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    K-Town News

    Stars and Stripes’ division that produces magazines is looking for tattoo models located in the KMC for the upcoming Tattoo Armed Forces magazine.  Read more about it here.
    Corona rapid tests at German test centers in Rheinland-Pfalz will cost most people 3 euros per test starting today, due to a change in federal testing regulations. The tests will continue to be free for at-risk groups, including women in the first trimester of pregnancy, children under five years old, and visitors to hospitals and nursing homes.
    Kaiserlautern shoppers should beware of counterfeit goods offered by street vendors. A 20-year-old shopper was approached by two men who wanted to sell her perfume, headphones and a cell phone shortly after 6 p.m. on Tuesday, near the K in Lautern mall. The woman suspected that something was wrong and alerted a nearby police patrol, according to a police statement. Officers seized several counterfeit perfumes, cell phones, headphones and cash from the pair. A 22-year-old and a 34-year-old now face criminal charges for fraud.
    Police are looking for witnesses of a sexual assault on Gasstrasse downtown late Saturday. A 25-year-old woman was walking down the alley when she was followed by a man who tried to walk alongside her. When she rebuffed him, he pushed her against a wall, tried to kiss her cheek and grabbed her, local police said. The woman was able to free herself and run away. Police are searching for a man about 5’9’’. If you have information, call 0631-369-2620.
    Landstuhl Regional Medical Center is still waiting on the COVID-19 vaccine for children under 5. The vaccine isn’t expected to arrive in Europe until early July, said Gino Mattorano, a spokesman for Regional Health Command Europe. Air Force families assigned to Ramstein Air Base are being directed to LRMC for all pediatric COVID vaccines, including for those under 5, a base spokeswoman said. Read more.
    Two events to celebrate Pride Month are happening Thursday. People will share their experiences and answer questions during a “Proud Voices” discussion at Ramstein Air Base from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. at the Hercules Theater. At Kleber Kaserne, the KMC Theater Guild is hosting a 6 p.m. drag story time for all ages, a discussion on theater inclusivity and on the history of drag. Anyone with base access is welcome. For more Pride Month-related coverage, click here.
    Gen. James Hecker took command of U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa at a ceremony Monday at Ramstein Air Base. Hecker replaced Gen. Jeffrey Harrigian, who is retiring after a 37-year career. The ceremony saw five four-star leaders on one stage to mark the change of command. Read more here.
    An activist plays the roll of death during a "Dance of the Dead" protest against war in Ramstein-Miesenbach, Germany, June 25, 2022. Protestors wore skeleton costums and skull masks to call attention the affects of the weapons manufacture and military industry.
    “There are few places that stand for war like Ramstein,” said an activist during a “dance of the dead” protest outside the base. Around 250 peace activists, dressed in black and wearing skeleton or ghost masks, called for an end to the U.S. military presence in Germany. Here are photos.
    The RSS Finance Systems at U.S. postal stations in the Kaiserslautern area are operational again, the 786th Force Support Squadron postal team reported in an email to patrons. Postal crews can again accept electronic forms of payment and process money orders.
    Kaiserslautern police want you to lock your car. Police conducted a special check of parked vehicles in town Thursday, aiming to combat stealing from unlocked cars. Officers found 98 unlocked cars with valuables inside, police reported. Vehicle owners were contacted and educated on the risk of leaving their valuables unsecured. Thieves can strike in seconds, if given the opportunity, police warned. 
    Forests in the region are currently at increased risk of fire. Due to high temperatures and low precipitation, some areas of the state are at level 5, the highest risk category, the Rheinland-Pfalz forestry department warned. The department asks visitors to avoid smoking and open fire in or near the forest. Cars should not be parked over dry grass, which a hot engine can ignite, and access roads to the forest should be kept free to allow access for fire and rescue vehicles. In case of emergency, dial 112. The mobile app “Hilfe im Wald” (Help in the Forest) shows numbered rescue points near trail access points.
    Anti-war organizers plan to gather near Ramstein Air Base’s main gate for a “Dance of the Dead” protest Saturday, June 25, starting at 1 p.m. Protest organizers asked participants to wear black clothing, costumes and makeup. Traffic should be unaffected, but drivers entering or exiting the installation should be aware of increased activity and pedestrians near the West Gate entrance.
    Air Force mail offices in the KMC are reporting problems with the RSS payment systems. Post offices at Ramstein Air Base, Kapaun and Southside post offices are not able to process money orders and are unable to accept cash, checks, credit or debit cards at this time. Staff can still process prepaid click-and-ship mail, APO to APO mail and returns with a pre-paid label. For more information, please contact your postal service center.
    Maj. Gen. Derek C. France took the reins of 3rd Air Force at a ceremony at Ramstein Air Base on Wednesday. A fighter pilot and U.S. Air Force Academy graduate, France will oversee 10 wings across two continents at a critical time for Europe and the NATO alliance as Russia’s war in Ukraine is about to enter its fifth month with no end in sight to the conflict. Read more here.
    Landstuhl Regional Medical Center has not yet received the COVID-19 vaccination for children under 5. Army medical facilities in Europe submitted orders for the vaccine and are currently awaiting shipment, Regional Health Command Europe said this week. LRMC is receiving a high number of calls, particularly from parents interested in the vaccine for young children, the hospital said in Facebook post Wednesday. Once the vaccine arrives in Europe, Army clinics will provide details on how and where to schedule vaccinations for children in the under 5 age group, the health command said.
    The first case of monkeypox virus in Kaiserslautern was confirmed by lab testing today, the Kaiserslautern district administration told K-town Now. Testing was conducted at the Robert Koch Institute, Germany’s lead agency responsible for disease control and prevention. The patient remains in isolation, district officials said.
    An American driver is facing hefty fines and a driving suspension for speeding and driving recklessly, Kaiserslautern police told K-town Now this morning. The driver caught the attention of a civilian traffic patrol Tuesday evening on the A6 near Einsiedlerhof after clocking 164kph (102 mph) in a 130kph zone. The driver got off the A6 and passed several vehicles on the right side, reaching 115 kph in a 50 kph zone on Pariser Strasse before being pulled over. The driver did not show his license, but U.S. military police confirmed the 43-year-old driver’s status. He now faces a five-digit fine and a two-month driving ban.
    Ramstein Air Base is one of nine test bases for a new online process of applying for Air Force Aid Society grants and loans. The change is expected to make it more convenient for airmen and their families to request emergency financial assistance and speed up the payment process. Read more here.
    Access to military mail service will end for military retirees, Red Cross workers and some government employees living and working overseas starting Aug. 24, according to a change directed by the Defense Department in May. APO and FPO addresses worldwide will be affected.
    The Kleber Military Personnel Division will not be offering walk-in ID card services other than for PIN resets or lost cards through June 23, USAG Rheinland-Pfalz said today. Baumholder, Ramstein and Landstuhl continue to offer full services.
    The first case of suspected monkeypox was detected in the city, the Kaiserslautern district administration told Stars and Stripes on Wednesday. A man is at home in isolation and awaiting test results. The first monkeypox case in Rheinland-Pfalz was confirmed Monday in the Germersheim area. There have been no additional confirmed cases among the Europe military community, U.S. health officials in said today. One military case was confirmed in Stuttgart last week. Monkeypox is related to viruses like variola and smallpox, and believed to be transmitted to humans primarily by rodents. Transmission between people is rare but possible in close contact, according to the CDC.
    Fackelstrasse, one of the main shopping streets in downtown Kaiserslautern, on May 26, 2022.
    Do your shopping on the economy today or Wednesday, or be prepared to wait until Friday. Shops in the Kaiserslautern area will be closed for the Corpus Christi holiday on Thursday.
    Foto: Polizei
    A fire at Geschwister-Scholl school in Kaiserslautern was extinguished just before 10 a.m. The blaze caused significant property damage but no students or staff were in the affected part of the building at the time, according to police. Around 70 children were taken to a gymnastics hall and released to their parents or remained in faculty care. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
    Kaiserslautern waste management installed recycling deposit rings at some downtown trash bins. The pilot project aims to encourage pedestrians to leave cans and bottles eligible for a refund outside the trash cans so refund collectors don’t need to dig through the trash to find them. This will also improve recycling by keeping recyclables out of the waste bins, officials said. Refund rings are mounted at “Stadtmitte E” bus stop on Schillerplatz, at Adlerapotheke pharmacy and at the corner of Fruchthalle and Fackelstreet.
    Kaiserlautern first responders are responding to a fire at Geschwister-Scholl, an elementary school on Schreberstreet. Students and staff are safe, according to police. Traffic should avoid the area.
    Have you been catcalled in Kaiserslautern? If so, the city wants to hear from you. Women are being asked to share their experiences with catcalling and public sexual harassment. Kaiserslautern equality officers want women to report incidents that occur from June 2022 to May 2023 via the e-mail address keinkompliment@kaiserslautern-kreis.de. The city will collect, document, map and prepare reports for future presentations on the harmful effects of catcalling.
    Kaiserslautern celebrates the Saturday market at Stiftsplatz with its annual market festival June 25. Vendors will have special offers and free food samples from 10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. A local band will play live music. For young market-goers, there will be face painting, a balloon artist and a bouncy castle.
    The Kleber Kaserne Shoppette will close 30 minutes early and no longer be open on Saturdays starting later this month, the Army and Air Force Exchange Service announced this week. The decision was made after a facility usage review. Saturday, June 18, will be the last Saturday the store is open. Other AAFES facilities on Kleber already are closed on Saturdays, including the food court. The shoppette will also close 30 minutes early beginning Tuesday, June 21. New hours after that date will be Monday to Friday 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
    Kaiserslautern police are looking for witnesses following an apartment burglary on Eichendorff Street in Weilerbach overnight Sunday. Thieves stole valuables worth several thousand euros while residents were away, according to a police report. Neighbors or anyone who saw suspicious activity are asked to register with the Kriminaldauerdienst in Kaiserslautern by calling 0631 369-2620 or by email: kdkaiserslautern.kdd@polizei.rlp.de.
    Herrenloser Koffer am Fackelbrunnen
    An abandoned suitcase at downtown Kaiserslautern’s Fackelbrunnen caused a short-term lockdown of the immediate area early Sunday evening. As a precaution, police cordoned off the plaza and street surrounding the luggage and asked patrons of nearby restaurants to evacuate. A police ordnance disposal crew quickly gave the all clear since all the suitcase contained was an electric typewriter. The origin of the suitcase is not yet known and Kaiserslautern police are asking for information via pikaiserslautern1@polizei.rlp.de.

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