Barton Community College HOSA Future Health Professionals students competed recently in Wichita at the largest Kansas HOSA State Leadership Conference (SLC) to date.

HOSA offers more than 107 competitive events, and students who place in the top three qualify for the International Leadership Conference (ILC) in June. The international competition brings together more than 14,000 students from seven countries, with the top three finishers in each event recognized on stage.

Barton HOSA sponsor and Director of the Medical Laboratory Technician program Karen Gunther said in addition to strong competition results, several Barton students were selected to serve in leadership roles during the conference as judges and event managers for multiple events. The Barton team has also been invited to help lead a Western Regional HOSA conference in Fall 2026.

“I’m always delighted to brag about these students, but my proudest moment this year came when the State HOSA advisor asked them to take on leadership roles as competitive event managers, judges, and event personnel," she said. "These roles require them to organize events, address concerns, serve as primary or secondary judges, and confidently interact with students, advisors, parents, and other HOSA personnel, all with professionalism and poise, and they still brought home the bling.”

Barton President Dr. Marcus Garstecki said Barton’s HOSA students continue to demonstrate excellence in both competition and leadership.

“Their success reflects the outstanding work of the faculty in our healthcare programs and Karen Gunther, our HOSA advisor,” he said. “I'm so proud of the dedication these students bring to preparing not only for this competition, but also for careers that will serve our communities.”

Students placing at SLC and qualifying for the ILC in June include:

Valeria Gallardo, first place, Biotechnology; first place, Biomedical Equipment Technician; first place, Forensic Science Team.Hannah Dapogny, first place, Clinical Nursing; first place, Pharmacology; first place, Forensic Science Team.Haley McCormick, first place, Clinical Laboratory Science.Kaden Baird, first place, Respiratory Therapy; first place, Occupational Safety and Health.Aaron Deason, first place, Sports Medicine; second place, Nutrition.

Students qualifying will compete at the International Leadership Conference in June. The students will be fundraising to help cover travel expenses. Contact Gunther at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:guntherk@bartonccc.edu">guntherk@bartonccc.edu</a>&nbsp;or (620) 786-1133 for more information on how to help.

Barton HOSA students excel at state conference, prepare for nationals

RICE COUNTY— A driver was taken into custody early Saturday morning after leading law enforcement on a pursuit that began in Rice County and ended in Barton County.

According to the Rice County Sheriff’s Office, a deputy was conducting traffic enforcement along U.S. Highway 56 during the early morning hours of March 14 when a vehicle was observed traveling at a high rate of speed. When the deputy attempted to initiate a traffic stop, the driver failed to yield to emergency lights and siren and fled westbound into Barton County.

During the pursuit, an officer with the Ellinwood Police Department deployed stop sticks, which successfully disabled the vehicle. A short time later, the driver was taken into custody without incident.

The suspect was transported to the Rice County Detention Center and is being held on multiple charges in lieu of bond.

Suspect arrested after 2-county high speed chase

As the arrival of spring brings sunshine and the urge to declutter, Great Bend-based Fuller Industries Inc. is joining professional cleaning organizations worldwide to celebrate International Cleaning Week, March 22–28, 2026.

A longtime member of ISSA, the worldwide cleaning industry association, Fuller Industries is utilizing the week to highlight the essential role cleaning plays in public health, environmental sustainability, and professional advocacy.

"Cleaning week is recognized annually during the fourth week in March, and it is a good encouragement to deep clean our homes, closets, cars and offices," said Joe Mann, general manager of Fuller Industries. "This week also emphasizes the value of cleaning for employees, employers, and stakeholders across the industry."

International Cleaning Week 2026, organized by ISSA, honors cleaning professionals and advances industry standards. Fuller joins with Magna Dry of Central Kansas and Office Products Incorporated, both of Great Bend, in marking this occasion.

"International Cleaning Week reflects our shared commitment to excellence and the remarkable impact of cleaning and facility professionals worldwide," said ISSA Executive Director Kim Althoff.

While International Cleaning Week officially kicks off on March 22, the official start of spring on March 20 serves as the traditional catalyst for many to begin their "spring-cleaning" rituals. Fuller and other cleaning professionals suggest that while the process can seem tedious, homeowners can make the task more manageable by following a structured plan.

Spring-Cleaning Checklist To help residents get started, Fuller Industries recommends a room-by-room approach:

Inside the Home: · Safety First: Use the transition to daylight saving time to check smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

· Window Care: Clean the interior of windows to increase natural light and maintain glass quality

· Appliance Maintenance: Clean the interior and exterior of washers and dryers to improve efficiency.

· Eco-Friendly Tips: Use washable rags or old T-shirts instead of paper towels and recycle empty cleaning bottles.

Outside the Home: · Gutter Maintenance: Remove debris from gutters and downspouts to prevent water damage (professionals are recommended for ladder work).

· Garage Organization: Sweep out winter dust and donate or discard unused items to reduce clutter.

· Yard Cleanup: Remove sticks, leaves, and pet waste accumulated over the winter months.

Fuller products recommended for the job by Todd Clark of Magna-Dry of Central Kansas, a company that uses Fuller products extensively, include:

· Fuller solvent-based stainless-steel cleaner.

· Fulleroso, a lavender multi-purpose cleaner and deodorizer.

· Heavy-duty degreasers for tougher jobs.

"All products are highly concentrated, which helps keep costs down. A rule of thumb: adding too much chemical is never good," Clark said.

Office Products Incorporated in Great Bend carries Fuller merchandise for spring cleaning needs. OPI's downtown showroom features a selection of carpet/floor cleaners, window cleaners, bathroom cleaners, multi-surface cleaners, and hand soaps/disinfectants. They also carry various brushes and static floor sweepers.

In addition, OPI has a catalog from which they can order other Fuller products.

"Together, let's celebrate and highlight the important role the cleaning industry plays in keeping people safe and healthy," Mann said.

For more information, call Fuller at 620-792-1711, Magna-Dry at 620-282-2267 or OPI at 620-793-8479.

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 Industries and local businesses celebrate International Cleaning Week

USD 428 proudly recognizes the dedication and service of 70 staff members who have reached significant career milestones in 2026. Together, these individuals represent an extraordinary 920 years of combined service to USD 428, our students, and the community—an incredible reflection of the experience, commitment, and care our staff bring to their work each day.

The district’s Career Milestone Program celebrates both licensed and classified employees in five-year increments, recognizing the meaningful contributions staff members make throughout their careers. At the March Board of Education meeting, the Board honored employees reaching 20, 25, 30, 35, and 40 years of service, recognizing their dedication to supporting students, families, and colleagues across the district.

“Quality education is built on relationships, and many of the individuals we’re honoring this year have spent decades investing in the success of our students and community,” said Superintendent Khris Thexton. “Their commitment, professionalism, and pride in their work help shape the culture of USD 428 and make our schools stronger every day.”

As part of the recognition, milestone recipients receive a token of appreciation—such as a milestone t-shirt, jacket, or bag—to commemorate their years of service.

USD 428 extends heartfelt congratulations and gratitude to all milestone recipients for their unwavering service and dedication. For a full list of 2025 Milestone recipients from 5 to 35 years, please visit www.greatbendschools.net.

Staff Celebrating Career Milestones in 2026:

40 Years of Service: · Susan Stambaugh – Vocal Music Director

35 Years of Service: · Shelly Post - Preschool Coordinator

30 Years of Service: · Jana Miessler - BCSS · Traci Miller - Instructional Coach, Riley · Shannon Wedel - Elementary Art Teacher · Greg Wells - Teacher, GBMS

25 Years of Service: · Linda Basye - EL Teacher · Jolene Kirmer - Teaching &amp; Learning Secretary · Pamela Jordan - Teacher, Jefferson · Lisa Turner - Teacher Assistant, Jefferson

20 Years of Service: · Janet Dowson - Substitute Coordinator · Karen Ekberg - Teacher, Lincoln · Mary Elliott - Para, Ellinwood · Jeremy Foster - Teacher, GBHS · Sarah Irwin – Speech Language Pathologist, BCSS · Holly Oyedeji - Teacher, GBMS · Amy Paden - Custodian, LPP/DEC

15 Years of Service: · Arellanes Gladis · Tami Cale · Peggy Haag · Rosalinda Loera · Renee Nicholson · Marie Younger

10 Years of Service: · Jared Bashor · Signe Cook · Dayami Cortez · Lisa Daniels · Hanna Degenhardt · Janae Donham · Tabitha Gray · Maria Hernandez · Chris Jeska · Meagan Ketch · Sandra Lopez · Melissa Lutt · Clarissa McCormick · Cristina Montes · Nina Ralston · Priscilla Rose · Jason Shomber · Sandra Smith · Eric Steiner · Kelly Strayer · Lori Tennis · Tara Weeks · Lacy Wolters

5 years of Service: · Kaitlyn Barkow · Kelsey Barrett · Joseph Bliven · Keshia Causey · Ashley Davis · Kristy Ferguson · Kristina Frost · Lilia Guyton · Amy Haxton · Casey Jording · Robin Linsner · Nora Lopez-Aquino · Brandy Maneth · Sheree Marshall · Tonya Miller · Krystal Santy · Shara Stettinger · Amy Turner · Patty Vasquez · Sarah Vaughn · Emily Young

920 YEARS: USD 428 honors 70 staff members for Career Milestones

Thursday evening, just before 7:30 p.m., the Great Bend Police Department (GBPD) was dispatched to 3318 24th&nbsp;Street in response to reports there was a subject in the area with a rifle who had fired&nbsp;multiple shots. The initial complaint was that he may have been firing in the air and then possibly shooting towards a neighbor.&nbsp;The individual&nbsp;with the gun&nbsp;was later identified as 35-year-old Ryan Lang.

Upon the first officer's arrival, Lang shot in their direction, striking a tree and the patrol vehicle. Additional officers quickly arrived on scene, blocking nearby roads and establishing a perimeter around the property. Lang shot approximately three more times. The first round struck a civilian vehicle parked in the 2300 block of Polk Street. A second shot was aimed at an officer setting the perimeter at the intersection of 24th and Polk, and the round passed just over the top of their patrol vehicle. A third shot was believed to be fired into the air.

While on scene, officers learned Lang had also shot and struck at least two other vehicles that&nbsp;had&nbsp;driven through the area prior to officers’ arrival. Lang continued moving around the property with the rifle, circulating between the front yard, porch and inside the residence as&nbsp;GBPD officers and&nbsp;Barton County Sheriff’s Office deputies maintained the perimeter.

After an approximately 90-minute standoff, Lang was seen exiting the house without the rifle. Officers,&nbsp;deputies, and a K-9 from the Barton County Sheriff's Office advanced toward Lang, but he retreated inside the residence. Officers and&nbsp;deputies followed Lang inside where he was taken into custody after a Taser electronic control device was utilized to temporarily immobilize him.

Lang was transported to the Barton County Jail where he was booked and confined in lieu of bond for&nbsp;Attempted&nbsp;Murder,&nbsp;Aggravated&nbsp;Assault of a&nbsp;Law&nbsp;Enforcement&nbsp;Officer (LEO),&nbsp;Criminal&nbsp;Discharge of a&nbsp;Firearm,&nbsp;Criminal&nbsp;Damage to&nbsp;Property,&nbsp;Interference with LEO and&nbsp;Possession of a&nbsp;Controlled&nbsp;Substance.&nbsp;

Officers returned to the scene Friday to canvass for any additional damage. Citizens who live in or who drove through the area last night and sustained damage to their property are encouraged to contact the GBPD. The police department was assisted on this incident by the Barton County Sheriff's Office and the Great Bend Fire Department.

This incident is still under investigation. Anyone with related information is encouraged to contact&nbsp;Crime&nbsp;Stoppers at 620-792-1300 or the GBPD at 620-793-4120 or online at p3tips.com.

Great Bend Police release details from Thursday's shooting incident on 24th St.

By ELLE HUTCHINSON Barton County Media Consultant

Following last week’s discussion of County Day at the Capitol, the Barton County Commission provided an update on several legislative topics that continue to develop in Topeka.

County Day at the Capitol, held March 3, gave counties from across Kansas an opportunity to engage with legislators, share local initiatives, and participate directly in statewide policy conversations. For the first time, Barton County hosted its own informational table, highlighting projects such as Travel 389, the recent courthouse renovation, and other county initiatives through informational displays and rotating photo presentations.

Commissioner Barb Esfeld also provided an update on legislative discussions surrounding property tax policy, including testimony she delivered regarding House Bill 2745 and Senate Concurrent Resolution 1616. Speaking on behalf of Barton County and the Kansas Legislative Policy Group, Commissioner Esfeld emphasized that local officials support efforts to provide property tax relief, while also encouraging lawmakers to carefully consider how proposed changes may impact counties across Kansas.

She noted that many of the proposals continue to evolve as legislators work through potential revisions. The discussions in Topeka reflect a shared goal among state and local leaders to address property tax concerns while maintaining fairness and stability within the overall tax structure.

Commissioners also acknowledged the work being done by legislators during the session, noting the significant amount of time and effort required to analyze complex policy issues and develop potential solutions.

In addition to the Commission’s participation, Barton County Treasurer Jim Jordan and Paige Volkel represented Barton County at the County Treasurers’ Association table, connecting with visitors and sharing information about county services.

The Commission expressed appreciation for the opportunity to represent Barton County at the Capitol and to contribute to ongoing conversations that impact communities across the state.

Barton Commission provides legislative update following County Day at the Capitol

Great Bend's Charles Atkinson, director of the United Soybeans Board representing Kansas, was appointed as a representative to The&nbsp;Center for Food Integrity board of directors. Below is a release from CFI.

Bryan Malenius, director of reputation strategy for public affairs at Chick-fil-A, is the new president of The Center for Food Integrity (CFI) Board of Directors.

Malenius is among a new slate of officers and board members who represent the diversity of today’s food and agriculture value chain. Each brings unique perspectives to CFI’s mission of building trust in today’s food system and the evolving expectations facing the food system – particularly around transparency, credibility and public trust.

“Food and agriculture are facing a period of unprecedented scrutiny and complexity,” said Malenius. “In this environment, trust is essential. I’m honored to serve as board president to support CFI’s strategic initiatives as it partners with industry leaders to navigate these challenges with credibility, transparency and a deeper understanding of the values shaping public expectations.”&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Previously serving as vice president, Malenius has been on the board since 2021.&nbsp;

“Bryan understands the expectations of today’s public and the realities facing food and agriculture,” said Charlie Arnot, CFI CEO. “His expertise and leadership will be invaluable as we advance key initiatives to help organizations earn and sustain public trust in an increasingly dynamic environment.”

In addition, the board named Nathan Capps as vice president. Capps is the science and technical director for Bush Brothers &amp; Company. Jill Manata, the senior vice president of sustainability affairs for Dairy Management, Inc., was elected secretary/treasurer. Elected as an at-large executive committee member is Sara Payne, chief marketing and communications officer for the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF).&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

The CFI Board of Directors includes industry leaders Charles Atkinson, an agriculture producer from Great Bend, who represents&nbsp;the United Soybean Board; Grady Bishop, senior director of livestock sustainability at Elanco Animal Health; Ryan Brown, senior director, food safety, quality and regulatory for Cargill Food North America; Kristen Coady, senior vice president and chief communications officer at Dairy Farmers of America (DFA); Marc Cool, global seed policy lead for Corteva Agriscience; Charles Leftwich, vice president of food safety and quality assurance for Sysco Corporation; Sarah Ludmer, chief wellbeing and sustainable business officer for WK Kellogg Co.; Matt Perin, director and head of government relations and regulatory affairs for Kroger; Jessica Sobel, vice president of strategic growth initiatives at Freshpet; Cameron Wallace, vice president, head of strategy at Compeer Financial; and Alex Wibholm, chief operating officer for the National Pork Board. David Fikes, executive director of the FMI Foundation and immediate past CFI board president, will continue to serve on the board as a voting member.

CFI 2026 emeritus members are Doug Buhler, associate vice president for research and innovation at Michigan State University; Jason Clay, senior vice president, markets and food, and executive director, markets institute at World Wildlife Fund (WWF); Craig Wilson, executive vice president at IEH Laboratories and Consulting Group; Ian Reece, former managing director and senior credit officer for food and agribusiness at Rabobank International and chairman of CFI’s Foundation for Food Integrity; and Monica Massey, CEO of the American Cider Association.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Arnot continues as CFI CEO, a role he has held since CFI’s inception. Kelly Leighton, who most recently served as CFI’s vice president of Growth and Engagement, was named CFI executive director in January.

“CFI exists to help the food system earn trust – especially when the public conversation gets harder,” said Leighton. “This board reflects the full food and agriculture value chain and brings the leadership needed to move from polarization to progress. In 2026, CFI will continue to serve as a trusted, neutral table where research, values and real-world decision-making come together to drive credible action.”

Now in its 19th year, CFI is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to build trust in today’s food system. CFI represents the diversity of the food and agriculture value chain through its many members and partners.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;

To learn more about CFI leadership, membership and strategic initiatives, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.foodintegrity.org/">www.foodintegrity.org</a>&nbsp;or contact CFI at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:learnmore@foodintegrity.org">learnmore@foodintegrity.org</a>.

Great Bend's Atkinson appointed as representative to CFI board of directors.

Barton Community College, The Barton Community College Foundation, and the Ellinwood Chamber of Commerce will host a Chamber After Hours, a casual community networking event, on Thursday, March 26, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at American Legion Post 320.

This casual evening gathering offers a great opportunity for community members, alumni, and local business leaders to connect, enjoy appetizers, and hear the latest updates from Barton Community College. Guests will learn about current initiatives, alumni engagement opportunities, and ways the College and Foundation are supporting Barton students and programs.

The After Hours is designed to strengthen connections between Barton, its alumni, and the surrounding communities while celebrating the partnerships that help the college thrive. The event is free and open to the public.

Ellinwood Chamber Afterhours featuring BCC and Barton Foundation

On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman talks with Kathleen Cook, Fort Hays State University Director of Academic Success about the Schmidt Foundation Scholarships.

🎥  Forward Ever: FHSU director of Academic Success

By MIKE COURSON Great Bend Post

National politicians often garner the headlines, but decisions
made by elected officials at the local level often carry more impact. Several city,
county, school, and other elected positions will be up for grabs in the 2026
General Election on Nov. 3. The primary for those races is set for Tuesday,
Aug. 4. Barton County Election Official Bev Schmeidler said the deadline to
file as a candidate is approaching fast.

“The filing deadline is June 1 at noon, which is a Monday
this year,” she said. “We just have to have all the paperwork by then. If it’s
a state-level office, they go to Topeka to file. This is a gubernatorial year,
so we will elect a governor, lieutenant governor, and there will be a lot of
state offices on the ballots. It would be great to have a great turnout at the
polls for the election.”

Local elections will include four seats on the Great Bend City
Council, as well as seats on the Hoisington and Ellinwood councils. Ellinwood
Hospital will have two board seats up for grabs. Barton County Commission
districts 1, 4, and 5 are up for election. Incumbents Duane Reif and Tricia
Schlessiger have already refiled for Districts 1 and 4, respectively, and
Johnathan Robinson has filed in District 5, which is currently occupied by Donna
Zimmerman. Clerks positions in all 22 Barton County townships will also be on
the Aug. 4 ballot, as will precinct committee spots for both the Republican and
Democratic parties. The deadline to register to vote or change party affiliation
is July 14 at 5 p.m. Early voting can begin as early as July 15.

“Whether you come vote early or you vote at a polling place
on Election Day, you can declare one of those parties if you are unaffiliated,”
Schmeidler said. “You can’t change your party on the poll site, but you can
declare if you’re unaffiliated.”

Larger numbers of voters tend to turn out in even-numbered
years. Nearly 60 percent of Barton County voters turned out in 2016, which
included a presidential race. That number dropped to 24 percent in 2017. Forty-nine
percent showed up in a gubernatorial year in 2018, then fewer than 25
percent voted in 2019. Sixty-eight and 63 percent voted in 2020 and 2024, respectively, which included presidential races.

Other state and national seats to be decided in the Nov. 3 general
election include one U.S. Senator, four U.S. Representatives, Kansas secretary
of state, attorney general, treasurer, and commissioner of insurance, 125 state
representatives, and several judicial positions.

Local political candidates already filing for office ahead of June 1 deadline

Join the Great Bend Rec for a fantastic PAWesome Easter Egg Hunt for your four-legged canine friends. The event will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 28, at Veteran’s Memorial Park next to the Dog Park.

Easter eggs will have pet-friendly treats inside of them or vouchers for larger prizes. The hunt will be divided into 2-sections, Small Dog Breed Hunt and Large Dog Breed Hunt. For everyone’s safety, all dogs must always be on a leash.

Registration for the event begins at 1 p.m., and the egg hunt will begin at 1:15 p.m. A fee of $5.00 per dog will be collected with proceeds going to improvements at the dog park.

In case of inclement weather, the event will be cancelled.

For more information about this program and other programs the Great Bend Rec offers, please visit our website at www.greatbendrec.com or call the Recreation Commission office at 793-3755 ext. 110.

Great Bend Rec's PAWesome Easter Egg Hunt for dogs is March 28

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 

Third Place: Mill Valley 69, Wichita Heights 61

Championship: Olathe North 67, Shawnee Mission South 50

Third Place: Topeka Seaman 66, Topeka West 50

Championship: Bonner Springs 53, Kapaun Mount Carmel 50

Championship: Wichita Collegiate 55, Burlington 42

Third Place: St Marys 85, Pittsburg St Mary's-Colgan 73

Championship: Sterling 59, Berean Academy 49

Third Place: Norwich 62, Central Plains 52

Championship: St John’s Beloit 57, South Central 53

----------------------------------------------------------------

Championship: SM South 57, BV Northwest 45

Third Place: Andover 71, Shawnee Heights 55

Championship: St. James Academy 49, Hays 48

Third Place: Rock Creek 66, Wellington 48

Championship: Topeka Hayden 57, Bishop Miege 52

Championship: Silver Lake 60, Osage City 44

Championship: Salina Sacred Heart 43, Ellinwood 34

Third Place: Centralia 76, Pretty Prairie 16

Championship: Little River 59, Wabaunsee 24

Third Place: Bucklin 54, Hutchinson Central Christian 35

Saturday State Tournament Scores

Sunday, March 15 3:00PM 1590/95.5FM - Royals Baseball - Kansas City vs Chicago White Sox Monday, March 16 12:30PM 1590/95.5FM - Sports Day Tuesday, March 17 12:30PM 1590/95.5FM - Sports Day Wednesday, March 18 12:30PM 1590/95.5FM - Sports Day 8:00PM 1590/95.5FM - NBA Basketball - LA Lakers @ Houston Thursday, March 19 12:30PM 1590/95.5FM - Sports Day Friday, March 20 12:30PM 1590/95.5FM - Sports Day Saturday, March 21 2:00PM 1590/95.5FM - Royals Baseball - Kansas City vs Colorado Rockies Monday, March 23 12:30PM 1590/95.5FM - Sports Day 7:00PM 1590/95.5FM - Royals Baseball - Kansas City @ Texas Rangers Tuesday, March 24 12:30PM 1590/95.5FM - Sports Day 1:00PM 1590/95.5FM - Royals Baseball - Kansas City @ Texas Rangers Wednesday, March 25 12:30PM 1590/95.5FM - Sports Day 5:30PM 1590/95.5FM - NBA Basketball - Atlanta @ Detroit

Eagle Radio and Hull Broadcasting PBP Schedule

The No. 17 Barton Community College men's basketball team controlled much of the opening half Saturday evening at Fleske Fieldhouse, but Butler Community College used a second-half surge and a steady stream of extra possessions to rally past the Cougars 111-103 in the Region 6/Plains District Tournament championship game.

Barton closes the night at 24-9, while Butler also improves to 24-9 in earning the Region 6/Plains District automatic berth to the NJCAA Division I National Tournament, to be held March 21-28 in Hutchinson. The Cougars will now await Monday's national selection show to learn if they will receive an at-large bid into the national field.

The Cougars led for most of the opening 20 minutes, building a 14-point cushion twice in the half and appearing poised to create even more separation. Barton answered Butler's early three-point shooting with interior production and transition offense, getting balanced contributions from&nbsp;Aris Rodriguez,&nbsp;Majok Chuol,&nbsp;Noah Williams, and&nbsp;Blake Rucker&nbsp;while limiting the Grizzlies to 37 first-half points. A late Butler push trimmed the margin to eight in the closing seconds, but&nbsp;Brian Sullivan, Jr.&nbsp;buried a three-pointer with eight seconds left to send Barton to the locker room in front 48-37.

Barton pushed the lead back to 11 in the early stages of the second half and still owned a 59-48 advantage with 15:56 remaining, but momentum gradually shifted as the Grizzlies capitalized on offensive rebounds, forced Barton into costly turnovers, and connected on timely three-pointers. Butler chipped away to within 71-69 on a Devin Kerr three-pointer with 10:24 left, then took the lead for good on Tim Walker II's three-pointer at the 9:09 mark during a 10-1 stretch.

The Cougars continued to battle, trimming the deficit to three on multiple occasions, including at 79-76 and 82-79, but Butler repeatedly answered. Offensive rebounds extended possessions, Tristan Hankins converted at the free-throw line, and Jaise Combs delivered a key three-pointer with 4:48 left to stretch the Grizzlies' lead to eight. Barton could get no closer than five the rest of the way as Butler closed out the victory in a second half marred by five technical fouls.

Despite Butler shooting just 34.7 percent from the field, the Grizzlies made up the difference by collecting 26 offensive rebounds, forcing 19 Barton turnovers, and turning those miscues into a 21-4 advantage in points off turnovers. Butler also finished with 24 more field-goal attempts than Barton and held a 21-13 edge in second-chance points, overcoming Barton's 52-38 advantage in paint scoring and 31-7 edge in fastbreak points.

Rodriguez entered the program's career top-10 scoring list, pouring in a game-high 37 points to raise his career total to 1,065 while connecting on 11-of-23 shooting and 12-of-14 at the free-throw line and grabbing nine rebounds.

Williams added 20 points and eight rebounds,&nbsp;Jon Byrd&nbsp;contributed 13 points and 11 rebounds for his first collegiate double-double while distributing a game-high five assists. Chuol finished with 12 points and six rebounds as Rucker scored 12 points off the bench.&nbsp;Sebastian Muchitsch, the Cougars' leading rebounder on the season, finished with two points and two rebounds in limited first-half action before missing the final 20 minutes after being held out as an injury precaution.

Hankins led Butler with 35 points and 13 rebounds, including nine offensive boards. Kerr added 18 points, Combs finished with 17, and Josiah Kirkwood chipped in 13 points and nine rebounds.

No. 17 Barton men unable to hold off No. 19 Butler rally in Region 6 championship

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Star freshman Cameron Boozer battled through a rough night for No. 1 Duke against Virginia's Ugonna Onyenso inside in the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament title game. Boozer finished with a season-low 13 points on 3-for-17 shooting in the Blue Devils' 74-70 win against No. 10 Virginia. Onyenso finished with nine blocks for the Cavaliers. That included four of Boozer's shots. Onyenso set a three-game tournament record with 21 blocked shots. That broke a record set by former Wake Forest and longtime NBA star Tim Duncan.

NEW YORK (AP) — Zuby Ejiofor had seven blocks, nine rebounds and three steals to anchor a tenacious defensive performance that carried No. 13 St. John’s to its second straight Big East Tournament championship with a 72-52 blowout of sixth-ranked UConn at Madison Square Garden. Ejiofor and Bryce Hopkins each scored 18 points for the top-seeded Red Storm, who became the first team to win consecutive Big East Tournament titles since Villanova took three in a row from 2017-19. Adding to their resurgent rise under Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino, the Johnnies joined UConn in 1998 and ’99 as the only Big East programs to win both the regular-season and tournament crowns in back-to-back years.

ÅRE, Sweden (AP) — Olympic champion Mikaela Shiffrin has won her record-equaling eighth World Cup slalom of the season. But her main rival in the overall standings was second to keep the pressure on the American star. Shiffrin dominated the last race before the World Cup Finals to beat Emma Aicher of Germany by 0.94 seconds. Switzerland’s Wendy Holdener was a second off the pace in third. Aicher has become a threat to Shiffrin’s quest for what would be the American’s record-equaling sixth overall title. She trails the American by 140 points with four races remaining.

MIAMI (AP) — Wilyer Abreu hit a go-ahead, three-run homer after Maikel Garcia sparked the comeback with a two-run shot, and Venezuela beat Shohei Ohtani and defending champion Japan 8-5 in the World Baseball Classic to advance to the semifinals. Venezuela reached its first WBC semis since 2009 and clinched a spot in the six-nation field for the 2028 Olympic baseball tournament, along with the United States and the Dominican Republic. Venezuela will face unbeaten Italy on Monday, a day after the U.S. plays the Dominicans. Shohei Ohtani hit his third home run of the tournament for Japan but also popped out for the final out.

MIAMI (AP) — Shohei Ohtani and Ronald Acuña Jr. got the World Baseball Classic quarterfinal off to a pulsating start, combining for the first WBC game with two leadoff homers. Acuña homered on the second pitch from World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto, driving a fastball 401 feet to right-center for his second home run of the tournament. Ohtani led off the bottom half against Ranger Suárez with a 427-foot drive to center on a 2-1 slider, a ball that was 113.6 mph off the bat. Ohtani watched the ball, flipped his bat and motioned with both hands to teammates in the third-base dugout. The home run was Ohtani’s third of the tournament.

SHANGHAI (AP) — Kimi Antonelli became Formula 1’s second-youngest race winner with a composed drive to victory for Mercedes at the Chinese Grand Prix. The 19-year-old Italian was the youngest pole position starter and briefly lost the lead to Lewis Hamilton of Ferrari at the start but retook it soon after and was in control from there. Antonelli’s teammate George Russell weathered a battle with both Ferraris to finish second. Lewis Hamilton was third for his long-awaited first Grand Prix podium finish for Ferrari.

INDIAN WELLS, Calif. (AP) — Daniil Medvedev handed top-seeded Carlos Alcaraz his first loss of the year and advanced to the final at Indian Wells with a 6-3, 7-6 (3) victory. The 11th-seeded Medvedev, from Russia, will face second-seeded Jannik Sinner of Italy. Sinner beat Alexander Zverev 6-2, 6-4. Alcaraz had won 16 straight matches this year, including titles at the Australian Open and Qatar Open. But Medvedev ended the possibility of an Alcaraz vs. Sinner final. Medvedev had dropped his last four meetings against Alcaraz, including a loss in the Indian Wells final in 2024. This was Medvedev’s first victory over him since the U.S. Open semifinals in 2023.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Russell Westbrook had 12 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists for his 209th career triple-double and DeMar DeRozan scored 27 points to lead the Sacramento Kings to a 118-109 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers. Kawhi Leonard scored 31 points before leaving with a sprained left ankle for the Clippers, whose four-game winning streak was stopped. It was Leonard’s 45th consecutive game with at least 20 points, topping Bob McAdoo’s franchise record. Leonard was injured with 9:27 left in the fourth quarter. Precious Achiuwa added 25 points and 13 rebounds and Maxime Raynaud had 23 points for the Kings, who have won three of their last four games. Darius Garland added 25 points and Bennedict Mathurin had 24 for Los Angeles.

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Ludvig Aberg started with a two-shot lead and now leads by three going into the final round at The Players Championship. Part of him is happy to be three ahead. But he also regrets missing two good birdie chances on the 16th and 17th and three-putting the 18th for a bogey. He shot a 71 and leads neighbor and friend Michael Thorbjornsen by three. Both are former No. 1 players in the PGA Tour University ranking. Both now make their homes in Ponte Vedra Beach and often practice at the TPC Sawgrass. Cameron Young was four behind. Xander Schauffele was among those five back.

SINGAPORE (AP) — Bryson DeChambeau is a winner again on LIV Golf after a wild finish in Singapore. DeChambeau drove into the water in the playoff and still made par. That turned out to be the winner when Richard T. Lee of Canada jabbed at a 2-foot par putt and missed. Lee was trying to become the first wild card to win in LIV Golf. He got into the Saudi league by winning the LIV Promotions so he's not attached to a team. DeChambeau and Lee shot 66 in the final round at Sentosa Golf Club. Lee Westwood shot 70 and finished third.

Final	Chicago White Sox	7	L.A. Dodgers	2	

Final	L.A. Angels	6	Seattle	2

Sunday Sports Headlines and Scores presented by Barton Community College

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Butler Men 111 Barton 103

Opening Round -
Saturday, March 7th (Games Played at Higher Seed) #5 Seward County 82, #12 Colby 66 #6 Cowley 61, #11
Hutchinson 60 #10 Fort Hays Tech NW 76, #7 Independence 74 #8 Cloud County 86, #9 Garden City 66

Quarterfinal
Round - Tuesday, March 10th (Games Played at Higher Seed) Barton 96, Cloud County 95 Butler 101, Fort Hays Tech NW 87 Cowley 76, Dodge City 69 Seward County 84, Coffeyville 75

Semifinal Round -
Friday, March 13th (Fleske Fieldhouse - Great Bend) Barton 102, Seward County 83 Butler 105, Cowley 104

Championship -
Saturday, March 14th (Fleske Fieldhouse - Great Bend) Butler 111, Barton 103

Region 6 Men's Basketball Tournament Scores

Tuesday, March 10 Arizona State 83, Baylor 79 Cincinnati 73, Utah 66 BYU 105, Kansas State 91 Oklahoma State 92, Colorado 83 Wednesday, March 11 Iowa State 91, Arizona State 42 UCF 66, Cincinnati 65 OT BYU 68, West Virginia 48 TCU 95, Oklahoma State 88 Thursday, March 12 Iowa State 75, Texas Tech 53 Arizona 81, UCF 59 Houston 73, BYU 68 Kansas 78, TCU 73 Friday, March 13 (Semi-Finals) Arizona 82, Iowa State 80 Houston 69, Kansas 47 Saturday, March 14 (Championship) Arizona 79, Houston 74

Big 12 Tournament Scores

Opening Round - Saturday, March 7th (Games Played at Higher Seed) #5 Seward County 84, #12 Fort Hays Tech Northwest 52 #6 Colby 58, #11 Pratt 42 #7 Barton 88, #10 Cloud County 64 #8 Garden City 91, #9 Cowley 80&nbsp;&nbsp; Quarterfinal Round - Tuesday, March 10th (Games Played at Higher Seed) Butler 93, Garden City 62&nbsp; Dodge City 69, Barton 60 Hutchinson 74, Colby 65 Coffeyville 87, Seward County 62 Semifinal Round - Friday, March 13th (Fleske Fieldhouse-Great Bend) Butler 65, Coffeyville 62 Hutchinson 69, Dodge City 57

Championship - Saturday, March 14th (Fleske Fieldhouse-Great Bend) Butler 57, Hutchinson 47

Region 6 Women's Basketball Tournament Scores

Tuesday March 10 Class 2A Girls @ Tony's Pizza Events Center - Salina Ellinwood 55, Rossville 48 Class 1A-DII Boys @ White Auditorium - Emporia Lebo 46, Victoria 40 Class 1A-DI Boys @ Kansas Wesleyan University - Salina Central Plains 57, Canton-Galva 34 Wednesday, March 11 Class 1A-DI Girls @ Friends University - Wichita Pretty Prairie 39, Hodgeman County 35 Class 1A-DI Girls @&nbsp;Tony's Pizza Events Center - Salina Little River 57, Central Plains 27 Class 3A Girls @ United Wireless Arena - Dodge City Holcomb 45, Ellsworth 32&nbsp; Thursday, March 12 Class 2A Girls @ White Auditorium - Emporia Ellinwood 50, Eureka 47 Class 1A-DI Boys @ United Wireless Arena - Dodge City South Central 49, Central Plains 30 Saturday, March 14 Class 2A Girls @ White Auditorium - Emporia - Championship Salina-Sacred Heart 43, Ellinwood 34 Class 1A-DI Boys @ United Wireless Arena - Dodge City - 3rd Place Norwich 62, Central Plains 52 &nbsp;

Area State Tournament Scores

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Kenyon Giles had 27 points in Wichita State's 81-68 win against Tulsa on Saturday in the American Athletic Conference Tournament.

Giles shot 10 for 27, including 7 for 16 from beyond the arc for the Shockers (21-10). Will Berg added 13 points while shooting 4 of 6 from the field and 5 for 7 from the line while they also had 14 rebounds. Michael Gray Jr. shot 5 for 9, including 1 for 3 from beyond the arc to finish with 13 points. The Shockers prolonged their winning streak to six games.

Tylen Riley led the way for the Golden Hurricane (25-6) with 18 points, five assists and two steals. Tulsa also got 14 points and two steals from Miles Barnstable. Tyler Behrend also had 13 points and six rebounds.

Wichita State took the lead with 6:03 left in the first half and did not trail again. Giles led their team in scoring with 11 points in the first half to help put them up 39-33 at the break.

Wichita State extended its lead to 59-43 during the second half, fueled by an 8-0 scoring run. Giles scored a team-high 16 points in the second half as their team closed out the win.

Wichita State secures 81-68 victory in AAC Tournament against Tulsa

SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are&nbsp;investigating a fatal hit-and-run crash involving a pedestrian early Sunday morning near the Sedgwick County Zoo.

At about 12:06 a.m., deputies along with Sedgwick County EMS and the Wichita Fire Department responded to a report of a pickup truck striking a pedestrian in the 5800 block of West Windmill Road, according to Sheriff's Department spokesman Branden Stitt. Witnesses stopped to assist and called 911 after the pickup truck left the scene.

Despite life-saving measures, the pedestrian, a 29-year-old Wichita man, died at the scene.

Based on preliminary findings and debris recovered at the scene, the suspect vehicle is believed to be a black Dodge Ram 1500 pickup, model years 2013 through 2022. The truck was last seen traveling westbound on Windmill Road toward 13th Street North and Ridge Road and is expected to have noticeable damage to the front driver’s side, including a broken grille.

The Sheriff’s Office Major Crash Team and detectives are continuing to investigate.

Anyone with information about this crash is asked to contact the Major Crash Team at 316-660-3760 or Sheriff’s Investigations at 316-660-5300. Anonymous tips may also be submitted to Crime Stoppers of Wichita/Sedgwick County by calling 316-267-2111 or by using the P3 Tips app.

Police looking for pickup in deadly Kan. hit-and-run

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — High winds fueled multiple wildfires across a broad swath of Nebraska’s range and grassland, causing one death in Arthur County, officials said. The victim was not immediately identified, and the sheriff’s office did not disclose other details about the death.

What state officials have dubbed the Morrill County fire has burned at least 735 square miles (about 1,880 square kilometers) so far across four counties. At least 12 structures have been destroyed, according to the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency.

Chelle Ladely of Sidney said her home was currently safe, about 40 miles (64 kilometers) south of the nearest fire. But she worries for other friends and family in the area.

“Smoke is filling the air, and at night I can see the burn of the fires on the horizon,” Ladely said. “My father is a crop agronomist, and his company as well as other local farmers are all gathering their water trucks to help aid with the fires, and truckloads of bottled water and food is being supplied by our good patrons for our volunteer firemen trying to extinguish the blazes.”

Several other wildfires pushed by winds of up to 65 mph (105 kph) burned another 225 square miles (about 580 square kilometers) for a total of nearly 938 square miles (about 2,430 square kilometers) by midday Saturday. The strong winds have kept firefighters from containing any of the fires, the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency said. Gov. Jim Pillen toured areas burned by the Morrill County fire.

Hundreds of thousands of people were left without power Saturday after high winds raked eastward from the Great Lakes region, leaving trees down and substantial property damage in their wake. Farther west, at least one person died in a massive wind-driven wildfire in Nebraska.

About 346,00 customers were still without electricity as of the late afternoon in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Michigan, according to PowerOutage.us, which tracks outages nationwide.

A 66 mph (106 kph) gust at Pittsburgh International Airport on Friday was deemed its fourth-strongest on record that was not caused by a thunderstorm, according to the National Weather Service. Cleveland Burke Lakefront Airport saw winds hit 85 mph (137 km) that afternoon.

Winds took down a gas station canopy in New Franklin, Ohio, and an auto parts store sign in Baldwin, Pennsylvania. Trees and tree limbs fell into or onto homes and cars from Cleveland to Pittsburgh. The roof of a school building in the Chicago suburb of Niles, Illinois, was severely damaged by wind.

In Chicago, thousands of revelers turned out to see the city's namesake river dyed bright green and a downtown parade celebrating the St. Patrick's Day holiday, despite the threat of snow and stiff winds that drove the feels-like temperature well below freezing.

Dangerous winds were but one piece of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/heat-dome-snow-blizzard-cold-polar-flooding-55e3baf6877e81ee1961aade3cb361c3">wild weather mosaic</a>&nbsp;that included heavy rains in Hawaii, triple-digit heat coming next week in Phoenix and a return of winter cold to the Midwest and Northeast. Chicago was forecast to approach the single digits Fahrenheit by Tuesday, with Minneapolis seeing lows around zero (minus 18 C).

Several Minnesota cities have already declared snow emergencies starting Sunday, when what could be the season’s largest snowfall is expected to hit. Wisconsin and Michigan's Upper Peninsula are also in the crosshairs.

AccuWeather warned of a “potent triple-threat March megastorm” from Sunday into Monday.

“It’s definitely a very active weather weekend, that’s for sure,” AccuWeather senior meteorologist John Feerick said. “It’s a highly amplified pattern, which means you get a lot of extremes. Also, not just the Lower 48, but Hawaii’s getting hit hard right now with some very heavy rain.”

Feerick said people along the Wisconsin-Iowa border might see some ice as travel conditions become dangerous in large parts of the Upper Midwest.

1 dead as high winds fuel wildfires across Nebraska grassland

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/david-a-lieb">DAVID A. LIEB</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/mark-scolforo">MARK SCOLFORO</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/julie-walker">JULIE WALKER</a>

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