Due to the weather this past weekend and the lack of internet service, I am not getting this report out until today ( Monday ).
When I left the office early on Friday afternoon to travel about 60 miles from here to watch my Granddaughter Dakota play her last softball game of the year I, like many others, had no idea what was ahead. As I sat in the hot sun at the ball game, I soon began getting alerts and texts about the weather here in Junction City. I saw reports of the damage and received pictures of the flooding, trees in the street, limbs and branches in many yards and the collapsed building downtown.
During the storm itself, the Police and Fire Departments were out in it all doing their job and taking care of the City. The Parks and Recreation Department and Public Works employees responded that evening. They have continued to work all weekend and will continue this week.
The Playground Park and Swimming Pool on Fifth Street were covered with limbs and debris. Heritage Park had very little damage as a number of older and dead and dying trees had already been taken care of earlier.
Public Works Crews will continue to pick up limbs and debris throughout the City as well as repair traffic lights that had been damaged and are not working. All we ask is for everyone to be patient.
On top of all of this Freedom Fest will be held this week and they will have everything ready to go for this annual event. The City employees are a vital component to make this event happen.
Also, I want to give a shout out to he Veolia Water crews who kept the Water and the 2 Waste Water Plants in operation. On the wastewater side they were slammed with a larger volume as storm water does enter the manholes and gets sent to the Sewer plants. No doubt the storm water system was over taxed because it can handle only so much water. They are not designed to handle that large amount of water in a short period of time.
When you see the City employees who are doing their job to take care of the City and you, give them a big Thank-you.
Enjoy this week as we celebrate the 248 Anniversary of this Country. Hope to see you all at Freedom Fest.
If you have not been to Rathert Field this year, come out on Sunday, July 6 to watch the Junction City Brigade play the US Military War Dogs at 6 P.M. The War Dogs Baseball program is made up of military-affiliated players who raise awareness to those who have served our country and deal with many challenges they face. Make sure you are there for the pre-game festivities.