BOOKED: Tommy Shepherd on GBMC warrant for contempt of court, bond set at $1,574.50 cash only or 27 days in county jail.

BOOKED: Justin Smokes of Great Bend on GBMC warrant for contempt of court, no bond, set to serve 90 days in jail.

BOOKED: Victoria Belcher of Great Bend on Kansas Department of Revenue warrant for furnishing alcoholic liquor to a minor, catch and release order.

BOOKED: Chyanne Deines of Great Bend on a Kansas Department of Revenue Court case for furnishing alcoholic liquor to a minor, release is authorized upon finishing of booking.

BOOKED: Gloria J. Collier of Hoisington on Kansas Department of Revenue case for furnishing alcoholic liquor to a minor.

BOOKED: Juan Aguilera-Gonzalez of Great Bend on Kansas Department of Revenue case for furnishing alcoholic liquor to a minor.

BOOKED: Michael Stevenson of Great Bend on Kansas Department of Revenue case for furnishing alcoholic liquor to a minor, release is authorized upon finishing of booking.

BOOKED: Jaime Michael Bahr on Barton County District Court warrant for failure to appear with no bond. Reno County District Court warrant for failure to appear with a bond of $45,000 C/S.

BOOKED: Julia Weddle of Great Bend on Kansas Department of Revenue case for furnishing alcoholic liquor to a minor, release is authorized upon finishing of booking.

RELEASED: Kevin Froelich of Hoisington on HMC case after serving time.

RELEASED: Tommy Shepherd of Great Bend on BTDC case for driving while suspended 2nd, TOC, defective head lamps, operating without lights required, posted bond of $2,500 through Ace Bail Bonding.

RELEASED: Davin Rose of Stafford on BTDC case for served sentence.

RELEASED: Gloria J. Collier of Hoisington on Kansas Department of Revenue case for furnishing alcoholic liquor to a minor, release by order of the court.

RELEASED: Juan Aguilera-Gonzalez of Great Bend on Kansas Department of Revenue warrant for furnishing alcoholic liquor to a minor by order of the Barton County District Court.

RELEASED: Michael C. Brohaugh on BCDC warrant with a $1,000 surety bond through Ace Bail Bonding.

RELEASED: Nichole Walker on GBMC case for partial serve sentence.

Children and families are the cornerstone of any growing community, and no organization has worked harder at improving Great Bend’s quality of life than the Great Bend Recreation Commission. It is for that reason that the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce & Economic Development awarded The Great Bend Rec with the 2018 Legacy Award during their Annual Meeting & Banquet on February 23, 2019.

When the State of Kansas legislature formed recreation commissions all over the state over 70 years ago, Great Bend’s residents appreciated the sentiment that rural Kansans deserved a quality recreation system. On April 6, 1948 the Great Bend Recreation Commission was officially organized and hired their first director a year later. Carl Soden, a military veteran, came to Great Bend after teaching and coaching in Caney, Kansas.

According to Soden, “during these formative years, there were no recreation facilities in Great Bend. There were four grade schools – only one with a gym and one softball and baseball field.”

The very limited staff in the beginning got by with very little, using vacant lots with snow fence around them as ball fields. Swimming lessons were operated from a lighted pool with three diving boards. The first annual report from 1949 listed 749 participants engaged in various activities such as basketball, bowling, swimming lessons, art classes, softball and baseball, and adult volleyball – all programs still being offered to this day. But there were
also a few that today’s residents may not be as familiar with, such as a marbles tournament, a snow sled derby, and community wide parties held at the KVGB radio station for Easter, Halloween, and Christmas.

In 2018, the Great Bend Recreation Commission enrolled more than 6,969 residents in recreation programs plus another 645 non-residents for a total of 7,614 people participating throughout the year. When you count all the individual programs they participated in such as fitness, sports, after school programming, art, cooking, adaptive learning, adult programs, etc the total number for individual enrollments climbs over 159,000. The Rec also employs nine full time staff members as well as 180 seasonal and part time positions.

Throughout the last 70+ years serving the Great Bend community, there were several important milestones that built toward the legacy being celebrated today. In 1969, the Recreation Center was built and shortly afterward a master plan for Veterans Memorial Park was developed in the mid 1970s.

“The visioning that was taking place back then has set a legacy in motion that future directors have continued to build upon, each bringing their own strengths to the table,” says Diann Henderson, the Rec’s Executive Director for over 30 years.

“Carl Soden and Paul Keller, my predecessors, each earned a spot in the Kansas Recreation & Parks Association (KRPA) Hall of Fame, and Great Bend has a really good reputation for excellence in our industry.”

Henderson herself has earned several impressive accolades, including the KRPA Distinguished Professional Award, received the Blue Cross Blue Shield Chip Award, KRPA Special Service Award, KRPA Award for Excellence in Recreation Programming, and is a member of NRPA.

Under Henderson’s leadership, she and the rest of her team have continued pursuing healthier living and activities for everyone, with several noteworthy accomplishments in recent years that were all future-focused. One example is the partnership between the McKinna Ann Hope Foundation in bringing the first totally inclusive destination playground known as “My BackYard Playground” located at the Great Bend Activity Center.

“The Rec garners these partnerships for the pursuit of active lifestyles with non-profit organizations, private businesses, the City of Great Bend and USD 428 school district in assuring recreation opportunities and modern recreation facilities are available for public recreation interests,” Henderson says.

Other recreation facility and program highlights over the past several years include:
 Great Bend Sports Complex
 Redesign of the Great Bend Disc Golf Course
 Great Bend Fit Trail
 The Music Park at Veterans Lake
 Wetlands Aquatic Park
 Great Bend Activity Center
 Additional T-Ball Field at Westfall Park
 Two Practice Fields at Lincoln School
 Remodeling the Recreation Center
 Cavanaugh Wellness Center
 Great Bend Mural Project
 Imagination Playground
 Summer Youth Theatre Program
 Special Events such as the Kite Festival and Oozefest Volleyball Tournament

And that doesn’t begin to list the countless youth, high school, and collegiate baseball and softball tournaments our community has hosted because of the Recreation Commission’s leadership in recruiting and hosting teams
from all over the Midwest. Nor does it list the long and growing list of afterschool programs, summer camps, swimming lessons, senior programs, and many other activities being facilitated by the Rec every year.

In 2018, the Rec also launched a new, mobile friendly website offering online registration and a newly designed logo that emulates the “R” for the Rec as well as the bend in the Arkansas River that is so iconic to Great Bend’s
geography.

The Great Bend Recreation Commission’s legacy has evolved over 70 years, bringing Great Bend together in pursuit of healthier living and activities for everyone. Today, the Recreation Commission vision statement notes:

“We will champion community and personal growth through lifelong recreation experiences.”

This statement is reflected in the quality of life experiences and benefits the Recreation Commission promotes as an active community through its programs for all ages and abilities, tournaments, community events, and creating and recreating play spaces within public facilities and parks.

“These recreation services are not only a quality of life issue, they are also significant economic generators with local spending, visitor spending, in promoting healthy and active lifestyles which attracts new businesses which creates a vibrant community,” Henderson says. “As to the next 70 years of legacy… the Recreation Commission will continue to energize Great Bend!”

Previous Legacy Award Recipients
2017 Kids Ag Day
2016 Kari Smith
2015 Skip Yowell

For passionately creating a meaningful impact as a rising leader in our community, Rachel Mawhirter was awarded the 2018 NextGen Leader of the Year award from the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce & Economic Development. Mawhirter received the award during the Chamber’s Annual Meeting & Banquet on February 23, 2019 at the Great Bend Events Center.

As a lifelong resident of Great Bend, Rachel Mawhirter has a love and devotion to her hometown that is unmatched. Straight out of high school, Mawhirter began working as the Marketing Director for the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce & Economic Development. While working there, she completed her degree in Organizational leadership at Fort Hays State University.

Utilizing her passion for growing Great Bend, she then moved on to work as the Physician Recruiter and Marketing Director for the hospital in town. Her savvy marketing skills led her to begin doing side work for other businesses. Knowing she could make an even greater impact on Great Bend, she took a leap of faith in the fall of 2016 and went out on her own to start Marketing Maven.

Nels Lindberg, owner of Animal Medical Center, had this to say about Mawhirter:

“We began working with Rachel on marketing objectives when she was doing this as a side hustle. And it didn’t take long to realize she had the “mojo,” the traits and behaviors of what it takes to get is done and be very successful. We like to surround ourselves and collaborate with rock stars, people willing to work longer, harder and smarter than all others, people that are willing to sacrifice and grind until the job gets done. Rachel does these things. Sometimes it comes at a price and family even suffers, but it’s what true entrepreneurs do when they are in the bootstrap phase of a business cycle. Rachel exemplifies these things. She is willing to go above and beyond to get the job done, take criticism and have hard conversations and respond well. Her level of service is spectacular and her desire to make change, impact lives, help businesses look good, and to help grow business, non-profits and charities is evident by outcomes and results. We are super proud of her, her family, her people and her business!”

Not only is Mawhirter as business leader in the community, her desire to make Great Bend a better place for everyone, drives her to give back in a huge way. She is one of the founding members of the Prairie Godmother Funds, a program to provide grants that improve the health and well-being of Barton County women. Mawhirter was also instrumental in launching 100 People Who Care-Barton County and The Tribe. She continues to volunteer her time for both organizations. She has also served on the steering committees for the local Mothers of Preschoolers organization and Barton County Young Professionals.

Rachel and her husband Justin, live in Great Bend with their two sons – Jace (7) and Emmett (4). They are active, involved members of First Assembly of God Church and love spending time with family and friends.

Following the tragic accident at the intersection of North Washington Avenue and Northeast 30 Road (JUCO Road) last April that took the life of an 18-year old from Olmitz, Barton County Commissioners voted in favor of making changes to increase awareness and signage at the intersection north of Great Bend. The teenager’s vehicle was struck by a cement truck that was traveling north on Washington.

Barton County Engineer Barry McManaman noted changes to speed limits and signage were made following the accident.

Barry McManaman Audio

Larger signage was added for east and west traffic on JUCO Road that are required to stop and slower speed limits were set for north and south traffic on Washington.

McManaman and the county found out last week they received funding from the Kansas Department of Transportation’s High Risk Rural Roads program. The $295,000 awarded to Barton County will be used in part to make more improvements to the intersection.

Barry McManaman Audio

McManaman says the preliminary thoughts are to add flashing warnings, radar speed displays, and active warning devices that would alert drivers of approaching traffic on the crossroad. Part of the funding will be used to widen North 50 Road, just east of Northwest 10 Avenue that has a narrow concrete drainage box.

The funds are for Federal Fiscal Year 2021, so McManaman guessed it could up to two years before the projects get started.

The Barton County improvement project from KDOT is a site specific project, meaning it is 90 percent federally funded, and the county would have to contribute up to 10 percent of the project cost. McManaman will eventually take the offer to the Barton County Commission for approval.

KDOT announced that 16 counties will receive a combined total of approximately $4.5 million in funding to improve safety on rural road as part of the High Risk Rural Roads program.

Rice County was awarded $252,000 to upgrade signing of all major collectors south of U.S. 56 and east of K-14.

Stafford County was awarded $284,000 to upgrade signing of all major collectors in the northwest quarter of the county.

For their long term commitment to the people of Central Kansas, the Keller Agency was named the 2018 Business of the Year from the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce & Economic Development. Their team accepted the award during the Chamber’s Annual Meeting & Banquet on February 23, 2019 at the Great Bend Events Center.

Keller Real Estate & Insurance was founded by Normal C. Keller in January of 1968. With a background in farming, automotive sales, crop hail insurance sales, and real estate sales, he set out on his own after completing a Dale Carnegie course in effective speaking and human relations.

Because he and his wife, Karen, had three preschool aged children to support, success was the only option. After 12 years of steady growth, Keller purchased the building at 1101 Williams where they still operate today. The building was remodeled and the operation was moved into the facility in January of 1981. It was the same year that Keller Real Estate & Insurance Agency was also incorporated.

“That was a big year, not only because of our company’s milestones, but also because of the huge flood Great Bend experienced that June,” says Kevin Keller, one of Norman’s sons and a current broker for the agency. “The office building was flooded, but this was minor compared to the impact it had on our community, and the sales in our real estate and insurance divisions.”

Kevin and his brother, Jeff, have been involved with the business for most of their lives. When the flood happened in 1981, they helped Norman clean up the mud and the mess in their office and their rental property. Kevin and Jeff also worked on the firm, painted rental houses, mowed yards, repaired signs, and did whatever else Norman needed them to do. Karen also brought home leads from friends that needed to buy or sell a house, and the couple’s daughter, Kim, worked Saturdays at the office through high school.

In 1986, Kevin officially entered the business after graduating from Fort Hays State University. Jeff joined in 1988 after graduating from Fort Hays State University and working at Marmie Motors for a year. After working alongside their father for several years, the brothers became stockholders and eventually assumed a leadership role in 1999 when Norman passed away from cancer at the age of 62. Several employees who have since retired,
including Marsha Kelly and Renee Johnson, helped ease the transition.

In 2003, the agency merged with Keenan Real Estate, increasing the size of the real estate sales team by five realtors. Both the real estate and insurance divisions have continued to grow over the years, with today’s team at 13 realtors and nine experienced staff members, six of them holding insurance licenses. The full-service independent agency represents more than ten insurance companies, helping clients quote multiple types of policies and coverage options.

“We are honored to have served several generations of the same families, and only time will tell if any of the third generation of Kellers will take over some day,” Kevin says. “Several of our kids have worked in the office and helped with maintaining properties. It’s a business that we are proud of, but we are most proud of our people and the thousands of clients we have helped over the years.”

Business of the Year Criteria
“Business of the Year” is an annual award presented by the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce to showcase companies that demonstrate excellence in customer service, growth, and response in positive ways to adversity.
Businesses must also show community involvement and demonstrate innovative business practices by improving products, services and programs.

Previous “Business of the Year” Recipients
2017 Great Bend Children’s Clinic
2016 Countryside Veterinary Associates
2015 Eagle Media Center
2014 Great Bend Co-op Association
2013 Great Bend Regional Hospital
2012 Rosewood Services Inc.
2011 Tim Miller Enterprises
2010 Kustom Floor Designs Inc.
2009 Eldridge Fencing Inc.
2008 Business Management Inc.
2007 Great Bend Tribune
2006 Central Kansas Medical Center
2005 Venture Corporation
2004 Adams Brown, Beran & Ball Chtd.
2003 Great Bend Feeding Inc.
2002 CPI Qualified Plan Consultants Inc.
2001 Doonan Corporation
2000 Farmers Bank & Trust NA
1999 Dillons Stores
1998 Stickney Distributing Inc.
1997 Office Products Inc.
1996 Fuller Brush Company
1995 Becker Tire & Treading Inc.
1994 Straub International
1993 Marmies of Great Bend

For unwavering volunteerism and selfless service to the Great Bend community, Barry Bowers earned the 2018 Citizen of the Year award from the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce & Economic Development. Bowers received this surprise honor during the organization’s Annual Meeting & Banquet on February 23, 2019 at the Great Bend Events Center.

Bowers was a 1979 graduate of Great Bend High School and 1981 graduate of Barton Community College. That was also the year that he married his high school sweetheart, Monica. For several years, he helped manage Bell Rentals, an equipment rental company before setting out on his own as an entrepreneur offering Perma-Glaze resurfacing for tubs and showers all over Central Kansas. But it wasn’t until 2000 that Bowers fulfilled his dream of becoming an accountant when he graduated Cum Laude from Sterling College. He earned his CPA designation shortly afterward in 2001.

Barry worked independently for other CPA firms for several years before forming a partnership called Holste & Bowers in 2008 with local accountant David Holste. The two built a successful client base before forming a new partnership called Spectrum CPA Partners in 2016 along with David Zink and Cynthia Lockwood. Together their firm employs ten people and offers a continually expanding list of accounting and bookkeeping services to companies all over the state of Kansas.

While Barry’s professional career has been quite accomplished, it’s his personal achievements and volunteer service that set him apart from the crowd. Bowers started learning about leadership as a Boy Scout, and was the very first Eagle Scout from troop 184, a troop that he continues to support. He even served as Scout Master for two years, and helped on the Kansas Executive Council as well.

“Barry has volunteered with more organizations than I can count, and I’m not sure if anyone could put the whole list together because he is so humble about it,” says longtime friend David Thill. “He’s not doing it for the attention or for personal gain. He really cares about others and does what he can to help. He is the best representation of humility and servant leadership.”

Over the years, Bowers has served in a variety of public capacities including being elected to the Great Bend City Council, serving on the Barton Community College Foundation Board, volunteering as a Chamber Ambassador, and he’s always been an active part of his church in many capacities. Other past volunteer roles include serving on the Habitat for Humanity board as a director and also as president, United Way board of directors and campaign co-chairs, and as a Grand Marshall for the Home for the Holidays Christmas parade. And those are just the roles that he no longer serves in.

Currently, Barry is volunteering his time and his talents for more than a dozen local organizations, some focused on social issues and poverty while others are focused on business and preserving local history.

These organizations include:

 Ellinwood Foundation – Current Treasurer
 100+ People Who Care – Board Member
 Almost Home, Inc. – Board Member & Treasurer
 Central Kansas Development, Inc. – Board Member & President
 Barton County Historical Society – Board Member & Treasurer
 Central Kansas Dream Center – Board Member & Treasurer
 Grace Community Church – Elder, Board Member, Finance Committee
 Great Bend Foundation – Board Member, Secretary & Treasurer
 Kiwanis Club – Member & Past President
 Gideon’s – Board Member & President
 Healing Hearts Ranch – Board Member
 Child Abuse Prevention Education (CAPE) – Board Member

Barry is also an active member of the Golden Belt Woodcarver’s club, and has won numerous ribbons for his craftsmanship creating character carvings by hand. Bowers is a certified Dave Ramsey Financial Peace University instructor, volunteering his time to teach numerous classes over the last ten years to help people manage their finances and get out of debt.

“There could not be someone more deserving than Barry for this award,” Thill concluded. “If you look around at the good things that have happened for local organizations over the years, chances are that Barry Bowers had a hand in their progress at one time or another. He is the cream of the crop.”

Citizen of the Year Criteria
The “Citizen of the Year” award is presented by the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce & Economic Development to recognize an individual for their volunteer service. The winner must be creating a meaningful impact as a role model for others, and be seen as a leader who has helped pave the way in their workplace and in the community.

Previous Citizen of the Year Recipients
2017 Mark Mingenback
2016 Dan Bonine

For the second time this winter season, a blizzard affected much of central Kansas. This one struck on Saturday as an intense low pressure system quickly lifted northeast. Snowfall rates in the 2-to-3 inch per hour range combined with 35 to 45 mph winds helped to create whiteout conditions.

Barton County Sheriff Brian Bellendir says Barton County was spared some of the rougher weather.

Brian Bellendir Audio

I-70 was closed from Salina all the way back to the Colorado border for much of the day Saturday to go along with several other road closures in the western half of the state.

According to the National Weather Service, Great Bend and Hoisington each received 4 inches of snow while totals varied elsewhere. Chase received 9 inches of snow, Lincoln 8, Russell 7, Ellsworth 6 and a snow fall total of 7 inches was reported to the Eagle Media Center from north of Albert.

2/22

BOOKED: Jason Bitter of Great Bend on BTDC warrant for probation violation, no bond.

BOOKED: Sasha Kirksey of Wichita on BTDC warrant for probation violation, no bond. Reno County District Court warrant for probation violation, no bond. McPherson County Municipal Court warrant for failure to appear, bond set at $500 C/S.

BOOKED: Davin Rose of Stafford on BTDC case for served sentence.

BOOKED: Mark Bullis of Carr, CO on HMC case for driving while expired, bond set at $1,000 C/S or 18-hour OR.

BOOKED: Dakota Kocher on GBMC case for serve sentence.

BOOKED: Kevin Froelich of Hoisington on HMC case for serve sentence.

BOOKED: Ryan Michael Wagner on Barton County District Court serve sentence.

RELEASED: Abraham Rivas-Ramos to ICE custody.

RELEASED: Clarence Flores of Great Bend on a BCDC warrant for failure to appear for time served on the 48-hour OR bond.

RELEASED: Curtis Rosas of Great Bend on a Barber County warrant for failure to appear, released to Barber County Sheriff’s Office on their detainer.

RELEASED: Amanda Decker of Great Bend on BTDC warrant for contempt bond, released to corrections.

RELEASED: Tyler Marvin on BCDC warrant for failure to register.

RELEASED: Morgan McHenry of Great Bend on Rice County District Court warrant to Rice County Sheriff’s Office.

RELEASED: Scott Lee Schmidt on BCDC warrant with a $50,000 OR bond.

RELEASED: Mark Bullis of Carr, CO posted a $1,000 surety bond through Ace Bail Bonding on HMC case for driving while expired.

2/23

BOOKED: Haracio Vazquez of Great Bend on domestic battery and assault, bond in lieu of $1,000 C/S.

BOOKED: Nichole Walker on GMC case for serve sentence.

BOOKED: Tyler Reeves of Great Bend on GBMC case for domestic battery, criminal damage, bond set at $1,000 C/S or 48-hour OR bond.

BOOKED: Mason Walk on GBPD case for interference with LEO, bond is set in the amount of $1,000 C/S.

RELEASED: Haracio Vazquez of Great Bend on domestic battery and assault after posting a $1,000 surety bond through Ace Bail Bonding.

RELEASED: Brandon Maxwell on Central Kansas Community Corrections serve sentence.

RELEASED: Joshua Graves of Great Bend on BTDC case for probation violation to probation.

RELEASED: Tyler Reeves of Great Bend posted a $1,000 surety bond through Dyn-O-Mite Bail Bonding on GBMC case for domestic battery, criminal damage.

RELEASED: Eric Ehster of Hoisington on BTDC case for serve sentence in full.

2/24

BOOKED: Markell Hastings of Salina on Great Bend Municipal Court case for disorderly conduct, interference with LEO, battery LEO, and MIP, bond in lieu of $1,000 C/S.

BOOKED: Carly Taylor of Claflin on case for battery DV, bond is set at $1,000 C/S.

BOOKED: Misael Rodriguez on Barton County District Court case for DUI, incapable of operating a vehicle, DUI 2nd offense, DUI .08 in excess TOC, and failure to maintain lane, bond in lieu of $2,500 C/S.

BOOKED: Tommy Shepherd of Great Bend on KHP case for driving while suspended 2nd, TOC, defective head lamps, operating without lights required, bond set at $2,500 C/S.

BOOKED: D’Quintis Rideaux of Great Bend on KHP case for interference evidence in felony case, possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, bond set at $10,000 C/S. BTDC warrant for probation violation, no bond. BTDC warrant for probation violation, no bond.

RELEASED: Carly Taylor of Claflin on case for battery DV, posted bond of $1,000.

RELEASED: Misael Rodriguez on BCDC case for DUI incapable of operating a vehicle, DUI 2nd offense, DUI .08 in excess TOC, and failure to maintain lane after posting a $2,500 surety bond.

RELEASED: Mason Walk on GBPD case for interference with LEO, posted bond amount of $1,000 through Ace Bail Bonding.

RELEASED: Markell Hastings of Salina on GBMC case for disorderly conduct, interference of LEO, battery LEO, and MIP, after posting a $1,000 surety bond.

RELEASED: Dakota Kocher of Hoisington on GBMC case for serve sentence in full.

RELEASED: Dalton Stauddinger of Great Bend on a BTDC-CKCC case for serve sentence in full.

RELEASED: Ryan Michael Wagner on BCDC case for serve sentence in full.