United Way of Central Kansas is bringing Reality U back to Great Bend Middle School on October 18 for the third year. With the support of numerous sponsors and the Great Bend Middle School Booster Club, we are setting out to teach this year’s 8th graders about personal finance in a fun and engaging way.

The 8th graders will imagine their life as a 26-year old and complete an online lifestyle survey including questions about their occupation, marital status, use of credit cards, and their current grade point average. This information is entered into a trademarked software program that links their answers to a unique scenario that is individualized for each student. These scenarios are distributed to them the day of the event.

Each scenario includes the student’s monthly income, credit card debt, student loan information, as well as marital and family status. The students are to transfer this information into their student passport (similar to a checkbook register) and then make purchases at the twelve booths that represent services and/or products that adults typically must purchase or consider each month.

Students have the opportunity to learn how their decisions impact their bottom line as they try to make decisions that won’t result in their check register falling below zero! Sometimes they must return a “purchase” and make a different decision. This event actively engages the students to help them understand the importance of education to their financial future. It also engages the community in supporting student learning and developing their understanding of the world of work.

Throughout the day, students also go into breakout sessions to dive deeper into how the choices that they make now will impact their future. These sessions include; The Reality After High School, The Reality of High School, The Cost of Delinquency, Making a Plan, and Personal Finance.

This event would not be possible without the support of our sponsors; Adams, Brown, Beran, & Ball, Benefit Management, LLC, City of Great Bend, Credit Union of America, Farmers Bank & Trust, First Kansas Bank, Marmie Auto Group, MPIRE Realty, Nex-Tech, Spectrum CPA, University of Kansas Health Systems-Great Bend, and Wheatland Electric.

Numerous individuals and organizations also assist with this program by speaking throughout the day to the students in the breakout sessions, and the Great Bend Middle School Booster Club will be providing lunch for all the volunteers.

Great Bend Airport Manager Martin Miller is like an expectant father these days. Miller, who along with many community volunteers, started planning the 2018 Great Bend Airfest three years ago, right after the 2015 event concluded. Now the 2018 show is just one day away and Miller says this years show will be unlike any other that has been held in Great Bend.

Martin Miller Audio

The Great Bend event has drawn national interest due in part to the B-29’s, Fifi and Doc, who will be appearing at the same air show for just the second time. Miller says that interest has come from all ages from the very young to the veterans who were part of the World War II era.

Martin Miller Audio

The three day event begins Friday with the first of four airshows taking place at 5:15 Friday evening. There are two airshows on Saturday at 10 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. with a Sunday show at Noon.

Admission is $10 per day per person or a weekend pass can be purchased for $20. Childen ages 12 and under are free. You can use use cash, check, debit and credit cards to gain entry to the event.

Parking is free will volunteers will on hand to guide you to a parking location. A free shuttle bus will be available on Saturday with pickups taking place at Fuller Brush and the large parking lot behind Playa Azul on 10th Street in Great Bend.

For a complete schedule of events, visit greatbendairfest.com.

Crime Stoppers of Barton County and local law enforcement are seeking the public’s help in locating a wanted person.

Law enforcement is looking for Shirley A. Burrow. Burrow is wanted on several outstanding Barton County warrants for parole violation and failing to appear. Burrow is a w/f,
41 years of age, black hair, brown eyes, 225 lbs. Burrow was last known to be in the Hoisington area.

If you have information about this person or any other crime, please call crime stoppers at 620-792-1300 or 888-305-1300 remember we don’t want your name just your information.

written by: Rip Winkel – Horticulture Agent, Cottonwood Extension District

Last week we covered the fall planting of trees and shrubs that come in containers. If, however, you are transplanting a tree or shrub from one location in your yard to another, fall is also a great time to take on this project. The first thing to remember is to wait until the plants in question begin losing their leaves for winter, that is, if they’re deciduous. Below is a list of procedures, or a guide if you will, for transplanting procedures.

1) Before you begin, determine if the plant you are going to transplant will do well in the new location. Ask yourself if it will get too much sun or shade, will have enough space to grow as it matures, and how much water it is going to require. Also keep in mind whether or not there are local, city or state codes that would determine the location of the transplant.

2) Be sure to dig the new hole before you dig up the plant that will be relocated. Remember, be ready to get the plant out of the ground, and back in as soon as possible. The longer it is out of the ground, the less of a chance for its survival. Your tree will lose a significant amount of its root system during transplanting. So make sure it’s well-hydrated before the transplanting process begins.

3) When the digging commences, do not start right at the base of the tree or shrub. Rather, start digging about 3 feet out from the base, all along the perimeter. Get a feel for where the main mass of roots lies. Also think about what the weight of the plant, roots and soil clinging to roots will be. You might need some help to lift it. Tie up any low hanging branches to prevent damage to them while the tree/shrub is being dug. Use
a sharp shovel to make clean cuts in the root system to prevent further damage. One standard for the size of the root ball of a tree is to have at least 10 inches radius and depth of the root ball for every 1 inch of trunk diameter. Shrubs should have 10 inches out from the base of the plant for every 18 inches of height.

4) The width of the new hole should be twice that of the root-ball. The depth should be kept a bit shallower, to avoid puddling and consequent rotting (especially if your soil has a lot of clay in it). When you reach the bottom of the new hole, resist the temptation to break up the soil beneath, as this may cause the plant to sink deeper later on.

5) Once you have removed enough soil from around the sides of the plant, you will eventually be able to slip your shovel under it and begin to loosen the plant’s grip on the soil below it. After it is loose, spread a tarp on the ground nearby and gently move the tree or shrub onto the tarp.

6) Drag the plant over to the new hole using the tarp as a transporting medium. Carefully slide the plant into the hole, and then set it straight. Shovel the excavated soil back into the hole all around the root ball. Place the hose into the hole, and water it as you are back filling it. This will help to eliminate air pockets, and allow good contact between the root ball and the surrounding soil.

7) Mound up the soil in a ring around the newly transplanted tree or shrub, forming a berm that will hold water like a basin. This will help keep the new transplant’s roots well-watered, until it becomes established.

Catch It Kansas will be filming the Great Bend High School Panther Marching Band during Friday night’s half-time show at the GBHS vs. Bishop Carroll football game. The footage is part of the Battle of the Bands and voting for the best band will open on Tuesday. Go to catchitkansas.com to cast your vote. Go Panthers!

BOOKED: Edgar Reyes on Barton County District Court case for no driver’s license, no proof of insurance, bond set at $1,000 C/S. Failure to appear, warrant with bond set at $250 C/S.

BOOKED: Kawliga Zimmerman of Hoisington on Reno County District Court warrant for failure to comply, no bond must serve 90 days in jail. Hoisington Municipal Court warrant for failure to appear, bond set at $5,000 C/S.

BOOKED: Jason Sohm of Great Bend on two Barton County District Court warrant for probation violation, bond was set at $1,200 cash only and $1,500 cash only.

BOOKED: Michael Elson of Great Bend on a Great Bend Municipal Court warrant for failure to appear, bond was set at $500 C/S.

BOOKED: Jerry Cossman on BTDC warrant for interference LEO, domestic battery, criminal damage to property with no bond. BTDC warrant for interference LEO, no bond. BTDC warrant for violation of protection order, no bond. BTDC warrant for interference LEO, no bond. BTDC warrant for criminal threat, no bond.

BOOKED: Billy Hamilton for three Barton County District Court warrants for failure to register, bond set at $40,000 C/S. Probation violation x2 with no bonds.

BOOKED: Mark Prosper of Wichita on Barton County District Court warrant for failure to appear with no bond.

BOOKED: Jerome Maravilla of Great Bend on BTDC warrant for failure to appear, no bond.

RELEASED: Jordan Haist-Richard for transport by Rush County Sheriff to KDOC.

RELEASED: Michael Elson of Great Bend on a GBMC warrant for failure to appear, posted a $500 surety bond through Ace Bail Bonding.

RELEASED: Amy Valdez of Great Bend on BCDC warrant for failure to appear after serving.

RELEASED: Kristy Scott on Cloud County District Court warrant for failure to appear after receiving a $250 OR bond. Still here on local charges.

RELEASED: Kristy Kaye Scott of Abilene on BCDC case for DWS, habitual violator after posting a $2,500 surety bond through Around the Clock. Cloud County District Court warrant for failure to appear after receiving a $250 OR bond.

Members of the Barton County Young Professionals (BCYP) group are invited to bring their children to Fall Fest, sponsored by Farmers Bank & Trust. This free event takes place Sunday, October 7 at Long Pumpkin Patch, 163 NE 30 Road outside of Great Bend, from 5 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.  Please RSVP to bartonyp@gmail.com by Wednesday, October 3.

Activities include: pumpkin painting, face painting, a family photo booth, a corn maze, fall treats, and more!  For more information, visit www.BartonYP.com for find @BartonYP on Facebook.

Barton County Young Professionals (BCYP) exists to provide leadership, networking & volunteer opportunities. BCYP is a free membership organization for anyone 21-40ish who lives or works in the Barton County area. Over 750 individuals currently participate in BCYP membership. To learn more about the benefits of membership or to see an event schedule, visit www.BartonYP.com or call the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce & Economic Development at 620-792-2401.

On Monday, Sept. 24 at approximately 8:30 p.m. the Great Bend Police Department received a report from a citizen of fraud. This person had been arrested over the previous weekend and had posted bond to be released from the Barton Couny Jail.

The victim received a call from an unknown subject who identified themselves as an employee of a bonding company. The caller advised that the victim had violated the bond conditions and demanded $1,000 in gift cards or the victim would be arrested again.

On Tuesday, Sept 25 at approximately 6 a.m. the Great Bend Police Department received a report from another citizen of fraud. This person had also been arrested during the previous weekend and posted bond to be released from the Barton County Jail. The victim received a call from an unknown person who identified themselves as a Sergeant with the Great Bend Police Department. The caller advised the victim that that they had not posted enough bond money and demanded $1,000 in gift cards or the victim would be arrested again.

The Great Bend Police Department would like to remind everyone that Law Enforcement would never request money to be sent on gift cards in lieu of being arrested. These incidents are being investigated for criminal charges to be filed.

If anyone has any information about these crimes, or any other crime, contact Crime Stoppers at 620-792-1300 or the Great Bend Police Department at 620-793-4120.