Registration is open for the annual Junction City Area Chamber of Commerce Golf Scramble.

The event is scheduled for May 5 at Rolling Meadows Golf Course in Milford, with registration beginning at 11:30 a.m. and a shotgun start at 12:30 p.m.

There will be prizes for longest drive, hole in one and longest putt, as well as raffles and lunch.

To register, click <a href="https://www.junctioncitychamber.org/golf-scramble.html">HERE</a>. For sponsorship information, email Jordan at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:Jordan@jcacc.org">Jordan@jcacc.org</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682683175969.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Registration is open for the annual Junction City Area Chamber of Commerce Golf Scramble.The event is scheduled for May 5 at Rolling Meadows Golf Course in Milford, with registration beginning at 11:30 a.m. and a shotgun start at 12:30 p.m.There will be prizes for longest drive, hole in one and longest putt, as well as raffles and lunch.To register, click <a href="https://www.junctioncitychamber.org/golf-scramble.html">HERE</a>. For sponsorship information, email Jordan at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:Jordan@jcacc.org">Jordan@jcacc.org</a>.

Registration is open for the Junction City chamber golf scramble

JUNCTION CITY - The C.L. Hoover Opera House will host the Junction City Little Theater's presentation of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat for six performances over two weekends.

Opening night is Friday, April 28th, with the curtains opening at 7:30 pm. <a href="https://www.jcoperahouse.org/tickets">Tickets can be purchased here</a>.

Additional performances will be held on Saturday, April 29th at 7:30 pm; Sunday, April 30th at 2:00 pm; Friday, May 5th at 7:30pm; Saturday, May 6th at 7:30 pm and Sunday May 7th at 2:00 pm.

by BECKY GOFF JC PostJUNCTION CITY - The C.L. Hoover Opera House will host the Junction City Little Theater's presentation of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat for six performances over two weekends.Opening night is Friday, April 28th, with the curtains opening at 7:30 pm. <a href="https://www.jcoperahouse.org/tickets">Tickets can be purchased here</a>.Additional performances will be held on Saturday, April 29th at 7:30 pm; Sunday, April 30th at 2:00 pm; Friday, May 5th at 7:30pm; Saturday, May 6th at 7:30 pm and Sunday May 7th at 2:00 pm.

'Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat' at C.L. Hoover Opera House

The Geary County Historical Society will hold an open house at St. Joseph’s Historic Church on May 6th&nbsp;from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m..

The historic church is an ongoing restoration project for the Historical Society and the open house is an opportunity for the community to see recent improvements to the 100-year-old church, including new windows, repaired masonry, and installed electricity, according to Heather Hagedorn, Executive Director/Curator, Geary County Historical Society. 

Volunteers will also be on hand with the history of the site and the cemetery where many of the church founders have been laid to rest. 

Light refreshments will be served, and all are welcome to learn about this piece of Geary County history. St. Joseph’s Historic Church is located at&nbsp;<a href="https://goo.gl/maps/kR5znD9UFCzZD1LE9">13497 Lower McDowell Creek Rd</a>.&nbsp;

St. Joseph’s Historic Church is still an active restoration project. The Historical Society is seeking donations for the next steps of the project which includes plaster work on the interior walls and restoring the wood floors. 

Questions can be directed to the Geary County Historical Society at 785-238-1666. Donations to the project can be mailed to Geary County Historical Society, 530 N Adams, Junction City KS 66441.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682682621121.jpeg" alt="St. Joseph's Church" />
 <figcaption>St. Joseph's Church</figcaption>
 </figure>The Geary County Historical Society will hold an open house at St. Joseph’s Historic Church on May 6th&nbsp;from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m..The historic church is an ongoing restoration project for the Historical Society and the open house is an opportunity for the community to see recent improvements to the 100-year-old church, including new windows, repaired masonry, and installed electricity, according to Heather Hagedorn, Executive Director/Curator, Geary County Historical Society. Volunteers will also be on hand with the history of the site and the cemetery where many of the church founders have been laid to rest. Light refreshments will be served, and all are welcome to learn about this piece of Geary County history. St. Joseph’s Historic Church is located at&nbsp;<a href="https://goo.gl/maps/kR5znD9UFCzZD1LE9">13497 Lower McDowell Creek Rd</a>.&nbsp;<div><iframe src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d2610.0470549756897!2d-96.641048!3d39.051907!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x87bc33de480fba81%3A0x5d47bb07443ce9ff!2s13497%20Lower%20McDowell%20Crk%20Rd%2C%20Manhattan%2C%20KS%2066502!5e1!3m2!1sen!2sus!4v1682683644649!5m2!1sen!2sus" width="600" height="450" style="border:0;" allowfullscreen="" loading="lazy" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade"></iframe></div>St. Joseph’s Historic Church is still an active restoration project. The Historical Society is seeking donations for the next steps of the project which includes plaster work on the interior walls and restoring the wood floors. Questions can be directed to the Geary County Historical Society at 785-238-1666. Donations to the project can be mailed to Geary County Historical Society, 530 N Adams, Junction City KS 66441.

Open House planned for historic church May 6th

By MEGAN MILLER K-State News

MANHATTAN — Three Kansas State University doctoral candidates have received <a href="https://www.k-state.edu/grad/financial-support/scholarships-fellowships-grants/sarachek/">Sarachek awards</a> for their academic and research achievements. Linah Alkotami, doctoral candidate in biochemistry, Saudi Arabia,
 was awarded the $17,600 Alvin and RosaLee Sarachek Predoctoral Honors 
Fellowship in Molecular Biology. Bianca Morejon Viteri, doctoral 
candidate in biology, Ecuador, and Upasana Dhakal, doctoral candidate in plant pathology, Nepal, earned $1,000 Sarachek Scientific Travel Awards.

The Sarachek fellowship and travel awards were established by RosaLee Sarachek and the late Alvin Sarachek, Wichita,
 to recognize resident graduate students enrolled in a doctoral program 
at K-State who have demonstrated exceptional research and academic 
accomplishments. An interdisciplinary faculty selection committee 
determines the fellowship and travel award recipients. The awards 
program is offered through the university's <a href="https://www.k-state.edu/grad/">Graduate School</a>.&nbsp;

Alkotami's research aims to genetically modify the seed oil 
composition of two non-food winter oilseed crops — Camelina sativa and 
pennycress — to produce large amounts of acetyl-triacylglycerols, or 
acetyl-TAG. Acetyl-TAG oil has reduced viscosity and can be used without
 the costly processing required for regular vegetable oils in many 
industrial applications, such as 'drop-in' biofuels, biodegradable 
lubricants and food emulsifiers. Alkotami has successfully generated 
transgenic plants with seeds that accumulate 93-98% of acetyl-TAG 
without compromising germination and seed viability. Alkotami's 
work has demonstrated that with the precise manipulation of biochemical 
pathways, it is possible to completely change the type of oil that a 
plant can produce. In addition to their industrial value and 
contribution to green energy, these modified plants can be used as a 
resource to study and gain fundamental insights into the functions of 
different oil biosynthetic pathways and how these pathways redirect in 
response to genetic engineering. Timothy Durrett, associate professor of
 biochemistry and molecular biophysics, is Alkotami's major professor.

After completing her doctoral degree, Alkotami plans to continue 
working in the field of genetic engineering with a focus on advancing 
plant science and improving agricultural productivity. Alkotami intends 
to pursue a postdoctoral researcher position to facilitate her 
transition into an academic career as a principal investigator. Her 
primary goal is to develop market-ready crops that produce high-value 
compounds and crops that match the needs of farmers for agronomic 
performance in specific climates. Alkotami will use the fellowship funds
 to broaden her expertise in interdisciplinary areas by attending 
bioinformatics and entrepreneurship training programs as well as 
professional development and networking events. Part of the funds will 
also be used to support relocation to a prospective postdoctoral 
position.&nbsp;

Morejon conducts genetic research on mosquito immune responses. 
Mosquitoes are called the most dangerous animals in the world because 
they are responsible for about 750,000 human deaths each year by 
spreading diseases like malaria. Mosquitoes fight pathogens that invade 
their bodies by mounting a strong immune response, which is regulated by
 extracellular protease cascades. Morejon's research is focused 
on determining the contribution of proteases to overcoming bacterial, 
fungal and ultimately, parasitic infections in the African malaria 
mosquito, Anopheles gambiae. This knowledge can help assess current 
mosquito control strategies and develop genetic manipulation techniques 
to enhance the mosquito's ability to eliminate parasites before they 
reach humans. Kristin Michel, professor of biology, is Morejon's major 
professor.

Morejon will use the Sarachek travel award funds to attend the 
International CNRS conference, Insect Models for Infection Biology, 
which will be held in Roscoff, France, in June. Morejon has been 
accepted by the conference organizers to present her research findings. 
Presenting her research at this conference will give Morejon the 
opportunity to network with researchers in her field and explore 
potential postdoctoral opportunities.

Dhakal studies Fusarium graminearum, a fungal pathogen of wheat and 
barley that reduces crop yield and deposits harmful mycotoxin in 
infected grains. Dhakal uses population genomics and quantitative 
genetics approaches to understand the genetic basis of fitness traits 
like virulence, mycotoxin production and fungicide sensitivity. Her
 research will provide new candidates for functional studies to 
understand the mechanism of pathogen fitness. The knowledge of candidate
 targets and underlying mechanisms can be used to develop cultivars that
 are less susceptible to infection by the fungus and do not support 
mycotoxin production. Christopher Toomajian, associate professor of 
plant pathology, is Dhakal's major professor.

Dhakal will use the Sarachek travel award in August to attend the 
Plant Health 2023 conference in Denver, Colorado. In December, she will 
also use part of the award to attend Fusarium Head Blight Forum in 
Cincinnati, Ohio. The award will provide Dhakal an opportunity to share 
her research findings and expand her professional network.

Alvin Sarachek received his doctorate in genetics from Kansas State 
University in 1957. He and his wife, RosaLee Sarachek, created the 
fellowship and travel awards because he valued the university's 
tradition of offering a broad array of quality programs in the life 
sciences, many with outstanding national reputations. The Saracheks 
wanted to contribute to the tradition of excellence by recognizing 
students who have demonstrated exceptional research accomplishments 
involving molecular approaches to biological problems.

More information on the Sarachek awards is available on the <a href="https://www.k-state.edu/grad/financial-support/scholarships-fellowships-grants/sarachek/">Graduate School website</a>.

By MEGAN MILLER K-State NewsMANHATTAN — Three Kansas State University doctoral candidates have received <a href="https://www.k-state.edu/grad/financial-support/scholarships-fellowships-grants/sarachek/">Sarachek awards</a> for their academic and research achievements. Linah Alkotami, doctoral candidate in biochemistry, Saudi Arabia,
 was awarded the $17,600 Alvin and RosaLee Sarachek Predoctoral Honors 
Fellowship in Molecular Biology. Bianca Morejon Viteri, doctoral 
candidate in biology, Ecuador, and Upasana Dhakal, doctoral candidate in plant pathology, Nepal, earned $1,000 Sarachek Scientific Travel Awards.The Sarachek fellowship and travel awards were established by RosaLee Sarachek and the late Alvin Sarachek, Wichita,
 to recognize resident graduate students enrolled in a doctoral program 
at K-State who have demonstrated exceptional research and academic 
accomplishments. An interdisciplinary faculty selection committee 
determines the fellowship and travel award recipients. The awards 
program is offered through the university's <a href="https://www.k-state.edu/grad/">Graduate School</a>.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682273671920.png" alt="Linah Alkotami" />
 <figcaption>Linah Alkotami</figcaption>
 </figure>Alkotami's research aims to genetically modify the seed oil 
composition of two non-food winter oilseed crops — Camelina sativa and 
pennycress — to produce large amounts of acetyl-triacylglycerols, or 
acetyl-TAG. Acetyl-TAG oil has reduced viscosity and can be used without
 the costly processing required for regular vegetable oils in many 
industrial applications, such as 'drop-in' biofuels, biodegradable 
lubricants and food emulsifiers. Alkotami has successfully generated 
transgenic plants with seeds that accumulate 93-98% of acetyl-TAG 
without compromising germination and seed viability. Alkotami's 
work has demonstrated that with the precise manipulation of biochemical 
pathways, it is possible to completely change the type of oil that a 
plant can produce. In addition to their industrial value and 
contribution to green energy, these modified plants can be used as a 
resource to study and gain fundamental insights into the functions of 
different oil biosynthetic pathways and how these pathways redirect in 
response to genetic engineering. Timothy Durrett, associate professor of
 biochemistry and molecular biophysics, is Alkotami's major professor.After completing her doctoral degree, Alkotami plans to continue 
working in the field of genetic engineering with a focus on advancing 
plant science and improving agricultural productivity. Alkotami intends 
to pursue a postdoctoral researcher position to facilitate her 
transition into an academic career as a principal investigator. Her 
primary goal is to develop market-ready crops that produce high-value 
compounds and crops that match the needs of farmers for agronomic 
performance in specific climates. Alkotami will use the fellowship funds
 to broaden her expertise in interdisciplinary areas by attending 
bioinformatics and entrepreneurship training programs as well as 
professional development and networking events. Part of the funds will 
also be used to support relocation to a prospective postdoctoral 
position.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682273639554.png" alt="Bianca Morejon Viteri" />
 <figcaption>Bianca Morejon Viteri</figcaption>
 </figure>Morejon conducts genetic research on mosquito immune responses. 
Mosquitoes are called the most dangerous animals in the world because 
they are responsible for about 750,000 human deaths each year by 
spreading diseases like malaria. Mosquitoes fight pathogens that invade 
their bodies by mounting a strong immune response, which is regulated by
 extracellular protease cascades. Morejon's research is focused 
on determining the contribution of proteases to overcoming bacterial, 
fungal and ultimately, parasitic infections in the African malaria 
mosquito, Anopheles gambiae. This knowledge can help assess current 
mosquito control strategies and develop genetic manipulation techniques 
to enhance the mosquito's ability to eliminate parasites before they 
reach humans. Kristin Michel, professor of biology, is Morejon's major 
professor.Morejon will use the Sarachek travel award funds to attend the 
International CNRS conference, Insect Models for Infection Biology, 
which will be held in Roscoff, France, in June. Morejon has been 
accepted by the conference organizers to present her research findings. 
Presenting her research at this conference will give Morejon the 
opportunity to network with researchers in her field and explore 
potential postdoctoral opportunities.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682273608187.png" alt="Upasana Dhakal" />
 <figcaption>Upasana Dhakal</figcaption>
 </figure>Dhakal studies Fusarium graminearum, a fungal pathogen of wheat and 
barley that reduces crop yield and deposits harmful mycotoxin in 
infected grains. Dhakal uses population genomics and quantitative 
genetics approaches to understand the genetic basis of fitness traits 
like virulence, mycotoxin production and fungicide sensitivity. Her
 research will provide new candidates for functional studies to 
understand the mechanism of pathogen fitness. The knowledge of candidate
 targets and underlying mechanisms can be used to develop cultivars that
 are less susceptible to infection by the fungus and do not support 
mycotoxin production. Christopher Toomajian, associate professor of 
plant pathology, is Dhakal's major professor.Dhakal will use the Sarachek travel award in August to attend the 
Plant Health 2023 conference in Denver, Colorado. In December, she will 
also use part of the award to attend Fusarium Head Blight Forum in 
Cincinnati, Ohio. The award will provide Dhakal an opportunity to share 
her research findings and expand her professional network.Alvin Sarachek received his doctorate in genetics from Kansas State 
University in 1957. He and his wife, RosaLee Sarachek, created the 
fellowship and travel awards because he valued the university's 
tradition of offering a broad array of quality programs in the life 
sciences, many with outstanding national reputations. The Saracheks 
wanted to contribute to the tradition of excellence by recognizing 
students who have demonstrated exceptional research accomplishments 
involving molecular approaches to biological problems.More information on the Sarachek awards is available on the <a href="https://www.k-state.edu/grad/financial-support/scholarships-fellowships-grants/sarachek/">Graduate School website</a>.

K-State doctoral candidates earn Sarachek awards for outstanding academic and research work

by BECKY GOFF JC Post/Little Apple Post

GEARY COUNTY - On Thursday, April 27, the Kansas Department of Transportation announced they would be postponing the McDowell Creek bridge project for approximately one year.

KDOT announced the change due to conflict with the nearby project on K-177.

Since the McDowell Creek Road project would have further limited access to Interstate 70, the project will now be delayed until 2024, exact dates have yet to be determined.

The project was originally scheduled to begin in May 2023, and during the project all ramps would remain open, however, the overpass on McDowell Creek Road will be closed while KDOT completes a complete bridge deck replacement.

KDOT asks all travelers to be alert and obey warning signs when approaching and driving through a highway work zone.

Information on all road construction projects can be found at <a href="https://kandrive.org/@-98.30402,38.63447,7?show=roadReports,constructionReports,trafficSpeeds,winterDriving,weatherRadar">kandrive.org</a> or by calling 5-1-1.

by BECKY GOFF JC Post/Little Apple PostGEARY COUNTY - On Thursday, April 27, the Kansas Department of Transportation announced they would be postponing the McDowell Creek bridge project for approximately one year.KDOT announced the change due to conflict with the nearby project on K-177.<div><iframe src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m23!1m12!1m3!1d8358.910119335595!2d-96.65881158846844!3d39.066914572571015!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!4m8!3e6!4m0!4m5!1s0x87bc33f36cdc38c5%3A0x65e3d6ab72f90baa!2sDwight%20D.%20Eisenhower%20Hwy%2C%20Manhattan%2C%20KS%2066502!3m2!1d39.066758899999996!2d-96.6575342!5e1!3m2!1sen!2sus!4v1682620959895!5m2!1sen!2sus" width="600" height="450" style="border:0;" allowfullscreen="" loading="lazy" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade"></iframe></div>Since the McDowell Creek Road project would have further limited access to Interstate 70, the project will now be delayed until 2024, exact dates have yet to be determined.The project was originally scheduled to begin in May 2023, and during the project all ramps would remain open, however, the overpass on McDowell Creek Road will be closed while KDOT completes a complete bridge deck replacement.KDOT asks all travelers to be alert and obey warning signs when approaching and driving through a highway work zone.Information on all road construction projects can be found at <a href="https://kandrive.org/@-98.30402,38.63447,7?show=roadReports,constructionReports,trafficSpeeds,winterDriving,weatherRadar">kandrive.org</a> or by calling 5-1-1.

KDOT postpones McDowell Creek bridge project

On Wednesday, April 26th, more than 20 students from Junction City Middle and High School visited the Sunset Zoo in Manhattan as part of the 'Inspire, Thrive and Grow' program.

The program is sponsored by the R2B4 Bramlage Family Foundation to empower youth and give them opportunities they may not have otherwise had access to.

The 'Inspire, Thrive and Grow' program will take youth to museums, zoos, and sporting events.&nbsp;

"It's just easy to go to work and put these things together because  you see these kids when they come out here and  super excited and  and that's what it's all about,  giving kids opportunities  with the foundation." R2B4 Bramlage Family Foundation's Rick Bazan says.

The group of students had the opportunity to explore the zoo exhibits with a special tour by Sunset Zoo's Melissa Kirkwood, who explained the different animals to the group.

Following the zoo tour, students enjoyed a picnic lunch provided by the R2B4 Bramlage Family Foundation.

by BECKY GOFF JC Post<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682604273636.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>On Wednesday, April 26th, more than 20 students from Junction City Middle and High School visited the Sunset Zoo in Manhattan as part of the 'Inspire, Thrive and Grow' program.The program is sponsored by the R2B4 Bramlage Family Foundation to empower youth and give them opportunities they may not have otherwise had access to.The 'Inspire, Thrive and Grow' program will take youth to museums, zoos, and sporting events.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682604061156.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>"It's just easy to go to work and put these things together because you see these kids when they come out here and super excited and and that's what it's all about, giving kids opportunities with the foundation." R2B4 Bramlage Family Foundation's Rick Bazan says.The group of students had the opportunity to explore the zoo exhibits with a special tour by Sunset Zoo's Melissa Kirkwood, who explained the different animals to the group.<div><div style="position:relative; overflow:hidden; padding-bottom:56.25%"><iframe src="https://cdn.jwplayer.com/players/6UN9xUd3-60zMcgvZ.html" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" title="R2b4 Visits The Sunset Zoo" style="position:absolute;" allowfullscreen></iframe></div></div>Following the zoo tour, students enjoyed a picnic lunch provided by the R2B4 Bramlage Family Foundation.

Students with 'Inspire, Thrive, and Grow' program visit Sunset Zoo

By Ferrell Miller,&nbsp;JC Breakfast Optimist Club Secretary/Programs Chairperson

Junction&nbsp; City Breakfast Optimist Club members present and those on Zoom heard John York share information about “Growing Up In Junction City” at their April 26th meeting at the Hampton Inn.

 John’s parents were Tom York and Ethel White.&nbsp; He stated that “the White’s built the Municipal Auditorium and owned the Opera House in Junction City. The White’s eventually sold the Opera House, which became the Colonial Theater and is now the C.L. Hoover Opera House.”

John also told members that he “attended Franklin Elementary School up to fifth grade. Sixth graders were taught at Departmental School, which is now the Geary County Historical Society’s Museum at the corner of Sixth and Adams Streets. Junior and Senior High school years were attended at the building at 9th and Adams Streets, which is now the Karns Building. There were 115 graduates in our class.

In 1951, I got my first job delivering newspapers earning $3.00 per week and then in 1954 took a job delivering groceries house to house.” He told the story about wanting to purchase a gift for his mother at the Wuetherich Book Store in downtown Junction City. That was where he met Nettie Weutherich. When he told her he thought the set of Fiestaware China dishes, bowls, etc. would be a nice gift, Nettie asked him how much he had to spend. John told her he had $3.00. Nettie wrapped up the chinaware and sent John on his way. His mother was quite surprised!!!

Later in both Nettie and John’s life, John got to repay Nettie. John owned a print shop and Nettie asked him to prepare booklets for a class reunion. He did a job that “probably would have cost more than a thousand dollars.” When he contacted Nettie to tell her that the print job was completed, she asked him how much she owed, and John told her $3.00. “That was one of the highlights of my life to be able to repay her for her kindness,” he said.

In 1956 he worked at the Lashelle Shoe Store at 712 N. Washington Street. Dehner Boots were first manufactured and sold in Junction City at LaShelle’s Shoe Store. All West Point graduates and high-ranking officers wore Dehner Boots. Such distinguished soldiers as then Captain George Patton, and Major Dwight D. Eisenhower purchased the boots.

While attending classes at Kansas State University between 1958 and 1963, John worked for the Union Pacific Railroad from 4:00 p.m. until midnight. After a career working with the Caspar Engineering Firm (which is now the KAW Valley Engineers) John became self-employed in 1975 as a professional land surveyor.

Mr. York purchased the house at Fifth and Adams Streets in 2000. He told club members that “when it rained, it came into the kitchen and the garage roof was on the floor. The house was built in 1913 and was owned by Dr. Smiley. The house was intended to be the first hospital in Junction City. The house is now owned by Joe and Sheila Markley.

John’s philosophy of life is a descriptor of what happiness is. “Happiness is something to remember, something to do and something to look forward to each day."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682618070159.jpeg" alt="Pictured: John York and Nita Miller, President of the JC Breakfast Optimist Club" />
 <figcaption>Pictured: John York and Nita Miller, President of the JC Breakfast Optimist Club</figcaption>
 </figure>By Ferrell Miller,&nbsp;JC Breakfast Optimist Club Secretary/Programs ChairpersonJunction&nbsp; City Breakfast Optimist Club members present and those on Zoom heard John York share information about “Growing Up In Junction City” at their April 26th meeting at the Hampton Inn. John’s parents were Tom York and Ethel White.&nbsp; He stated that “the White’s built the Municipal Auditorium and owned the Opera House in Junction City. The White’s eventually sold the Opera House, which became the Colonial Theater and is now the C.L. Hoover Opera House.”John also told members that he “attended Franklin Elementary School up to fifth grade. Sixth graders were taught at Departmental School, which is now the Geary County Historical Society’s Museum at the corner of Sixth and Adams Streets. Junior and Senior High school years were attended at the building at 9th and Adams Streets, which is now the Karns Building. There were 115 graduates in our class.In 1951, I got my first job delivering newspapers earning $3.00 per week and then in 1954 took a job delivering groceries house to house.” He told the story about wanting to purchase a gift for his mother at the Wuetherich Book Store in downtown Junction City. That was where he met Nettie Weutherich. When he told her he thought the set of Fiestaware China dishes, bowls, etc. would be a nice gift, Nettie asked him how much he had to spend. John told her he had $3.00. Nettie wrapped up the chinaware and sent John on his way. His mother was quite surprised!!!Later in both Nettie and John’s life, John got to repay Nettie. John owned a print shop and Nettie asked him to prepare booklets for a class reunion. He did a job that “probably would have cost more than a thousand dollars.” When he contacted Nettie to tell her that the print job was completed, she asked him how much she owed, and John told her $3.00. “That was one of the highlights of my life to be able to repay her for her kindness,” he said.In 1956 he worked at the Lashelle Shoe Store at 712 N. Washington Street. Dehner Boots were first manufactured and sold in Junction City at LaShelle’s Shoe Store. All West Point graduates and high-ranking officers wore Dehner Boots. Such distinguished soldiers as then Captain George Patton, and Major Dwight D. Eisenhower purchased the boots.While attending classes at Kansas State University between 1958 and 1963, John worked for the Union Pacific Railroad from 4:00 p.m. until midnight. After a career working with the Caspar Engineering Firm (which is now the KAW Valley Engineers) John became self-employed in 1975 as a professional land surveyor.Mr. York purchased the house at Fifth and Adams Streets in 2000. He told club members that “when it rained, it came into the kitchen and the garage roof was on the floor. The house was built in 1913 and was owned by Dr. Smiley. The house was intended to be the first hospital in Junction City. The house is now owned by Joe and Sheila Markley.John’s philosophy of life is a descriptor of what happiness is. “Happiness is something to remember, something to do and something to look forward to each day."

York shares JC past with Optimist Club

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.

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.&nbsp;&nbsp;

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/2023/4/1682600611738.jpeg" alt="Matthew B Barner, Driving under the influence of drugs/alcohol; 1st conv; blood/breath .08 or &gt;; Maximum speed limits; Arrested 04/27" />
 <figcaption>Matthew B Barner, Driving under the influence of drugs/alcohol; 1st conv; blood/breath .08 or &gt;; Maximum speed limits; Arrested 04/27</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682600695553.jpeg" alt="Johnny Joe Cole Junior, Outside warrant; Aggravated assault; Use of a deadly weapon; Distribute heroin/certain stimulants; 1 - &lt; 3.5 grams; Possession of marijuana; Use/possess w/intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body; Distribute or poss w/int to distribute drug paraph for illegal use; Unlawful discharge of firearm in city limits; Possession of stolen property; Firearm with value less than $25,000; Criminal damage to property; Misdemeanor; Arrested 04/26" />
 <figcaption>Johnny Joe Cole Junior, Outside warrant; Aggravated assault; Use of a deadly weapon; Distribute heroin/certain stimulants; 1 - &lt; 3.5 grams; Possession of marijuana; Use/possess w/intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body; Distribute or poss w/int to distribute drug paraph for illegal use; Unlawful discharge of firearm in city limits; Possession of stolen property; Firearm with value less than $25,000; Criminal damage to property; Misdemeanor; Arrested 04/26</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682602222484.jpeg" alt="Natalie Susanna Gould, Distribute marijuana; 25 - &lt;450 grams; Taxation; Drugs; No drug tax stamp payment for marijuana or cont substance; Use/possess w/intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body; Stop signs and Yield signs; Driver's license; without valid DL; Vehicle liability insurance; Liability coverage required; Vehicles; Improper registration of vehicle; Arrested 04/26" />
 <figcaption>Natalie Susanna Gould, Distribute marijuana; 25 - &lt;450 grams; Taxation; Drugs; No drug tax stamp payment for marijuana or cont substance; Use/possess w/intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body; Stop signs and Yield signs; Driver's license; without valid DL; Vehicle liability insurance; Liability coverage required; Vehicles; Improper registration of vehicle; Arrested 04/26</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682602377557.jpeg" alt="Burnis Javier Heard Third, Failure to appear; Arrested 04/26" />
 <figcaption>Burnis Javier Heard Third, Failure to appear; Arrested 04/26</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682602425870.jpeg" alt="Dakota Dawn LaCount; Identity theft; misrepresent to cause economic or bodily harm &lt;$100,000; Criminal use of financial card; W/o consent of owner less than $1,000; Theft &lt;$1,500 Pocket picking; Arrested 04/26" />
 <figcaption>Dakota Dawn LaCount; Identity theft; misrepresent to cause economic or bodily harm &lt;$100,000; Criminal use of financial card; W/o consent of owner less than $1,000; Theft &lt;$1,500 Pocket picking; Arrested 04/26</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682602545090.jpeg" alt="Jon Carlos Marte, Probation Violation; Arrested 04/26" />
 <figcaption>Jon Carlos Marte, Probation Violation; Arrested 04/26</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682602602274.jpeg" alt="Sebastian Douglas Miller, Distribute marijuana; 25 - &lt;450 grams; Taxation; Drugs; No drug tax stamp for marijuana or cont substance; Use/possess w/intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body; Arrested 04/26" />
 <figcaption>Sebastian Douglas Miller, Distribute marijuana; 25 - &lt;450 grams; Taxation; Drugs; No drug tax stamp for marijuana or cont substance; Use/possess w/intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body; Arrested 04/26</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682602696654.jpeg" alt="Andrew Michael Redick, Distribute controlled substance; unknown substance; Arrested 04/27" />
 <figcaption>Andrew Michael Redick, Distribute controlled substance; unknown substance; Arrested 04/27</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682604544368.jpeg" alt="Carlton Renee Sheppard, Possession of stolen property; Felony; Possession of marijuana; Use/possess w/intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body; Arrested 04/26" />
 <figcaption>Carlton Renee Sheppard, Possession of stolen property; Felony; Possession of marijuana; Use/possess w/intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body; Arrested 04/26</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682604621892.jpeg" alt="Javier Silva Third, Aggravated indecent liberties w child; Offender =&gt;18 fondle child &lt;14; arrested 04/26" />
 <figcaption>Javier Silva Third, Aggravated indecent liberties w child; Offender =&gt;18 fondle child &lt;14; arrested 04/26</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682604696097.jpeg" alt="Tanya Marie Sutton, Making false information; Arrested 04/26" />
 <figcaption>Tanya Marie Sutton, Making false information; Arrested 04/26</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.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Geary County Booking Photos April 27

RILEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating damage at the historical society and have made an arrest.

Just after 11a.m. Wednesday, officers filed a report for criminal damage to property and criminal trespass at the Riley County Historical Society Museum, 2309 Claflin Road in Manhattan, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.

The museum reported a known male suspect entered the museum by breaking a window and additional items inside. The estimated total loss associated with this case is approximately $1,980. 

Police arrested 34-year-old Arthur Mickey Jr. of Ogden on a probable cause offenses of criminal damage to property and criminal trespass. Mickey Jr. remains jailed on $3,000 bond.

RILEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating damage at the historical society and have made an arrest.Just after 11a.m. Wednesday, officers filed a report for criminal damage to property and criminal trespass at the Riley County Historical Society Museum, 2309 Claflin Road in Manhattan, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.The museum reported a known male suspect entered the museum by breaking a window and additional items inside. The estimated total loss associated with this case is approximately $1,980. Police arrested 34-year-old Arthur Mickey Jr. of Ogden on a probable cause offenses of criminal damage to property and criminal trespass. Mickey Jr. remains jailed on $3,000 bond.

Suspect jailed for alleged damage at historical society museum

RILEY COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just after 5p.m. Wednesday in Riley County.

According to the Riley County Police Department activity report,&nbsp; a 2019 Acura RDX driven by Richard Boehner, 23, of Manhattan struck a pedestrian identified as Kaylie Felix, 26, of Manhattan, in the 2300 Block of West Stagg Hil Road in Manhattan

EMS transported Felix to Via Christi for treatment of her injuries. The RCPD released no additional details early Thursday.

RILEY COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just after 5p.m. Wednesday in Riley County.According to the Riley County Police Department activity report,&nbsp; a 2019 Acura RDX driven by Richard Boehner, 23, of Manhattan struck a pedestrian identified as Kaylie Felix, 26, of Manhattan, in the 2300 Block of West Stagg Hil Road in ManhattanEMS transported Felix to Via Christi for treatment of her injuries. The RCPD released no additional details early Thursday.

Manhattan woman hospitalized after pedestrian accident

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — U.S. Representative Tracey Mann voted for the debt limit increase bill in Congress this week. He spoke to Hutch Post prior to the vote about the philosophy behind starting this process.

"We're going to hit the debt limit here in a few weeks," Mann said. "So far, President Biden has been unwilling to negotiate and really come to the table and talk about what it would look like to extend it and kind of rein in our spending at the same time. I think it's reasonable and responsible to think that we would have an adult conversation in this country about our spending levels."

&nbsp; The Limit, Save, Grow Act passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 217-215 and will be sent to the U.S. Senate for further review. It is likely the Democratic Party leadership will not even bring the bill to a vote in the near future.

"If I maxed out my credit card, I'm responsible for those charges," Mann said. "We absolutely are responsible for the debt. However, before you call the credit card company and just raise the limit and keep on going down the road, it makes sense to really talk about spending and look at how we got where we are. Unfortunately, so far, President Biden has been unwilling to come to the table and do that."

The House bill, if passed by the Senate and signed by the President, both of which are unlikely, would increase Washington's borrowing authority by $1.5 trillion or until March 31, whichever comes first.

<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/2021/8/1628092876425.jpeg" alt="Rod Boyer-Capitol&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Rod Boyer-Capitol&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>NICK GOSNELL Hutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. — U.S. Representative Tracey Mann voted for the debt limit increase bill in Congress this week. He spoke to Hutch Post prior to the vote about the philosophy behind starting this process."We're going to hit the debt limit here in a few weeks," Mann said. "So far, President Biden has been unwilling to negotiate and really come to the table and talk about what it would look like to extend it and kind of rein in our spending at the same time. I think it's reasonable and responsible to think that we would have an adult conversation in this country about our spending levels."&nbsp; The Limit, Save, Grow Act passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 217-215 and will be sent to the U.S. Senate for further review. It is likely the Democratic Party leadership will not even bring the bill to a vote in the near future."If I maxed out my credit card, I'm responsible for those charges," Mann said. "We absolutely are responsible for the debt. However, before you call the credit card company and just raise the limit and keep on going down the road, it makes sense to really talk about spending and look at how we got where we are. Unfortunately, so far, President Biden has been unwilling to come to the table and do that."The House bill, if passed by the Senate and signed by the President, both of which are unlikely, would increase Washington's borrowing authority by $1.5 trillion or until March 31, whichever comes first.<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;

Mann sees debt ceiling vote as 'first step' in process

By Dr. FERRILL MILLER JC Breakfast Optimist Club

The JC Breakfast Optimist Club recognized Cadence Sandlin Wednesday as the Junction City High School Student of the Month. The local club recognizes a Junction City High School student for the students’ optimistic approach to learning, improving themselves, and being a positive influence on others at school and in the community.

Cadence is a junior in the Science, Engineering and Health Academy at JCHS. She is the daughter of Cassie and Joshua Sandlin.

One of Cadence’s teachers wrote “When I think about examples of how students or people, in general, can overcome the challenges in their life, I think first of Cadence, because I have been lucky enough to see her growth first-hand. She has gone from a struggling, uninvolved student to someone who has become involved in great school programs like Jobs For America’s Graduates (JAG), where she was recently recognized as a national qualifier. I get to observe Cadence weekly in my class pushing herself to be successful as she manages her classwork, supports her friends, and is generally a positive person for her peers.”

Dana Wiegand, the JC Breakfast Optimist Club Student of the Month Chairperson, also stated that “Cadence has been in JAG-K for two years and recently was elected the next Region 2 Vice President for the 2023-24 school year. She will travel to Washington, DC to attend JAG’s National Student Leadership Academy.

Cadence recently competed in JAG-K’s Career Development Conference (CDC), which is a competition for students to showcase the skills they have gained in the program. Cadence and her group earned a Regional and State first place win in the Project Based Learning Showcase. That win qualified the team for the Nationals in Orlando, Florida and it is Cadence’s second appearance at the National Career Development Conference.”

Cadence received a $25 gift certificate from JC’s BBQ &amp; Grill and a movie pass to the B&amp;B Theater.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682525443219.jpeg" alt="Pictured left to right: Cassie Sandlin; Cadence Sandlin; Joshua Sandlin and Dana Wiegand." />
 <figcaption>Pictured left to right: Cassie Sandlin; Cadence Sandlin; Joshua Sandlin and Dana Wiegand.</figcaption>
 </figure>By Dr. FERRILL MILLER JC Breakfast Optimist ClubThe JC Breakfast Optimist Club recognized Cadence Sandlin Wednesday as the Junction City High School Student of the Month. The local club recognizes a Junction City High School student for the students’ optimistic approach to learning, improving themselves, and being a positive influence on others at school and in the community.Cadence is a junior in the Science, Engineering and Health Academy at JCHS. She is the daughter of Cassie and Joshua Sandlin.One of Cadence’s teachers wrote “When I think about examples of how students or people, in general, can overcome the challenges in their life, I think first of Cadence, because I have been lucky enough to see her growth first-hand. She has gone from a struggling, uninvolved student to someone who has become involved in great school programs like Jobs For America’s Graduates (JAG), where she was recently recognized as a national qualifier. I get to observe Cadence weekly in my class pushing herself to be successful as she manages her classwork, supports her friends, and is generally a positive person for her peers.”Dana Wiegand, the JC Breakfast Optimist Club Student of the Month Chairperson, also stated that “Cadence has been in JAG-K for two years and recently was elected the next Region 2 Vice President for the 2023-24 school year. She will travel to Washington, DC to attend JAG’s National Student Leadership Academy.Cadence recently competed in JAG-K’s Career Development Conference (CDC), which is a competition for students to showcase the skills they have gained in the program. Cadence and her group earned a Regional and State first place win in the Project Based Learning Showcase. That win qualified the team for the Nationals in Orlando, Florida and it is Cadence’s second appearance at the National Career Development Conference.”Cadence received a $25 gift certificate from JC’s BBQ &amp; Grill and a movie pass to the B&amp;B Theater.

Optimist Club recognizes student of the month

The annual United Way dinner scheduled for May 4 has been postponed, the organization announced on Wednesday.

"At this time, due to unavoidable scheduling conflicts, we have made the difficult decision to postpone our Annual Dinner and Volunteer Appreciation," Executive Director Nichole Mader said. "While we know this is disappointing, we want to provide an event that everyone can enjoy as well as give our volunteers the spotlight that they deserve. We hope you understand."

Mader said a new date will be announced once it is confirmed. Those who have already purchased can either request a refund or keep the reservation for the new date.&nbsp;

For more information, call (785) 238-2117. "Thank you for your patience and understanding," Mader said.

JC PostThe annual United Way dinner scheduled for May 4 has been postponed, the organization announced on Wednesday."At this time, due to unavoidable scheduling conflicts, we have made the difficult decision to postpone our Annual Dinner and Volunteer Appreciation," Executive Director Nichole Mader said. "While we know this is disappointing, we want to provide an event that everyone can enjoy as well as give our volunteers the spotlight that they deserve. We hope you understand."Mader said a new date will be announced once it is confirmed. Those who have already purchased can either request a refund or keep the reservation for the new date.&nbsp;For more information, call (785) 238-2117. "Thank you for your patience and understanding," Mader said.

United Way of Junction City/Geary County annual dinner postponed

By JEREMY BOHN K-State Salina

Students studying computer science and virtual reality at&nbsp;<a href="http://salina.ksu.edu/" target="_blank">Kansas State University Salina Aerospace and Technology Campus</a>&nbsp;now have a highly advanced educational space that utilizes ultramodern technology: a new extended reality, or XR, lab space. The new&nbsp;extended&nbsp;reality lab, or Immersive Technology Classroom, combines virtual, physical and augmented reality technology that students will utilize to elevate their education. The facility features an immersive video wall showing multiple views from several different devices and an immersive audio system built into the room to provide a much more functional space for students. XR has a wide range of applications in various fields, including education, entertainment, health&nbsp;care, engineering and many more. It allows users to experience and interact with virtual objects and environments&nbsp;naturally and intuitively, leading to new possibilities in education, training and research. According to Michael Oetken, assistant professor of integrated studies, the new space will provide numerous opportunities for students in&nbsp;programs like computer systems technology, digital media technology, machine learning and autonomous systems, and web development technology. It will also&nbsp;allow curriculums on campus and other industries to collaborate in the XR lab. "The new XR lab will focus on junior and senior level capstone courses with the utilization of virtual reality,"&nbsp;Oetken said.&nbsp;"The space will provide more capabilities for advanced technologies that students can work and research. We will be able to make immersive technologies span across multiple K-State Salina curriculums where students in other programs can also get involved." The new XR lab features all-new equipment, including untethered XR systems, such as Oculus Quest Pro, Varjo products, Ultraleap products and the HTC XR Elite. This equipment will educate students and prepare them for their future careers. Michael Pritchard, associate dean of research and graduate studies at K-State Salina, said&nbsp;the space&nbsp;will not only&nbsp;be utilized as a classroom where students learn about the theory behind&nbsp;the&nbsp;technology, but it will also be a space where applied projects lead to real-world products. "This space is used to push the boundaries of cybernetic and cyber human systems research,"&nbsp;said Pritchard.&nbsp;"The new lab and equipment have expanded our ability to develop cognitive processing research across a variety of human-to-machine teaming scenarios.&nbsp;We are engaged with industry on multiple cyber human systems projects, which illustrates that our work in the new XR lab sets our campus apart from many of our counterparts." The new K-State Salina XR lab is funded by the KSU Foundation's&nbsp;"Flip the Classroom"&nbsp;initiative.&nbsp;&nbsp;

By JEREMY BOHN K-State SalinaStudents studying computer science and virtual reality at&nbsp;<a href="http://salina.ksu.edu/" target="_blank">Kansas State University Salina Aerospace and Technology Campus</a>&nbsp;now have a highly advanced educational space that utilizes ultramodern technology: a new extended reality, or XR, lab space. The new&nbsp;extended&nbsp;reality lab, or Immersive Technology Classroom, combines virtual, physical and augmented reality technology that students will utilize to elevate their education. The facility features an immersive video wall showing multiple views from several different devices and an immersive audio system built into the room to provide a much more functional space for students. XR has a wide range of applications in various fields, including education, entertainment, health&nbsp;care, engineering and many more. It allows users to experience and interact with virtual objects and environments&nbsp;naturally and intuitively, leading to new possibilities in education, training and research. According to Michael Oetken, assistant professor of integrated studies, the new space will provide numerous opportunities for students in&nbsp;programs like computer systems technology, digital media technology, machine learning and autonomous systems, and web development technology. It will also&nbsp;allow curriculums on campus and other industries to collaborate in the XR lab. "The new XR lab will focus on junior and senior level capstone courses with the utilization of virtual reality,"&nbsp;Oetken said.&nbsp;"The space will provide more capabilities for advanced technologies that students can work and research. We will be able to make immersive technologies span across multiple K-State Salina curriculums where students in other programs can also get involved." The new XR lab features all-new equipment, including untethered XR systems, such as Oculus Quest Pro, Varjo products, Ultraleap products and the HTC XR Elite. This equipment will educate students and prepare them for their future careers. Michael Pritchard, associate dean of research and graduate studies at K-State Salina, said&nbsp;the space&nbsp;will not only&nbsp;be utilized as a classroom where students learn about the theory behind&nbsp;the&nbsp;technology, but it will also be a space where applied projects lead to real-world products. "This space is used to push the boundaries of cybernetic and cyber human systems research,"&nbsp;said Pritchard.&nbsp;"The new lab and equipment have expanded our ability to develop cognitive processing research across a variety of human-to-machine teaming scenarios.&nbsp;We are engaged with industry on multiple cyber human systems projects, which illustrates that our work in the new XR lab sets our campus apart from many of our counterparts." The new K-State Salina XR lab is funded by the KSU Foundation's&nbsp;"Flip the Classroom"&nbsp;initiative.&nbsp;&nbsp;

K-State Salina unveils new extended reality lab

TOPEKA&nbsp;–&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly this week announced awardees for the second round of the Building a Stronger Economy (BASE) economic development grant program. Thirty-eight awardees will receive a share of nearly $50 million in BASE grants, which will be used to address infrastructure and economic development needs where solutions were delayed or slowed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Kansas Department of Commerce reviewed more than 400 applications from the first round and more than 100 new applications from the second round. In total, more than $2 billion in funding was requested for the nearly $50 million program, demonstrating both the need for this program and the many opportunities that exist throughout the state.

Area projects and organizations receiving grants included:

• City of Clay Center, Clay Center Housing Infrastructure, $448,832 • Clay County Growth Alliance Inc, Industrial Manufacturing Infrastructure, $143,588 • City of Manhattan, <a href="https://littleapplepost.com/posts/65b93fd1-0f02-4308-88d9-319aac30d40b">"The Garage" Entrepreneur &amp; Innovation Center,</a> $1,500,000

“To continue our record-breaking success in attracting businesses and creating jobs in Kansas, we must invest in infrastructure and economic development,”&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly said.&nbsp;“That’s exactly what these grants do, and I’m proud that we were able to work together, across party lines, to continue driving our state forward.”

The second round of the BASE grant program, as approved by the Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas (SPARK) Executive Committee, offers matching funds to address economic development opportunities with the goal of expanding the state’s base of businesses and residents.

“The State of Kansas is determined to strengthen as many communities as we possibly can,”&nbsp;Senate President Ty Masterson said.&nbsp;“These BASE grants will get more vital community projects back on track, while transforming the state’s economy.”

Funds will support infrastructure investments associated with economic development projects. In addition to funds awarded, the BASE program has generated $44 million in matching investment by public and private stakeholders for awarded projects.

“The infrastructure projects this round of funding supports will foster prosperity for future generations of Kansans,”&nbsp;House Speaker Dan Hawkins said. “The SPARK Committee focused on projects that set the stage for strategic long-term growth through thoughtful and targeted planning.”

County and local governments, economic development organizations, local chambers of commerce, and other stakeholders were eligible to apply for the second round of the BASE grant. Applications not awarded from the first round were also considered in the second round. There is a minimum 25% applicant match requirement and applicants were required to document how the project was delayed or affected negatively due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Communities throughout our state will receive long-lasting benefits as a result of the BASE grant program,”&nbsp;Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “Local leaders proposed specific solutions to address needs in their communities and these focused investments will continue to propel our state’s historic economic growth.”

For a list of BASE grant recipients and more information on the program, click&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmthbnNhc2NvbW1lcmNlLmdvdi9iYXNlZ3JhbnQvIiwiYnVsbGV0aW5faWQiOiIyMDIzMDQyNS43NTc0MjIwMSJ9.IwWoqL2WFIWudYCceeQtKaA0RoTpPCUq2Oie6-IZu-k/s/1372079104/br/165030486664-l">here</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682452866615.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Office of the GovernorTOPEKA&nbsp;–&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly this week announced awardees for the second round of the Building a Stronger Economy (BASE) economic development grant program. Thirty-eight awardees will receive a share of nearly $50 million in BASE grants, which will be used to address infrastructure and economic development needs where solutions were delayed or slowed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.The Kansas Department of Commerce reviewed more than 400 applications from the first round and more than 100 new applications from the second round. In total, more than $2 billion in funding was requested for the nearly $50 million program, demonstrating both the need for this program and the many opportunities that exist throughout the state.Area projects and organizations receiving grants included:• City of Clay Center, Clay Center Housing Infrastructure, $448,832 • Clay County Growth Alliance Inc, Industrial Manufacturing Infrastructure, $143,588 • City of Manhattan, <a href="https://littleapplepost.com/posts/65b93fd1-0f02-4308-88d9-319aac30d40b">"The Garage" Entrepreneur &amp; Innovation Center,</a> $1,500,000“To continue our record-breaking success in attracting businesses and creating jobs in Kansas, we must invest in infrastructure and economic development,”&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly said.&nbsp;“That’s exactly what these grants do, and I’m proud that we were able to work together, across party lines, to continue driving our state forward.”The second round of the BASE grant program, as approved by the Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas (SPARK) Executive Committee, offers matching funds to address economic development opportunities with the goal of expanding the state’s base of businesses and residents.“The State of Kansas is determined to strengthen as many communities as we possibly can,”&nbsp;Senate President Ty Masterson said.&nbsp;“These BASE grants will get more vital community projects back on track, while transforming the state’s economy.”Funds will support infrastructure investments associated with economic development projects. In addition to funds awarded, the BASE program has generated $44 million in matching investment by public and private stakeholders for awarded projects.“The infrastructure projects this round of funding supports will foster prosperity for future generations of Kansans,”&nbsp;House Speaker Dan Hawkins said. “The SPARK Committee focused on projects that set the stage for strategic long-term growth through thoughtful and targeted planning.”County and local governments, economic development organizations, local chambers of commerce, and other stakeholders were eligible to apply for the second round of the BASE grant. Applications not awarded from the first round were also considered in the second round. There is a minimum 25% applicant match requirement and applicants were required to document how the project was delayed or affected negatively due to the COVID-19 pandemic.“Communities throughout our state will receive long-lasting benefits as a result of the BASE grant program,”&nbsp;Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “Local leaders proposed specific solutions to address needs in their communities and these focused investments will continue to propel our state’s historic economic growth.”For a list of BASE grant recipients and more information on the program, click&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmthbnNhc2NvbW1lcmNlLmdvdi9iYXNlZ3JhbnQvIiwiYnVsbGV0aW5faWQiOiIyMDIzMDQyNS43NTc0MjIwMSJ9.IwWoqL2WFIWudYCceeQtKaA0RoTpPCUq2Oie6-IZu-k/s/1372079104/br/165030486664-l">here</a>.

Area projects, organizations awarded BASE 2.0 grants

By&nbsp; GRANT GUGGISBERG K-State News

MANHATTAN — The Kansas State University Steel Ring Honor Society has inducted 24 new members for the 2023-2024 academic year. Steel Ring is an honor society comprised of seniors in the <a href="https://engg.k-state.edu/">Carl R. Ice College of Engineering</a>.
 Membership is based on leadership, academic achievement, service and 
engagement. Steel Ring has been a part of the K-State engineering 
tradition since 1927.

One of the group's primary tasks each year is planning and organizing
 the College of Engineering Open House in the spring semester. They also
 recognize students and faculty at the annual engineering leadership 
reception and participate in leadership and service activities around 
the college.

The faculty advisor for the group is Craig Wanklyn, assistant dean for recruitment in the College of Engineering.

The following K-State seniors are the new members of Steel Ring:

Cameron Hoppas, chemical engineering, Andover; Molly Blankenship, industrial engineering, Basehor; Tim Foster, civil engineering, and Alison Holthaus, chemical engineering, both from Leawood; Erick Rodriguez, electrical engineering, Liberal; Egan Dritz, mechanical engineering, Manhattan; Trent Powell, computer science, Meriden.

From Olathe: Jakob Long, construction science and 
management; Danny Eckerberg, mechanical engineering; Paige Miranda, 
industrial engineering; Nathan Diehl, computer engineering; and Luke 
Horsch, computer science.

Payton Lee, mechanical engineering, Ottawa.

From Overland Park: Lindsey Crowell, nuclear 
engineering; Natalie Gish, industrial engineering; Emma Worthington, 
biological systems engineering; and Braden Black, mechanical 
engineering.

Stephanie Ma, chemical engineering, Rose Hill; Ryder Jarrett, electrical engineering, Shawnee; Caitlin Donahue, chemical engineering, and Abbi Clark, civil engineering, both from Wamego.

From out of state: Jessica Barnett, chemical engineering, Fishers, Indiana; and Lily Alberding, mechanical engineering, Needham, Massachusetts.

From out of country: Remas Alzubaidi, architectural engineering, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682273443451.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp; GRANT GUGGISBERG K-State NewsMANHATTAN — The Kansas State University Steel Ring Honor Society has inducted 24 new members for the 2023-2024 academic year. Steel Ring is an honor society comprised of seniors in the <a href="https://engg.k-state.edu/">Carl R. Ice College of Engineering</a>.
 Membership is based on leadership, academic achievement, service and 
engagement. Steel Ring has been a part of the K-State engineering 
tradition since 1927.One of the group's primary tasks each year is planning and organizing
 the College of Engineering Open House in the spring semester. They also
 recognize students and faculty at the annual engineering leadership 
reception and participate in leadership and service activities around 
the college.The faculty advisor for the group is Craig Wanklyn, assistant dean for recruitment in the College of Engineering.The following K-State seniors are the new members of Steel Ring:Cameron Hoppas, chemical engineering, Andover; Molly Blankenship, industrial engineering, Basehor; Tim Foster, civil engineering, and Alison Holthaus, chemical engineering, both from Leawood; Erick Rodriguez, electrical engineering, Liberal; Egan Dritz, mechanical engineering, Manhattan; Trent Powell, computer science, Meriden.From Olathe: Jakob Long, construction science and 
management; Danny Eckerberg, mechanical engineering; Paige Miranda, 
industrial engineering; Nathan Diehl, computer engineering; and Luke 
Horsch, computer science.Payton Lee, mechanical engineering, Ottawa.From Overland Park: Lindsey Crowell, nuclear 
engineering; Natalie Gish, industrial engineering; Emma Worthington, 
biological systems engineering; and Braden Black, mechanical 
engineering.Stephanie Ma, chemical engineering, Rose Hill; Ryder Jarrett, electrical engineering, Shawnee; Caitlin Donahue, chemical engineering, and Abbi Clark, civil engineering, both from Wamego.From out of state: Jessica Barnett, chemical engineering, Fishers, Indiana; and Lily Alberding, mechanical engineering, Needham, Massachusetts.From out of country: Remas Alzubaidi, architectural engineering, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

K-State's Steel Ring Honor Society inducts new members

Vendors sought for Junction City's 2023 Juneteenth Festival

<img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/9/1569336839553.jpeg">Click&nbsp;<a href="http://www.jcpost.com/category/obituaries/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(39, 163, 209);">HERE</a>&nbsp;to view the most recent obituaries and service times from our funeral home partners.JC Post is honored to publish full obituaries and photos at no cost to families.

Recent obituaries and service times

UPDATE: Geary County Emergency Management reported the line was repaired around 8:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Geary County Rural Water District 4 has has a line break in the 7300 block of old Milford Road.

The break affects Old Milford Road, McGeorge and Rockwood. 

Repairs are underway to return the line back to service.

<div><iframe src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d3746.6436212012513!2d-96.88677502358998!3d39.09793883484575!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x87bc4d22175019ff%3A0x950933d8e2504d0d!2s7300%20Old%20Milford%20Rd%2C%20Milford%2C%20KS%2066514!5e1!3m2!1sen!2sus!4v1682537293938!5m2!1sen!2sus" width="600" height="450" style="border:0;" allowfullscreen="" loading="lazy" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade"></iframe></div>UPDATE: Geary County Emergency Management reported the line was repaired around 8:30 p.m. Wednesday.------Geary County Rural Water District 4 has has a line break in the 7300 block of old Milford Road.The break affects Old Milford Road, McGeorge and Rockwood. Repairs are underway to return the line back to service.— News release

UPDATE: Water line break repaired at Old Milford Road

MANHATTAN — Kansas State University Athletics showed their support for the LGBTQ+ community on Tuesday with a video on social media from Saturday's annual Pride Parade and events.

In addition to the parade, there were <a href="https://www.bkstr.com/kansasstatestore/product/flag-outdoor-3-x5--scspc-------190420-1">vendors,</a> a drag show and the after party at The Hat in Aggieville.

Little Apple Pride Parade was launched in 2010 to show support for the LGBTQ+ Community, according to the organization's social media page.

MANHATTAN — Kansas State University Athletics showed their support for the LGBTQ+ community on Tuesday with a video on social media from Saturday's annual Pride Parade and events.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Pride in the Little Apple 💜<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KState?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KState</a> x <a href="https://twitter.com/LilApplePride?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LilApplePride</a> <a href="https://t.co/uMnoW81Yks">pic.twitter.com/uMnoW81Yks</a>&mdash; K-State Athletics (@kstatesports) <a href="https://twitter.com/kstatesports/status/1650930172965580800?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 25, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=476&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FLittleApplePride%2Fvideos%2F3542783989343840%2F&show_text=false&width=267&t=0" width="267" height="476" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>In addition to the parade, there were <a href="https://www.bkstr.com/kansasstatestore/product/flag-outdoor-3-x5--scspc-------190420-1">vendors,</a> a drag show and the after party at The Hat in Aggieville.Little Apple Pride Parade was launched in 2010 to show support for the LGBTQ+ Community, according to the organization's social media page.

🎥University shows support for LGBTQ+ community

By MICHELLE GEERING K-State News

MANHATTAN — Kansas State University has bestowed the highest faculty title of <a href="https://www.k-state.edu/about/faculty/udp/">university distinguished professor</a> upon five professors. The 2023 recipients of the lifetime honor are <a href="https://www.ageconomics.k-state.edu/directory/faculty_directory/featherstone/">Allen Featherstone</a>, professor and department head of agricultural economics; <a href="https://www.k-state.edu/biology/about/people/faculty/jumpponen/">Ari Jumpponen</a>, professor of biology; <a href="https://www.k-state.edu/chem/about/people/faculty/jli/">Jun Li</a>, professor of chemistry; <a href="https://www.k-state.edu/biology/about/people/faculty/nippert/">Jesse Nippert</a>, professor of biology; and <a href="https://ece.k-state.edu/about/people/faculty/scoglio/">Caterina Scoglio</a>, professor of electrical and computer engineering. "Drs.
 Featherstone, Jumpponen, Li, Nippert and Scoglio are all 
internationally recognized researchers in their fields who have 
distinguished themselves as teachers and mentors," said Chuck Taber, 
executive vice president and university provost. "These faculty members 
are dedicated to excellence in teaching, research and service and will 
continue to support Kansas State University's strategic plan to become a
 next-generation land-grant university."

University distinguished professors are appointed following a 
universitywide nomination and evaluation process conducted by the 
provost. The five faculty members receive a personalized plaque and 
medallion at the university's fall 2023 commencement ceremonies.

Featherstone is globally recognized as a leading expert in the field 
of agricultural finance and agriculture production economics. His 
research includes some of the most impactful areas in agricultural 
economics, including the influences of taxes on farmland, the 
probability of agricultural loan default and loan loss severity, 
groundwater allocation in irrigated crop production, management of corn 
yields and interactions of weather and soils.

Awarded more than $7.1 million in research funding, Featherstone has 
published more than 150 peer-reviewed journal articles, including the 
flagship American Journal of Agricultural Economics of the Agricultural 
and Applied Economics Association, the Journal of Econometrics, and the 
Review of Economics and Statistics, among other leading journals. His 
work has been reported in leading national publications and outlets. His
 agricultural policy and land-value work was cited by then-Secretary of 
Agriculture Dan Glickman and then-President Clinton as rationale for 
farm program support to agriculture.

An internationally recognized conference speaker and presenter, 
Featherstone has been honored by many professional organizations, 
including numerous honors from the Agricultural Finance and Management 
Section, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association; the 2003 
Distinguished Faculty Award and the 1999 Outstanding Research Award from
 the K-State chapter of Gamma Sigma Delta; the Phi Kappa Phi Scholar 
Award; and the Gold Quill Award for Outstanding Journal article, Journal
 of American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers. In 2005, he 
received K-State's Commerce Bank Distinguished Graduate Faculty award. 
Featherstone is active on university and college committees and has 
served on leading industry advisory boards and as a research journal 
associate editor.

Instrumental in the development of the university's innovative Master
 of Agribusiness program, Featherstone has been the director of the 
program since its inception in 1997. Featherstone earned a bachelor's 
degree from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls and his master's and
 doctorate in agricultural economics from Purdue University.

A fungal ecology researcher, Jumpponen pioneered the use of 
high-throughput sequencing for the dissection, characterization and 
analyses of fungal communities in plant and soil samples. Currently, his
 research focuses on the effects of fire on soil and soil-dwelling 
organisms, which is important to understand as wildfire risks increase.

Jumpponen has received $4.6 million in total research funding, 
including funds from National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of
 Energy and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, or USDA. He has also 
been recognized as being among the top 2% of researchers worldwide by 
Stanford University.

The results of Jumpponen's work have been published in 140 
peer-reviewed scientific articles and more than a dozen book chapters 
with inclusion in the journals Nature, Science, Global Change Biology, 
Ecological Monographs, New Phytologist, Soil Biology, and Biochemistry 
and Molecular Ecology. He has also provided ad hoc manuscript reviews 
for more than 60 scientific journals and has served as an editorial 
board member for Applied and Environmental Microbiology, Axios Reviews 
and Mycorrhiza. Jumpponen also provides scientific consulting services 
for the USDA Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the Centre 
for Resource and Environmental Studies in Australia and within the 
private sector.

Academically, Jumpponen has advised or co-advised 14 graduate 
students and nearly 50 undergraduates since he joined K-State in 2000. 
From 2011-2016, he served as principal investigator of a National 
Science Foundation-funded grant for an undergraduate training program, 
URM: Undergraduate Research and Mentoring in Ecological Genomics. He 
received the 2022 Division of Biology Outstanding Graduate Faculty 
Award.

Jumpponen holds professional memberships in the North American 
Truffling Society, the Mycological Society of America and the Ecological
 Society of America. He earned a master's degree from the University of 
Eastern Finland, formerly called the University of Joensuu, and a 
doctorate from Oregon State University.

Li is a highly accomplished nanomaterials and nanotechnology expert 
known for developing novel electrochemical protease sensors for cancer 
diagnosis and hybrid materials built on nanotubes for lithium-ion 
batteries or electrocatalysts in fuel cells. Li's current research 
focuses on energy conversion and storage, biosensor development, and 
nanomaterial growth and composite materials synthesis.

Since joining K-State in 2007, Li has been awarded $8.35 million in 
research funding from industry, non-profit foundations and federal 
funding agencies, including the National Institutes of Health, the 
National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy and the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration. Li averages more than seven 
publications annually and throughout his career has produced 148 
peer-reviewed journal articles, 25 conference papers, 23 book chapters 
and one co-edited book. Li also holds 13 U.S. patents, one Japanese 
patent, two international Protected Cooperation Treaty applications and 
one protected international World Intellectual Property Organization 
patent.

Li teaches undergraduate chemistry courses and two interdisciplinary 
graduate nanotechnology classes that he developed. At K-state, he has 
served as an advisor for 19 graduate students, five postdoctoral fellows
 and eight visiting scholars while also supervising undergraduate 
students working in his lab. In 2018, Li was recognized for his 
excellence in the classroom with the Professorial Performance Award and 
the Segebrecht Award. He has been named a 2022 International Association
 of Advanced Materials fellow, 2021 Royal Society of Chemistry fellow 
and 2019 National Academy of Inventors fellow. Additional professional 
honors include the 2005 Nano 50 Innovator Award and the NASA Ames Honor 
Award in 2005.

Li has served on numerous department and university committees and is
 active professionally as senior editor for the journal of IEEE 
Transactions on Nanotechnology. He also serves on the editorial advisory
 board for 11 professional journals, helps to organize industry 
conferences and workshops and has participated in 55 review panels for 
federal funding agencies.

Before joining K-State, Li worked at the NASA Ames Research Center, 
Institute of Materials Research and Engineering, and Molecular Imaging 
Co. Li earned his undergraduate degree from Wuhan University and his 
master's and doctorate degrees from Princeton University.

Nippert is a transformative leader and researcher of grassland and 
savanna ecology, grass-to-tree ecological dynamics and response to 
climate change. His multifaceted research challenges long-held ideas of 
water use and drought survival in grasses, and it provides insights into
 the mechanisms underpinning competition for water between grasses and 
woody vegetation. He is also internationally recognized as an expert in 
the use of stable isotopes in ecological studies.

With nearly $23 million in research funding, Nippert's research has 
resulted in 110 publications in peer-reviewed journals, including 
Science, Nature Climate Change, Proceedings of the National Academy of 
Science, Ecology, Global Change Biology, Annals of Botany and Plant 
Ecology. Nippert is the principal investigator for the National Science 
Foundation-funded Long-Term Ecological Research program at the Konza 
Prairie Biological Station. Additionally, his research in South Africa 
on lowveld savanna ecology is funded by the National Science Foundation 
and the South African Environmental Observatory Network.

A dedicated educator and mentor, Nippert secured funding from the 
National Science Foundation in 2016 to develop a national training 
program — Phys-Fest — to provide immersive workshops for plant ecology 
graduate and postdoctoral researchers about eco-physiological methods, 
instrumentation and science communication. Nippert was also instrumental
 in developing an interdisciplinary environmental sciences degree 
program that launched in fall 2021. He has served as a major advisor for
 one postdoctoral scholar, 15 graduate students and 16 undergraduate 
researchers.

Nippert has been recognized for his professional excellence with the 
H. Henley Haymaker Teaching Excellence Award, the William L Stamey 
Teaching Award, the Karen Ann Griffith Research Award, K-State's Biology
 Graduate Student Association's Outstanding Faculty Award and a Big 12 
Faculty Fellowship. He has also been an invited presenter and panelist 
at the AAAS Frontiers of Science.

Nippert has an undergraduate degree from Kansas State University, a 
master's degree from the University of Idaho and a doctorate from 
Colorado State University. Prior to returning to K-State as a faculty 
member in 2007, Nippert held post-doctoral fellowships at the University
 of Kansas and the Kansas Geological Survey.

Scoglio is a high-impact expert in the field of network science and 
contact-network models for epidemic spreading. Her research team 
developed a generalized epidemic modeling software tool, which has been 
widely adopted by other researchers and applied to simulating the spread
 of many infectious diseases. Scoglio and her research group produced 
accurate predictions of the spread of COVID-19 in Wuhan City, China, and
 the 2019 Ebola cases in in Uganda.

Scoglio has been awarded more than $15.5 million in research funding,
 including funds from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, National Science Foundation, U.S. Department 
of Defense and the National Institutes of Health. Her research has led 
to 114 journal publications, 74 conference publications, six book 
chapters and 49 invited talks.

Along with her transformative research, Scoglio is a proficient and 
dedicated educator and mentor to graduate students, and she serves as a 
role model to others in her profession. She has been an advisor to 42 
graduate students. Scoglio's robust mentoring is also substantiated by 
many of her students being selected for outstanding graduate student 
awards in the electrical and computer engineering departments.

Scoglio earned her doctorate in engineering from Sapienza University 
of Rome. She joined K-State in 2005 and was named the LeRoy and Aileen 
Pasley Professor in 2016. K-State has recognized Scoglio's work with 
several honors, including the Commerce Bank and W.T. Kemper Foundation 
Distinguished Graduate Faculty Award, the Engineering Distinguished 
Researcher Award, the Frankenhoff Outstanding Research Award, the role 
of Steve Hsu Keystone research faculty scholar, the Professional 
Performance Award and the Research Proposal Teamwork Award.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682273280452.png" alt="Kansas State University has honored five professors with the prestigious lifetime title of university distinguished professor. From left: Allen Featherstone, professor and department head of agricultural economics; Ari Jumpponen, professor of biology; Jun Li, professor of chemistry; Jesse Nippert, professor of biology; and Caterina Scoglio, professor of electrical and computer engineering." />
 <figcaption>Kansas State University has honored five professors with the prestigious lifetime title of university distinguished professor. From left: Allen Featherstone, professor and department head of agricultural economics; Ari Jumpponen, professor of biology; Jun Li, professor of chemistry; Jesse Nippert, professor of biology; and Caterina Scoglio, professor of electrical and computer engineering.</figcaption>
 </figure>By MICHELLE GEERING K-State NewsMANHATTAN — Kansas State University has bestowed the highest faculty title of <a href="https://www.k-state.edu/about/faculty/udp/">university distinguished professor</a> upon five professors. The 2023 recipients of the lifetime honor are <a href="https://www.ageconomics.k-state.edu/directory/faculty_directory/featherstone/">Allen Featherstone</a>, professor and department head of agricultural economics; <a href="https://www.k-state.edu/biology/about/people/faculty/jumpponen/">Ari Jumpponen</a>, professor of biology; <a href="https://www.k-state.edu/chem/about/people/faculty/jli/">Jun Li</a>, professor of chemistry; <a href="https://www.k-state.edu/biology/about/people/faculty/nippert/">Jesse Nippert</a>, professor of biology; and <a href="https://ece.k-state.edu/about/people/faculty/scoglio/">Caterina Scoglio</a>, professor of electrical and computer engineering. "Drs.
 Featherstone, Jumpponen, Li, Nippert and Scoglio are all 
internationally recognized researchers in their fields who have 
distinguished themselves as teachers and mentors," said Chuck Taber, 
executive vice president and university provost. "These faculty members 
are dedicated to excellence in teaching, research and service and will 
continue to support Kansas State University's strategic plan to become a
 next-generation land-grant university."University distinguished professors are appointed following a 
universitywide nomination and evaluation process conducted by the 
provost. The five faculty members receive a personalized plaque and 
medallion at the university's fall 2023 commencement ceremonies.Featherstone is globally recognized as a leading expert in the field 
of agricultural finance and agriculture production economics. His 
research includes some of the most impactful areas in agricultural 
economics, including the influences of taxes on farmland, the 
probability of agricultural loan default and loan loss severity, 
groundwater allocation in irrigated crop production, management of corn 
yields and interactions of weather and soils.Awarded more than $7.1 million in research funding, Featherstone has 
published more than 150 peer-reviewed journal articles, including the 
flagship American Journal of Agricultural Economics of the Agricultural 
and Applied Economics Association, the Journal of Econometrics, and the 
Review of Economics and Statistics, among other leading journals. His 
work has been reported in leading national publications and outlets. His
 agricultural policy and land-value work was cited by then-Secretary of 
Agriculture Dan Glickman and then-President Clinton as rationale for 
farm program support to agriculture.An internationally recognized conference speaker and presenter, 
Featherstone has been honored by many professional organizations, 
including numerous honors from the Agricultural Finance and Management 
Section, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association; the 2003 
Distinguished Faculty Award and the 1999 Outstanding Research Award from
 the K-State chapter of Gamma Sigma Delta; the Phi Kappa Phi Scholar 
Award; and the Gold Quill Award for Outstanding Journal article, Journal
 of American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers. In 2005, he 
received K-State's Commerce Bank Distinguished Graduate Faculty award. 
Featherstone is active on university and college committees and has 
served on leading industry advisory boards and as a research journal 
associate editor.Instrumental in the development of the university's innovative Master
 of Agribusiness program, Featherstone has been the director of the 
program since its inception in 1997. Featherstone earned a bachelor's 
degree from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls and his master's and
 doctorate in agricultural economics from Purdue University.A fungal ecology researcher, Jumpponen pioneered the use of 
high-throughput sequencing for the dissection, characterization and 
analyses of fungal communities in plant and soil samples. Currently, his
 research focuses on the effects of fire on soil and soil-dwelling 
organisms, which is important to understand as wildfire risks increase.Jumpponen has received $4.6 million in total research funding, 
including funds from National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of
 Energy and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, or USDA. He has also 
been recognized as being among the top 2% of researchers worldwide by 
Stanford University.The results of Jumpponen's work have been published in 140 
peer-reviewed scientific articles and more than a dozen book chapters 
with inclusion in the journals Nature, Science, Global Change Biology, 
Ecological Monographs, New Phytologist, Soil Biology, and Biochemistry 
and Molecular Ecology. He has also provided ad hoc manuscript reviews 
for more than 60 scientific journals and has served as an editorial 
board member for Applied and Environmental Microbiology, Axios Reviews 
and Mycorrhiza. Jumpponen also provides scientific consulting services 
for the USDA Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the Centre 
for Resource and Environmental Studies in Australia and within the 
private sector.Academically, Jumpponen has advised or co-advised 14 graduate 
students and nearly 50 undergraduates since he joined K-State in 2000. 
From 2011-2016, he served as principal investigator of a National 
Science Foundation-funded grant for an undergraduate training program, 
URM: Undergraduate Research and Mentoring in Ecological Genomics. He 
received the 2022 Division of Biology Outstanding Graduate Faculty 
Award.Jumpponen holds professional memberships in the North American 
Truffling Society, the Mycological Society of America and the Ecological
 Society of America. He earned a master's degree from the University of 
Eastern Finland, formerly called the University of Joensuu, and a 
doctorate from Oregon State University.Li is a highly accomplished nanomaterials and nanotechnology expert 
known for developing novel electrochemical protease sensors for cancer 
diagnosis and hybrid materials built on nanotubes for lithium-ion 
batteries or electrocatalysts in fuel cells. Li's current research 
focuses on energy conversion and storage, biosensor development, and 
nanomaterial growth and composite materials synthesis.Since joining K-State in 2007, Li has been awarded $8.35 million in 
research funding from industry, non-profit foundations and federal 
funding agencies, including the National Institutes of Health, the 
National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy and the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration. Li averages more than seven 
publications annually and throughout his career has produced 148 
peer-reviewed journal articles, 25 conference papers, 23 book chapters 
and one co-edited book. Li also holds 13 U.S. patents, one Japanese 
patent, two international Protected Cooperation Treaty applications and 
one protected international World Intellectual Property Organization 
patent.Li teaches undergraduate chemistry courses and two interdisciplinary 
graduate nanotechnology classes that he developed. At K-state, he has 
served as an advisor for 19 graduate students, five postdoctoral fellows
 and eight visiting scholars while also supervising undergraduate 
students working in his lab. In 2018, Li was recognized for his 
excellence in the classroom with the Professorial Performance Award and 
the Segebrecht Award. He has been named a 2022 International Association
 of Advanced Materials fellow, 2021 Royal Society of Chemistry fellow 
and 2019 National Academy of Inventors fellow. Additional professional 
honors include the 2005 Nano 50 Innovator Award and the NASA Ames Honor 
Award in 2005.Li has served on numerous department and university committees and is
 active professionally as senior editor for the journal of IEEE 
Transactions on Nanotechnology. He also serves on the editorial advisory
 board for 11 professional journals, helps to organize industry 
conferences and workshops and has participated in 55 review panels for 
federal funding agencies.Before joining K-State, Li worked at the NASA Ames Research Center, 
Institute of Materials Research and Engineering, and Molecular Imaging 
Co. Li earned his undergraduate degree from Wuhan University and his 
master's and doctorate degrees from Princeton University.Nippert is a transformative leader and researcher of grassland and 
savanna ecology, grass-to-tree ecological dynamics and response to 
climate change. His multifaceted research challenges long-held ideas of 
water use and drought survival in grasses, and it provides insights into
 the mechanisms underpinning competition for water between grasses and 
woody vegetation. He is also internationally recognized as an expert in 
the use of stable isotopes in ecological studies.With nearly $23 million in research funding, Nippert's research has 
resulted in 110 publications in peer-reviewed journals, including 
Science, Nature Climate Change, Proceedings of the National Academy of 
Science, Ecology, Global Change Biology, Annals of Botany and Plant 
Ecology. Nippert is the principal investigator for the National Science 
Foundation-funded Long-Term Ecological Research program at the Konza 
Prairie Biological Station. Additionally, his research in South Africa 
on lowveld savanna ecology is funded by the National Science Foundation 
and the South African Environmental Observatory Network.A dedicated educator and mentor, Nippert secured funding from the 
National Science Foundation in 2016 to develop a national training 
program — Phys-Fest — to provide immersive workshops for plant ecology 
graduate and postdoctoral researchers about eco-physiological methods, 
instrumentation and science communication. Nippert was also instrumental
 in developing an interdisciplinary environmental sciences degree 
program that launched in fall 2021. He has served as a major advisor for
 one postdoctoral scholar, 15 graduate students and 16 undergraduate 
researchers.Nippert has been recognized for his professional excellence with the 
H. Henley Haymaker Teaching Excellence Award, the William L Stamey 
Teaching Award, the Karen Ann Griffith Research Award, K-State's Biology
 Graduate Student Association's Outstanding Faculty Award and a Big 12 
Faculty Fellowship. He has also been an invited presenter and panelist 
at the AAAS Frontiers of Science.Nippert has an undergraduate degree from Kansas State University, a 
master's degree from the University of Idaho and a doctorate from 
Colorado State University. Prior to returning to K-State as a faculty 
member in 2007, Nippert held post-doctoral fellowships at the University
 of Kansas and the Kansas Geological Survey.Scoglio is a high-impact expert in the field of network science and 
contact-network models for epidemic spreading. Her research team 
developed a generalized epidemic modeling software tool, which has been 
widely adopted by other researchers and applied to simulating the spread
 of many infectious diseases. Scoglio and her research group produced 
accurate predictions of the spread of COVID-19 in Wuhan City, China, and
 the 2019 Ebola cases in in Uganda.Scoglio has been awarded more than $15.5 million in research funding,
 including funds from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, National Science Foundation, U.S. Department 
of Defense and the National Institutes of Health. Her research has led 
to 114 journal publications, 74 conference publications, six book 
chapters and 49 invited talks.Along with her transformative research, Scoglio is a proficient and 
dedicated educator and mentor to graduate students, and she serves as a 
role model to others in her profession. She has been an advisor to 42 
graduate students. Scoglio's robust mentoring is also substantiated by 
many of her students being selected for outstanding graduate student 
awards in the electrical and computer engineering departments.Scoglio earned her doctorate in engineering from Sapienza University 
of Rome. She joined K-State in 2005 and was named the LeRoy and Aileen 
Pasley Professor in 2016. K-State has recognized Scoglio's work with 
several honors, including the Commerce Bank and W.T. Kemper Foundation 
Distinguished Graduate Faculty Award, the Engineering Distinguished 
Researcher Award, the Frankenhoff Outstanding Research Award, the role 
of Steve Hsu Keystone research faculty scholar, the Professional 
Performance Award and the Research Proposal Teamwork Award.

K-State names newest university distinguished professors

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/2023/4/1682510719863.jpeg" alt="Thania Elena Colin, DUI-Liquor/Drugs(2nd Offense); Operate a motor vehicle without a valid license; Driving w/o lights when needed; Arrested 04/25" />
 <figcaption>Thania Elena Colin, DUI-Liquor/Drugs(2nd Offense); Operate a motor vehicle without a valid license; Driving w/o lights when needed; Arrested 04/25</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682510797647.jpeg" alt="Nyasha Deborah Coney, Stalking; Misd. unknown circumstance; Criminal damage to property; Misdemeanor; Arrested 04/25" />
 <figcaption>Nyasha Deborah Coney, Stalking; Misd. unknown circumstance; Criminal damage to property; Misdemeanor; Arrested 04/25</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682510879787.jpeg" alt="Matthew June Young Keen, Criminal Trespass; Arrested 04/25" />
 <figcaption>Matthew June Young Keen, Criminal Trespass; Arrested 04/25</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682510926049.jpeg" alt="Fallon Rachelle Luthi, Probation Violation x2; Arrested 04/25" />
 <figcaption>Fallon Rachelle Luthi, Probation Violation x2; Arrested 04/25</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682510984744.jpeg" alt="Amanda Leigh Massoli, Probation Violation; Possession of Marijuana 1st offense; Possession of drug paraphernalia; Possession of marijuana, 2 or more prior convictions; Use/possess w/intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body; Arrested 04/25" />
 <figcaption>Amanda Leigh Massoli, Probation Violation; Possession of Marijuana 1st offense; Possession of drug paraphernalia; Possession of marijuana, 2 or more prior convictions; Use/possess w/intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body; Arrested 04/25</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682511101945.jpeg" alt="Rollin Dion McClam, Parole Violation; Arrested 04/25" />
 <figcaption>Rollin Dion McClam, Parole Violation; Arrested 04/25</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682511139694.jpeg" alt="Toni Anne Procanin, Failure to appear; Outside warrant; Driving while license cancelled/suspended/revoked; Mid; Unk. conv.; Possession of marijuana; Use/possess w/intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body; Arrested 04/25" />
 <figcaption>Toni Anne Procanin, Failure to appear; Outside warrant; Driving while license cancelled/suspended/revoked; Mid; Unk. conv.; Possession of marijuana; Use/possess w/intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body; Arrested 04/25</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682511228074.jpeg" alt="Michael Edward Smith, Failure to appear; Arrested 04/25" />
 <figcaption>Michael Edward Smith, Failure to appear; Arrested 04/25</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682511281206.jpeg" alt="Antwaan Dwayne Williams, Bond Violation; Flee or attempt to elude; Commission of any felony; Possession of marijuana; Use/possess w/intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body; Arrested 04/25" />
 <figcaption>Antwaan Dwayne Williams, Bond Violation; Flee or attempt to elude; Commission of any felony; Possession of marijuana; Use/possess w/intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body; Arrested 04/25</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.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Geary County Booking Photos April 26

What started as a home renovation turned into a "labor of love" for two Junction City couples — Paradox Coffee &amp; Bistro, which opened its doors Feb. 26.

"We relocated to Junction City about eight years ago," said Tiffany Nacarato. "We fell in love with Junction City and decided to make it our home. We absolutely love it here."

Originally from the Wichita area, Tiffany Nacarato is a doctor working in Salina and her husband, Teran, is a physician in Geary County.

"We had an older home and decided to renovate it. We hired DM Construction and got to know Derrick Melton and his wife, Tammy," she said.

Derrick and Tammy Melton — city clerk for Junction City — are both lifelong residents of Junction City.

"When you love something, you want to see it grow," Nacarato said. "We looked around and tried to see what Junction City needed and it was a coffee shop. We had a couple of chains, but nothing that seemed like it was Junction City's own."

The idea for Paradox was born when the building at 419 Washington, formerly Liberty Tax, went on the market in 2022.

"This building just kind of spoke to us," she said. Again, DM Construction took on the renovation  project and the partnership between the Nacaratos and Meltons was born. "Derrick and his crew did an amazing job and created just the vibe we were looking for — a home for everyone, a community space."

But the new partners envision more than coffee at their establishment — and recognized the importance of sourcing as much locally as possible, down to the furniture purchased at a Junction City retailer and a local rancher who sells beef, pork and eggs at the shop.

"Local supporting local. It's kind of our unofficial tagline," Nacarato said. "Everything you see in that shop comes from Kansas. ... This is how we make sure everything is the quality we want it to be and add that extra hometown touch. ... (We) scoured social media, buy-sell-trade pages, Google looking for local vendors and asking 'Who doesn't have a storefront who needs one?' "

The coffee originates from <a href="https://www.reverieroasters.com/">Reverie Coffee Roasters</a> in Wichita.

"My husband and I don't drink coffee," Nacarato confessed, "but my husband kept saying 'You don't have to be blind to sell glasses.'"

The Nacaratos and Meltons had a blind taste test that included coffee from Seattle and Maine.

"Reverie was hands down the No. 1 vote," she said. "Reverie came up and trained our staff on exactly how to grind the beans, how to add the flavorings together to get the best taste. They really helped us on how to pair everything together. ... It's the personal touch of 'Locally sourced.'"

The challenge of operating a small business with full-time jobs is made easier by the fact the couples "divvy up roles" - and hired an excellent staff of 12 full- and part-time employees.

"They're so friendly. That's our No. 1 review is how friendly our staff is. ... When you build a strong team, it all works," she said.

"We needed all four of us, but we also really, really love what we do outside of the coffee shop. We just committed to each other and constantly engaged with it without it distracting from our jobs," Nacarato added, noting that working full-time and running a small business "are not mutually exclusive concepts."

The reception by the community already has the Paradox partners eyeing expanded hours and unvieling its catering menu.

"It's a labor of love we hope continues to pay off for everybody, the community, the staff," she said. "It's more than a coffee shop. It's a community space."

Currently, hours are 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday. For more, visit the <a href="https://www.paradoxcoffeeandbistro.com/index.htm">Paradox website</a>.

Updated 9:30 a.m. Saturday to clarify the Necarato's places of employment.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682108804738.png" alt="The Nacaratos and Meltons cut the ribbon at Paradox Coffee &amp; Bistro in Junction City. Photos by Nate King" />
 <figcaption>The Nacaratos and Meltons cut the ribbon at Paradox Coffee &amp; Bistro in Junction City. Photos by Nate King</figcaption>
 </figure>By RON FIELDS JC PostWhat started as a home renovation turned into a "labor of love" for two Junction City couples — Paradox Coffee &amp; Bistro, which opened its doors Feb. 26."We relocated to Junction City about eight years ago," said Tiffany Nacarato. "We fell in love with Junction City and decided to make it our home. We absolutely love it here."Originally from the Wichita area, Tiffany Nacarato is a doctor working in Salina and her husband, Teran, is a physician in Geary County."We had an older home and decided to renovate it. We hired DM Construction and got to know Derrick Melton and his wife, Tammy," she said.Derrick and Tammy Melton — city clerk for Junction City — are both lifelong residents of Junction City."When you love something, you want to see it grow," Nacarato said. "We looked around and tried to see what Junction City needed and it was a coffee shop. We had a couple of chains, but nothing that seemed like it was Junction City's own."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682109380997.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The idea for Paradox was born when the building at 419 Washington, formerly Liberty Tax, went on the market in 2022."This building just kind of spoke to us," she said. Again, DM Construction took on the renovation project and the partnership between the Nacaratos and Meltons was born. "Derrick and his crew did an amazing job and created just the vibe we were looking for — a home for everyone, a community space."But the new partners envision more than coffee at their establishment — and recognized the importance of sourcing as much locally as possible, down to the furniture purchased at a Junction City retailer and a local rancher who sells beef, pork and eggs at the shop."Local supporting local. It's kind of our unofficial tagline," Nacarato said. "Everything you see in that shop comes from Kansas. ... This is how we make sure everything is the quality we want it to be and add that extra hometown touch. ... (We) scoured social media, buy-sell-trade pages, Google looking for local vendors and asking 'Who doesn't have a storefront who needs one?' "<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682109438313.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The coffee originates from <a href="https://www.reverieroasters.com/">Reverie Coffee Roasters</a> in Wichita."My husband and I don't drink coffee," Nacarato confessed, "but my husband kept saying 'You don't have to be blind to sell glasses.'"The Nacaratos and Meltons had a blind taste test that included coffee from Seattle and Maine."Reverie was hands down the No. 1 vote," she said. "Reverie came up and trained our staff on exactly how to grind the beans, how to add the flavorings together to get the best taste. They really helped us on how to pair everything together. ... It's the personal touch of 'Locally sourced.'"<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682109486129.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The challenge of operating a small business with full-time jobs is made easier by the fact the couples "divvy up roles" - and hired an excellent staff of 12 full- and part-time employees."They're so friendly. That's our No. 1 review is how friendly our staff is. ... When you build a strong team, it all works," she said."We needed all four of us, but we also really, really love what we do outside of the coffee shop. We just committed to each other and constantly engaged with it without it distracting from our jobs," Nacarato added, noting that working full-time and running a small business "are not mutually exclusive concepts."The reception by the community already has the Paradox partners eyeing expanded hours and unvieling its catering menu."It's a labor of love we hope continues to pay off for everybody, the community, the staff," she said. "It's more than a coffee shop. It's a community space."Currently, hours are 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday. For more, visit the <a href="https://www.paradoxcoffeeandbistro.com/index.htm">Paradox website</a>.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682109526763.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Updated 9:30 a.m. Saturday to clarify the Necarato's places of employment.

Pair of docs and JC natives team up for Paradox — 'a home for everyone' 

Preliminary estimates reported by the Labor Market Information Services division of the Kansas Department of Labor and the Bureau of Labor Statistics show a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 2.9% in March. This is unchanged from 2.9% in February and an increase from 2.4% in March 2022.

Seasonally adjusted job estimates for Kansas indicate total nonfarm payroll employment decreased by 2,200 from February. Total nonfarm includes private sector and government employers. Private sector jobs decreased by 2,900 over the month, while government increased by 700.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682438906291.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Preliminary estimates reported by the Labor Market Information Services division of the Kansas Department of Labor and the Bureau of Labor Statistics show a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 2.9% in March. This is unchanged from 2.9% in February and an increase from 2.4% in March 2022.Seasonally adjusted job estimates for Kansas indicate total nonfarm payroll employment decreased by 2,200 from February. Total nonfarm includes private sector and government employers. Private sector jobs decreased by 2,900 over the month, while government increased by 700.The Geary County jobless rate fell slightly from 4.5 percent in February to 4.3 percent in March. Wabaunsee and Pottawatomie Counties saw a similar drop. The Riley County remained steady at 2.9 percent.Since March 2022 Kansas' seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs have increased by 37,100. This change is due to an increase of 33,200 private sector jobs and an increase of 3,900 government jobs.The April 2023 Labor Report will be released on Friday, May 19.