Sunflower Diversified Services was one of two local agencies that serve the disabled in Great Bend who had to deal with bomb threats Thursday at multiple locations. Sunflower, along with Rosewood Services, received the bomb threats in one single e-mail and quickly had to evacuate all their facilities. Jon Prescott is the Executive Director for Sunflower.

Jon Prescott Audio

Prescott says he was proud of how his staff handled the threat and also how the community stepped forward to help.

Jon Prescott Audio

Of course we now know that other bomb threats were reported across Kansas and the United States Thursday. Law enforcement agencies dismissed the threats, saying they were meant to cause disruption and compel recipients into sending money and were not considered credible.

Some of the emails had the subject line: “Think Twice.” They were sent from a spoofed email address. The sender claimed to have had an associate plant a small bomb in the recipient’s building and that the only way to stop him from setting it off was by making an online payment of $20,000 in Bitcoin. That was the message that the email to Sunflower had in it which Prescott found interesting since Sunflower Diversified Services is a non for profit agency.

BOOKED: Lucas Webster of Hays on a three Barton County District Court warrants for probation violation. NO BOND on any of the warrants. Also booked on a Barton County District Court for interference with a law enforcement officer, littering, possession of meth, possession of drug paraphernalia. Bond set at $10,000. Also booked on a RHDC warrant for burglary, attempted theft, burglary, theft and criminal damage to property. Bond set at $15,000. Also booked on RHDC warrant for attempted theft and criminal damage to property. Bond set at $500.

BOOKED: Brandi Gutierrez on a Kansas Highway Patrol case for DWS, expired registration, failure to maintain lane, no insurance, littering, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of meth and possession of a depressant. Bond set at $10,000.

RELEASED: Eric Hellerud of Hoisington on a Hoisington Municipal Court case.

RELEASED: Chelsea Guyton of Great Bend to Department of Corrections.

RELEASED: John Lynch of Great Bend to Department of Corrections.

RELEASED: Zachary Briggs of Great Bend to Department of Corrections.

RELEASED: Daniel Glaze of Hoisington of Great Bend to Department of Corrections.

RELEASED: Robert Streiner of Great Bend on a Great Bend Municipal court case for battery and domestic violence and criminal damage to property. Posted $1,000 Bond.

BOOKED: Marissa Kennedy on a Barton County District Court case for possession of meth or heroin with the intent to distribute. Bond set at $100,000.

RELEASED: Joshua Anderson of Great Bend on a Great Bend Municipal Court warrant for failure to appear after being released per order of court. Also released on a Barton County District Court case for possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana and possession of paraphernalia and a Barton County District Court case for theft.

RELEASED: Verbin Paxman of Tribune on a Barton County District Court case for failure to appear after getting released. Also a McPherson Municipal Court warrant for failure to appear and a Harvey County District Court warrant for failure to appear.

RELEASED: Garrett Buckbee of Ellinwood on a Barton County District Court case for unlawful possession of methamphetamine, possession of a controlled substance, failure to signal and no insurance. Posted $2,500 bond.

BOOKED: Lucas Webster of Hays on a Kansas Department of Corrections warrant for a parole violation. NO BOND

RELEASED: Robert Crawford per order of the court.

RELEASED: Gregory Carey of Hoisington on a Barton County District Court warrant for possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Posted $10,000 bond.

RELEASED: Amanda Rigby of Hoisington on a Barton County District Court warrant for possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Posted $10,000 bond.

RUSSELL COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a juvenile suspect in connection with an armed robbery.

Just after  11:30 a.m. Thursday, the Russell County Sheriff’s Office was contacted by the Hays Police Department. The initial information described a possible kidnapping in the area of Gorham, according to a press release from the Russell County sheriff.

Russell County deputies responded to a residence in Gorham and located a potential victim.

Responding deputies were informed this was possibly an armed robbery and not a kidnapping.

The description of the suspect vehicle was passed to surrounding counties, and a suspect vehicle was located in the Hays High School parking lot.

Hays Middle School was placed on lockdown for 15 minutes and then cleared. Hays High School was placed on lockdown at about 1:15 p.m. and remained on exterior lockdown until about 2:30 p.m. while Hays police investigated, said Hays Police Chief Don Scheibler.

Scheibler said suspects were taken into custody later that day in Hays off of school property.

The Russell County Sheriff’s Office indicated the victim and suspects in the case are juveniles, so no names will be released.

Coming the Spring of 2019, a newly redesigned toddler playground at Veteran’s Memorial Park is scheduled to replace the dated toddler playground located on the southeast corner of Veteran’s Lake.

The new toddler playground features smart play structures of a Fire Station and Playhouse Loft in addition to updating the current toddler swings and adding additional new features. These play structures are packed with a lot of activities and interactive elements.

Two new swing concepts includes: the Oodle swing, which a group or single occupant swing, allows accessibility to enter from a wheelchair or walker. The Friendship Swing is a great way for siblings, parents and grandparents to enjoy swinging together on one swing.

Other features on the toddler playground will include a saddle spinner and Fire Engine Digirider and a Ditty Metallophone. The updated playground will feature a surfacing that was utilized on the My BackYard Playground.

Diann Henderson, Exec. Director of Great Bend Recreation Commission noted that in the design phase of this playground, it was impressive the features on the Loft and the Fire House in which the National Head Start Association and the Too Small to Fail provided guidance to Landscape Structures to create a range of developmentally appropriate activities in these Smart play structures.

“We are excited to assist the City of Great Bend and the Golden Belt Community Foundation in bringing another new “Play” Feature to Great Bend.”

The project will be funded in part by the Great Bend Recreation Commission for $53,700 and the Golden Belt Community Foundation grant providing $34,047 for the new playground equipment and surfacing. The City of Great Bend will be providing the landscaping, site work and concrete work for this new playground project. The Kiwanis Club are sponsoring additional benches around the newly designed Toddler Playground.

Weather permitting, Henderson expected the new playground to be finished by the end of next April.

We are still in the heart of the holiday season and with that brings a lot of baking, especially cookies.

Every year, the Centers for Disease Control reiterates the importance of not eating raw cookie dough. According to the CDC, flour that has not been treated can still contain germs like E. coli and raw eggs can contain salmonella.

Barton County Health Director Shelly Schneider knows that many people out there have been eating raw cookie dough for years and have never become sick, but she says things can change.

Shelly Schneider Audio

The CDC also recommends following label directions for baking and to refrigerate products containing raw dough or eggs until they are cooked.

Health insurance costs have increased drastically over past 10 years for Kansas farmers, while net farm incomes have lately decreased. That is based on data collected and recently published by K-State’s Department of Agricultural Economics and the Kansas Farm Management Association. Agricultural economist Robin Reid co-authored the work and explains the how farmers contributed.

Robin Reid Audio

Reid says Medical expenses for singles and couples stayed fairly steady, but families have felt the impact from both insurance and medical care costs.

Robin Reid Audio

That was K-State agricultural economist Robin Reid. The publication titled “Summary of Health Care Costs on Kansas Farm Management Association Farms from 2008-2017” also compares family living expenses to these health care costs. For more information, visit agmanager.info.

Authorities are looking for a wanted person considered armed and dangerous. According to the Barton County Sheriff’s Office, 29-year old Karie Lane McBride is wanted on a Rush County warrant for felony theft.

Barton County Sheriff Brian Bellendir says his office has reason to believe that McBride has access to firearms and has made threats against law enforcement and should be considered armed and dangerous.

McBride is a white male 5’6” tall 130 pounds, brown hair and blue eyes.

If you have information about this crime or any other crime, please call crime stoppers at 620-792-1300 or 888-305-1300.

Monday’s Barton County Commission meeting will include a budget amendment hearing that will begin at 9 am. The hearing has been scheduled to receive comments relative to amending the 2018 operating budget for Road and Bridge, 911 emergency telephone tax, solid waste, the criminal justice information system and computer aided dispatch. According to Barton County Administrator Phil Hathcock, budget estimates must be adjusted so that funds fall within budgetary laws.

Phil Hathcock Audio

That budget amendment hearing will lead into the start of the regular Commission meeting where the board will than vote on whether to accept the revised 2018 operating budget.