Kansas law enforcement officials say that a growing methamphetamine addiction is driving up the state’s crime rates and filling jails with individuals who would be better served in treatment centers.

An Associated Press story last week reported that state and local officials met with community members at the Wichita Crime Commission’s Sedgwick County Drug Summit. Sedgwick County Sheriff Jeff Easter says seven out of 10 inmates at the county jail are struggling with drug addiction and says law enforcement can’t use arrests to solve the problem.

Barton County Sheriff Brian Bellendir says once the state put local meth labs out of business, the production of the drug went to high grade labs in Mexico.

Brian Bellendir Audio

Bellindir says while the debate on securing borders is right now focused on immigration issues, he says a secure border is needed to keep the drugs out.

Brian Bellendir Audio

At that drug summit in Wichita last week, much of the talk concerned treatment for those addicted to drugs. Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennett said meth addiction led many inmates to commit the crime that they were arrested for in the first place.

After that panel, Sedgwick County Sheriff Jeff Easter said an oversight board and a strategic plan could help slow the growth of meth addiction. He added that the sheriff’s office is hiring a drug addiction specialist, which will help the county focus on drug treatment and mental health.

On Wednesday, October 31 at about 1:30 p.m. Barton County Sheriff’s Office deputies executed a search warrant just south of the City of Great Bend.

Sheriff’s Office detectives had obtained a search warrant during an investigation of a felon in possession of a firearm. Deputies contacted the resident at 180 C South US 281 highway. Upon entering the residence deputies also discovered suspected drugs and paraphernalia. Another search warrant was obtained for the drugs.

Arrested at the scene was Fred Kopke II, age 53 of Great Bend. Kopke was booked on charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia and felon in possession of a firearm. Kopke is being held in the Barton County Jail in lieu of a $10,000 bond.

Drug and weapon investigations are ongoing. Two Firearms were also seized.

BOOKED: Steven Robertson of Great Ben on SFDC warrant for failure to appear, bond set at $3,000 cash only.

BOOKED: Sabrina R. Carr on Barton County District Court warrant for failure to appear, no bond.

BOOKED: Tommy Perez of Dodge City on BTDC warrant for probation violation, bond set at $795.29 cash only.

BOOKED: Fredrick Kopke of Great Bend on a BTDC case for possession of methamphetamine, possession of paraphernalia, felon in possession of a firearm, bond set at $10,000 C/S.

BOOKED: Nelson Martinez of Great Bend on KHP case for driving while suspended, bond set at $2,500 C/S.

RELEASED: Steven Robertson of Great Bend on SFDC warrant for failure to appear, released by order of the court on an OR bond amount of $3,000 cash only.

RELEASED: Cody Bradley on Barton County District Court case for aggravated domestic battery, endangering a child, and criminal restraint after posting a $20,000 surety bond through Ace Bail Bonding.

RELEASED: Cristina Dominguez on BCDC warrant, posted a $1,000 surety bond through Ace Bail Bonding.

RELEASED: Cristina Dominguez of Great Bend on a Wabaunsee County District Court warrant for failure to appear. Released to Wabaunsee County on their charges.

RELEASED: Nelson Martinez on case for driving while suspended after posting a $2,500 surety bond through Dyn-O-Mite Bail Bonding.

PRATT COUNTY — One person was injured in an accident just before 7:30p.m. Wednesday in Pratt County

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2011 Kia Sorento driven by Joyce Gridley, 69, Cunningham, was eastbound on U.S. 54 one mile east of 60^th Avenue.  A deer came out of the south ditch and struck the right front quarter panel of the vehicle.

Gridley was transported to the hospital in Pratt. She was wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

What worked for one, should work for another. USD 428 is hoping this philosophy will work when it comes to student-led conferences with students, parents, and teachers.

Great Bend High School has been using student-led conferences in the fall and spring and has seen improvements in parent turnout. The Great Bend Middle School is now hoping for similar results.

Middle School teacher Tami Schepmann says it makes a difference when a student has to explain their grades to their parents.

Tami Schepmann Audio

Great Bend Middle School held their parent-teacher conferences last week and had a 67 percent attendance rate from parents. The student-led conference at the Middle School will begin next February.

Schepmann says the idea behind the student-led conferences is get the parents or guardians engaged with the child’s education. If a student is still unable to get a parent to come in, another adult will be assigned to sit in with the teacher and child during the conference.

As we continue the transition from fall to winter, the different fire dangers in residential homes changes as well. The onset of winter brings on a whole new different list of things that home dwellers need to think about. Great Bend Fire Chief Luke McCormick says that begins with your home heating system which can include a fireplace.

Luke McCormick Audio

Other winter safety tips include covering the fireplace with a screen, beware of lit candles and space heaters, and observe fire safety during the Christmas season when it comes to live trees and holiday lights. McCormick adds that with daylight savings time coming to an end this weekend, those smoke detectors need some attention as well.

Luke McCormick Audio

According to the U.S. Fire Administration, 890 people die in winter home fires each year with a property loss of $2 billion. While winter home fires account for only 8 percent of the total number of fires in the U.S, they result in 30 percent of all fire deaths.

Cheerleading was a brand new activity for Great Bend Middle School this year. So, how’s it going? From the sounds of it Wednesday afternoon, it’s going well.

Cheerleaders Audio

Members of the GBMS cheer squad performed for the USD 428 Board of Education at their monthly luncheon.

There were 49 students signed up cheerleading at the Middle School for football and there are 60 involved for basketball and wrestling.

Amber Lucchesi and Lori Tennis are serving as instructors for the program. Tennis says the cheerleaders have stepped up as leaders throughout the school.

Lori Tennis Audio

The students are divided into groups, with typically eight students in their uniforms cheerleading per basketball game. The remaining cheerleaders still attend the games in their warmups and help cheer. The cheerleaders practice Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday for two hours after school with half the time on Friday used as a study hall.

The school board approved the addition of cheerleading at the Middle School this past June in hopes of providing more after-school activities for girls, although boys are allowed to join. Ordering 30 uniforms that get shared cost $7,313 and head coach Lucchesi receives $2,118 a year and assistant coach Tennis receives $1,482 a year.

Prairie Godmothers started in 2013 to provide grants to improve the health or wellbeing of Barton County women. The grants assist women with basic needs that are not met by other community resources. Between the fall and winter of 2013, six women created the organization and were able to raise $100,000 to get the fund started.

Melanie Calcara was one of the originators of Prairie Godmothers and still serves on the advisory board for the group. Calcara says over the past five years, the organization has helped more than 140 women with different needs.

Melanie Calcara Audio

Through the help with an endowment at Golden Belt Community Foundation, Prairie Godmothers now has an endowment consisting of more than $200,000 and hope to reach $250,000 by the end of the year.

Calcara says there is an application process and review before grant money is given out.

Melanie Calcara Audio

Celebrating five years, Prairie Godmothers is hosting a gathering Saturday, Nov. 3 at 1 p.m. at Calcara’s Red Barn, located at 702 Northwest 10 Road. A program and door prizes will be included in the event with the hope of garnering new members.

The A Cappella Choir from Great Bend High School will host a garage sale on Saturday, Nov. 3. This is a fundraiser for the Spring 2019 choir trip to Washington, DC and will benefit participating students.

Items will range from formal wear to household items, baked goods, collectibles, and more.

Garage Sale
7-11 a.m.
Saturday, Nov. 3
Panther Activity Center