The Great Bend Public Library has hosted several family nights in conjunction with the “Great Bend Reads” initiative that has been put on by the elementary schools in the city. The family nights take students and parents through the library to 12 stations that promote the theme of this year’s book, “The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane.”

Jefferson Elementary School Principal Kip Wilson is in charge of organizing the program this year and says the partnership with the library has increased parents’ awareness of the resources available to them.

Kip Wilson Audio

“Great Bend Reads” makes an attempt to get students excited about reading through activities, trivia, and reading with their parents or guardians.

The Kansas Wetlands Education Center at Cheyenne Bottoms has also gotten involved by setting a couple of exhibits that are science related and tie into the book.

Roughly 1,300 books were handed out to students at the beginning of the month.

Christmas will be a little merrier for children who might not otherwise have a package to open this year, thanks to a local non-profit agency and a Great Bend business.

Infants and toddlers served by Sunflower Early Education Center (EEC) and Incredible Years Preschool, and some siblings will benefit from the activity sponsored by Great Bend Coffee, 2015 Lakin.

“Great Bend Coffee has been our partner in this special Christmas tree display for several years now,” said Heather Quillin, children’s services coordinator. “We are so grateful to LaResa and Eugene Likes and others in the community that are reaching out to the children and families we serve.”

The tree is decorated with tags, each representing a child enrolled in the EEC’s early intervention program or the preschool; some siblings also are included. Gender, age and clothing size, along with wants and needs, are indicated on the individual tags. Participants are asked to select a tag and then place a gift under the tree no later than Dec. 10 so they can be delivered before Christmas in Sunflower’s five-county service area.

“We carefully chose the families represented on the tree,” Quillin said.

“Anyone who participates can be assured the children involved deserve a special gift at Christmas.

“We are serving over 80 children right now in our tiny-k program and 40 in our preschool; it is gratifying that parents are seeking early intervention and education,” Quillin added. “It is the best route to achieving developmental milestones.”

Sunflower EEC is part of the tiny-k network in Kansas that provides early intervention services for infants and toddlers with delays or disabilities at no charge to families. Its preschool is for any child ages 2-and-a-half to 5, including those who are developing typically and those who demonstrate a delay; tuition is based on income.

The non-profit agency’s service area includes Barton, Pawnee, Rice, Rush and Stafford counties.

Short and sweet. That’s the way Barton County Treasurer Jim Jordan likes to keep it when he makes a presentation to Commissioners. Jordan, who has been on the job for just over a year now, presented his Office’s annual report to the board on Tuesday and was very efficient in presenting the facts and only the facts.

Jim Jordan Audio

In addition to his office being very efficient in collecting taxes, Jordan has made sure to make it easier for Barton County residents to pay their taxes while making his office more accessible.

Jim Jordan Audio

It’s a busy time for the Treasurer’s Office who mailed out personal property taxes last Friday. They also mailed out tax information for heavy trucks, gas and state assessed utilities. Real estate and oil statements will be mailed this Friday.

BUSINESS NEWS

The Great Bend Recreation Commission is forming its new sessions of exercise classes.

Join Dixie Divis for Noon Body Shaping that meets Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 12:10 – 12:50 pm beginning November 26^th through January 25^th.  During this class, participants will do some strength building exercises that burn fat, tone and firm specific body areas.  Don’t worry – you won’t need to shower after this class, so you can get back to work on time.

Laurie McCurry will be instructing Yoga classes on Mondays and Wednesdays from 4:30 – 5:30 pm beginning November 26^th through January 23^rd.  Quiet the mind and body while increasing flexibility, improving balance and strength during this Yoga class.

Laurie McCurry will also be instructing Cardio Blast exercise classes on Mondays and Wednesdays from 5:30 – 6:30 pm beginning November 26^th through January 23^rd.  This class is a high energy cardio class that gets your heart rate up with a variety of intense cardio classes, such as Step, Kickboxing, interval training and floor routines.

And don’t forget about the ZUMBA class that Laurie McCurry is offering on Mondays and Wednesdays from 6:30 – 7:30 pm beginning November 26^th through January 23^rd.

Dixie Divis will be instructing Wake Up Workout on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:15 – 6:00 am beginning November 27^th through January 24^th.  Get your day started with this cardio core circuit that will be a high energy group aerobics class incorporating interval, circuit and boot camp style classes to strengthen and tone your entire body.

Dee Krier will be offering Tai Chi classes that promote strength, balance, coordination, posture, concentration, and general level of energy.  Tai Chi is known as a means for dealing with stress and a variety of other health conditions and has eased the pain of arthritis and fibromyalgia.  Tai Chi Beginners meets on Wednesdays from 3:00 – 4:00 pm beginning November 28^th through January 23^rd.  Tai Chi Intermediate meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:30 – 6:30 pm beginning November 27^th through January 24^th.  Tai Chi Advance meets on Mondays and Wednesdays from 5:30 – 6:30 pm beginning November 26^th through January 23^rd. 

Gentle Yoga meets on Monday and Thursdays from 3:00 – 4:00 pm beginning November 26^th through January 24^th or on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:30 – 7:30 pm beginning November 27^th through January 24^th.  All classes will be held at the Great Bend Activity Center located at 2715 18^th Street.  Pre-registration is required.

Enroll at the Recreation Commission office located at 1214 Stone Street or call 793-3755 ext. 110. For more information about these program and other programs the Great Bend Rec offers, please go to our web site at www.greatbendrec.com.

BOOKED: Cody Buckingham of Great Bend on RCDC warrant for failure to appear, bond is set at $420 cash only.

BOOKED: Aaron Thomas of Great Bend on GBPD case for battery DV, bond set in lieu of $1,000 C/S.

BOOKED: Iban Martinez-Enriquez of Great Bend on Ellis County District Court warrant for probation violation with no bond.

RELEASED: Christopher Harper of Russell to Ellis County.

RELEASED: Aaron Thomas of Great Bend on GBPD case for battery DV, posted bond through Ace Bail Bonding.

RELEASED: Angelo Palermo to treatment.

RELEASED: Cody Buckingham to Rice County on their report.

RELEASED: Patrick Dorty of Great Bend on Alfalfa County, OK District Court warrant for failure to appear, warrant withdrawn.

RELEASED: Janie Bryant-Strange of Great Bend on BCDC case for aggravated battery after receiving an order to release from the court.

PRATT COUNTY – The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) is investigating an officer involved shooting that occurred Tuesday evening outside a residence in Pratt, Kan.

According to a media release, just before 4 p.m., the Pratt Police Department received a call reporting a man on the street who was waving a gun. When responding officers arrived at 512 N. Main St. in Pratt, they encountered an armed man outside, north of the residence. The man was later identified as Rene Prieto, 38, of Pratt.

As officers approached Prieto, attempting to make contact with him, he fired at one of the officers. Three officers returned fire. Prieto was injured by gunfire. Officers secured Prieto and the scene, and called EMS.

Prieto was transported to a Wichita hospital in critical condition. No law enforcement officers were injured during the incident.

The KBI will complete a thorough and independent investigation into this incident. Once the investigation is completed, the findings will be turned over to the Pratt County Attorney for review.

The Center for Counseling & Consultation in Great Bend has established a new program that is using plants and gardens to help reduce stress and engagement in therapy. The Therapeutic Art of Gardening is based on a program that has been in place at Kansas State University that uses the proven benefits to the physical, mental and emotional well being that occurs from gardening as a healing or therapeutic process. The Clinical Director at the Center for Counseling & Consultation is Gail Sullivan.

Gail Sullivan Audio

Sullivan says that activities can occur in a small group setting or one-on-one with a therapist, case manager, attendant care worker, or peer support specialist. Participants can enjoy therapeutic benefits that include reduced stress and anxiety, and increased hope and happiness.

For more information about the program, contact the Center for Counseling and Consultation at 792-2544.

There’s a lot of wear and tear on the fleet of buses for USD 428 much like any other school district. Cody Schmidt serves as the Transportation Director for the Great Bend school district and said the buses racked up nearly 100,000 miles in 2017.

Like with any vehicle with an engine, there are bound to be problems eventually.

Bus 992 is a 2000 Bluebird with 179,000 miles with a recently blown engine.

Cody Schmidt Audio

The bus has been sitting at Murphy Truck Repair in Great Bend since early September as the district decided on the best option for repairs. Buying a new bus of similar build could cost between $106,000 and $136,000 according to Schmidt. The USD 428 Board of Education voted in favor of replacing the engine for $22,896 from Foley Equipment.

Other than the engine, Schmidt felt the bus is in a great shape and there was no need to replace it with a new bus.

Cody Schmidt Audio

The engine from Foley will come with a two-year warranty and is expected to be repaired by the end of the year.

USD 428 is still looking into purchasing new Coach Line buses and Superintendent Khris Thexton says the district will probably ask for bids on the Coach Line buses in December.

Barton County Commissioners proclaimed Tuesday as “Ellinwood Girls Cross Country State Championship Day,” in honor of the girls team that claimed the 2A State Cross Country title this fall for the 2nd time in the last four years.

The team was presented to the board by Ellinwood Principal Mark Cook.

Mark Cook audio

Ellinwood’s biggest supporter Red Maier was also in attendance and belted out that “Go Eagles” yell that he is well known for.

The team was coached by Andrew Cherry who also took time to address the board.

Andrew Cherry Audio

Erin Hammeke led the Eagles at state with a 4th place finish while Ashtin Klepper took 11th. Other team members who helped the Eagles bring home another state title included Sarah Hammeke, Courtney Cook, Lauren Petz and Gracie Schlessig.