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Category: Local

Ellinwood principal recovering from heart failure

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Mark and Signe Cook

Mark Cook has served as the Ellinwood High School principal for the past three years. Before that, he was principal in Herrington and Fowler. The man has touched a lot of lives through students, parents, faculty, and staff. An anxious crowd awaited him Monday in Ellinwood after returning home from over a month in the hospital and rehabilitation facility.

After citing problems sleeping and short of breath the last week of school, Cook went to a doctor to get checked out. The doctor detected an atrial fibrillation (AFib), or irregular heartbeat.

Mark’s wife, Signe Cook, noted it has been a long ride to recovery.

Signe Cook Audio

Mark started in Hays at the ICU on May 24 and then was flown to the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City. Signe says when Mark arrived in Kansas City, KU Med said he had a 20 percent chance of surviving. Despite no blockages, Mark’s heart was functioning at 15 percent. A normal well-functioning heart runs around 60 percent.

Signe says the support Mark has received from family, friends, and even words of encouragement on social media have been incredible.

Signe Cook Audio

As his organs continue to recover from the massive heart failure, Mark has been getting stronger and closer to full health over past few weeks. Mark passed all of his physical therapy tests in Kansas City Sunday, and was cleared to return home Monday. Mark’s heart was up to 55 percent functionality recently and will continue his physical therapy at Central Kansas Orthopedic Group in Great Bend.

Great Bend Sanitarian reminding residents to maintain your easement

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Austin LaViolette has stayed busy handling violations of city code for overgrown vegetation since taking over as Great Bend Sanitarian in late April. LaViolette mentioned dealing with 101 overgrown vegetation cases in a two-week span in May.

He now says easements are becoming an issue in Great Bend, with owners failing to remember that they are responsible to mow and maintain the alleyways.

Austin LaViolette Audio

Maintaining the easements allow utility workers or city staff to access meters or poles.

Great Bend City Ordinance calls for vegetation to be less than 12 inches tall. Owners will receive a notification of the violation via registered mail. Following 10 days of receiving the mail, the City is allowed to mow the yard at the owner’s expense.

Great Bend City Attorney Bob Suelter says if the owner fails to pay there will be a lien put on the property, but that does not always benefit the City if the land goes up for bid on the Barton County Tax Sale.

Bob Suelter Audio

There is generally a $275 fee if the City has to mow the yard.

Great Bend teen hospitalized after hit by vehicle at Pratt Veteran’s Lake

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PRATT COUNTY —  A Great Bend woman was injured in an accident just after 11:30p.m. Tuesday in Pratt County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2005 Chevy Tahoe driven by Andy Monroe, 41, Baird, TX., was eastbound on Southeast Pier Road at Pier 13 at Pratt Veteran’s Lake.

The vehicle drifted to the left and struck the front of a legally parked 2007 Pontiac G6.  The collision caused the Pontiac to roll backwards into the front end of a legally parked 2013 Chevy Sonic.

The Pontiac then rolled across Southeast Pier Road and struck Alondra Hernandez, 18, and continued until it rolled into the lake.

The Tahoe continued until stopped by Pratt County Deputies.

Hernandez was transported to Pratt Regional Medical Center.  Monroe was wearing a seat belt and  not injured.

Russell mural celebrates vets, ROAR 50th anniversary

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By CRISTINA JANNEY 
Hays Post

RUSSELL — A patriotic mural sponsored by the Russell Original Art Review (ROAR) was completed last week on the exterior of the Russell VFW, Post 6240.

The mural depicts armed forces personnel from a buffalo soldier to the present.

ROAR commissioned the mural as part of its 50th anniversary celebration this fall. The mural will be dedicated Oct. 13 as a part of that celebration.

Micky Zorn, past post commander, said the VFW has received positive response from the public about the mural.

“It is amazing, and I tell you it really has hit home with the veterans, especially for our older veterans. It really has choked them up,” she said. “You know the VFW has been struggling across the board nationally trying to get members. We hope that maybe it might serve as a little spark because we are the ones who are up there at Congress constantly fighting for benefits for the veterans.”

The mural is 17 feet by 60 feet and painted by Dennis Schiel of Hays, who also painted murals on the exterior of the Fox Pavilion in Hays and the Hays VFW. Schiel began painting the mural in April.

The mural is painted in earth tones similar to the FOX mural with the exception of the American flag, bald eagle, poppies, VFW logo and a Purple Heart. It depicts a timeline of U.S. military history as well as U.S. military symbols. A kiosk will eventually be added to the mural to explain the images in the mural, including the Buddy Poppies, buffalo solider, code talker and military nurse.

He worked with ROAR and VFW to pick the subject matter for the mural and then based the images on historical photographs. He said he appreciated being able to create a tribute to those who served.

“It was fun to do,” he said. “I appreciate the town’s arts commission wanting to do the mural.”

Patty Driscoll, Russell Original Art Review organizer, said she was very impressed with the final artwork.

“We have had so many positive comments about it,” she said. “People are just overwhelmed by it, the size. I guess when they saw a picture of it, they just didn’t realize how large it would be — 20 feet by 60 feet. It was quite surprising for a lot of people. Everybody has been so supportive here in Russell of the mural. They have donated generously, so we are very pleased with the turnout and the response we have gotten from it.”

The mural was funded through a grant and donations. Each of the donors names or their honorariums are listed with the mural. Driscoll said all the funds for the creation of the mural have been raised, but ROAR is still taking donations for the upkeep of the mural. It will need to be resealed every several years.

 

 

Barton Community College students named to Dean’s List for spring 2018

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Barton Community College has named 266 students to the Dean’s List for the spring 2018 semester. To qualify for this honor, students must have been enrolled in a minimum of 12 credit hours and maintained a grade point average of 3.5 to 3.99 on a 4.0 or “A” letter scale.

Albert
Spencer Ewy

Assaria
Allie Beaumont
Kannen Haist

Berryton
Morgan Duncan

Bison
Cody Kaler 

Bushton
Jada Whiterock 

Cheney
Amy Akler 

Claflin
Adreinne Danner 

Collyer
Seth Wilds

Derby
Raley Mantz

Dighton
Tyler Lingg
Destiny Popp

Dorrance
Katrina Zorn

Ellinwood
Anna Fisher
Stacy Kimuyu
Jenna Oelke
Allison Panning

Ellsworth
James Cox
Derek Daigneault
Brian Gurrolia
Emmanuel Holguin
Zachariah Sharp

Fort Leavenworth
Mary Anderson
Joseph Bushey
Austen Sanders

Fort Riley
Emily Baranda
Ariana Barba
Skye Blades
Sean Bourgasser
Edward Campbell
Jaqueline Clark
Shelah Coleman
Rebecca Crawford
Anthony Dicks
Ernestine Dillard
Celeste Forslund
Kimberly Gimble
Piyumi Gunathilaka
Jason Gurney
Chloe Harrington
Miranda Hays
Elisabeth Hickerson
Elka Kylman
Lawrence Kylman
Ricardo Morrison
Bethany Pate
Josue Rodriguez
Shania Roy
Ronald Smith
Shana Stephenson
Michelle Williams


Great Bend
Kaitlin Adams
Wendy Aguilar
Susana Aguirre Recinos
Kelsie Antcliff
Michelle Barber
Cheyenne Black
Dylan Carrier
Makenna Dirks
Javier Guerra
Austin Levingston
Jared Maneth
Austin McHenry
Matt Miller
Paola Ramirez-Lucio
Justin Roach
Magdiel Rodriguez Gonzalez
Laura Sanchez
Monica Schuermann
Kimberlyn Sinclair
Austin Taylor
Alyxius Torres

Hays
Tressa Becker
Shelby Herrman
Megan Janousek

Hoisington
Kiairla Beltz
MyKayla Burgess
BreAnna Burns
Hailey Jump
Ronda Miller

Holyrood
Patrick Zamrzla

Hutchinson
Joshua Dennett

Junction City
Whitney Amerine
Eric Anderson
Megan Bailey
Precious Boateng
Tiyana Bochmann
Oscar Bonilla
Jaden Bradney
Corey Bullock
Thomas Chamberlin
Jan Deshane Cruz
Shantele Frie
Vera Gaer
Shayla Hall
Jason Harris
Jodi Hendon
Alicia Hollenbeck
Julius Jacobs
Sierra Jones
Hannah Meredith
Kaitlyne Millanez
Jason Miller
Mauricio Moya
Kendra Norkett
Juan Pepi
Maurice Powell
Jami Pratt
Rhianna Ramsay
Silvia Sharp
Paul Shaw
Anastazzia Simmons
Jessica Torres
Barick Watts
Alexis Welch

Kanopolis
Kayla Maze

Kansas City
Samantha Edinger
Greta Fullerton 

Lansing
Adriana Burmeister
William Herko 

Larned
Joseph Bradley
Braeden Corman
Jorden Drimmel
Jami Dryden
Pablo Gonzalez
Jaidaah Harris
Daniel Keith
Adam Ray
Madison Tabler
Eric Wilson 

Lawrence
Ebrahim Diagne
Sydney Williams
Yicheng Zheng 

Leavenworth
Stephanie Cadena
Samuel Corona
Rebecca Gentzler
Kelsey Grauer
Jedanjo Lowe
Angelina Marrero
Leilani Murawski 

Lebanon
Gavin Overmiller

Liberal
Reyna Gonzalez 

Lindsborg
Brooke Koch

Luray
|Stacey Letsch

Lyons
Lauren Manley

Manhattan
Roger Abernathy
Jordan Barnes
Morgan Clark
Trevor Kinzel
Bradley Malmquist
Noah McConnell
Devin Stacy 

Norton
Skylar Johnson 

Oakhill
Sandra Holladay 

Ogden
Rosita Cowans
Kimberly Gullion
Tony Pena 

Oskaloosa
David Niederquell 

Otis
Tristen Dean 

Overland Park
Tanner Howe
Michael OMara
Kathryn Smithson 

Phillipsburg
Seth Jacobs 

Plainville
Shelbie Brooks 

Rose Hill
Brett Bonar 

Rush Center
Brittany Oborny 

Russell
Seth Gruber
Kaycie Hogan
Tiffaney Lamb
Danielle William 

Saint John
Cade Roberts 

Saint Marys
Maria Trausch

Salina
Calle Blaha
Alexis Karabinas
David Palacios
Mollie Purcell

Scott City
Judith Gutierrez Aguilera
Danean Metheney 

Topeka
Kyler Becerra
Carson Engroff 

Towanda
Kaden Fowler

Wakefield
Amber Hahn
Sierra Otto 

Wichita
Tyrell Andrews
Bailey Chavez
J’Maica Frame-Cabell
Kayla Hennen
Brett Huelsmann
Emily Kallenbach
Mamat Kebbeh
Chandler Kelley

Winfield
Sarah Hammer

Armed Forces Stationed Overseas
Josiah De Costa 

Tucson, Ariz.
Meghanatha Avula 

Irvine, Calif.
Abdulla Al Mansouri
Abdullah Bader Aldosari
Abdulrhman Aldosari
Mubarak Alkawari
Jaber Alkuwari
Majed Almaadeed
Thani Almaadid
Saeed Almansouri
Hamad Almedadi
Salman Almudahka
Aljohara Al-Sharim 

Los Angeles, Calif.
Johnmar Mueda 

Murrieta, Calif.
Ajamu Saunders 

San Diego, Calif.
Yousef Alkuwari 

Santa Ana, Calif.
Rashid Al-Mohannadi 

Littleton, Colo.
Braden Carpenter

Oakdale, Conn.
Lisa Fritzler

Gainesville, Fla.
Willie Rodgers

Melrose, Fla.
Graham Sokol

Ormond Beach, Fla.
Christine Sanders 

Pembroke Pines, Fla.
Rachel Lora 

Tampa, Fla.
Allison Mardis 

Fort Stewart, Ga.
Ashley Murray 

Savannah, Ga.
Edvige Raoul Motcheka 

Dubuque, Iowa
Saud Aljoufi 

Centralia, Ill.
Latavia Maines

Chicago, Ill.
Sima Liba Cardesh

O’Fallon, Ill.
Aidan Hill

Glen Burnie, Md.
Hunter Voss

Kansas City, Mo.
Tyrkee Keough

Milan, Mo.
Joan Ibaoc

Spring Lake, N.C.
Latichia Goode

Omaha, Neb.
Jarrett Seaton

Pemberton, N.J.
Adrian Lemons

Albuquerque, N.M.
Jeri Garcia

Brooklyn, N.Y.
Kemarni Mighty
Sarah Schiffer

Spring Valley, N.Y.
Chaya Rosenfeld

Edmond, Okla.
Andreana Reynolds

Fort Sill, Okla.
Justin Myers

Guthrie, Okla.
Christopher Fisher

Owasso, Okla.
Brett Erickson

Pittsburgh, Pa.
Saad Bnihwaiz

Madison, Tenn.
Monica Hall

El Paso, Texas
Elizabeth Fematt
Alejandra Galindo
Jessica Simental

Harker Heights, Texas
Eboni Bright

Lindale, Texas
Dylan Tiiman

Hampton, Va.
Viki Gibbs 

Williamstown, Australia
Alexander Kay

Brasilia, Brazil
Bruna Pastura 

Mogi das Cruzes, Brazil
Marcel Miasato

Porto Alegre, Brazil
Thales Machado De Souza

Recife, Brazil
Gabriel Arraes De Almeida 

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Miguel Brondani Valle 

Uberaba, Brazil
Monique Aguiar De Oliveira

St Nazaire, France
Adrien Bonnet 

Rhineland Palatinate, Germany
Colin Roemer 

St. David’s, Grenada
Nathan Hood 

Hyderabad TE, India
Sandeep Vegesana 

Genova, Italy
Tommaso Davico 

Spanish Town, Jamaica
Fiona Barnes 

Ficksburg, Madagascar
Fanilo Rakotonarivelo 

River State, Nigeria
Irene Chukwudi

Lagos Algarve, Portugal
Bruno Baptista

Alaro, Spain
Maria Neus Torregrosa Parets

Madrid, Spain
Victor Lopez Gonzalez
Clara Sanchez Cirvian

Ulricehamn, Sweden
Vilma Efraimsson

Caracas, Venezuela
Jose Yanes Barreto

Mirena, Venezuela
Mirena Goncalves Ramirez

Great Bend selected to participate in survey for “skills gap” in the workforce

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The Governor’s Education Council, the Kansas Chamber, and the Brandmeyer Center for Applied Economics at the KU School of Business are looking for communities to participate in a survey. Through research, the survey is aimed to help better define the term “skills gap” and the shortfalls in the Kansas business community.

Great Bend Chamber of Commerce CEO Jan Peters says the City of Great Bend was chosen as one of the five or six communities that will participate in the survey.

Jan Peters Audio

Peters says the Chamber will try to promote the survey to local businesses. The data collected from the survey will help the Kansas Chamber develop its action plan for Vision 2025 to provide the workforce needed for the next 20 years.

Members representing the survey will be in Great Bend on July 11 to chat with business owners.

The answers to the “Defining the ‘Skills Gap’ in Kansas” survey will help education and state leaders in preparing students for success and businesses the opportunity to grow.

Day 14, Kansas Wheat Harvest Report

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This is day 14 of the Kansas Wheat Harvest Reports, brought to you by the Kansas Wheat Commission, Kansas Association of Wheat Growers and the Kansas Grain and Feed Association.

According to the July 2 USDA/NASS Kansas Crop Progress and Condition Report, winter wheat mature was 97 percent, near 97 last year, and harvested was 71 percent, near 69 last year, and ahead of 63 for the five-year average. Winter wheat condition rated 16 percent very poor, 30 poor, 37 fair, 15 good, and 2 excellent.
Due to harvest rains and increased weed pressure, Kansas State University Department of Agronomy updated and reissued its preharvest weed control in wheat. Information about products available, advantages, disadvantages and preharvest intervals can be found at https://webapp.agron.ksu.edu/agr_social/eu_article.throck?article_id=1877.
Dell Princ, general manager of Midway Coop Association in Osborne County, reported being 80 percent done with harvest in the area, after starting with their first load on June 14.
“Wheat acres are down, the lowest it has been in many years,” he said.
Princ said yields are anywhere from 15 to 35 bushels per acre, with a lot of weeds because of the rain. Prior to rain, he said the test weights were 62 pounds per bushel, but they have dropped four points to 58 pounds per bushel after the rain. He says proteins are averaging around 13.5 percent.
“Yields are down 40 percent in comparison to previous years, but proteins are higher than normal,” Princ said. “We had two rains in the area, and we would be done by now if we hadn’t. We were set back about 10 days from the rain.”
Because of the rain, Prince said the quality of the wheat has gone down and dockage has become more prevalent because of weeds in the area.
Jim Hern, manager of Skyland Grain, LLC. in Pratt County, said they finished their wheat harvest this past Saturday, June 30, taking in about 60 to 65 percent of bushels compared to an average year. He reported yields to be about 35 bushels per acre, test weights averaging in a range of 62 to 65 pounds per bushel, and proteins anywhere from 10.5 to 12.5 percent.
“Compared to the past two years, which were phenomenal, it was a below average or right at the average year for us,” Hern said. “The rain was a lifesaver for the fields in the area. It was almost too late, but we’re glad that we got it.”
Even though the rain was a little late, Hern said harvest went a lot better than what was expected in April.
“We thought there was not going to be much out there in the fields, but we were surprised of the results,” Hern said. “Besides all that, I’m just glad it’s over!”
John Lightcap, general manager of Offerle Coop Grain Supply Co in Edwards County, said they are 99 percent done with harvest in the area and will more than likely be finished by the end of the week. He reported their continuous crop fields averaged around 20 bushels per acre. In fallow, they averaged around 45 to 50 bushels per acre.
“Prior to the rain, our test weights were averaging around 60 to 62 pounds per bushel,” Lightcap said. “After the rain, test weights dropped a little to 57 to 58 pounds per bushel, and proteins came in around 12 to 15 percent.”
Lightcap also said the rain halted their harvest, causing them to completely shut down. Rain also caused a weed problem for fields in the area. He said farmers sprayed their fields because of the weeds, making them wait for an extra week to cut the remaining fields.
“The thing that stuck out most from this year’s harvest was the test weights,” Lightcap said. “I had assumed proteins would be higher this year, but I was pleasantly surprised to see test weights higher, as well.”
The 2018 Harvest Report is brought to you by the Kansas Wheat Commission, Kansas Association of Wheat Growers and the Kansas Grain and Feed Association. To follow along with harvest updates on Twitter, use #wheatharvest18.

Cop Shop (7/2)

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Barton County Sheriff’s Office Incident Log (7/2)

Burglary / In Progress

At 1:08 p.m. a burglary was reported at 505 E. 3rd Street in Hoisington.

Non-Injury Accident

At 9:06 p.m. an accident was reported at NE K-156 & NE 120 Avenue.

At 9:39 p.m. an accident was reported at NW K-96 Highway & NW 30 Avenue.

Great Bend Police Department Incident Log (7/2)

Warrant Arrest

At 9:37 a.m. Jasmine Velasco was arrested on a Great Bend warrant at 1217 Williams.

Allergies

At 10:34 a.m. ambulance assistance was needed at 3515 Broadway Avenue.

Non-Injury Accident

At 2:18 p.m. a hit and run was reported at 3515 Broadway Avenue.

At 4:43 p.m. an accident was reported at 10th Street & McKinley Street.

Fire

At 7:44 p.m. a grass fire was reported in the 1700 block of NW K-96 Highway.

Theft

At 8:02 p.m. a theft was reported at 1714 Adams Street.

Unconscious / Fainting

At 9:47 p.m. ambulance assistance was needed at 3821 10th Street.

Warrant Arrest

At 10:06 p.m. an officer arrested Charles Fellhoelter at Forest Avenue & Washington Avenue on a Sedgwick County warrant.

Traumatic Injuries

At 11:03 p.m. ambulance assistance was needed at 3607 10th Street.

Barton County Sheriff’s Booking Activity (7/2)

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BOOKED: Jasmine Velasco of Great Bend for Great Bend Municipal Court warrant for contempt of court, bond set at $1,000.18 cash only.

BOOKED: Mary Zahn of Ellinwood on EPD case for DV battery, bond set at $2,500 C/S or 18-hour OR.

BOOKED: Jason Kramer of Great Bend on Barton County District Court warrant for aggravated assault and domestic battery with bond set at $20,000 C/S. Salina Municipal Court warrant for failure to appear with bond set at $4,000 C/S.

BOOKED: Charles Fellhoelter of Great Bend on Sedgwick County District Court warrant for burglary x2 and theft, bond set in lieu of $10,000 C/S.

RELEASED: Austin Riley of Great Bend on Ellinwood Municipal Court case for stalking, criminal trespass, and disorderly conduct after posting a $1,000 surety bond through Ace Bail Bonding.

RELEASED: Argelia Espino of Great Bend on GBMC case for defective headlamp and no driver’s license after posting a $500 surety bond through Ace Bail Bonding.

RELEASED: Jonathan Stemm of Great Bend on BTDC case for serve sentence to inpatient treatment.

RELEASED: Derrick L. Buess on Barton County District Court case for partial serve sentence.

RELEASED: Jasmine Velasco of Great Bend for GBMC warrant for contempt of court after posting $1,000.18 cash.

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

RELEASED: Mary Zahn of Ellinwood on EPD case for DV battery after posting a $2,500 surety bond through A-1 Bonding.

Animal Medical Center welcomes two new veterinarians

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Dr. Austin Pauly

BUSINESS NEWS

Animal Medical Center, located at 622 McKinley in Great Bend, recently congratulated one of its veterinarians on the purchase of his own mixed animal practice. Dr. Nick Henning and his new wife, Dr. Samantha Henning, recently purchased the veterinary clinic in Nick’s hometown of Ness City which will re-open its doors on July 1.

“We were so sad to see Dr. Nick leave, but he had an amazing opportunity to move home closer to his family farm and pursue a new business opportunity. He was a great part of our team, and a close friend and we wish him all the best,” says Dr. Nels Lindberg, co-owner of Animal Medical Center. “He left big shoes to fill, but our new veterinarians are up to the task.”

Dr. Austin Pauly and Dr. Ashley Hotop joined the AMC family on June 1.

“At AMC, our core values drive everything that we do, and we couldn’t have found any more compassionate and trustworthy veterinarians to join us in serving our customers,” Lindberg says. “Already, our clients have given us great feedback, and we look forward to continuing to develop these bright young people in their new careers.”

Dr. Austin Pauly, a native of Conway Springs grew up in a large family on a 120-cow dairy farm, where he first learned found a passion for working with animals. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Life Science from Kansas State University, before earning his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from his alma mater. He enjoys diagnostic care as well as surgical care, and enjoys working in an agricultural based community. He and his wife, Jessica, live in Great Bend and he enjoys hunting, fishing, and grilling in his free time.

Dr. Ashley Hotop

Dr. Ashley Hotop grew up in Perryville, Missouri before earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Animal Science and a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Missouri. Ashley became a veterinarian because of a passion for helping both animals and people, and enjoys the variety that comes with working in a mixed animal practice. When she’s not at work, she enjoys hiking, traveling, playing sports, playing music, and spending time outdoors.

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