By KEN CARPENTER Great Bend Post

The Great Bend Fire Department put out a fire Wednesday afternoon in the 1200 block of Main Street in the old Zarah Hotel building in downtown Great Bend. The fire was reported shortly after 3 p.m.&nbsp;

Great Bend Fire Chief Luke McCormick told Eagle Radio this morning what happened.&nbsp;

“The initial crews on scene found fire on the back part of the building and down in the basement,” McCormick reported.&nbsp;

McCormick said that firefighters were able to limit the fire damage in the old structure.&nbsp;

“We were very fortunate. Crews were able to get a pretty good stop on the fire in the basement and a little bit of the main floor of that mall.”&nbsp;

McCormick said most of the businesses in the mall were not damaged. A representative from the State Fire Marshal's office will assist the Great Bend Fire Department today to determine the cause of the fire.&nbsp;

Firefighters make quick work of fire in Zarah building

Chiefs Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs Ticket Contest

Make a healthy change with the 2022 Get Fit Sweepstakes!

Bowl Pick 'Em - Win a 55" HDTV!

If you are a Grade School age Kid in the Barton County Area we want to know how you make a difference! You could win a "I Make A Difference" T-shirt and be qualified to win T-shirts for you entire Class! Tune into "Mornings with Shannon" on 100.7 Eagle Country at 7:20 A.M. Monday Morning to hear the lasted T-shirt winners!

100.7 Eagle Country I Make a Difference Contest 

Hear this month's Cheyenne Bottoms show with Eagle Radio's Steve Webster and Area Wildlife Manager Jason Wagner that aired Jan. 19, 2022.

The Cheyenne Bottoms Show airs the third Wednesday of every month at 8:30 a.m. on 1590 KVGB &amp; 95.5 FM.&nbsp;

🎤Cheyenne Bottoms show: Manager Jason Wagner

Click&nbsp;<a href="https://greatbendpost.com/category/obituaries" target="_blank">HERE&nbsp;</a>to view the most recent obituaries and service times from our funeral home partners.

Great Bend Post is honored to publish full obituaries and photos at no cost to families.

﻿Funeral homes and families can send notices to <a href="mailto:kencarpenter@eagleradio.net">ken.carpenter@eagleradio.net</a>.

Recent Obituaries

By COLE REIF Great Bend Post

The Kansas Community Corrections Act provides grants to counties in the
state to maintain programming for offenders assigned to community corrections
agencies. 

The goal for Central Kansas Community Corrections (CKCC), based in Great
Bend, is to have no more than 25% of their case closures go to the Kansas prison
system. 

CKCC Director Amy Boxberger said out of 157 contacts between July 1,
2020 and April 17, 2021, only 23 individuals ended in jail. That’s
roughly 15%. 
"We're very proud of the outcomes we receive," said Boxberger. "We have a culture of trying to help people make true change in their lives. That creates a safer community for us to live in." 
Boxberger said once an individual is ordered to probation, Central Kansas
Community Corrections attempts to find interventions to change their lives.
Boxberger added it is easy to over-supervise or under-supervise people and her
organization is trying to find that sweet spot in between. 
"If we have somebody that is committing new felony charges that deal with distribution, sale of drugs, person crimes or gun crimes we are asking for ramification," said Boxberger. "Outcomes are important, but public safety is our number one priority." 
CKCC provides intensive supervision to adult felony offenders assigned in the
20th Judicial District, encompassing Barton, Ellsworth, Rice,
Russell and Stafford counties.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Effective results from Central Kansas Community Corrections 

As Jon Prescott plans for his upcoming retirement as chief executive officer of Sunflower Diversified Services, he is gratified about many of the non-profit agency’s successes. But three highlights stand out.

One of these is “discovering the artistic gifts that people with special needs demonstrate at Beautiful Minds Art Studio. Their ability to create clay pieces, abstract paintings, candles and sketches is nothing short of amazing.”

Prescott noted that if Sunflower hadn’t converted a storage area in the Westside Market building, 5523 10th, “we would have never discovered these God-given talents.”

The opening of The UPS Store is another highlight for Prescott; it also is located at 5523 10th Street. A UPS Store division approved Sunflower as one of only three non-profit franchises in North America.

“This store has provided a developmental environment where clients can enjoy a great employment option,” Prescott said. “They receive training and support on the job so they can serve the public and earn a paycheck.”

UPS Store employees interact with customers each day and prepare boxes for shipment. They learn to meet customers’ needs and dress for success, Prescott noted.

A third highlight during the last five years “has been watching our leadership team develop and grow new job opportunities at our manufacturing plant. Clients learn new skills, which leads to more productivity and independence.”

Ferguson Production Inc. and Oversize Warning Products are two relatively new contracts that provide assembly and packaging jobs. Sunflower’s confidential shredding service at the plant also has grown over the years.

“Our staff deserves much credit for making all these successes happen,” Prescott said. “They have the heart for serving God by helping people with disabilities. None of them are doing this to get rich. Their reward will come when they become rich in Heaven. They are amazing people.

“I will miss all of these new friends – staff and clients alike,” he continued. “It is all about people supporting people and seeing the love everyone has for each other. I am not finished serving others and am looking for more ways to give back to our communities.”

The future Prescott’s advice for the new CEO is to “keep growing, keep innovating, and keep improving our developmental services.”

One of his priorities would have been to create a credentialing program that recognizes Direct Support Professionals “for all they have learned and all they do in the field. We should do the same for clients so they too can be recognized for their diligence in reaching new developmental heights that didn’t seem possible in the past.”

The other priority would be to build a new school for children who have a medical diagnosis of autism. “Our autism team is professional and well-respected,” Prescott said. “But they need help. Central Kansas has a critical need to serve and support children with autism and their families.”

Prescott also noted he is impressed with Sunflower’s Board of Directors, which also is looking to the future.

“They are being prudent in their search of a quality, heart-driven CEO,” he explained. “The board completely understands the importance of finding a leader who will continue our legacy of support for children and adults far into the future.

“It has truly been a blessing to serve people with disabilities and delays from cradle to retirement,” he added. “I am so proud to be part of this one-of-a-kind entity in central Kansas. Our non-profit agency has been providing services for almost 56 years and will continue to do so in the years to come.”

Sunflower serves infants, toddlers and adults in Barton, Pawnee, Rice, Rush and Stafford counties.

As retirement nears, Sunflower CEO reflects on his time

To help alleviate some of the pressure on our schools, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), along with the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE), support schools implementing a 30-day temporary suspension on all contact tracing activities.

Expectation for all parents and families:

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Regularly monitor your children for symptoms of COVID-19

o&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;While symptoms can vary based on the strain or individual, for a list of common COVID-19 symptoms provided by the CDC, see&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html" target="_blank">https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html</a>

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A close-contact student will stay home 3 days from last contact of someone with a positive test&nbsp;

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;If close-contact student remains symptom free for those 3 days, they will be allowed to return to school on 4th day wearing a mask

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Close-contact student will continue to wear a mask at school for the remainder of the 10 days

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Close-contact student can remain at school after their return as long as they remain symptom free

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;If any COVID symptoms occur for the close-contact student during their 10 day time period, they will be sent home to finish the 10 days at home

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Notify HFS if your child tests positive or has symptoms

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Do not send your child to school if they are sick or if they test positive.

o&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A positive test student/staff must home isolate and quarantine for the first 5 days of their infectious period&nbsp; (Day 0 is positive test date or first date of onset of symptoms) Student/staff can return to school for the next 5 days (Day 6 is beginning of this period) as long as they are wearing a well-fitting mask indoors

o&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Before leaving home isolation, student/staff should be fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and other symptoms should be improving

o&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;If student/staff with a confirmed or probable COVID-19 infection cannot wear a mask when around others, they should follow these isolation criteria:

§&nbsp;&nbsp;Isolate at home for a minimum of 10 days from the onset of symptoms (day of symptom onset is Day 0). Asymptomatic student/staff should isolate at home for 10 days from the date their positive sample was taken (day of sample was taken is Day 0).

§&nbsp;&nbsp;On day 11, student/staff may discontinue isolation IF they have been fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medication AND there has been a significant improvement in symptoms

§&nbsp;&nbsp;IF student/staff continue to have a fever or other symptoms, they should continue isolating at home for 14 days

Please remember that we are trying to deal with each student on a case-by-case basis.&nbsp;&nbsp;

While we continue to practice stepped-up hygiene routines and distance students when possible, there are additional mitigation strategies for families to consider. Students can also wear a well-fitted mask at school if so desired.

Holy Family School changes COVID procedures

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By KEN CARPENTER Great Bend Post

Businesses at the Zarah Mall in downtown Great Bend were closed Thursday following a fire on Wednesday afternoon. The mall is located on the first floor of the old Zarah Hotel Building in the 1200 block of Main Street.&nbsp;

Great Bend Fire Chief Luke McCormick said firefighters were called to the basement area in the back of the building and kept the fire from spreading to the rest of the structure.&nbsp;

Jim Hopkins was working in an adjacent building at the Wright Place Downtown Flea Market at 1913 Lakin Street. He said a Great Bend police officer told him to get everyone out of the store.&nbsp;

“I grabbed some important stuff and I locked it up and I left because he kept getting on to me about leaving,” Hopkins said. “I couldn’t really go through and make sure everything was shut off. So I just hurried up and evacuated.”&nbsp;

Hopkins was able to reopen the store Thursday morning. No word yet on when the businesses in the mall will reopen.&nbsp;

Some businesses affected by fire at Zarah Mall 

During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, members of the Great Bend City Council moved their meetings from city hall to the Great Bend Events Center so that council members, staff and the public could sit further apart. The council meetings were moved back to city hall last September after Great Bend Convention &amp; Visitors Bureau Director Christina Hayes told the council that there was a large demand to rent out the space.

A recent spike in the COVID-19 virus has generated a discussion among council members to consider returning to the Events Center. Councilmember Brock McPherson expressed his opinion at this week's council meeting.

"I am concerned," McPherson said. "I don't think that room is being used in the evening when we have our meetings. The COVID thing is getting worse. We're supposed to be the council. Why aren't those things available to us?  Why should we have to look for other space?"

City Administrator Kendall Francis explained why a move back the Events Center would be difficult.

"There are times that it would be rented in the evenings," Francis said. "A lot of it is the setup time. Even on a weekly basis when we're here, my team is testing and tweaking sound and everything during the day, and these mics remain up. So to be able to set up the sound and the video for every meeting is time-consuming."

Mayor Cody Schmidt said he would be willing to make alterations within the council chamber such as installing plastic dividers, spacing out council members and providing masks to those who wish to wear them. No decision to move the meetings or change the council chamber was made by the council.

No plans to move city council meetings due to COVID increases

Work is anticipated to begin on Jan. 26, 2022, for intersection signing improvements on North Washington Avenue at North 30 Road and for the widening of a concrete drainage box on Northwest 50 Road, just east of Northwest 10 Avenue. 

The intersection signing improvements include the installation of improved advance warning signs, LED stop signs, removal of trees in the southeast corner, advance radar speed displays, improved rumble strips on North 30 Road and new pavement markings. 

The concrete box widening project will entail widening the structure 16 feet on each side of the roadway followed by earthwork and asphalt surfacing to construct gentler shoulder slopes and to eliminate the vertical drop-offs that are currently next to the edges of the road.

Traffic will remain open during construction at the intersection. However, Northwest 50 Road, between North Washington Avenue and Northwest 10 Avenue, will be closed to through traffic. Local traffic will be able to access homes and the two cemeteries by going west from North Washington Avenue, but the road will be closed at the project site that is approximately 0.1 mile east of Northwest 10 Avenue. A detour route on Northwest 10 Avenue will be set up to direct traffic around the work area.

L&amp;M Contractors, Inc., of Great Bend is the prime contractor on the project. The work is funded through a KDOT High Risk Rural Roads project, with 85 working days being allotted for completion of the project.

For more on information on the project read the previous story below.

<a href="https://greatbendpost.com/posts/24502abd-677b-4b1a-9cf4-56e84b81c52b">Major safety improvements at Washington &amp; JUCO Road to begin soon</a>

Washington & JUCO road intersection improvements start Jan. 26

An important phone call earlier this month brought the educational aspirations of one Great Bend student from dream to reality. Recently named a 2022 Give Back Scholar, Jonathan Ruiz will receive a full-ride scholarship for college. Beyond the financial impact, Give Back Scholars also receive mentor opportunities that support, challenge and guide them through their educational journey.

After an extensive application and interview process that began last fall, Ruiz, received the award announcement just as he begins his final semester at Great Bend High School.

“I am so impressed by Jonathan’s hard work and determination,” said Lacy Wolters, GBHS ACT/Career coordinator. “When he began the application process it was for Give Back’s new program called ‘Give Back Careers’ that seeks to provide mentorship in high school and promote attendance of junior college. However, during the interview process, Give Back learned of Jonathan’s desire to attend a university and ended up offering him one of the few remaining spots at Baker University.”

Ruiz plans to pursue a degree in physical therapy at Baker University in Baldwin City, Kan., and while he does not plan to play collegiate sports, he said athletic training might be something he will explore as a student.

“This is why I transitioned into education from the business world,” said Wolters. “Helping students of ours receive these opportunities is one of the most fulling aspects of my job.”

Wolters describes this as a life-changing opportunity for students. Every Give Back scholar receives a full scholarship that covers college tuition, fees, room and board, lifting the financial burden associated with higher education.

The Give Back program is highly competitive with only 30 awards given in the state of Kansas each year. 

“This is the fourth consecutive year that Give Back has selected at least one GBHS student,” said Wolters. “We’ve had a total of eight students selected for the program since 2019, three are currently in college while the other five are in high school and participating in mentor opportunities.”

Give Back’s mission is to provide mentoring and financial support for education to students who have faced economic hardship and other adversities. Their website describes Give Back Scholars as academically motivated and resilient. Most are first generation college or trade school students who come from families below the poverty line. A special outreach is given to students who have experienced heightened social risks such as foster care or the incarceration of a parent. Learn more about the Give Back Foundation at www.giveback.ngo. 

‘Give Back’ award provides life-changing opportunity for GBHS senior

Wednesday, January 19 Wichita Trinity 65 Goddard 43 El Dorado 63 Wichita Collegiate 50

Thursday, January 20 6:00 Great Bend 63 El Dorado 52 Kapaun Mt. Carmel 57 Goddard 48

Friday, Januay 21 6:00 Kapaun Mt. Carmel vs Wichita Trinity 7:30 Great Bend vs Wichita Collegiate

Championship Saturday January 22 4:00 5th Place Game 5:45 3rd Place Game 7:30 Championship Game

54th annual Bluestem Classic scores and schedule

Boys pairings Monday Macksville 70 Central Plains 38 St. John 37 Larned 26 Tuesday Wichita Independent 52 Nickerson 18 Sunrise Academy 57 Reno Co. 38 Thursday Reno County 59 Central Plains 45 Nickerson 45 Larned 32 Friday 4:30 Macksville vs Sunrise Academy 7:30 Independent vs St. John Saturday 10:30 - 7th place - Larned vs Central Plains 1:30 - 5th place - Reno Co. vs Nickerson 4:30 - 3rd place game 7:30 - Championship game

Girls pairings Monday Macksville 40 Larned 36 Central Plains 47 St. John 33

Tuesday Sunrise Academy 59 Larned 30

Thursday Central Plains 59 Macksville 29

Friday 6:00 Sunrise Academy vs St. John

Saturday 12:00 Larned vs Reno Co. 3:00 St. John vs Macksville 6:00 Central Plains vs Sunrise Academy

2022 St. John Mid-Winter Classic Scores and Schedule

** M-T-Th-F games at Activities Center. Saturday 1st and 3rd place games at Activities Center. 5th and 7th place games at Hoisington High School

Boys Schedule Monday&nbsp; Pratt 78 Otis-Bison 29 Ellsworth 53 Victoria 19 Tuesday Ellinwood 49 Cimarron 35 Hoisington 41 LaCrosse 25&nbsp; Thursday (Consolation Bracket Semi's) Victoria 42 Otis-Bison 38 Cimarron 61 LaCrosse 37

Friday Semi Finals 5:00 Ellsworth vs Pratt 8:00 Ellinwood vs Hoisington

Saturday Finals 2:30 7th Place - Otis-Bison vs LaCrosse (HHS) 2:30 3rd Place - Ellsworth/Pratt loser vs Ellinwood/Hoisington loser (AC) 5:30 5th Place - Victoria vs Cimarron (HHS) 5:30 Championship&nbsp; -&nbsp;Ellsworth/Pratt winner vs Ellinwood/Hoisington winner (AC)

Girls Schedule Monday
 Pratt 51 Victoria 35 Ellsworth 58 Ellinwood 57

Tuesday Cimarron 58 LaCrosse 36 Hoisington 53 Otis-Bison 33&nbsp;&nbsp;

Thursday&nbsp;(Consolation Bracket Semi's) Victoria 55 Ellinwood 47 LaCrosse 33 Otis-Bison 38&nbsp;

Friday Semi Finals 3:30 Pratt vs Ellsworth&nbsp; 6:30&nbsp; Cimarron vs Hoisington

Saturday Finals 1:00 7th Place&nbsp; - Ellinwood vs Otis-Bison (HHS) 1:00 3rd Place&nbsp; - Pratt/Ellsworth loser vs Cimarron/Hoisington loser (AC) 4:00 5th Place - Victoria vs LaCrosse (HHS) 4:00 Championship - Pratt/Ellsworth winner vs Cimarron/Hoisington winner (AC)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

2022 Cardinal Winter Jam Scores and Schedule

Great Bend Boys 63 El Dorado 52

Nickerson Boys 45 Larned 32

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) — Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Willie Gay was charged with misdemeanor criminal damage to property after he broke a vacuum and other items during an argument, putting his status for Sunday's divisional round playoff game against the Buffalo Bills in question

Gay pleaded not guilty Thursday and was expected to be released from jail later in the day.

Police in the Kansas City suburb of Overland Park, Kansas, said the 23-year-old Gay was arrested Wednesday night. The total of damaged property amounted to $225, police said.

No drugs, alcohol or weapons were involved and no one was injured, police said.

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) — Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Willie Gay has been charged with misdemeanor criminal damage to property after he broke a vacuum and other items during an argument, authorities said.

Gay, 23, was arrested Wednesday night in Overland Park, Kansas, and had a court date scheduled for Thursday afternoon.

Overland Park police said in an offense report that Gay damaged a vacuum and other property, causing total property damage of $225, The Kansas City Star&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/sports/nfl/kansas-city-chiefs/article257529423.html">reported</a>.

Gay's agents, Maxx Lepsettler and Ryan Rubin, said in a statement that Gay was visiting his son when he got into an argument with the child's mother, who called police.

The agents said Gay would likely pay a fine and replace the vacuum and “all should be resolved today with no further issues.”

The Chiefs, who play the Buffalo Bills in the playoffs on Sunday, said they were aware of the incident but did not plan to make further comment.

Gay, in his second season with the Chiefs, has played in 12 games this season, totaling 48 tackles and two interceptions.

Chiefs linebacker enters plea for misdemeanor criminal damage

Francine Martin, Assistant Executive Director of the Kansas State High School Activities Association, has announced her decision to retire from the KSHSAA staff effective June 30, 2023.&nbsp; She has served in this position since joining the staff 18 years ago.&nbsp; During her tenure, Martin has been responsible for the administration of basketball, cross country, baseball, and softball programs as well as with the KSHSAA Coaching School, KIAAA liaison, and officials’ administration.&nbsp; Martin was also involved with general interpretation of KSHSAA rules for the member schools of the Association.

During the 2022-23 school year, her final year of faithful service to the Association, Martin will transition into a new responsibility.&nbsp; Her focus will be to develop a new administrative position which will support those serving as officials in all programs administered by the KSHSAA.&nbsp; As a long-standing priority of the KSHSAA, this work will include the systemic development impacting the breadth and depth of the officiating pool through recruitment and education. In addition, Martin will continue to foster the positive relationship between schools, officials and other stakeholders. Following the development of the official’s education administrator position and transition, Martin will retire in June of 2023.&nbsp;

After her graduation and successful prep career as a student athlete in Clay Center, Martin attended and graduated from Hutchinson Community College and the University of Nebraska Omaha, where she participated in basketball and track and field.&nbsp; She completed her administrative degree at Kansas State University. Martin has served Kansas schools as a teacher, coach, and administrator for 38 years working at LaCrosse, El Dorado, and Topeka Seaman High Schools before her tenure as an Assistant Executive Director at the KSHSAA. Her drive for enhancing officiating in the state comes from a place of practice, where she has been a registered official since 1988.

KSHSAA Asst Executive Director Retires

It is hard to imagine that any profession is more important and has had as significant of an impact on other people than the high school coaching profession.&nbsp;

Memories from participating in high school sports more often than not involve coaches – men and women who not only helped us learn and play our particular sports better, and have fun doing so, but who, in many cases, helped us navigate through that stretch of life.

And along with health-care workers, teachers and other individuals who work with young people, we all should be indebted to high school coaches for their additional time and effort the past two years. In addition to their normal busy schedules, these individuals have faced numerous additional burdens related to the pandemic.

It is indeed one of the highlights of the year when the NFHS has the opportunity to recognize some of these individuals who have devoted their lives to coaching high school sports.

Earlier this week, the NFHS recognized more than 650 individuals for their efforts as high school coaches during the 2020-21 school year, including 23 as National Coaches of the Year. As you might imagine with individuals selected for this honor, their accomplishments are amazing.

The 23 coaches selected for this national honor have led their respective teams to a combined 116 state championships. While four of the coaches won their first state title this past year, several others have won 10-15 state championships.

Specifically, Ron Insinger is the winningest high school boys basketball coach in Pennsylvania history. Jeffrey Howard has won 10 Ohio boys state cross country titles – most in state history. Jesse Nelson retired as the winningest girls basketball coach in Kansas history. John Dwyer won his 12th&nbsp;Illinois state lacrosse championship with a perfect 25-0 record. Kristin Liles has led her teams to 11 state girls tennis titles in Oklahoma.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

While the accomplishments of these five individuals, along with the other 18, are extraordinary, the state titles, career victories and perfect records are not the only defining measures of success – far from it in fact. Responses by these individuals to the “Coaching Philosophy” section of the nomination form reveals what is really important in education-based athletics.&nbsp;

Kit Harris, the boys and girls wrestling coach as Baldwin High School in Baldwin City, Kansas, who led his team to the 2021 Kansas State High School Activities Association Girls Wrestling State Championship, said “to be successful at something is meaningless unless you are a good person along the way.” He stresses the 5C’s – character, competing, citizenship, classroom commitment and community.

Insinger, who has won 984 games as boys basketball coach at Loyalsock Township High School in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, said, “My philosophy has always been to strive to make each student-athlete a better person than they were at the beginning of each season. The wins and championships are a bonus. If I enhanced each player's integrity by the end of each season, we were all winners! For me the ‘score’ that matters most is the one that measures their effort and ultimately only they know the score.”

Samuel “Bunky” Colvin, boys soccer coach at McIntosh High School in Peachtree City, Georgia, who has a 400-58 record and seven state championships, reveals his key to success: “I firmly believe that if all we do is win titles, we have not fulfilled our duty as coaches. The most valuable thing players should receive from participation in soccer is a staff devoted to helping players become the best students and people they can become. We are in the business of creating leaders who will impact the world for good. Winning games will always come second to helping our young men to prepare to win in life.”

Linda Drust, the Girls Spirit Coach of the Year from Cartersville (Illinois) High School, certainly understands her mission as a high school coach: “It is my philosophy to facilitate opportunities through my position as cheer coach that will prepare my team for immediate success as well as opportunities for success after high school. I coach my athletes for a short time in their life, and accepting that I have an opportunity to enhance their experience to be better students, spouses, parents and people is my core value for being a coach.”

And perhaps the most direct philosophy comes from the Girls Softball Coach of the Year, Ed McQuade, of Greenway High School in Phoenix, Arizona, “My coaching philosophy is simple and easily duplicated: FOCUS ON CHARACTER -wins and losses will take care of themselves.”

These are but a few of the amazing individuals selected as NFHS National Coaches of the Year for 2020-21 – all of whom have impacted student-athletes in positive ways for decades.

In addition to these 23 individuals, we salute all of this nation’s high school coaches for the extra burdens they are continuing to carry during these challenging times. They deserve our utmost respect and appreciation.

National Coaches of the Year Focused on Education-based Philosophies

Friday 1/21 7:15PM B104 - Bluestem Classic - Great Bend Boys vs Wichita Collegiate 3:30PM KHOK- Winter Jam - Ellsworth Girls vs Pratt 5:00PM KHOK- Winter Jam - Ellsworth Boys vs Pratt 6:30PM KHOK- Winter Jam - Hoisington Girls vs Cimarron 8:00PM KHOK- Winter Jam - Hoisington Boys vs Ellinwood Saturday 1/22 10:30AM KBGL - Midwinter Classic - Larned Boys vs Central Plains TBA B104 - Panther Boys Basketball at Bluestem Classic 12:00PM TBA - Midwinter Classic - Larned Girls vs Reno Co. 1:45PM B104 - College Basketball - Cowley M&amp;W @ Barton 2:30PM KBGL - College Basketball - Kansas @ Kansas State 1:00PM KHOK- Winter Jam 3rd Place Girls game - TBA 2:30PM KHOK- Winter Jam 3rd Place Boys game - TBA 4:00PM KHOK- Winter Jam Girls Championship - TBA 5:30PM KHOK- Winter Jam Boys Championship - TBA&nbsp; Sunday 1/23 4:00PM - Chiefs Football - Buffalo Bills @ Kansas City Monday 1/24 7:30PM KBGL - College Basketball - Texas Tech @ Kansas Tuesday 1/25 5:45PM KHOK - Hoisington @ Phillipsburg Wednesday 1/26 5:15PM B104 - College Basketball - Barton M&amp;W @ Hutchinson

Eagle Radio and Hull Broadcasting PBP Schedule

MANHATTAN, Kansas – K-State constructed a 16-point lead with just under six minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, but Kansas rallied to tie the game with three minutes left before the Wildcats sealed the Dillons Sunflower Showdown win, 69-61, in Bramlage Coliseum on Wednesday night.

With the win, K-State has won 15 of the last 17 meetings in the series and over the last 45 meetings, the Wildcats own a record of 37-8.

K-State completes its two-game home stand this week on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m., as the Wildcats host (14/19) Oklahoma. 

K-State Builds Big Second Half Lead; Fends Off Late KU Charge

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a theft that resulted in the loss of hundreds of dollars.

Just before 10a.m. Wednesday,&nbsp;officers were called to the area of 5227 SW 22nd Place in Topeka on a report of a subject dismantling AC units, according to Lt. Manuel Munoz.

Officers arrived and located an individual later identified as 37-year-old Patrick A. Scott of Topeka actively tearing several AC units apart. 

Police took Scott into custody. It is estimated the damage to be in the thousands of dollars to approximately five AC units, according to Munoz.

&nbsp;Scott remains jailed on requested&nbsp;charges of Aggravated Criminal Damage, Theft, Outstanding Felony Warrant, Poss. of Meth and Poss. of Drug Paraphernalia.

&nbsp;The investigation continues and further charges could result once detectives have concluded their investigation, according to Munoz.

Police: Kan. man did hundreds of dollars in damage to AC units

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A&nbsp; judge&nbsp;sentenced a Kansas&nbsp; man Wednesday for the July 2019 sex assault murder of a woman in her home.

John D. Pepper, 57, Wichita, was sentenced to life in prison with parole eligibility after 25 years for first-degree murder and 195 months for aggravated criminal sodomy, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office. The sentences will run consecutively.&nbsp;

Prosecutors said Pepper killed Rita Golden during the commission of a sex crime. Police said Golden let Pepper stay in her backyard and sometimes let him take naps and eat insider her home. 

An autopsy determined Golden died from a heart condition but she also had injuries associated with smothering and sexual assault.

Kan. man sentenced in sex assault killing of woman who helped him

EMPORIA, Kan. (AP) — Fire officials say several rural brush fires set in two Kansas counties were arson. The fires were set Tuesday in Chase and Lyon counties. 

No one was injured and no buildings were damaged. The Emporia Gazette reports the Kansas Fire Marshal’s office believes the fires are connected and is helping with the investigation. 

Chase County Sheriff Richard Dorneker said four fires were reported in his county Tuesday morning. He said it's not clear how those fires were set. Lyon County crews handled at least seven brush fires in Tuesday afternoon and evening, most of them west of Emporia.

Kansas fire officials say several rural fires were arson

WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-one-year-07788eba2c1eb84de0edf3dbe3f2d412">President Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;ends&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/voting-rights-joe-biden-europe-donald-trump-422b4b87a6e7b961977cedd9d33bb03c">his first year in the White House</a>&nbsp;with a clear majority of Americans for the first time disapproving of his handling of the presidency in the face of an unrelenting pandemic and roaring inflation, according to a new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

More Americans disapprove than approve of how Biden is handling his job as president, 56% to 43%. As of now, just 28% of Americans say they want Biden to run for reelection in 2024, including only 48% of Democrats.

Asked on Wednesday at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/voting-rights-coronavirus-pandemic-joe-biden-health-business-fdc4e641dc797b2a75131fd290c70f6d">a wide-ranging news conference</a>&nbsp;about his flagging popularity, Biden responded, “I don’t believe the polls.”

It’s a stark reversal from early in Biden’s presidency.

In July, 59% of Americans said they approved of Biden’s job performance in an AP-NORC poll. His approval rating dipped to 50% by late September in the aftermath of the chaotic and bloody U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan and amid surging coronavirus infections and the administration’s fitful efforts to push economic, infrastructure and tax policies through Congress.

The latest poll shows that Americans’ confidence in Biden’s handling of the pandemic — seen as a strength early in his administration — has further eroded as the omicron variant strains the health care system and further exhausts an American electorate that had hoped life would be back to a semblance of normalcy by now.

Just 45% say they approve of Biden’s handling of COVID-19, down from 57% in December and from 66% in July 2021.

Americans are even more downbeat about his handling of the economy, with just 37% approving. Growing angst about his economic policies comes as inflation rose at its fastest pace in nearly 40 years last month, a 7% spike from a year earlier that is increasing household expenses and eating into wage gains.

Joyce Bowen, 61, of Knoxville, Tennessee, said Biden deserves credit for encouraging Americans to get vaccinated, but she expressed frustration about the administration’s response to soaring inflation.

The part-time cleaner at a public library said she and her older brother, who she helps support, have been eating less meat to offset rising grocery costs and intermittent spikes at the gas pump that have whittled the purchasing power of her $754 biweekly paycheck.

“It’s just hard to keep food on the table and gas in the tank,” said Bowen, who voted for Biden but said she’d prefer he didn’t run again in 2024.

Only about a quarter were very confident that Biden “has the mental capability to serve effectively as president” or “is healthy enough to serve effectively as president.” Close to half are not confident in Biden’s mental capability or health.

Asked by a reporter at Wednesday’s news conference about other polling that shows a significant percentage of Americans had concerns about Biden’s mental health, the president shrugged off those findings.

Gary Cameron, 66, of Midwest City, Oklahoma, said the president’s verbal gaffes and age — at 79 Biden is the oldest U.S. president in history — don’t give him confidence that Biden has the skill or energy to pull the country out of its malaise.

“Whenever he does a speech on television, in your mind, you’re thinking ‘God, is this guy even going to get through this this speech?’” said Cameron, an independent who voted for Donald Trump in 2020.

Other respondents said that Biden’s age — and life experience that’s come with it — has proven to be an asset.

Nicole Jensen-Oost, 79, of Plano, Texas, said that Biden has demonstrated leadership and empathy through the pandemic by speaking of his own personal grief.

Biden frequently raises the deaths of his first wife and a daughter in a 1972 car crash as well as the loss of an adult son who died of cancer as he has sought to reassure Americans who have lost loved ones to the virus.

“This man has heart,” said Jensen-Oost, a Democrat and among the minority of respondents who said Biden is healthy enough to serve effectively as president. “He’s compassionate and the country needs that right now. We didn’t see a lot of compassion in the previous four years.”

The poll shows only about a quarter of Americans think the phrase “strong leader” describes Biden very well, while about that many say it’s a somewhat good description. Roughly half say he is not a strong leader. Views of Biden’s understanding of “the needs and problems of people like you” are similar.

Just 16% think Biden’s presidency has made the country more united; 43% think it’s more divided.

Harlan Epstein, of Cleveland, didn’t vote for Biden but was hopeful that the 46th president, who sold himself to American voters as a consensus builder, would govern from the ideological middle.

But Epstein, an independent, said Biden’s push for a $2 trillion climate and social services spending bill and his effort to force larger employers to require their workers to get vaccinated or undergo regular testing have undercut Biden’s centrist reputation.

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