🌱 Meet the Washington Elementary teacher shaping Junction City’s youngest learners.

Hi there, Junction City! We've got your morning read ready! Read on to stay connected. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• Meet the Washington Elementary teacher shaping Junction City’s youngest learners.
• How 11 JCHS SkillsUSA students punched their ticket to state
• How high can Junction City High School’s drone team really soar?

Today's riddle: My brother swallowed a box of firecrackers. - Is he all right now? 🤔 (Answer below!)

From our Partner
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Find a T-Mobile store near Junction City.

Weather forecast:

• Thursday: Becoming very windy; cooler, with a high of 52 and low of 19 degrees. ⛄️ Brr!
• Friday: Increasingly windy, temps: high: 54, low: 37.
• Saturday: Partial sunshine, with a high of 52 and low of 26 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Forbus Finds Home at Washington (jcpost.com) — A Washington Elementary second-grade teacher in Junction City, Ashley Forbus, has found her calling building a warm, relationship-focused classroom for local students in USD 475. After Army service and work in other states, she and her family have settled in Junction City, embracing the community’s military ties while she leads in the classroom and on school leadership teams.
   

2. SkillsUSA Instructor and Students were guest speakers at the Optimist Club Meeting (jcpost.com) — Junction City High School’s SkillsUSA students recently impressed the JC Breakfast Optimist Club with news that 11 of 12 competitors qualified for state. Instructor Aaron Yoder and student Kennedy Moreland highlighted hands-on contests ranging from public speaking to shed-building, showcasing how the program builds leadership, technical skills, and career readiness for local teens.
   

3. Good Kids - Seaman Middle School raises $5,000 and Junction City High School students soar to new heights (wibw.com) — Junction City High School’s Unmanned Aerial Systems team is stepping up its skills after visiting Kansas State University Salina, where students took the FAA Remote Pilot in Command exam so they can fly drones next semester. The piece also spotlights Seaman Middle School students in Topeka, who raised $5,000 in under two hours to support local families in need.
   

4. 🏈 53rd Kansas Shrine Bowl Coaching Staff Announced (salinapost.com) — Junction City football coach Randall Zimmerman has been named a West assistant for the 2026 Kansas Shrine Bowl, marking a record ninth appearance on the game’s sidelines. The all-star matchup, benefiting Shriners Children’s, will be played June 27, 2026, in Emporia and will showcase top high school talent from across Kansas.
   

📸 Around Junction City

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🗓 Events Nearby

Thursday December 18

• Heritage Commission Meeting
  Abilene Public Library , 209 NW 4th St , Abilene
  4:00 pm
• Basketball: Girls 7th Game vs Multiple Schools vs. Fort Riley Middle (Away)
  Fort Riley Middle School
  4:30 pm
• Basketball: Girls 8th Game vs Multiple Schools vs. Chapman Middle (Away)
  Chapman High School
  4:30 pm
• Basketball: Girls MS Championship vs Multiple Schools vs. Rock Creek Jr High School (Away)
  Rock Creek Junior High School
  4:30 pm

Friday December 19

• Basketball: Girls JV Game vs Wamego vs. Abilene (Away)
  Wamego High School
  4:30 pm
• Basketball: Boys JV Game vs Wamego vs. Abilene (Away)
  Wamego High School
  4:30 pm
• Basketball: Boys C Team Game vs Wamego vs. Abilene (Away)
  Wamego High School
  5:45 pm
• Basketball: Girls Varsity Game vs Wamego vs. Abilene (Away)
  Wamego High School
  6:00 pm
• The Cowtown Santa Express (Peak Pricing)
  Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad , 200 SE 5th St , Abilene
  7:00 pm
• Next Stop Comedy at Manhattan Brewing Company! - Manhattan, KS
  Manhattan Brewing Company , 406 Poyntz Ave , Manhattan
  7:00 pm
• Basketball: Girls C Team Game vs Wamego vs. Abilene (Away)
  Wamego High School
  7:30 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Posting for my sisters Baby Shower:
  Looking for balloon decorators. Someone who does garlands locally. Regular artist Choco Sweets & Decor will be out of the state. And I’ve already… (Nextdoor North Junction City)
• Hi from Kansas!!
  Nice to meet you all. I am a widowed mother of two (all grown up) and live with my oldest son, his wife, and 4 grandchildren. I work from home as a… (Nextdoor South Junction City)

• Wal-Mart posted a job opening for Stocking Team Associate in Junction City. Apply here.
• LaborMAX Staffing posted a job opening for Mover in Junction City. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Junction City here.

Ok Junction City! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I don’t know. I haven’t heard the last report.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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