For the second straight year, the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce has used the theme of “Art of Community” for their annual banquet. The theme allows the Chamber to showcase several local talents while they host one of the biggest social events of the year.

Laura Blankenship with the Chamber says the 97^th Annual Chamber Meeting & Banquet will include plenty of local entertainment.

Laura Blankenship Audio

The banquet is Saturday, February 23 at the Great Bend Events Center.

Along with the dinner and entertainment, the Chamber will announce the winners for the Business of the Year, Citizen of the Year, and NextGen Leader of the Year.

The Chamber Board of Directors, Barton County Young Professionals, and Visioning Committee will share information from the ongoing Visioning Project, “Great Bend – Better Than Great.”

Over the past five years, 19 young men from Great Bend High School have attended Boys State. The week-long event is a “learning by doing” political exercise that simulates elections, political parties and government at the state, county, and local levels.

Troy Fowler, Boys State of Kansas Leadership Academy Director of Operations, says the time spent away from home will be an interactive learning opportunity for the teenagers.

Troy Fowler Audio

Boys State is taking applications for its 2019 session. The event, which will be in its 82^nd year, will be held June 2 – June 7 at Kansas State University in Manhattan.

There were three young men from Great Bend that attended the event last year, and seven representing GBHS in 2015. Fowler says in general, Great Bend has had a good showing throughout the past.

Troy Fowler Audio

The cost to attend the Boys State of Kansas program is $325; however, in many instances, sponsors pay the majority of the fees with the delegate or his family paying a $50 applicant fee. Boys State is for young men entering their senior year of high school in the fall of 2019. Those wishing to apply to the program should visit kansasboysstate.com and fill out an application by April 15.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) announced the inclusion of legislation he authored to extend federal funding authorization for the Equus Beds Aquifer Recharge and Recovery Project in S. 47, the Natural Resources Management Act, a package of over 100 bills relating to public lands, natural resources and water projects. Today, S. 47 passed the Senate by a vote of 92-8, and now goes to the U.S. House of Representatives for consideration.

“The Equus Beds Aquifer Recharge and Recovery Project has significant consequences not only for Wichita, but also for all aquifer stakeholders,” said Sen. Moran. “This critical measure will help make certain South Central Kansas has a safe drinking water supply, and I’m pleased this project was included in the final bill that passed the U.S. Senate. I look forward to this legislation’s swift consideration and passage in the House.”

This measure would extend federal funding authorization for the Equus Beds Aquifer Recharge and Recovery Project for 10 years to increase the amount of groundwater available for later use and to raise water levels in the aquifer. Expiration of the authorization would make the project ineligible for further federal funding. The inclusion of the Sen. Moran-authored provision would allow for ongoing discussions to take place within the Department of the Interior regarding the available options to make certain the federal government fulfills its obligations to protect Wichita’s primary source of potable water. Equus Beds is the primary fresh water source for South Central Kansas and lies under parts of Sedgwick, Harvey, Reno and McPherson Counties.

Items to note:

• Moran introduced legislation to extend the Equus Beds Authorization on February 4, 2016.
• On April 20, 2016, the Senate passed this legislation, but it was stalled in the U.S. House of Representatives.
• A provision authored by Sen. Moran to improve the Fort Scott National Historic Site was also included in the Natural Resources Management Act.

BOOKED: Derek Lysinger of Claflin on Barton County District Court warrant for failure to appear, bond in lieu of $1,000 C/S. Barton District Court case for criminal threat, criminal restraint, battery DV, criminal damage to property, bond in lieu of $5,000 C/S.

BOOKED: JB Wade Hilton Brown of Larned on GBMC warrant for failure to appear, bond set at $1,000 C/S.

BOOKED: Jeanna Richter of Great Bend on GBMC warrant for failure to appear, bond set at $1,000 C/S.

BOOKED: Kurt Woods on GBMC warrant for contempt, bond set at $2,000 C/S x2.

BOOKED: Toby Barnes of Abbyville on BTDC case for driving while suspended, bond set at $2,500 C/S.

RELEASED: Nicholas Hicks to KDOC custody.

RELEASED: Austin Lemonds to KDOC custody.

RELEASED: Shawna Contrerez of Great Bend on GBMC warrant for failure to appear, released by order of the court through Judge Pike.

RELEASED: Stephany Johnson of Great Bend for GBMC case for failure to appear, released by order of the court through GBMC Judge Pike.

RELEASED: JB Wade Hilton Brown of Larned on GBMC warrant for failure to appear, posted bond through Ace Bail Bonding of $1,000.

RELEASED: Sara Delgadillo of Great Bend on BTDC case for probation violation after receiving a $10,000 OR bond.

RELEASED: Jeanna Richter of Great Bend posted a $1,000 surety bond through Ace Bail Bonding on GBMC case for failure to appear.

ELLIS COUNTY – Today, special agents of the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) arrested a Russell man for his alleged involvement with child pornography.

On Thursday at approximately 11:30 a.m., Kenneth D. Herd, 54, Russell, was arrested at Enersys where he was employed in Hays, according to the Sedgwick County booking report.

Herd was arrested on suspicion of transportation of child pornography, and possession of child pornography. The crimes are alleged to have occurred in Lyons, Kan.

The arrest follows a Jan. 30 federal grand jury indictment for the child pornography related offenses. After his arrest, Herd was transported to Wichita where he was booked into the Sedgwick County Jail.

The United States Attorney’s Office will prosecute the case.

Press release from the United Way of Central Kansas…

Every year, the United Way of Central Kansas has to say good bye to board members, but has the opportunity to welcome new members. This year, UWCK will be losing three board members who have been instrumental to the causes that United Way supports.

Tatum Dunekack, Great Bend, has been on the board since 2013 after serving as a Campaign Co-Chair. During her time on the board, Tatum went above and beyond by coordinating the Color Run in 2013. She has been a fantastic part of the United Way team and her input will be missed.

Laura Smith, Larned, has been a board member for United Way since 2015, after also serving as a Campaign Co-Chair. Laura Smith has been an integral team member; being a strong representative for United Way in Larned. Her advocacy and involvement with United Way will be missed.

Bill Lowry, Hoisington, has been a United Way board member since 2016. He was an essential part of the success of the consolidation of Hoisington United Way and UWCK. He has been a strong promoter of United Way and extremely involved in the outreach that UWCK does within the schools and with youth.

While the United Way staff and board are always disappointed to lose board members, we are excited to welcome new members to our family.

Patrick Cowan, Great Bend, will be joining the UWCK board after serving as a Campaign Co-Chair this past year. Cowan is an IT Support Specialist for Adams, Brown, Beran, & Ball after graduating from Barton Community College and is working on his Bachelors in Management Information Services from FHSU. Cowan was an inquisitive and dedicated Co-Chair and UWCK is ecstatic to welcome him to the board.

Kenny & Cindy Vink, Ellinwood, will also be joining the United Way team after serving as Co-Chairs this past Campaign. They are co-owners of Office Products Inc. and Golden Belt Printing in Great Bend. Both have been actively involved in the Barton County communities, serving on numerous boards, coaching and church groups.

Aaron Andrews will be another new board member this year from Great Bend. Aaron is a partner and broker for MPIRE Realty Group and Mike Nieden’s Auction Services. Aaron has been a longtime supporter of United Way and has been involved with Reality U as a corporate sponsor.

Rounding out the Board appointments is Sara Tarlton of Hoisington. Along with her husband, Sara grew up in Hoisington. They have two children and employed GE Capital as a Lead Accountant. Sara was introduced to United Way through the Workplace Campaign. She also supports the many impact programs such as Reality U, Dolly Parton Imagination Library and Literacy. As a member of the USD 431 Board of Education, she has seen the benefits students and their families receive from the programs and services that are offered through UWCK.

“We are fortunate to have dedicated community members volunteer their time and talents for the mission and work we do at United Way”, says Gaila Demel, Executive Director. “It is fun to bring new faces to our Board Room which adds even more creative ideas and strategic concepts as we strive to meets the needs in our communities”.

On February 9, the Great Bend High School Forensics Team third out of 16 schools at the Abilene High School Forensics Tournament. The team qualified two new events for the state tournament in May. Great Bend’s new state qualifiers were junior, Patrick Heath with a 1st Place finish in Humorous Solo Acting; and senior, Jalyn Lear, with a 2nd Place finish in Program of Oral Interpretation.

The team won their third place in a tight race. The Panthers were just a few points behind 2nd place Hutchinson and 1st place Newton high schools.

Bayle Sandy brought home two gold medals in Original Oration and Serious Solo Acting. In addition to winning Humorous Solo, Heath also placed 2nd in Informative Speaking. Lear also won a 2nd place medal in Serious Solo Acting. Freshman, Malachi Wasson finished with a 4th place in Humorous Solo Acting, 5th place in Impromptu Speaking and 4th place with Isaiah Smith in Duet Acting. Junior, Daniel Abbott competed at a forensics tournament for the first time and ended up with a 4th place finish in International Extemporaneous Speaking. Senior, Robert Brining, placed 5th in Oration. Freshman, Skylar Fletcher also earned sweepstakes points for the Panthers.

GBHS forensics coach, Kim Heath, observed: “Abilene’s tournament allowed our students an opportunity to polish their performances and evaluate what they need to do to continue to improve. I was very pleased with their efforts.”

The GBHS Forensic Team will be competing this Friday at a Congressional Debate tournament and Saturday at a forensics tournament. Both events will be held at Salina South.