Those people holding out on completely surrendering their summer fun have Labor Day weekend to send their summer out with a bang. Because of the three-day weekend for many coming up this week, Labor Day weekend is often referred to as the last chance to enjoy summer. This attitude results in more than normal traffic on the highways.

Barton County Sheriff Brian Bellendir says his department typically sees a boost in traffic on some of the major roads throughout the County.

Brian Bellendir Audio

Bellendir says the Labor Day weekend also brings an uptick in DUI violations. The Sheriff reminds citizens to get designated drivers and do not drive fatigued or tired.

Most of the traffic flowing through Barton County will be heading to interstate.

Brian Bellendir Audio

It can also be helpful to travel at less busy times to improve your trip. The Hoisington Labor Day Celebration also brings additional thousands of people to Barton County.

The Kansas Department of Transportation is spending extra enforcement statewide to execute their You Drink. You Drive. You Lose. campaign to stop drunk driving on state roads. The campaign started August 16 and continues through next Tuesday.

On August 26 at about 3 p.m. the Barton County Sheriff’s Office responded to a location at 1252 Northeast 190 road near the City of Claflin.

An alert citizen had observed a vehicle that he did not believe belonged there. The rural location was not occupied at the time of the burglary.

Sheriff’s officers and a Kansas Highway Patrol unit were able to quickly locate the suspect vehicles and stop them.

Three suspects were arrested in the area. They were identified as Eric Reed age 46 of Great Bend, Shayla Richmeier age 27 of Great Bend, and Harold Mason age 47 of Great Bend. All were booked on burglary and theft charges.

Bond was set at $20,000.00 on all three. Reed posted bond and was released. Richmeier and Mason remain in jail at this time. Mason was out on bond from a previous burglary charge when he was arrested this weekend.

It is believed several other burglaries will be cleared with this arrest.

On Sunday, August 26, The Great Bend Police Department received three reports of vehicles being burglarized in the area of Forest and Monroe during the overnight hours on Saturday, August 25.

The first report was taken at 3023 Forest. An unknown person or persons broke the window on a 2013 GMC Yukon and stole a purse and contents out of the vehicle. The total loss and damage was reported at $1,200.

The second report was taken at 2812 Forest. An unknown person or persons entered an unlocked 2002 Chevy Trail Blazer and stole a back pack and contents. The total loss was reported at $281.

The third report was taken in the 1400 block of Madison. An unknown person or persons entered an unlocked 1998 Ford Explorer and stole electronic items and tobacco products. The total loss was reported at $290.

A theft report was also taken at 1316 Eisenhower. An unknown person or persons stole several dog training items from the front yard of the residence. The total loss was reported at $423.

These cases remain under investigation by the Great Bend Police Department. Anyone with any information about these crimes is asked to contact the Great Bend Police Department at 620-793-4120 or Crime Stoppers at 620-792-1300.

On Saturday, August 25 at approximately 12:25 a.m. an officer from the Great Bend Police Department conducted a traffic stop in the 1000 block of Main Street in Great Bend for a traffic violation.

During the course of the traffic stop the Great Bend Police Department K-9 Lazar was deployed to conduct an exterior sniff of the vehicle. Upon completion of the sniff it was determined a search of the vehicle would be conducted.

During the search of the vehicle several items were located inside including cocaine, methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. The driver was identified as Cecil Eugene Petrie, age 52, and passenger Michael Charles Foster, age 29, were taken into custody.

This case is still under investigation. Any information regarding this crime or any other crime please contact the Great Bend Police Department at 620-793-4120 or Crime Stoppers at 620-792-1300.

In anticipation of buying new electronic voting machines in 2019, the Barton County Clerk’s Office has begun the consolidation process of voting locations across the county.

Barton County Commissioners Monday authorized the purchase of one electronic poll pad which improves the check in process at polling places. That will be needed since Barton County Clerk Donna Zimmerman says the number of polling locations in the November general election will go from 23 to 11.

Donna Zimmerman Audio

While making it easier to staff the voting locations with poll workers, the move is also being made to reduce the number of new voting machines that will be purchased next year. The county utilized 87 machines during the August 7th primary, machines that were purchased in 2005 with an anticipated shelf life of 10 years.

With the high replacement cost and the fact that there will be no federal dollars available this time around from the “Help America Vote Act”, Zimmerman says the consolidation will cut down on the number of machines they will have to purchase.

Donna Zimmerman Audio

For those people who live in rural areas, Zimmerman says they will be sent a letter informing them of their new polling location along with an application to receive an advanced voting ballot, and instructions on how to get a ballot in the future. She reminds voters that advance voting is available twenty days before each primary and general election.

8/24

BOOKED: Travis Newkirk of Hoisington on BTDC serve sentence.

BOOKED: Victor Valencia on BTDC case for serve sentence.

BOOKED: Damien Clone of Great Bend on Barton County District Court warrant with no bond.

BOOKED: Debra Gray of Radium on Stafford District Court warrant for failure to appear, no bond.

BOOKED: Julio Ayala of Great Bend on serve sentence.

RELEASED: Andrew P. Tucker on Barton County cases to Kansas Department of Corrections. Transported to Larned Correctional Facility.

RELEASED: Suzanne M. Witten for Barton County hold for court, transport back to Topeka Correctional Facility.

RELEASED: Brandon Maxwell of Hoisington after completing Barton County District Court serve sentence.

RELEASED: Matthew Meyers on GBMC case for disorderly conduct, and interference LEO, after posting a $1,000 surety bond through Ace Bail Bonding.

RELEASED: Tyler Partington of Great Bend on BTDC case for possession of methamphetamine, possession of paraphernalia, possession of marijuana, after posting a $10,000 surety bond through Ace Bail Bonding. GBMC warrant for failure to appear after posting a $1,000 surety bond through Ace. GBMC warrant for failure to appear after posting a $1,000 surety bond through Ace.

8/25

BOOKED: Cherie Jacobs of Great Bend on Barton County District Court case for DUI and failure to maintain a lane, bond set at $1,000 C/S.

BOOKED: Michael Foster of Newton on Great Bend Municipal Court warrant for contempt, bond set at 175 day sin jail or $1,324.50 cash. Newton Municipal Court warrant for failure to appear, no bond. Barton County District Court case for distribution of a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a school, and possession of paraphernalia, bond set at $300,000 C/S.

BOOKED: Cecil Petrie on Barton County District Court case for distribution of a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a school, drug paraphernalia, turn signal, and insurance, bond set at $300,000 C/S.

BOOKED: Walter Vasquez-Enriquez on GBMC case for DWS, no child seat, and no headlamp, bond set at $500 C/S.

BOOKED: Courtney Veitenheimer of Great Bend on GBMC warrants for contempt of court x3, no bond.

BOOKED: Clarence Flores of Great Bend on Great Bend Municipal Court warrant for contempt of court, bond in lieu of $475 cash.

BOOKED: Jeree Scheuerman on Barton County District Court warrant for possession of a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia, bond in lieu of $10,000 C/S.

RELEASED: Cherie Jacobs of Great Bend on Barton County District Court case for DUI and failure to maintain a lane,

RELEASED: Walter Vasquez-Enrigquez on GBMC case for DWS, no child seat, and no headlamp after posting $500 surety bond through Ace Bail Bonding.

RELEASED: Christopher Adams on BTDC warrant for possession of a controlled substance, bond posted through Ace Bail Bonding of $10,000. Released on BTDC warrant for probation violation, bond paid by defendant in cash of $1,130.20.

RELEASED: Clarence Flores of Great Bend on GBMC warrant for contempt of court after posting a $475 cash bond.

RELEASED: Jeree Scheuerman on BCDC warrant for possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia after posting a $10,000 surety bond through Absolute Bonding.

8/26

BOOKED: Darah Messersmith of Great Bend on Great Bend Municipal Court case for domestic battery, bond set at $1,000 C/S.

BOOKED: Dylan Lemieux of Lorraine on BTDC case for DUI, bond set at $1,000 C/S.

BOOKED: Eric Wade Reed on Barton County District Court case for burglary with a bond of $20,000 C/S.

BOOKED: Shayla Richmeier of Great Bend on BTDC case for burglary and theft, bond set in lieu of $20,000 C/S.

BOOKED: Harold Everett Mason on Barton County District Court case for burglary and theft with a bond of $20,000 C/S.

RELEASED: Darah Messersmith of Great Bend on GBMC case for domestic battery after posting a $1,000 surety bond through Dynomite Bail.

RELEASED: Victor Leyva-Valencia of Great Bend on BTDC case for serve sentence in full.

RELEASED: Dylan Lemieux of Lorraine on BTDC case for DUI, posted bond through Dynomite Bail Bonding of $1,000.

RELEASED: Eric Wade Reed on BCDC case for burglary with bond posted through Dynomite.

RELEASED: Julio C. Ayala on a serve sentence.

Cindy Beck
Jefferson School
Second-Grade Teacher

Kristine Boepple
Eisenhower School
Technology Coach

Colbi Brooks
Jefferson School
Fourth-Grade Teacher

Katelyn Buckman
Eisenhower School
Fourth-Grade Teacher

Alex Cape
BCSS Ellinwood
Special Education Teacher

Fernando Cartagena
Riley School
KRR Coordinator

Tammy Cline
Lincoln School
Special Education Teacher

Deanna Curtis
Special Services
Teacher for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

Carli Denning
Riley School
Kindergarten Teacher

Miranda Drouillard
Jefferson School
Fourth-Grade Teacher

Jason Duvall
Special Services
Special Education Teacher

Shelly Duvall
Great Bend High School
Physical Education Teacher

Teresa Frieb
Great Bend High School
Special Education Teache

Kristina Garza
Eisenhower School
Second-Grade Teacher

Rachel Harris
Riley School
Third-Grade Teacher

Kelly Hart
Special Services
Special Education Teacher

Trey Heitschmidt
Riley School
Special Education Teacher

Alana Jamison
Great Bend High School
English Teacher

Katherine Knoles
Riley School
Music Teacher

Daisy Kraus
Jefferson School
First-Grade Teacher

Jodi Kuhn
Riley School
Fourth-Grade Teacher

Hannah Laurin
Riley School
Sixth-Grade Teacher

Megan McGuire
Eisenhower School
Special Education Teacher

Kelsey Menges
Eisenhower School
Sixth-Grade Teacher

Cara Moore
Eisenhower School
Family Support Worker

Audra Nuckolls
Great Bend Middle School
Social Studies Teacher

Brandy Proffitt
Great Bend Middle School
Science Teacher

Paulette Soupiset
GBHS/Park School
School Nurse

Miraya Starnes
All Elementary Schools
Art Teacher

Amy Stein
Lincoln School
Fifth-Grade Teacher

Stephanie Stephens
Jefferson School
Fifth-Grade Teacher

Kaitlynn Tuey
Eisenhower School
First-Grade Teacher

Kenzie Unruh
Eisenhower School
Fifth-Grade Teacher

Kyle Vierra
Park School
Fourth-Grade Teacher

Pamela Williams
Great Bend Middle School
Art Teacher

Amber Wolking
Great Bend High School
FACS Teacher

Katelyn Buckman
Eisenhower School
Fourth-Grade Teacher

First as usual, a drought update is in order and it will be brief.  The state is essentially the same as last week.  Remember any rainfall after last Tuesday at 8 am isn’t included and some significant rains east of here should have helped.  On the bright side, there were areas in the eastern part of the state that progressed from exceptional drought to extreme, from extreme to severe, and severe to moderate which is actually some progress.  Now on to today’s topic – Agriculture and Society.  Last week’s column discussed the positive impacts of agriculture on our society and the negative impacts and challenges facing agriculture and its intersection with society.  Today, what are potential ways to address these challenges and problems?  How can we bring both sides together?

• The rural/urban divide must be addressed. This may seem simplistic but the values, challenges, and problems faced by both are more similar than dissimilar.  This involves active communication on both sides.  Both sides need to reach out, not only to communicate their problems but to understand the other side.
• When dealing with the extremes of debates like animal abuse in agriculture, the urban side needs to actively work to understand what is being done and why. The agriculture side needs to develop more effective ways to explain to the general public what they are doing across agriculture through social media and bringing the city to the countryside.  A perfect example of an effective program is the Kid’s Ag Day this September 5^th at the Koelsch Farm in Western Barton County.  This event is celebrating 25 years and has exposed thousands of area children to agriculture.
• Both sides need to fact check what they read and what they are being told. A classic example is the SNAP program (food stamps).  We are told the overwhelming majority of people using SNAP benefits don’t work.  That is true.  What isn’t being stated though is that they don’t work because they are minors.  Or city people read reports that agriculture is overwhelmingly corporations.  Again that is somewhat true.  What isn’t being said is these “corporate” farms and LLCs are family operations and these are business structures.
• Speaking to the agriculture audience. We have to share all the positives and progress being made but also admit to the mistakes and the bad apples.  We must admit that while progress is being made with pollution, erosion, and water usage, there is much more that can be done.
• Speaking to the urban audience. Please take the time to understand how reliant you are on agriculture for your lifestyle.  You don’t owe producers, it is their choice, however, learn to find out what they do, the sacrifices they and their families make, and appreciate what they do and what they give up.  And understand that “welfare” given to famers isn’t making them rich and helps insure we have a stable food supply.  Crop insurance doesn’t replace a crop.