Barton County and Stafford County seniors are reminded that November 1 is the final date to use 2018 Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program checks for fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs, and honey.
There were 196 seniors participating in the 2018 program which brought a potential of almost $6000 into local small businesses. Each senior received $30 in checks to be used at a farmers’ market for locally grown fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs, and honey.
The 2018 program opened in Kansas on June 1 and will close on November 1. If any senior has remaining checks they should contact Janel Rose at Barton County Health Department, 620-793-1902, for a list of licensed program farmers who have produce and honey available.
Thursday, October 25, Barton County Attorney Amy Mellor announced that two individuals were charged with attempted murder in the second degree in Barton County District Court.
Troy Tutak
Troy Thomas Tutak was charged with one count of attempted murder in the second degree. Tutak appeared in front of District Magistrate Judge Richard Burgess and was advised of his charge. His bond is currently set at $100,000. Tutak was appointed an attorney and is scheduled for preliminary hearing on November 8, 2018.
Tutak was arrested following a shooting in the 5900 block of Hemlock Dr. in Great Bend on October 20. Upon arrival, officers located a 33-year old female with a gunshot wound.
Kenneth Birt
Kenneth Allen Birt Jr. was charged with one count of attempted murder in the second degree and one count of interference with law enforcement – tampering with evidence. He appeared in Court with his attorney, Brock McPherson. Birt is currently being held on $100,000 surety bond or $10,000 cash bond. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for November 29, 2018 at 2 p.m.
Birt was booked following a shooting on October 19 at about 10:08 p.m.
Barton County Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched to 451 Northwest 40 Avenue to a reported shooting.
Upon arrival, Sheriff’s officers identified Dustin Turner who had sustained multiple gunshot wounds to the left leg. Turner was transported to KU Medical Center in Great Bend by Great Bend Fire Department ambulance. Turner was admitted to KU Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries.
Kim Guesnier, Great Bend, and Laura Luft, La Crosse, recently joined the Golden Belt Community Foundation (GBCF) Board of Directors as a way to be directly involved in serving the central Kansas community.
Christy Tustin, GBCF executive director, said both women will be assets to the board and the four counties it serves – Barton, Pawnee, Rush and Stafford.
“We welcome Kim and Laura who will bring educational, financial and personal experiences to our board while representing all four counties,” Tustin said. “Donors and non-profit agencies will benefit from their contributions.
“Board members help shape local philanthropy today and far into the future,” Tustin added. “While each county is unique, they share similarities with their neighbors. Board members will build on each county’s strengths.”
A board committee nominates members who serve a three-year term, with the option of renewing once for a second term.
Kim Guesnier
Kim Guesnier
Guesnier learned about the GBCF and its contributions to the community from her parents, Merlin and Nelva Grimes.
“This Foundation was near and dear to them,” Guesnier said. “When I was asked to serve on the board, my mother encouraged me to do so. I didn’t hesitate.”
Guesnier’s mother lives in Great Bend; her father passed away last November. They spent their 62 years of marriage in Great Bend.
“In addition to my mother’s encouragement, I want to serve on the Foundation board because I am aware of all the good it does in the community,” Guesnier commented. “I love central Kansas. It is a good place to live and raise a family.”
She and her husband, Bernie, have four grown children and five grandchildren. Guesnier earned an associate’s degree from Barton Community College, and bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Fort Hays State University. She was a special education teacher for 35 years – four years at Hays and the rest at Barton County Special Services.
“I still miss my students but enjoy seeing many of them living and working in the community,” Guesnier said. “I want to demonstrate to others that living and working in central Kansas is fulfilling.
“I hope my background in education will benefit the Foundation board. I want to help my hometown and surrounding communities grow and prosper.
Laura Luft
Laura Luft
Since one of the bigger challenges facing central Kansas is securing the funding to meet local needs, Luft wants to help meet this challenge.
“The Foundation has created a vehicle to help put great ideas into motion,” Luft explained. “At the same time, it is building a solid financial base for many years to come. As a board member, I want to do my part to increase awareness and participation in the Foundation throughout central Kansas.”
Luft and her husband, Richard, are “small-town Kansas kids and incredibly thankful for this background.” Richard was raised in Rush County, along with his parents and grandparents. He graduated from Otis-Bison High School and operates the family farm at Bison.
“Even though we lived and worked in the Dallas area for nearly 24 years, our hearts were always home in Kansas,” the new board member said. “When we decided to move back here in 2011, we did so with a strong personal commitment to be more than just residents.
“We want to be active in helping our community thrive for the next generations. The Foundation is an exciting opportunity to do that.”
Luft graduated from Southeast of Saline High School at Gypsum and Bethany College in Lindsborg. Her professional career started in the Dallas area where she was a personal financial planner with Waddell & Reed. She held several corporate business finance positions during the past 28 years. Currently, Luft is a finance director with DXC Technology, which is based in Washington, D.C.
“The key skills in my professional life center on financial planning, leadership and driving projects to completion,” she noted. “These all carry over in helping the Foundation be successful. In addition, a board member’s most important trait is a passion for our communities. I see this in every member of this great board.”
At $22.5 million in total assets and more than 180 funds under management, the Golden Belt Community Foundation has been connecting people who care to causes that matter since 1996. Golden Belt Community Foundation exists to provide non-profit organizations in central Kansas with a permanent source of support and to serve as a vehicle for charitable giving for donors. GBCF serves the counties of Barton, Pawnee,
Rush, and Stafford. For more information about Golden Belt Community Foundation, call (620) 792-3000 or visit their website at www.goldenbeltcf.org.
A special program to bring awareness to the problem of human trafficking will be coming to Great Bend and Hoisington next week. The “Be Alert Project, See Something, Say Something,” is a presentation for both students and parents that features Russ Tuttle, President and Founder of the Stop Trafficking Project. Marissa Woodmansee, Director of Juvenile Services for the 20th Judicial District, says trafficking is a huge problem in the state of Kansas. But she says to understand trafficking is to know what it is.
Marissa Woodmansee Audio
Russ Tuttle’s presentation is designed to educate and empower students while bringing an awareness to action to adults.
Marissa Woodmansee Audio
The Be Alert Project will be presented Sunday night November 4th from 7pm-9pm at Heartland Community Church on West 10th Street in Great Bend and Monday night November 5th from 7pm-9pm at Hoisington High School.
The program has been made possible by several area sponsors including the Central Kansas Partnership, the Golden Belt Community Foundation, Heartland Community Church, the Holiday Inn Express and by the Barton County Health Department.
PRATT COUNTY — One person was injured in an accident just after 10:30a.m. Thursday in Pratt County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2003 Dodge Caravan driven by Phyllis Evelyn Black, 81, Bemidji, MN., was westbound on U.S.54 just west of southwest 19th Street.
The driver tried to make a left turn into a driveway. The van left the roadway to the south and came to rest facing southwest
Black was transported to the hospital in Pratt. She was properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.
The certified public accounting firm of Adams, Brown, Beran & Ball, Chartered (ABBB) is pleased to announce the addition of Jessica Camp, PHR, SHRM-CP to their professional team.
As the firm’s Director of Human Resources, Camp is responsible for coordinating and supervising all HR functions, including performance management, employee benefits, recruiting, compensation administration, and labor relations. She brings with her nearly 13 years of human resources management experience.
“We extend a warm welcome to Jess as she joins the ABBB team,” said Brian Staats, CPA, CGMA, managing partner of ABBB. “Her experience and specialized skillset uniquely qualify her for this role, and we look forward to the great things she will accomplish!”
Camp graduated from Kansas State University in 2005, earning a Bachelor of Business Administration with an emphasis in Human Resources. She is currently affiliated with the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) and the Employment Practices Network of Kansas City (EPN-KC). Raised in Claflin, Camp and her husband, Tracy, currently reside in Overland Park with their daughter, Emma. In addition, Camp’s step-daughter, Kirsten, is a junior at Kansas State University.
Saturday, October 27 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Barton County and area residents will have the opportunity to receive flu vaccines and take back any unused or expired prescription medicines at the Barton County Health Department.
Health department staff will be available to administer vaccines with all vaccine preparations recommended for various age groups. From high-dose for seniors, to quadrivalent vaccines for children and adults, and Flumist, there are choices and preparations for everyone.
Area residents may also participate in the National Drug Take-Back Day on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at a drive-through disposal station at the health department. This valuable service is a safe way to dispose of prescription medications that may be stored in homes. Unused or expired prescription medications at home are a public safety issue and can lead to accidental poisoning, overdose, and abuse. Unused prescriptions thrown in the trash can be retrieved and abused or illegally sold. The misuse and abuse of over-the-counter medications, illicit drugs, alcohol, and tobacco affect the health and well-being of millions of Americans.
Removing unwanted or expired medications from the medicine cabinet is an easy and concrete step that everyone can take to make a difference in the opioid crisis. Make plans to dispose of unused and unwanted medications during DEA National Rx Take Back Day.
For more information on influenza vaccines available, or National Drug Take-Back Day, contact Barton County Health Department at 620-793-1902.
BOOKED: Kyle Dewayne Linn on Harvey County District Court warrant for probation violation with no bond.
BOOKED: Eric Reed of Great Bend on Barton County case for driving while suspended, 2nd offense. Bond is set at $2,500 C/S.
BOOKED: Arthur Herren of Great Bend on a GBMC case for pedestrian under the influence, bond set at $250 C/S or 48-hour OR bond.
BOOKED: John Lynch on Barton County District warrant for probation violation, no bond. BCDC warrant for probation violation, no bond. Pawnee County District Court case for probation violation, no bond. Edwards County District Court case for probation violation, no bond. Barber County Court warrant for failure to appear, bond set at $500 cash only.
RELEASED: Joseph Butts on BCDC case after receiving a $500 OR bond.
RELEASED: Jeannie Hollar-Camp of Junction City case.
RELEASED: Garrett Mallow of Great Bend on BCDC case for serve sentence.
RELEASED: Eric Reed of Great Bend on Barton County case for driving while suspended, 2nd offense. Posted bond of $2,500 C/S through Dyn-O-Mite Bail Bonding.
Great Bend Police Department Incident Log (10/25)
A special program to bring awareness to the problem of human trafficking will be coming to Great Bend and Hoisington next week. The “Be Alert Project, See Something, Say Something,” is a presentation for both students and parents that features Russ Tuttle, President and Founder of the Stop Trafficking Project. Marissa Woodmansee, Director of Juvenile Services for the 20th Judicial District, says trafficking is a huge problem in the state of Kansas. But she says to understand trafficking is to know what it is.
