By MIKE COURSON Great Bend Post

Spring is just around the corner, and the warmer temperatures
mean a greater threat of severe weather. In preparation for storm season, the
National Weather Service out of Wichita will return to Great Bend on Wednesday,
March 4, for its annual “Storm Fury on the Plains” presentation. Warning
Coordination Meteorologist Vanessa Pearce said the presentation is a good way
for all ages to learn about storm identification and safety.

“We cover the different types of storms, storm features, and
trying to determine the severity of the storm – how to look at visual clues to
determine what that is - how to report hazardous weather, then of course,
severe weather safety is a component as well,” Pearce said.

The National Weather Service adds new information to the
presentation each year. The Great Bend presentation will be one of many around
the state. In April, the National Weather Service will host a most advanced
presentation in Andover.

“Each year, we do a different presentation and a new
presentation,” said Pearce. “It has very similar things as before, but it is
new. We have more interactive components this year, so it’s definitely more
engaging.”

There were 89 tornadoes in Kansas in 2024, up from 39 in
2023. Last year was relatively mild across the state, at least in terms of
tornadoes.

“We had more severe thunderstorms last year than on average,
but in terms of tornadoes, were actually down from where we’ve been across the
state,” Pearce said. “The statewide total last year was 30, and our typical is
closer to 90, so we didn’t have as many tornadoes, but we did have a good
amount of severe thunderstorms that produced damaging winds and large hail.”

Pearce and KWCH Meteorologist Ross Jansen will host “Why is
Kansas Weather So Different at Barton Community College this Saturday, Feb. &nbsp;28 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the Science &amp;
Math Building, Room S-118. “Storm Fury on the Plains” is scheduled for 6:30
p.m. on March 4 at the Crest Theater in downtown Great Bend.

'Storm Fury on the Plains' returns to Great Bend's Crest Theater on March 4

When Mya Brewer came away from a conference in Topeka recently, she noted that “it was a great opportunity to speak up and speak out.”

Brewer, Hoisington Middle School eighth grader, and a couple of her Barton County Youth Crew peers attended Youth Mental Health Advocacy Day at the State Capitol to discuss substance use, prevention, resources and more.

“I enjoyed sharing my thoughts with those who could help me make a positive change,” Brewer also noted.

Esmae Trimble, Great Bend Middle School seventh grader, commented that state lawmakers “sounded like they truly wanted to help youth and better our communities.”

These Youth Crew members, along with their peer, Braelyn Komarek, Great Bend High School freshman, met with Rep. Sherri Brantley and Sen. Tori Blew.

Tyler Morton, prevention advocate at Juvenile Services, said this advocacy day “gives young people a platform to speak directly to legislators who make decisions that impact them and their peers. Youth from all over Kansas came together to talk about what is important to them.

“It also gives adults time with our lawmakers and other leaders to discuss program goals and report on our successes, as well as some projects that didn’t work out.”

The opening presentation focused on Kratom and 7-OH, which are new drug trends. “These are both highly addictive and not approved by the Food and Drug Administration,” Morton emphasized.

Other topics were cell-phone policies in schools, suicide-prevention resources and social media as it pertains to mental health.

“Youth Crew appreciates being able to meet with local legislators,” Morton said. “Policy change is part of what we aim for, even with the challenges we face because of the complexity of some issues.

“Having a direct line to Rep. Brantley and Sen. Blew is invaluable. We are grateful for their willingness to spend time with us during the busy legislative session.”

In addition, Youth Crew appreciates the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) for hosting this event through its Youth Leaders in Kansas (YLinK) program.

“They do a great job accommodating young people,” Morton said. “There are many moving parts during the six-hour conference and they continue to go above and beyond. The KDADS team genuinely cares about Kansas youth and understands what they value.”

Nicci Henderson, Youth Crew stakeholder, was the other adult that made the trip to the Capitol.

20th Judicial District Juvenile Services empowers youth in Barton, Rice, Ellsworth, Stafford and Russell counties to achieve positive outcomes by offering Juvenile Intake &amp; Assessment, Immediate Intervention, Intensive Supervised Probation, Case Management, Journey to Change, Life Skills, All Stars and Youth Crew. Parents and guardians also are offered The Parent Project. Visit 1800 12th in Great Bend or call 620-793-1930.

Barton Co. Youth Crew attends Youth Mental Health Advocacy Day in Topeka

Eagle Media is celebrating National FFA Week by highlighting the impact of agricultural education and recognizing the businesses that help support the next generation of leaders in rural Kansas.

National FFA Week honors students involved in the organization formerly known as Future Farmers of America and showcases the role agriculture plays in local communities. Eagle Media is partnering with area businesses to spotlight FFA members and their dedication to leadership, service and career development.

“FFA represents hard work, responsibility and the future of agriculture in our region,” Eagle Media General Manager Dakota Tucker said. “As a locally owned media company, we are committed to celebrating the students, families and businesses that keep our rural communities strong.”

This year’s FFA Week recognition is made possible by the support of local and regional businesses, including Kan Equip Great Bend; Linsner Farms; CropWorks Agent Jerry Ney; High Plains Farm Credit; Ag Systems Inc.; H&amp;B Communications; American Plains Coop; Larned Veterinary Clinic; Schreiber Angus; Ricker Seeds; Innovative Livestock Services; Mayo Money Management; Magna Dry Cleaning Services; Warren Brothers; Jacob’s Golf Carts; Nex-Tech Wireless; Rosencrantz Bemis Water Well Service; Francis Financial Services; Auto Body Repair Shop; Great Bend Industries; G&amp;H Insurance; Big Bend Custom Engraving; Sunflower Electric Supply; GB Car Care; Equity Bank; C&amp;E Doors; Clara Barton Medical Center; Keller Insurance and Real Estate; Windshields for Less; Heavy Duty Diesel &amp; Auto; Protective Equipment Testing Laboratory; Brentwood Builders; Jimlo Glass; Delgado’s Mexican Restaurant; Murphy Mini Storage; Stone Sand Company/Stone Waste Management; Barton County Health Department; Allstaff Chartered; Fuller Industries; Miller Plastics; and Freedom Claims Management.

Eagle Media will feature more FFA Week videos throughout the week along with messages across its radio stations and digital platforms.

National FFA Week runs through Saturday and is observed annually to promote agricultural education and leadership development across the country.

Celebrating National FFA Week

The&nbsp;Great Bend Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with&nbsp;Move Your Mountain Coaching and Consultation, invites community members to attend the March session of&nbsp;The Leader’s Lunchroom, a monthly leadership series designed to spark growth, connection, and courageous action.

The March gathering will take place on&nbsp;Tuesday, March 3, from&nbsp;12–1 p.m. at the&nbsp;Great Bend Chamber Boardroom, located at&nbsp;1125 Williams, Great Bend.

This month’s topic, “The Courage Gap: Closing the Distance to Bold Moves,” will explore what holds people back from taking risks, stepping forward, and making confident decisions. Participants will examine the fears, habits, and thought patterns that lead to overanalyzing and staying stuck — and learn how to move forward with clarity and courage.

The session will be led by&nbsp;Kimberly Becker, CEO of Move Your Mountain Coaching, alongside&nbsp;Megan Barfield, President of the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce, offering attendees a dynamic and engaging hour of insight, conversation, and connection.

The session includes a leadership takeaway, guided discussion, and networking. Attendees are encouraged to bring their lunch

This event is&nbsp;free and open to the public. Chamber membership is not required, and all are welcome to attend.

Join us for an hour of insight, connection, and bold leadership growth.

For more information contact the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:gbcc@greatbend.org">gbcc@greatbend.org</a>,&nbsp; 620-792-2401 or Move Your Mountain Coaching &amp; Consultation at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:moveyourmountain19@gmail.com">moveyourmountain19@gmail.com</a>, 620-282-8970.

Great Bend Chamber hosting free The Leader's Lunchroom on March 3

Great Bend Economic Development Inc. (GBED) will host its next CO.STARTERS Core program beginning March 25, offering entrepreneurs a 10-week cohort-based experience designed to help turn business ideas into action.

The program will run through June 3, meeting weekly on Wednesday evenings from 5:45 to 9 p.m.

CO.STARTERS draws on the experience of successful entrepreneurs and startup leaders from around the world, helping small business owners use lean business modeling methods while connecting them to a network of peers and mentors. Rather than focusing solely on traditional business plans, participants test ideas in real time, gather customer feedback and refine their models to meet market needs.

The program operates in more than 200 communities across the United States, New Zealand and Australia.

Locally, the initiative is led by GBED as part of its broader entrepreneurship pipeline supporting startups and small business growth in Barton County and the surrounding region.

Valued at more than $2,500, the program is offered at a subsidized cost of $300 through sponsorship support. Participants who attend at least eight of the 10 sessions qualify for a $100 rebate. Class size is limited, and early applications are encouraged.

Sessions will be facilitated by Regan Reif and Jeremy Elliott, both of whom bring extensive experience in entrepreneurship development and small business mentorship.

Jason Kuilan, Executive Director of Great Bend Economic Development, said the program plays a critical role in the organization’s entrepreneurship and workforce strategy.

“CO.STARTERS Core is one of the most impactful resources we provide to support business growth in our region,” Kuilan said. “It gives entrepreneurs practical tools, real-world insight, and a strong peer network to help them build sustainable ventures. We often describe it as a ‘mini MBA’ experience — one that’s accessible, hands-on, and tailored to the needs of Central Kansas innovators.”

Through complementary initiatives such as IGNITE Rural Business — Barton County’s shark tank-style competition — GBED has identified a growing base of entrepreneurs seeking education, mentorship and funding pathways.

“Beyond Silicon Valley and New York, there are countless communities full of talented entrepreneurs who lack the organized support needed to thrive,” said CO.STARTERS founder Enoch Elwell. “CO.STARTERS provides these communities with a framework to achieve their economic growth goals and foster stronger connections.”

For more information about CO.STARTERS, visit costarters.co. To learn more about the Barton County cohort or apply, visit www.gbedinc.com/costarters

CO.STARTERS returns to Great Bend, offering hands-on path for entrepreneurs

Booked Bryant, Duncan on Great Bend Municipal Court Serve Sentence starting 02/23/2026 @ 08:39 AM until 03/15/2026 @ 08:39 AM.

Booked Rule, Bradley on McPherson County District Court Warrant #mP2025CR000226 for Aggravated Domestic Battery and Criminal Damage to Property with a bond of $8,000.00 Cash or Surety.

Booked Campbell, Peyton on Barton County District Court case #26-167 for Expired Tag and Display Wrong Tag. Bond set at $1000.00 Cash or Surety.

Released Campbell, Peyton on Barton County District Court case #26-167 for Expired Tag and Display Wrong Tag after posting the $1,000.00 surety bond through ACE Bail Bonds.

Released Rule, Bradley on McPherson County District Court Warrant #MP2025CR000226 for Aggravated Domestic Battery and criminal Damage to Prope0 with surety of $8,000.00 through ACE Bail Bonds.

Barton County Sheriff's Office Booking activity (2/23)

Tuesday Partly sunny, with a high near 70. Southwest wind 7 to 10 mph becoming north northeast in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 21 mph. Tuesday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 34. Northeast wind 5 to 7 mph.

Wednesday Partly sunny, with a high near 65. East northeast wind 5 to 14 mph becoming south in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 21 mph. Wednesday Night A 40 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 36.

Thursday Sunny, with a high near 61. Thursday Night Clear, with a low around 36.

Friday Sunny, with a high near 71.

Tuesday's weather

Fuller Industries Inc, like businesses nationwide, faces a shifting landscape of international trade costs after the Supreme Court ruled Friday that the Trump administration’s use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose global tariffs was illegal.

The 6-3 decision effectively strikes down billions of dollars in active duties, but the reprieve for importers may be short-lived. Adding to the uncertainty over the weekend, the administration moved via executive order to reinstate many of the costs using Section 122 of the Trade Act, a mechanism allowing for temporary 15% tariffs for up to 150 days.

“It’s kind of like aiming at a moving target,” said Chris Cowles, vice president of operations for the Great Bend-based legacy commercial cleaner manufacturer. The on-again-off-again tariffs have created logistical challenges.

But, “we are not leaving our margins at the mercy of fluctuating trade policies," he said. "By diversifying our raw material sourcing and shifting our emphasis as much as possible to domestic suppliers, we are building a more resilient supply chain that can handle these fluctuations, and this benefits us and our customers alike."

Neil Bradley, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s chief policy officer, said the move represents a shift in legal strategy rather than a change in economic direction.

"The long story short is that tariffs haven't gone away," Bradley said. "They simply shifted the legal authority for those tariffs."

The new Section 122 duties were expected to take effect Tuesday, Feb. 24. While the Supreme Court ruling halted the IEEPA-based tariffs, it did not affect specific duties

already in place, such as Section 301 tariffs on Chinese goods or Section 232 tariffs on items such as steel and aluminum.

Bradley said the ruling also triggers a massive logistical challenge: the potential refund of more than $130 billion collected under the now-invalidated IEEPA authority. While the Department of Justice previously suggested refunds would include interest, the administration has yet to establish a formal recovery process.

Bradley warned small business owners to be wary of emerging scams or "refund recovery" firms offering to buy the rights to these claims for a fraction of their value.

"Until we know what the process looks like, to my mind, it seems pretty premature to sign on to any type of service that promises you to accelerate that," Bradley said.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce continues to advocate for a "zero-to-zero" tariff policy, arguing that duties function as a tax on domestic businesses and consumers.

"Tariffs are taxes," Bradley said. "They kind of distort the economy; they ultimately end up costing businesses and consumers more money."

About Fuller Industries Inc. Based in Great Bend, Kan., with a rich heritage dating back over a century to the Fuller Brush Man, Fuller Industries is a leading American manufacturer of industrial products, including cleaning chemicals and supplies, as well as brooms, mops, brushes and more. Fuller serves manufacturing, commercial, institutional and agricultural clients across the Western Hemisphere. Call 620-792-1711 or visit Fullerindustriesllc.com.

Fuller adapting to new tariff landscape, diversifying supply chain to offset fluctuations

Items to be considered by the Barton County Commission on Feb. 24, 2026.

PUBLIC HEARING: Possible Expansion of Fire District No. 2 to Include Fairview, Grant and Wheatland Townships, and the City of Galatia, Barton County, Kansas: -Matt Patzner, County Administrator, will present details. Created in 2018, Fire District No. 2 consists of Albion, Eureka, North Homestead, South Homestead, Union Townships and the Cities of Hoisington, Olmitz and Susank. It has been proposed that the District be expanded to include Fairview, Grant and Wheatland Townships, and the City of Galatia. The Commission will hear public comment at this time.

APPROVAL OF APPROPRIATIONS: 13th Month – 4th Batch: -Bev Schmeidler, County Clerk, will present details. An Accounts Payable Register will be submitted to the Commission for the period ending Dec. 31, 2025. This is considered the four “13th Month” for 2025 expenditures.

APPROVAL OF APPROPRIATIONS: -Ms. Schmeidler will present details. An Accounts Payable Register will be submitted to the Commission for the period of Feb. 10, 2026, and ending Feb. 24, 2026.

NEW BUSINESS - RESOLUTION 2026-05: A Resolution Expanding Fire District No. 2, County of Barton, Kansas, to Include the Townships of Fairview, Grant and Wheatland, and the City of Galatia and Amending Resolution 2018-10, Same, Adopted May 14, 2018: -Mr. Patzner will provide details. At a Public Hearing held prior to this Commission meeting, it was detailed that Fire District No. 2 consists of Albion, Eureka, North Homestead, South Homestead, Union Townships and the Cities of Hoisington, Olmitz and Susank. Through the adoption of this proposed Resolution, the District would be expanded to include Fairview, Grant and Wheatland Townships, and the City of Galatia. In keeping with the original Resolution, the Board of Trustees would be expanded to include representatives from the expansion zone.

PROGRAM UPDATE: K-State Extension, Cottonwood District: -Jay Harris, District Director, K-State Extension, Cottonwood District, will present an annual overview. The Cottonwood District proudly serves Barton and Ellis Counties. With offices in Great Bend and Hays, district personnel provide relevant, reliable information related to Agriculture and Natural Resources, Family and Consumer Sciences, Horticulture, 4-H and Youth Development, Family Life, Healthy Living, and more.

RESOLUTION 2026-06: Placement of Stop Signs at the Intersection of NE 220 Road and NE 10 Avenue, Union Township: -Josh Beckman, County Engineer, will provide details. The proposed Resolution calls for the placement of stop signs at the intersection of NE 220 Road and NE 10 Avenue, Union Township. Safety and engineering personnel find that there is a sight obstruction in the southwest quadrant of the intersection. It is recommended that all vehicles traveling on NE 10 Avenue are to stop for all vehicles traveling on NE 220 Road at said intersection, that stop signs be installed for northbound and southbound traffic traveling on NE 10 Avenue.

NOXIOUS WEED: Noxious Weed Eradication Progress Report and Management Plan: -Chris Schartz, County Works Director, will provide details. The Kansas Department of Agriculture (KDA) is responsible for laws aiding in the control and management of noxious and invasive weeds in Kansas. The KDA requires Kansas counties to submit an annual Noxious Weed Eradication Progress Report as well as a Management Plan.

JUVENILE SERVICES: Fiscal Year 2027 Funding: -Marissa Woodmansee, Juvenile Services Director, will provide details. The Juvenile Services Department requests approval of the fiscal year 2027 budget. The budget has been prepared based on figures provided by the Kansas Department of Corrections – Juvenile Services.

CENTRAL KANSAS COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS: Fiscal Year 2027 Funding: -Brooke Haulmark, CKCC Director, will provide details. Funding for CKCC is provided through a Kansas Department of Corrections grant. For Fiscal Year 2027, CKCC is allocated $808,438.94 in funding to support seven positions and operational and programming costs. It is noted that the funding serves the entirety of the 20th Judicial District, a five-County area covering 4,015 square miles with staff supervising an average of 237 active clients.

CENTRAL KANSAS COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS: Replacement of Fleet Vehicle: -Ms. Haulmark will present. CKCC is in need of an all-wheel drive vehicle capable of traveling through all areas of the Twentieth Judicial District. There were no comparable vehicles located at local dealerships. It is suggested that the department purchase a 2020 Dodge Durango AWD from the Great Bend Police Department. The vehicle, with just under 33,000 miles, is priced at $20,000.00. Monies are available in the CKCC budget for this planned purchase.

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT: Formal Extension of the Annual Review of a Conditional Land Use Permit under Resolution 2025-07: -Judy Goreham, Environmental Manager, will provide details. A request is made to extend the deadline for the annual review of certain property as outlined in Resolution 2025-07, adopted on March 4, 2025. It is suggested that the deadline be extended until March 10, 2026, to accommodate the agenda schedule and provide Larry and Sheree Marshall, dba Marshall Towing, time to submit required documentation to assure compliance for the property located at 514 SW 20 Road, said property being in the SE/4, Section 4, Township 20 South, Range 14 West. The property is conditionally approved for the operation of a Salvage Storage Yard.

EXECUTIVE SESSION: -Chairman Duane Reif will present. Any Commissioner may make a motion for the board to recess to executive session at this time as allowed by K.S.A. 75-4319. Any motion must contain the justification for the executive session, the subject matter to be discussed, any individuals in addition to the board who will attend the executive session and the time at which the regular session shall resume.

ANTICIPATED ANNOUNCEMENTS: -County officials may attend the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce Annual Awards Ceremony beginning at 6 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. The event will be held at the Great Bend Events Center, 3111 – 10th, Great Bend, Kansas.

-County officials will attend County Day at the Capital on March 3, 2026.  Beginning at 9 a.m., the event will be held in the First Floor Rotunda of the Kansas Statehouse, 300 SW 10th Avenue, Topeka, Kansas.  As a result, the next Commission meeting will be  March 10, 2026. 

 -Emergency Management reminds the public that Severe Weather Preparedness Week is March 2 – 6, 2026.  Citizens are encouraged to actively participate in the State-Wide Tornado Drill, scheduled for 10 a.m., Wednesday, March 4, 2026.  In addition, Storm Fury on the Plains will be presented by the National Weather Service Wichita Office, at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, March 4. 2026, at the Crest Theater, 1905 Lakin, Great Bend, Kansas. 

The Commission meeting will be live-streamed through Microsoft Teams. Citizens may view the meeting through their own sign in or by signing in “anonymously”. Please follow this link: <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2F4sP9fEY%3Ffbclid%3DIwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBEyWllRSTZBWGxKdlhBQWVacHNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR7hpMisjLwdLMvsjvRbCeck5ogb6CTsSdEJPx3PbaeGc6FaSUZtXa5O7d4V-w_aem_LXARtRFD4RHMZNFQp6p7SQ&amp;h=AT67AnpXXT3jrHHORj8pm2D0ZRIRXRkrmCbg5NgGmpN0EsqcP2547AafKP69xouXFIygENfmB4oFPZsVKud1GmchxM_9wGC_ji_CvLG3Zz5-YglE9s_l3L_FghIfDI3ze35lSngpsoHa&amp;__tn__=-UK-R&amp;c[0]=AT4fnqNlXrWtPjQcRpYmGRHTSRlz4t8jICLWU1u0EdX83lelTyw46O6TEKUz6oUjf2hhlTwsSgjHUiiUzJDr9rAzJWW3p6u0uGu6GnvnpT5Ax-YDSd31xq08Xol_L8glvSsfotlmVxRdbjuCkq8JzPKRsKb5xFIw2WNCQ61PEFmGz2ZpXpTVLS3Qtd87L58C0pH98G1egW9pWs5SjvXkldv6QA" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/4sP9fEY</a>. If you wish to participate in the discussion of any item, please call (620) 793-1800 for instructions.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Barton County Commission meeting agenda (Feb. 24)

News from the Oil Patch, Feb. 23 By John P. Tretbar

The Supreme Court has agreed to hear an attempt to block climate-change lawsuits from proceeding in state courts. Exxon Mobil and Suncor Energy are appealing a Colorado ruling allowing such a lawsuit. The suit blames the companies for the harms caused by climate change through their marketing, production and sale of fossil fuels. The plaintiffs charge the companies with violations of various state laws, including consumer protection provisions. The companies argue that climate policy is a purely federal issue, in part because pollution crosses state lines and cannot be addressed on a piecemeal basis.

A new wrinkle in Oklahoma over a five year old winter storm that prompted what one regulator called a multi-BILLION-dollar financing fraud. The Attorney General in Oklahoma has moved to join its original lawsuit over Winter Storm Uri with two other filings listing more than a dozen other companies as defendants. The AG says all three lawsuits assert anti-competitive and unlawful conduct that resulted in exorbitant natural gas prices during the storm in February 2021. According to a court filing, litigating the cases separately is "profoundly inefficient," addressing the same factual and legal issues. Joining the cases could also ensure a speedier resolution. Officials accuse the defendants of creating artificial shortages of natural-gas before and during the storm, and then diverting gas from Oklahoma customers to the spot markets for exorbitant profits. The defendants have not yet responded to the motion.

Kansas Common crude at CHS in McPherson starts the week at $56.50 per barrel, after dropping 25 cents on Friday. Kansas prices are up a dollar from the first of the month, up nearly nine dollars from the first of the year, but down more than four dollars from a year ago. US crude futures prices are holding at six month highs. Near-month NYMEX crude was down a few cents on Friday to close at $66.39 per barrel. Offers were a few cents higher Monday with quotes ranging from just over $67 to just over $65 per barrel.

The Rotary Rig Count from Baker Hughes is unchanged nationally at 551 rigs. That's down from 592 rigs a year ago. The weekly tally shows the tally of horizontal rigs is up two from last week, but down 47 rigs from last year. Alaska is up two from last week, Louisiana was down two. Texas and New Mexico each dropped by one rig.

The Kansas Rig Count from Independent Oil and Gas Service is eight rigs statewide, down three at three rigs in eastern Kansas, and down three at five rigs west of Wichita. Drilling was underway on Friday on leases in Rooks and Stafford counties.

Kansas regulators okayed five new drilling locations statewide, with three in Western Kansas, including on Gove County lease, and one in Rooks County. That's 53 new permit so far this year, compared to 101 a year ago.Independent Oil and Gas Service describes Kansas oilfield activity this week as sluggish, with 63 wells drilled from spud to full depth, so far this year. That's down from 111 a year ago.&nbsp; Total-footage-drilled is down 63 percent. There are 23 licensed operators who have drilled a well in Kansas this year, down more than half from a year ago.

Operators completed 13 wells this week, with eight in Western Kansas including one in Barton County, one in Finney County, and two in Gove County. Independent Oil and Gas reports 104 so far this year, down from 192 a year ago.

Commercial crude oil inventories are down nine million barrels this week, after rising nine million barrels last week. Stockpiles are about five percent &nbsp;below the five year average for this time of year. The government reports another 200-thousand barrels in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, which is up 20 million barrels, or five percent, from a year ago.

US crude production is up slightly at 13,735,000 barrels a day. The Energy Department says cumulative output so far this year averages just over 13.6 million barrels a day, which is up nearly 200-thousand barrels from a year ago.

U.S. crude oil imports average just over six-and-a-half million barrels a day, down more than a quarter-million barrels from a week ago. The four-week average is down 80-thousand barrels a day from last year. Crude exports rose nearly a million daily barrels to just under 4.6 million. Petroleum product exports are up a quarter-million barrels, at just under seven million barrels a day.

The government says total petroleum product exports averaged seven million barrels a day for the month, which is up eight percent over January of last year and very close to an all-time high. The Energy Information Administration reports the increase is fueled mostly by exports of diesel fuel, which increased 19%. EIA says more diesel fuel is heading to Europe, and less to South America, which is historically our biggest customer. Diesel exports to Europe more than doubled.

The Treasury Department issued licenses to five Western oil companies allowing them to operate in Venezuela. Bloomberg says the five companies are BP, Chevron, Shell, Eni and RepSol. The licenses allow contracts with the Venezuelan oil company and limit payments to a US-controlled account. Some of the companies are still dubious. ConocoPhillips is waiting to be repaid after it's assets were seized last time it went to work there. The country’s oil production has fallen by about half since 2017, when Washington first imposed financial sanctions on the country.

News from the Oil Patch: Supreme Court to rule on state climate lawsuits

Panther Sports Powered by:&nbsp;Equity Bank. Sponsored in part by:&nbsp;GB Tarp Company, Advance Truck &amp; Diesel, Keller Real Estate &amp; Insurance, Innovative Livestock Services, The Fieldhouse, Marmie Auto Group, Magna Dry Cleaning Services, Freedom Claims Management, Great Bend Rec, Rosenberg Family Dentistry, Chris Ramsey - Shelter Insurance, Mitch Haney &amp; Associates, Farmer's Bank &amp; Trust, Scott's Welding Service, Kern Floor Service, Nex-Tech, Comfort Pro, The University of Kansas Health System - Great Bend Campus, People's Bank &amp; Trust, Sutherlands, The 10th Street Eyecare Center, Stone Sand Company and Stone Waste Management, Advanced Therapy &amp; Sports Medicine, Damm Pipe Testing, Great Bend Redi Mix, Insurance Planning, Edward Jones, Delgado's Mexican Restaurant, Mpire Realty, American Plains Coop, Cody Crook - Red Cedar Land Company, GB Tires, Animal Medical Center, Barton Community College, Dr. Chad Ohnmacht DDS, &amp; Watkins Calcara Chartered.

Additional Information: Great Bend Panther fans have a new way to follow their teams this year.&nbsp; The service features a live video stream of every home and away game, complete with the familiar B1043 The Point radio play-by-play patched in. Fans will be able to watch the action live from anywhere or go back and re-watch games at their convenience.

Cost: Fans may purchase access for $10 per game or buy a $100 season pass for the entire school year. A portion of the proceeds from the video stream will be donated back to USD 428, helping support Panther students and programs.&nbsp;&nbsp;

WATCH: Panther Basketball vs Liberal Tonight

Now is the time to recognize those who go above and beyond! You can nominate a School Hero! On the fourth Tuesday of each month, Eagle Media will select a Hero to recognize! The winner will also receive $500! Nominate a School Hero is presented by: <a href="https://opikan.com/">OPI</a> (Office Products Incorporated) &amp; Golden Belt Printing.&nbsp;

Any adult who works at a school in Barton County is eligible to be nominated. Admin, Teachers, Para's, Coaches, Maintenance, Cafeteria, etc.

Nominate a School Hero! Presented by: OPI & Golden Belt Printing

Big Bend Custom Engraving, Freedom Claims Management, Great Bend Redi Mix, Francis Financial, Medial Park Pharmacy, R&amp;R Roofing, Allstaff Chartered, Miller Plastics, Rosencrants Bemis Water Well Service, Great Bend Rec, Jimlo Glass Center, Haz Mat Response

Make a Difference Contest 

By the Associated Press

Kansas State is
looking to break its seven-game road skid with a win against
Colorado. Wednesday's meeting is the first this season for the two
teams. Colorado is 5-9 against the Big 12, and Kansas State is 2-12
against conference opponents.

Kansas State
Wildcats (11-16, 2-12 Big 12) at Colorado Buffaloes (15-12, 5-9 Big
12)

BOTTOM LINE:
Kansas State travels to Colorado looking to stop its seven-game road
losing streak.

The Buffaloes have
gone 12-4 at home. Colorado averages 80.1 points while outscoring
opponents by 1.9 points per game.

The Wildcats are
2-12 against Big 12 opponents. Kansas State is 6-10 in games decided
by 10 or more points.

Colorado's average
of 7.4 made 3-pointers per game this season is just 0.6 fewer made
shots on average than the 8.0 per game Kansas State allows. Kansas
State has shot at a 46.0% rate from the field this season, 0.4
percentage points higher than the 45.6% shooting opponents of
Colorado have averaged.

The Buffaloes and
Wildcats match up Wednesday for the first time in Big 12 play this
season.

TOP PERFORMERS:
Isaiah Johnson is averaging 16.3 points for the Buffaloes. Barrington
Hargress is averaging 15.2 points over the last 10 games.

PJ Haggerty is
averaging 23.5 points and 3.9 assists for the Wildcats. David
Castillo is averaging 2.2 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES:
Buffaloes: 3-7, averaging 72.8 points, 27.9 rebounds, 14.8
assists, 6.6 steals and 2.2 blocks per game while shooting 43.7% from
the field. Their opponents have averaged 79.3 points per game.

Wildcats:
2-8, averaging 71.1 points, 26.6 rebounds, 14.7 assists, 6.8 steals
and 3.2 blocks per game while shooting 44.2% from the field. Their
opponents have averaged 82.9 points.

Kansas State faces Colorado on 7-game road slide

- Jade Winter of Great Bend Girls Basketball

- Wyatt Thompson, the Voice of the Kansas State Wildcats

Tuesday on Sports Day

The No. 25 Barton Community College baseball team dropped both legs of Monday's doubleheader to Northeast Community College, falling 13-0 in five innings before a 15-12 loss in the nightcap.

Northeast pulled away in the opener with a nine-run fifth inning, turning a manageable game into a 13-0 run-rule decision while holding the Barton bats to just two hits. The Cougars responded in the nightcap with 12 runs and five home runs, but the Hawks' seven-run third and four-run fourth created a cushion unable to overcome.&nbsp;

The setbacks move the Cougars to 9-2 on the season, while the Hawks improve to 8-2. Barton will have a quick turnaround Tuesday afternoon, hosting Highland Community College in a 1:00 p.m. twinbill at Jimmy Lawson-Danny Biggs Field. The Scotties enter after dropping a pair of five-inning run-rule decisions at No. 17 Hutchinson Community College on Monday 22-0 and 12-2.

Offensively, Barton was paced in the nightcap by&nbsp;Carter Helm, who went 3-for-6 on the day, scoring four runs while blasting two home runs and a triple to drive in three.&nbsp;Jaxon Case&nbsp;added a three-hit effort with two RBIs, while&nbsp;Micah McGavran&nbsp;delivered a three-run homer as part of the Cougars five long balls in the backend.&nbsp;Kyle Walker&nbsp;and Case were the lone Cougars to record hits in both contests, with Walker added a two-hit performance with two walks across the doubleheader.

Game 1 Recap Northeast struck early in the opener behind a pair of solo blasts before pulling away with a nine-run fifth inning to secure the 13-0 run rule victory in five innings. The Hawks collected 15 hits in the contests, including three home runs, while limiting Barton to just two base knocks.

Walker's one-out single in the home first and Case's pinch hit single with two-outs in the fifth accounted for the Cougars' lone hits, while starter&nbsp;Braden Hauschel&nbsp;was tagged with the loss after allowing four runs over three innings of work and two strikeouts.&nbsp;

Game 2 Recap In Game 2, Barton grabbed its lone lead of the day in the second inning,&nbsp;Kyler Horsman's leadoff home run for his third of the year sparked a four-run frame, with Helm later scoring on Case's RBI double before&nbsp;JJ Spafford&nbsp;capped the frame with a two-run blast to left, his third of the season, giving the Cougars a 4-1 advantage.

Northeast answered immediately with a seven-run third inning and added four more in the fourth to build the needed separation. Barton continued to chip away, highlighted by Micah McGavern's three-run home in the fifth and Helm's second round tripper of the game in the sixth that pulled the Cougars within three, but Northeast holding on, allowing just a two-out walk in the seventh.

On the mound,&nbsp;Brian Justice&nbsp;sufferd the loss after allowing seven runs over 2.1 innings.&nbsp;Jake Field&nbsp;provided strong stability in relief, working 3.2 innings and allowing three runs, none earned, to finish the contest.

No. 25 Barton Baseball drops doubleheader to Northeast

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. women’s hockey gold medal-winning team has politely declined an invitation from President Donald Trump to attend his State of the Union address on Tuesday. In a statement, the U.S. women's team said it was “sincerely grateful for the invitation" but would be unable to attend “due to the timing.” Trump also invited the U.S. men’s gold medal-winning team. Scheduling will be a challenge as the NHL schedule resumes with five games on Wednesday and the PWHL resumes on Thursday. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the status of both teams.

NEW YORK (AP) — The WNBA told the players’ union that it needs to get a deal in place by March 10 start the season on time. That's according to a person familiar with the discussions who told The Associated Press about the Monday meeting on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the negotiations. It was the first meeting between the sides that involved players and the league since they met at the WNBA offices on Feb. 2. Because of the winter storm that hit New York, it was decided to hold the meeting virtually.

DETROIT (AP) — Tempers flared in the first half of the San Antonio Spurs-Detroit Pistons game, a matchup of two of the NBA’s top teams on Monday night. Pistons star Cade Cunningham was called for an offensive foul after extending his arms and knocking Spurs guard Stephon Castle down on the court. Spurs forward Keldon Johnson responded by pushing Cunningham and Pistons center Jalen Duren pointed his right finger in Johnson’s face. After a review, Johnson and Duren were called for technical fouls in the second quarter of the closely contested game.

VAIL, Colo. (AP) — Lindsey Vonn says she nearly lost her left leg following a crash at the Milan Cortina Olympics. Vonn detailed the extent her injuries in an Instagram post. The 41-year-old Vonn says the crash on Feb. 8 caused compartment syndrome in her left leg after the crash. The condition traps swelling and blood in the muscle. It cuts off blood flow and can cause permanent damage. Vonn says surgeon Tom Hackett performed an emergency fasciotomy, saving her leg. Vonn added she also broke her right ankle in the crash and is currently in a wheelchair.

HOUSTON (AP) — Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant will be less than two months shy of his 40th birthday when the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics begin, but he says he told USA Basketball Managing Director Grant Hill he’d like to be considered for the U.S. men’s team when the time comes. Durant has played in the last four Olympics, becoming USA men’s basketball’s career scoring leader in the process, but he says he doesn’t want to just be handed a spot on the 2028 team. He wants to earn it. During the 2024 Paris games, Durant became the first American player to win four Olympic gold medals in men’s basketball.

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Tre White scored a season-high 23 points and No. 14 Kansas bounced back from a surprising defeat with a 69-56 victory over No. 5 Houston. Freshman star Darryn Peterson added 14 points on 5-of-14 shooting in 30 minutes for the Jayhawks, who fell six spots in this week’s AP Top 25 following an 84-68 loss at home Saturday to unranked Cincinnati. Bryson Tiller had 11 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks for Kansas, which handed the scuffling Cougars their third consecutive defeat — all against top-15 opponents. Houston hadn’t dropped three straight games since January 2017.

Duke's win against Michigan has pushed the Blue Devils to No. 1 in The Associated Press men's college basketball poll. Monday's poll marked a record 148th time at No. 1 for Duke. Duke claimed 56 of 61 first-place votes to supplant the Wolverines. Arizona moved up two spots to No. 2. Michigan, Iowa State and Houston rounded out the top five. No. 7 Florida and No. 17 Alabama had the week's biggest leaps. No. 14 Kansas and No. 25 Vanderbilt each fell six spots for the biggest falls. Tennessee returned to the poll at No. 22 while Wisconsin fell out.

Geno Auriemma broke a tie with Tara VanDerveer for most appearances by a coach in The Associated Press women’s basketball Top 25 on Monday when UConn was again a unanimous No. 1. Auriemma has the Huskies ranked for the 655th time. UConn was atop all 31 ballots from the national media panel. The Huskies are the last unbeaten team in Division I basketball and have won 45 consecutive games dating to last season. The top five teams remained unchanged in the rankings this week with UCLA, South Carolina, Texas and Vanderbilt following the Huskies.

LAKELAND, Fla. (AP) — Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal plans to make only one start for the United States in the World Baseball Classic, regardless of how far Team USA advances. The two-time AL Cy Young Award winner wants to remain on a regular spring training regimen and ramp up for opening day mostly with the Tigers. Skubal made his first spring training start Monday, striking out four over two scoreless innings of two-hit ball in Detroit’s 3-0 loss to the Minnesota Twins. He is expected to pitch for the Tigers again Sunday against the Toronto Blue Jays and then start for the U.S. late next week during WBC pool play in Houston. After that, the rest of his outings this spring will come in a Detroit uniform, he said.

The Milan Cortina Olympics averaged 23.5 million viewers in the United States, making it the most-watched Winter Games since 2014 with a 96% larger audience than the Beijing Games four years ago. NBCUniversal said the average includes combined audiences on NBC, Peacock, CNBC, USA Network and other digital platforms during the live afternoon and prime-time windows. Viewership numbers for the United States’ 2-1 overtime victory over Canada in men’s hockey on Sunday morning were not expected until Tuesday.

Final	N.Y. Mets	4	Toronto	3	 Final	Atlanta	10	Baltimore	7	 Final	N.Y. Yankees	6	Pittsburgh	2	 Final	L.A. Dodgers	3	Seattle	0	 Final	Chicago Cubs	3	Kansas City	2	 Final	Colorado	5	Chicago White Sox	4	 Final	San Francisco	6	Athletics	2	 Final	Cleveland	9	Arizona	5

AMERICAN LEAGUE Final	Minnesota	3	Detroit	0	 Final	Tampa Bay	2	Boston	1	 Final	Texas	6	L.A. Angels	0

NATIONAL LEAGUE Final	St. Louis	5	Miami	4	 Final	San Diego	7	Milwaukee	5	 Final	Philadelphia	5	Washington	5

TOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALL Final	(14)Kansas	69	(5)Houston	56	 Final	(18)North Carolina	77	(24)Louisville	74

Tuesday Sports Headlines and Scores presented by Barton Community College

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Tre White scored a season-high 23 points and No. 14 Kansas bounced back from a surprising defeat with a 69-56 victory over No. 5 Houston on Monday night.

Freshman star Darryn Peterson added 14 points on 5-of-14 shooting in 30 minutes for the Jayhawks (21-7, 11-4 Big 12), who fell six spots in this week's AP Top 25 following an 84-68 loss at home Saturday to unranked Cincinnati.

Bryson Tiller had 11 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks for Kansas, which handed the scuffling Cougars (23-5, 11-4) their third consecutive defeat — all against top-15 opponents. Melvin Council Jr. added 11 points, six rebounds and four assists.

Kingston Flemings scored 16 on 6-of-18 shooting for Houston, which hadn't dropped three straight games since January 2017. The Cougars shot 32% from the field, including 5 of 24 (21%) from 3-point territory.

Kansas hasn’t lost consecutive home games since the 1988-89 season, Roy Williams’ first as coach. The Jayhawks are 52-1 on ESPN’s Big Monday in Allen Fieldhouse, including 41-0 under coach Bill Self. Two weeks ago, they took down top-ranked Arizona at The Phog.

Kansas used a 12-0 run early in the second half to turn a two-point lead into a 49-35 advantage at the under-12 timeout. The margin stretched to 20 before Houston went on a 7-0 spurt, but the Cougars never got closer than 10 the rest of the way.

The Jayhawks missed nine of their first 10 shots, going 8:28 without a field goal. But they closed the first half with an 11-0 run to take a 31-27 lead into the break.

White scores 23 as No. 14 Kansas rebounds with 69-56 win over No. 5 Houston

BOYS SUB-STATE PAIRINGS&nbsp; 1A DI Osborne Sub-State 1 (1st Round Games Mon. 2/23) #1 Central Plains Bye #9 Ellis 58, #8 Hill City 53 #4 Sylvan Lucas 67,&nbsp;#13 Stockton&nbsp; 39 &nbsp;#5 Decatur Community 66, #12 St. Francis 44 Semi-Finals Saturday 2/28&nbsp;(Higher seed hosts) 2:00 Ellis @ Central Plains 2:00 Decatur Community @ Sylvan-Lucas Championship Friday March 6 @ Osborne TBA 1A DI Spearville Sub-State 1 (1st Round Games Mon. 2/23)&nbsp; #1 Meade Bye #8 Hodgeman County 54, #9 LaCrosse 46 #4 South Gray 94,&nbsp;#13 Macksville 32 #5 Kiowa County 64,&nbsp;#12 Elkhart 29 Semi-Finals 2/28 (Higher seed hosts) 2:00 Hodgeman County @ Meade 2:00 Kiowa County @ South Gray Championship Friday March 6 @ Spearville TBA 1A DI Spearville Sub-State 2 (1st Round Games Mon. 2/23)&nbsp; #2 Spearville Bye #7 Greeley County 65,&nbsp;#10 Ness City 63 #6 St. John 62,&nbsp;#11 Kinsley 36 #3 South Central Bye Semi-Finals 2/28 (Higher seed hosts) 2:00 Greeley County @ Spearville 2:00 St. John @ South Central Championship Friday March 6 @ Spearville TBA 1A DII Colby Sub-State 1 (1st Round Games Mon. 2/23)&nbsp; #1 Wallace County Bye #8 Cheylin 38,&nbsp;#9 Golden Plains 32 #13 #4 Victoria 64,&nbsp;Winona-Tri-plains 34 #5 Otis-Bison 57,&nbsp;#12 Pawnee Heights 23 Semi-Finals 2/28 (Higher seed hosts) 2:00 Cheylin @ Wallace County 2:00 Otis-Bison @ Victoria&nbsp; Championship Friday March 6 @ Colby TBA 1A DII Wakefield Sub-State 1 (1st Round Games Mon. 2/23)&nbsp; #2 Hanover Bye #10 Stafford 52, #7 Centre 47 #6 Blue Valley Randolph 62,&nbsp;#11 Chase 15 #3 Tescott Bye Semi-Finals 2/28 (Higher seed hosts) 2:00 Stafford @ Hanover 2:00 Blue Valley Randolph @ Tescott Championship Friday March 6 @ Wakefield TBA ------------------------------------------------------------- GIRLS SUB-STATE PAIRINGS&nbsp; 1A DI Osborne Sub-State 1 (1st Round Games Tues. 2/14) #1 Quinter Bye 6:00 #9 Victoria @ #8 Lincoln 6:00 #13 Ellis @ #4 Decatur Community 6:00 #12 Lakeside @ #5 Osborne Semi-Finals Monday 3/2&nbsp;(Higher seed hosts) 6:00 Victoria/Lincoln winner @ Quinter 6:00 Ellis/Decatur winner vs Lakeside/Osborne winner Championship Saturday March 7 @ Osborne TBA 1A DI Osborne Sub-State 2 (1st Round Games Tues. 2/24)&nbsp; #2 Rock Hills Bye 6:00 #10 Hill City @ #7 Sylvan-Lucas 6:00 #11 St. Francis @ #6 Central Plains #3 St. John's Beloit Bye Semi-Finals 3/2 (Higher seed hosts) 6:00 Hill City/Sylvan-Lucas winner @ Rock Hills 6:00 St. Francis/Central Plains winner @ St. John's Beloit Championship Friday March 6 @ Spearville TBA 1A DI Spearville Sub-State 1 (1st Round Games Tues. 2/14) #1 South Gray Bye 6:00 #9 Kinsley @ #8 Meade 6:00 #13 Ness City @ #4 South Central 6:00 #12 Elkhart @ #5 St. John Semi-Finals Monday 3/2&nbsp;(Higher seed hosts) 6:00 Kinsley/Meade winner @ South Gray 6:00 Ness City/ South Central winner vs Elkhart/St. John winner Championship Saturday March 7 @ Spearville TBA 1A DI Spearville Sub-State 2 (1st Round Games Tues. 2/24)&nbsp; #2 Hodgeman County Bye 6:00 #10 Kiowa County @ Greeley County 6:00 #11 Macksville @ #6 LaCrosse #3 Spearville Bye Semi-Finals 3/2 (Higher seed hosts) 6:00 Kiowa County/Greeley County winner @ Hodgeman County 6:00 Macksville/LaCrosse winner @ Spearville Championship Friday March 6 @ Spearville TBA 1A DII Colby Sub-State 1 (1st Round Games Tues. 2/14) #1 Dighton Bye 6:00 #9 Pawnee Heights @ #8 Weskan 6:00 #13 Winona/Tri-Plains @ #5 Golden Plains #4 Grainfield-Wheatland Bye Semi-Finals Monday 3/2&nbsp;(Higher seed hosts) 6:00 Pawnee Heights/Weskan winner @ Dighton 6:00 Tri-Plains/Golden Plains winner @ Grainfield Wheatland Championship Saturday March 7 @ Colby TBA 1A DII Colby Sub-State 2 (1st Round Games Tues. 2/24)&nbsp; #2 Western Plains Bye 6:00 #10 Otis-Bison @ Wallace County 6:00 #11 Logan-Palco @ #6 Northern Valley #3 Cheylin Bye Semi-Finals 3/2 (Higher seed hosts) 6:00 Otis-Bison/Wallace County winner @ Western Plains 6:00 Logan-Palco/Northern Valley winner @ Cheylin Championship Friday March 6 @ Colby TBA 1A DII Wakefield Sub-State 2 (1st Round Games Tues. 2/24)&nbsp; #2 Linn Bye 6:00 #10 Thunder Ridge @ Tescott 6:00 #11 Wakefield @ #6 Stafford #3 Blue Valley-Randolph Bye Semi-Finals 3/2 (Higher seed hosts) 6:00 Thunder Ridge/Tescott winner @ Linn 6:00 Wakefield/Stafford winner @ Blue Valley Championship Friday March 6 @ Wakefield TBA

Area Sub-State 1A DI/1A DII Scores and Schedule

Western Athletic Conference Boys Team&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Conf.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;All Hays&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;6-0&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 16-4 Great Bend&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 6-1&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;13-8 Garden City&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 3-4&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;10-11 Dodge City&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 1-5&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 10-11 Liberal&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 0-6&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;2-18 Monday, February 23 Great Bend 83, Liberal 61 Tuesday, February 24 Dodge City @ Hays Liberal @ Garden City Thursday, February 26 Liberal @ Dodge City Friday, February 27 Hays @ Great Bend Garden City @ Wichita Southeast END OF REGULAR SEASON

WAC Boys Scores, Standings, Schedule

Western Athletic Conference Girls Team&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Conf.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;All Hays&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;6-0&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;19-1 Liberal&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;4-2&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 15-3 Garden City&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 4-3&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;13-8 Dodge City&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;1-5&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 8-13 Great Bend&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 1-6&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 4-17 Monday, February 23 Liberal 49, Great Bend 31 Tuesday, February 24 Dodge City @ Hays Liberal @ Garden City Thursday, February 26 Liberal @ Dodge City Friday, February 27 Hays @ Great Bend Garden City @ Wichita Southeast END OF REGULAR SEASON

WAC Girls Scores, Standings, Schedule

Tuesday, February 24 12:30PM 1590/95.5FM - Sports Day 5:45PM KHOK - H.S. Basketball - Hoisington G&amp;B @ Halstead 5:45PM Hits 106.9 - H.S. Basketball - Larned G&amp;B @ Smoky Valley Wednesday, February 25 12:30PM 1590/95.5FM - Sports Day 5:15PM B104 - Cougar Basketball - Seward County W&amp;M @ Barton Thursday, February 26 12:30PM 1590/95.5FM - Sports Day 5:45PM KHOK - 3A Boys Sub-State - Ellsworth @ Hoisington 5:45PM Hits 106.9- 3A Boys Sub-State - Larned @ Lakin Friday, February 27 12:30PM 1590/95.5FM - Sports Day 5:45PM B104 - High School Basketball - Hays @ Great Bend 5:45PM KHOK - 3A Girls Sub-State - Colby @ Hoisington 5:45PM Hits 106.9- 3A Girls Sub-State - Scott City @ Larned&nbsp; Saturday, February 28 3:00PM Hits 106.9 - Jayhawk Basketball - Kansas @ Arizona 7:00PM&nbsp;1590/95.5FM - NBA Basketball - Houston @ NY Knicks Sunday, March 1 2:00PM 1590/95.5FM - NBA Basketball - Golden State @ Oklahoma City Monday,&nbsp;March 2 12:30PM 1590/95.5FM - Sports Day Tuesday,&nbsp;March 3 12:30PM 1590/95.5FM - Sports Day TBA B104- 5A Boys Sub-State Semi's - Great Bend vs TBA TBA KHOK - 3A Boys Sub-State Semi's - Hoisington vs TBA TBA Hits 106.9- 3A Boys Sub-State Semi's - Larned vs TBA 7:30 PM TBA -&nbsp;Jayhawk Basketball - Kansas @ Arizona State Wednesday,&nbsp;March 4 12:30PM 1590/95.5FM - Sports Day TBA B104- 5A Girls Sub-State Semi's - Great Bend vs TBA TBA KHOK - 3A Girls Sub-State Semi's - Hoisington vs TBA TBA Hits 106.9- 3A Girls Sub-State Semi's - Larned vs TBA&nbsp;&nbsp;

Eagle Radio and Hull Broadcasting PBP Schedule

Great Bend Boys 83 Liberal 61; Liberal Girls 49 Great Bend 31

GREAT BEND SPORTS ON B104.3 THE POINT SPONSORED BY... GB TARP COMPANY, ADVANCE TRUCK &amp; DIESEL, KELLER REAL ESTATE &amp; INSURANCE, EQUITY BANK, INNOVATIVE LIVESTOCK SERVICES, THE FIELDHOUSE, MARMIE AUTO GROUP, MAGNA DRY CLEANING SERVICES, FREEDOM CLAIMS MANAGEMENT, GREAT BEND REC, ROSENBERG FAMILY DENTISTRY, CHRIS RAMSEY SHELTER INSURANCE, MITCH HANEY &amp; ASSOCIATES, FARMER'S BANK &amp; TRUST, SCOTT'S WELDING SERVICE, PEOPLE'S BANK &amp; TRUST, KERNS FLOOR SERVICE, NEX-TECH, COMFORT PRO, THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS HEATH SYSTEM - GREAT BEND CAMPUS, SUTHERLANDS, AND THE 10TH STREEET EYECARE CENTER. STONE SAND COMPANY AND STONE WASTE MANAGEMENT, ADVANCED THERAPY &amp; SPORTS MEDICINE, DAMM PIPE TESTING, GREAT BEND REDI MIX, INSURANCE PLANNING, EDWARD JONES, DELGADOS MEXICAN RESTAURANT, MPIRE REALTY, AMERICAN PLAINS COOP, AND CODY CROOK RED CEDAR LAND COMPANY. GB TIRES, THE ANIMAL MEDICAL CENTER, BARTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE, DR CHAD OHNMACHT DDS, AND WATKINS CALCARA CHARTERED.

Salina voters were required to turn in their ballots by noon Tuesday in the special election to decide if the City of Salina should repeal its 22-year-old ordinance banning pit bulls.

&nbsp;The unofficial vote for "not" repealing the&nbsp;Breed Specific Legislation (BSL) pitbull ban&nbsp;5,329&nbsp;and "yes" 4,123, according to the Saline County Election office.

The provisional ballots will be counted on&nbsp;Monday, March 2 at 9:00 am&nbsp;and&nbsp;there are about 270.&nbsp;

Part of the provisional ballots include voters who may have forgotten to sign the ballot. Saline County Clerk, Jamie Doss stated she encourages those who are apart of that to come to the Saline County Election office (300 W. Ash) before March 2nd.

Results: Special election in Salina to repeal ban on pit bulls

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/will-weissert">WILL WEISSERT</a>

WASHINGTON (AP) — They typically start the day as low-profile&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-cabinet-promises-patel-kennedy-bessent-rollins-b86a6dd08ab08f4b54e1a4d18fce11be">Cabinet secretaries</a>. They end it that way, too, God willing.

But when the rest of the government is gathered together for a big event, like President Donald Trump’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-state-union-speech-economy-midterms-affordability-d31fc47a200d159a2d24833bd378ec56">State of the Union address</a>&nbsp;Tuesday night, a designated survivor is kept away to ensure someone in the line of leadership succession stays alive.

Picking a fail-safe in case of a cataclysmic event that wipes out everyone else dates back to the Cold War. It’s been dramatized in novels and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/8696f0dd99ec4e008e75a26ffc1d8b9b">an ABC series starring Kiefer Sutherland</a>&nbsp;that aired from 2016 to 2019. When Trump addressed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-speech-congress-immigration-tariffs-guests-93f6107ede260854f90c65c4bde60de8">a joint session of Congress</a>&nbsp;last March, Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins was chosen as the designated survivor.

<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">The president’s</a>&nbsp;pick to sit out this time hasn’t yet been announced.

Taking on the role of designated survivor brings extra adrenaline jolts and humbling thoughts about being unwittingly catapulted into the presidency and unthinkable tragedy — though the minute-to-minute details usually don’t feature the high drama of fictional portrayals, those who have done it say.

“It focuses your mind. It also enhances your prayer that it doesn’t happen to you,” James Nicholson, who was President George W. Bush’s veterans affairs secretary and designated survivor during the 2006 State of the Union, said of possibly becoming president after a cataclysmic event.

Historian and journalist Garrett M. Graff said the concept of a designated survivor has long captivated people because it combines the public’s inherent fascination with danger and the romance of an “everyman” being thrust into the presidency.

“The idea of, you’re just a random Cabinet official, and then something terrible happens and, all of a sudden, you’re president of the United States,” said Graff, author of “Raven Rock: The Story of the U.S. Government’s Secret Plan to Save Itself — While the Rest of Us Die.”

Until the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, designated survivors had more control over where they went outside Washington. President Bill Clinton’s energy secretary, the late Bill Richardson, was picked in 2000 and simply moved up a planned weekend trip to Oxford, Maryland, a waterfront town about 80 miles (130 kilometers) away, so he’d be there during the State of the Union.

When Dan Glickman, Clinton’s agriculture secretary, was tapped during the 1997 State of the Union, his hometown of Wichita, Kansas, was too far away, so he chose New York, where his daughter lived.

“I thought it was kind of exciting. But I wasn’t hyped up from a dangerous perspective,” Glickman said. “I don’t even think anybody told me to be careful.”

Alberto Gonzales, Bush’s attorney general, was the designated survivor during the 2007 State of the Union. He said White House chief of staff Josh Bolten called a few days before and offered a couple of options for where he could hunker down.

Gonzales chose to be in flight, and he arrived at what was then called Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland to find “members of every major department and agency” there to ride with him. They carried thick binders stuffed with memos and protocol instructions, just in case.

He recalled a series of briefings that may have stretched right into Bush’s speech, which he watched from the air.

“It was during that time that it sort of suddenly hit me, if something happened in the Capitol and everyone’s killed, that I’d be president,” Gonzales said. “It’s sort of sobering. And you wonder, ‘Would I be up to governing a wounded nation?’”

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