USD 428 held their Curriculum Day October 1 with an in-service day for teachers. Students had the day off and teachers spent time diving into teaching philosophy and strategies.

The Great Bend school district administration has pointed out they are attempting to invest more time and resources in improving all their teachers and their ability to teach.

Kristin Anderson, an associate with Corwin Press, helped focus the district on how to realize the impact teachers have on student achievement. Assistant Superintendent John Popp said Anderson talked about Visible Learning training, a study on what actually works best in schools to improve learning.

John Popp Audio

Corwin offers books, resources, and consulting to help educators make better impacts on teaching and learning.

Popp added the questions that come from the Visible Learning training are, “Do you know your impact on students? Can you make the learning visible? Can you see the results in your students?”

Popp said any time you try to alter a teacher’s personal teaching technique there can be resistance.

John Popp Audio

There were roughly 90 surveys filled out by Great Bend teachers following Curriculum Day, and Popp said the majority of the surveys expressed interest in learning more on how to improve their teaching strategies. Each school building within the district has assembled teams to receive more training on how to lead Visible Learning.

Even though there is rain in the weekend forecast, it shouldn’t equal what the county went through during a five day period from last Friday to this past Tuesday. Steady rain fell on all parts of the county, especially in the northern part of Barton County where rainfall amounts were reported to be as high as 15 inches. Hoisington had over 9 inches of rain which did cause some minor flooding in the southern part of the city. Floodwater from Blood Creek also closed highway 281 Monday night through Wednesday evening. Here’s Barton County Administrator Phil Hathcock.

Phil Hathcock Audio

Barton County Commission Chair Jennifer Schartz signed a disaster declaration Tuesday afternoon for the county. The declaration opens Barton up to potentially receive Federal Emergency Management Agency funds.

Phil Hathcock Audio

Governor Jeff Colyer issued a State of Disaster Emergency declaration for the state in response to the recent heavy rains on Wednesday.

BUSINESS NEWS

The Great Bend Recreation Commission will be sponsoring a Fall Middle School Dance.  The dance will be held on Friday, October 12^th, at the Great Bend Rec Activity Center located at 2715 18^thfrom 7:00 – 9:00 pm for all Great Bend Middle School students.  Admission is $5.00 per student at the door.  Students need to show their GBMS students ID’s when entering the dance.  No hats will be allowed.  Pizza will be available for $1.00 per slice.  Popcorn and water will be provided.  The dance will be supervised by staff from the 20^th Judicial District Juvenile Services and Great Bend Recreation Commission staff.  For more information, call the Recreation Commission office at 793-3755 ext. 110.  For more information about this program and other programs the Great Bend Rec offers, please go to our web site at www.greatbendrec.com.

James L. Perkins, 61 of Larned, made a first appearance in the Pawnee County District Court Wednesday morning concerning a charge of harassment by telephone and separate felony drug charges.

Following a short chase which ended at his home in Larned, Perkins was arrested October 6 by the Pawnee County Sheriff’s Department on a misdemeanor arrest warrant for the harassment by telephone charge, a felony bond violation, and a domestic violence probation warrant. The Larned Police Department assisted with the arrest.

As a result of his alleged actions at the time of his arrest, he is now additionally charged with possession of between 3.5 grams and 100 grams of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, felony Interference with law enforcement; and misdemeanor flee and elude.

The harassment by telephone is alleged to have occurred between September 24 and October 2. Perkins was convicted of Domestic Battery on September 24 and placed on twelve months probation.

A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for October 24. The defendant remains in the custody of the Pawnee County Sheriff with bond set on the new drug charge at $90,000 cash or surety. He is being housed in the Ford Detention Center.

At the time of his arrest, Perkins was on felony bond for a May 2018 arrest on possession of between 3.5 grams and 100 grams of methamphetamine with intent to distribute within 1,000 feet of a school and battery of a County Correctional Officer. Those matters are still pending.

BOOKED: Miles Van Jackson on Kansas parole violation, no bond. Barton County District Court case for possession of methamphetamine, possession of paraphernalia and possession of controlled substance, bond of $10,000 C/S.

RELEASED: Shawn Johnston received $20,000 OR bond.

RELEASED: Jordan Haist-Richard for KDOC El Dorado Correctional Facility after Rush County picked him up.

RELEASED: Kennedy C. Beakey on BTDC case for possession or distribute marijuana, possession of paraphernalia, no tax stamp on a $25,000 surety bond through Ace Bail Bonding.

RELEASED: Kyle Logan of Wichita on BTDC warrant for probation violation after serving sentence and being released. ELDC warrant for probation violation after being transported to Ellis County by Ellis County Sheriff’s Office.

RELEASED: Davin L. Rose after some cases sent to probation and sentence served.

RELEASED: Kirk Jackson of Great Bend on BTDC case for serve sentence.

After going two and a half years without a grocery store, the St. John area can once again shop for groceries at home in a store that one could argue is better than the store that left town in January of 2016. The Stafford County Marketplace, anchored by White’s Foodliner, opened its doors to the public for the first time Wednesday with a grand opening celebration at the new store that sits alongside Highway 281 in St. John. White’s Foodliner will operate the store that will include fuel sales and an independent pharmacy, Stafford County Drug.

Under the agreement, White’s Foodliner will rent the facility and operate a grocery store in a building locally owned by Stafford County Economic Development. White’s Foodliner is a family-owned and managed business that started in 1953 by Joe and Frances White in Coldwater. The company is owned by Pat White and his wife Tonya who also operate stores in Kingman, Medicine Lodge, Phillipsburg, and Pawnee, Oklahoma.

Pat White Audio

Wednesday’s grand opening marked the end of an effort by the community to bring a store back to St. John, a journey that included many different community partners according to Stafford County Economic Development Director Carolyn Dunn.

Carolyn Dunn Audio

That community effort 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.

In January of 2016, Kroger, the parent company of Dillons, closed the town’s only grocery store, forcing residents to travel out of town to shop for groceries.