The baseball and softball fields at Bicentennial Park in Hoisington have not been upgraded since the massive tornado went through the town in 2001.

The Hoisington Recreation Commission along with other interested individuals are wanting to fundraise more than $200,000 to attract more tournaments and make the facilities safer.

Hoisington City Manager Jonathan Mitchell says the plan is to close the roadway around the ballfields.

Jonathan Mitchell Audio

The plan also calls for work on the concession stand, restrooms, flattening the fields again, and expanding the outfield fences.

As of now, the Hoisington Rec is the only entity that has pledged to the project financially. Other businesses have offered to donate their labor to help with the improvements.

BUSINESS NEWS

Even though Jeremy Lewis realizes it is no one’s favorite subject, he wants to share information about life insurance from personal and professional perspectives.

Lewis, a licensed insurance agent, is taking this educational opportunity now because September is Life Insurance Awareness Month. He is employed by Panzer Insurance, an independent insurance agency at 1023 Jackson in Great Bend’s Jackson Square.

“My father passed away with no life insurance when he was in his 60s,” Lewis said. “This left my family with the burden of figuring out how to pay final expenses and handle debts. My mother also had to make up for his lost income. This took years to straighten out.

“Dad didn’t do this on purpose,” he continued. “He never imagined he would die young or suddenly from cancer. We were left with the grief of his death, as well as the financial stresses.”

Since “anything can happen at any time,” Lewis encouraged families to learn more about the type of coverage they need.

“Once we are gone, bills still have to be paid and debts settled,” he said. “The average cost of final expenses is more than $7,000. Do your loved ones have the ability to pay this and, more important, do you want to leave this expense for them?”

There are several reasons people shy away from discussing life insurance, including: they think they can’t afford it; they are too young or too old; they are not married; they have no children; and they have no debt.

“However,” Lewis said, “life insurance is tailored to your specific needs. Not everyone needs $1 million in coverage. If you are young and single you may need only enough to cover small debts and funeral expenses.”

In other situations, people should consider: mortgage and car payments; a savings account; and children’s college funds.

“Yes, these topics are difficult for families,” Lewis acknowledged. “But I have seen young friends have to rely on Facebook donations or GoFundMe requests to cover funeral expenses.

“Then they have to worry about making up for lost income. You need time to grieve and honor your loved ones without financial problems.”

The numerous types of policies range from short-term coverage to permanent options. Newly developed policies not only provide benefits following an untimely death, they also offer benefits for those who live long lives and need additional income.

“A young parent who is working and raising three children has different needs than an empty-nester planning for retirement. You and a trusted adviser can determine if you have the proper coverage.”

BUSINESS NEWS

The Great Bend Recreation Commission is now accepting enrollment for fall programs.  These programs will begin the first week of October, so stop by the Rec and get your child registered this week so they don’t miss out on the fun.  Afterschool activities will be offered at the Recreation Center, Activity Center, Park, Lincoln, Jefferson and Eisenhower schools.  A variety of enrichment and recreation programs are available for children, ages 5 to 12 years, at these school sites and at the Recreation Center and Activity Center.  These programs include Arts & Crafts, Ceramics, cooking classes, Cartooning & Painting and a variety of holiday mini classes.

Preschool programs for children, ages 2 to 5, will be held at the Recreation Center, 1214 Stone Street, and the Activity Center, 2715 18^th Street, throughout the day.  Such programs include Family Cooking classes, Preschool Art classes, Moving & Grooving with Music, Jr. All-Star, Little Zoo Critters, and a variety of one-time holiday theme-based classes.  Enjoy family activities during mini classes that meet on Saturday mornings.

Adult programs are scheduled in the evening for your convenience.  Enroll in Painting, Cupcake Decorating 101, Beginner’s Woodcarving, Halloween Painting Night Out, Fall Ceramic Girls Night Out, Line Dancing, Yoga, Zumba, Cardio Blast, Noon Body Shaping, Wake Up Workout, Tai Chi, and a number of one-time seasonal craft projects.

Get registered today because a lot of the programs will begin the first week of October. Go to the GBRC web site at www.greatbendrec.com  for more information, sports schedules, cancellations and a registration form.  For more information or to register for these programs, contact the Recreation Commission office at 793-3755, ext 110, stop by the office located at 1214 Stone Street or e-mail recreation@gbrec.net.

BOOKED: Shawna K. Contrerez on Great Bend Municipal Court case for trespassing with a bond of $500 C/S.

BOOKED: Tanner Guyton of Great Bend on Barton County District Court case for no driver’s license, bond set at $1,000 C/S.

BOOKED: Shawn Owens of Ellinwood on Barton County District Court case for aggravated battery and introduction of contraband into a correctional facility, bond set at $75,000 C/S.

BOOKED: Chelsea Purcell of Great Bend on Barton County District Court case for warrants of FTA, no bond. BCDC case for felony obstruction, bond set at $5,000 C/S.

BOOKED: Peter Zamarripa of Great Bend on Great Bend Municipal Court warrants for FTA, bond set at $2,000 C/S. GBMC warrant for FTA, bond set at $2,000 C/S.

BOOKED: Damaris Meeks on Barton County District Court case for possession of marijuana and possession of paraphernalia, bond set at $2,500 C/S.

BOOKED: Esteban Foster of Great Bend on BTDC case for possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of marijuana and no DL, bond set at $10,000 C/S.

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

BOOKED: Joel Munoz of Great Bend on BTDC case for serve sentence.

BOOKED: Kristy Kaye Scott of Abilene on Barton County District Court case for DWS, habitual violator with a bond of $2,500 C/S. Cloud County District Court warrant for failure to appear with a bond of $250 cash only.

BOOKED: Garrett Mallow of Great Bend on Barton County District Court case for serve sentence.

BOOKED: Jordan Haist-Richard of El Dorado for hold for DOC bus.

RELEASED: Tanner Guyton of Great Bend on BCDC case for no DL after posting a $1,000 surety bond through Dynomite Bail Bonds.

RELEASED: Jacoby Stewart of Bowie County, TX warrant for FTA, to Texas County transport.

RELEASED: Shepherd on GBMC warrant for contempt of court after being released per order of court. Released on PNDC warrant for probation violation x2 after being released to Pawnee County.

On Monday, September 24 at about 3 a.m. while on active patrol, a Barton County Sheriff’s deputy conducted a traffic stop in the 1000 block of Heizer Street in the City of Great Bend. The officer stopped a white Mitsubishi bearing Kansas tags.

During the course of the traffic stop, a Great Police Department K-9 unit arrived at the scene. Further investigation uncovered almost five grams of methamphetamine, marijuana and drug paraphernalia in the vehicle. Both the driver and the passenger were taken into custody.

Arrested at the scene was the driver, Esteban Foster age 18 of Great Bend. Foster was booked on charges of possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia as well as driving without a license. Foster is being held in lieu of a $10,000 bond.

The passenger identified as Damaris Meeks, also age 18 of Great Bend was placed under arrest and booked on charges of possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. Meeks is being held in lieu of a $2,500 bond. Both subjects are still in jail as of this press release.

This past January, the USD 112 Board of Education began looking at the district’s facilities in Claflin, Wilson, Bushton, and Holyrood. Three of the four buildings are over 20 years old, and the heating and air conditioning units are starting to cost the district a lot to repair.

A bond committee was formed and after facility tours, the committee presented about $20 million in upgrades and repairs. USD 112 Superintendent Greg Clark says the school board narrowed that down to $8.1 million in improvements so all schools could have good HVAC systems and be secure.

Greg Clark Audio

The board-approved bond issue will be decided on by USD 112 voters in the November 6^th election.

Along with HVAC improvements, the main entrance at the high school in Claflin would be redone to include controlled-access entry, upgrades to the restrooms near the high school gym, and a 1,400-foot addition at the grade school in Holyrood for restrooms and district document storage.

Clark anticipated work to start soon if the bond issue passes in November.

Greg Clark Audio

The 20-year bond would bring a 6.3 mill levy addition. That mill increase would add more than $50 a year in taxes on a $75,000 home. The current mill levy for USD 112 is 42 mills. Community meetings are scheduled in all the towns represented. The next meeting is tonight at Wilson School at 7 p.m. followed by October 1 at 7 p.m. at the middle school in Bushton.

More details on the bond can be viewed at usd112.org.

Barton County will again use a municipal buyback option to replace a Bobcat T770 compact track loader for the landfill. The track loader is used to spread rock, mow ditches, recycle mattresses, remove snow and various other tasks. Barton County Administrator Phil Hathcock, who also serves at Solid Waste Director, says buyback option allows the landfill to trade in the 2016 model for a new 2018 model at a cost of $8,000 dollars.

Phil Hathcock Audio

The county also uses the buyback option for two track loaders that are used by the Road and Bridge Department.

Commissioners voted 5-0 to proceed with the purchase contract for $8,000.