After Frank Riedl graduated from Fort Hays State University during the Vietnam War there were limited jobs available. Riedl says he took the only job opening he could find as a bookkeeper at a local co-op and spent 11 years with the company in the Russell and Gorham area. Following that job, Riedl came to Great Bend to become CFO at the Great Bend Cooperative Association. That position lasted eight years and the last 21 years have been spent as General Manager.

Riedl retired Friday, September 28 and reflected on his time as General Manager.

Frank Riedl Audio

The Great Bend Co-Op was named the “Business of the Year” in 2014 by the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce. Riedl joked that he knew it was the right time to retire after celebrating a birthday and realizing he was four years past retirement age.

Frank Riedl Audio

Minnesota native Duane Anderson will assume the General Manager and CEO position of the Great Bend Co-Op October 1.

BOARD OF BARTON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
October 1, 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. Consider Minutes of the September 24, 2018, Regular Meeting.
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 September
17, 2018, and ending October 1, 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.

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

A. PROCLAMATION 2018-14: Domestic Violence Awareness Month, October, 2018:
-Given the number of victims touched by domestic violence, the importance of working with
survivors and the need to hold perpetrators accountable, the Commission will be asked by Becky
Davis, Domestic and Sexual Violence Program Director, Family Crisis Center, to recognize
October, 2018, as Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

B. RESOLUTION 2018-17: Golden Belt Community Foundation, Talent Retention Reverse
Scholarship Fund:
-Under the proposed Resolution, Barton County would join the Golden Belt Community
Foundation and other partners in the administration of the “Talent Retention Reverse
Scholarship” program. This effort is designed to lessen the burdens of government by improving
income levels, decreasing unemployment rates, increasing household incomes and increasing the
percentage of residents with college degrees living and working within a prescribed area. There
is no cost to taxpayers. Phil Hathcock, County Administrator, will present details.

C. GOLDEN BELT COMMUNITY FOUNDATION: Fund Agreement, ‘Come Home’
Reverse Scholarship Fund:
-Should the Commission adopt Resolution 2018-17, the Fund Agreement would be considered
next. The intent of these scholarships is to support the local economic development efforts to
recruit and attract more residents with secondary education degrees and/or backgrounds in
skilled trades to live and work in a prescribed area. Specifically, qualified recipients would be
eligible to receive up to $10,000 through the ‘Come Home’ Reverse Scholarship Fund. Again,
there is no cost to taxpayers. Mr. Hathcock will provide details.

D. CENTRAL KANSAS COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS: Fiscal Year 2018 Year End
Outcomes:
-The Kansas Community Corrections Act provides grants to Kansas Counties to develop and
maintain a range of programs for adult offenders assigned to Community Corrections agencies.
A Comprehensive Plan (grant application) was submitted that set the goals for FY2018. The
Year End Outcomes then sets out the results at the close of the year and require the review and
approval of the Barton County Commissioners, as the Administrative County for the District to
which the plan pertains. Amy Boxberger, CKCC Director, will present details.

E. EMERGENCY RISK MANAGEMENT: Fiscal Year 2018 Emergency Management
Performance Grant Program:
-The Kansas Division of Emergency Management is accepting applications for the FY 2018
Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) Program. The EMPG Program provides
funding to assist states and local governments in developing and carrying out emergency
management programs. Amy Miller, Emergency Management Director, will provide details on
the grant application.

F. REVISION OF THE 2018 / 2019 AUTHORIZED POSITIONS LISTING:
-The Schedule of Authorized Positions for 2019 was adopted on July 30, 2018. The proposed
Lifting Young Families Toward Excellence (LYFET) program at the Health Department will add
one part-time position beginning in 2018. Both the 2018 and 2019 Authorized Positions will
require an update. Mr. Hathcock 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.

B. APPOINTMENTS: -Subject to change, the following appointments have been scheduled:
OCTOBER 1, 2018
10:00 a.m. or following the close of the Agenda Meeting – Department Head Meeting with the
Commissioners. Department Head meetings are held in the Courthouse Conference Room,
Room 101. After the Department Head meeting is closed, the Commission will return to their
Chambers.
11:00 a.m. – Program Update – Barry McManaman, County Engineer
11:15 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
scheduled for October 4, 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, October 8, 2018.

VII. ADJOURN.

BARTON COUNTY —A man was sentenced to 36-months in prison Friday for a fatal-hit and run crash that killed a man in Great Bend, according to a media release from Barton County Attorney Amy Mellor.

Rodney Dee Campbell, 58, was the driver and sole occupant of a truck that struck and killed 65-year-old James Zager as he was crossing in the 4200 Block of 10th Street just after 7:30p.m. on November 29, according to police.

Detectives contact Campbell but he refused to return to Kansas. The Texas Rangers ultimately arrested Campbell in Rural Anderson County, Texas.
Campbell will also be required to pay $6700 in restitution, according to Mellor.

As wheat drilling season is upon us, producers are making management decisions that will affect the performance of their crop. Economics always play a role, but many farmers are really scrutinizing their costs due to the current commodity market.

As the Good Book says, ‘you reap what you sow.’

Seed is one of the worst places to reduce cost, but often the first to be considered. So how can you be sure to not limit your yield potential while still being prudent in selecting the best seed?

Selecting a good variety is the most important place to start. Several varieties will work well on any given farm. It’s important to properly match variety characteristics, as well as your management intentions, with each field. Certified seed dealers, retailers and crop advisors are all good sources of information.

Seed quality plays an important role in how a crop will perform in the field. Research shows, the larger seeds within any given lot of seed will perform better than medium or small seed. Thousand Kernel Weight (TKW), which is similar to test weight, is a good indicator of performance, especially when wheat is planted deeper in the soil. The larger, heavier seed will outperform the smaller, lighter seed.

Proper seed cleaning is the only way to remove the small, light-weight seeds. Most farm operations are not equipped to completely clean seed. There are seed cleaning businesses in each community and portable equipment that can come right to the farm. It is best to have your seed cleaned by someone who’s been inspected by the state seed certifying agency and is recognized as an Approved Seed Conditioner.

Air/screen cleaners, also called fanning mills, do a good job at removing the trash, chaff and small seeds. When operated properly, they can also make some improvement on test weight. Gravity tables are very efficient at removing the light test weight seed, but not well-suited for sizing seed. Length graders can remove problem weed seed, like jointed goatgrass or wild buckwheat.

BOOKED: Brenda Sidebottom-Sears of Great Bend on GBMC warrant for failure to appear, bond set at $447.50 cash only or 30 days in jail. GBMC warrant for failure to appear, bond set at $308.02 cash only or 30 days in jail.

BOOKED: Andrea Moser of Great Bend on GBMC warrant for contempt of court, bond set at $1,584.50 or 28 days in jail.

BOOKED: Joshua Graves of Great Bend on parole violation, no bond.

RELEASED: Brett Woods of Liberal on BCDC warrants for criminal trespass, burglary, theft, and possession of paraphernalia after posting a $20,000 surety bond. Ellis County District Court warrant for possession of methamphetamine and possession of paraphernalia after posting a $7,500 surety bond. Russell County District Court warrant for failure to appear after he posted a $2,500 surety bond.

RELEASED: Eric S. Peters on BTDC case for probation violation to KDOC.

RELEASED: John Wilkinson of Great Bend on BTDC warrant to KDOC.

RELEASED: John Stevenson to KDOC.

RELEASED: Nathan Manley of Ellinwood to KDOC.

RELEASED: Kevin J. Barnes to KDOC.

RELEASED: Lacey Kelly to KDOC.

RELEASED: Johnny Lee Wallace on GBMC warrants for failure to appear x3.

RELEASED: Darlene Steinert of Hoisington on BTDC warrant for distribution of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia x2, no drug tax stamp and unlawful possession of a controlled substance. Released by order of the court through Judge Burgess on a $10,000 bond.

RELEASED: Brenda Sidebottom-Sears of Great Bend on GBMC warrant for failure to appear, released on OR bond through GBMC through Suelter.

RELEASED: Matthew R. Hapes on BCDC warrants with time served.

The Barton Community College Theatre Department will present “Harvey” at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 5 and 6, with a matinee at 2 p.m. Oct. 7 in the Fine Arts Auditorium on campus. Tickets are $5 at the door; students admitted free.

“Harvey” is a 1945 Pulitzer Prize-winning play about Elwood P. Dowd, a mild-mannered pleasant man who claims his best friend is a pooka, an Irish folklore creature which is considered to be bringers of both good and bad fortune, in the form of an invisible six-foot-one-and-a-half-inch-tall rabbit.

Sophomore in Theatre Jessica Pfortmiller plays a supporting role as Nurse Kelly, one of the medical staff at a sanitarium whose love interest is one of the doctors at the facility.

“I love how fast-paced ‘Harvey’ is,” she said. “A lot of older shows are slow and drag on, but Harvey keeps the audience on their toes because they don’t know what’s going to come next. It’s just full of surprises.”

Pfortmiller said she has been in about 10 plays in the two years she has been attending Barton, and that theatre and acting helped her come out of her shell.

“Back in middle school, in fifth grade, I was a shy little kid,” she said. “But, I thought theatre was the coolest thing and I became obsessed with musicals. Then I stepped out and gave it a try and loved it. It has helped me grow in my confidence.”

While theatre helped her play a bigger role in life, it also helps her escape reality when the pressure is on.

“School is stressful, but no matter what’s going on in my life, I can go and be another person on stage,” she said. “I don’t have to think about assignments that are due; I can just be another character and take a load off.”

Pfortmiller said she hasn’t decided where she’s going for her education after Barton, but would like to be involved with theatre somehow for the rest of her life, whether through teaching or community theatre. In the meantime, her focus is on Harvey and helping her castmates make it the best it can be.

“I would encourage everyone to come see it,” she said. “It’s a lot of laughs for five dollars.”

Theatre Director Dr. Richard Abel said the plays are open to community participants and students alike, which allows students to interact with performers from all walks of life.

“We are open to everyone and I want everyone to be involved in my plays,” he said. “I want community members, theatre majors and non-theatre majors at Barton, high school students and junior high students all to be involved.”

Barton Theater acquires listening devices for those hard of hearing

Recently, Barton Theatre acquired a limited amount of listening devices to help those who are hard of hearing enjoy the shows. Those who attend “Harvey” who would like to use one of these devices can speak with the box office attendant.