First as usual, a drought update is in order.  Again, nothing after 8 a.m. this past Tuesday is included.  The biggest change is the bullseye of extreme and exceptional drought in Northeast Kansas and part of Southeast Kansas has expanded and the area of exceptional drought expanded a bit.  Our area is relatively unchanged and much of Northwest and a substantial portion of Southwest Kansas are not even abnormally dry.  The moderate temperatures most of the past week slowed down corn grain fill which should help yields.  Reports across the state indicate the 2018 corn crop is well ahead of schedule and much is in the early dough stage well above the long-term average.  Last year’s harvest was long and drawn out but this years should be early if this pattern continues.  Now on to today’s topic.

August is here and fall is not far off.  This means several things.  Days are getting shorter, The Kansas State Fair is only a month away.  Harvest for fall crops is near.  And it’s almost time to head back to school.  Barton Community College starts the fall semester August 15^th.  Latest reports indicate the unemployment rate in Kansas is well under three percent.  Also present is a large need for employees in the agriculture, all phases of agriculture.  While most Kansans looking for work have found a job, many of these jobs are lower paying, lack permanence, and have little opportunity for advancement.  There are indications part of the reason for the low unemployment rate is many are working more than one job to make ends meet since many jobs are part time and/or lack benefits.  Yet higher paying, more stable positions, with good benefits go unfilled due to a lack of qualified help.  Some employment is a job while some employment results in a career.  How can we move people in the area from jobs to careers?

Depending on where you are reading this, there is a community or technical college nearby.  They offer certificates, two-year degrees, and short-term training opportunities to prepare individuals to work in various industries/professions.  Some certificates may be obtained with one semester of intense study or in two semesters.  These are designed in conjunction with industry to address industry needs and prepare students for careers.  At Barton Community College, in agriculture, we have two semester certificate options in Crop Protection and Beef Cattle Production.  Barton offers two-year A.A.S. degrees in Crop Protection and Agriculture Business Management, as well as a two-year transfer Agriculture degree.  However, this is just a small portion of the certificates and A.A.S. offerings at Barton.  You can study natural gas transmission, welding or become a scales technician in additions to many career paths in healthcare, business, criminal justice, or computer networking.

Please read these next few sentences carefully.  Many won’t consider something like agriculture as a career since they have no background in it.  And this is true of many other possible career paths offered at Barton and other colleges.  What industry wants is someone responsible, willing to learn, and possessing the skills making for a good employee.  If you are willing to learn, a good basic education from a place like Barton and dedication once hired are what industry wants.  The point is simply we have choices to make in life.  One of the biggest is looking for a job or establishing a career.  It isn’t that one path is necessarily better than the other.  It depends on considering where you want to see yourself in five, ten, or twenty years.

Barton County Clerk Donna Zimmerman says her office has been busy answering plenty of questions concerning Tuesday’s primary election. Questions concerning who can vote, party affiliations, declaring a party affiliation and what does a non-partisan primary mean are just some of the questions that Zimmerman’s Office have been trying to answer for voters.

Donna Zimmerman Audio

Zimmerman says people who want to declare a party affiliation in order to vote either a Republican or Democratic ballot don’t have to do that in advance. She says they can do that at their designated polling place the day they vote.

Donna Zimmerman Audio

Zimmerman says turnout so far during advance voting has been very slow in Barton County but she hopes that picks up on election day.

For information on where to vote, the ballot you will be voting, what your part affiliation is or what ward or precinct you live in, visit bartoncounty.org.

Story by Micah Oelze
The Shafer Art Gallery’s latest exhibit “Topographies: Installations by Bliven and Heimbaugh” will be on display from Aug. 10-Sept. 8 with an opening reception on Aug. 10 at 6:30 p.m. Refreshments will be provided and an artist will walk visitors through the gallery. The gallery is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Admission is free.

The Shafer Art Gallery moto “where the old west meets the future” has never been more true than with the gallery’s newest exhibit.

With traditional art being a common occurrence at the Shafer, this exhibit will offer visitors a new yet familiar experience. These installations by Alyssa Bliven and Eleanor Heimbaugh provide an excellent introduction to a common medium in today’s world of art.

“It’s art that stimulates the imagination; it’s art that makes us think about the world and the things we normally take for granted in a brand-new way; it’s art that opens our eyes, it is challenging but in no way off-putting,” Shafer Art Gallery Director Dave Barnes said.

“The 228”

Bliven recently joined the Barton Community College family as an adjunct Art Instructor in January and will be presenting work from her master’s in fine arts (MFA) thesis project titled “228 words of depression.” Her thesis features 228 objects which Bliven associates with depression. Bliven started the project by creating a list of 101 words which she associates with depression and then created a work of art based on the word. A second list of 101 words was also created using the antonyms she associated with depression.

“For some of [the words] I ended up making more than one (object) because I felt one was not enough to describe that word,” she said. “So, it should have been 202, but I ended up making extra.”

In continuing her work, Bliven has titled her growing and evolving collection “The 228” as a throwback to her thesis which still plays a valuable role in her work today.

“I will be showing a few new pieces since my show at Hastings College. So, it is an accumulation of my thesis and what I have recently done,” she said. “My newest pieces are less focused on my depression and more of my day to day mood. Some are really playful, and some are more sad.”

Conveying her emotions through her art is a vital piece of Bliven’s work and the reason why she creates abstract bodies of work.

“The reason I lean towards abstract art more than representational art is that when I try to create representational art, it is more stiff,” she said. “I can paint someone and while it may look like them, it doesn’t feel like them.”

Another important element is the value of memories. While sewing was not her original forte, Bliven’s memory of sitting with her grandmother as she sewed is something she holds near to her heart. Holding onto memories and feelings is a part of the show visitors will find most relatable.

“I kind of look at my shelves as knickknacks shelves, not that they are inexpensive, knickknacks are things that we have in our homes that are important because of the memories and feelings behind them,” she said. “Each of the pieces in my show is a portrait of a feeling, moment, or memories and to me, they are very sentimental like a knickknack is.”

Bliven hopes that through her work, at least one person comes to realize they are not alone in their struggles.

“Trace – Artifacts of the Future”

Heimbaugh is a native Kansan who grew up in a family of engineers, teachers and makers with a constant desire to create. She has always been curious about the environments around her and since childhood has explored her surroundings through long bike rides, hiking adventures and leading to discovery. She loves to explore abandoned buildings and trash piles, discovering discarded and aged remnants. A geology club in 4-H nurtured her love of fossil hunting and she has spent years of digging around gravel roads and fields to find Cretaceous marine fossils from the pre-historic ocean that once covered Kansas. Recently, Heimbaugh took a position at Bethany College in Lindsborg as the Assistant Professor of Ceramics and Sculpture.

Similar to “The 228”, “Trace – Artifacts of the Future” is Heimbaugh’s thesis work which is continuously evolving as her main body of work.

“My current ceramic work is a pseudoscientific investigation of artifacts, specimens, and fossils of 21st century American culture,” she said. “I am considering how these archeological discoveries if found may be interpreted or valued in the future, and what histories or narratives they may tell.”

This futuristic lens through which her creations are viewed is one which is sure to attract visitors of all ages. Heimbaugh’s take on what future archeology may look like in 500,000 years is a special science fiction-like experience. Her use of lighting takes her idea to a whole new level and is as spectacular as it is unique.

On site enrollment for USD 428 students will be Aug. 7 and 8 at the various school buildings. Sign up will be from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Aug. 7 and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Aug. 8 for Great Bend High School and Great Bend Middle School. Elementary enrollment will be from 1-7 p.m. on Aug. 7 and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Aug. 8. Helping Hands Preschool enrollment has been set for Aug. 9.

Online enrollment for all USD 428 students is now open. To enroll online please go to www.usd428.net and select the Family Access button under Quick Links near the center of the page. If you do not know your login information for your Family Access account, click the “Forgot your login or password” link. Enter your email address and click “Submit.” If the school has a matching email address on file, an email will be sent to that address with information on how to log in. If the school does not have your email address on file or you experience other problems, please call the District Education Center at 620-793-1500 during regular business hours.

Please remember to set you internet browser to allow pop-ups and have Acrobat Reader installed on your computer. This is a free download that allows you to open the PDF documents. It is available at https://get.adobe.com/reader. Once you gain access, the enrollment process is self-explanatory with information readily available about how to navigate the screens.

The system is set to accept payment by using a credit card or you may pay by check or cash at the school.

Back-to-school dates have been announced. USD 428 staff goes back Aug. 20. First full day for grades 1-6, 7 and 9 is Aug. 22. Half-day kindergarten on Aug. 22. First day for grades 8 and 10-12 is Aug. 23.

The Kansas Department of Agriculture, Division of Conservation is pleased to announce the availability of funds to assist landowners that have previously drilled livestock water supply wells in response to the ongoing drought.  Previously installed livestock water supply pipeline and tanks are also eligible for funding.  The State Conservation Commission took action on July 31, 2018 to approve funding that will provide financial assistance for livestock water supply wells, pipeline and tanks installed after June 1, 2018 and before the announcement of the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) Drought Initiative by NRCS on July 24, 2018.

Following is additional program guidance on the Retroactive Livestock Well Incentive Payment Initiative:

• Applications will be accepted from August 1^st thru August 31^st 2018
• Eligible livestock wells, pipeline and tanks must have been installed or have started the installation process between the dates of June 1, 2018 and July 24, 2018.
• Eligible livestock wells, pipeline and tanks must serve pastures 40 acres or larger with a permanent perimeter fence.
• Landowners must provide a copy of the completed WWC-5 Water Well Record form for all wells drilled.
• Landowners must provide copies of all bills pertaining to drilling the livestock wells, installing livestock water supply pipeline and installing tanks.
• Landowners must certify that these practices are being used for livestock water supply and no other purpose.
• Eligible areas will be the same as the NRCS EQIP 2018 Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) Drought Initiative. These eligible areas are located in the following Kansas counties:
• Barber, Barton Butler, Chase, Clark, Clay, Coffey, Comanche, Cowley, Dickinson, Edwards, Ellsworth, Finney, Ford, Geary, Grant, Gray, Greenwood, Hamilton, Harper, Harvey, Haskell, Hodgeman, Kearney, Kingman, Kiowa, Lincoln, Lyon, Marion, McPherson, Meade, Morris, Morton, Osage, Ottawa, Pawnee, Pottawatomie, Pratt, Reno, Rice, Riley, Saline, Sedgwick, Seward, Shawnee, Stafford, Stanton, Stevens, Sumner, and Wabaunsee.
• The DOC will approve applications until all specified funds are allocated at the end of the sign-up period.
• Cost—Share funding will be based on a statewide county average cost with a cost-share percentage of 50%.
• Landowner with approved application will sign a 20-year maintenance agreement for the practices as installed.
• The total landowner limit for financial assistance will be an amount not to exceed $6,000.

If you have any questions please contact your local county Conservation District Office. In Barton County the Conservation District office is now located at 926 Patton Rd., Great Bend, Ks. Our phone number is (620) 792-3346 Ext. 302.  Ask for Pam Tucker, District Manager.

Funding provided by the Division of Conservation, Kansas Department of Agriculture through appropriation from the Kansas Water Plan Fund.

BOARD OF BARTON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS August 6, 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 July 30, 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. APPROVAL OF APPROPRIATIONS:
-An Accounts Payable Register will be submitted to the Commission for the period of July 23, 2018, and ending August 6, 2018.

III. OLD BUSINESS – Items tabled, or scheduled, from previous Commission Meetings, will be heard at this time.
-There is no Old Business at this time.

IV. 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. COMMUNICATIONS: Improvements to the 800 Megahertz System:
-Barton County continues to move forward with plans to switch to an 800 megahertz system. Dena Popp, 911 Director, has worked with the 911 Advisory Committee in developing a plan for both equipment and infrastructure. With some equipment on site, Ms. Popp will ask that the Commission consider the purchase of seven 800 mHz radios, a combiner system and 12 recording licenses. The total cost of the equipment is $96,563.09.

C. RESOLUTION 2018-15: A Resolution Establishing Business Hours for County Offices
and Rescinding Untitled Resolution 1978-06, Adopted March 27, 1978:
-It is the expectation of citizens that County business offices be open during
prescribed hours. To that end, the County has updated a 1978 Resolution
dealing with Courthouse hours. In addition to setting business hours, the
updated Resolution describes those offices operating outside the set hours,
establishes a method for closing for training periods and posting closings due to
staff or work needs. Phil Hathcock, County Administrator, shall provide details.

D. COUNTY SERVICES: Informational Update:
-Mr. Hathcock will provide the informational report of work completed during
the last period. The report, which will be made available to the media, will serve
as a public reminder of the services provided by the County on a regular basis.

E. EXECUTIVE SESSION: Attorney-Client Privilege:
-The Commission will enter into Executive Session. The Commission may invite
such parties as needed into said Session. It is anticipated that Phil Hathcock,
County Administrator; Donna Zimmerman, County Clerk / Assistant County
Administrator; and Carey Hipp, County Counselor, will be invited into said
Session. The Commission meeting will resume in fifteen minutes.

F. ACTION FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION: Attorney-Client Privilege:
-The Commission will make any necessary announcements as a result of the
Executive Session. If necessary, further discussion or a decision may be made at
this time.

V. 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, 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 a ceremony rededicating the
Ginkgo tree in Jack Kilby Square. The Great Bend Rotary Club will place a
marker next to a Ginkgo tree at the north end of the Square at 12:30 p.m.,
Monday, August 6, 2018.
-The County Commission will meet as the Board of County Canvassers on
Monday, August 13, 2018, at 8:30 am in the Office of the County Clerk. At that
time, they will canvass ballots from the August 7, 2018, Primary Election.

B. APPOINTMENTS:

-Subject to change, the following appointments have been scheduled:
AUGUST 6, 2018
10:00 a.m. or following the close of the Agenda Meeting – Regular Business
Discussion – Phil Hathcock, County Administrator, and Donna Zimmerman,
County Clerk
11:00 a.m. – Program Update – Barry McManaman, County Engineer
THE COUNTY EDITION, KVGB-AM – Thursdays at 11:05 a.m. Sheriff Brian Bellendir
is scheduled for August 9, 2018.
VI. 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 follow the Election Canvas on Monday,
August 13, 2018. It is anticipated that the meeting will begin no earlier
than 9:00 a.m.

VII. ADJOURN.

Free physicals for USD 428 high school and middle school athletes will be given on Saturday, Aug. 4 in the commons area at Great Bend High School.  This is the only date these physicals will be offered.

Packets were mailed early in July. If you did not receive a packet, the required forms are available in the Activities Office at GBHS and at the Great Bend Middle School office. All forms should be completed, signed and returned with the athlete on Aug. 4.  A copy of the physical will be made and given to your child.