ELLIS COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just before 11a.m. Saturday in Ellis County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1998 Ford Explorer driven by Gustavo Hernaldo Hernandez Silva, 39, Colorado Springs, CO., was eastbound on Interstate 70 six miles west of Hays.

The driver lost control of the SUV when it blew the rear passenger tire. The SUV entered the median and rolled into the passing lane of westbound I-70.

Hernandez Silva was transported to Hays Medical Center. He was properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

The Stafford County Marketplace featuring White’s Foodliner and Stafford Country Drug, has been open for just over three weeks now and the response has been overwhelmingly positive. Stafford County Economic Development Director Carolyn Dunn says the new store that replaced St. John’s only grocery store that abandoned the community 2 1/2 years ago, is getting rave reviews from those who shop there.

Carolyn Dunn Audio

While Dunn is a proponent of shopping at home, she has always said that local businesses have to give the customer a reason to shop local, something she thinks White’s Foodliner and Stafford County drug will continue to do.

Carolyn Dunn Audio

The October 10th grand opening marked the end of an effort by the community to bring a store back to St. John included residents passing a one cent city sales tax for economic development that was a key part of the plan to land a new store. Many local businesses and individuals also contributed in the effort.

Under the agreement, White’s Foodliner will rent the facility and operate a grocery store in the building locally owned by Stafford County Economic Development.

BOARD OF BARTON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS October 29, 2018 – 9:00 a.m. until Close

I. OPENING BUSINESS:
A. Call Meeting to Order.
B. Recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance.
C. Consider Approval of the Agenda.
D. Minutes of the October 22, 2018, Regular Meeting are not available.
E. Any citizen wishing to make statements during the discussion of any item must first be recognized by the Commission Chair. After being recognized, that person should state their name and the name of any organization represented. Statements should be limited to five minutes.
F. Cell phones and other electronic devices, other than those used by the media and law enforcement, should be shut off.

II. APPROVAL OF APPROPRIATIONS:
-An Accounts Payable Register will be submitted to the Commission for the period of October 15, 2018, and ending October 29, 2018.

III. OLD BUSINESS – Items tabled, or scheduled, from previous Commission Meetings, will be heard at this time.
-There is no Old Business at this time.

V. NEW BUSINESS – All new business to be considered by the Commission will be heard at this time.

A. RESOLUTION 2018-18: A Resolution Determining Floodplain Management in Barton County, Kansas, and Rescinding Certain Barton County Zoning Regulations and Certain Barton County Resolutions Dealing with Floodplain Management:
-In 2015, the Division of Water Resources started the Cow Creek Watershed Floodplain Mapping Study. After input from the Cow Creek Work Group, the Letter of Final Determination was signed August, 2018, giving Barton County six months to update floodplain management documents. A Public Hearing was held on October 8, 2018 to review the proposed revisions. The Barton County Planning Commission recommends that the County Commissioners adopt the proposed changes to the regulations and the map as presented. Barry McManaman, County Engineer, and Judy Goreham, Environmental Manager, will provide details.

B. 2018 TAX SALE:
-The annual Tax Sale was held on October 23, 2018. At the time of the sale, 26 parcels remained. The County sold all 26 tracts. Jim Jordan, County Treasurer, will provide an update on the auction.

C. JUVENILE SERVICES: Corrective Action – Electric Door Locks and Access Controlling Software:
-On September 4, 2018, the Commission approved replacing the mechanical keypad locks with electronic door locks for Juvenile Services. The electronic locks come with software that can be remotely programmed. The $5,004.56 cost was split between the General Fund and various Juvenile Services accounts. Marissa Woodmansee, Juvenile Services Director, will ask that the Commission rescind the original motion and take corrective action.

D. JUVENILE SERVICES: Reinvestment Grant – Family Engagement and Advocacy Program:
-Juvenile Services has applied for a Reinvestment Grant to develop a Family Engagement and Advocacy Program featuring a Job Readiness Coach. In doing so, Juvenile Services has partnered with the Healing Hearts Ranch. This program is designed to provide a strength-based and solution focused approach with parents and youth who are facing criminal charges or have been adjudicated as an offender. By recognizing the important role families can play in the supervision and rehabilitation of the identified at risk population, program goals are to change the culture of “us versus them” and start building cooperative relationships. Ms. Woodmansee will provide details.

E. SOLID WASTE: Caterpillar Certified Power Train Rebuild:
-The Landfill operates a 615C Scraper to move soil for cover material and access road maintenance. This scraper was purchased used and currently has over 10,000 hours. The machine has several costly repairs that need to be made. Rather than make these repairs, Landfill management recommends a certified rebuild be performed on the machine. Phil Hathcock, County Administrator, will provide details.

V. ENDING BUSINESS – After new items are heard by the Commission, the following items, including announcements, will be heard.

A. ANNOUNCEMENTS: -Following the close of the Agenda Meeting, the Commission will consider the authorization of personnel changes, sign any documentation approved during the agenda meeting or sign any other documentation required for regular County business. Similar action may take place throughout the day.
-The Commission has been invited to attend the Great Plains Development, Inc., Banquet and Annual Meeting at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, November 1, 2018. The event will be held at the Dodge House Restaurant, 2408 W Wyatt Earp Boulevard, Dodge City, Kansas.

B. APPOINTMENTS:  OCTOBER 29, 2018
9:30 a.m. or following the close of the agenda meeting – Training the Trainer for ACEs and Trauma Informed Systems – Shelly Schneider, Health Director; Amy Boxberger, CKCC Director; and Marissa Woodmansee, Juvenile Services
9:45 a.m. – Financial Update and Longevity – Matt Patzner, Financial Officer
10:00 a.m. – Business Update – Jim Jordan, County Treasurer
10:15 a.m. – Oil Distributor and Vacuum Pot Needs – Darren Williams, County Works Director
10:30 a.m. – KDOT Grant Application – Rosewoods Roots and Wings Foundation – Howard Partington and Will Rains
11:00 a.m. – Regular Business Discussion – Phil Hathcock, County Administrator, and Donna Zimmerman, County Clerk
THE COUNTY EDITION, KVGB-AM – Thursdays at 11:05 a.m. Sheriff Brian Bellendir is scheduled for November 1, 2018.

VI. OTHER BUSINESS:
A. Discussion Items.
B. Citizens or organizations may present requests or proposals for initial consideration.
C. The Commissioners are available to the Public on Mondays during regular business hours.
D. The Commissioners may, individually, schedule personal appointments related to County business at their discretion.
E. The next Regular Meeting will be at 9:00 a.m., Monday, November 5, 2018.

VII. ADJOURN.

A fund has been established for Father Marvin Reif by his brother and sister, Duane A. Reif and Karen Winkelman (guardians/conservators).

Marvin, now 55 years old,  walked away from Protection Valley Manor, Protection, KS on April 3, 2017 and has never been found. He suffers from depression and anxiety. The fund will be used to hire a professional private investigator to help in the search for Fr. Reif, possibly offer a reward for information leading to locating him, as well as any expenses incurred in the search.  There will be no financial gain by his family.

Contributions may be made to the Fr. Marvin Reif Fund at any First Kansas Bank location in Hoisington, Great Bend, Claflin, or Hays.

BUSINESS NEWS

The Barton Theatre Department will host a play-writing workshop from 9:30 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Nov. 3 in the Fine Arts Auditorium to kick off its Third Annual Original Play Series, in which three original plays will be chosen and produced in the spring.

Playwright Rob Munden will present the workshop and help attendees of all skill levels work on their projects in a welcoming environment.

Three original submitted plays will be chosen to be performed in April of 2019 in the Fine Arts Auditorium. Playwrights have from Nov. 3, 2018 until Feb. 1, 2019 to submit a play.

“This is another great avenue for people in our community to be creative and express themselves,” Theatre Director Dr. Rick Abel said.

Plays must be:

• 15-20 minutes in length
• contained on one set with two to five characters
• free of profanity
• original and never produced

Community members, including those at Fort Riley and Fort Leavenworth, are encouraged to submit their work.

The workshop is open to anyone, but writers do not need to attend to be eligible to submit a play for production.

Find more information at theatre.bartonccc.edu or contact Munden at robmunden@yahoo.com or (620) 804-1518.

Story by Brandon Steinert

The Barton Community College Board of Trustees gathered Tuesday evening for its regular meeting and discussed one of its eight overarching goals, known as ENDs. The one up for discussion this month was “Barton Experience.”

This END states, “Student responses will reflect positively about their Barton experience.” It is supported by statements to guide measurement of the college’s success in reaching the END, including, “Student responses will be documented through student exit surveys and other report mechanisms. Student response will assess impact of faculty and staff. Student responses will reflect the diversity of the student body. Individuals/students will experience various cultural activities.”

Several members of Barton’s Student Government attended the meeting, including freshman in general studies Cooper Swanson, sophomore in business and accounting Delaney Smith, sophomore in business Kaitlin Adams and freshman in general studies Micah Nuss.

Adams said she is a big fan of Barton and has been impressed by its quality.

“I grew up in Great Bend and I came here with a different mindset,” she said. “It’s not at all what I expected; it’s far better.”

As part of the Barton Experience, students have been included to a greater extent at the board meetings, but it doesn’t end there. Student government representation is welcomed at the administrations’ strategic planning sessions, advisory board meetings and more.

Student Life Director Diane Engle is responsible for orchestrating student governments structure and elections. She said the group in the audience represented the best of the best.

Engle also delivered a brief report on the types of activities offered to students. Barton is in a rural setting a few miles away from Great Bend, so her job was noted by board members as uniquely important to provide entertainment options and activities to students living in the residence halls.

Vice President of Elaine Simmons also presented information about Barton’s efforts toward inclusion and diversity.

“Barton embraces diversity and inclusion in our student body, workforce, curriculum and community,” she said, citing part of the purpose of Barton’s new Inclusion and Diversity Team. “We recognize that diversity and inclusion support learning, promote excellence, and prepare a global citizenry.”

Director of Admissions Tana Cooper shared a publication called the Barton Difference with the board, which is a collection Barton employees who were nominated by students for making a difference in their lives.

Other highlights from the ENDs report include:

• Post Graduation Survey responses are mostly above 90 percent positive for most services.
• Barton Community College Survey of Student Engagement (CCSSE) shows Barton students are satisfied with the services they receive.
  • 98 percent of part time and 97 percent of full time respondents say they feel welcome and respected at Barton.
  • 90 percent of part time and 95 percent of full time respondents say Barton is preparing them for what they plan to do in life.
  • 98 percent of both part time and full time respondents say they have good relationships with others at Barton.
• Among the reported efforts to improve diversity and inclusion were:
  • Conversation Café
  • Chinese New Year Celebration
  • Field Trip to Cinco de Mayo celebration
  • Hispanic Culture Day
  • Cultural Engagement and Storytelling

BOOKED: Brandon McDonald on BTD case for DUI, bond is set in the amount of $1,000 C/S.

BOOKED: Matthew Apodaca of Great Bend on Great Bend Municipal Court case for driving while suspended and defective headlight with a bond set at $500 C/S.

BOOKED: John Lynch on Great Bend Municipal Court warrant for failure to appear with a bond set at $1,000 C/S. Barton County District Court warrant for failure to appear with no bond.

BOOKED: Charles Bowers of Great Bend on Sedgwick County District Court warrant for failure to appear with a bond set at $50,000 C/S.

BOOKED: Chelsea Guyton of Great Bend on BTDC case for failure to appear, no bond. Russell County District Court warrant for probation violation, bond set at $2,000 C/S.

BOOKED: Richie Samora of Hoisington on BTDC case for possession of marijuana and speeding, bond set at $2,500 C/S.

BOOKED: Michael Grossman of St. John on Stafford County District Court case for DUI and no DL, bond set at $1,000 C/S.

RELEASED: Brandon McDonald on BTDC case for DUI after posting a $1,000 surety bond.

RELEASED: Kyle Dewayne Linn on Harvey County District Court warrant for probation violation after being transferred to Harvey County Detention Facility.

RELEASED: Matthew Apodaca of Great Bend on GBMC case for driving while suspended and defective headlight after posting a $500 surety bond through Ace Bail Bonding.

RELEASED: Ashley Williams of Great Bend on BCDC warrant for failure to appear. BCDC case for possession of opiates per order of the court.

RELEASED: Peter Zamarippa per order of the court to Corrections.

RELEASED: Daniel Bartonek of Great Bend on BTDC warrant for theft by deception x7, theft, criminal use of a financial card. Released by order of the court through BCDC OR bond amount of $5,000.

RELEASED: Richie Samora of Hoisington posted a $2,500 surety bond through Ace Bail Bonding on BTDC case for possession of marijuana and speeding.

Great Bend Police Department and Great Bend Middle School Resource Office Ethan Thomas having some fun with the students at a Panther football game. (Video courtesy of Nikki Austerman Omenski on Facebook)

https://www.facebook.com/nikki.austermanomenski/videos/10215897529063121/