requirements and Thrive Award recognition.

School District schedules a community listening session on Post

The Junction City Area Chamber of Commerce will host two legislative coffees during the current session. They will be held on Saturdays Feb. 10th and March 9th at the Municipal Auditorium.

Area legislators scheduled to attend include State Representatives Jeff Underhill and Nate Butler plus State Senators Jeff Longbine and Usha Reddi.

You can meet the legislators and ask questions on legislative issues.

By Dewey TerrillJC PostThe Junction City Area Chamber of Commerce will host two legislative coffees during the current session. They will be held on Saturdays Feb. 10th and March 9th at the Municipal Auditorium.Area legislators scheduled to attend include State Representatives Jeff Underhill and Nate Butler plus State Senators Jeff Longbine and Usha Reddi.You can meet the legislators and ask questions on legislative issues.

Chamber of Commerce schedules Legislative Coffees.

Recent Booking Activity for the Geary County Detention Center. All persons included in this post are innocent of crimes until proven guilty in a court of law.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1706118851438.jpeg" alt="Jessie Kopietz, Failure to appear (Six counts), arrested 01/23" />
 <figcaption>Jessie Kopietz, Failure to appear (Six counts), arrested 01/23</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1706118901999.jpeg" alt="Ashley Demercurio, Failure to appear, arrested 01/23" />
 <figcaption>Ashley Demercurio, Failure to appear, arrested 01/23</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1706118980467.jpeg" alt="Keelan Haygood, Driving while license canceled/suspended/revoked, arrested 01/23" />
 <figcaption>Keelan Haygood, Driving while license canceled/suspended/revoked, arrested 01/23</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1706119021934.jpeg" alt="Ethan Ragan, Taxation, drugs, No drug stamp payment for marijuana or controlled substance, Use/possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body, Distribute marijuana, 450-&lt;30 kilograms, arrested 01/23" />
 <figcaption>Ethan Ragan, Taxation, drugs, No drug stamp payment for marijuana or controlled substance, Use/possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body, Distribute marijuana, 450-&lt;30 kilograms, arrested 01/23</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1706119110435.jpeg" alt="Eddie Barbosa,&nbsp;Taxation, drugs, No drug stamp payment for marijuana or controlled substance, Use/possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body, Distribute marijuana, 450-&lt;30 kilograms, arrested 01/24" />
 <figcaption>Eddie Barbosa,&nbsp;Taxation, drugs, No drug stamp payment for marijuana or controlled substance, Use/possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body, Distribute marijuana, 450-&lt;30 kilograms, arrested 01/24</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1706119151636.jpeg" alt="Antonio Hill, Failure to appear, arrested 01/24" />
 <figcaption>Antonio Hill, Failure to appear, arrested 01/24</figcaption>
 </figure>Recent Booking Activity for the Geary County Detention Center. All persons included in this post are innocent of crimes until proven guilty in a court of law.

Geary County Booking Photos Jan. 24

Geary County 4-H Extension has announced that 4-H Club Day will be held February 17 at the First Presbyterian Church in Junction City. Pre-entry forms and event descriptions were included with the December newsletter and are also available online at http://www.geary.kstate.edu/4-h/. Entry forms are due to the Extension Office or online at http://tinyurl.com/4HDay2024 by January 29 at 5:00pm. Kansas 4-H

--The deadline to sign up for 4-H camp at Rock Springs and receive financial support in the amount of $225 from the Geary County 4-H Foundation is May 1.

Use the discount code GECOCAMP24 when you register to have these funds applied to your account. The code will need to be added for each camper’s registration. In order to be eligible for this financial support, 4-H members must have been enrolled in 4HOnline by January 1, 2024. For more information about camp and to register, visit https://www.rockspringsranch4hcamp.org/.

Geary County 4-H Extension has announced that 4-H Club Day will be held February 17 at the First Presbyterian Church in Junction City. Pre-entry forms and event descriptions were included with the December newsletter and are also available online at http://www.geary.kstate.edu/4-h/. Entry forms are due to the Extension Office or online at http://tinyurl.com/4HDay2024 by January 29 at 5:00pm. Kansas 4-H--The deadline to sign up for 4-H camp at Rock Springs and receive financial support in the amount of $225 from the Geary County 4-H Foundation is May 1.Use the discount code GECOCAMP24 when you register to have these funds applied to your account. The code will need to be added for each camper’s registration. In order to be eligible for this financial support, 4-H members must have been enrolled in 4HOnline by January 1, 2024. For more information about camp and to register, visit https://www.rockspringsranch4hcamp.org/.&nbsp;

4-H Extension News Notes

There are 111 participants signed up for youth soccer. Junction City Parks and Recreation said games are being held at Spin City on Friday evenings and Saturday mornings and afternoons. Parks Department and 12th Street Community center employees are staffing these games and practices. The Good Eats Café will be open for Friday and Saturday games as well as the arcade area.

Youth indoor soccer has been in session since December with practices running four evenings per week. With games starting, Spin City will now be utilized six days per week for the soccer league. In addition to soccer, we offer public skate dates at least once per month with the next open skate date being Sunday, February 4th from 12-4p.m. We’ve already accommodated several full facility rentals during weekdays over the last year with several non-profits and school districts around the area and we have a few more on the calendar for the upcoming months with local youth organizations.

There are 111 participants signed up for youth soccer. Junction City Parks and Recreation said games are being held at Spin City on Friday evenings and Saturday mornings and afternoons. Parks Department and 12th Street Community center employees are staffing these games and practices. The Good Eats Café will be open for Friday and Saturday games as well as the arcade area.Youth indoor soccer has been in session since December with practices running four evenings per week. With games starting, Spin City will now be utilized six days per week for the soccer league. In addition to soccer, we offer public skate dates at least once per month with the next open skate date being Sunday, February 4th from 12-4p.m. We’ve already accommodated several full facility rentals during weekdays over the last year with several non-profits and school districts around the area and we have a few more on the calendar for the upcoming months with local youth organizations.

Spin City recreation use

Last week, Governor Laura Kelly rolled out her proposed budget for the 2025 fiscal year. Her priorities include an array of strategic initiatives including cuts to property and sales taxes, expansion of Medicaid, and increased investments in education and Kansas water systems.

Kelly’s budget also includes a plan to provide pay raises to state workers, implementing a 5% pay raise and increasing the minimum wage to $15 per hour for state employees.

In announcing her balanced budget, Kelly emphasized that she is a fiscal conservative. However, she believes that raising state worker wages is critical if the public sector wants to compete for talent with private sector counterparts.

While Kelly wants to increase the minimum wage for state workers, there is no plan to raise it for all Kansas workers. Kansas will continue to follow the federal minimum wage standard of $7.25 per hour. This rate hasn’t changed in Kansas since 2010.

Kansas is not exactly an outlier as more than a dozen states do not exceed the federal standard. However, this is changing over time. As of January 1, more than half of the U.S. states have adopted a minimum wage higher than the federal minimum wage, including every state which borders Kansas except Oklahoma. This may put pressure on employers to raise wages in border cities, such as those in the Kansas City metro area.

Raising the minimum wage is not an easy political task. It has inspired extensive debates across the states.

Supporters, including the Fight for 15 movement that started in 2012, emphasize that raising the minimum wage is an important step in addressing income inequality. They note that wages have not kept up with the cost of living, nor have they kept up with worker productivity. They argue that a meaningful raise can improve the financial well-being of low-wage workers. Further, as wages improve, fewer people would rely on social welfare programs, saving taxpayer dollars.

Wage increases could also stimulate economic growth. Workers with higher incomes tend to spend more, contributing to local and state economies. Finally, advocates suggest that higher wages can enhance productivity and job satisfaction among employees. This benefits employers by reducing turnover and increasing employee loyalty.

On the other hand, critics express concerns about potential drawbacks. Small businesses may face challenges adjusting to the higher labor costs. Critics worry that if these businesses struggle to cover the additional costs, they may cut jobs or even close.

Time for a Raise?By Brianne HeidbrederLast week, Governor Laura Kelly rolled out her proposed budget for the 2025 fiscal year. Her priorities include an array of strategic initiatives including cuts to property and sales taxes, expansion of Medicaid, and increased investments in education and Kansas water systems.Kelly’s budget also includes a plan to provide pay raises to state workers, implementing a 5% pay raise and increasing the minimum wage to $15 per hour for state employees.In announcing her balanced budget, Kelly emphasized that she is a fiscal conservative. However, she believes that raising state worker wages is critical if the public sector wants to compete for talent with private sector counterparts.While Kelly wants to increase the minimum wage for state workers, there is no plan to raise it for all Kansas workers. Kansas will continue to follow the federal minimum wage standard of $7.25 per hour. This rate hasn’t changed in Kansas since 2010.Kansas is not exactly an outlier as more than a dozen states do not exceed the federal standard. However, this is changing over time. As of January 1, more than half of the U.S. states have adopted a minimum wage higher than the federal minimum wage, including every state which borders Kansas except Oklahoma. This may put pressure on employers to raise wages in border cities, such as those in the Kansas City metro area.Raising the minimum wage is not an easy political task. It has inspired extensive debates across the states.Supporters, including the Fight for 15 movement that started in 2012, emphasize that raising the minimum wage is an important step in addressing income inequality. They note that wages have not kept up with the cost of living, nor have they kept up with worker productivity. They argue that a meaningful raise can improve the financial well-being of low-wage workers. Further, as wages improve, fewer people would rely on social welfare programs, saving taxpayer dollars.Wage increases could also stimulate economic growth. Workers with higher incomes tend to spend more, contributing to local and state economies. Finally, advocates suggest that higher wages can enhance productivity and job satisfaction among employees. This benefits employers by reducing turnover and increasing employee loyalty.On the other hand, critics express concerns about potential drawbacks. Small businesses may face challenges adjusting to the higher labor costs. Critics worry that if these businesses struggle to cover the additional costs, they may cut jobs or even close.Additionally, opponents argue that a significant minimum wage hike could trigger inflation, affecting overall economic stability. This could occur if employers pass along the costs associated with these raises to consumers in the form of increased prices for goods and services. This could counteract some of the intended positive effects on workers’ real income.Finding a balanced approach that addresses the needs of workers and the potential impact on businesses and broader economy is essential when considering such a policy shift. Kansas is sure to feel pressure to raise wages for all in the future.______________________________________________________________________________Brianne Heidbreder, PhD is an Associate Professor of Political Science at Kansas State University.