By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post

Rep. Roger Marshall said Kansas farmers need to hold on and endure some short-term pain to reap long-term gain on trade.

Marshall said to expect news any day on the tariffs with Mexico. He said Mexico, Japan, the European Union, Canada and other trade partners know President Trump is not going to flinch on tariffs.

Marshall was in Hays on Friday and was on hand during the announcement of a $50,000 grant for Fort Hays State University’s Forsyth Library and at a Hays Area Chamber of Commerce Chat at the Historic Fort Hays.

“It is not fair that China charges us 25 percent minimum tariff and we can only charge them a 2 percent tariff based on (World Trade Organization) rules,” Marshall said.

President Trump recently announced a $12 billion aid package to U.S. farmers to compensate for ag losses in the trade war. That aid will be under the control of the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. Marshall said he saw the aid going proportionally to the producers with the commodities hardest hit by the tariff’s, especially pork and sorghum.

See related story: Trump tapping $12B to help farmers affected by tariffs

“I truly, truly think better days are ahead of us,” he said.

Both the House and Senate have approved versions of the Farm Bill, and a conference committee will take up the legislation on Sept. 5. Marshall said he hoped Congress would have a final bill to the president by Sept. 30, when the current Farm Bill is set to expire.

Some Democrats have opposed the Farm Bill because it requires work to receive food assistance.

Marshall supports the work requirement. He said last year more than 9 million Americans between the ages of 18 and 59 without a disability and without young children at home who needed child care had zero income.

“What we wanted to do was give these people the opportunity to work,” Marshall said. “All we ask is that they work or train to work 20 hours a week. If you can’t pay for training, we will help pay for training. We will even let you volunteer — say volunteer at a food bank or volunteer serving meals at a senior center.

“We think we need to engage people. Right now, the biggest problem we have facing Kansas in the economy is a lack of labor, so if you can’t get a job right now, maybe you can’t pass a drug test or maybe you don’t have the work training either. Let’s give those people the opportunity.”

Although most people think of the agriculture industry when they think of the Farm Bill, the bill touches on others aspects of rural life, including improvement of high-speed internet and housing and water projects.

“All across my district, these water projects are aging out,” Marshall said. “110-year-old water towers — guess what? They’re rotting out. So I’m very, very proud of this Farm Bill that is going through.”

Victoria is receiving a federal grant for its latest water project, which will connect the city to the rural water district in WaKeeney. It will provide Victoria with 50,000 gallons of water per day to supplement the Victoria wells, which are running low.

“That is going to alleviate some of the pressure on our wells,” Victoria Mayor John Schulte said, “and at the same time, we are doing some projects in town. We are replacing some lines in town that are 100 plus years old.”

Congress and the president are dedicated to bringing billions of dollars in needed infrastructure funds to rural America, Marshall said.

“The rest of the country’s economy is going incredibly well,” he said “I have never seen an economy like this on a national level, but rural America with four years of lagging commodity prices, low oil prices … Rural America has struggled, and they will be the last piece of this puzzle to put together.”

Marshall also touched briefly on immigration in an interview after the grant presentation at FHSU.

He said he supports giving President Trump the $25 billion he wants to secure the border. He said the president’s “wall” is just an analogy of what securing the border looks like. Portions of the physical border need to be reinforced, but Marshall said he did not see a physical wall spanning the complete border with Mexico. Some of the funds from the president’s request will go toward tools for the border patrol, including UAVs.

Marshall said he has visited the board and was assured the border patrol knows the best way to secure the border.

He also supports agricultural guest worker visas. This would not be a path to citizenship, but help alleviate labor shortages in rural Kansas where unemployment is low.

“We need to fix this immigration system and have long-term solutions that are fair to everybody,” Marshall said.

He also said he would support long-term legal status for young people in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which is also known as DACA. He said would support allowing those in the DACA program to “get in line” for the immigration process, but he said he was not in favor for any special pathway to citizenship for DACA recipients.

Marshall is currently seeking re-election to his second term in Congress. He will face Democrat Alan LaPolice in the November general election.

BOARD OF BARTON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Agenda Meeting – Monday, August 27, 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 August 13, 2018, and the August 20, 2018, Regular
Meetings.
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. COUNTY CLERK’S OFFICE: Request for Approval – Added / Abated / Escaped /
Refunded Taxes:
-Donna Zimmerman, County Clerk, will present a listing of Added / Abated /
Escaped / Refunded Taxes. Orders for these actions are kept on file in the
County Clerk’s Office. These are used to correct assessments and are requested
by the County Appraiser’s Office or the County Clerk’s Office.

B. COUNTY CLERK: Purchase of KnowInk Poll Pads:
-In order to increase efficiencies, the County Clerk’s Office purchased electronic
poll pads for elections. Use of the pads decreases staff time and supply costs,
while improving the check-in process at polling places. Ms. Zimmerman has
proposed the purchase of two additional pads. Total cost for the pads and
related equipment is $2,860.00. Ms. Zimmerman will provide details.

C. RESOLUTION 2018-16: Placement of Stop Signs at the Intersection of SE 30
Avenue and SE 40 Road in South Bend Township and at the Intersection of NW 80
Avenue and NW 160 Road in Grant and Albion Townships:
-The County Engineer was asked to investigate two township road intersections
to determine appropriate signage. Given sight distance restrictions, Barry
McManaman, County Engineer, recommends that stop signs be placed at the
intersection of SE 30 Avenue and SE 40 Road in South Bend Township and at the
intersection of NW 80 Avenue and NW 160 Road in Grant and Albion Townships.
Mr. McManaman 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.
-County officials have been invited to attend the Circles of Central Kansas
Community Assessment meeting. The meeting will begin with a dinner at 5:30
p.m., Thursday, August 30, 2018, at the First United Methodist Church, 2123 Forest
Avenue, Great Bend, Kansas.
-County business offices will be closed in observance of the Labor Day Holiday
on Monday, September 3, 2018. The Health Department, the Records Division of
the Sheriff’s Office and the Landfill will also be closed. Emergency services will
be in normal operation.
-The Commission has been invited to attend the 122nd Annual Labor Day parade
in Hoisington. The annual celebration begins on Friday, August 31, 2018, and
concludes on Monday, September 3, 2018. This year’s theme is “Home Sweet
Hoisington”.

B. APPOINTMENTS: AUGUST 27, 2018
9:30 a.m. or following the close of the Agenda Meeting – Nuisance Properties –
Phil Hathcock, County Administrator; Judy Goreham, Environmental Manager;
and Shelly Schneider, Health Director
10:00 a.m. – Road and Bridge assisting Great Bend Township with Road Work –
Darren Williams, County Works Director, and Great Bend Township Officials
10:30 a.m. – Program Update – Cottonwood Extension District
11:00 a.m. – Regular Business Discussion – Mr. Hathcock and Donna Zimmerman,
County Clerk
THE COUNTY EDITION, KVGB-AM – Thursdays at 11:05 a.m. Members of the
Juvenile Services Department are scheduled for August 30, 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., Tuesday, September 4, 2018.

VI. ADJOURN.

** Barton County Commission Agenda Meeting Minutes Recorded audio is available on compact disk upon request to the Barton County Clerk’s Office, 1400 Main – Room 202, Great Bend, Kansas 67530. Phone (620) 793-1835 \ Fax (620) 793-1990 \ Email clerk@bartoncounty.org
Requests to be made pursuant to the Kansas Open Records Act and County Policy. Estimated cost of disk – Five Dollars ($5.00).

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

When starting your compost pile, it is important to layer your browns and greens while adding water to each layer. For a quick review of last weeks’ article, the “browns” are carbon-rich, mostly dry material consisting of items like stems, dried leaves, dried grass clippings, sawdust pellets, wood ash and the like. “Greens” however, are nitrogen or protein-rich material like herbivore manures, kitchen food scraps, coffee grounds, green lawn clippings, lawn and garden weeds (without seeds), or even green leaves.

To properly construct a compost pile, you should alternate layers of these brown (60%) and green (30%) materials. While constructing these layers, add a shovel or two every two to three layers of soil from your yard. This will give the pile a jump-start with the microorganisms needed in the composting process. An ideal size for a back yard compost pile is around 5’ x 5’ x 5’. Remember, for your compost pile to work it is important to know what can and should not be added. A lot of materials are great for composting, while others can bind up the decomposition process. See the list below for dos and don’ts.

DOS                                                                                         DON’TS
Dried or green grass clippings*                                              Large woody material
Old fruits and vegetables                                                        Fats**
Twigs and small branch pieces                                                Weeds that have gone to seed
Garden waste                                                                           Meat/Bones**
Straw                                                                                        Diseased plant material
Rinds, peels, cores, and other veg. and fruit scraps                 Materials w/long lasting pesticide residues
Herbivore manures                                                                  Oils (salad dressing, cooking oil)**
Lawn waste (leaves)                                                                 Dairy products**
Egg shells                                                                                 Pet waste

*Be sure that grass clippings have not been treated with pre-emergent.

**Dairy, fats, animal bones and meat, and oils will begin to smell and attract insect pests and varmints. Another point is every few weeks give the pile a quick turn with a pitchfork or shovel. This aerates the pile. Oxygen is required for the decomposition process to work, and turning the pile “adds” oxygen. You can skip this step if you have a regular supply of coarse brown material, like straw. Once you’ve established your compost pile, add new materials by mixing them in. It is not necessary to add them in by layers at this point. Mixing, or turning, the compost pile is essential to aerating the composting materials and speeding the process to completion. Also add water to the pile as necessary. As was mentioned in Part I of this article from last week, keeping the pile moist is best for micro biotic activity; not too dry, and not too wet.

The key indicator of composting is when temperature in the center of the pile warms up. These temperatures can easily warm up to 130 o F due to the micro biotic activity in breaking down the organic material. The ideal
temperature to achieve killing off of fungal spores and weed seeds is between 150-160 F.

Once your compost pile is uniform in consistency, it is time to start reaping the benefits. Compost can be used by simply spreading it across the surface of your garden and flower bed or by incorporating it into the soil through tilling. One resource, “Building Better Soils for Better Crops”, says that applying compost can substitute for mulch and can even suppress disease is your garden.

For more information about composting follow this link, https://bit.ly/2MtlXVa, to “Building Better Soils for Better Crops” chapter called Making and Using Compost. For more information about what goes into compost and
why, follow these links to videos provides by Kansas Healthy Yards called “Composting: What to Add”, https://bit.ly/2nnP3dy, and “Composting: Making Black Gold”, https://bit.ly/2nnO7G4.

BOOKED: Keith Harder of Burns, OR on Barton County District Court warrant for aggravated failure to register, bond set at $100,000 C/S.

BOOKED: Herman Pitts of Great Bend on GBMC warrant for contempt of court, bond set at $955 cash only or 89 days in jail.

BOOKED: Arthur Herren of Great Bend on GBMC warrant for contempt of court, to serve 180 days in jail.

BOOKED: Austin Levingston of Great Bend on Barton County District Court warrant for aggravated indecent liberty with a child, bond set at $1,000,000 C/S.

BOOKED: Charles Rowe Jr. of Great Bend on BTDC warrant for probation violation, no bond. GBMC warrant for contempt of court, bond set at $617.50 cash only.

BOOKED: Matthew Meyer of Haven on Great Bend Municipal Court case for disorderly conduct and interference with LEO, bond in lieu of $1,000 C/S.

RELEASED: Vidiana Dominguez to KDOC for bus transport.

RELEASED: Harold Hunt to KDOC for bus transport.

RELEASED: Harold Norman Jr. to KDOC for bus transport.

RELEASED: Robert E. Stanley Jr. to KDOC for bus transport.

RELEASED: Brett Hammond to KDOC for bus transport.

RELEASED: Joshua Carey of Hoisington on Barton County District Court case for possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia. District Court of Rush County warrant for FTA after posting a $1,000 and $500 surety bond through Around the Clock Bail Bonds.

RELEASED: Amanda H. Howard on GBMC warrant for contempt of court x3, released by order of the court.

RELEASED: Melbra Orr on GBMC cases, released by order of the court.

RELEASED: Herman Pitts of Great Bend on GBMC warrant for contempt of court, released by order of the court.

RELEASED: Jennifer L. Ogden on Barton County case on a $2,500 OR bond per Judge Burgess.

RELEASED: Veronica Reames of Great Bend on BTDC warrant by the order of the Barton County District Court.

RELEASED: Cody Coil on GBMC charge of driving while habitual case after posting a $1,000 surety bond through Around the Clock. Ellis County warrant for probation violation to Ellis County.

BARTON COUNTY — For several months, law enforcement authorities have been investigating a suspect for alleged child sex crimes, according to Great Bend Police Chief David Bailey.

On Thursday, officers responded to a residence in Great Bend and arrested 24-year-old Austin J. Levingston on a warrant for charges of Aggravated Indecent Liberties with a Child and Lewd and Lascivious Behavior.

Levingston is being held in jail on a $1,000,000 bond.

In August 2016, Levingston, a fan of Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps became an inspiration on his own after sharing his dream of competing in the Olympics one day on the swimmer’s Facebook page.

Levingston’s Aug. 16, 2016 post received thousands of  likes. In it,  Levingston said he was attending college and hoped to be the first person in his family to get a degree. He also told Phelps, “I’m hoping to swim in the Olympics just like you someday.”

Levingston also is a doppelganger for Phelps. Levingston included a few pictures of himself which show a strong resemblance to the gold medalist.

He told The Baltimore Sun he didn’t know if Phelps saw his post.

The Great Bend Police Department urges anyone with any information regarding Levingston’s child sex case, to please contact their office.

 

Although the City of Great Bend is not entirely sure throwing an amount of money at the issue will solve everything, the City is hopeful one of the loudest displeasures among employees will be fixed come January 1, 2019. Compensation and compression issues were highlighted this summer during budget talks, especially compression within the Great Bend Fire Department.

Initial talks had the resolutions staged over multiple years, but Human Resources Director Randy Keasling mentioned at last month’s budget session that the problem should be a priority.

Randy Keasling Audio

The Council decided to use approximately $91,000 to bring all employees to the minimum of the pay range for the market and address the compression issues.

The compression issue came into the picture when newer and younger employees were hired within the Fire Department with higher compensation to bolster the understaffed department at the time. The gap between newer employees and veteran employees is getting smaller because of higher starting wages and promotions.

Eventually, the City will have to look into the retirement options for employees. Keasling says the City’s current ICMA retirement option is not close to other public sector plans.

Randy Keasling Audio

The cost of funding a Kansas Public Employees Retirement System (KPERS) or KP&F would be significantly higher for the City of Great Bend.

Cottonwood Extension District

Farmers – are you needing to pick a new variety of wheat or just wanting to keep updated on best management wheat production practices?

Then make plans to attend the Pre-Plant Wheat School on Thursday, August 30th in Great Bend.

The program will begin at 2:30 p.m. and conclude at 5 p.m. with a light supper. At the American Ag Credit building, 5634 10th Street in Great Bend.

According to Cottonwood District Extension Agent Stacy Campbell, topics of discussion by Extension Specialists will be wheat variety selection, disease and weed control options, seed treatments, variety interaction with nitrogen and fungicide, managing nitrogen for protein, successful wheat production practices and as always there will be time for questions and answers.

Pre-registration is requested by Tuesday August 28, call (620) 793-1910 or email Brenda bwalton@ksu.edu