PRATT COUNTY — One person was injured in an accident just after 7p.m. Tuesday in Pratt County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2006 Saturn Vue driven by Kristen L. Bauman, 26, Arlington, was southbound on Kansas 61 two miles southwest of Preston.
The vehicle crossed the center line and side-swiped a 2002 Peterbilt semi driven by Tilton, Mark L. Tilton, 60, Hutchinson.
Bauman was transported to the hospital in Pratt. Tilton was not injured. Both drivers were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.
Kansas Wetlands Education Center is offering three different camps this summer, all focused on nature-related themes and time out of doors.
Held in partnership with the Great Bend Recreation Center, Aquatic Camp gets kids outside in the water hunting for the animals that live there. Children will collect animals, identify them and learn more about their lives in and out of the water. New this year, for those who can wear them, are child-size waders. Crafts and other activities round out the day.
Aquatic Camp is held on June 22, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with children transported by Great Bend Recreation. Register with the Rec Center by calling 620-282-0486. There is a fee for this camp.
Discovery Camps will be held in July for two age groups. Discovery Camp I, for 1 st through 3 rd grades, is a half-day, running from 9 a.m. to noon, on July 9, 11 and 13, at a cost of $5. Discover Camp II, for 4th through 6th grades, on July 17 and 19, runs 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., at a cost of $20. All snacks are provided but campers must bring a lunch.
Both camps feature outdoor exploration during the cooler part of the day, followed by indoor activities during the heat of the day, including experiments, crafts, games and other activities.
Registration is required by June 20, by calling 877-243-9268. There are a limited number of spaces so don’t delay.
On Monday, June 11 at about 3:45 p.m. Barton County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a reported injury accident at N. Washington Street and North West 30 Road. Upon arrival, Sheriff’s officers discovered a two vehicle accident.
Investigation at the scene indicates a 2000 Ford Ranger operated by Francis Haberman, age 91 of Great Bend, was southbound on Washington Street. A 2004 International truck operated by Michael Furrey was westbound on Northwest 30 Road. Witnesses at the scene stated the International truck stopped at the stop sign for westbound traffic and then pulled into the path of the southbound Haberman vehicle. Both vehicles remained on the roadway and up right after the collision.
Haberman was unable to get out of the vehicle due to crush damage and was assisted by law enforcement officers. Haberman was transported to Great Bend Regional Hospital and later flown to a Wichita area hospital. His condition is not known as of this time.
Furrey was not injured in the collision.
The intersection was closed for approximately an hour and a half for removal of debris and investigation. The Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by units from the Great Bend Fire Department and EMS service as well as the Kansas Highway Patrol.
The Great Bend Recreation Commission will be hosting two Video Camps from June 25th through 28th. The first camp (I Game Creators) is for children ages 6 – 10 and will meet from 9:00 am until noon. This is an introductory course for younger students who want to learn to build simple video games. This course combines the art of video game design and animation to create interactive characters that fly around the screen.
The second camp (Video Game Design) is for children ages 10 – 15 and will meet from 1:00 – 4:00 pm. Students will learn about the basics of video game design. Students enrolled in the course will create their own games to share with friends and family. This course is perfect for students who are into gaming and want to create their own interactive gaming experience. Youth Tech Inc. is a non-profit computer camp. They are dedicated to providing enrichment opportunities for students with a passion for learning. Their staff is a caring group of individuals who strive to make their camps a fantastic family environment. For more information about Youth Tech Inc. please visit www.youthtecninc.com.
The entry fee per camp is $90 and is due by 5:00 pm on Monday, June 18th. Both camps will be held at the Great Bend Recreation Commission (1214 Stone St.) in the Burnside Room. Enroll at the Great Bend Recreation Commission office located at 1214 Stone Street or call 793-3755 ext. 110 for more information.
As the staff at the Great Bend Middle School examined the after-school activities for their students, they noticed there were not as many opportunities for girls during the fall and winter.
In a push to get more girls involved with after-school activities, Middle School Assistant Principal Myron Ellegood went before the USD 428 Board of Education to ask for approval to add cheerleading.
Myron Ellegood Audio
The cheerleading teams will consist of both 7th and 8th graders with no cuts being made. The squad will practice Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. and cheer for only home games for football, basketball, and wrestling. Instructor Amber Lucchesi will become the head coach and mentioned the Friday practice will include a study hall if needed to help students with their grades.
School board member Susan Young felt there were a lot of positives for the cheerleaders that would be split into groups to cheer for designated sports.
Susan Young Audio
The school board passed the proposal with a 7-0 vote. The majority of the cost for the program comes from the uniforms, which Ellegood expected to last five to six years. Ordering 30 uniforms with shirts, skirts, pants, duffle bags, jackets, and pom poms will cost $7,313.70. The head coach will receive $2,118 each year and an assistant coach will earn $1,482 for the year.
Boys will be allowed to participate in cheerleading.
BOOKED: Joshua Kelly of Great Bend on Great Bend Municipal Court warrant for contempt of court, bond set in lieu of $587.50 cash or 27 days in jail. GBMC warrant for contempt of court, bond set in lieu of $902.50 cash or 27 days in jail. Barton County District Court case for possession of a controlled substance, bond set in lieu of $2,500 C/S.
BOOKED: Jasmine Velasco of Great Bend on Great Bend Municipal Court case for driving while suspended, 2nd offense. Bond is set in lieu of $2,500 C/S.
BOOKED: Robert of Great Bend on Montgomery County District Court warrant for probation violation, no bond.
BOOKED: Nancy Salcido-Moncada on GBPD case for no DL, bond set in lieu of $500 C/S.
RELEASED: Derrick Buess of Great Bend on Barton County District Court serve sentence after serving time in full.
RELEASED: Jasmine Velasco of Great Bend on GBMC case for driving while suspended, 2nd offense, after posting $2,500 surety bond through Ace Bail Bonding.
RELEASED: Kawliga Zimmerman of Hoisington on McPherson Municipal Court warrant for failure to appear, posted $500 bond through Above And Beyond Bail Bonding Company.
RELEASED: Nancy Salcido-Moncada on GBPD case for no DL with $500 bond.
Over a month has passed since the Barton County Commission voted to make changes to the speed limit and signage at the intersection of North Washington Street and Northeast 30 Road. The changes resulted from a fatal vehicle accident that happened at the intersection in April involving a teenager from Hoisington High School.
Barton County Engineer Barry McManaman says County crews increased the size and reflectiveness of the signs.
Barry McManaman Audio
The County also placed stop bars, large lines to indicate where to stop, on Northeast 30 Road or Juco Road. McManaman says if traffic stopping on Juco Road get the front of their vehicles at the stop bars then their vision should be good enough to see oncoming traffic. The speed limit was also reduced from 55 miles per hour to 45 on Washington.
Although there was community support to place a four-way stop at the intersection, McManaman says the placement of four-way stops is based on traffic volume. If anything, the number of vehicles traveling through that intersection has decreased over the years.
Barry McManaman Audio
Kansas Department of Transportation has conducted traffic studies on the intersection since the 1970s. The study shows the amount of traffic on Washington Street, south of 30th Road, recorded over 2,800 vehicles on a day in 1987. KDOT recorded daily traffic another time in 2012, and saw 2,075 vehicles come through.
Great Bend High School showed a slight improvement on student withdrawal numbers in the 2017-2018 school year. This past year had 28 students drop out compared to 32 during the 2016-2017 school year.
USD 428 Assistant Superintendent John Popp says the majority of the students that withdrew from school either quit or were considered a drop out because of lack of attendance.
John Popp Audio
Popp stated 9th grade passing grades is a huge determining factor on whether or not a student will end up graduating high school. Many times if a freshman fails a few classes and gets behind, he or she fails to graduate.
Out of the 28 students that withdrew this year, 12 of them quit, four received their GED, one was expelled, and 11 were classified as a drop out because of new attendance standards.
John Popp Audio
There were 18 males and 10 females that withdrew with 17 Hispanic and 11 White students. The age group consisted of two students age 16, 12 of them were 17 years old, there were 13 18-year olds, and one that was 19.
Great Bend High School had an 82.1 percent graduation rate in 2017-2018, a number Popp added they would like to see in the 90s.
In other USD 428 Board of Education meeting news from June 11, 2018…
– The board approved the addition of cheerleading at Great Bend Middle School. Students will cheer for 7th & 8th grade home games for football, basketball, and wrestling.
– Enrollment fees for all grade levels will remain the same for the 2018-2019 school year. $95 for High School, $60 for Middle School, $55 for grades 1-6, $40 for ECSE Preschool, and $40 for Kindergarten.
– There are 287 students attending K-3 summer school, and 92 students attending 4-5 summer school.
– So far, USD 428 has 61 position changes for the upcoming school year including 7 retirements, 36 resignations, 18 transfers, 29 new-to-district hires, 3 position reductions, and 1 position added. Popp noted there are 12 positions yet to be hired with an urgent importance on four jobs.
A Hays man was sentenced to more than four and a half years in prison for robbery at a Hays convenience store in November.
Stevens-photo Ellis Co.Replogle-photo Ellis Co.
Jordan Stevens was sentenced to 55 months in prison for aggravated robbery Monday in Ellis County District Court.
Stevens pleaded no contest to the charge on May 14 after initially pleading not guilty in February.
According to court documents, on Nov. 3, 2017, Stevens entered the Tiger Mart Convenience Store in the 300 block of West Eighth in Hays just before midnight, brandished a firearm and demanded money. Stevens was identified as the suspect, by the store clerk and on surveillance footage from inside the store.
A vehicle matching the description of the suspect’s vehicle was located by police a short time later in the alley behind an apartment complex in the 2700 block of Colonial Drive.
Officials said Stevens and a female, identified as Kelsie Replogle, were arrested after clothes matching the robber’s description, a gun and $1,000 cash was located in an apartment.
Replogle was identified as the driver and pled no contest to a robbery charge in March. She was sentenced to 36 months probation.
Stevens will also be required to serve 36 months post-release supervision.
He has been in the Ellis County jail since November and was given jail credit of 220 days.
