On Friday, 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.

Sheriff’s deputies were able to quickly develop a suspect after interviewing several individuals. The suspect was identified as Kenneth Birt Jr. Birt was located in the 1000 block of Jackson Street in the City of Great Bend and placed under arrest.

Birt was booked on charges of attempted murder and is being held in the Barton County jail in lieu of a $1 million bond.

Allison Muth, a Great Bend sophomore majoring in organizational leadership at Fort Hays State University, has been named one of six students to take part in the 2018-2019 Voss Advanced Leadership Undergraduate Experience at Fort Hays State University. The university’s Department of Leadership Studies selects participants from among applicants and from nominations by faculty and staff.

To complete the program, students will plan and implement a project in either civic and non-profit leadership, corporate leadership or leadership research. Mentors will coach students throughout the academic year. Scholars are awarded a $350 stipend each semester.

Muth will be mentored by Laura Dougherty, director of operations at the FHSU Foundation.

She is the daughter of Norbert and Stephanie Muth, Great Bend. In addition to seeking her Bachelor of Science in organizational leadership, she has a minor in music and is seeking a Leadership Studies Certificate, a Global Leadership Certificate, and a Human Resource Management Certificate.  She plans to obtain her master’s degree in library science with a goal of serving as the director of a public library establishment. She has eight years of experience working for both public and academic libraries.

VALUE is a year-long, co-curricular experience designed to challenge and develop leadership skills in upperclassmen. The program has two objectives: 1) to teach students how to put ideas into action and implement, execute and transform a vision into reality; and 2) to promote teamwork and collaborative skills in order to be successful.  Applicants must be juniors or seniors in good academic standing during their time in the program who have completed the leadership studies certificate and are willing to commit themselves to a deep degree of scholarship and service.

About VALUE
The Voss Advanced Leadership Undergraduate Experience is designed to develop the most promising undergraduates into powerful agents for good, following their educational experience at Fort Hays State University. The VALUE program is a year-long curricular and co-curricular experience for upper-division students. Students will be challenged to embrace and dedicate themselves to deeper individual development. Students choose to complete a project in the areas of leadership scholarship/research, non-profit/civic leadership, or corporate leadership  To learn more about the VALUE program and this year’s scholars, visit https://www.fhsu.edu/leadership/value/. For more information, contact Kaley Klaus, director, at krklaus@fhsu.edu or 785-628-4384.

On Saturday, October 20 at approximately 4:56 a.m., officers from the Great Bend Police Department were dispatched to the 5900 block of Hemlock Dr. in reference to a shooting.

Upon officers arrival, they located a 33-year old female with a gunshot wound. Also located at the scene was Troy Tutak, age 36.

After questioning about the incident, Tutak was arrested and transported to the Barton County Jail, and booked in lieu of bond. The victim was transported to KU Med Great Bend Campus, and
later flown to Wichita with critical injuries at the time of this release.

Tutak was arrested for aggravated battery with a bond set at $75,000. Tutak was also arrested and detained for a probation violation with no bond.

This case is still under investigation. If you have any information regarding this crime or any other crime please contact the Great Bend Police Dept at 620-793-4120 or Crime Stoppers at 620-792-1300.

State officials are concerned about the property tax revenue implications of the “dark store theory.” Under the theory, representatives of big-box stores advocate their properties should be valued as vacant, arguing those buildings wouldn’t be worth the appraised value if they went out of business. Barton County appraiser Barb Esfeld spoke about the theory Monday during the Barton County Commissioner meeting and said that it is something that is very active and is going to be a very big issue.

Barb Esfeld Audio

In April, Pottawatomie County won its appraisal case against Menards in an appeal before the Kansas Board of Tax Appeals. Pottawatomie County appraised Menards at $11.68 million while Menards argued the appraisal should be nearly cut in half to $6.5 million. Esfeld said the county spent a lot of money to argue the case, but it saved a lot of tax dollars.

Barb Esfeld Audio

Stores have won cases in Michigan, Indiana, Texas and Florida as the theory has spread in recent years. In addition to losing future property tax revenue, stores are also getting refunds on their previous payments.

The issue was a big topic at last week’s Kansas Association of Counties meeting in Overland Park.

10/19

BOOKED: Audra Cross of Great Bend for Great Bend Municipal Court case for domestic battery, $1,000 C/S.

BOOKED: Brian Fellers of Great Bend on Barton County District Court warrants for aid and abet forgery, aid and abet theft, with a bond set at $10,000 C/S on each one.

BOOKED: Joshua Anderson on Barton County District Court warrant for theft with a bond set at $5,000 C/S.

BOOKED: Cristina Dominguez of Great Bend on Barton County District Court warrant for failure to appear, no bond. Great Bend Municipal Court warrant for contempt of court, bond set at $1,057.50 cash only. Rice County District Court warrant for failure to appear, bond set at $678 cash only. Wabaunsee County District Court warrant for failure to appear, no bond.

BOOKED: Jesse Julian on GBMC warrant for failure to appear, bond set at $2,000 C/S. GBMC case for contempt, bond set at $912.50 cash only. GBMC case for contempt, bond set at $733.50 cash only. BTDC warrant for possession of state property, bond set at $5,000 C/S. BTDC case for FTA, no bond. BTDC case for forgery, bond set at $10,000 C/S. Stafford County warrant with no bond.

RELEASED: Audra Cross of Great Bend for Great Bend Municipal Court case for domestic battery after posting a $1,000 surety bond.

RELEASED: Ashley Feil of Great Bend to drug and alcohol treatment.

RELEASED: Tristan Shaver of Larned on case for confinement of 42 days in jail after serving.

RELEASED: Cody Coil of Hill City on Great Bend Municipal Court serve sentence after he served his sentence in full.

10/20

BOOKED: Dylan Rogers-Gowdy on EPD case for disorderly conduct, bond set at $500 C/S.

BOOKED: Kenneth Birt Jr. on BTDC case for attempted murder, bond set at $1,000,000 C/S.

BOOKED: Rodney Drake of Great Bend on Barton County District Court case for serve sentence.

BOOKED: Curtis Rosas of Great Bend on Barber County District Court warrant for failure to appear with a bond set at $2,500 C/S.

BOOKED: Walter Enriquez-Vasquez on Great Bend Municipal Court case for serve sentence.

BOOKED: Aaron Scott of Emporia on Barton County District Court case for DUI with a bond set at $2,500 C/S.

BOOKED: John Shepherd of Great Bend on Barton County District Court case for child abuse, bond set at $50,000 C/S.

BOOKED: Troy Tutak of Great Bend on Barton County District Court case for aggravated battery, bond set at $75,000 C/S. Court services arrest and detain for probation violation with no bond.

RELEASED: Dylan Gowdy on case for disorderly conduct.

RELEASED: Curtis Rosas of Great Bend on Barber County District Court warrant for failure to appear, posted bond through Ace Bail Bonding.

RELEASED: Aaron Scott of Emporia on BCDC case for DUI after posting a $2,500 surety bond through Ace Bail Bonding.

10/21

BOOKED: Freddie Rankin on District Court case for DUI, unlawful abuse of toxic vapors, bond set at $1,000 C/S.

BOOKED: Miranda Taylor on Stafford County Sheriff’s Office case for possession of stimulant and possession of paraphernalia, bond is set in the amount of $2,500 C/S.

BOOKED: Juvenile of Pawnee Rock for Barton County District Court case for driving under the influence, minor in consumption, no bond.

BOOKED: Steven Reed of Great Bend on BTDC serve sentence.

BOOKED: Victor Stoulil of Great Bend on BTDC warrant for criminal threat, bond set at $5,000 C/S.

RELEASED: Freddi Rankin of Great Bend on BTDC warrant for DUI, unlawful use of vapors after posting a bond of $1,000 through Ace Bail Bonding.

RELEASED: Miranda Taylor on Stafford County Sheriff’s Office for possession of stimulant, and possession of paraphernalia, open container after posting a $10,000 surety bond.

RELEASED: Juvenile female on BTDC case for DUI and MIC, released to JJA.

RELEASED: Charles Demel on Barton County Community Corrections case for time served.

RELEASED: Victor Stoulil of Great Bend on BTDC warrant for criminal threat, posted bond amount of $5,000 through Ace Bail Bonding.

RELEASED: Rodney Drake of Great Bend on BCDC serve sentence after he served a partial sentence.

RELEASED: Walter Enriquez-Vasquez on Great Bend Municipal Court case for serve sentence, time served.

RELEASED: Aaron Pohlman on Barton County District Court case for serve sentence, time served.

The United Way of Central Kansas and Great Bend Middle School provided 8th grade students with a course about reality. Reality U, a program available from The Pando Initiative, is in its 3rd year in Great Bend, teaching students about what life is like after they complete their schooling and how the decisions that they make now and throughout high school will impact their futures.

With the support of numerous sponsors including Adams, Brown, Beran & Ball, Benefit Management, LLC, Best Western Angus Inn, City of Great Bend, Credit Union of America, Farmers Bank & Trust, First Kansas Bank, Marmies Auto Group, MPIRE Realty Group, Nex-Tech, Nex-Tech Wireless, Spectrum CPA Partners, LLC, The University of Kansas Health Systems-Great Bend Campus, and Wheatland Electric, along with each community volunteer, and the Booster Club for providing lunch, this program is brought to the nearly 250 8th grade students at Great Bend Middle School.

The program starts out with a short survey for the students asking what they want to be when they grow up, if they envision themselves married, or having kids, and their current GPA. This information is plugged into a program and each student is given a life situation at age 26. With GPA being considered, not every student will have their dream job. If they want to be a doctor, but don’t have the grades to get there, they may still be in the medical field, but not as a doctor.

The students then go to pay their monthly bills at the 12 booths set up in the GBMS gym. They will have to purchase a car and car insurance, medical insurance, a home, pay utilities and childcare, and get a cell phone & internet plan. They each also have to the Chance booth, where with the roll of the dice, they may break a leg or pick up an extra shift at work. There is a Q & A booth for students to go to if they get into a bind and need help budgeting for the month.

Outside the gym, numerous community members join together to talk to the students more in depth about the choices they are making and how to start planning now. These breakout sessions include The Reality of high school with high school students talking to the middle schoolers and school counselor Rachel Thexton talking about how to choose classes in high school, college counselors also talk to the students about applying for scholarships and the student loan process.

The Reality After High School with community members, Lindsay Bogner and Katie Powell, talking about how they got to where they are, the cost of living on your own, and the choices they wish they could make again.

There is also a Cost of Delinquency session, with Casey Rowland from Juvenile Services, Officer Paul Millard and Resource Officer Ethan Thomas talking to the students about making good choices and the long-lasting impacts of making the wrong choices. There is also a financial session, with Barry Bowers and Dale McKinney talking to the students about loans, bank accounts, and credit cards.

The goal of the day is to make an impact on these students. This is often seen at home, with students thanking their parents for all they do for them. The program helps them to realize the costs associated with being on
your own, having children, and the impact that their grades and choices now can have on their lives.

UWCK is proud to have brought this program to Great Bend and, with the support of sponsors and volunteers, plans to continue this program.

The drought monitor for Kansas indicates that except for a small swath southeast of the Kansas City area, the state is out of drought conditions.  And not part is in severe or exception drought.  After the rain, a lot of rain, we had freezing temperatures and snow in many parts of Kansas last weekend.  Believe it or not, this wasn’t all bad for several reasons but first what did this cold snap mean?  Our long-term average first frost normally occurs around the 15^th of October.  The last few years haven’t really seen this until the end of October/early November.  So actually, this was just a little early.  Remember there is a difference between the first frost and the end of the growing season, a killing frost.  Parts of the area and state recorded a killing frost, a frost where the temperatures are cold enough and long enough to shut down or kill all but the hardiest plants.  This is normally considered to occur when the temperatures fall to 28 degrees or lower for several hours.  Many areas experienced this temperature condition over two nights.  Putting aside human comfort, what are some of the potential problems and benefits of this weather?

Problems

• Believe it or not, there is a fair amount of cotton just south of Barton County. While cotton will call it a summer at temperatures well above freezing, this definitely stopped development and the opening of bolls.  The plus side is stripping should be easier with the loss of vegetation.  The negative is the loss of cotton lint from unopened bolls if a boll opener hadn’t been applied.
• The cool weather is also slowing down the drying of fields enough to return to fieldwork and also the dry down of grain to harvest moisture for some fields. Naturally wheat planting is affected and the cooler weather has cooled the soil which will slow germination and development of the seedling.
• Loss of nitrogen fertilizer applied to wheat fields which can fortunately be replaced.

Benefits

• We had saturated soils and some areas were/are under water. This cool weather helped wheat plants cope more effectively with the saturated soils as they dry out and should have limited the extent of damage.
• Soybean pod shattering would have been worse if we had immediately returned to hotter, sunnier weather.
• Insect populations were reduced and it should have helped especially with Hessian fly.
• While wheat growth will be slowed, especially on late planted fields, these cooler, more seasonal temperatures allow more soil moisture to be maintained and for the wheat to gradually acquire cold tolerance.

For the second straight year, Barton Community College has designated November as “Academics Month” at the school. According to Barton’s Dean of Academics Brian Howe, the idea of having a special month to celebrate academics at the school stemmed from a discussion that he had over a year ago with the Public Relations Director Brandon Steinert.

Brian Howe Audio

Howe tells us about the four area’s that will be highlighted next month during Academics Month and why they were chosen.

Brian Howe Audio

More information will be released soon concerning specific dates for events highlighting each of the four academic areas.

For more information visit gobarton.com

Eagle Communications in conjunction with KSN and the city of Great Bend will present the annual Zoo Boo event Saturday night October 27th at the Great Bend Britt Spaugh Zoo. Zoo Boo combines the fun of Halloween costumes and treats with an opportunity to enjoy the fall setting at night in the zoo. Emily Goad is the Visitor Service Coordinator for the Great Bend Convention and Visitor’s Bureau.

Emily Goad Audio

Goad says Zoo Boo gets started at at 5:30 pm Saturday and will last until 8 pm.

Emily Goad Audio

More information on Zoo Boo can be found at Explore Great Bend on Facebook.