11/2

BOOKED: Kaitlyn Adams-Bailes of Saint Marys on GBMC case for DUI, ITOL, refuse PBT, speeding, failure to maintain lane, no DL in possession, bond set at $1,000 C/S or 48-hour OR bond.

BOOKED: Brandon Gross of Great Bend on BTDC case for aggravated robbery, bond set at $100,000 C/S.

BOOKED: Joshua Kelly of Wichita on BTDC warrant for probation violation, bond set at $750 cash only.

BOOKED: Sydney Willmes of Great Bend on Hoisington Municipal Court warrant for failure to appear, bond set at $1,000 C/S. Hoisington Municipal Court warrant for failure to appear, bond set at $150 cash only.

BOOKED: Craig Gowdy of Great Bend on GBMC case for serve sentence.

BOOKED: Kyle Kruckenberg of Great Bend on BTDC case for serve sentence.

BOOKED: Rodney Drake of Great Bend on BTDC case for serve sentence.

BOOKED: Ouray Gray of Great Bend on BTDC case for serve sentence.

BOOKED: Richard Musil of Great Bend on BTDC case for serve sentence.

BOOKED: Amanda Howard of Great Bend on a GBMC warrant for contempt of court, bond set at $775 cash only. GBMC warrant for contempt of court with $457.50 cash only. GBMC warrant for contempt of court, bond set at $522.50 cash only.

BOOKED: Aaron Pohlman of Ellinwood on BTDC case for serve sentence.

BOOKED: Kurt Woods of Great Bend on GBMC case for domestic battery, bond set at $1,000 C/S or 48-hour OR.

RELEASED: Joel Davis of Lyons on RCDC warrant for probation violation to Rice County Sheriff’s Office.

RELEASED: Milissa Loveall of Great Bend for partial serve sentence on GBMC case.

RELEASED: David Sewell case after posting bond of $1,000.

RELEASED: Kaitlyn Adams-Bailes after posting $1,000 bond.

RELEASED: Frederick R. Kopke II on BCDC case with a $10,000 surety bond through Ace Bail Bonding.

RELEASED: Sabrina Renee Carr on BCDC warrant with a $1,000 OR bond.

RELEASED: Brenda Graves of Great Bend on BTDC warrant for failure to appear, released by order of the court.

11/3

BOOKED: Laura Standlee of Ellinwood on Great Bend Municipal Court case for serve sentence.

BOOKED: David Boese for possession of stimulant, possession of controlled substance, possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

BOOKED: Cynthia King of Hoisington on Barton County District Court case for possession with intent to distribute, possession of controlled substance, possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia with a bond set at $50,000 C/S.

BOOKED: Joseph Butts from Great Bend on Great Bend Municipal Court case for driving while suspended, bond set at $500 C/S.

RELEASED: Kurt Woods of Great Bend posted a $1,000 surety bond through Around The Clock Bail Bonds on GBMC case for domestic battery.

RELEASED: David Boese for possession of stimulant, possession of controlled substance, possession of marijuana, and possession of paraphernalia, posted a $2,500 surety bond.

RELEASED: Joseph Butts from Great Bend on GBMC case for driving while suspended after posting a $500 surety bond through Ace Bail Bonding.

11/4

BOOKED: Ricky Myers of Great Bend on BTDC warrant for probation violation, no bond.

BOOKED: Christina Collins of Great Bend for GBMC case for DUI, no driver’s license, no headlights, bond set at $1,000 C/S.

BOOKED: Juvenile on BTDC warrant for failure to appear, no bond.

BOOKED: Cody Buckingham of Great Bend on GBMC warrant for failure to appear, bond set at $500 C/S.

BOOKED: Tammy Byerly of Hoisington for Barton County District Court case for driving under the influence, bond set at $1,000 C/S.

BOOKED: Jason Steinert of Great Bend on Great Bend Municipal Court case for DUI with a bond set at $1,000 C/S.

BOOKED: Curtis Rosas of Great Bend on Great Bend Municipal Court warrant for failure to appear, bond set at $2,000 C/S. GBMC warrant for contempt of court, bond set at $472.50 cash. GBMC warrant for contempt of court, bond set at $546.50 cash only. GBMC warrant for contempt of court, bond set at $397.50 cash only. GBMC warrant for contempt of court, bond set at $662.50 cash only. GBMC warrant for contempt of court, bond set at $757.50 cash only. GBMC warrant for contempt of court, bond set at $295 cash only.

BOOKED: Jean Landrau-Acosta of Great Bend on a case for driving while suspended, no proof of insurance, defective left mirror, bond set at $2,500 C/S.

RELEASED: Christina Collins of Great Bend posted a $1,000 cash bond on GBMC case for DUI, no driver’s license, no headlights.

RELEASED: Juvenile on BTDC warrant for failure to appear after being transported to Bob Johnsons.

RELEASED: Tammy Byerly of Hoisington for BCDC case for driving under the influence after posting a $1,000 surety bond through Ace Bail Bonding.

RELEASED: Jason Steinert of Great Bend on GBMC case for DUI after posting a $1,000 surety bond through Ace Bail Bonding.

RELEASED: Richard Musil of Great Bend on BTDC case for serve sentence after serving.

RELEASED: Kyle Kruckenberg of Great Bend on BCDC cases after he served a partial sentence.

RELEASED: Craig Gowdy of Great Bend on GBMC case after he served a partial sentence.

RELEASED: Rodney Drake of Great Bend on BTDC case for serve sentence.

RELEASED: Ouray Gray of Great Bend on BTDC case for serve sentence after serving partial sentence.

RELEASED: Cody Buckingham of Great Bend on GBMC warrant for failure to appear after he posted a $500 surety bond.

RELEASED: Aaron Pohlman of Great Bend on BCDC serve sentence after serving partial sentence.

This may sound a bit like a broken record, but the entire scope of the agricultural industry needs help.  There is a chronic shortage of qualified workers across a range of positions in crop and livestock production, management, and agribusinesses in general.  And the shortage is projected to grow.  Compounding this shortage are several issues:

• A low unemployment rate across the nation and an even lower rate in many rural Kansas counties. However, many are underemployed, hold several part-time jobs to make end meet, or are unhappy in their employment if the data gathered is accurate.
• Sadly, many of the jobs in agriculture require drug testing for a variety of reasons including needing to hold a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) and company policy. Sadly is the correct term as many potential employees cannot pass a drug test.  And along with this, some agricultural positions require a background check which many cannot pass.
• Most potential employees don’t have an agriculture background and haven’t even considered a career in this area. And employers have trouble finding ways to reach out to these people.
• Too many think they need a four-year degree while the reality is a certificate or two-year degree provides access to long-term careers with excellent pay and benefits. Compensation often higher than those with four-year degrees.
• A primary reason is a lack of necessary skills or being able to obtain certifications such as a CDL or Commercial Applicators License. There are other helpful certifications in crops and cattle production.  Companies prefer these when employees hire on but are willing to give them time.  However, it is hard to provide this time during work.

So what can be done?  This is where community colleges such as Barton enter the picture.  Barton offers certificates and two-year degrees in Beef Cattle Production, Crop protection, and Agricultural Business Management. Further institutions like Barton tailor schedules for those who need just class.  As an example, Crop Protection, a class to help someone obtain their Commercial Applicators License meets once a week on Thursday mornings.  Horse Science meets once a week on Fridays.  The Scale Technician Program is only one semester and twenty-five credits hours are obtained in that semester and good paying jobs are begging for applicants.  And assistance may be available from potential employers and from state agencies assisting the under and un- employed.

ELLSWORTH COUNTY — One person was injured in an accident just before 12:30p.m. Sunday in Ellsworth County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2017 Toyota passenger vehicle driven by Niccole Hatcher, 31, Littleton, CO., was westbound on Interstate 70 just east of the Sylvan Grover exit in the passing lane.

The driver became distracted by something in the vehicle. It drifted into the median, hit a culvert became airborne and rolled.

Hatcher was transported to the hospital in Salina. Three juvenile children were also in the vehicle. They were not injured. All occupants were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

Do you have an idea to make Great Bend better? Do you have a suggestion that you would like to see happen or change in Great Bend? If so, bring all your ideas and comments to the “Community Vision Workshop” on Thursday, November 8 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Great Bend Events Center.

A visioning project in Great Bend is trying to improve the community and create a master plan to bring the city into the future. The Great Bend Chamber of Commerce and Barton County Young Professionals have worked together to form the initiative with the help of Shockey Consulting Services.

Megan Barfield with the Chamber says the workshop is intended to get as many suggestions and solutions as possible.

Megan Barfield Audio

The goal is to get more than 200 people to show up at the workshop this Thursday. Sheila Shockey from Shockey Consulting Services was hired to help navigate a steering committee and develop the master plan. The final plan is anticipated to be completed by next February or March. The committee has researched the area, received suggestions, and are now looking for more community feedback.

Barfield says one area that has been brought up is the “brain drain.” Young people move out of Great Bend for education and do not return.

Megan Barfield Audio

To entice people to show up to the Thursday meeting, a $500 Great Bend Chamber gift certificate will be awarded to one person just for attending. You can also be drawn for another $500 gift certificate by completing a survey at gbbetter.com.

The Dominican Sisters of Peace in Great Bend host their Annual Mission Benefit Bazaar on Saturday, November 10, from 7:00 am to 2:00 pm at 3600 Broadway in Great Bend, Kansas. The morning begins with the booths open, offering hundreds of handcrafted and homemade items. Early morning there is a beverage and cinnamon roll available, and soup and pie for lunch. The first of three drawings at 1:30 pm features the diamond and sapphire earrings and pendant. The second drawing has 20 prizes including gift cards, beef quarters, handstitched quilt, etc. The third drawing is for theme baskets.  There will also a silent auction. There is something in the bazaar you just cannot live without! And you might even win more than one prize in the drawing! Come and spend the day with us and many of your friends. For more information call 620-792-1232.

Barton Community College Voice Students participated in the Tabor Voice Festival at Tabor College in Hillsboro on Saturday. All participants performed for a panel of three judges that gave critiques on their performances.  Students could elect to perform in either Classical or Musical Theatre categories, or both.

Local students Katelyn Robinson of Ellinwood, Karson Higgins of Great Bend, and Andrew Maier of Claflin, performed in a Vocal Masterclass with clinician Dr. David Tayloe, Assistant Professor of Voice and Song Literature at The University of Alabama. Tayloe served as the Guest Artist for the event.

The day concluded with a Finals Concert comprised of finalists from each of the six categories.  Audience members, including voice students, cast a vote each for “Audience Favorite” Award at the end.