10
Monday, December 3. 1979
University Daily Kansan
Streets...
From n; ge one
Jerry Smith, Junction City police chief, the street people had become more cautious.
"I'm FREEZING my butt off. It's too damn cold to be sitting out here," a woman said, eyeing us.
"Yeah," one of us replied. "it's pretty cold to be spending the night on the street."
"It's okay, honey, we can handle it. You best get lost," another woman said. Her voice was hard and sharp, making sure her message was understood.
Metalia, though, spent the night talking to the women and the soldiers.
The soldiers, assigned to Fort Riley, a spreading military installation two miles from Junction City, seen to be the town's blissed and curse.
More than 25,000 military personnel and their families at Fort Riley provide a market for Junction City's businesses. They also dominate the market for the women at
Smith said recently, "You get these kids away from home and give them some money, and then you get a market for street-walkers and drugs."
The market is virulent and often violent. That night, a shooting, an armed robbery and at least one fight were reported to the police. In one bar, a friendly pool game became virulent - thieves were made and a man was killed in the fist. We left the bar and decided not to return.
It was a quiet night, Smith said. Weekends during the middle of the month are slower and more crowded than weekends. These are payday weekends and several thousand soldiers hit Junction City on Thursday.
FOR MORE THAN 10 years, Junction City has reported the highest incidence of crime in any Kansas city its size, including Independence, Coffeeville, Atchison and Dodge City. Its crime rate is higher than those of larger cities such as Manhattan, Salina and Olathe, according to the national Bureau of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
according to Smith, the figures are not a
true picture of the town's crime rate because the population of Fort Riley is not included in them.
"We have a town of 20,000 and two miles away we have another 20,000 and 30,000 people, or a town of about 40,000 or a community of about 40,000, but 30,000 people aren't included in the figures," Smith
The crime rate, and the publicity it receives, is a black eye to the city, James Smothers. Junction City mayor, said.
"WE SORT OF TAKE OFF to the public. We are no different than any other military town and we’re probably better than most. We’ve just had to learn that if we’re going to have Fort Riley for our training, we need to take some of our problems." Brothers said.
The people on the street, though, do not care about figures. For them, the street is either a business place or a recreation area.
The women still walked up and down the streets. Groups of soldiers, some with dates, begin to appear on the street. The soldiers, wearing caps, hold drinks, bars, where they drink, play pool and talk.
"Well, this sarge, he was just askin' for it," a soldier named Aurav G. Coer.
He was drowned out by a call for more beer.
"HEY HELEN, we need another pitcher!"
"Hey, honey, it's coming, hold on." Helen replied in a thick German accent.
We went back to the street and split up, exploring on our own carefully.
"What are you doing standing on the street by yourself?" a tall woman in a fur jacket asked one of us.
"Nothing much. Just waiting for a friend." he said.
She moved closer and asked, "Haven't you come adate tonight?"
wELL, YEAH, I do," he replied. She moved away
An orange Barracuda pulled up at a stop sign. A young man leaned out of the window and yelled, "Hey honey, whatcha doing? Wanna come for a ride?"
The woman on the street replied, "Well
"Hell, that's okay, honey. We ain't soldiers. We're just here visitin'," the young man called back.
my mother told me never to play with soldiers."
"In that case, you're strangers and I can't play with strangers either," she answered.
"Hell, let's get out here. We're no, gettin' anywhere," the young man said to his friends in the car.
The corner suddenly became busy. A woman entered the room and had been standing near the stand, waiting for a chance to talk to the women. We moved away, quietly, to a shadowed place and sat on a bench.
"HEY, SUCKER. I don't say you could walk with me. Get the hell away from me!" a woman screamed at a man holding tightly to her arm.
His grip became tighter, as the women of the corner moved toward the couple.
"You got no call to bother her. Get outta here before you get hurt," a second woman
We saw metal flash and backed farther into the shadow.
Outnumbered by the women and men who joined the group, the man retreated. Head down, muttering, he backed away, then turned and left.
"Get out here, you crazy bastard. We don't want your troublesmilk 'kind here. Don't come back, neither, less you hurt get, 'surprise' called after him.
The group stood, angrily, silently, for a moment, then broke apart.
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