The Hutchinson Sons of the American Revolution Chapter is planning to meet in Great Bend for their monthly meeting. The chapter will meet at 9 a.m., Saturday, January 12, in the Trinity Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall, 2701 24th St. The public is invited to attend the meeting and is asked to use the west door off the Jefferson St. circle driveway.

Anyone interested in the organization is invited to attend the meeting and program. The chapter is making plans for chartering a new chapter in Great Bend, anyone with ancestral roots to those who served in the American Revolution are encouraged to attend. Genealogists with the local chapter will be on hand to discuss the application process and help with genealogy.

At a recent meeting, Sons of the Plains Chapter president Justin Engleman was presented a Supplemental Ancestor Membership certificate by Kansas Society Vice President Bobbie Hulse. Engleman’s sixth-great-grandfather Archibald Allen served as a private in Capt. Charles Shelton and Col. Elias Edmonds’ Virginia Company of volunteers who were on the march through Richmond, in pursuit of the British with regular army troops commanded by Gen. Lafayette. Allen was born Feb. 7, 1752 in Westmoreland County, Va., and died Feb 23, 1846 in Putnam Co., Ill. This is the second patriot ancestor Engleman has identified in his genealogical research.

BUSINESS NEWS

The Central Kansas Community Choir (CKCC), which is open to all choral singers high school age and older, will be rehearsing from 7-9 p.m. on Monday evenings beginning Jan. 14 at the Morrison Chapel at Barton Community College in Great Bend in preparation for an April 1 concert.  Accessible parking is available.

The CKCC strives to provide challenging and quality performances to the residents of central Kansas. Choir membership is open to all choral singers high school age and older. Participants must have some choral singing background and be able to attend all rehearsals as the choral literature will be challenging and rehearsal time is relatively short.

Interested singers should attend the first rehears­al. For further information contact Sara Oberle at (620) 792-9395 or oberles@bartonccc.edu.

If you are searching for a job or thinking about a new career, it is time to update those resumes for the Eagle Communications Career Fair hosted by KansasWorks. The third annual event will take place Wednesday, January 9 at the KansasWorks office, 1025 Main Street.

Eagle Radio’s Scott Donovan says the employers involved are ready to hire.

Scott Donovan Audio

You can attend the Career Fair and connect with companies who are looking for employees to fill positions. If you need assistance with a resume, completing online applications or suggestions on how to answer interview questions, stop by the workforce center or call for an appointment.

Scott Donovan Audio

The Career Fair will take place from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. and Donovan will be on location broadcasting live on 100.7 Eagle Country.

Boxes of Love will once again be delivered to homebound seniors in Barton & Pawnee counties. This is the third year for this project, and is a collaboration of United Way of Central Kansas, ElderCare Home Services, Meals on Wheels, and RSVP/Volunteers in Action. Partnering together, these non-profits work to brighten the day and warm the hearts of hundreds of seniors throughout Central Kansas.

Each box is filled with items for these seniors, some of them just for fun, and some practical items. Items include stationary and cough drops to shampoo and conditioner. Due to the size of the box and transportation of the packages, we do request that items be travel sized. Each box also gets topped off with homemade Valentine’s Day cards made by children at Great Bend Children’s Learning Center and Caring Hands Daycare.

The project is already off and running with donations from Dillon’s, Thrivent Financial, and Midwest Energy. Thanks to these generous donations each box will have chocolates, stamps, and night lights included.

If you would like to make a donation to Box of Love to show love to a homebound senior this Valentine’s Day, you can drop off your donations at: Clara Barton Hospital, University of Kansas Health System- Pawnee Valley Campus, First Kansas Bank (Hoisington & Great Bend), Trinity Lutheran Church, Sunflower Bank (Ellinwood & Great Bend), and Farmers Bank & Trust.

If you don’t have a chance to run to the store to make a donation, cash donations are accepted and will be used to purchase items for each box. Please make checks payable to United Way of Central Kansas, 1125 Williams, Great Bend, KS 67530.

With a social hour, a dinner, awards presentation, ceremonial passing of the gavel, and the Best in Show award for best decorated table, the 62^nd Annual Hoisington Chamber of Commerce Banquet and Awards Program is sure to be hit. The evening is geared to honoring the men and women and businesses that had special years in the Hoisington area.

Chamber Director Karen Baldyga encourages chamber members to sponsor a table for the event Saturday, January 12.

Karen Baldyga Audio

Saturday’s event will take place at the Hoisington City Building, 109 East First Street, starting at 6:30 p.m. with the social hour.

Tickets can be purchased by calling the Chamber office at 620-653-4311 or visiting hoisingtonkansas.com.

BUSINESS NEWS

The nursing program at Barton Community College is accepting student applications for the 2019-20 academic year.  The priority deadline is Jan. 31, 2019.  The secondary deadline is March 1, 2019.  Those wishing to apply to the Barton Nursing Program should first visit apply.bartonccc.edu, then stop by the Nursing Office in the Technical Building to receive an application packet for the program.

Barton’s nursing program was fully re-accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, which requires a minimum pass rate of 80 percent at the Registered Nurse (RN) level.

Barton Community College Licensed Practical Nurse graduates achieved a 100 percent pass rate in 2018 on their National Council Licensure Examination, and the RN graduates had a 80.79 percent pass rate.

BOARD OF BARTON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS Agenda Meeting
January 7, 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, December 31, 2018, 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:
-An Accounts Payable Register will be submitted to the Commission for the period of December 26, 2018, and ending December 31, 2018.

III. APPROVAL OF APPROPRIATIONS:
-An Accounts Payable Register will be submitted to the Commission for the period of January 1, and ending January 7, 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 2019-01: Great Bend High School, Recognizing the Outstanding 2018
Football Season:
-The Great Bend High School (GBHS) football team finished the season 8-3 with a District record
of 4-0. The proposed Proclamation acknowledges their efforts and recognizes the student
athletes, coaching staff and administrator for their commitment to excellence. It also declares
January 7, 2019, as Great Bend High School Football Day. Coach Erin Beck will provide details.

C. KANSAS ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES: 2019 Membership:
-The Kansas Association of Counties (KAC) has submitted a renewal notice for the 2019
membership. Based on a calculation that includes a base fee, population and valuation, the dues
are $6,165.41. The Association sponsors the annual KAC Conference, various educational
meetings throughout the year and lobbies the State and Federal Legislature on behalf of Kansas
Counties. Phil Hathcock, County Administrator, will provide details.

D. KANSAS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ASSOCIATION: 2019 Membership:
-The Commission has received an invoice for the 2019 dues for the Kansas County
Commissioners Association. Tied closely to the Kansas Association of Counties, this
organization is comprised of the Commissioners serving the 105 counties in Kansas. Education,
training, partnering and seeking strategic alliances that benefit the interests of County
government and its citizens are its core goals. The Commission will determine if they will retain
membership in the Association. Mr. Hathcock will provide details.

E. KANSAS LEGISLATIVE POLICY GROUP: 2019 MEMBERSHIP:
-The Kansas Legislative Policy Group (KLPG) is a bi-partisan coalition of western Kansas
counties with the common interest in the preservation of the counties tax base and retention of
local control. The KLPG serves as a policy and decision making body establishing legislative
priorities at its annual meeting and providing speakers to address KLPG members about the
important topics of the day. At this time, the Commission will consider renewal of the
membership, priced at $5,114.65. Mr. Hathcock will provide details.

F. COUNTY SERVICES: INFORMATIONAL UPDATE:
-Mr. Hathcock will provide the informational report of work completed during the last period.
The report, which will be made available to the media, will serve as a public reminder of the
services provided by the County on a regular basis.
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 Hoisington Chamber Banquet on Saturday, January 12, 2019.
The event, held at the Hoisington City Building, 109 E First, Hoisington, Kansas, begins with a
6:30 p.m. social time, followed by a dinner and program.

B. APPOINTMENTS:
Although subject to change, the following appointments have been scheduled:
9:45 a.m. or close of the Agenda Meeting – Department Head Meeting with the Commissioners.
Department Head meetings are held in the Courthouse Conference Room, Room 101. After the
Department Head meeting is closed, the Commission will return to their Chambers.
10:45 a.m. – Departmental Update – Shelly Schneider, Health Director
11:00 a.m. – Program Update – Barry McManaman, County Engineer
11:15 a.m. – Program Update – Kay Owens, Employee Relations Committee
11:30 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. Phil Hathcock, County
Administrator, is scheduled for January 10, 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 14, 2019.

VIII. ADJOURN.

Barton County’s Got Flavor is coming back in 2019, with special guests, Colorado Keys, returning for a third year!

On Saturday, January 19, 2019, Habitat for Humanity for Barton County will play host to a great night of food prepared by our contestants, followed up with what promises to be a night full of unforgettable entertainment. Held at the Great Bend Events Center, this fundraiser will feature food tastings from 6:30-7:15 p.m., followed by the high energy, dueling piano entertainers from the Colorado Keys at 7:30 p.m.

YOU be the judge…

Guests will have the opportunity to taste a variety of food prepared by local volunteer chefs. Event attendees are the judges and will vote for their favorite food tasting. The winning teams will receive a trophy or cold hard cash.

“We are so excited for this annual event and hope everyone comes ready for some great food, laughter, and entertainment,” Austin Coyan, Habitat for Humanity Chair goes on to say, “We invited the Colorado Keys back this year along with their Dueling Pianos act. People asked for their return and we listened.”

Tickets are $25 each for the tastings and the dueling piano show. The dinner and cash bar is available for adults only, with tickets limited to the first 150 people. Tickets for the dueling piano show, only, are available for $15 per person. Tickets can be purchased online through the Barton County’s Got Flavor Facebook Event page and also at the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce, 1125 Williams, Great Bend, KS.

For more information or to reserve tickets, contact at habitatbartoncounty@hotmail.com or send a message through the Habitat for Humanity: Barton County Area Facebook page.

Special thanks to our Presenting Sponsor, CUNA Mutual Retirement Solutions. Thank you to our other sponsors: Spectrum CPA Partners, Sutherland’s, P&S Electric, Adams, Brown, Beran & Ball, Chtd., Landmark National Bank, 10th St. Eyecare Center, Keller Real Estate, Tele-Communications, Inc., Farmer’s Bank & Trust, and BTI.

About Habitat for Humanity:

Habitat for Humanity has been in Barton County since 2001. Our non-profit organization gives a hand up, not a hand out. All the donations we receive are used to build or remodel homes for our partner families, who then purchase the home through a zero-interest, 25-year mortgage. The houses cost less because they are built with volunteer labor and donated materials, and because the partner families do not pay interest, home ownership is much more affordable than in the private market. In addition, the funds collected in mortgage payments can be re-used to help another family in Barton County.