BOOKED: Tammy Lowe on Great Bend Municipal Court warrant and on CKCC case for probation violation serve sentence.

BOOKED: Garrett Buckbee of Ellinwood on BTDC case for domestic battery, criminal damage to property, bond set at $1,000 C/S or 18-hour OR bond.

BOOKED: Chandra Day of Great Bend on Denver, CO Sheriff’s Office warrant for probation violation, bond set at $10,000 C/S.

RELEASED: Ryan McHenry of Great Bend on BTDC case for abuse of a child, domestic battery, posted $50,000 bond through Dyn-O-Mite Bail Bonding.

RELEASED: Dakota Green on Great Bend Municipal Court warrants by order of the court.

RELEASED: Tanner Guyton on BCDC to probation by order of the court.

BUSINESS NEWS

When Jodi Henrikson, MD, explains the services at what is now this region’s only obstetrics and gynecology clinic, he sums it up pretty quickly.

“We take care of women who are pregnant and women who are not pregnant,” he summarized. “This includes comprehensive care before, during and after pregnancy, as well as annual exams and routine care for women of all ages.”

As part of The University of Kansas Health System, all OB/GYN services have been consolidated under one roof at the Great Bend Campus Medical Pavilion, 514 Cleveland St.

Dr. Henrikson’s colleagues are Veerayyagari Annapurna, MD, and Sheila Hein, advanced practice registered nurse.

“All of us work together to offer the highest-quality healthcare for women,” Dr. Henrikson said. “We do all we can to ensure we are providing the most appropriate care for each individual patient.”

Both physicians are trained to treat women with high-risk pregnancies, such as those that involve diabetes and high blood pressure.

In addition, the clinic cares for patients with incontinence and prolapse, which entails “bulging where it doesn’t belong, such as in the bladder, rectum and uterus,” Dr. Henrikson explained. “We also take care of inflammation of the bladder. There are not a lot of providers in this area that do this.

“In regard to gynecological surgeries, we do everything except operate in situations that involve cancer. However,” he noted, “we offer follow-up care and monitoring after cancer surgeries. And in obstetrics, there is not much that we don’t take care of.”

Both physicians also offer pre-conception counseling and infertility treatments. Being part of The University of Kansas Health System allows the clinic to enhance its services for patients and their families.

“In a large healthcare organization such as this we have the resources to offer many services locally, along with access to specialists if a referral is necessary,” Dr. Henrikson said. “And since our office is on the second floor of the hospital, we are quickly available for any situation that needs our attention.

“There is a general surgeon right down the hall and The University of Kansas Health System Family Medicine is nearby,” he continued. “All of this means we can be even more efficient and patients can enjoy more convenience.”

Dr. Henrikson has 14 years of experience in practice, while Dr. Annapurna has seven. Hein has 42 years of experience caring for women.

Members of the Barton County Young Professionals (BCYP) group are invited to join Animal Medical Center for their BCYP Mixer on January 11 at 6 p.m.  The event will be held at AMC, located at 622 McKinley Street in Great Bend.  AMC has a fun evening planned with games, giveaways, and great food and drinks!

Activities include Minute-To-Win-It games such as a cornhole guessing game, radiograph guessing game, and horseshoe toss game.  Throughout the evening, BCYP members will have a chance to win $250 gift cards from P & S Security and High Call Outfitters, as well as $20 Chamber gift certificates.  Mark your calendars to make sure you don’t miss out on a fun-filled evening at Animal Medical Center!

Barton County Young Professionals (BCYP) exists to provide leadership, networking & volunteer opportunities. BCYP is a free membership organization for anyone 21-40ish who lives or works in the Barton County area. Over 750 individuals currently participate in BCYP membership. To learn more about the benefits of membership or to see an event schedule, visit www.BartonYP.com or call the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce & Economic Development at 620-792-2401.

The death of a porcupine at Great Bend Brit Spaugh Zoo over the holidays came unexpected according to Curator Sara Hamlin.

On Sunday, December 23, the zoo staff noticed that Chunga the porcupine had watery and swollen eyes. Antibiotics were given but by the next day Chunga was almost completely unresponsive. The veterinarians came in Monday and did not know exactly what was happening with the porcupine, but knew he was unlikely to recover.

Hamlin says a necropsy was performed by the veterinarian to determine the official illness.

Sara Hamlin Audio

At 15 and a half years old, Chunga was euthanized after appearing to suffer from kidney failure.

There is still one porcupine left at the zoo named Kojack. Hamlin says the two porcupines did not get along so there are no plans to replace Chunga.

Sara Hamlin Audio

Hamlin says the average life expectancy for an African Crested Porcupine is 18-20 years, but Chunga could have been older than 15 and a half based on the age estimate when he arrived in Great Bend as an adult.

BUSINESS NEWS

USD 428 announces and welcomes Traci Burns as the district’s new accountant. Burns started at USD 428 in late 2018 and brings CPA experience as well as corporate accounting.

USD 428 has an annual operating budget of $60 million and 700 employees.

“USD 428 has a strong financial foundation,” said Khris Thexton, USD 428 superintendent. “Traci’s expertise will ensure our financial operations support the vision and goals set by the board of education and move us into the future.”

Burns grew up in Oakley, KS. She received a bachelor’s of science in business administration from Kansas State University before completing her Masters of Accountancy in 2012. Traci met her husband, Logan Burns at KSU and the couple lived in Kansas City before relocating to Great Bend. Her career experience includes time at KPMG, LLC in Kansas City, Adams, Brown, Beran & Ball, and most recently Benefit Management, Inc. here in Great Bend.

Traci and Logan have one daughter, Nora (2), with another child expected in May of 2019.

“When my daughter starts school in a few years, and for the next 20+ years, what’s going on with the school district is going to affect my family greatly,” said Burns. “As a parent, resident, and now as an employee, I’m personally invested in how the district is receiving and using its funding and look forward to supporting the financial operations of USD 428.”

To ensure a seamless transition, Burns is working closely with Jan Keeley, assistant financial manager, who will retire in February after a 20-year career with USD 428.

The post-Christmas storm is making traveling back from the holiday challenging. While much of the snow accumulation is happening to the west, Barton County is still undergoing its share of hazardous driving conditions.

Barton County Sheriff Brian Bellendir says the road surfaces are freezing, making driving on many streets questionable.

Brian Bellendir Audio

Bellendir urges anyone that slides off the road with or without damage to call 911 so an officer can assist with traffic.

Brian Bellendir Audio

Multiple blizzard, winter storm, and wind warnings are issued throughout the state with some areas in western Kansas expected to receive up to eight inches of snow. Visit kandrive.org to view road conditions throughout the state before traveling.

Kansas Governor Jeff Colyer Wednesday afternoon issued a State of Disaster Emergency declaration for the state in response to the winter storm that will be impacting portions of western Kansas.