With a new director coming on board this week, the Barton County Historical Society was pleased to receive the recent news of an endowment that benefits the Historical Society.
As a nonprofit organization that preserves the history of Barton County, the Historical Society is always looking for financial assistance.
Paul Maneth serves as the president of the Historical Society’s Board of Directors and gave thanks to the Dorothy M. Morrison Foundation for establishing the endowment.
Paul Maneth Audio
The endowment will help fund the salary, benefits, and continuing education for the director position. The endowment is funded from the Morrison Foundation and handled by the Golden Belt Community Foundation. As the endowment grows, Maneth anticipates it will be used to fund more but for now its focus is on the director.
Even with the endowment established, a need for public assistance will still be needed according to Maneth.
Paul Maneth Audio
The endowed funds will increase annually with an automatic distribution to the Historical Society each year.
Bev Komarek, long-time director, has retired. Maneth says Tina Mingenback has been named the replacement.
ELLIS COUNTY – A Kansas woman pleaded guilty Thursday to charges of mistreatment of a dependent adult and a drug crime, according to Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt.
Burns -photo Ellis County
Nichole Denee Burns, 39, pleaded guilty to one count of mistreatment of a dependent adult and one count of possession of an opiate, opium, narcotic or certain stimulant.
Both counts were felonies. The charges stemmed from an investigation by the Hays Police Department and the attorney general’s Fraud and Abuse Litigation Division.
The attorney general alleged that while Burns was caring for her father, who was prescribed fentanyl patches to manage his pain, she would remove the patches, use them herself, and then reapply the used patch to her father.
The defendant’s father was later admitted to the emergency room in severe pain because he was not receiving his prescribed medication from the used patch. The crimes occurred between November 2016 and January 2017.
Magistrate Judge Richard Flax accepted the plea in Ellis County District Court. A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled.
BOOKED: Tanner Guyton of Great Bend on BTDC case for no DL, no proof of insurance and no tag light, bond is set at $1,000 C/S. BTDC case for possession of methamphetamine, bond set at $10,000 C/S.
BOOKED: Robert Crawford of Great Bend on BTDC case for possession of methamphetamine, bond set at $10,000 C/S.
BOOKED: Sasha Kirksey of Wichita on Barton County District Court warrant for failure to appear, no bond. Great Bend Municipal Court warrant for failure to appear, bond set at $1,000 C/S.
RELEASED: Tyler Epp of Great Bend on GBMC case for battery DV. Ford County District Court warrant for failure to appear x2, posted bonds through Ace Bail Bonding.
RELEASED: Eliaser Leyva of Great Bend on GBMC case for no driver’s license, no proof of insurance, improper turn, released to ICE.
RELEASED: Ryan Neil Kleweno per order of Barton County District Court.
RELEASED: Daniel Phenneger on BCDC case for time served.
RELEASED: Candice Johnson of Great Bend after receiving a $100,000 OR bond on BCDC warrant for distribution of methamphetamine or heroin and no drug tax stamp. BCDC case for distribution of meth or heroin and no drug tax stamp, use/possession with intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body.
RELEASED: Cierra Most of Salina after receiving a $10,000 OR bond on BTDC warrant for failure to appear.
RELEASED: Lori Fiscus of Great Bend on BCDC case for probation violation after she was given a $1,750 OR bond.
RELEASED: Joseph Lewis of Galatia on BCDC warrant after he was released by the court. Released to Saline County Sheriff’s Office for their warrant.
RELEASED: Crystal Horton on BCDC warrant for failure to appear.
Students perform in the Fine Arts Auditorium at last year’s Holiday Variety Show.
BUSINESS NEWS
The Barton Fine and Performing Arts students invite the community to enjoy nostalgic holiday themed entertainment at its annual Holiday Variety Show at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 3 in the Fine Arts Auditorium.
“The Holiday Concert is a great way to end the semester with the college students and a great concert for everyone in the community to bring in the holiday spirit,” Director of Instrumental Activities Steven Lueth said.
The concert will feature Christmas music from all genres performed by Barton’s Concert Choir, Hilltop Singers, Barton Jazz Band and various soloists and small ensembles.
Barton Dance Theatre, the college’s dance company, will perform three short dances from the Nutcracker ballet: Dance of the Sugar-Plum Fairy, Russian Variation and Spanish Variation. The dance group’s performance is a new addition to the variety show.
Lueth said he hopes community members will seize this opportunity to enjoy some great holiday-oriented entertainment.
Admission to the concert is $5 with all proceeds going to benefit the Barton Music Department. Students will be admitted for free with an ID.
Macy Moyers, a junior majoring in biology, received a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity in March 2018 when she was notified of her acceptance into the Disney College Program at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla.
“I am beyond lucky to have this opportunity,” said Moyers. “I am glad that I have the opportunity to go beyond the usual type of learning experience and learn and work in a place that I would never be able to experience otherwise.”
Moyers, originating from Great Bend, began her internship in May 2018. It will end in January.
The program provides participants the opportunity to live, earn and learn while at Disney. They also have the option of taking courses and seminars through Disney while there.
Moyers took a summer seminar series, “Disney’s Animal Science Seminar,” in which she learned that Disney’s main focuses are to educate the public about animals, the environment and the preservation of wildlife and the environment worldwide.
During the seminars, participants learned about the diverse departments within Disney’s animal, science and environment team and were given the opportunity to meet some cast members in those areas.
“As a participant in this series, I gained field experience at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and the Living Seas in Epcot,” she said.
“My experience has been great.” “I have always wanted to work for Disney and be part of the magic that guests experience.”
Moyers was previously a lifeguard at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon, where she was stationed for five months. She now works at the food and beverage service in Tomorrowland at Magic Kingdom.
On her days off, she enjoys exploring Walt Disney World and Orlando with the friends she has made through this unique opportunity.
“It is an amazing opportunity to experience this diversity while also making friends and learning from others,” she said.
“This internship has allowed me to acquire useful on-the-job experiences while working with one of the most reputable companies in the world,” said Moyers.
Moyers, on track to graduate in May 2020, is currently a full-time FHSU virtual student while at her internship. She is working towards a Bachelor of Science degree in biology with a concentration in health professions and plans to attend dental school after she graduates.
“Participating in the Disney College Program has allowed me to have on the job experiences and gain transferable skills that will benefit me in my future endeavors,” she said.
“Disney, as a company, has a main focus on their guest service.” “It would be advantageous for me to incorporate these guest service skills with my future in patient care.”
The USD 428 Board of Education approved the following contributions to the district at Nov. 29, 2018 luncheon at Jefferson Elementary School.
– First Christian Church wishes to donate $2,000 to the five elementary schools to be used for supplies for students in need. Suggestions of fund uses; clothing, bedding, gifts, etc. Each school will receive $400.
– GB Middle School – Additional donations have been received in regard to the Lucille Lucas Memorial GB Middle School Library Book fund. Administration recommends approval of contributions of $50 for the fund.
– GBHS Jazz Band – Kiwanis Club of Great Bend wishes to contribute $200 to the GBHS Jazz Band.
Isolated showers between 9am and noon, then a chance of drizzle after noon. Patchy fog before 10am. Otherwise, cloudy, with a high near 44. East southeast wind 6 to 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Friday Night
Showers likely, mainly before midnight. Cloudy, with a low around 35. East southeast wind 8 to 15 mph becoming northwest after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 22 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Saturday
A slight chance of rain and snow showers before 10am, then a slight chance of rain showers between 10am and noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 46. Breezy, with a west northwest wind 15 to 24 mph, with gusts as high as 33 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Saturday Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 28. Northwest wind 14 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.
Sunday
Partly sunny, with a high near 36.
Sunday Night
A 20 percent chance of snow showers after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 21.
Monday
A 20 percent chance of snow showers before noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 27.
Jefferson Elementary School Principal Kip Wilson presenting before the USD 428 Board of Education on Nov. 29, 2018.
Last year, Jefferson Elementary School in Great Bend identified a goal of becoming a more trauma informed school. Principal Kip Wilson says that means identifying the needs of the students when they are stressed or angry and practices that teachers and staff can use to calm the students down.
In the past, many schools told students to self-regulate if they were in a situation where they couldn’t calm down. Wilson says Jefferson has switched their approach.
Kip Wilson Audio
Wilson added this approach can apply to all students and not just those that come from a difficult background.
Identifiable stress zones help locate a student’s stress level and whether or not he or she is able to talk about the situation that made them upset.
Kip Wilson Audio
The ultimate goal is to get students that are having a hard time with social and emotional behaviors to be able to understand what is happening and know how to calm themselves down.
Giving Tuesday passed this week with a chance for anyone to give to more than 70 registered charitable organizations. The Tuesday after Thanksgiving has been marked as a day of giving to nonprofits of your choice.
Golden Belt Community Foundation spearheads the initiative and Executive Director Christy Tustin says this year’s day of giving went smoothly.
Christy Tustin Audio
Tustin noted she is about halfway through entering all the gifts and hopes to have the final numbers wrapped up next week. Last year, $152,164 was donated with $25,000 added in match money for charities. Tustin felt Giving Tuesday is gaining popularity.
Christy Tustin Audio
The Foundation is hosting a Great Bend Chamber of Commerce coffee hour on December 20 at the Prince of Peace Parrish Center where they will announce the total number raised and the top donation getters.
With a new director coming on board this week, the Barton County Historical Society was pleased to receive the recent news of an endowment that benefits the Historical Society.
Friday
