By AMY RICKER Great Bend Post

Despite there still being a lot of uncertainty in the world, there are those lockdown-weary people who are hoping to salvage some travel plans for 2021.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

First National Travel Agency Owner Christi Penka says in some markets, due to availability, there are some deals to be found, with Las Vegas leading the list.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“Availability&nbsp;is not the issue it once was. Now when I say that, I mean that it used to be that if you were going to book a trip to Las Vegas and&nbsp;even if&nbsp;you weren’t going&nbsp;to go during the peak time, if it wasn’t 2-3 months out, availability could&nbsp;have&nbsp;been an issue.&nbsp;By availability, I mean, flight and hotel availability,” explained Penka.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Great Bend travel agency owner explains that since travel has slowed down to a crawl, she is&nbsp;currently&nbsp;booking Vegas trips for Spring Break and availability is not an issue. The shows and concerts are not typically in operation, with a few exceptions, but the casinos are open.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Penka says that compared to last year, January has picked up with inquiries about summer and fall travel.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“I don’t want to say it’s back to normal by any means, but it is moving closer to some degree of normal because this is the norm for January. Once the holidays were over, people would start planning summer vacations, graduation trips, honeymoons, and that kind of thing. Although it isn’t as much as a year ago, I’m getting busier with a lot more inquiries.”&nbsp;

Penka says that it has been refreshing to see people who have already traveled this month, are currently on their vacation, and others that are getting ready to leave.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

When it comes to cruises, she says that the cruise lines never really stopped taking reservations, but then they canceled, forcing people to either get a refund or to reschedule for a later date. People are currently making reservations for later this year, as cruise lines have suspended travel through the end of March.&nbsp;&nbsp;

She says she doesn’t have anyone traveling internationally, but Penka explained that those restrictions are changing daily, and she expects that trend to continue as vaccinations are rolled out. She says if the travel bug is starting to hit, to contact your travel agent and make an inquiry regarding destinations, dates and prices.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1610658926162.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By AMY RICKER Great Bend PostDespite there still being a lot of uncertainty in the world, there are those lockdown-weary people who are hoping to salvage some travel plans for 2021.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;First National Travel Agency Owner Christi Penka says in some markets, due to availability, there are some deals to be found, with Las Vegas leading the list.&nbsp;&nbsp;“Availability&nbsp;is not the issue it once was. Now when I say that, I mean that it used to be that if you were going to book a trip to Las Vegas and&nbsp;even if&nbsp;you weren’t going&nbsp;to go during the peak time, if it wasn’t 2-3 months out, availability could&nbsp;have&nbsp;been an issue.&nbsp;By availability, I mean, flight and hotel availability,” explained Penka.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Great Bend travel agency owner explains that since travel has slowed down to a crawl, she is&nbsp;currently&nbsp;booking Vegas trips for Spring Break and availability is not an issue. The shows and concerts are not typically in operation, with a few exceptions, but the casinos are open.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Penka says that compared to last year, January has picked up with inquiries about summer and fall travel.&nbsp;&nbsp;“I don’t want to say it’s back to normal by any means, but it is moving closer to some degree of normal because this is the norm for January. Once the holidays were over, people would start planning summer vacations, graduation trips, honeymoons, and that kind of thing. Although it isn’t as much as a year ago, I’m getting busier with a lot more inquiries.”&nbsp;Penka says that it has been refreshing to see people who have already traveled this month, are currently on their vacation, and others that are getting ready to leave.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;When it comes to cruises, she says that the cruise lines never really stopped taking reservations, but then they canceled, forcing people to either get a refund or to reschedule for a later date. People are currently making reservations for later this year, as cruise lines have suspended travel through the end of March.&nbsp;&nbsp;She says she doesn’t have anyone traveling internationally, but Penka explained that those restrictions are changing daily, and she expects that trend to continue as vaccinations are rolled out. She says if the travel bug is starting to hit, to contact your travel agent and make an inquiry regarding destinations, dates and prices.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Are there travel deals to take advantage of?

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Get Fit Sweepstakes

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H&B Communications College Bowl Sweepstakes

Week 1: Klaire Clemons &amp; Zander Holinde

Week 3: Noah Kiaser &amp; Addison Maxwell

Week 4: Lidia Guerra &amp; Marlie Ensley&nbsp;

Week 5: Cooper Ohnmacht &amp; Victor Torres

Week 6: Mikala Minton &amp; Marina Hernandez

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1601906657005.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WINNERS:Week 1: Klaire Clemons &amp; Zander HolindeWeek 2: Rylee Dietz &amp; Khloi MillerWeek 3: Noah Kiaser &amp; Addison MaxwellWeek 4: Lidia Guerra &amp; Marlie Ensley&nbsp;Week 5: Cooper Ohnmacht &amp; Victor TorresWeek 6: Mikala Minton &amp; Marina HernandezPlease pick up your T-shirt at:Eagle Radio1200 Baker Ave.Great Bend, KS&nbsp;

I Make A Difference T-Shirt Winners 

<img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575388671873.png">If you are a Grade School age Kid in the Barton County Area we want to know how you make a difference! You could win a "I Make A Difference" T-shirt and be qualified to win T-shirts for you entire Class! Tune into "The Scott and Shannon Morning Show" on 100.7 Eagle Country at 7:20 A.M. Monday Morning to hear the lasted T-shirt winners! <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575409355742.png"><iframe class="ql-video" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" src="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf0IVis-TLfTDoyL8VK3L-w0DyPPtRGm-oNlJ9jEZEVRdPk8w/viewform?embedded=true" height="1181" width="640"></iframe>

I Make a Difference Contest 

Story by Joe Vinduska, Photo&nbsp;by Melissa Koren&nbsp;&nbsp;

When Richard&nbsp;LaFlame&nbsp;left high school, he thought he would go to college and travel a traditional educational and career path.&nbsp; However, after stalling out on his degree at Syracuse, he enlisted in the United States Army and put his education on hold to serve his country as a combat medic.&nbsp;

“When I&nbsp;went on active&nbsp;duty,&nbsp;I felt like&nbsp;that dream had died&nbsp;for me,” he said. “I thought I was&nbsp;not going to be able to finish college&nbsp;and it&nbsp;would have to be something&nbsp;I would have to try and&nbsp;finish&nbsp;after&nbsp;active duty and&nbsp;it was just&nbsp;profoundly disappointing for me.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

However, while stationed at Fort Riley,&nbsp;LaFlame&nbsp;enrolled in Barton’s Emergency Medical Services program and graduated with his associate degree in EMS in 1999.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“Getting the opportunity to continue to work on my degree while still on active duty gave me a lot of hope that active duty wasn’t going to be just wasted time,” he said. “An added bonus was that some of my military training counted towards my degree.”&nbsp;

Barton’s flexibility was a key benefit not only for&nbsp;LaFlame&nbsp;but for his classmates as well.&nbsp;

“Not all of the students at Barton were soldiers,” he said.&nbsp; “Many were non-traditional students trying to get their educations in the evening while still working. Having academic organizations that have the flexibility to allow for that is important.”&nbsp;

Another highlight of working towards his EMS degree at Barton, was the opportunity to interact with non-military personnel.

“As a soldier, the number of times that you interact with civilians academically is incredibly few,” he said. “Being in a class with civilians allowed me to form friendships and those connections became really important. It was a good example of how we needed to learn to network, and that wasn’t something that was always taught at the soldier level.”&nbsp;

LaFlame&nbsp;used the momentum he built getting his degree from Barton and picked up right where he left off. He finished his bachelor’s degree at Syracuse University shortly after leaving active duty in 2000. He received his master’s degree in physician assistant studies from the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in 2007 and his doctorate in 2019.&nbsp;

“Going to Barton gave me confidence,” he said. “Too many people walk away from the degree they started and think they’re never going to be able to get there and it’s just not true. Sometimes you have to crash against the rocks, dig in, and realize you can restart and reinvent yourself.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

LaFlame&nbsp;lives in New Hampshire and works as a physician assistant at the Veterans Administration’s Home-based primary care program.&nbsp;&nbsp;He continues to serve in the Army National Guard and said working as a PA is very rewarding.&nbsp;

“Physicians can’t always spend as much time with their patients as they’d like and I enjoy that I can sit down, listen to the patient, and learn what is really important to them.” &nbsp; LaFlame&nbsp;has now served more than 20 years in the military, including deployments to Afghanistan and the United Arab Emirates.&nbsp; He started on active duty as a Private and is now serving as a Major in the New Hampshire Army National Guard.&nbsp; He has a special place in his heart for training medics and “paying the education forward.”&nbsp; &nbsp; “Never underestimate the power you have to overcome adversity and the value of hard work,” he said. “I want to thank Barton Community College for being part of my journey.”&nbsp;

For more information on Barton at Fort Riley, go to&nbsp;<a href="https://fr.bartonccc.edu/" target="_blank">fr.bartonccc.edu/</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1610653208418.jpeg" alt="Richard LaFlame" />
 <figcaption>Richard LaFlame</figcaption>
 </figure>Story by Joe Vinduska, Photo&nbsp;by Melissa Koren&nbsp;&nbsp;When Richard&nbsp;LaFlame&nbsp;left high school, he thought he would go to college and travel a traditional educational and career path.&nbsp; However, after stalling out on his degree at Syracuse, he enlisted in the United States Army and put his education on hold to serve his country as a combat medic.&nbsp;“When I&nbsp;went on active&nbsp;duty,&nbsp;I felt like&nbsp;that dream had died&nbsp;for me,” he said. “I thought I was&nbsp;not going to be able to finish college&nbsp;and it&nbsp;would have to be something&nbsp;I would have to try and&nbsp;finish&nbsp;after&nbsp;active duty and&nbsp;it was just&nbsp;profoundly disappointing for me.”&nbsp;&nbsp;However, while stationed at Fort Riley,&nbsp;LaFlame&nbsp;enrolled in Barton’s Emergency Medical Services program and graduated with his associate degree in EMS in 1999.&nbsp;&nbsp;“Getting the opportunity to continue to work on my degree while still on active duty gave me a lot of hope that active duty wasn’t going to be just wasted time,” he said. “An added bonus was that some of my military training counted towards my degree.”&nbsp;Barton’s flexibility was a key benefit not only for&nbsp;LaFlame&nbsp;but for his classmates as well.&nbsp;“Not all of the students at Barton were soldiers,” he said.&nbsp; “Many were non-traditional students trying to get their educations in the evening while still working. Having academic organizations that have the flexibility to allow for that is important.”&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1610653279209.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Another highlight of working towards his EMS degree at Barton, was the opportunity to interact with non-military personnel.“As a soldier, the number of times that you interact with civilians academically is incredibly few,” he said. “Being in a class with civilians allowed me to form friendships and those connections became really important. It was a good example of how we needed to learn to network, and that wasn’t something that was always taught at the soldier level.”&nbsp;LaFlame&nbsp;used the momentum he built getting his degree from Barton and picked up right where he left off. He finished his bachelor’s degree at Syracuse University shortly after leaving active duty in 2000. He received his master’s degree in physician assistant studies from the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in 2007 and his doctorate in 2019.&nbsp;“Going to Barton gave me confidence,” he said. “Too many people walk away from the degree they started and think they’re never going to be able to get there and it’s just not true. Sometimes you have to crash against the rocks, dig in, and realize you can restart and reinvent yourself.”&nbsp;&nbsp;LaFlame&nbsp;lives in New Hampshire and works as a physician assistant at the Veterans Administration’s Home-based primary care program.&nbsp;&nbsp;He continues to serve in the Army National Guard and said working as a PA is very rewarding.&nbsp;“Physicians can’t always spend as much time with their patients as they’d like and I enjoy that I can sit down, listen to the patient, and learn what is really important to them.” &nbsp; LaFlame&nbsp;has now served more than 20 years in the military, including deployments to Afghanistan and the United Arab Emirates.&nbsp; He started on active duty as a Private and is now serving as a Major in the New Hampshire Army National Guard.&nbsp; He has a special place in his heart for training medics and “paying the education forward.”&nbsp; &nbsp; “Never underestimate the power you have to overcome adversity and the value of hard work,” he said. “I want to thank Barton Community College for being part of my journey.”&nbsp;For more information on Barton at Fort Riley, go to&nbsp;<a href="https://fr.bartonccc.edu/" target="_blank">fr.bartonccc.edu/</a>.

Former Barton Fort Riley student enjoys life-long career in medicine

M.L.King Day Mostly sunny, with a high near 51. Breezy, with a south southwest wind 6 to 11 mph becoming north northwest 19 to 24 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 32 mph.

Tonight Partly cloudy, with a low around 26. Northwest wind 5 to 11 mph.

Tuesday Partly sunny, with a high near 45. North northwest wind 7 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Tuesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 26. Southwest wind 6 to 9 mph.

Wednesday Sunny, with a high near 55. Southwest wind 10 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph.

Wednesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 28.

Thursday Sunny, with a high near 52.

Thursday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 27.

Friday Partly sunny, with a high near 42.

Friday Night A 20 percent chance of snow after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 28.

Saturday A slight chance of rain and snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 42. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Saturday Night A slight chance of rain and snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 31. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Sunday A chance of rain and snow. Partly sunny, with a high near 47. Chance of precipitation is 30%.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1610977883559.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>M.L.King Day Mostly sunny, with a high near 51. Breezy, with a south southwest wind 6 to 11 mph becoming north northwest 19 to 24 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 32 mph.Tonight Partly cloudy, with a low around 26. Northwest wind 5 to 11 mph.Tuesday Partly sunny, with a high near 45. North northwest wind 7 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.Tuesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 26. Southwest wind 6 to 9 mph.Wednesday Sunny, with a high near 55. Southwest wind 10 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph.Wednesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 28.Thursday Sunny, with a high near 52.Thursday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 27.Friday Partly sunny, with a high near 42.Friday Night A 20 percent chance of snow after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 28.Saturday A slight chance of rain and snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 42. Chance of precipitation is 20%.Saturday Night A slight chance of rain and snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 31. Chance of precipitation is 20%.Sunday A chance of rain and snow. Partly sunny, with a high near 47. Chance of precipitation is 30%.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Monday Weather

BOOKED: Robert Crawford on BTDC for Distribution or Intent to Distribute Heroin or Methamphetamine. Bond set at $20,000 C/S.&nbsp;

BOOKED: Jerome Koett on BTDC for Violating Conditions of Bond. Bond set at No Bond.&nbsp;

BOOKED: Amber Demel on BTDC for Probation Violation. No Bond.&nbsp;

BOOKED: Tyler Lynd on BTDC for Serve Sentence. He is to serve from 1/15/21 at 7 pm until 1/17/21 at 7 pm.&nbsp;

BOOKED: Michael Philbern on BTDC for Criminal Threat DV. Bond set at $5,000 C/S.&nbsp;

RELEASED: Humberto Rincon-Barbosa to immigration.&nbsp;

BOOKED: Mario Lira on GBMC for DV Battery. Bond set at $1,000 C/S.&nbsp;

BOOKED: Collin Sanders on KHP for Violation of PFA (Arkansas), Driving While Suspended and Speeding. Bond set at $2,500.&nbsp;

RELEASED: Eric Schneider on HMC. Serve Sentence in Full.&nbsp;

RELEASED: Mario Lira on GBMC for DV Battery. $1,000 Bond Posted.&nbsp;

RELEASED: Michael Philbern on BTDC for Criminal Threat DV. $5,000 Bond Posted.&nbsp;

RELEASED: Collin Sanders on BTDC for Violation PFA, Driving While Suspended and Speeding. $2,500 Bond Posted.&nbsp;

RELEASED: Tyler Lynd on BTDC for Serve Sentence. Serve Sentence in Full.&nbsp;

RELEASED: Matthew Glandclair on HMC for Serve Sentence. Serve Sentence in Full.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1577973411213.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>1/15BOOKED: Robert Crawford on BTDC for Distribution or Intent to Distribute Heroin or Methamphetamine. Bond set at $20,000 C/S.&nbsp;BOOKED: Jerome Koett on BTDC for Violating Conditions of Bond. Bond set at No Bond.&nbsp;BOOKED: Amber Demel on BTDC for Probation Violation. No Bond.&nbsp;BOOKED: Tyler Lynd on BTDC for Serve Sentence. He is to serve from 1/15/21 at 7 pm until 1/17/21 at 7 pm.&nbsp;BOOKED: Michael Philbern on BTDC for Criminal Threat DV. Bond set at $5,000 C/S.&nbsp;RELEASED: Humberto Rincon-Barbosa to immigration.&nbsp;1/16No Book Ins or Releases1/17BOOKED: Mario Lira on GBMC for DV Battery. Bond set at $1,000 C/S.&nbsp;BOOKED: Collin Sanders on KHP for Violation of PFA (Arkansas), Driving While Suspended and Speeding. Bond set at $2,500.&nbsp;RELEASED: Eric Schneider on HMC. Serve Sentence in Full.&nbsp;RELEASED: Mario Lira on GBMC for DV Battery. $1,000 Bond Posted.&nbsp;RELEASED: Michael Philbern on BTDC for Criminal Threat DV. $5,000 Bond Posted.&nbsp;RELEASED: Collin Sanders on BTDC for Violation PFA, Driving While Suspended and Speeding. $2,500 Bond Posted.&nbsp;RELEASED: Tyler Lynd on BTDC for Serve Sentence. Serve Sentence in Full.&nbsp;RELEASED: Matthew Glandclair on HMC for Serve Sentence. Serve Sentence in Full.&nbsp;

Barton County Sheriff's Booking Activity (1/15 - 1/17)

If you follow me at all, you know that I have closed each week for the last year with “Keep learning. Keep showing grace and kindness”.

In a world that has grown increasingly hostile and fraught with divisiveness, I have recently seen several social media posts that gave me pause.

The first stated, “Your beliefs don’t make you a better person; your behavior does”. As a youth development professional, I try to model this every day. I have a solid faith and ethics foundation but if I allow my frustration and fear to erode the principles that I believe in, my behavior doesn’t follow. I can be angry and upset at circumstances without taking that out on others by name-calling and undermining.

Another post said, “Be careful not to dehumanize those you disagree with. In our self-righteousness, we can become the very things we criticize in others…..and not even know it.” It is easy to decry those who have different goals and standards than we do but it is harder when the person with different goals or standards is someone we know and care about. I often ask myself about the model that I or others are setting for young people. Are we modeling respectful discourse and conversation with young people? If they see us willing to throw stones, real or metaphorical, how can we expect them to act and speak respectfully?

The final post reads, “Sometimes miracles are simply good people with kind hearts”. In a world that feels weird and off-kilter, there are good people everywhere doing really good things! It is just easy to miss their kindness in the clamor.

Do you see a theme here? Hold open a door; take a deep breath before responding; buy the cup of coffee for someone else, walk away for a minute before hitting send/post. Look for – and BE – one of those showing kindness. The youth in our world deserve our best example. For young people, find a mentor who consistently sets an example of steady beliefs, positive behavior, and kindness.

Keep learning. Keep showing grace and kindness!

Michelle Beran is the 4-H Youth Development Agent in the Cottonwood Extension District. For more information on this article or other 4-H Youth Development resources, email Michelle at mberan@ksu.edu or call 620-793-1910.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579114162620.jpeg" alt="written by: Michelle Beran - Cottonwood Extension District" />
 <figcaption>written by: Michelle Beran - Cottonwood Extension District</figcaption>
 </figure>If you follow me at all, you know that I have closed each week for the last year with “Keep learning. Keep showing grace and kindness”.In a world that has grown increasingly hostile and fraught with divisiveness, I have recently seen several social media posts that gave me pause.The first stated, “Your beliefs don’t make you a better person; your behavior does”. As a youth development professional, I try to model this every day. I have a solid faith and ethics foundation but if I allow my frustration and fear to erode the principles that I believe in, my behavior doesn’t follow. I can be angry and upset at circumstances without taking that out on others by name-calling and undermining.Another post said, “Be careful not to dehumanize those you disagree with. In our self-righteousness, we can become the very things we criticize in others…..and not even know it.” It is easy to decry those who have different goals and standards than we do but it is harder when the person with different goals or standards is someone we know and care about. I often ask myself about the model that I or others are setting for young people. Are we modeling respectful discourse and conversation with young people? If they see us willing to throw stones, real or metaphorical, how can we expect them to act and speak respectfully?The final post reads, “Sometimes miracles are simply good people with kind hearts”. In a world that feels weird and off-kilter, there are good people everywhere doing really good things! It is just easy to miss their kindness in the clamor.Do you see a theme here? Hold open a door; take a deep breath before responding; buy the cup of coffee for someone else, walk away for a minute before hitting send/post. Look for – and BE – one of those showing kindness. The youth in our world deserve our best example. For young people, find a mentor who consistently sets an example of steady beliefs, positive behavior, and kindness.Keep learning. Keep showing grace and kindness!Michelle Beran is the 4-H Youth Development Agent in the Cottonwood Extension District. For more information on this article or other 4-H Youth Development resources, email Michelle at mberan@ksu.edu or call 620-793-1910.

BERAN: Kindness

KINGMAN COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just before 12:30p.m. Sunday in Kingman County.

THe Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2000 Ford F250 driven by&nbsp;Rohlman, Luke Edward Rohlman, 34, Kingman, was&nbsp;&nbsp;northbound or Kansas 11 at NW 20th Street

The pickup struck attempted to pass a northbound 2011 Ford Focus driven by&nbsp;Anna L. Smith, 82, Kingman, who was slowing to make a left turn. The pickup struck the Focus in the drivers side door.

EMS transported Smith to the hospital in Kingaman. Rohlman was not injured. Both drivers were properly restrained a the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

KINGMAN COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just before 12:30p.m. Sunday in Kingman County.THe Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2000 Ford F250 driven by&nbsp;Rohlman, Luke Edward Rohlman, 34, Kingman, was&nbsp;&nbsp;northbound or Kansas 11 at NW 20th StreetThe pickup struck attempted to pass a northbound 2011 Ford Focus driven by&nbsp;Anna L. Smith, 82, Kingman, who was slowing to make a left turn. The pickup struck the Focus in the drivers side door.EMS transported Smith to the hospital in Kingaman. Rohlman was not injured. Both drivers were properly restrained a the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

82-year-old Kan. woman hospitalized after 2-vehicle crash

Great Bend City Council meeting Jan. 18, 2021 6:30 p.m. Events Center The Council meeting will be livestreamed for public to view on the City Council Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/gbcitycouncil/. OPENING:&nbsp;Pledge of Allegiance A. Consent Agenda

a) Minutes: Minutes of the Regular Session held on January 4, 2021.

b) Claim's Warrant Register 1-18-21: Covering 2021 bills to date.&nbsp;

c) Payroll Register P/R: Covering payroll ending Jan. 9, 2021 in the amount of $420,767.93.

d) Appointments: Mayor Schmidt will make appointments as appropriate.&nbsp;

e) Official City Newspaper: Designate the Great Bend Tribune as the City's official newspaper.&nbsp;

f) Township Contracts: Each year the City of Great Bend enters into a Contract with the Townships of Liberty, Buffalo, Great Bend and South Bend to provide the fire service. The current rate has been in place since 2016. In 2020, we reviewed the contracts with the four townships. The new contract rate for the 2021 year includes a 4% increase. The township contract runs from Feb. 1 thru Jan. 31, 2022. Approval for Mayor Schmidt to sign the four 2020 Fire Township contracts.

g) Agenda: Approval of Agenda as submitted or amended.&nbsp; B. Old Business C. Recognition of Visitors and Announcements D. New Business

1. Councilmember Reports &nbsp;2.&nbsp;Administrators Update 3.CVB/Community Coordinator Report 4.&nbsp;Abatements

5. Just In Time Remodeling 6.&nbsp;Utility Vehicles 7.&nbsp;Public Works Director Appointment ADJOURNMENT

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1607112129072.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Great Bend City Council meeting Jan. 18, 2021 6:30 p.m. Events Center The Council meeting will be livestreamed for public to view on the City Council Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/gbcitycouncil/. OPENING:&nbsp;Pledge of Allegiance A. Consent Agendaa) Minutes: Minutes of the Regular Session held on January 4, 2021.b) Claim's Warrant Register 1-18-21: Covering 2021 bills to date.&nbsp;c) Payroll Register P/R: Covering payroll ending Jan. 9, 2021 in the amount of $420,767.93.d) Appointments: Mayor Schmidt will make appointments as appropriate.&nbsp;e) Official City Newspaper: Designate the Great Bend Tribune as the City's official newspaper.&nbsp;f) Township Contracts: Each year the City of Great Bend enters into a Contract with the Townships of Liberty, Buffalo, Great Bend and South Bend to provide the fire service. The current rate has been in place since 2016. In 2020, we reviewed the contracts with the four townships. The new contract rate for the 2021 year includes a 4% increase. The township contract runs from Feb. 1 thru Jan. 31, 2022. Approval for Mayor Schmidt to sign the four 2020 Fire Township contracts.g) Agenda: Approval of Agenda as submitted or amended.&nbsp; B. Old Business C. Recognition of Visitors and Announcements D. New Business1. Councilmember Reports &nbsp;2.&nbsp;Administrators Update 3.CVB/Community Coordinator Report 4.&nbsp;Abatements5. Just In Time Remodeling 6.&nbsp;Utility Vehicles 7.&nbsp;Public Works Director Appointment ADJOURNMENT

Great Bend City Council Meeting Agenda ( Jan. 18)

In gratitude to USD 428 School Board members, January has been designated as School Board Recognition Month. In honor of the critical role school board members play in serving the district's students and community, Eagle radio will be featuring each member during the rest of January.

Aaron Emerson was elected to the USD 428 School Board in November 2019 and began his term on January 1, 2020. Emerson says having three young children in the district's elementary school system was the largest motivating factor in running for a board position.

"That was a big part of it. I wanted to do it, not just for my kids but for all kids in the district. But really, I just wanted to show my kids that education is worthwhile. Don't think you're just going to school just because we make you and don't feel like it's an obligation. Remember, dad is willing to take time out of his day regularly and serve on this board for no money, no less. You know, it's kind of funny; we are one of the few elected positions that doesn't pay, which is fine. I'm glad to do it. I want to show my kids that this is worthwhile. It would be best if you were doing your work and committing to it because it is going to pay off in the long run," explains Emerson.

As the board's newest member, one of the most significant issues continues to be the current pandemic. Emerson explains that the ongoing changes that have had to be made since last spring has been an endless roller coaster ride.

"It started with last spring when they abruptly canceled school. The kids left for spring break, not realizing they were not coming back, and that just threw everybody for a loop. Then the district had to try and finish out the last couple of months as well as we could. At the end of it, they came back this school year in our district in-person with the proper precautions like masks and social distancing in place, which I prefer. I feel like many kids need that in-person socialization because that is what school is; socialization. It's not just the academics; it's also the social and emotional learning that they need to do," says Emerson.

Due to COVID 19, Emerson says mental health concerns continue to be at the top of the priority list.

"We've talked about what the mental health needs are going to be with students, staff, and parents moving forward. Of course, there's also the issues that families who are struggling right now financially or with health issues have if they get sick. We want to help take care of those kids as best we can while they are in our care. We get them for seven hours a day, five days a week basically, for nine months out of the year. We need to make sure we're doing the best we can when they are here and even out into their home life as best we can. The district needs to make sure they're given the tools to cope with what may be going on at home."

While the pandemic has forced the board to make some difficult decisions, Emerson feels it also brought out the best in the board in their ability to work together and adapt as the situation in 2020 up to now is ever-changing. He says that while the situation has seemed to stabilize for the immediate time-being, they also know they can get resources started if they need to go remote at the "drop of a hat."

"Superintendent Khris (Thexton) is always saying that we are having to build a plane as we are flying it. I think that's an accurate way of describing it. We don't always know where we are heading, but we have to build it as we go along," explained Emerson.

One of the ongoing discussions during school board meetings as of late has been the concept of developing a permanent virtual school for the district students. Emerson thinks it's a great idea to have that option going forward for students. While he admits that he has concerns regarding the students' emotional and social needs that would be attending remotely, he is confident that the district can solve those issues as well, should the research show a permanent virtual school is possible.

Emerson says balancing a full-time job and a school board position is done "very carefully."

"My job is flexible enough to allow me to do it. They encourage me to do so since I took over for my boss's wife. She came off the (school) board at the end of 2019, and I took her position. So, he's very understanding of me doing this and taking it on. My family is also very supportive of it since we have three young children in the school system. They all allow me to step away and take the time to do what I need to do."

Emerson says that while he has not experienced a high-emotional situation between the board and the public, he does remember the bond issue that did not pass, causing intense feelings on both sides. He feels the key is to listen to everyone.

"I can see both sides of that particular issue. Some people want to do what they feel is best for the school district and students at all costs. Then there are people who know it will be coming out of their pockets and causing financial stress. I understand both opinions. For me, you always hear that our kids are our future, and it's entirely true. I know it's cliché, but it's true regardless if you currently have kids in the school system or not. Someday I'm going to need all these kids after mine are grown to help take care of me in one area or another. In regards to conflict, I think it's essential to listen to everyone's opinions regardless of what side of the issue they are on and find that right balance in a solution."

Emerson explained that even if he had a crystal ball and could foretell what would happen with the pandemic in 2020, it would not have deterred him from running for election. One of the activities he's missing the most is having lunch in the different schools. Due to the pandemic and restrictions on outside visitors coming into the buildings, the board members have had to cancel and postpone those events. He says he misses the students' interaction and seeing firsthand how they are doing beyond their regular schoolwork.

Thinking back, Emerson said he "didn't exactly enjoy" school as a child himself.

"I did well enough, but I also didn't appreciate it enough back then. Looking back, I realize that I should have taken advantage of more of the opportunities available than I did. I think that's why I do what I do now on the board. That's my way of showing my kids that they should truly appreciate what they have available to them. It's setting the foundation for the rest of their lives. I've been out of school for 20 years, and I can still name many of my teachers and remember some of the things they told me."

To anyone considering running for a school board position in the future, Emerson leaves these words of advice.

"Be prepared to commit more time than what you think you will. It's not just one or two meetings a month. There is a lot more reading and documentation that goes on outside of that. There's a lot of research that happens on our own time. The other thing is that you have to be passionate about the district. That's the main thing. You have to truly care about all these kids and want to see them succeed."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1610909051903.jpeg" alt="Aaron Emerson" />
 <figcaption>Aaron Emerson</figcaption>
 </figure>By AMY RICKER Great Bend PostIn gratitude to USD 428 School Board members, January has been designated as School Board Recognition Month. In honor of the critical role school board members play in serving the district's students and community, Eagle radio will be featuring each member during the rest of January.Aaron Emerson was elected to the USD 428 School Board in November 2019 and began his term on January 1, 2020. Emerson says having three young children in the district's elementary school system was the largest motivating factor in running for a board position."That was a big part of it. I wanted to do it, not just for my kids but for all kids in the district. But really, I just wanted to show my kids that education is worthwhile. Don't think you're just going to school just because we make you and don't feel like it's an obligation. Remember, dad is willing to take time out of his day regularly and serve on this board for no money, no less. You know, it's kind of funny; we are one of the few elected positions that doesn't pay, which is fine. I'm glad to do it. I want to show my kids that this is worthwhile. It would be best if you were doing your work and committing to it because it is going to pay off in the long run," explains Emerson.As the board's newest member, one of the most significant issues continues to be the current pandemic. Emerson explains that the ongoing changes that have had to be made since last spring has been an endless roller coaster ride."It started with last spring when they abruptly canceled school. The kids left for spring break, not realizing they were not coming back, and that just threw everybody for a loop. Then the district had to try and finish out the last couple of months as well as we could. At the end of it, they came back this school year in our district in-person with the proper precautions like masks and social distancing in place, which I prefer. I feel like many kids need that in-person socialization because that is what school is; socialization. It's not just the academics; it's also the social and emotional learning that they need to do," says Emerson.Due to COVID 19, Emerson says mental health concerns continue to be at the top of the priority list."We've talked about what the mental health needs are going to be with students, staff, and parents moving forward. Of course, there's also the issues that families who are struggling right now financially or with health issues have if they get sick. We want to help take care of those kids as best we can while they are in our care. We get them for seven hours a day, five days a week basically, for nine months out of the year. We need to make sure we're doing the best we can when they are here and even out into their home life as best we can. The district needs to make sure they're given the tools to cope with what may be going on at home."While the pandemic has forced the board to make some difficult decisions, Emerson feels it also brought out the best in the board in their ability to work together and adapt as the situation in 2020 up to now is ever-changing. He says that while the situation has seemed to stabilize for the immediate time-being, they also know they can get resources started if they need to go remote at the "drop of a hat.""Superintendent Khris (Thexton) is always saying that we are having to build a plane as we are flying it. I think that's an accurate way of describing it. We don't always know where we are heading, but we have to build it as we go along," explained Emerson.One of the ongoing discussions during school board meetings as of late has been the concept of developing a permanent virtual school for the district students. Emerson thinks it's a great idea to have that option going forward for students. While he admits that he has concerns regarding the students' emotional and social needs that would be attending remotely, he is confident that the district can solve those issues as well, should the research show a permanent virtual school is possible.Emerson says balancing a full-time job and a school board position is done "very carefully.""My job is flexible enough to allow me to do it. They encourage me to do so since I took over for my boss's wife. She came off the (school) board at the end of 2019, and I took her position. So, he's very understanding of me doing this and taking it on. My family is also very supportive of it since we have three young children in the school system. They all allow me to step away and take the time to do what I need to do."Emerson says that while he has not experienced a high-emotional situation between the board and the public, he does remember the bond issue that did not pass, causing intense feelings on both sides. He feels the key is to listen to everyone."I can see both sides of that particular issue. Some people want to do what they feel is best for the school district and students at all costs. Then there are people who know it will be coming out of their pockets and causing financial stress. I understand both opinions. For me, you always hear that our kids are our future, and it's entirely true. I know it's cliché, but it's true regardless if you currently have kids in the school system or not. Someday I'm going to need all these kids after mine are grown to help take care of me in one area or another. In regards to conflict, I think it's essential to listen to everyone's opinions regardless of what side of the issue they are on and find that right balance in a solution."Emerson explained that even if he had a crystal ball and could foretell what would happen with the pandemic in 2020, it would not have deterred him from running for election. One of the activities he's missing the most is having lunch in the different schools. Due to the pandemic and restrictions on outside visitors coming into the buildings, the board members have had to cancel and postpone those events. He says he misses the students' interaction and seeing firsthand how they are doing beyond their regular schoolwork.Thinking back, Emerson said he "didn't exactly enjoy" school as a child himself."I did well enough, but I also didn't appreciate it enough back then. Looking back, I realize that I should have taken advantage of more of the opportunities available than I did. I think that's why I do what I do now on the board. That's my way of showing my kids that they should truly appreciate what they have available to them. It's setting the foundation for the rest of their lives. I've been out of school for 20 years, and I can still name many of my teachers and remember some of the things they told me."To anyone considering running for a school board position in the future, Emerson leaves these words of advice."Be prepared to commit more time than what you think you will. It's not just one or two meetings a month. There is a lot more reading and documentation that goes on outside of that. There's a lot of research that happens on our own time. The other thing is that you have to be passionate about the district. That's the main thing. You have to truly care about all these kids and want to see them succeed."

USD 428 School Board Recognition Month: Aaron Emerson

Barton Community College will be closed for Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, Jan. 18. Barton's Center for Adult Education and the Shafer Art Gallery also will be closed. Offices will reopen and classes will resume on Tuesday, Jan. 19.

Barton Community College will be closed for Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, Jan. 18. Barton's Center for Adult Education and the Shafer Art Gallery also will be closed. Offices will reopen and classes will resume on Tuesday, Jan. 19.

Barton Community College campus closing for MLK Jr Day

On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with Kansas Department of Health and Environment Secretary Dr. Lee Norman. 

<div><iframe title="Forward Ever: KDHE Secretary Lee Norman" height="400" width="400" style="border: none;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/media/player/t83ab-f7a768?from=pb6admin&download=1&version=1&vjs=1&auto=1&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Helvetica&skin=3&pfauth="></iframe></div>On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with Kansas Department of Health and Environment Secretary Dr. Lee Norman.

🎤Forward Ever: KDHE Secretary Dr. Lee Norman

The
Drought Monitor indicates were are still abnormally dry but at least it hasn’t
intensified.&nbsp; Other than that things
remain essentially unchanged.&nbsp; Unfortunately
it doesn’t appear there’s much hope for significant precipitation for our area.&nbsp; January is already half over and it won’t be
long as daylight and temperatures increase that wheat want to start heading
into spring growth and heading.&nbsp; Soil
moisture will be needed soon, especially north and west of our area.&nbsp; The six to ten-day outlook (January 20 to 24)
indicates normal temperatures and a chance of above normal precipitation.&nbsp; The eight to fourteen day outlook (January 22
to 28) indicates a normal to below normal temperatures and again slight above
normal precipitation.&nbsp; Today, let’s
briefly discuss a challenge agriculture has been facing for years.&nbsp; One that is only going to become worse – a
shortage of a qualified workforce.

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Currently
over 240,000 individuals are employed directly and indirectly in
agriculture.&nbsp; From the field to the store
and everywhere in between, the agriculture sector is not only the largest
employer but has an economic impact of over $65 billion dollars in the state.

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; We
all know that unemployment in Kansas increased dramatically as a result of the
pandemic and as of last month was 5.6%.&nbsp;
Much lower than the national average but much higher than the rate of a
little more than 3% in February 2020.&nbsp;
However, keep in mind that unemployment figure only include nonfarm
jobs.

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; We
know people in various industries from aviation to hospitality in the state
have shed employees and people are either unemployed or underemployed.&nbsp; For some, their jobs may never return.&nbsp; But there is opportunity and it often doesn’t
require a four-year or graduate degree but often a two-year degree or even only
a certificate.&nbsp; That opportunity exists
in the agriculture sector.&nbsp; Let’s focus
on opportunities not requiring a four-year degree, though these are in demand
also, but on those with shorter turnaround times.&nbsp; Career opportunities that pay a good wage,
include overtime, sick leave, healthcare, and often retirement plans.

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The
following are careers available through Barton Community College as certificate
programs and are areas of high demand either directly or indirectly are part of
agriculture.&nbsp; 

In one semester, an
individual can obtain a certificate in Welding or as a Scale Technician.&nbsp; Both of these areas need qualified, trained
individuals with current worker shortages.&nbsp;
Two semester certificates are available in Beef Cattle Production and Crop
Protection.&nbsp; Beef cattle includes everything
from cow-calf operations to feed yards.&nbsp;
Crop protection careers focus on chemical application including
fertilizers and pesticides and there are severe shortages in each.

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Two-year
degrees with excellent career opportunities, with the possibility for
advancement at Barton include Agricultural Business management and Crop
Protection.&nbsp; Again there is strong demand
for these careers.

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Finally,
some individuals qualify for assistance with tuition depending on their
circumstances, for example as a displaced worker.&nbsp; There are also scholarships available.&nbsp; And if you are reading this and not near
Barton County, many two-year schools have similar programs.

The best aspect here is
that people will always have to eat and careers in ag are always there.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1598717628840.jpeg" alt="Barton Community College Agriculture Instructor Dr. Vic Martin" />
 <figcaption>Barton Community College Agriculture Instructor Dr. Vic Martin</figcaption>
 </figure>The
Drought Monitor indicates were are still abnormally dry but at least it hasn’t
intensified.&nbsp; Other than that things
remain essentially unchanged.&nbsp; Unfortunately
it doesn’t appear there’s much hope for significant precipitation for our area.&nbsp; January is already half over and it won’t be
long as daylight and temperatures increase that wheat want to start heading
into spring growth and heading.&nbsp; Soil
moisture will be needed soon, especially north and west of our area.&nbsp; The six to ten-day outlook (January 20 to 24)
indicates normal temperatures and a chance of above normal precipitation.&nbsp; The eight to fourteen day outlook (January 22
to 28) indicates a normal to below normal temperatures and again slight above
normal precipitation.&nbsp; Today, let’s
briefly discuss a challenge agriculture has been facing for years.&nbsp; One that is only going to become worse – a
shortage of a qualified workforce.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Currently
over 240,000 individuals are employed directly and indirectly in
agriculture.&nbsp; From the field to the store
and everywhere in between, the agriculture sector is not only the largest
employer but has an economic impact of over $65 billion dollars in the state.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; We
all know that unemployment in Kansas increased dramatically as a result of the
pandemic and as of last month was 5.6%.&nbsp;
Much lower than the national average but much higher than the rate of a
little more than 3% in February 2020.&nbsp;
However, keep in mind that unemployment figure only include nonfarm
jobs.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; We
know people in various industries from aviation to hospitality in the state
have shed employees and people are either unemployed or underemployed.&nbsp; For some, their jobs may never return.&nbsp; But there is opportunity and it often doesn’t
require a four-year or graduate degree but often a two-year degree or even only
a certificate.&nbsp; That opportunity exists
in the agriculture sector.&nbsp; Let’s focus
on opportunities not requiring a four-year degree, though these are in demand
also, but on those with shorter turnaround times.&nbsp; Career opportunities that pay a good wage,
include overtime, sick leave, healthcare, and often retirement plans.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The
following are careers available through Barton Community College as certificate
programs and are areas of high demand either directly or indirectly are part of
agriculture.&nbsp; In one semester, an
individual can obtain a certificate in Welding or as a Scale Technician.&nbsp; Both of these areas need qualified, trained
individuals with current worker shortages.&nbsp;
Two semester certificates are available in Beef Cattle Production and Crop
Protection.&nbsp; Beef cattle includes everything
from cow-calf operations to feed yards.&nbsp;
Crop protection careers focus on chemical application including
fertilizers and pesticides and there are severe shortages in each.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Two-year
degrees with excellent career opportunities, with the possibility for
advancement at Barton include Agricultural Business management and Crop
Protection.&nbsp; Again there is strong demand
for these careers.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Finally,
some individuals qualify for assistance with tuition depending on their
circumstances, for example as a displaced worker.&nbsp; There are also scholarships available.&nbsp; And if you are reading this and not near
Barton County, many two-year schools have similar programs.The best aspect here is
that people will always have to eat and careers in ag are always there.

Barton Ag Instructor Dr. Vic Martin "The Agriculture Industry Needs You"

The Barton Community College track and field teams opened up the 2021 indoor season on Thursday with eight national qualifying performances competing in the Coffeyville Winter Invite held in Coffeyville, Kansas.

Competing mostly outdoors in a rare start to the indoor season, Barton was joined by four other community colleges in the meet hosted by Coffeyville Community College. The Cougars' next action will be inside this coming Saturday in Lubbock, Texas, competing in the Red Raider Invitational at the Sports Performance Center on the campus of Texas Tech University.

The Barton women had five of the eight national qualifiers as Nia Robinson and Ana da Silva each secured two of the bids with Ayesha Nelson grabbing the other.

Robinson won both jump events of her collegiate debut, taking the long jump at 5.46m (17-11) and the triple jump at 11.66m (38-03.25). In the throws, da Silva challenged for a pair of titles, winning the shot put with a heave of 13.55m (44-05.5) but fell short in the weight throw on a runner-up mark of 17.82m (58-05.75). Nelson's national qualifying performance came in the 60m hurdles in a third place time of 8.91.

On the men's side, Fred Moundani punched a pair of event tickets with Fabio Hessling's performance earning a bid.

Moudani had quite the splash in his second collegiate indoor season, winning the shot put with a program sixth best heave of 17.31m (56-09.50) and in competing in just his second time in the weight throw, placed third by surpassing his personal best by twelve feet in marking a 15.63m (51-03.50). Hessling won the event on his fifth throw of the day in marking a 16.38m (53-09.00) spin and toss.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1610974756144.jpeg" alt="Barton women's track and field Ana da Silva competes in the 2020 Region VI shot put throw - Barton Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Barton women's track and field Ana da Silva competes in the 2020 Region VI shot put throw - Barton Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>The Barton Community College track and field teams opened up the 2021 indoor season on Thursday with eight national qualifying performances competing in the Coffeyville Winter Invite held in Coffeyville, Kansas.Competing mostly outdoors in a rare start to the indoor season, Barton was joined by four other community colleges in the meet hosted by Coffeyville Community College. The Cougars' next action will be inside this coming Saturday in Lubbock, Texas, competing in the Red Raider Invitational at the Sports Performance Center on the campus of Texas Tech University.The Barton women had five of the eight national qualifiers as Nia Robinson and Ana da Silva each secured two of the bids with Ayesha Nelson grabbing the other.Robinson won both jump events of her collegiate debut, taking the long jump at 5.46m (17-11) and the triple jump at 11.66m (38-03.25). In the throws, da Silva challenged for a pair of titles, winning the shot put with a heave of 13.55m (44-05.5) but fell short in the weight throw on a runner-up mark of 17.82m (58-05.75). Nelson's national qualifying performance came in the 60m hurdles in a third place time of 8.91.On the men's side, Fred Moundani punched a pair of event tickets with Fabio Hessling's performance earning a bid.Moudani had quite the splash in his second collegiate indoor season, winning the shot put with a program sixth best heave of 17.31m (56-09.50) and in competing in just his second time in the weight throw, placed third by surpassing his personal best by twelve feet in marking a 15.63m (51-03.50). Hessling won the event on his fifth throw of the day in marking a 16.38m (53-09.00) spin and toss.

Barton track and field opens season

Mon 1/185:15PM - B104 - Bluestem Classic - Great Bend Boys vs Goddard7:30PM KBGL - College Basketball - Kansas @ Baylor6:00PM KHOK - Hoisington Winter Jam - Ellinwood Boys vs Victoria6:00PM 1590/95.5FM - Hoisington Winter Jam - Ellinwood Girls vs Pratt7:45PM KHOK - Hoisington Winter Jam - La Crosse Boys vs Pratt7:45PM 1590/95.5FM - Hoisington Winter Jam - Victoria Girls vs La Crosse7:45pm B104 - Mid-Winter Classic - Larned Boys vs Central PlainsTue 1/195:45PM B-104 - High School Basketball - Great Bend Girls @ Dodge City6:00PM KBGL - Mid - Winter Classic - Larned Girls vs St. John6:00PM KHOK - Hoisington Winter Jam - Cimarron Girls vs Ellsworth6:00PM 1590/95.5FM - Hoisington Winter Jam - Ellsworth Boys vs Otis-Bison7:45PM KHOK - Hoisington Winter Jam - Hoisington Girls vs Otis-Bison7:45PM 1590/95.5FM - Hoisington Winter Jam - Hoisington Boys vs CimarronWed 1/203:15PM B104 - College Basketball - Ottawa JV Men @ Barton5:30PM B104 - College Basketball - Highland Women @ BartonThur 1/215:15PM - B104 - Bluestem Classic - Great Bend Boys vs Kapaun Mt. Carmel6:00PM - KGBL - Larned Girls vs Central Plains6:00PM KHOK - Hoisington Winter Jam - TBA6:00PM 1590/95.5FM - Hoisington Winter Jam - TBA7:45PM KHOK - Hoisington Winter Jam - TBA7:45PM 1590/95.5FM - Hoisington Winter Jam - TBAFri 1/226:00PM KHOK - Hoisington Winter Jam - TBA6:00PM 1590/95.5FM - Hoisington Winter Jam - TBA7:45PM KHOK - Hoisington Winter Jam - TBA7:45PM 1590/95.5FM - Hoisington Winter Jam - TBASat 1/2310:30AM KBGL - College Basketball - Kansas @ Oklahoma2:00PM KBGL - Larned Girls vs Reno Co.2:45PM - B104 - Bluestem Classic - Great Bend Boys vs Wichita Trinity11:30AM KHOK - Winter Jam Girls 3rd Place Game11:30AM 1590/95.5FM - Winter Jam Girls 7th Place Game1:15PM KHOK - Winter Jam Boys 3rd Place Game1:15PM 1590/95.5FM - Winter Jam Boys 7th Place Game3:00PM KHOK - Winter Jam Girls Championship3:00PM 1590/95.5FM - Winter Jam Girls 5th Place Game4:45PM KHOK - Winter Jam Boys Championship4:45PM 1590/95.5FM - Winter Jam Boys 5th Place GameSun 1/244:00PM- B104 - AFC Championship Game - Kansas City Chiefs vs Buffalo BillsTue 1/265:45PM KHOK - High School Basketball - Phillipsburg @ Hoisington6:30PM KBGL - College Basketball - TCU @ KansasThur 1/285:45PM KHOK - High School Basketball - Smoky Valley @ Hoisington

Eagle Radio and Hull Broadcasting PBP Schedule


7:45 #4 Hoisington Girls vs #5 Otis-Bison


6:00 Ellinwood/Pratt Girls loser vs Victoria/LaCrosse Girls loser


7:45 Ellinwood/Pratt Girls winner vs Victoria/LaCrosse winner


6:00 Ellinwood/Victoria Boys loser vs LaCrosse/Pratt Boys loser


7:45 Ellinwood/Victoria Boys winner vs LaCrosse/Pratt winner


6:00 Ellsworth/Otis-Bison Boys loser vs Hoisington/Cimarron loser


7:45 Ellsworth/Otis-Bison Boys winner vs Hoisington/Cimarron winner


6:00 Cimarron/Ellsworth Girls loser vs Hoisington/Otis Bison Girls
loser


7:45 Cimarron/Ellsworth Girls winner vs Hoisington/Otis Bison Girls
winner

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1610659903664.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Monday, January
18Activities Center
6:00 #1 Ellinwood Boys vs #8 Victoria
7:45 #4 LaCrosse Boys vs #5 PrattHigh School
6:00 #2 Ellinwood Girls vs #7 Pratt
7:45 #3 Victoria Girls vs #6 LaCrosseTuesday, January
19Activities Center
6:00 #1 Cimarron Girls vs #8 Ellsworth
7:45 #4 Hoisington Girls vs #5 Otis-BisonHigh School
6:00 #2 Ellsworth Boys vs #7 Otis-Bison
7:45 #3 Hoisington Boys vs #6 CimarronThursday, January
21Activities Center
6:00 Ellinwood/Pratt Girls loser vs Victoria/LaCrosse Girls loser
7:45 Ellinwood/Pratt Girls winner vs Victoria/LaCrosse winnerHigh School
6:00 Ellinwood/Victoria Boys loser vs LaCrosse/Pratt Boys loser
7:45 Ellinwood/Victoria Boys winner vs LaCrosse/Pratt winnerFriday, January
22Activities Center
6:00 Ellsworth/Otis-Bison Boys loser vs Hoisington/Cimarron loser
7:45 Ellsworth/Otis-Bison Boys winner vs Hoisington/Cimarron winnerHigh School
6:00 Cimarron/Ellsworth Girls loser vs Hoisington/Otis Bison Girls
loser
7:45 Cimarron/Ellsworth Girls winner vs Hoisington/Otis Bison Girls
winnerSaturday, January
23High School
11:30 7th Place Girls Game
1:15 7th Place Boys Game
3:00 5th Place Girls Game
4:45 5th Place Boys GameActivities Center
11:30 3rd Place Girls Game
1:15 3rd Place Boys Game
3:00 Championship Girls Game
4:45 Championship Boys

2021 Cardinal Winter Jam Schedule


4:00 #1 Sunrise Academy vs St. John/Reno Co. loser


4:00 #1 Sunrise Academy vs St. John/Reno Co. winner


8:00 Macksville/Nickerson winner vs Larned/Central Plains winner


6:00 Macksville/Nickerson loser vs Larned/Central Plains loser

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1610660773299.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>BoysMonday, January
18
4:00 #4 St. John vs #5 Reno Co.
8:00 #3 Larned vs #6 Central PlainsTuesday, January
19
4:00 #1 Sunrise Academy vs St. John/Reno Co. loser
8:00 #2 Macksville vs #7 Nickerson
Thursday, January 21
4:00 #1 Sunrise Academy vs St. John/Reno Co. winner
8:00 Macksville/Nickerson winner vs Larned/Central Plains winnerFriday, January
22
6:00 Macksville/Nickerson loser vs Larned/Central Plains loserSaturday, January
23
12:00 5th Place Game
4:00 3rd Place Game
8:00 Championship Game
** No 7th Place gameGirls Round RobinMonday, January
18
6:00 Central Plains vs Reno Co.Tuesday, January
19
6:00 St. John vs LarnedThursday, January
21
6:00 Central Plains vs LarnedFriday, January
22
St. John vs Reno Co.Saturday, January
23
2:00 Reno Co. vs Larned
6:00 Central Plains vs St. John

2021 St. John Mid-Winter Classic Schedule

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Patrick Mahomes had enough wits about him after a concussion knocked the star quarterback from the Kansas City Chiefs’ divisional-round playoff win over the Cleveland Browns to get a rather clever hashtag trending on Twitter.

It was a reference to his backup, Chad Henne, who came on when Mahomes got hurt midway through the third quarter Sunday. Henne pulled off two edge-of-your seat plays in the closing minutes, scrambling for 13 yards on third-and-14 before a fourth-down completion to Tyreek Hill, which allowed the Chiefs to run out the clock and preserve a 22-17 victory.

Now, the question is whether Mahomes will be cleared to play the Buffalo Bills in the AFC title game next Sunday.

“He’s doing great right now, which is a real positive as we look at this. He passed all the deals he needed to pass and we’ll see where it goes from here,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said after the game. “I just talked to him and he’s doing good. We’ll see how he is tomorrow, but right now he’s feeling good.”

Mahomes had been shredding the Browns most of the cold, windy afternoon. He completed 21 of 30 passes for 255 yards with touchdowns on the ground and through the air, helping the Chiefs take a 19-3 lead at halftime.

They still led 19-10 after Baker Mayfield’s touchdown pass to Jarvis Landry early in the third quarter, and were on the move again near midfield. But on third-and-1, the Chiefs decided to run an option play toward their sideline and Mahomes elected to keep the ball, ducking for the first-down yardage just as Browns linebacker Mack Wilson got him around the head.

Mahomes remained crumpled on the turf as about 17,000 fans sat in stunned silence.

When he tried getting to his feet, his leg buckled and Mahomes nearly went down again. It took the training staff to help him get to the blue tent on the sideline, and he emerged from that a few minutes later and jogged to the locker room.

In a matter of minutes, he had been ruled out with a concussion.

“You never want to say someone purposely tries to take you out of the game, but after the initial hit, they were fired up, saying, ‘That’s what we do. That’s what we do,’” said Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, who could be seen heatedly discussing the play with Browns pass rusher Myles Garrett on a couple of occasions.

“I don’t ever want him to feel like my guys or my team is out there trying to injure someone or put them out the game,” Garrett explained. “We’re trying to put some bruises on you and we’re trying to hurt you, but we’re never trying to injure someone or take them out on purpose.”

Following the game, Wilson went on Twitter and sent his best wishes for Mahomes to return next week.

Wilson also defended his reputation, claiming he’s “never been a dirty player in my life. I just try my best to play fast and make plays.”

Mayfield was also concerned about Mahomes.

“Those hits are scary,” he said. “You never want to see that, especially with obviously me being extremely familiar with Pat. Hopefully, he is OK.”

Mahomes already had been hobbling after he appeared to tweak his ankle early in the game.

“I think when anybody goes down the team tries their best to rally around that particular player,” Chiefs safety Tyrann Mathieu said. “Today was Patrick Mahomes. I think the whole stadium knew he was out of the game. But definitely, it was all about team. Any time you get some motivation to pull it through, you have to take advantage of those moments.”

Indeed, the Chiefs rallied around Henne, a 35-year-old journeyman, who was ready for the spotlight in part because he had played the entirety of their loss to the Chargers in Week 17. The Chiefs had locked up the No. 1 seed and first-round bye, so Reid elected to sit Mahomes and most of his starters for the otherwise meaningless game.

His appearance Sunday? There couldn’t have been much more meaning to it.

“I’m always a competitor,” said Henne, who threw an interception in the end zone but had enough gumption to flush the bad play for his memory, then make two spectacular ones when the Chiefs needed to put the game away.

“I felt confident,” Henne added. “There’s a lot of playmakers out there and just a great opportunity for me to make plays.”

The Chiefs also lost cornerback Bashaud Breeland to a concussion in the fourth quarter, while the Browns lost left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. to an ankle injury on their first offensive play and his backup, Kendall Lamm, to an elbow injury.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Patrick Mahomes had enough wits about him after a concussion knocked the star quarterback from the Kansas City Chiefs’ divisional-round playoff win over the Cleveland Browns to get a rather clever hashtag trending on Twitter.“HenneThingIsPossible,” it read.It was a reference to his backup, Chad Henne, who came on when Mahomes got hurt midway through the third quarter Sunday. Henne pulled off two edge-of-your seat plays in the closing minutes, scrambling for 13 yards on third-and-14 before a fourth-down completion to Tyreek Hill, which allowed the Chiefs to run out the clock and preserve a 22-17 victory.Now, the question is whether Mahomes will be cleared to play the Buffalo Bills in the AFC title game next Sunday.“He’s doing great right now, which is a real positive as we look at this. He passed all the deals he needed to pass and we’ll see where it goes from here,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said after the game. “I just talked to him and he’s doing good. We’ll see how he is tomorrow, but right now he’s feeling good.”Mahomes had been shredding the Browns most of the cold, windy afternoon. He completed 21 of 30 passes for 255 yards with touchdowns on the ground and through the air, helping the Chiefs take a 19-3 lead at halftime.They still led 19-10 after Baker Mayfield’s touchdown pass to Jarvis Landry early in the third quarter, and were on the move again near midfield. But on third-and-1, the Chiefs decided to run an option play toward their sideline and Mahomes elected to keep the ball, ducking for the first-down yardage just as Browns linebacker Mack Wilson got him around the head.Mahomes remained crumpled on the turf as about 17,000 fans sat in stunned silence.When he tried getting to his feet, his leg buckled and Mahomes nearly went down again. It took the training staff to help him get to the blue tent on the sideline, and he emerged from that a few minutes later and jogged to the locker room.In a matter of minutes, he had been ruled out with a concussion.“You never want to say someone purposely tries to take you out of the game, but after the initial hit, they were fired up, saying, ‘That’s what we do. That’s what we do,’” said Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, who could be seen heatedly discussing the play with Browns pass rusher Myles Garrett on a couple of occasions.“I don’t ever want him to feel like my guys or my team is out there trying to injure someone or put them out the game,” Garrett explained. “We’re trying to put some bruises on you and we’re trying to hurt you, but we’re never trying to injure someone or take them out on purpose.”Following the game, Wilson went on Twitter and sent his best wishes for Mahomes to return next week.“All good brother!” Mahomes said.Wilson also defended his reputation, claiming he’s “never been a dirty player in my life. I just try my best to play fast and make plays.”Mayfield was also concerned about Mahomes.“Those hits are scary,” he said. “You never want to see that, especially with obviously me being extremely familiar with Pat. Hopefully, he is OK.”Mahomes already had been hobbling after he appeared to tweak his ankle early in the game.“I think when anybody goes down the team tries their best to rally around that particular player,” Chiefs safety Tyrann Mathieu said. “Today was Patrick Mahomes. I think the whole stadium knew he was out of the game. But definitely, it was all about team. Any time you get some motivation to pull it through, you have to take advantage of those moments.”Indeed, the Chiefs rallied around Henne, a 35-year-old journeyman, who was ready for the spotlight in part because he had played the entirety of their loss to the Chargers in Week 17. The Chiefs had locked up the No. 1 seed and first-round bye, so Reid elected to sit Mahomes and most of his starters for the otherwise meaningless game.His appearance Sunday? There couldn’t have been much more meaning to it.“I’m always a competitor,” said Henne, who threw an interception in the end zone but had enough gumption to flush the bad play for his memory, then make two spectacular ones when the Chiefs needed to put the game away.“I felt confident,” Henne added. “There’s a lot of playmakers out there and just a great opportunity for me to make plays.”The Chiefs also lost cornerback Bashaud Breeland to a concussion in the fourth quarter, while the Browns lost left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. to an ankle injury on their first offensive play and his backup, Kendall Lamm, to an elbow injury.

Chiefs’ Reid: QB Mahomes ‘doing good’ after concussion

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs had lost Patrick Mahomes to a concussion and were in danger of losing the game.

Then their defense and Chad Henne — their defense and Chad Henne?! — along with a gutsy call by Andy Reid kept their hopes of a Super Bowl repeat alive, holding off the Cleveland Browns 22-17 on Sunday to advance to their third straight AFC championship game.

With their star quarterback reduced to a spectator, the oft-forgotten bunch opposite Mahomes’ high-powered offense forced the Browns to punt in the waning minutes. Then, his 35-year-old backup showed some moxie with a 13-yard third-down scramble and audacious fourth-down completion to Tyreek Hill — when go-for-broke Reid decided to go for it — that gave the Chiefs (15-2) a first down with just over a minute left and allowed them to run out the clock.

“That’s why we love Big Red. He’s always on time,” Chiefs safety Tyrann Mathieu said. “He’s like our spirit warrior out here behind the scenes. He’s always trying stuff. We always knew he has one play on the table.”

Or, as Mahomes wrote on Twitter after the win: “#HenneThingIsPossible.”

“We go through all those Saturday night with the quarterbacks, those situations: ‘Fourth-and-1 to win the game, what do you want?’” said Reid, who never once thought about punting on fourth down. “My coaches were on board, they all did a great job with the spot, with the calls, everything — they were spot-on. It was a great job.”

Mahomes hadn’t played in 21 days, since the Chiefs clinched the AFC’s top seed in Week 16, but he hardly missed a beat before leaving midway through the third quarter. He finished 21 of 30 for 255 yards and a TD, and ran for another score.

Harrison Butker added three field goals for the Chiefs, who nearly blew a 19-3 lead but survived to become the first AFC team to host three consecutive conference title games. They’ll face the Buffalo Bills next Sunday.

“It stings,” Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said. “We came here to win and didn’t get the job done. There is a finality to that.”

Baker Mayfield threw for 204 yards with a touchdown and a pick for the Browns (12-6), who were coming off their first playoff win since the 1994 season. But their inability to drive for the winning touchdown — they punted with 4:23 left in the game — and defensive letdown kept them from winning two playoff games in a season for the first time since 1950.

“It came down to us on defense and we let it slip,” Browns pass rusher Myles Garrett said. “We had two opportunities. We didn’t make it happen. It was right in front of us and we just — this time we didn’t get it done.”

Mahomes completed 11 of his first 12 passes and led the Chiefs to back-to-back touchdowns to start the game. He ran for the first and let Travis Kelce turn a dump-off into a 20-yard catch for the other, making him the first player since the 49ers’ Steve Young in 1995 with three straight playoff games with TDs on the ground and through the air.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs had lost Patrick Mahomes to a concussion and were in danger of losing the game.Then their defense and Chad Henne — their defense and Chad Henne?! — along with a gutsy call by Andy Reid kept their hopes of a Super Bowl repeat alive, holding off the Cleveland Browns 22-17 on Sunday to advance to their third straight AFC championship game.With their star quarterback reduced to a spectator, the oft-forgotten bunch opposite Mahomes’ high-powered offense forced the Browns to punt in the waning minutes. Then, his 35-year-old backup showed some moxie with a 13-yard third-down scramble and audacious fourth-down completion to Tyreek Hill — when go-for-broke Reid decided to go for it — that gave the Chiefs (15-2) a first down with just over a minute left and allowed them to run out the clock.“That’s why we love Big Red. He’s always on time,” Chiefs safety Tyrann Mathieu said. “He’s like our spirit warrior out here behind the scenes. He’s always trying stuff. We always knew he has one play on the table.”Or, as Mahomes wrote on Twitter after the win: “#HenneThingIsPossible.”“We go through all those Saturday night with the quarterbacks, those situations: ‘Fourth-and-1 to win the game, what do you want?’” said Reid, who never once thought about punting on fourth down. “My coaches were on board, they all did a great job with the spot, with the calls, everything — they were spot-on. It was a great job.”Mahomes hadn’t played in 21 days, since the Chiefs clinched the AFC’s top seed in Week 16, but he hardly missed a beat before leaving midway through the third quarter. He finished 21 of 30 for 255 yards and a TD, and ran for another score.Harrison Butker added three field goals for the Chiefs, who nearly blew a 19-3 lead but survived to become the first AFC team to host three consecutive conference title games. They’ll face the Buffalo Bills next Sunday.“It stings,” Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said. “We came here to win and didn’t get the job done. There is a finality to that.”Baker Mayfield threw for 204 yards with a touchdown and a pick for the Browns (12-6), who were coming off their first playoff win since the 1994 season. But their inability to drive for the winning touchdown — they punted with 4:23 left in the game — and defensive letdown kept them from winning two playoff games in a season for the first time since 1950.“It came down to us on defense and we let it slip,” Browns pass rusher Myles Garrett said. “We had two opportunities. We didn’t make it happen. It was right in front of us and we just — this time we didn’t get it done.”Mahomes completed 11 of his first 12 passes and led the Chiefs to back-to-back touchdowns to start the game. He ran for the first and let Travis Kelce turn a dump-off into a 20-yard catch for the other, making him the first player since the 49ers’ Steve Young in 1995 with three straight playoff games with TDs on the ground and through the air.In fact, Mahomes was so sharp passing in the first half that he even completed a celebratory heave to a lucky fan in the far reaches of Arrowhead Stadium’s upper deck following his touchdown jaunt.After the teams swapped field goals, with Butker breaking the Chiefs playoff record with a 50-yarder into the wind, the Browns marched for what could have been a momentum-swinging score heading into halftime. But just when Rashard Higgins tried to stretch over the goal line, the Chiefs’ Daniel Sorensen arrived to deliver a hit, popping the ball into the end zone for a touchback — the call stood after a video review.The entire complexion of the game changed early in the third quarter, though.First, the Browns held the Chiefs when Mayfield threw an interception and Butker missed a field goal. Then, Mayfield led them briskly the other way, capping a 77-yard drive with a TD throw to Jarvis Landry. And finally, roughly 17,000 fans allowed in the stadium due to pandemic were left sitting in stunned silence when Mahomes was tackled around the head with 7:27 left in the quarter and left crumpled on the turf near midfield.Mahomes, already hobbled by a foot injury, stumbled as he tried to get to his feet. He was eventually helped to the blue tent on the sideline, then ran to the locker room, where he was evaluated for a concussion.“It kind of knocked the wind out of him and everything else,” Reid said after the game. “He’s doing great right now, which is a real positive as we look at this. He passed all the deals he needed to pass and we’ll see where it goes from here.”The momentum finally turned, the Browns began to lean heavily on their vaunted run game, which had produced just 18 yards in the first half. Nick Chubb converted on fourth down with a hard run, then Hunt followed another fourth-down conversion on the same drive by hitting the end zone against his former team to make it 22-17 with 11:07 to go.It remained with Cleveland when Karl Joseph picked off Henne in the end zone a few minutes later, but the Chiefs stuffed Chubb on first down, forced an incompletion and ultimately made Cleveland punt.Henne’s gutsy scramble and Reid’s equally daring fourth-down call kept the Browns from having another chance.“It’s a little different when your quarterback goes down, someone so important to your offense and your team,” Kelce said, “but you have to throw it all into the same bucket of, ‘When adversity hits, what are you going to do? Where does your mind go? Where do we go from here as a team?’ We rallied around Chad, gave him some confidence, knowing we were out there making plays every single snap, just like if Pat was out there.”BACK ON THE FIELDStefanski made his playoff head coaching debut after missing last week’s game in Pittsburgh because of COVID-19. Pro Bowl OL Joel Bitonio and CBs Denzel Ward and Kevin Johnson also were back from their illnesses.INJURIESBrowns: LT Jedrick Wills Jr. left with an ankle injury on their first offensive play. His backup, Kendall Lamm, left with an elbow injury, forcing Blake Hance to make his second NFL appearance.Chiefs: RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire (ankle) was inactive after returning to practice this week for the first time since mid-December. CB Bashaud Breeland left in the fourth quarter with a concussion.UP NEXTThe Chiefs begin preparing for the Bills next Sunday. They beat them 26-17 in Buffalo in Week 6.

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