The historical beauty of the C. L. Hoover Opera House alone is worth a visit. Additionally entertainment ticket prices are extremely low and the quality of entertainment scheduled for the next year provides a wide variety of worthy entertainment. I would like to thank the staff of the Opera House for living up to their motto... "Allow us to Make a Memory."

Sandra Allard
Manhattan, KS

I kissed my baby girl goodbye yesterday and drove four hours back home to Junction City from Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, Missouri. Today is her first day in college, where she will spend the next six years pursuing her Doctorates in Physical Therapy. She is at school a week early so she can begin her preseason dance clinic – she made the dance team. On the way home, I called both of my sons to check on them. All is well. My oldest just completed his master’s degree in business from Texas A&M and is now in med school in Pikeville, Kentucky. He is pursuing his childhood dream of becoming a physician through an army scholarship program. He will be providing health care as an officer in the United States Army. My youngest son is preparing for his senior year at K-State where he is finishing his bachelor’s degree in math. The United States Air Force provided his scholarship for his education through the ROTC program. After graduation, he will be an officer in the USAF. My husband and I have entered a new phase in our lives…we are “empty nesters.”

My long ride home gave me four hours to reflect on the past 23 years. The Butler family has been very blessed by this community. USD 475 prepared each one of our children with an outstanding education and prepared them for graduate and postgraduate course work. Teachers, coaches, principals, counselors, hall monitors, librarians, nurses…the list goes on and on. Each and every one of the adults, who took a moment to care, positively influenced the lives of our children.

Community leaders and families who supported our children by purchasing food items from their Red Wheel Fundraisers; sponsoring them in “Band On The Run”; attending fundraiser auctions; cheering them during competition; encouraging them with a “congratulations”; mailing them newspaper clippings of their accomplishments; spending extra time with them in their studies or sports; or writing outstanding letters of reference, have all helped to shape who are children have, and will, become.

Our children have been raised in a community where they have been protected by our policemen, firemen, and military personnel. Our personal experiences have revealed immediate response time by our ambulances, proper safety regulations by our fire department, safe enforcement of our laws from our police and sheriff departments, and excellent health care through Irwin Army Community Hospital and Geary Community Hospital.

The businesses and civic organizations in our community have extended their support either directly to our children, or indirectly, through scholarships, photography, spirit wear, internships, job shadowing, posters, employment, newspaper articles, Boys’ and Girls’ State, sports, and Project Graduation. Season after season, these busy men and women always found the time to say, “Yes, I can take the time to make a difference.”

We are so proud to call Junction City our home. Thank you to each and every one of you who took the time to care and make a difference. As we enter this next phase in our lives, as “empty nesters”, we look forward to what we are able to give back to the City of Junction City.

Nate and Terry Butler
Junction City, KS