In Great Bend, the Circles program was started in September of 2017 with 10 graduates from the 20-week program. In April of 2018, 13 graduated from the program. Those graduates have benefited greatly from the program designed to inspire and equip families and communities to resolve poverty and thrive.

Of the graduates, 17 have increased their incomes, three have received promotions, they have paid down over $65,000 in debt, and as a collective group are earning over $130,000 more annually.

Through the help of community leaders and volunteers, Circles helps participants on crisis management, education and job placement, and advancement with economic stability.

Steve Hopkins works for a non-profit organization called Youth Core Ministries and wants to bring the program to Hoisington and is looking for sponsors.

Steve Hopkins Audio

Hopkins feels there is a strong need for poverty help in Hoisington. USD 431 in Hoisington offers free or reduced lunches to 56 percent of the student population, indicating poverty issues.

To bring awareness of the program, Hopkins says January 27 will be “Circles Sunday” with messages at church services throughout town and a meeting in the afternoon.

Steve Hopkins Audio

The January 27^th meeting starts at 1 p.m. at the St. John the Evangelist Parish Center, 108 East 5^th Street in Hoisington. Hopkins hopes to launch the program in September.

BOARD OF BARTON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS Agenda Meeting
January 21, 2019   9:00 a.m. Until Close

I. OPENING BUSINESS:
A. Call Meeting to Order.
B. Recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance.
C. Consider Approval of the Agenda.
D. Consider Minutes of the Monday, January 14, 2019, Regular Meeting.
E. Any citizen wishing to make statements during the discussion of any item must first be recognized by the Commission Chair. After being recognized, that person should state their name and the name of any organization represented. Statements should be limited to five minutes.
F. Cell phones and other electronic devices, other than those used by the media and law enforcement, should be shut off.

II. APPROVAL OF APPROPRIATIONS: 13th Month – 2nd Run:
-An Accounts Payable Register for the 13th Month, 2018, will be submitted to the Commission. Thirteenth month expenditures include any unpaid bills for a product, service, or utility that has actually been received in 2018.

III. APPROVAL OF APPROPRIATIONS:
-An Accounts Payable Register will be submitted to the Commission for the period of January 7, 2019, and ending January 21, 2019.
IV. OLD BUSINESS – Items tabled, or scheduled, from previous Commission Meetings, will be heard at this time.
-There is no Old Business at this time.

V. NEW BUSINESS – All new business to be considered by the Commission will be heard at
this time.

A. COUNTY CLERK’S OFFICE: Request for Approval – Added / Abated / Escaped /
Refunded Taxes:
-Donna Zimmerman, County Clerk, will present a listing of Added / Abated / Escaped /
Refunded Taxes. Orders for these actions are kept on file in the County Clerk’s Office. These
are used to correct assessments and are requested by the County Appraiser’s Office or the
County Clerk’s Office.

B. PROCLAMATION 2019-02: Hoisington High School Football, Outstanding 2018
Season:
-The Hoisington High School (HHS) Boys had an outstanding 2018 Football Season, ending the
year with a record of 9 – 3. The proposed Proclamation acknowledges their efforts and
recognizes the student athletes, managers and coaching staff for their commitment to excellence.
It also declares January 21, 2019, as Hoisington High School Football Day.

C. EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION: Service Awards:
-Barton County employees are recognized for continuous service for five, ten, fifteen, twenty and
other years. The County Commission, with the assistance of Kay Owens, Employee Relations
Committee, will recognize employees for their service.

D. EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION AWARD: Mick Lang, Asphalt Foreman, Road and
Bridge:
-The Employee Relations Committee (ERC) recommends outstanding individuals for the
“Employees Recognition Award”. At this time, the Commission will be asked to recognize
Mick Lang, Asphalt Foreman, Road and Bridge. Mr. Lang was nominated by Diana Watson,
Commission Assistant, and Darren Williams, County Works Director, for his work at the
Memorial Parks. Serving personally as the President of the Barton County Memorial Parks
Advisory Committee, he is in a unique position to foster the growth and development of the
Park, and by extension, the Golden Belt Veterans Memorial. Ms. Owens will join the
Commission in presenting the award.

E. EMERGENCY RISK MANAGEMENT: Local Emergency Planning Committee:
-The Barton County Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) is comprised of
representatives from the following groups: state/local officials; law enforcement; firefighting;
emergency management; health; hospital; broadcast media and/or communications media;
transportation; local environmental group; community service/civic group; emergency medical
services; and facilities/industries regulated by SARA Title III. Nominations have been sought
for appointment according to LEPC bylaws. Amy Miller, Emergency Risk Manager, will
provide details.

F. MATCHING FUND REQUEST: SouthWest Kansas Area Agency on Aging:
-The SouthWest Kansas Area Agency on Aging (SWKAAA) is requesting matching funds from
Barton County in the amount of $1,500.00. These funds, which would be used as “Seed
Dollars”, are an equivalent match to the $398,588.00 in services received by older residents and
low income families from Barton County. The County has traditionally provided this match
from the Finance General Account of the General Fund. Phil Hathcock, County Administrator,
will provide details.

VI. ENDING BUSINESS – After new items are heard by the Commission, the following items,
including announcements, will be heard.

A. ANNOUNCEMENTS:
-Following the close of the Agenda Meeting, the Commission will consider the authorization of
personnel changes for classified positions, sign any documentation approved during the agenda
meeting or sign any other documentation required for regular County business. Similar action
may take place throughout the day.
-County officials may attend the 2019 Kansas Association of Counties Local Government Day.
The event, hosted jointly with the League of Kansas Municipalities, begins at 3:00 p.m.,
Wednesday, January 23, 2019, at the Capital Plaza Hotel, 1717 SW Topeka Boulevard, Topeka,
Kansas.
-County officials may attend the Ellinwood Chamber Banquet on Saturday, January 26, 2019.
The event, held at the Lone Wolf Restaurant, 111 East 1st, Ellinwood, begins with a 6:00 p.m.
social hour.

B. APPOINTMENTS:
Although subject to change, the following appointments have been scheduled:
JANUARY 21, 2019
9:45 a.m. – Proposed Equipment Shed at Ellinwood Sand Pit – Darren Williams, County Works
Director
10:00 a.m. – High Risk Rural Roads (HRRR) Applications – Barry McManaman, County
Engineer
10:30 a.m. – IRB / Economic Development annual review – Kan-Can (Red Barn) – Phil
Hathcock, County Administrator; Donna Zimmerman, County Clerk; Jim Jordan, County
Treasurer; Barb Esfeld, County Appraiser and Matt Patzner, Finance Officer
10:45 a.m. – Business Update – Jim Jordan, County Treasurer
11:00 a.m. – Regular Business Discussion – Phil Hathcock, County Administrator, and Donna
Zimmerman, County Clerk
THE COUNTY EDITION, KVGB-AM – Thursdays at 11:05 a.m. Jim Jordan, County
Treasurer, is scheduled for January 24, 2019.

VII. OTHER BUSINESS:
A. Discussion Items.
B. Citizens or organizations may present requests or proposals for initial consideration.
C. The Commissioners are available to the Public on Mondays during regular business
hours.
D. The Commissioners may, individually, schedule personal appointments related to County
business at their discretion.
E. The next Regular Meeting will be at 9:00 a.m., Monday, January 28, 2019.

VIII. ADJOURN.

BUSINESS NEWS

The certified public accounting firm of Adams, Brown, Beran & Ball, Chartered (ABBB) is pleased to announce that Turner Polzin, CPA has been promoted to principal.

After serving as an ABBB intern in 2011, Polzin joined the team fulltime in 2012.  Most recently, he served as a senior manager.  Polzin primarily performs tax and consulting work, serving many clients in the agriculture industry, including grain and cattle farms.

“Congratulations to Turner on this career milestone,” said Brian Staats, CPA, CGMA, managing partner of ABBB. “I’ve watched him take incredible strides as an accounting professional throughout the course of his time with us. We look forward to watching him continue to excel in this new position.”

A 2012 graduate of Fort Hays State University, Polzin holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting and Finance. He is affiliated with the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the Kansas Society of CPAs (KSCPA). Raised in Hoisington, Kansas, Polzin currently resides in McPherson with his wife, Anika.

Barton Community College will be closed for Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, Jan. 21. Barton’s Center for Adult Education and the Shafer Art Gallery also will be closed. Offices will reopen and classes will resume on Tuesday, Jan. 22.

Barton Community College is offering woodworking courses from 6-10 p.m. on Mondays from February 4 to through April 22 at Ellsworth High School, 211 W. 11th St. in Ellsworth.

The instructor will be David Weeks. Classes of various levels will be available including Woodworking I, Woodworking II and Individual Woodworking Projects. Each course will count for three credit-hours.  The cost is $336 per class and fees for materials used.

To enroll, call (620) 792-9215.  Students can also enroll at Ellsworth High School on the first day of class.  For more information, contact Barton’s Business Technology and Community Education Secretary Renetta Furrow at furrowr@bartonccc.edu.

The community’s reaction to the new downtown recycling drop-off site has already exceeded expectations.

Organizers had anticipated unloading the trailer twice a month. But it is filling up quickly and the timetable has been moved up to accommodate the amount of collections at 18th and Williams.

The trailer was the brainchild of the Barton County Young Professionals (BCYP).

“Many of our members had voiced their desire for more recycling opportunities. And Sunflower Diversified Services and the city of Great Bend made it happen,” said Megan Hammeke, steering committee chair. “We are so excited to have this new addition downtown and we support all city and Sunflower recycling efforts.”

The project began a few months ago when BCYP members sat down with representatives of Sunflower, the city of Great Bend and Barton County Landfill to discuss the future of recycling in Great Bend. The Great Bend Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting was held Dec. 19.

“This is an important project because recycling protects the environment and preserves resources we use every day,” Hammeke said. “Many in our group are just starting families and want their children to grow up with bright futures and all the amazing resources this earth has to offer. Recycling allows us to have a voice in that.”

Kendal Francis, city administrator, had high praise for BCYP’s foresight in initiating this project.

“The young professionals wanted to be part of the solution,” Francis said. “The communication between their group, the city and Sunflower was great. We could all sit down, collectively think about it and take the appropriate action.”

After talking with BCYP and Sunflower, Francis followed through by taking the idea of a downtown drop-off site to the Great Bend City Council. After it learned the details, the vote was unanimous to buy the trailer.

“This is just a really good thing for the community as a whole,” Francis commented. “Recycling is gaining momentum and we wanted to take this next step. “Just as important,” Francis continued, “the drop-off site is providing jobs for Sunflower clients with developmental disabilities and delays. And it was a good move on the city’s part regarding the environment and our quality of life.”

The city administrator also voiced a few words of caution.

“We hope the community embraces and respects this project. It is not here to become an eyesore and detract from the community. All of us appreciate the community’s cooperation.”

Francis also noted that Debbie McCormick, Sunflower director of marketing, should be commended for finding the trailer at minimal cost to the city. A new 18-foot trailer would have cost up to about $18,000.

“Debbie began putting out feelers and found this gently used trailer for $6,000. This was $1,500 less than anticipated at first,” Francis said.

McCormick agreed that it “was a heckuva buy. We were in the right place at the right time. We are extremely grateful to the young professionals and the city in our efforts to create jobs for people with disabilities and save space at the landfill. We are creating a greener community.”

“All of us hope that people who don’t normally think about recycling are attracted to his new, visible location,” McCormick added.

The trailer is available 24/7. Accepted items are: plastic bottles; milk jugs; glass; newspapers; and magazines. In addition, the trailer has a large slot for cardboard, which can be broken down and slid into the trailer. Office paper also is accepted but will not go through the confidential-shredding process; that service is still offered at Sunflower Recycling, 5523 10th , where all services remain the same.

Sunflower, a non-profit agency, is in its 53rd year. It serves infants, toddlers and adults with developmental disabilities and delays in Barton, Pawnee, Rice, Rush and Stafford counties.

U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) – member of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs – this week cosponsored the TRICARE Reserve Improvement Act, which extends TRICARE eligibility to all National Guardsmen and Reservists, regardless of their civilian occupation.

“Members of our nation’s National Guard and Reserves have sacrificed for this country and stand ready to serve at all times,” said Sen. Moran. “I’m proud to support legislation that would provide a choice in healthcare coverage for servicemembers who also work in the federal government, making certain their decision to enter both military and public service does not limit their access to benefits they have earned. The brave men and women who honorably serve our country deserve the best our nation has to offer, and I will continue to work to make certain they have the flexibility to choose the healthcare plan best for them.”

Under current law, federal employees who serve in the National Guard or Armed Forces Reserve are prohibited from participating in TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS). This disparity creates a financial incentive for transitioning service members to take their skillset and credentials away from the federal government, and penalizes those who choose to serve their country in a civilian capacity. It also limits the effectiveness of TRS as a recruiting tool within the public sector.

This legislation was introduced by U.S. Senators Steve Daines (R-Mont.) and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), and is also cosponsored by U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Doug Jones (D-Ala.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.).

BOOKED: Jaylan Cartwright of Great Bend on BTDC case for driving without a license, bond set at $1,000 C/S.

BOOKED: Trisha Buresh on Great Bend Police Department case for battery LEO and interference with LEO, bond set at $1,000 C/S. Buresh was arrested at The Center For Counseling. GBPD spoke with The Center about Buresh. The Center stated Buresh was recently released from LSH and does not need to go back. The Center stated Buresh would be fine in the Barton County Jail.

BOOKED: Shawn Rosenberg of Great Bend on a RCDC warrant for failure to appear, bond set at $250,000 C/S.

BOOKED: Kenneth Gray on Harvey County District Court warrant for probation violation, no bond.

BOOKED: Matthew Sanderson of Larned on warrant for contempt of court, no bond.

RELEASED: Jaylan Cartwright of Great Bend on BTDC case for driving without a license, bond set at $1,000 C/S. Posted through Ace Bail Bonding.

RELEASED: Raynaldo Martinez, Michael Philbern, and Anthony Smith from Rice County to KDOC.

RELEASED: Melissa Loveall after being released from Municipal Court case for contempt of court.

RELEASED: Stephen Mai of Solomon on a hold for Shawnee County hold for failure to appear.

RELEASED: Jordan Trevino of Great Bend after posting a $250 C/S on GBMC case for failure to appear.

RELEASED: Stacy N. Warren on Barton County case on a $338 OR bond per Judge Burgess.

RELEASED: Shawn Rosenberg of Great Bend on RCDC warrant after warrant was withdrawn.

RELEASED: Jaime Ayala Jr. after completing a BTDC serve sentence.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A former Kansas sheriff has been sentenced to two years of probation for selling a .45 caliber pistol and ammunition to a convicted felon.

Court records show former Ness County Sheriff Bryan Whipple was also ordered Thursday to pay a $4,000 fine.

Whipple pleaded guilty in October and agreed to resign and surrender his law enforcement certification as part of the plea deal.

Whipple initially faced three wire fraud charges alleging that he faxed reports falsely certifying that deputies had received training. But under the plea agreement those charges were dismissed at his sentencing hearing.