Press release from the United Way of Central Kansas…

United Way of Central Kansas is gearing up for their annual Stuff the Bus event across Barton & Pawnee counties. This annual event provides much needed items for our 23 Community Partners with items on the list ranging from personal hygiene products, to non-perishable food items, to back-to-school supplies.

With a wide range of items needed, and presence in Ellinwood, Hoisington, Great Bend, and Larned, it is easy for you to pick up a few extra items the next time you are at the store. We have
partnered with stores across the area to make sure that you have a chance to help our 23 Community Partners.

Thanks to sponsorship from Wal-Mart, we will also be broadcasting live on Eagle Radio on July 25 so you can check in to see how your donations are being used by our Community Partners. If you
aren’t able to make it out on the day of the event, contact UWCK to drop your items off beforehand.

We also encourage businesses to allow their staff to wear jeans if they make a donation. Then all your items can be dropped off at the location nearest you. United Way believes that we are stronger together, and this event shows us each year just how accurate that statement is.

More than 3,000 items are donated each year to this event, taking a huge financial burden off our Community Partners, so they can focus on helping those in our community who need a hand up.

Ellinwood: July 26, 5:30-7:00 at Wolf Park
Hoisington: July 25, 10:00-6:00 at Town & Country Supermarket
Great Bend: July 25, 10:00-6:00 at Wal-Mart and both Dillons locations
Larned: July 25, 10:00-3:00 at Dillons, Dollar General, and Shopko

The Outlook Business Journal is produced by the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce as a service to their members. The 12-page magazine is a business-to-business communication tool that features new hires, promotions, expansions, and non-profit news in the community.

Megan Barfield with the Chamber says the monthly publication will try a digital version this August.

Megan Barfield Audio

Barfield says the Chamber does not expect to completely go away from the printed version of the Journal, but maybe a combination of printed and online versions going forward.

If Chamber members have information they would like to see in the Outlook, they can email the information to marketing@greatbend.org.

As you might expect, the Great Bend Fire Department views the 4^th of July slightly different. The holiday can be a busy and chaotic day for the staff that has to respond to both fire and EMS calls.

Fire Chief Luke McCormick says his department responded to 24 fire and EMS calls Wednesday, 13 of which were related to fireworks.

Luke McCormick Audio 

The Fire Department hired back off-duty personnel on the holiday to assist with multiple calls. McCormick says there was one occasion of three calls made at the same time, but for the most part the calls were separated.

The most serious call came from a structure fire that resulted in the loss of the property owner’s vehicle. There were nine calls related to grass fires.

Luke McCormick Audio

Along with the City of Great Bend, the Fire Department responds to seven townships in Barton County for EMS responsibilities and four townships for fire responsibilities.

BOARD OF BARTON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS Agenda Meeting, Monday, July 9, 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. Minutes of the July 2, 2018, Regular Meeting are not available.
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 June 25, 2018, and ending July 9, 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. BOARD APPOINTMENT: SouthWest Kansas Area Agency on Aging:
-The County recently sought applicants for two positions on the SouthWest Kansas Area Agency on Aging (SWKAAA) Sub-Regional Council. SWKAAA helps determine long term needs and adequate programs for all senior citizens in Southwest Kansas. Appointees are required to attend four quarterly meetings per year, with mileage reimbursed. The uncompensated positions end in September, 2021. Phil Hathcock, County Administrator, will provide details.

C. RESOLUTION 2018-13: Establishing Speed Limits on a Portion of SE 10 Road East
of SE 105 Avenue and Bordering the City of Ellinwood, Lakin Township, Barton
County, Kansas:
-The Commission received a request from the public for reduced speed limits
on SE 10 Road at the south edge of Ellinwood. Following the Ellinwood city
limits, the section of SE 10 Road east of South Main Street is residential and
includes ball fields as well as the Lakin-Comanche cemetery. It is suggested
that the speed limits be changed to 30 mph from South Main Street east to
South Schiller Avenue, and to 45 mph from South Schiller Avenue to the east
edge of the cemetery. Barry McManaman, County Engineer, will provide
details.

D. UPDATE OF THE 2018 AUTHORIZED POSITIONS LISTING:
-The 2018 Schedule of Authorized Positions was adopted on July 31, 2017 with
the adoption of the 2018 Operating Budget. The Health Department employs
many grant funded positions, requiring the authorized positions listing to
occasionally be modified. The Health Department has received increased
grant funding to support a second full-time Child Care Licensing Surveyor as
well as allowing the Social Worker position be increased to Full-Time. Shelly
Schneider, Health Director, will provide details and present the proposed new
authorized positions listing.

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.

B. APPOINTMENTS:
-Subject to change, the following appointments are scheduled:
JULY 9, 2018
9:45 a.m. or close of the Agenda Meeting – Department Head Meeting with
the Commissioners. Department Head meetings are held in the Courthouse
Conference Room, Room 101. After the Department Head meeting is closed,
the Commission will return to their Chambers.
10:45 a.m. – Chamber Updates – Ellinwood, Hoisington, Great Bend
11:15 a.m. – Letter of Support for Community Service Tax Credits, Kansas
Department of Commerce – Howard Partington
11:30 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 July 12, 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 be at 9:00 a.m., Monday, July 16, 2018.

VII. ADJOURN.

ELLIS COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on theft charges. Just after 11:30a.m. during Friday’s flood in Hays, police were dispatched to report of a man taking a citizen’s 1997 Ford Explorer while it was out front of the convenience store at 703 Vine Street, according to Assistant Police Chief Brian Dawson.

The suspect who stole the vehicle drove south on Vine Street and left the vehicle in a field south of Hays.

The Kansas Highway Patrol, the Ellis County Sheriff’s Office and the Hays Police Department established a perimeter and began searching for the suspect.

The suspect, later identified as 24-year-old Dru A. Stropes, was tracked down and apprehended by a Kansas Highway Patrol K9.

He is being held for Felony Theft of a vehicle in the Ellis County Jail.

written by: Donna Krug, District Director and Family & Consumer Science Agent – Cottonwood District

Wednesday, July 11, the annual Barton County Fair kicks off with something for everyone. I hope your calendar for the week includes a visit or two to the fairgrounds west of town. No doubt 4-H families are busy putting the finishing touches on entries that will be exhibited and volunteers are busy getting display cases set up, dusted off and decorated for fairgoers enjoyment.

Remember, anyone who is a Kansas resident may enter items in our fair. You may pick up a fair book at our office if you would like to see the open class categories. Most items will need to be brought to Expo II between 8 am and noon on Wednesday, but open class foods and all horticulture and crop entries (4-H and open) come in on Thursday, July 12 th from 7:30 – 9:30 a.m.

I want to encourage your attendance at the Business Appreciation Breakfast which is set for Thursday, July 12, with serving beginning at 7:30 a.m. The pancakes and sausage breakfast is provided by our good friend and 4-H supporter, Dick Dougherty, and his family. It’s a wonderful opportunity to thank our business community for their support throughout the year. Our current Extension Council Board members are invited to help serve and 4-H clubs provide some very nice door prizes. If you need to be at your workplace by 8 a.m. I’m sure we will have breakfast ready to serve by 7:15. I hope to see you there!

Friday evening come to the stage in Expo II beginning at 6:30 p.m. to watch 4-H’ers share a mini-fashion show. We have had fun working with The Buckle, Beautiful Beginnings, Rana Luna and Bling to provide some of the fashions as well as letting 4-H’ers model garments they entered in the fair.

The last day of the Fair, July 15, is certainly a busy one. A Community Sunrise Service, sponsored by area churches will be in the Outdoor Stage area beginning at 8:15 a.m. A breakfast for 4-H members, sponsored by the 4-H Holding Board, will follow the service. Round robin showmanship fills the morning with the presentation of awards and sale of champions in the afternoon. From 11:30 – 1:30 Sunday, the 4-H beef and pork barbecue will be served in Expo I or at the drive through on the runway. There should be a limited number of tickets at the door for this tasty meal consisting of BBQ beef on a bun, fresh veggies, baked beans and tea. Tickets are $8.

I have had just enough room to highlight a few of the Barton County Fair activities. A complete fair schedule is available at www.bartoncountyfair.com. I hope to see you at the Fair!

BOOKED: Robert Funk of Hoisington on Hoisington Municipal Court case for interference with LEO and consumption on public property, bond set at $2,500 C/S.

BOOKED: Fernando Acosta of Great Bend on GBMC warrant for FTA, bond set at $1,000 C/S.

BOOKED: Jason Kramer of Great Bend for Barton County District Court warrant for failure to appear, no bond, serve 25 days.

BOOKED: Trenton Schlotthauer of Ellinwood on serve sentence.

BOOKED: Juan Lugo-Pasillas of Great Bend on Barton County District Court case for criminal threat and battery DV, bond set in lieu of $5,000 C/S. GBMC warrant for failure to appear, bond set in lieu of $1,000 C/S.

RELEASED: Brandon Williams to KDOC.

RELEASED: Fernando Acosta of Great Bend on GBMC warrant for FTA, posted bond of $1,000 C/S through Ace Bail Bonding.

RELEASED: Kurt Woods of Great Bend on GBMC warrant for contempt of court, released by order of the court through GBMC.

RELEASED: Charles Fellhoelter of Great Bend on Sedgwick County District Court warrant for burglary x2 and theft, released to Sedgwick County.

RELEASED: Adrianna Kennedy of Great Bend on BTDC warrant for probation violation, BTDC case for possession of methamphetamine, possession of paraphernalia, no driver’s license, illegal window tint, no insurance, released by order of court through BCDC and an OR bond in the amount of $10,000 C/S.

RELEASED: Shirley Burrow of Great Bend on BTDC case for possession of methamphetamine and failure to appear, after receiving a $10,000 OR bond per Judge Willey.

RELEASED: Shaina Kuester of Great Bend on BTDC case for possession of paraphernalia, felony obstruction and introduction of contraband into a penal facility. BTDC warrant for case of aggravated endangering a child x2 after receiving a $50,000 OR bond per Judge Willey.

RELEASED: Patricia Avinger of Great Bend on Barton County District Court warrant for possession of a controlled substance, forgery, and possession of paraphernalia, released on a $10,000 bond through BCDC and Judge Willey. Dickinson County District Court warrant for failure to appear, released on OR bond of $400 cash through DCDC through Judge Collett.

RELEASED: Riggs Dimitt of Lyons on Barton County District Court warrant was released to probation. Stafford County District Court warrant for failure to appear.

RELEASED: Robert Funk of Hoisington on Hoisington Municipal Court case for interference with LEO and consumption on public property after receiving an 18-hour OR.

All the pre-trial motions have been made and it is now time to go to court.

Barton County Sheriff Brian Bellendir, who has plead not guilty on charges of mistreatment of a confined person, will be in District Court on July 16 to face the level A misdemeanor charge that has been brought against him by the Barton County Attorney’s Office.

According court records, Bellendir is accused of “ill-treating a man in handcuffs by speaking to him in a vulgar, insulting, rude or angry manner” while serving an arrest warrant on August 10, 2017 in Great Bend. Bellendir is also accused of striking the confined man on the side of his head.

Brian Bellendir Audio

Bellendir, who began his law enforcement career in Barton County as a Sheriff’s Reserve Officer in 1981, says the last year has been a difficult one but says he is anxious for the case to finally be tried.

Brian Bellendir Audio

In Kansas, a Class-A misdemeanor is punishable by up to one year in jail with a fine of up to $2,500. A conviction could also mean desertification by the Kansas Commission on Peace Officers Standards and Training.

The man that Bellendir allegedly abused, is Nathan Manley of Ellinwood. According to the Kansas Department of Corrections, Manley has previous convictions for drugs and burglary.