Note – Mark Eberle will make a presentation at the Barton County Historical Society on Monday October 22nd at 7:30 p.m.

By Alexis Schaben – University Relations and Marketing

HAYS, Kan. – A biologist’s book about baseball has been placed on the 2018 Kansas Notable Books list.
Fort Hays State University’s biological sciences lab coordinator Mark Eberle’s “Kansas Baseball, 1858-1941” was placed on the list by state librarian Eric Norris.

The list contains a selection of 15 books reflecting the rich cultural heritage of Kansas and features quality titles with wide public appeal that are either written by Kansans or highlights a Kansas-related topic.

“Kansas Baseball,” published in April 2017, describes the nature of early baseball. Eberle became interested in the topic in grade school, playing in his hometown neighborhood of Olathe and following the Athletics when their home was Kansas City instead of California.

Biologist Eberle said the baseball book was kind of accidental. “I was just curious about which ballparks in Kansas were the oldest, and it grew from there.”

“I was just doing the baseball research for the pleasure I derived from it, with no intention of writing a book, so it is humbling to have that work recognized,” said Eberle.

Larks Park in Hays, one of the oldest ballparks in Kansas, got him started.

“Larks Park, completed in 1940 and officially dedicated in 1941, was No. 10 on the list of oldest ballparks when I started looking three years ago, and became No. 9 after Independence demolished their 1919 grandstand,” he said. “Larks Park will soon become No. 8 after Wichita tears down Lawrence-Dumont Stadium, which was built in 1934.”

Town team baseball was widespread in 1858-1941, which is why Eberle chose the time frame.
“Virtually every town had a team at some point that played against other town teams,” he said. “These teams were a mix of amateur, semipro and professional clubs, but unfortunately this was also the period when most teams were segregated by race or gender.”

Some chapters describe baseball played by teams of women, African Americans, Native Americans and Mexican-Americans, while other chapters describe minor league teams and major league tours through Kansas.

The book, ending with a discussion on the disappearance of town teams after World War II, describes early baseball and histories of the nine ballparks built prior to the war that are still used in Kansas: Rossville, Kinsley, Wichita, Garden City, Chanute, Larned, Junction City, El Dorado and Hays.
Eberle has co-written two other books, also published by the University Press of Kansas,
which represents all six Kansas Board of Regents institutions. The other books are based
on his professional life as a biologist.

Eberle and Joe Tomelleri, FHSU alumnus, wrote “Fishes of the Central United States” in
1990 featuring hundreds of Tomelleri’s color illustrations of fish. An expanded second
edition was published in 2011.

“Kansas Fishes,” published in 2014, was a collaborative effort organized by biologists from
each of the state universities and state agencies that work with fish.

“Among the 60 experts who contributed to the book, nine have connections to Fort Hays
State University, including myself,” said Eberle.

Dr. William Stark, FHSU professor of biological sciences, Dr. Nicholas Mandrak, former
professor of biological sciences, and FHSU alumni Dr. Donald Cloutman, Guy Ernsting,
Jordan Hofmeier, Eric Johnson, Jason Lugnibill and Joe Tomelleri were contributors to
“Kansas Fishes.”

His books are available through most book retailers, the Sternberg Museum gift shop, the
Fort Hays State Historic Site gift shop or the University Press of Kansas at
https://kansaspress.ku.edu/.

Eberle is currently focusing on shorter publications which will be published in science
journals and on Forsyth Library’s Scholar’s Repository at https://works.bepress.com/markeberle/.

A group of community members dedicated to education is still on track to meet its January deadline to USD 428 in Great Bend. The Community Steering Committee and all its sub committees have continued meeting this summer in hopes of developing the master plan to move the district’s schools into the future.

Superintendent Khris Thexton says the plan will involve long-term building and educational needs.

Khris Thexton Audio

USD 428 hired SJCF Architect last year for $18,500 to help create the master plan of potential improvements.

Along with adding preschool at all the elementary schools, moving 6^th grade to the middle school, Thexton says securing all the buildings still remains on the priority list.

Khris Thexton Audio

The next Steering Committee meeting will be September 26 at Park Elementary School and the master plan will be presented to the Board of Education on January 14.

UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT 428 – September 10, 2018 5:00 p.m.
BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING

1. CALL TO ORDER …………………………………………………………………. Mr. Umphres
1.1 Roll Call
1.2 Adoption of Agenda of Meeting
1.3 Recognition of Visitors
1.4 Request to Speak Reminder
Persons may present ideas or concerns regarding USD 428. The Board will take no action at this meeting. Such items will be referred to the appropriate administrator(s) for future information and researched and reported back to the Board at a later meeting. Personalities and behavior of employees are not to be presented during this period but are to be reported to the employee’s immediate supervisor. The president shall determine the amount of time to be spent for citizen participation.

2. RECOGNITIONS / ACHIEVEMENTS ………………………………………. Mr. Umphres

3. STUDENT / STAFF PRESENTATIONS …………………………………… Mr. Umphres

4. COMMUNICATIONS ……………………………………………………………… Mr. Umphres
Board Members’ Comments
Citizens Open Forum
USD 428 Education Foundation
Written Communications / Correspondence
The First Assembly of God delivered trays of cookies to each building on August 30 in appreciation of teachers and staff of USD 428.
The United Way expressed thanks to the district and transportation staff for providing buses for the annual “Stuff the Bus” event on July 25, 2018.

5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
A. None ………………………………………………………………………………….. Mr. Umphres

6. NEW BUSINESS

A. Approval of Local Consolidated Plan Allocation …………………….. Mr. Umphres
The 2018-2019 Local Consolidated Plan (LCP) amounts total $1,143,054, which compares to a prior-year total of $1,174,074. The administration asks board approval to make state and federal programs allocations for 2018-2019. Programs and amounts are listed below.
Title I A Improving Education Programs $ 765,604
Title I C Migratory Programs $ 154,000
Title II A Supporting Effective Instruction $ 127,243
Title III A English Learner and Immigrant Programs $ 52,007
Title IVA Grants for Student Support and Academic $ 44,200
Enrichment
Total $1,143,054

B. GBHS A Cappella Choir Spring Break Trip……………………………. Mr. Umphres
In accordance with the Student Travel Policy, Director of Vocal Music Susan Stambaugh will provide information to board members regarding a proposed trip of the GBHS A Cappella Choir to Washington, D.C. in the spring of 2019. The administration recommends approval.

C. Western Kansas Orchestra Festival (WKOF) ………………………….. Mr. Umphres
Mr. Isaac Enochs will provide information of the annual WKOF that will be hosted by GBHS November 15-16, 2019. Host sites rotate between Salina, Garden City, Dodge City, Hutchinson, Hays, and Great Bend. More than 700 orchestra students from area schools west of highway 81 will attend the event. Administration recommends early dismissal for GBHS classes to accommodate the WKOF event. This change will affect the 2019-2020 school calendar previously approved by the board.

D. Approval of Site Council Members ……………………………………….. Mr. Umphres
Learning center principals submitted names of recommended 2018-2019 Site Council members for their schools. The administration recommends approval. Questions regarding members on any of the Site Councils should be directed to Mr. Thexton prior to the meeting.

7. ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT REPORT……………… Mr. Umphres / Mr. Popp

A. District Postsecondary Progress Data: In pursuit of the new Kansas Education Systems Accreditation model (KESA), KSDE has updated the school district’s postsecondary progress information. This data measures how students perform once they graduate GBHS.

B. New Teacher Mentor Program: USD 428 has been mentoring new teachers for 2 years for the past several years. First year teachers are assigned a mentor to meet with weekly. Second year teachers have the same mentor and meet every two weeks. Experienced teachers new to the district are assigned to an Ambassador to help them adjust to a new building at the beginning of the school year.

C. Visible Learning Professional Development: August 16, the district began training faculty on Visible Learning; the training on what years of educations research has shown is effective in producing student growth. Almost everything a teacher does causes students to grow; however, there are strategies that work substantially better than others do.

D. MTSS Update: Principals and teachers have jumped right back in with the benchmarking assessments and interventions start on the 10th. KRR will also start on the 10th. Our district has been asked to send people to an MTSS sustainability summit to discuss how we have been able to maintain a district wide MTSS initiative.

E. Personnel Update: All teaching positions have been filled in some manner. Because the teacher pool is extremely small, administration will provide struggling teachers with tools and resources to help them become stronger and more effective teachers.

F. Curriculum Meeting Minutes
 Curriculum Steering Committee: 9/5/18
 Professional Development Council (PDC) minutes: 6/11/18, 8/20/18

8. SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT ………………………… Mr. Umphres / Mr. Thexton
A. Fire Safety and Awareness Week, October 7-13
B. Bus Safety Week, October 15-19
C. Start of School
D. Enrollment Numbers Update
E. ACT Update
F. KSDE Breakfast Initiative Grant
G. Kansas Teacher of the Year Banquet
H. School Open Houses
I. Homecoming Activities with Dodge City on September 21, 2018, 3:00 parade
J. Great Bend Reading Initiative Kick Off
K. KASB Fall Regional Meeting at Pratt on 9/25/18, 4:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
L. Approval of Grants / Contributions (Attachment 8,L)

9. FINANCIAL PRESENTATION …………………………… Mr. Umphres / Mr. Thexton
A. Bills and Financial Reports

10. CONSENT AGENDA …………………………………………………………….. Mr. Umphres
A. Approval of BOE Meeting Minutes (August 13, 2018)
B. Acceptance of Bills and Financial Reports
C. Personnel Report (Attachment 10,C)

11. UPCOMING MEETING DATES …………………………………………….. Mr. Umphres
•KASB Fall Regional Meeting: on September 25, 2018, in Pratt, KS.
•BOE Luncheon Meeting: at noon on September 27, 2018, at Riley Elementary School
•GBHS Homecoming: on September 21, 2018.
•Education Foundation Dinner: at 6:30 p.m., on Tuesday, November 13, 2018, at the GB Events Center.
•Annual KASB Convention: on November 30, December 1, 2, 2018, in Overland Park, KS.

12. ADJOURNMENT…………………………………………………………………….. Mr. Umphres

After SRCA Dragstrip President Hank Denning went before the Great Bend City Council this week in an effort to establish a maintenance fund for a deteriorating track, there have been a few suggestions to raise funds for the repairs.

Denning said the track was paved in 2000 and is falling apart and hopes to get two more years of use by patching and repairing the dragstrip to the best of their ability.

Great Bend Chamber of Commerce CEO Jan Peters recommended researching the possibility of obtaining Sales Tax Revenue Bonds from the Kansas Department of Commerce, known as STAR Bonds.

Jan Peters Audio

STAR Bonds provide Kansas municipalities the opportunity to issue bonds to finance the development of major commercial, entertainment, and tourism areas. STAR Bonds allow the municipality to use the sales tax revenue generated by the development to pay off the bonds.

Denning suggested the City should establish a maintenance fund for dragstrip repairs and start charging other entities that use the facility grounds a fee.

As much as every wheat producer wants to minimize their costs of production, there might still be good reason to apply a fungicide to wheat seed ahead of planting this fall. That’s according to a K-State wheat disease specialist who asks growers to give thought to the possible benefits of that investment. Erick DeWolf understands why some wheat producers are reluctant to incur the cost of a seed treatment. However, in certain circumstances, the payoff is there.

Erick DeWolf Audio

Dewolf says that especially applies to those producers who routinely save back wheat seed for planting.

Erick DeWolf Audio

DeWolf says another situation where fungicide seed treatments might be economically worthwhile is when the producer is planting wheat on the late side, for whatever reason.

Press release from The Reserves at Trail Ridge…

The Reserves at Trail Ridge announces the availability of a limited number of brand new 2 and 3 bedroom apartment homes for rent without income restrictions. “While the majority of the apartment homes are income restricted, we also recognize the current housing needs in the Great Bend area,” provides Pat Beatty, Partner of Overland Property Group.

Amenities included in the apartment homes are walk in closets, vinyl wood look flooring, ceiling fans, and more. “We invite all to visit the property at 811 Grant Street for a tour of an apartment home,” says Vanessa Lewis, Community Manager. Lewis, a leasing agent since 2017, recently accepted the position of Community Manager. “We are here to create a community and safe place for all residents living on site”, says Lewis.

The Reserves at Trail Ridge invites you to stop by Monday – Friday 8:00am – 5:00pm and Saturdays from 10:00am – 2:00pm for a tour or to learn more about the apartment homes available.

For more information regarding The Reserves at Trail Ridge, please contact Vanessa Lewis at 620-603-0008 or trailridge@dalmarkgroup.com.

The Cottonwood Extension District will be hosting a Grain Sorghum & Corn Study Field Day next Thursday, Sept. 13th in Barton County.

The field day will begin at 12 noon with a free lunch at the sorghum field located at NE 30th Ave. between NE 140 & 150th Road, approximately 4 miles E. & 3.5 miles N. of Hoisington.

Seed Company representatives will be on-hand to discuss their sorghum hybrids. Area and State Extension agronomy specialists will discuss sorghum growth & development, production practices and answer any questions.

Then beginning at 2:00 p.m. at the Corn Study plot located on the North side of Highway 96 & NW 80 Ave. (Olmitz Rd.) participants will get to view different corn planting rates, dates, maturities and hybrids.

RSVP is requested for the meal count by calling the Cottonwood Extension – Great Bend office at 620-793-1910, that’s 620-793-1910 to RSVP for the Cottonwood Extension Grain Sorghum & Corn Study Field Day on Thursday, Sept. 13th beginning at 12 noon.

BOARD OF BARTON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS Agenda Meeting
Monday, September 10, 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 4, 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. OLD BUSINESS – Items tabled, or scheduled, from previous Commission Meetings, will be heard at this time.
-There is no Old Business at this time.

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

A. CITY OF GREAT BEND: 2018 Great Bend Airfest:
-The Commission is invited to attend the 2018 Great Bend Airfest celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Great Bend Army Airbase. Main attractions will include the world’s only two remaining B-29 bombers – Fifi and Doc, air shows and many other vintage war planes. The event is held Friday, September 28, 2018 – Sunday, September 30, 2018 at the Great Bend Municipal Airport, 9047 – 6th Street, Great Bend, Kansas. Christina Hayes and Martin Miller, City of Great Bend, will provide details.

B. ROAD AND BRIDGE: Cooperative Effort to Repair Drainage Issues in Bissell’s Point, Great Bend Township:
-Great Bend Township Officials have requested assistance with drainage issues in Bissell’s Point. Darren Williams, County Works Director, estimates the cost of equipment, labor and material at $30,263.00.

C. COURTHOUSE: Replacement of Carpet in the Administrator’s Office and the Conference Room:
-The carpet in the Administrator’s Office and the Courthouse conference room was originally installed in 1984 and has deteriorated to the point it cannot be cleaned and needs to be replaced. Bids to replace the carpet were received from Abbey Carpet, Kustom Floor Designs and Kern Floor Service. Phil Hathcock, County Administrator, will provide details.

IV. 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 for classified positions, 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: SEPTEMBER 10, 2018
9:30 a.m. or following the close of the Agenda Meeting – Humane Society operations – Heather Acheson, Director
10:00 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. Phil Hathcock, County Administrator, is scheduled for September 13, 2018.

V. 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, September 17, 2018.

VI. ADJOURN.

AP Friday Kansas Prep Scores
Andale 28, Wellington 0
Andover 20, Maize South 3
Anthony-Harper-Chaparral 49, Wichita Trinity 7
Ashland 54, Western Plains-Healy 7
Attica/Argonia 62, Burden Central 38
Augusta 7, Circle 6
Axtell 64, BV Randolph 12
Baxter Springs 20, Riverton 18
Bennington 28, Moundridge 22
Bishop Miege 49, BV West 7
Blue Valley 31, BV North 20
Bonner Springs 40, Eudora 0
Buhler 19, El Dorado 6
Caldwell 62, Flinthills 6
Caney Valley 41, Eureka 0
Canton-Galva 50, Chase County 14
Cedar Vale/Dexter 62, South Haven 14
Central Plains 32, Victoria 8
Centre 46, Herington 0
Chapman 22, Wamego 8
Cherryvale 42, Bluestem 28
Cheylin 74, Rolla 43
Cimarron 44, Meade 6
Clifton-Clyde 56, Valley Falls 6
Coffeyville 46, Columbus 27
Colby 35, Hugoton 6
Concordia 14, Abilene 6
Conway Springs 28, Cheney 7
Council Grove 52, Central Heights 20
DeSoto 47, KC Wyandotte 8
Derby 63, Salina Central 0
Dighton 46, Oberlin-Decatur 0
Dodge City 27, Salina South 17
Elkhart 45, Southwestern Hts. 14
Ell-Saline 48, Remington 6
Ellinwood 46, Sublette 0
Ellsworth 55, Republic County 22
Emporia 56, Topeka West 7
Frankfort 52, Onaga 6
Galena 36, Girard 2
Garden Plain 31, Douglass 0
Gardner-Edgerton 48, Olathe West 27
Goddard 34, Arkansas City 0
Goddard-Eisenhower 21, Andover Central 14
Goessel 56, Rural Vista 6
Golden Plains 53, Moscow 25
Great Bend 15, Hays 7
Hanover 52, Doniphan West 6
Harrisonville, Mo. 29, BV Northwest 24
Hays-TMP-Marian 14, Ellis 7
Hesston 28, Larned 21
Hill City 48, Trego 18
Hillsboro 42, Lyons 0
Hodgeman County 36, Medicine Lodge 24
Hoisington 28, Nickerson 14
Hoxie 52, Osborne 20
Hutchinson Central Christian 50, Norwich 0
Hutchinson Trinity 38, Inman 0
Ingalls 58, Chase 12
Jackson Heights 38, Atchison County 0
Jayhawk Linn 18, Uniontown 6
Jefferson West 54, Royal Valley 14
KC Piper 51, Baldwin 7
KC Schlagle 18, Atchison 12
KC Sumner 36, Highland Park 34
KC Washington 29, KC Harmon 0
Kapaun Mount Carmel 6, Wichita West 0
Kingman 56, Belle Plaine 18
Kinsley 36, St. John 24
Kiowa County 26, Pratt Skyline 12
Labette County 36, Independence 0
Lakin 40, Stanton County 14
Lansing 14, Basehor-Linwood 13
Lawrence Free State 41, Olathe East 0
Lebo 48, Marais des Cygnes Valley 0
Lincoln 42, Wilson 14
Little River 48, Peabody-Burns 0
Logan/Palco 50, Wheatland-Grinnell 14
Louisburg 27, Tonganoxie 7
Madison/Hamilton 20, Waverly 0
Maize 49, Hutchinson 0
Manhattan 21, Topeka 20
Marion 36, Sterling 13
Marysville 32, Clay Center 6
Maur Hill – Mount Academy 48, Oskaloosa 0
McLouth 28, Jefferson North 12
McPherson 47, Winfield 7
Mill Valley 14, St. James Academy 13
Minneapolis 20, Salina Sacred Heart 17
Mission Valley 40, Wabaunsee 14
Mulvane 42, Clearwater 14
Natoma 60, Fowler 51
Nemaha Central 38, Hiawatha 14
Ness City 50, Macksville 28
Northern Valley 62, Triplains-Brewster 22
Northwest (Cedar Hill), Mo. 66, KC East Christian 8
Oakley 33, Syracuse 12
Olathe North 55, SM North 27
Olathe South 35, Olathe Northwest 7
Olpe 31, Burlington 0
Osage City 41, Lyndon 0
Oswego 30, Marmaton Valley 22
Otis-Bison 50, Bucklin 0
Paola 42, Fort Scott 0
Pawnee Heights 39, Weskan 37
Perry-Lecompton 46, Holton 0
Phillipsburg 31, Plainville 3
Pike Valley 60, Tescott 0
Pittsburg 52, Chanute 0
Pittsburg Colgan 14, Frontenac 0
Pleasanton 8, Southeast 0
Prairie View 26, Lincoln, Mo. 7
Pratt 32, Halstead 16
Pretty Prairie 36, Burrton 8
Rawlins County 50, Quinter 44
Riley County 26, Centralia 21
Rock Hills 40, Lakeside 27
Russell 50, La Crosse 12
SM East 43, Lawrence 13
SM Northwest 41, Leavenworth 12
SM South 27, SM West 6
Sabetha 55, Riverside 0
Santa Fe Trail 40, Osawatomie 0
Satanta 18, South Gray 14
Scott City 24, Holcomb 0
Sedan 54, Oxford 6
Sedgwick 52, Wichita Independent 14
Shawnee Heights 37, KC Turner 6
Silver Lake 17, Rossville 14
Smith Center 40, Norton 0
Smoky Valley 44, Haven 0
Solomon 54, Wakefield 6
South Barber 50, Fairfield-Cunningham 0
South Central 24, Spearville 8
Southeast Saline 14, Beloit 13
Spring Hill 49, Ottawa 0
St. Francis 38, Greeley County 0
St. John’s Beloit-Tipton 47, Linn 0
St. Mary’s 32, Rock Creek 9
St. Paul 34, Wichita Life Prep 22
St. Thomas Aquinas 49, BV Southwest 8
Stafford 62, Minneola 14
Stockton 54, Sylvan-Lucas 26
Thunder Ridge 12, Washington County 0
Topeka Seaman 13, Topeka Hayden 0
Troy 18, Pleasant Ridge 0
Udall 52, West Elk 6
Ulysses 62, Goodland 14
Valley Center 41, Garden City 20
Valley Heights 44, Horton 0
Van Horn, Mo. 58, KC Bishop Ward 0
Washburn Rural 34, Junction City 24
Wellsville 35, Iola 16
West Franklin 24, Northern Heights 0
Wetmore 44, Glasco/Miltonvale-Southern Cloud 24
Wichita Bishop Carroll 36, Wichita Heights 20
Wichita Campus 29, Newton 20
Wichita Collegiate 36, Rose Hill 3
Wichita County 54, Wallace County 6
Wichita Home School 59, Cair Paravel 8
Wichita North 13, Liberal 6
Wichita South 36, Wichita Southeast 7

POSTPONEMENTS AND CANCELLATIONS
Altoona-Midway vs. Maranatha Academy, ppd.
Anderson County vs. Parsons, ppd. to Sep 10th.
Crest vs. Burlingame, ppd.
Fredonia vs. Humboldt, ppd.
Neodesha vs. Erie, ppd.
Northeast-Arma vs. Yates Center, ppd.
Southern Coffey vs. Hartford, ppd.