After more than 12 months of preparation and planning, members of the A Cappella Choir from Great Bend High School left to Washington, D.C.

More than a sightseeing excursion, the choir composed of 40 members will perform at numerous notable locations including the National WWII Memorial, National Shrine and the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church, a new location on the itinerary this year.

Susan Stambaugh, vocal music director for GBHS has spearheaded this trip throughout her 25-year career. On the other end of the spectrum, Lorrie Stickney, accompanist, is embarking on her first A Cappella trip.

Lucky for students, this trip is not ‘all work and no play.’ They, along with the 20 chaperones accompanying the group, will have time to enjoy the highlights of Washington, D.C. with tours scheduled at the US Holocaust Memorial, Arlington National Cemetery, US Capitol Building, the Smithsonian Museums and more. Another highlight of the trip is a Spirit Dinner Cruise on the Potomac River to celebrate their final evening in D.C.

A Cappella is comprised of juniors and seniors from GBHS who audition to participate each year.

Some students have been working to raise funds for this trip for nearly two years. From chili suppers to “rent-a-student” opportunities, the students and staff would like to thank the Great Bend business community as well as the community-at-large for their generous financial support.

The community is invited to view highlights from the trip on Great Bend High School’s Facebook page. Upon their return, A Cappella, the Madrigal Pop Singers, as well as the freshmen and sophomore choirs, will begin preparation for the Annual Variety Show scheduled for May 10-11, 2019.

ELLSWORTH COUNTY — One person was injured in an accident just before 3p.m. Wednesday in Ellsworth County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2012 Kenworth semi driven by Oritz M. Rubio, 28, Chicago, IL., was eastbound on Interstate 70 one mile east of 12th Road.

The wind caught the trailer causing it to overturn and block both lanes.

A passenger in the sleeper Rosas U. Diaz, 29, Chicago, IL, were transported to the hospital in Ellsworth.

The driver was not injured and properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) introduced the Aviation Funding Stability Act of 2019. This legislation would protect Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) programs and personnel and would provide stability for the U.S. aviation industry in the event of a government shutdown. The Aviation Funding Stability Act of 2019 has also been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives.

“Aviation is fundamental to the success of the Kansas economy, employing tens of thousands in our state while strengthening the ability of local businesses to compete in a global marketplace,” said Sen. Moran. “Critical functions at the FAA can be suspended during a shutdown, causing significant issues for aircraft manufacturers and regional airports, and – importantly – passengers needing to get to their next destination quickly and safely. Previous shutdowns have affected every function of aviation and air travel and have specifically harmed regional airports and put a strain on air traffic controllers nationwide. While I’ve long said that we must avoid government shutdowns, it is necessary to pass this legislation that would provide much-needed certainty to those who rely on the FAA.”

The Aviation Funding Stability Act of 2019 would authorize the FAA to continue to draw from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund (AATF) during a lapse in government funding, with no general fund contributions. The AATF generates enough revenue independently to sustain all of the agency’s programs without a general fund contribution. In the event of a government shutdown, this legislation would allow the entire agency to operate at current funding levels, with no Congressional action necessary.

The Aviation Funding Stability Act of 2019 is supported by a number of organizations including Air Line Pilots Association, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, Airlines for America, Airports, Council International-North America, American Association of Airport Executives, Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, Delta Air Lines, General Aviation Manufacturers Association, Helicopter Association International, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, National Air Traffic Controllers Association, National Business Aviation Association, Professional Aviation Safety Specialists, Regional Airline Association, Transport Workers Union of America, Travelers United, the U.S. Travel Association and numerous other organizations.

Barton Community College will present a Vocal Masterclass on Saturday, March 23^rd, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Dorothy Moses Morrison Chapel.

Clinicians from the contemporary ensemble, The Meadowlark Project, from the University of Kansas will serve as the master teachers beginning at 2 p.m., followed by their own performance of “Sounds of the Plains” at 7 p.m. in the Chapel, located in the Fine Arts building.

Barton voice students will perform for the clinicians in a public setting and will receive feedback and instruction from the master teachers. The audience will learn from the performances and instruction, as well as from their own performance and work with the clinicians. Select area high school students will also participate in the vocal masterclass with the master teachers.

Barton Voice students performing in the vocal masterclass are Rachael Dickson of Ellinwood, Madison Jones of Great Bend, Drew Danner of Ellinwood, Anna Hislop of Wichita, Alex Robl of Ellinwood, Austin Carrington of Larned, Alyxius Torres of Great Bend, Kelsey Neeland of Great Bend and Kaitlin Adams of Great Bend.

Area high school students performing in the vocal masterclass are Dayton Long of St. John, Katherine Snapp of Great Bend, Andrew Maier of Claflin, Haley Troyer of Ellinwood and Hayden Honomichl of Ellinwood, Caden Rowan of Ellinwood and elementary student Jadynce Schroeder of Great Bend.

More about Sounds of the Plains

The recital by The Meadowlark Project will feature singers Neal Long, Kristin Newbegin, Mackenzie Phillips, Brian Sussman, and pianist Alejandro Avila.

The Meadowlark Project started 2018 after the founding members participated in a class at the University of Kansas comprised of four composers, four singers, and four pianists. The mission of the class was to develop new art songs specific to Kansas. At the conclusion of the class, 32 new songs were written by Kansas-based composers using texts by Kansas-based poets. Sounds of the Plains features 19 of the aforementioned songs. The songs are composed by Frank Nawrot, Ben Justis and Bonnie McLarty and highlight texts by Caryn Mirriam-Goldberg, Wyatt Townley, Elizabeth Schultz and Megan Kaminski. The music explores ideas of nature and climate and their impact on the human experience in the American Midwest.

The City of Great Bend is reminding citizens about regulations that are in place regarding overgrown vegetation in the city as springtime weather gets closer. Property Maintenance Enforcement Manager Austin LaViolette says early rains last year caused an explosion of growth once things dried out, something he doesn’t want to happen this year.

Austin LaViolette audio

LaViolette says easements that run behind and between properties with no alley access continue to be a problem for enforcement. One, city staff many times cannot see the overgrown vegetation and two, some people don’t know that it is their responsibility to maintain those easements.

Austin LaViolette audio

If your property is in violation, you will be sent a notice to abate by certified mail allowing 10 days to correct the violation. If not corrected, the City will mow the property at the owner’s expense. Owners will be sent a bill for the abatement costs payable within 30 days, after which it will be assessed to the property taxes.

LaViolette encourages residents to call in complaints about properties that are in violation by calling the Public Works Department, or by stopping by the office at 525 Morton.

Ellinwood resident Alicia Straub is set to become the third representative for the 113^th District of the Kansas House of Representatives in a span of four years. Straub, the current Barton County Commissioner, was voted in Tuesday night at the Pratt Community Center during a special convention. Straub will take over for Greg Lewis, whom resigned from office February 22 to fight a cancerous brain tumor.

For Barton County, that will soon leave them a commissioner short following the anticipated resignation from Straub. Barton County Clerk Donna Zimmerman says Straub is expected to attend the next Commission meeting.

Donna Zimmerman Audio

Republican precinct committee members of the 113^th District met following the resignation of Lewis. Straub was one of three candidates vying to replace Lewis, and the 40-year old received 51 of the 91 votes cast. Governor Laura Kelly must officially appoint Straub to the seat.

As for Straub’s replacement on the Barton County Commission, Zimmerman noted that whoever is selected to fill Straub’s seat will serve two years of her four-year term until the 2020 election.

Donna Zimmerman Audio

According to the Barton County handbook, when a Commissioner vacancy occurs before May 1 of the first even-numbered year following the beginning of a term, the position will be filled by appointment until the next election. The Barton County Republican Committee will meet shortly after Straub’s anticipated resignation next week to appoint her replacement.

Straub’s 4^th District in Barton County represents a small portion of southern Great Bend, Ellinwood, Dundee, Pawnee Rock, and the townships of Clarence, Liberty, South Bend, Comanche, Lakin, and Pawnee Rock.

As the 113^th District Representative, Straub will represent Stafford and Pratt counties, and parts of Barton, Pawnee, and Rice counties.

Lewis took over the 113^th District after being appointed to replace J. Basil Dannebohm in 2015. Dannebohm was fighting Parkinson’s disease when he chose to resign.

Students at Great Bend Middle school are at home celebrating the end of their third nine-weeks with spring break, but upon their return, they will be ready to showcase the fruits of their labor at the Second Annual Spring Expo scheduled for Monday, March 18 from 6:30 – 8 p.m. in the GBMS gymnasium.

Organized by the Family Engagement Committee at GBMS, the event provides a school-wide opportunity for students to showcase projects they have completed in their core classes (English, Math, Science and Social Studies), as well as projects from enrichment classes such as Art, Design and Modeling.

Parents of GBMS students, the community, as well as sixth-grade students and parents are invited to attend. For sixth-graders, the event provides a sneak peek into life at GBMS and builds excitement for the upcoming transition into seventh grade. The evening will include special performances from the GBMS Jazz Band, String Rhapsody and Music in Motion/Women in Harmony.

“Last year’s Spring Expo was such a positive experience,” said Cathy Lewis, GBMS English teacher. “Students are proud to show their parents the projects they’ve been working on and it’s another way to connect parents, students, and teachers, together.”

New this year, students who attend will be entered to win a “I Love GB” package that includes passes to the Wetlands Waterpark, tickets to the 2019 Party in the Park Concert, and some other Great Bend “swag.”