It was well worth the wait. For the first time in school history, the Barton Cougars are headed to the NJCAA World Series after winning the Region 6 Tournament in Wichita Tuesday.

Barton beat number 1 seed Cowley 9-3 in the second championship game Tuesday after forcing another game with a 16-5 victory over the Tigers earlier in the day. Cowley had sent the Cougars to the losers bracket Sunday with a 6-5 victory but a determined Barton team bounced back to win three straight to win the tournament and the trip to Grand Junction.

In game two Tuesday, Barton led 4-1 before Cowley scored twice in the 8th to make it 4-3 but the Cougars responded by scoring five time in the 9th to put the game away.

Cowley ends the season with a record of 45-11 while Barton is now 47-13.

The Cougars now head to the NJCAA World Series in Grand Junction, Colorado that begins on May 26th.

Great Bend Fire Chief Luke McCormick has been Chief for less than a year, taking over for the retired Mike Napolitano. In early January, McCormick saw the Great Bend City Council fix a pay discrepancy in the department that existed for years. The large attendance of firefighters at last week’s special City Council meeting to discuss a compensation study would show that more needs to be done.

Great Bend Human Resources Director Randy Keasling noted the frustration from veteran firefighters might have existed for a while, but for sure since 2016 when entry-level salaries increased to attract workers to the department.

Randy Keasling Audio

Arthur Gallagher, a firm from Kansas City, performed the compensation study on the City of Great Bend for $31,725. The results showed most of the salaries from the City of Great Bend were close to the market average, but the few that were not should be brought up to the minimum market value.

The Captain position was discussed because Gallarger’s initial recommendation did not have a pay separation for those Captains that had their EMT, AEMT, or paramedic status. Gail Meriweather with Gallagher says that is something the city can look further into.

Gail Meriweather Audio

The concern with bringing employees up to the minimum is the raw deal that veteran staff receive. Workers employed for a year are pushed up closer to employees that have been with the department for several years.

Great Bend Mayor Joe Andrasek told the group of firefighters that the study is just the beginning to making things fair.

Joe Andrasek Audio

Prior to January, the pay rates for Battalion Chiefs were considered exempt staff with salaries while Captains, a position below Battalion Chiefs, were getting paid by the hour. A few examples showed some Captains were getting paid more or close to Battalion Chiefs because the Captains were earning overtime and were paid for their time. Battalion Chiefs’ salary amount was not adjusted for many of their mandatory obligations. The change of Battalion Chiefs going to an hourly position was the first time the discrepancy was altered since 2002.

Visix Digital Software provides custom digital signage from anywhere, and can deliver messages, media, and alerts to virtually any screen on the program. USD 428 in Great Bend is hoping the digital content will be helpful in displaying daily events and scheduled events throughout the year at Great Bend High School.

The USD 428 Board of Education approved the purchase of the software and equipment at Monday’s meeting and plan to have the monitors installed throughout the school by August. Superintendent Khris Thexton says the funding comes from Assistant Principal Randy Wetzel’s career and technology funding.

Khris Thexton Audio

The total software purchase from Visix is $12,755 and will have an annual fee of $2,688. The deal comes with six 43-inch and one 55-inch monitors. Teacher Dan Heath’s audio / video class will be in charge of supplying the content for the video monitors.

Thexton says the software also might be a way for those people in the Commons Area during sporting events to see the action of the game on the screen.

Barton County Commissioners Monday approved a resolution that establishes Fire District Number 2 in the county. The district will serve the townships of Albion, Eureka, North Homestead, South Homestead and Union and the cities of Hoisington, Olmitz and Susank. The development of the fire district has been in the works for almost a year and a half now and has been spearheaded by Hoisington City Administrator Jonathan Mitchell.

Jonathan Mitchell Audio

As a taxing entity, a board of trustees has been created that will consist of not less than three nor more than nine members that represent each township and city in the district who will serve without compensation. The Trustees would be empowered to do such business of the Fire District, to include making an annual tax levy, not to exceed 9-mills, although it is anticipated that the mill levy for the fire district will be around 3 to 4 mills.

BOOKED: Miguel Garay of Great Bend on Great Bend Police Department and Barton County District Court case for aggravated battery with bond set at $75,000 C/S.

BOOKED: Maria Cavender of Larned on Pawnee County District Court warrant for probation violation with no bond.

BOOKED: Tracy James Driscoll on Barton County District Court warrant for breach of privacy x8 with a $10,000 surety bond.

BOOKED: Jason Hardiman of Great Bend on GBMC warrant for failure to appear, bond set at $1,000 C/S.

BOOKED: James Skinner of Great Bend on BTDC warrant for probation violation, no bond.

BOOKED: Melbra Orr on GBMC warrant for contempt, bond set at $382.50 cash only or 180 days in jail. GBMC warrant for contempt, bond set at $445 cash only or 180 days in jail. GBMC warrant for contempt, bond set at $232 cash only or 180 days in jail. GBMC warrant for contempt, bond set at $397.50 cash only or 180 days in jail. GBMC warrant for contempt, bond set at $332.50 cash only or 27 days in jail.

BOOKED: Aaron Corkill of Great Bend on GBMC warrant for contempt of court, bond set at $1,933.50 or 77 days in jail.

BOOKED: Alexander Valdez of Great Bend on GBPD case for domestic battery, bond set at $1,000 C/S.

RELEASED: Richard Musil on BCDC case with a serve sentence in full.

RELEASED: Trascy J. Driscoll on BCDC warrant with a $10,000 surety bond through Ace Bail Bonding.

RELEASED: Maynard Charles to Kingman County Sheriff’s Office.

RELEASED: Maria Cavender to Pawnee County on their warrant.

RELEASED: Jason Stapp of Great Bend on GBMC warrant for contempt of court after receiving an order or release from the court.

RELEASED: Bridgett Levy of Great Bend on GBMC warrant for contempt after posting a $1,277.80 cash bond.

RELEASED: Jason Hardiman of Great Bend on GBMC warrant for failure to appear, $1,000 bond posted through Ace Bail Bonding.

RELEASED: Ticey Reed-Caro of Great Bend on BCDC warrant for probation violation. BCDC warrant for probation violation. Released to Russell County Sheriff’s Office on their warrant.

RELEASED: Alexander Valdez of Great Bend on BTDC case for domestic battery after posting a $1,000 surety bond through Ace Bail Bonding.

USD 428 in Great Bend is doing everything they can to retain and attract new teachers to the district, and Monday night the Board of Education took a financial step in doing so. The Board passed a motion to increase the base salaries for teachers by $1,300 and every teacher coming back will receive a minimum $1,700 raise starting in the 2018-2019 school year.

USD 428 Assistant Superintendent John Popp says most districts in Kansas are dealing with turnover each year, but they would like to see that slow down.

John Popp Audio

As of the meeting Monday night, 24 teachers resigned and seven retired for a total of 31 teachers leaving the district. Last year, 35 teachers left. The 31 this year can change as teachers have until June 1 to decide if they will resign without breaching their contract.

John Popp Audio

With the base pay increase, the starting annual salary for incoming teachers will be $37,700. Overall, the raises resulted in a five percent increase in salary for the district. Insurance, benefits, and contractual hours will remain the same for next year.

A proposal to increase the number of days that fireworks are allowed to be shot in the unincorporated areas of Barton County brought out most of the Fire Chiefs in the area during Monday’s Barton County Commission meeting.

The Barton County Sheriff’s Office had suggested extending the discharge period this year to allow for the discharge of fireworks from 6:00 p.m. June 29 to midnight July 8. The thought was that since the 4th this year falls midweek, it would allow families more time to spend together during an extended 4th of July weekend. It would also solve some of the enforcement problems the Sheriff’s Office experience’s during a mid-week celebration.

But Ellinwood Fire Chief Chris Komarek led the unified front from the local fire department’s.

Chris Komarek Audio

Great Bend Fire Chief Luke McCormick agreed with Komarek and says the timing of this years harvest was another reason why he would be opposed to the longer 4th of July celebration.

Luke McCormick Audio

Currently, fireworks are allowed to only be discharged in the county on the day of the 4th. Commissioners took no action on the proposed change meaning that the current ordinance will continue to be the policy in Barton County.

As Memorial Day approaches on Monday, May 28, many citizens are thinking about honoring loved ones at gravesites. Placing flowers, keepsakes, figurines, and other items around headstones is often common.

The staff at the Great Bend Cemetery remind citizens about the dates that these items can be placed there and when they should be removed. For starters, Michelle Davis with the Cemetery says outside of the Memorial Day time period, there should be no items on the concrete surrounding the tombstone.

Michelle Davis Audio

As City of Great Bend crews continue to mow the cemeteries and handle the spring cleanup for the holiday, Memorial Day grave decorating can start Saturday, May 19. All Memorial Day items will need to be removed by Sunday, June 3 so the staff can begin mowing again.

Davis says the rules are posted at the cemetery along Broadway and Cemetery North along 24^th Street.

Michelle Davis Audio

Any items placed on the graves before or left after those dates will be removed and discarded. Staff usually mows the cemetery once a week, but allow the two weeks to pass for citizens to honor their loved ones.

Outside of the Memorial Day period, the Cemetery allows two personal items per grave that must be placed on the headstone and not the ground or cement.