BARTON COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES Monthly Study Session Tuesday, July 9 – 4 p.m. F-30, Fine Arts Building/ZOOM

1. National Alliance of Two-Year College Athletic Administrators (NATYCAA) – Daktronics Cup – Trevor Rolfs

2. June Financial Statement – Mark Dean

3. Athletic Insurance Review – Mark Dean

4. FY25 Budget Review – Mark Dean &nbsp; &nbsp;• Preliminary Operational budget &nbsp; &nbsp;• Preliminary Published budget

5. Ag Complex Dedication and Open House – Lindsey Bogner

6. Dr. Heilman approved the following (June 11 – June 27): &nbsp; &nbsp; Dietary Manager &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; • Renaissance Park Multi Care Center; Fort Worth, TX &nbsp; &nbsp; Building Academics Skills in Correctional Settings (BASICS) &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; • Kansas Department of Corrections; renewal &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; • Kansas Department of Corrections; Prison Education Programs (PEP) &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; • Kansas Department of Corrections; Data Sharing Agreement &nbsp; &nbsp; Military Academics, Technical Education and Outreach Programs &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; • National Partnership for Environmental Technology Education (NPETE); term agreement for Hazardous Waste Worker Training (HWWT) &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; • Koch Glitsch R &amp; D; Wichita, KS – Training Agreement

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1627047186061.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>BARTON COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES Monthly Study Session Tuesday, July 9 – 4 p.m. F-30, Fine Arts Building/ZOOMDiscussion Topics1. National Alliance of Two-Year College Athletic Administrators (NATYCAA) – Daktronics Cup – Trevor Rolfs2. June Financial Statement – Mark Dean3. Athletic Insurance Review – Mark Dean4. FY25 Budget Review – Mark Dean &nbsp; &nbsp;• Preliminary Operational budget &nbsp; &nbsp;• Preliminary Published budget5. Ag Complex Dedication and Open House – Lindsey Bogner6. Dr. Heilman approved the following (June 11 – June 27): &nbsp; &nbsp; Dietary Manager &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; • Renaissance Park Multi Care Center; Fort Worth, TX &nbsp; &nbsp; Building Academics Skills in Correctional Settings (BASICS) &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; • Kansas Department of Corrections; renewal &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; • Kansas Department of Corrections; Prison Education Programs (PEP) &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; • Kansas Department of Corrections; Data Sharing Agreement &nbsp; &nbsp; Military Academics, Technical Education and Outreach Programs &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; • National Partnership for Environmental Technology Education (NPETE); term agreement for Hazardous Waste Worker Training (HWWT) &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; • Koch Glitsch R &amp; D; Wichita, KS – Training Agreement

Barton CC Trustees study session agenda (7/9)

By MIKE COURSON Great Bend Post

The brunt of the HVAC Renovation Project at the Barton County Courthouse is in the rearview mirror, but smaller pieces of the project continue to trickle in. During Tuesday's Barton County Commission meeting, County Administrator Matt Patzner presented a change order for door work in the building.

"Essentially what happened here is, when they designed the project, they had budgeted to repaint 15 doors with the idea that, if there were any additional doors, that would be taken care of with the $20,000 we had in contingency," he said.

The $20,000 contingency had already been used on other projects, and the door project expanded from about 15 doors to between 50 and 60 doors. The commission approved the change order at $16,816, and Commissioner Shawn Hutchinson noted the work included much more than a fresh coat of paint.

"When you hear painting doors, you don't think it could be that expensive," he said. "It turns out, it's not just painting doors. They actually sanded the doors down, Bondo-ed, puttied, sanded again, and then two coats of paint. They said working on these doors was more like bodywork on a car than just painting a door."

Commissioner Duane Reif reiterated that the small parts of the renovation project are all part of making the courthouse last a long time. The board voted 4-0 to approve the change order.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1715699229600.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By MIKE COURSON Great Bend PostThe brunt of the HVAC Renovation Project at the Barton County Courthouse is in the rearview mirror, but smaller pieces of the project continue to trickle in. During Tuesday's Barton County Commission meeting, County Administrator Matt Patzner presented a change order for door work in the building."Essentially what happened here is, when they designed the project, they had budgeted to repaint 15 doors with the idea that, if there were any additional doors, that would be taken care of with the $20,000 we had in contingency," he said.The $20,000 contingency had already been used on other projects, and the door project expanded from about 15 doors to between 50 and 60 doors. The commission approved the change order at $16,816, and Commissioner Shawn Hutchinson noted the work included much more than a fresh coat of paint."When you hear painting doors, you don't think it could be that expensive," he said. "It turns out, it's not just painting doors. They actually sanded the doors down, Bondo-ed, puttied, sanded again, and then two coats of paint. They said working on these doors was more like bodywork on a car than just painting a door."Commissioner Duane Reif reiterated that the small parts of the renovation project are all part of making the courthouse last a long time. The board voted 4-0 to approve the change order.

Barton Commission approves change order for door work at courthouse

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment’s (KDHE) Community Health Promotion program is pleased to announce that the recipients of this year’s Chronic Disease Risk Reduction (CDRR) Community grant. In total, the State Fiscal Year 2024 CDRR program covers: 17 grantees, 30 counties and 1,993,817 Kansans (67.8 percent of the total Kansas population).

The CDRR Community Grant Program provides funding, training and technical assistance to communities to address chronic disease risk reduction through evidence-based strategies that impact tobacco use, physical activity and nutrition. Strategies include reducing secondhand smoke exposure, preventing youth from using tobacco, promoting tobacco treatment and the&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDIsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8va2Fuc2FzLnF1aXRsb2dpeC5vcmcvZW4tVVMvP3V0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1nb3ZkZWxpdmVyeSIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyNDA3MDguOTcyODU2MTEifQ.RcUTBjJFd4CeNgM1p4ZaefncRgNf0eCPLyncNRU0HlU/s/1305943097/br/245342122588-l">Kansas Tobacco Quitline</a>, increasing physical activity, and improving community nutrition.

“This program empowers local communities to take significant steps toward reducing chronic disease and improving overall health,”&nbsp;KDHE Section Director for Community Health Promotion Mende Barnett said. “We are excited to support and collaborate with our grantees to achieve these important health goals across Kansas.”

The 2025 CDRR Grantees and the counties they cover include:

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment’s (KDHE) Community Health Promotion program is pleased to announce that the recipients of this year’s Chronic Disease Risk Reduction (CDRR) Community grant. In total, the State Fiscal Year 2024 CDRR program covers: 17 grantees, 30 counties and 1,993,817 Kansans (67.8 percent of the total Kansas population).The CDRR Community Grant Program provides funding, training and technical assistance to communities to address chronic disease risk reduction through evidence-based strategies that impact tobacco use, physical activity and nutrition. Strategies include reducing secondhand smoke exposure, preventing youth from using tobacco, promoting tobacco treatment and the&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDIsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8va2Fuc2FzLnF1aXRsb2dpeC5vcmcvZW4tVVMvP3V0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1nb3ZkZWxpdmVyeSIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyNDA3MDguOTcyODU2MTEifQ.RcUTBjJFd4CeNgM1p4ZaefncRgNf0eCPLyncNRU0HlU/s/1305943097/br/245342122588-l">Kansas Tobacco Quitline</a>, increasing physical activity, and improving community nutrition.“This program empowers local communities to take significant steps toward reducing chronic disease and improving overall health,”&nbsp;KDHE Section Director for Community Health Promotion Mende Barnett said. “We are excited to support and collaborate with our grantees to achieve these important health goals across Kansas.”The 2025 CDRR Grantees and the counties they cover include:<ul>
 <li>Barton County Health Department (Barton County, Pawnee, Rice and Stafford counties).</li><li>Cherokee County Health Department (Cherokee county).</li><li>Crawford County Health Department (Crawford county).</li><li>United Way of the Flint Hills&nbsp;(Lyon county).</li><li>Edwards County Economic Development (Edwards and Hodgeman counties).</li><li>Finney County Community Health Coalition (Finney, Morton, Scott, Stanton counties).</li><li>Harvey County Health Department (Harvey county).</li><li>Johnson County Department of Health and Environment (Johnson county).</li><li>Medical Society of Sedgwick County (Sedgwick county).</li><li>Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department (Douglas county).</li><li>Marion County Health Department (Marion county).</li><li>Mitchell County Regional Medical Foundation (Mitchell, Ellsworth, Jewell, Lincoln, Ottawa, Republic and Smith counties).</li><li>Reno County Health Department (Reno county).</li><li>Tammy Walker Cancer Center (Saline county).</li><li>Shawnee County Health Agency (Shawnee county).</li><li>Sheridan County Health Department (Sheridan county).</li><li>Unified Government of Wyandotte (Wyandotte county).</li>
 </ul>

Barton Co. Health Dept. receives chronic disease risk reduction grant

Barton County Sheriff’s
Office incident log (7/8)

At 2:53 a.m. an animal complaint was reported at NE 130
Avenue &amp; NE 50 Road in Ellinwood.

At 8 a.m. an animal complaint was reported at 305 2nd
Street.

At 9:48 a.m. a driving complaint was reported at E. US 56
Highway at MM 221.

At 11:35 a.m. a driving complaint was reported at NE K-156
Highway &amp; NE 120 Avenue.

At 8:58 p.m. a parking complaint was reported at 4104 2nd
Street.

Great Bend Police
Department incident log (7/8)

At 12:09 a.m. K-9&nbsp;
Niko was utilized on a traffic stop at 800 Washington Street.

At 12:53 a.m. a dog running in the roadway was reported at
3929 10th Street.

At 3:06 a.m. loud music coming from a vehicle was reported
at 4701 8th Street.

At 7:54 a.m. a cat bite was reported at 1401 Madison.

At 9:54 a.m. a trailer blocking the roadway was reported in
the 2200 block of Kansas Avenue.

At 10:57 a.m. EMS assistance was needed at 7th
&amp; Main.

At 11:22 a.m. a dog bite was reported at 2901 Morton.

At 11:50 a.m. a dog bite was reported at 1904 12th
Street.

At 12:09 p.m. a stray cat being attacked by a dog was
reported at 821 Pine Street.

At 12:52 p.m. a theft of items from a storage shed.

At 4:21 p.m. an accident was reported at 10th
&amp; Washington.

At 5:46 p.m. a driving complaint was reported at N. US 281
Highway &amp; NE 60 Road.

At 6:17 p.m. an accident was reported at 3503 10th
Street.

At 7:54 p.m. a parking complaint was reported in the 1700
block of Odell Street.

At 8:59 p.m. a dog bite was reported in Stafford County.

At 10:35 p.m. ambulance assistance was needed at 1021
Harding.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1688655627753.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Barton County Sheriff’s
Office incident log (7/8)Animal ComplaintAt 2:53 a.m. an animal complaint was reported at NE 130
Avenue &amp; NE 50 Road in Ellinwood.At 8 a.m. an animal complaint was reported at 305 2nd
Street.Driving / Driver ComplaintAt 9:48 a.m. a driving complaint was reported at E. US 56
Highway at MM 221.At 11:35 a.m. a driving complaint was reported at NE K-156
Highway &amp; NE 120 Avenue.Parking ComplaintAt 8:58 p.m. a parking complaint was reported at 4104 2nd
Street.Great Bend Police
Department incident log (7/8)K-9 Use / Call OutAt 12:09 a.m. K-9&nbsp;
Niko was utilized on a traffic stop at 800 Washington Street.Animal Complaint At 12:53 a.m. a dog running in the roadway was reported at
3929 10th Street.Noise ComplaintAt 3:06 a.m. loud music coming from a vehicle was reported
at 4701 8th Street.Animal ComplaintAt 7:54 a.m. a cat bite was reported at 1401 Madison.Parking ComplaintAt 9:54 a.m. a trailer blocking the roadway was reported in
the 2200 block of Kansas Avenue.Traumatic InjuriesAt 10:57 a.m. EMS assistance was needed at 7th
&amp; Main.Animal ComplaintAt 11:22 a.m. a dog bite was reported at 2901 Morton.At 11:50 a.m. a dog bite was reported at 1904 12th
Street.At 12:09 p.m. a stray cat being attacked by a dog was
reported at 821 Pine Street.Burglary / Not in ProgressAt 12:52 p.m. a theft of items from a storage shed.Non-Injury AccidentAt 4:21 p.m. an accident was reported at 10th
&amp; Washington.Driving / Driver ComplaintAt 5:46 p.m. a driving complaint was reported at N. US 281
Highway &amp; NE 60 Road.Non-Injury AccidentAt 6:17 p.m. an accident was reported at 3503 10th
Street.Parking ComplaintAt 7:54 p.m. a parking complaint was reported in the 1700
block of Odell Street.Parking ComplaintAt 8:58 p.m. a parking complaint was reported at 4104 2nd
Street.Animal ComplaintAt 8:59 p.m. a dog bite was reported in Stafford County.Breathing ProblemsAt 10:35 p.m. ambulance assistance was needed at 1021
Harding.

Cop Shop (7/8)

7/8 BOOKED: Shea Emig on Great Bend Municipal Court case for Domestic Battery, bond set at $1,000 C/S.

BOOKED: Jose Arias on Barton County District Court warrant, to serve sentence.

RELEASED: Shea Emig on Great Bend Municipal Court case for Domestic Battery, after posting $1,000 surety bond through Ace Bail Bonds.

RELEASED: Carmito Gutierrez-Lopez on Great Bend Municipal Court case for DUI, Improper Turn, No Driver's License, and No Insurance, on 48-hour OR bond and ICE lifted hold.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1623272376285.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>7/8 BOOKED: Shea Emig on Great Bend Municipal Court case for Domestic Battery, bond set at $1,000 C/S.BOOKED: Jose Arias on Barton County District Court warrant, to serve sentence.RELEASED: Shea Emig on Great Bend Municipal Court case for Domestic Battery, after posting $1,000 surety bond through Ace Bail Bonds.RELEASED: Carmito Gutierrez-Lopez on Great Bend Municipal Court case for DUI, Improper Turn, No Driver's License, and No Insurance, on 48-hour OR bond and ICE lifted hold.

Barton County Sheriff's booking activity (7/8)

This is day 12 of the Kansas Wheat Harvest Reports, brought to you by the Kansas Wheat Commission, Kansas Association of Wheat Growers, Kansas Grain and Feed Association and the Kansas Cooperative Council.

Officially, the Kansas wheat harvest is 92 percent complete, well ahead of 55 percent complete last year and 72 percent for the five-year average, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service crop progress report for the week ending July 7, 2024. Northwest Kansas has the most remaining wheat to be cut at 70 percent harvested.

Kansas had widespread rain over the weekend, which kept harvest on Monday at a standstill for many areas. Still, the southwest area is about 91 percent complete and wrapping straggling fields after beginning harvest early - the first week of June compared to the normal Father’s Day start.&nbsp;

Lori Deyoe, grain originator with Skyland Grain, covers a wide swath of the western third of the state - from Leoti to the southern Kansas border and from the western border with Colorado to Kismet. Based in Ulysess in Grant County, she reported good weather throughout the growing season. Snow in December made the crop and the cooler, wetter weather in May during filling finished it nicely - for those that received those rains.&nbsp;

She estimated taking in more than double the wheat from last year’s slap in the face. After thinking this year’s harvest would be sub-average, the final numbers look to hit average or maybe even a tick better. The wheat in the bins is headed via truck to the mills near Wichita, fulfilling demand within the state.&nbsp;

Yields range from 10 to 85 bushels per acre for dryland wheat and 85 to 115 bushels per acre on irrigated fields. Test weights started out tremendous above 60 pounds per bushel at the start of harvest, but after much-needed rains moved in have gone down. Proteins have been extremely regionalized ranging from 10 percent to above 12 percent.&nbsp;

“Everybody is extremely happy with their farm averages coming in from the field,” Deyoe said. “Everyone is ecstatic we’re getting the rains we’re getting, but wish we had been done with harvest before they started.”&nbsp;

The gully-washer on Saturday night will benefit fall crops, keeping producers delayed from the one or two cutting days needed to fully wrap up harvest. Farmers near Lakin would have finished Sunday or Monday and custom harvest crews are making quick work of remaining fields around Johnson. Last, but not least, irrigated fields north of Ulysses will likely be the last few to be cut.&nbsp;

Near Norton, Chris Tanner started cutting his WestBred Grainfield wheat on Monday, June 24, only to be delayed by rain the next day. They had been cutting a phenomenal crop with yields between 50 and 60 bushels per acre, strong test weights ranging from 59 to 63 pounds per bushel and great protein at 12 to 14 percent.&nbsp;

“We are in a sweet spot here,” Tanner said.&nbsp;

He credited an ideal growing season to good moisture throughout the year. Sufficient moisture at drilling meant the wheat came up early with well-established stands. In the spring, the wheat emerged from dormancy early, but in good shape and the luck continued.&nbsp;

While the weather was on-track, fertilizer prices were high, and Tanner noted he spent money on fungicide applications due to rust pressure. Producers did abandon some fields due to Wheat Streak Mosaic Virus, which has been bad in the area, in addition to some yield loss from Barley yellow dwarf virus.&nbsp;

A couple of 1.5 inch rains and several smaller showers have decreased yields 10 to 12 percent, test weights down to 55 to 57 pounds per bushel and protein averaging in the mid-11s. Even with the rain detriment, the year should end above average by the time harvest wraps up by the end of this week.

This year’s harvest is in stark contrast to last year’s disaster when a lot of wheat in northern Norton County was abandoned due to drought. The residue from this year’s crop is some of the best Tanner has had in his career and will benefit his subsequent crops.&nbsp;

“The most exciting part of this year’s harvest is the residue,” Tanner said. “The most disappointing part is the price.”

﻿As fields dry out and those last few acres are cut, the Kansas Wheat crew will issue the final Kansas wheat harvest report on Tuesday, July 9.

﻿The 2024 Harvest Reports are brought to you by the Kansas Wheat Commission, Kansas Association of Wheat Growers, Kansas Grain and Feed Association and the Kansas Cooperative Council. To follow along with harvest updates, use&nbsp;<a href="https://sfdzp7cab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001q0GCfqPlDIQQcXVICtdUois2ISvKhRsCBrfEDTf_POxVBGH38NOwbkILvZgh8RYwPgboL8oDEkVTm4kjuDyf9Hv0b-YsJykWDHFhPdbx9CUsTKHQKSD1uwiuTLeE8lT5RQT5ye9wxTJdeyWxqMCp2fs9BSRAzX0T_qvZEW45ao825_ZwKN33r2zMdaZeKbAWisE4zd5Wr5OOUdywLLMnGInzXqSo3dVPr0jogR4gaT8=&amp;c=EUKnXMsYxI2LkPenqa__Qn0wCsQHpUv7RJp1ndW3SuqpOVt838LBdw==&amp;ch=h0An4dSsDY1goBMthPOuh3Sy_fflqYJhSaLvqu8MdrwVkZPmPnpuXw==">#wheatharvest24</a>&nbsp;on social media.&nbsp;Tag us at @kansaswheat on&nbsp;<a href="https://sfdzp7cab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001q0GCfqPlDIQQcXVICtdUois2ISvKhRsCBrfEDTf_POxVBGH38NOwbifSjWPqvufqTWCg2Uaicg-YpXmrcEyYIeCsaFpGgvp7RfexYyiY20RrcIH6_JlQXkqhhnwWtV79M5-sw9TLT-BnjTAckSKngLA0zJVf1q76RHHe1_GCu9U=&amp;c=EUKnXMsYxI2LkPenqa__Qn0wCsQHpUv7RJp1ndW3SuqpOVt838LBdw==&amp;ch=h0An4dSsDY1goBMthPOuh3Sy_fflqYJhSaLvqu8MdrwVkZPmPnpuXw==">Facebook</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://sfdzp7cab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001q0GCfqPlDIQQcXVICtdUois2ISvKhRsCBrfEDTf_POxVBGH38NOwboMfAcvjcjYt3QPyXPy4Z4dK1fxfRu34bGnnBwkuqCjDme8XzCGIrU0rqc8uekCe2yKyMXfUJ61zHRaMN19YwwPeMo1EEXxoI4slvQmQAIIn&amp;c=EUKnXMsYxI2LkPenqa__Qn0wCsQHpUv7RJp1ndW3SuqpOVt838LBdw==&amp;ch=h0An4dSsDY1goBMthPOuh3Sy_fflqYJhSaLvqu8MdrwVkZPmPnpuXw==">Instagram</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://sfdzp7cab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001q0GCfqPlDIQQcXVICtdUois2ISvKhRsCBrfEDTf_POxVBGH38NOwbpn9k9iaARF9C_0aosn9vVR9gVy5rjqphBfgw9VaqmKfZ-skVjRKV1Q8rsiu6rzdGyzSvLQpUrl3FVVAk5dKgvUillN1TRFe2YTNNzCN_y-L&amp;c=EUKnXMsYxI2LkPenqa__Qn0wCsQHpUv7RJp1ndW3SuqpOVt838LBdw==&amp;ch=h0An4dSsDY1goBMthPOuh3Sy_fflqYJhSaLvqu8MdrwVkZPmPnpuXw==">Twitter</a>&nbsp;to share your harvest story and photos.

Written by Julia Debes for Kansas Wheat

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720485287762.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>This is day 12 of the Kansas Wheat Harvest Reports, brought to you by the Kansas Wheat Commission, Kansas Association of Wheat Growers, Kansas Grain and Feed Association and the Kansas Cooperative Council.Officially, the Kansas wheat harvest is 92 percent complete, well ahead of 55 percent complete last year and 72 percent for the five-year average, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service crop progress report for the week ending July 7, 2024. Northwest Kansas has the most remaining wheat to be cut at 70 percent harvested.Kansas had widespread rain over the weekend, which kept harvest on Monday at a standstill for many areas. Still, the southwest area is about 91 percent complete and wrapping straggling fields after beginning harvest early - the first week of June compared to the normal Father’s Day start.&nbsp;Lori Deyoe, grain originator with Skyland Grain, covers a wide swath of the western third of the state - from Leoti to the southern Kansas border and from the western border with Colorado to Kismet. Based in Ulysess in Grant County, she reported good weather throughout the growing season. Snow in December made the crop and the cooler, wetter weather in May during filling finished it nicely - for those that received those rains.&nbsp;She estimated taking in more than double the wheat from last year’s slap in the face. After thinking this year’s harvest would be sub-average, the final numbers look to hit average or maybe even a tick better. The wheat in the bins is headed via truck to the mills near Wichita, fulfilling demand within the state.&nbsp;Yields range from 10 to 85 bushels per acre for dryland wheat and 85 to 115 bushels per acre on irrigated fields. Test weights started out tremendous above 60 pounds per bushel at the start of harvest, but after much-needed rains moved in have gone down. Proteins have been extremely regionalized ranging from 10 percent to above 12 percent.&nbsp;“Everybody is extremely happy with their farm averages coming in from the field,” Deyoe said. “Everyone is ecstatic we’re getting the rains we’re getting, but wish we had been done with harvest before they started.”&nbsp;The gully-washer on Saturday night will benefit fall crops, keeping producers delayed from the one or two cutting days needed to fully wrap up harvest. Farmers near Lakin would have finished Sunday or Monday and custom harvest crews are making quick work of remaining fields around Johnson. Last, but not least, irrigated fields north of Ulysses will likely be the last few to be cut.&nbsp;Near Norton, Chris Tanner started cutting his WestBred Grainfield wheat on Monday, June 24, only to be delayed by rain the next day. They had been cutting a phenomenal crop with yields between 50 and 60 bushels per acre, strong test weights ranging from 59 to 63 pounds per bushel and great protein at 12 to 14 percent.&nbsp;“We are in a sweet spot here,” Tanner said.&nbsp;He credited an ideal growing season to good moisture throughout the year. Sufficient moisture at drilling meant the wheat came up early with well-established stands. In the spring, the wheat emerged from dormancy early, but in good shape and the luck continued.&nbsp;While the weather was on-track, fertilizer prices were high, and Tanner noted he spent money on fungicide applications due to rust pressure. Producers did abandon some fields due to Wheat Streak Mosaic Virus, which has been bad in the area, in addition to some yield loss from Barley yellow dwarf virus.&nbsp;A couple of 1.5 inch rains and several smaller showers have decreased yields 10 to 12 percent, test weights down to 55 to 57 pounds per bushel and protein averaging in the mid-11s. Even with the rain detriment, the year should end above average by the time harvest wraps up by the end of this week.This year’s harvest is in stark contrast to last year’s disaster when a lot of wheat in northern Norton County was abandoned due to drought. The residue from this year’s crop is some of the best Tanner has had in his career and will benefit his subsequent crops.&nbsp;“The most exciting part of this year’s harvest is the residue,” Tanner said. “The most disappointing part is the price.”﻿As fields dry out and those last few acres are cut, the Kansas Wheat crew will issue the final Kansas wheat harvest report on Tuesday, July 9.﻿The 2024 Harvest Reports are brought to you by the Kansas Wheat Commission, Kansas Association of Wheat Growers, Kansas Grain and Feed Association and the Kansas Cooperative Council. To follow along with harvest updates, use&nbsp;<a href="https://sfdzp7cab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001q0GCfqPlDIQQcXVICtdUois2ISvKhRsCBrfEDTf_POxVBGH38NOwbkILvZgh8RYwPgboL8oDEkVTm4kjuDyf9Hv0b-YsJykWDHFhPdbx9CUsTKHQKSD1uwiuTLeE8lT5RQT5ye9wxTJdeyWxqMCp2fs9BSRAzX0T_qvZEW45ao825_ZwKN33r2zMdaZeKbAWisE4zd5Wr5OOUdywLLMnGInzXqSo3dVPr0jogR4gaT8=&amp;c=EUKnXMsYxI2LkPenqa__Qn0wCsQHpUv7RJp1ndW3SuqpOVt838LBdw==&amp;ch=h0An4dSsDY1goBMthPOuh3Sy_fflqYJhSaLvqu8MdrwVkZPmPnpuXw==">#wheatharvest24</a>&nbsp;on social media.&nbsp;Tag us at @kansaswheat on&nbsp;<a href="https://sfdzp7cab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001q0GCfqPlDIQQcXVICtdUois2ISvKhRsCBrfEDTf_POxVBGH38NOwbifSjWPqvufqTWCg2Uaicg-YpXmrcEyYIeCsaFpGgvp7RfexYyiY20RrcIH6_JlQXkqhhnwWtV79M5-sw9TLT-BnjTAckSKngLA0zJVf1q76RHHe1_GCu9U=&amp;c=EUKnXMsYxI2LkPenqa__Qn0wCsQHpUv7RJp1ndW3SuqpOVt838LBdw==&amp;ch=h0An4dSsDY1goBMthPOuh3Sy_fflqYJhSaLvqu8MdrwVkZPmPnpuXw==">Facebook</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://sfdzp7cab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001q0GCfqPlDIQQcXVICtdUois2ISvKhRsCBrfEDTf_POxVBGH38NOwboMfAcvjcjYt3QPyXPy4Z4dK1fxfRu34bGnnBwkuqCjDme8XzCGIrU0rqc8uekCe2yKyMXfUJ61zHRaMN19YwwPeMo1EEXxoI4slvQmQAIIn&amp;c=EUKnXMsYxI2LkPenqa__Qn0wCsQHpUv7RJp1ndW3SuqpOVt838LBdw==&amp;ch=h0An4dSsDY1goBMthPOuh3Sy_fflqYJhSaLvqu8MdrwVkZPmPnpuXw==">Instagram</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://sfdzp7cab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001q0GCfqPlDIQQcXVICtdUois2ISvKhRsCBrfEDTf_POxVBGH38NOwbpn9k9iaARF9C_0aosn9vVR9gVy5rjqphBfgw9VaqmKfZ-skVjRKV1Q8rsiu6rzdGyzSvLQpUrl3FVVAk5dKgvUillN1TRFe2YTNNzCN_y-L&amp;c=EUKnXMsYxI2LkPenqa__Qn0wCsQHpUv7RJp1ndW3SuqpOVt838LBdw==&amp;ch=h0An4dSsDY1goBMthPOuh3Sy_fflqYJhSaLvqu8MdrwVkZPmPnpuXw==">Twitter</a>&nbsp;to share your harvest story and photos.Written by Julia Debes for Kansas Wheat

Day 12, Kansas Wheat Harvest Report

Today Sunny, with a high near 88. Calm wind becoming north around 6 mph in the afternoon.

Tonight Mostly clear, with a low around 64. Northeast wind around 6 mph becoming light and variable in the evening.

Wednesday Sunny, with a high near 92. South wind 3 to 6 mph.

Wednesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 65. East-southeast wind around 6 mph.

Thursday Sunny, with a high near 94. South wind 5 to 8 mph.

Thursday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 68.

Friday Sunny and hot, with a high near 98.

Friday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 74.

Saturday Sunny and hot, with a high near 99.

Saturday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 75.

Sunday Sunny and hot, with a high near 101.

Sunday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 75.

Monday Sunny and hot, with a high near 101.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Today Sunny, with a high near 88. Calm wind becoming north around 6 mph in the afternoon.Tonight Mostly clear, with a low around 64. Northeast wind around 6 mph becoming light and variable in the evening.Wednesday Sunny, with a high near 92. South wind 3 to 6 mph.Wednesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 65. East-southeast wind around 6 mph.Thursday Sunny, with a high near 94. South wind 5 to 8 mph.Thursday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 68.Friday Sunny and hot, with a high near 98.Friday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 74.Saturday Sunny and hot, with a high near 99.Saturday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 75.Sunday Sunny and hot, with a high near 101.Sunday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 75.Monday Sunny and hot, with a high near 101.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Tuesday's weather

Ellinwood is fond of its German heritage and many traditions, but many new things are also happening in the community. That's why "Honoring our Past, Building our Future" was selected as the theme for this year's After Harvest Festival Parade. AHF Chairperson Nancy Baird said its important to celebrate both the old and the new.

"Small communities, some of them are struggling," she said. "They don't have new things to talk about. Here in 2024, when we were throwing themes together, there's a lot of new that's happening within our community and it's a great thing that we're growing. We wanted to make sure we focused on that."

Plenty of big things have happened in Ellinwood recently with the new hospital opening soon, and 10-39 Cafe opening in May. A new housing development will soon be on the way, and sidewalk work will help revitalize downtown Ellinwood in the coming months. Ellinwood Rotary Club has highlighted similar important community events with its parade, one of the largest in the area.

"The Rotary Club, for years, has, as a service project for our community, really taken that on," Baird said. "They are the ones that do the parade lineup. They're the ones that create the registration form. We facilitate it and we help promote it, but it's a huge blessing that they just make that all come together."

Ellinwood Rotary selected former mayor Frank Koelsch as this year's grand marshal, and the Ellinwood Chamber picked Mel Waite as the 2024 Distinguished Citizen of the Year. Both will be honored in the parade.

Float entries for this year's parade need to be registered by July 12. <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScYcC5JKClIB1eUHxkpL9F4uUVqhXwq9K5FB5WApaX9OZOtkw/viewform?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR1kDiooHiidad9itybvq6IXEP-pE6eu_tRSqliMhD6jKTDlmoXJetvkAyw_aem_e0hslEPu0y2ik03Ows6Q7Q">CLICK HERE</a> to access the online registration form.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1719512050313.jpeg" alt="Ellinwood District Hospital had the best commercial float in the 2018 AHF Parade. The new hospital is part of this year's theme, "Honoring our Past, Building our Future."" />
 <figcaption>Ellinwood District Hospital had the best commercial float in the 2018 AHF Parade. The new hospital is part of this year's theme, "Honoring our Past, Building our Future."</figcaption>
 </figure>By MIKE COURSON Great Bend PostEllinwood is fond of its German heritage and many traditions, but many new things are also happening in the community. That's why "Honoring our Past, Building our Future" was selected as the theme for this year's After Harvest Festival Parade. AHF Chairperson Nancy Baird said its important to celebrate both the old and the new."Small communities, some of them are struggling," she said. "They don't have new things to talk about. Here in 2024, when we were throwing themes together, there's a lot of new that's happening within our community and it's a great thing that we're growing. We wanted to make sure we focused on that."Plenty of big things have happened in Ellinwood recently with the new hospital opening soon, and 10-39 Cafe opening in May. A new housing development will soon be on the way, and sidewalk work will help revitalize downtown Ellinwood in the coming months. Ellinwood Rotary Club has highlighted similar important community events with its parade, one of the largest in the area."The Rotary Club, for years, has, as a service project for our community, really taken that on," Baird said. "They are the ones that do the parade lineup. They're the ones that create the registration form. We facilitate it and we help promote it, but it's a huge blessing that they just make that all come together."Ellinwood Rotary selected former mayor Frank Koelsch as this year's grand marshal, and the Ellinwood Chamber picked Mel Waite as the 2024 Distinguished Citizen of the Year. Both will be honored in the parade.Float entries for this year's parade need to be registered by July 12. <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScYcC5JKClIB1eUHxkpL9F4uUVqhXwq9K5FB5WApaX9OZOtkw/viewform?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR1kDiooHiidad9itybvq6IXEP-pE6eu_tRSqliMhD6jKTDlmoXJetvkAyw_aem_e0hslEPu0y2ik03Ows6Q7Q">CLICK HERE</a> to access the online registration form.

Ellinwood celebrating the past and the future with 2024 AHF Parade

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720468705192.jpeg" alt="Blakelee Cooper, left, and Jessa Chapman participate in a recent Juvenile Services (JS) Life Skills fishing class at Veterans Lake in Great Bend where they reeled in a catfish. Most Life Skills classes relate to career and home but leisure courses also are offered. Cooper is the community case manager at JS and Chapman is a summer assistant at the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP). They joined several JS clients who learned some of the finer points of fishing from Instructor Travis Riley, fisheries biologist for the Ellsworth District of KDWP. JS is recruiting volunteers to lead classes. For more information, contact Jack Bowman, JS program advocate, by calling 620-793-1930." />
 <figcaption>Blakelee Cooper, left, and Jessa Chapman participate in a recent Juvenile Services (JS) Life Skills fishing class at Veterans Lake in Great Bend where they reeled in a catfish. Most Life Skills classes relate to career and home but leisure courses also are offered. Cooper is the community case manager at JS and Chapman is a summer assistant at the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP). They joined several JS clients who learned some of the finer points of fishing from Instructor Travis Riley, fisheries biologist for the Ellsworth District of KDWP. JS is recruiting volunteers to lead classes. For more information, contact Jack Bowman, JS program advocate, by calling 620-793-1930.</figcaption>
 </figure>

Juvenile Services Dept. participate in life skills in Great Bend

By COLE REIF Great Bend Post

For the third straight year, the Great Bend Recreation Commission will
collect more tax dollars than their previous budget. On Monday, the Rec Board
approved the motion to exceed the Revenue Neutral Rate (RNR) for the 2025
budget, collecting approximately $72,000 more in taxes than this current year.


With a total mill levy at 9.75, the Rec has a general fund tax at eight mills
and an employee benefit at 1.75 mills. Great Bend Rec Executive Director Chris
Umphres said they will transfer general fund dollars to bolster the employee
benefits.


"I recommend exceeding the RNR to get the full value," said Umphres. "With the addition of another staff member, I'd like to move some of our general fund to the employee benefit fund. Instead of the full eight mills for the general, we'd take a quarter of that and move it down to the employee benefit fund."

The Great Bend Rec anticipates collecting just under $2 million in taxes in the
2025 budget. Based on increased valuations, the Rec needed a mill levy of 9.25
to garner the same amount of tax dollars as they did in 2024. The board elected
to exceed the RNR and keep the rate at 9.75 for the third straight year.


In the 2024 budget, the Rec collected an additional $227,000 in tax dollars due
to increased valuations.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

<a href="https://greatbendpost.com/posts/3111943e-78ae-4678-a1f2-ec964274cea0">RELATED STORY: Great Bend approves $227,000 more in taxes for 2024</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720492926064.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By COLE REIF Great Bend PostFor the third straight year, the Great Bend Recreation Commission will
collect more tax dollars than their previous budget. On Monday, the Rec Board
approved the motion to exceed the Revenue Neutral Rate (RNR) for the 2025
budget, collecting approximately $72,000 more in taxes than this current year.
With a total mill levy at 9.75, the Rec has a general fund tax at eight mills
and an employee benefit at 1.75 mills. Great Bend Rec Executive Director Chris
Umphres said they will transfer general fund dollars to bolster the employee
benefits.
"I recommend exceeding the RNR to get the full value," said Umphres. "With the addition of another staff member, I'd like to move some of our general fund to the employee benefit fund. Instead of the full eight mills for the general, we'd take a quarter of that and move it down to the employee benefit fund."The Great Bend Rec anticipates collecting just under $2 million in taxes in the
2025 budget. Based on increased valuations, the Rec needed a mill levy of 9.25
to garner the same amount of tax dollars as they did in 2024. The board elected
to exceed the RNR and keep the rate at 9.75 for the third straight year.
In the 2024 budget, the Rec collected an additional $227,000 in tax dollars due
to increased valuations.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://greatbendpost.com/posts/3111943e-78ae-4678-a1f2-ec964274cea0">RELATED STORY: Great Bend approves $227,000 more in taxes for 2024</a>

Great Bend Rec to exceed RNR, will collect more tax dollars

Monday's USD 428 Board of Education meeting got off to a solemn start as the board observed a moment of silence for Ryder Schmidt, who passed away on June 30 ahead of what would have been his sixth-grade year at Eisenhower Elementary in Great Bend. Then the board moved to general housekeeping work for the upcoming school year. Superintendent Khris Thexton explained an increase in daily pay for substitute teachers.

"In the past, we were using ESSER to bring up our sub pay per day," he said. "I believe we were at $110, and another $10 per day was added through ESSER. Because ESSER is going away at the end of this year, we wanted to make the $120 permanent and we decided to bump it $125."

Thexton said that rate is typical of other districts in the area. Assistant Superintendent John Popp said the $125 is the base pay but the district continues to explore a small increase if a substitute teacher is fully licensed or has subbed for 10 consecutive days.

The board was set to approve meal rates for travel expenses at $10 for in-state trips and $15 for out-of-state trips. Board Vice President Aaron Emerson said, because of rising costs, the board could approve a higher amount.

"We could step it up," Thexton agreed. "Since we're $10 and $15 now, let's go $15 and $20 for next year and see how that lands."

The board also elected its president and vice president for the upcoming school year. Jacquie Disque was again elected president and Emerson was elected vice president.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718203431947.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By MIKE COURSON Great Bend PostMonday's USD 428 Board of Education meeting got off to a solemn start as the board observed a moment of silence for Ryder Schmidt, who passed away on June 30 ahead of what would have been his sixth-grade year at Eisenhower Elementary in Great Bend. Then the board moved to general housekeeping work for the upcoming school year. Superintendent Khris Thexton explained an increase in daily pay for substitute teachers."In the past, we were using ESSER to bring up our sub pay per day," he said. "I believe we were at $110, and another $10 per day was added through ESSER. Because ESSER is going away at the end of this year, we wanted to make the $120 permanent and we decided to bump it $125."Thexton said that rate is typical of other districts in the area. Assistant Superintendent John Popp said the $125 is the base pay but the district continues to explore a small increase if a substitute teacher is fully licensed or has subbed for 10 consecutive days.The board was set to approve meal rates for travel expenses at $10 for in-state trips and $15 for out-of-state trips. Board Vice President Aaron Emerson said, because of rising costs, the board could approve a higher amount."We could step it up," Thexton agreed. "Since we're $10 and $15 now, let's go $15 and $20 for next year and see how that lands."The board also elected its president and vice president for the upcoming school year. Jacquie Disque was again elected president and Emerson was elected vice president.

USD 428 board sets meal reimbursement, sub teacher pay for 2024-25 year

The Commission meeting will be live-streamed through Microsoft Teams. Citizens may view the meeting through their own sign in or by signing in “anonymously”. Please follow this link: https://bit.ly/42f4PdD. If you wish to participate in the discussion of any item, please call (620) 793-1800 for instructions.

BOARD OF BARTON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS Agenda Meeting July 9, 2024 9 a.m. Until Close

I. OPENING BUSINESS: A. Call Meeting to Order. B. Recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance. C. Consider Approval of the Agenda. D. Consider the minutes of the July 2, 2024, Regular Meeting. E. Any citizen wishing to make statements during the discussion of any item must first be recognized by the Commission Chair. After being recognized, that person should state their name and the name of any organization represented. Statements should be limited to five minutes. F. Please silence all phones and electronic devices. Recording the meeting is allowed and the Commission requests that anyone using special recording equipment be seated in the back row to avoid creating a distraction during the meeting.

II. OLD BUSINESS&nbsp; Items tabled, or scheduled, from previous Commission Meetings, will be heard at this time. -There is no Old Business at this time.

III. APPROVAL OF APPROPRIATIONS: 13th Month – Fiscal Year ending June 30, 2024: -Bev Schmeidler, County Clerk, will present details. An Accounts Payable Register will be submitted to the Commission for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024. Generally this impacts offices utilizing federal grant funding.

IV. NEW BUSINESS&nbsp;- All new business to be considered by the Commission will be heard at this time. ITEM A. COUNTY CLERK’S OFFICE: Request for Approval – Added / Abated / Escaped / Refunded Taxes: -Ms. Schmeidler will present a listing of Added / Abated / Escaped / Refunded Taxes. Orders for these actions are kept on file in the County Clerk’s Office. These are used to correct assessments and are requested by the County Appraiser’s Office or the County Clerk’s Office.

ITEM B. COURTHOUSE HVAC IMPROVEMENT PROJECT: Change Order 31: -Matt Patzner, County Administrator, will present details. Barton County has received notice of certain needed updates to the Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning improvement project. Specific to Change Order 31 is painting interior Courthouse doors.

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

V. ENDING BUSINESS – After new items are heard by the Commission, the following items, including announcements, will be heard.

A. ANNOUNCEMENTS: -Following the close of the Agenda Meeting, the Commission will consider the authorization of personnel changes for classified positions, sign any documentation approved during the agenda meeting or sign any other documentation required for regular County business. Similar action may take place throughout the day.

B. APPOINTMENTS: -Although subject to change, the following appointments have been scheduled: 9:45 a.m. or following the close of the Agenda Meeting – Review of Year End Outcomes for Juvenile Services and Community&nbsp;Corrections – Marissa Woodmansee, Juvenile Services Director.

BUDGET MEETINGS 10:30 a.m. Public Health 11:00 a.m. SDSI 11:15 a.m. Barton County Conservation District 11:30 a.m. Great Bend Economic Development 1:15 p.m. Sunflower Diversified 1:30 p.m. County Works 2:15 p.m. EMS Agencies 2:45 p.m. Fire District No. 1 3:00 p.m. – Regular Business Discussion – Matt Patzner, County Administrator.

THE COUNTY EDITION, KVGB-AM – Thursdays at 11:05 a.m. Sheriff Brian Bellendir is scheduled for July 11, 2024. 

VI. OTHER BUSINESS: A. Discussion Items. B. Citizens or organizations may present requests or proposals for initial consideration at this time. C. The Commissioners are available to the Public on Tuesdays during regular business hours. D. One or more Commissioners may be present in the Commission Chambers conducting county business throughout the day on Tuesdays. E. The Commissioners may, individually, schedule personal appointments related to County business at their discretion. F. The next Regular Meeting will be at 9:00 a.m., Tuesday, July 16, 2024.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1655397973849.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The Commission meeting will be live-streamed through Microsoft Teams. Citizens may view the meeting through their own sign in or by signing in “anonymously”. Please follow this link: https://bit.ly/42f4PdD. If you wish to participate in the discussion of any item, please call (620) 793-1800 for instructions.BOARD OF BARTON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS Agenda Meeting July 9, 2024 9 a.m. Until CloseI. OPENING BUSINESS: A. Call Meeting to Order. B. Recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance. C. Consider Approval of the Agenda. D. Consider the minutes of the July 2, 2024, Regular Meeting. E. Any citizen wishing to make statements during the discussion of any item must first be recognized by the Commission Chair. After being recognized, that person should state their name and the name of any organization represented. Statements should be limited to five minutes. F. Please silence all phones and electronic devices. Recording the meeting is allowed and the Commission requests that anyone using special recording equipment be seated in the back row to avoid creating a distraction during the meeting.II. OLD BUSINESS&nbsp; Items tabled, or scheduled, from previous Commission Meetings, will be heard at this time. -There is no Old Business at this time. III. APPROVAL OF APPROPRIATIONS: 13th Month – Fiscal Year ending June 30, 2024: -Bev Schmeidler, County Clerk, will present details. An Accounts Payable Register will be submitted to the Commission for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024. Generally this impacts offices utilizing federal grant funding.IV. NEW BUSINESS&nbsp;- All new business to be considered by the Commission will be heard at this time. ITEM A. COUNTY CLERK’S OFFICE: Request for Approval – Added / Abated / Escaped / Refunded Taxes: -Ms. Schmeidler will present a listing of Added / Abated / Escaped / Refunded Taxes. Orders for these actions are kept on file in the County Clerk’s Office. These are used to correct assessments and are requested by the County Appraiser’s Office or the County Clerk’s Office.ITEM B. COURTHOUSE HVAC IMPROVEMENT PROJECT: Change Order 31: -Matt Patzner, County Administrator, will present details. Barton County has received notice of certain needed updates to the Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning improvement project. Specific to Change Order 31 is painting interior Courthouse doors.ITEM C. EXECUTIVE SESSION: -Chairman Barb Esfeld will present. Any Commissioner may make a motion for the board to recess to executive session at this time&nbsp;as allowed by K.S.A. 75-4319. Any motion must contain the justification for the executive session, the subject matter to be&nbsp;discussed, any individuals in addition to the board who will&nbsp; attend the executive session and the time at which the regular session shall resume.V. ENDING BUSINESS – After new items are heard by the Commission, the following items, including announcements, will be heard.A. ANNOUNCEMENTS: -Following the close of the Agenda Meeting, the Commission will consider the authorization of personnel changes for classified positions, sign any documentation approved during the agenda meeting or sign any other documentation required for regular County business. Similar action may take place throughout the day.B. APPOINTMENTS: -Although subject to change, the following appointments have been scheduled: 9:45 a.m. or following the close of the Agenda Meeting – Review of Year End Outcomes for Juvenile Services and Community&nbsp;Corrections – Marissa Woodmansee, Juvenile Services Director.BUDGET MEETINGS 10:30 a.m. Public Health 11:00 a.m. SDSI 11:15 a.m. Barton County Conservation District 11:30 a.m. Great Bend Economic Development 1:15 p.m. Sunflower Diversified 1:30 p.m. County Works 2:15 p.m. EMS Agencies 2:45 p.m. Fire District No. 1 3:00 p.m. – Regular Business Discussion – Matt Patzner, County Administrator. THE COUNTY EDITION, KVGB-AM – Thursdays at 11:05 a.m. Sheriff Brian Bellendir is scheduled for July 11, 2024. VI. OTHER BUSINESS: A. Discussion Items. B. Citizens or organizations may present requests or proposals for initial consideration at this time. C. The Commissioners are available to the Public on Tuesdays during regular business hours. D. One or more Commissioners may be present in the Commission Chambers conducting county business throughout the day on Tuesdays. E. The Commissioners may, individually, schedule personal appointments related to County business at their discretion. F. The next Regular Meeting will be at 9:00 a.m., Tuesday, July 16, 2024.VII. ADJOURN.

Barton County Commission meeting agenda (7/9)

News From The Oil Patch, July 8 John P. Tretbar

The government reported the biggest weekly drop in crude stockpiles in over a year. Commercial crude inventories dropped by 12.2 million barrels last week. That marks the biggest decline in commercial stockpiles since May of last year. The Energy Information Administration reports stockpiles of 448.5 million barrels, or about four percent below the five-year seasonal average.

The weekly government inventory report shows DOE bought another 400,000 barrels for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve last week. At today's prices that's a savings of nearly five million dollars under the sale price three years ago.

Crude production returns to its record-breaking pre-winter flight plan, soaring five percent over last year. US production averaged 13.24 million barrels a day in April, up from 13.17 million per day in March. The Energy Information Administration reports output hit the all-time high over 13.3 million barrels a day last December, just before a widespread winter weather event shut in production in January and February.&nbsp; April output in Texas, the top producing state, rose to 42% of the national total at over 5.6 million barrels a day.&nbsp; Kansas ranks 12th among crude-producing states in the latest EIA report, with output over 75,000 barrels a day.

Weekly US crude production holds steady in the lower 48 states for a third straight week. For the week through June 28, EIA reported output in Alaska was down 27,000 barrels a day for a nationwide total just over 13,200,000 barrels per day.US crude imports topped exports by more than two million barrels a day last week. Product exports beat imports by over five million. The US imported 6.5 million barrels of crude oil per day in the week through June 28th, down nearly 100-thousand daily barrels from the week before, and down nearly half a million barrels from a year ago. US firms exported 4.4 million barrels of crude per day. Four-week average exports are up nearly half a million barrels a day from a year ago.

The weekly Rig Count from Baker Hughes is up four gas rigs for a total of 585 active drilling rigs. After last week, this is the second-lowest total in nearly three years.&nbsp; Louisiana was up three rigs for the week. Texas was up one.

The Kansas Rig Count from Independent Oil and Gas Service is up one rig in Western Kansas and unchanged east of Wichita, for a total of 29 active drilling rigs. Drilling was underway Friday on two leases in Barton County.

Regulators approved 24 new drilling permits, with just two in Western Kansas. That's 498 new drilling locations approved through the first half of the year, compared to 651 a year ago.

Independent Oil and Gas Service reports 28 new well-completions, 13 east of Wichita and 15 in the western half of the state. That's 671 completed wells so far this year, compared to 874 through the first half of last year.

A judge halts the pause, but don't expect big LNG export growth right away. A US judge last week halted President Biden's temporary moratorium on new export licenses for liquefied natural gas. But Bloomberg reports the decision won't jump-start new export approvals any time soon. The pause affected new licenses only. The U.S. is the world’s largest exporter of LNG and has more room to grow under existing licenses.

Conoco Phillips filed suit to block an Administration ban on new drilling across nearly half of the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska. The company holds leases on nearly two million acres within the reserve, which was established as an emergency oil supply for the US Navy in 1923. The regulation won’t alter the terms of existing contracts there, or directly affect current projects including ConocoPhillips’ 600-million-barrel Willow project.

A government report suggests that aviation in the US is getting close but has not yet fully returned to normal operations in the third year after the onset of the pandemic. Annual jet-fuel consumption grew for the third year in a row last year, but remained about five percent below the pre-pandemic high in 2019. The Energy Information Administration reports airline passenger volumes so far this year have surpassed 2019 and are consistently higher than last year.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1577125598039.jpeg" alt="" />
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 </figure>News From The Oil Patch, July 8 John P. TretbarThe government reported the biggest weekly drop in crude stockpiles in over a year. Commercial crude inventories dropped by 12.2 million barrels last week. That marks the biggest decline in commercial stockpiles since May of last year. The Energy Information Administration reports stockpiles of 448.5 million barrels, or about four percent below the five-year seasonal average.The weekly government inventory report shows DOE bought another 400,000 barrels for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve last week. At today's prices that's a savings of nearly five million dollars under the sale price three years ago.Crude production returns to its record-breaking pre-winter flight plan, soaring five percent over last year. US production averaged 13.24 million barrels a day in April, up from 13.17 million per day in March. The Energy Information Administration reports output hit the all-time high over 13.3 million barrels a day last December, just before a widespread winter weather event shut in production in January and February.&nbsp; April output in Texas, the top producing state, rose to 42% of the national total at over 5.6 million barrels a day.&nbsp; Kansas ranks 12th among crude-producing states in the latest EIA report, with output over 75,000 barrels a day.Weekly US crude production holds steady in the lower 48 states for a third straight week. For the week through June 28, EIA reported output in Alaska was down 27,000 barrels a day for a nationwide total just over 13,200,000 barrels per day.US crude imports topped exports by more than two million barrels a day last week. Product exports beat imports by over five million. The US imported 6.5 million barrels of crude oil per day in the week through June 28th, down nearly 100-thousand daily barrels from the week before, and down nearly half a million barrels from a year ago. US firms exported 4.4 million barrels of crude per day. Four-week average exports are up nearly half a million barrels a day from a year ago.The weekly Rig Count from Baker Hughes is up four gas rigs for a total of 585 active drilling rigs. After last week, this is the second-lowest total in nearly three years.&nbsp; Louisiana was up three rigs for the week. Texas was up one.The Kansas Rig Count from Independent Oil and Gas Service is up one rig in Western Kansas and unchanged east of Wichita, for a total of 29 active drilling rigs. Drilling was underway Friday on two leases in Barton County.Regulators approved 24 new drilling permits, with just two in Western Kansas. That's 498 new drilling locations approved through the first half of the year, compared to 651 a year ago.Independent Oil and Gas Service reports 28 new well-completions, 13 east of Wichita and 15 in the western half of the state. That's 671 completed wells so far this year, compared to 874 through the first half of last year.A judge halts the pause, but don't expect big LNG export growth right away. A US judge last week halted President Biden's temporary moratorium on new export licenses for liquefied natural gas. But Bloomberg reports the decision won't jump-start new export approvals any time soon. The pause affected new licenses only. The U.S. is the world’s largest exporter of LNG and has more room to grow under existing licenses.Conoco Phillips filed suit to block an Administration ban on new drilling across nearly half of the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska. The company holds leases on nearly two million acres within the reserve, which was established as an emergency oil supply for the US Navy in 1923. The regulation won’t alter the terms of existing contracts there, or directly affect current projects including ConocoPhillips’ 600-million-barrel Willow project.A government report suggests that aviation in the US is getting close but has not yet fully returned to normal operations in the third year after the onset of the pandemic. Annual jet-fuel consumption grew for the third year in a row last year, but remained about five percent below the pre-pandemic high in 2019. The Energy Information Administration reports airline passenger volumes so far this year have surpassed 2019 and are consistently higher than last year.

News from the Oil Patch: EIA reports biggest drop in stockpiles in over a year

The City of Great Bend would like to announce we will be burning our tree pile at the compost site today. We are taking advantage of the current wind conditions with the potential to be burning tomorrow as well. Depending on the weather it could be extended further into the week.

The burn area will be continuously monitored by city staff 24 hours a day.

The City of Great Bend appreciates the patience of the public while this work is performed, it is likely if the wind is right that you might smell or see the smoke. Please contact Tony Bronson, Street Department Supervisor at 620.793.4150 regarding this project.

From the City of Great Bend...The City of Great Bend would like to announce we will be burning our tree pile at the compost site today. We are taking advantage of the current wind conditions with the potential to be burning tomorrow as well. Depending on the weather it could be extended further into the week.The burn area will be continuously monitored by city staff 24 hours a day.The City of Great Bend appreciates the patience of the public while this work is performed, it is likely if the wind is right that you might smell or see the smoke. Please contact Tony Bronson, Street Department Supervisor at 620.793.4150 regarding this project.

City of Great Bend burning tree pile at compost

The Kansas Department of Transportation announces approved bids for state highway construction and maintenance projects. The letting took place June 20, 2024, in Topeka. Some of the bids may include multiple projects that have been bundled based on proximity and type of work.

Douglas ‑&nbsp;40‑23 KA‑3634‑03 – U.S. 40, from the K‑10/U.S. 40 junction southeast to the K‑10/U.S. 59/U.S. 40/Iowa Street interchange; K‑10, from 1.21 miles south of the I‑70/KTA/K‑10 junction south to the K‑10/U.S. 40 junction; grading, bridge and surfacing, 7.4 miles, Emery Sapp &amp; Sons Inc. and Subsidiaries, Columbia, Missouri, $170,597,911.20.

Jefferson ‑&nbsp;59‑44 KA‑7333‑01 – U.S. 59, from the U.S. 59/98th Street junction north to the Jefferson/Atchison county line, crack repair, 13.6 miles, Pavement Pro's LLC, McPherson, Kansas, $116,836.82.

Jefferson ‑&nbsp;92‑44 KA‑7353‑01 ‑ K‑92, from the K‑92/Lovers Lane intersection in the city of McLouth northeast to the Jefferson/Leavenworth county line, crack repair, 5.5 miles, Pavement Pro's LLC, McPherson, Kansas, $57,185.71.

Jefferson ‑&nbsp;4‑44 KA‑7354‑01 ‑ K‑4, from the K‑4/K‑92 junction northeast to the K‑4/U.S. 59 junction, crack repair, 18.3 miles, Pavement Pro's LLC, McPherson, Kansas, $108,288.49.

Johnson ‑&nbsp;7‑46 KA‑6797‑01 ‑ K‑7, bridge #332 over the BNSF Railroad located 0.59 mile east of the K‑7/Old U.S. 56 west junction, bridge repair, Pyramid Contractors Inc. And Pyramid Properties Inc., Olathe, Kansas, $647,140.60.

Shawnee ‑&nbsp;70‑89 KA‑7350‑01 ‑ I‑70, beginning 0.22 mile west of SW Valencia Road east to 0.31 mile east of SW Eagle Ridge Lane, pavement marking, 5.0 miles, Cillessen and Sons Inc., Kechi, Kansas, $302,397.36.

Shawnee ‑&nbsp;24‑89 KA‑7340‑01 – U.S. 24, beginning at the Pottawatomie/Shawnee county line east to the west city limits of Silver Lake, beginning 0.39 mile east of Northwest Menoken Road east to 0.11 mile west of Northwest Rochester Road, crack repair, 14.2 miles, Pavement Pro's LLC, McPherson, Kansas, $119,091.64.

Statewide ‑&nbsp;106 KA‑7335‑01 – U.S. 75 in Shawnee County, beginning at the 2-lane/4-lane split north to the Osage/Shawnee county line, beginning at the Osage/Shawnee county line north to the south edge wearing surface of the Topeka Boulevard bridge, beginning at the north edge wearing surface of the Topeka Boulevard bridge north to end of hot mix asphalt surface; and K‑4 in Shawnee County, beginning at the Shawnee/Wabaunsee county line northeast to the K‑4/Auburn Road junction, crack repair, 25.1 miles, Pavement Pro's LLC, McPherson, Kansas, $257,063.21.

Statewide ‑&nbsp;32‑106 KA‑7355‑01 ‑ K‑32 in Douglas County, from the K‑32/U.S. 24 junction east to the Leavenworth/Douglas county line; and K‑32 in Leavenworth County, from the Leavenworth/Douglas county line east to the Leavenworth/Wyandotte county line, crack repair, 17.2 miles, Pavement Pro's LLC, McPherson, Kansas, $185,208.62.

Ellsworth ‑&nbsp;70‑27 KA‑7231‑01 ‑ Light tower #1, located westbound I‑70, center of the rest area. Light tower #2, located eastbound I‑70, center of the rest area, lighting, 0.7 mile, Phillips Southern Electric Company Inc., Wichita, Kansas, $113,216.00.

Marion ‑&nbsp;56‑57 KA‑7349‑01 – U.S. 56, from 6th Street in Lincolnville north to 0.15 mile south of 340th Road, 4-inch overlay, 4.8 miles, Shilling Construction Co. Inc., Manhattan, Kansas, $1,334,751.46.

Rooks ‑&nbsp;24‑82 KA‑5754‑01 – U.S. 24, bridge #012 over South Fork Solomon River Drainage located 0.26 mile west of the U.S. 183/U.S. 24 junction, bridge replacement, Klaver Construction Company Inc., Wichita, Kansas, $2,310,818.48.

Sheridan ‑&nbsp;23‑90 KA‑6019‑01 ‑ K‑23, from 0.25 mile south of County Road 70 north to Walnut Avenue in Hoxie - includes bridges #016 over the South Fork Solomon River and #017 over the Sand Creek Bridge, grading, bridge and surfacing, 6.2 miles, Sporer Land Development Inc., Oakley, Kansas, $19,012,746.87.

Cherokee ‑&nbsp;69‑11 KA‑7308‑01 – U.S. 69A, beginning at the U.S. 69A/U.S. 400/K‑66 junction north 0.33 mile, pavement marking, 0.3 mile, Heartland Traffic Services Inc., Kansas City, Kansas, $35,322.00.

Greenwood ‑&nbsp;54‑37 KA‑7068‑01 – U.S. 54. bridge #068 over the Verdigris River located 0.3 mile west of the Woodson/Greenwood county line, bridge repair, PBX Corporation &amp; Subsidiary, Sapulpa, Oklahoma, $178,849.29.

Labette ‑&nbsp;59‑50 KA‑7307‑01 – U.S. 59, beginning at the U.S. 59/U.S. 160 junction north 0.41 mile, pavement marking, 0.4 mile, Heartland Traffic Services Inc., Kansas City, Kansas, $38,580.25.

Linn ‑&nbsp;69‑54 KA‑6735‑01 – U.S. 69, bridge #057 over the Marias Des Cygnes River located 0.88 mile south of the K‑52/U.S. 69 north junction, bridge repair, Bettis Asphalt &amp; Construction Inc., Topeka, Kansas, $477,049.80.

Miami ‑&nbsp;68‑61 KA‑7306‑01 ‑ K‑68, beginning 0.86 mile west of the K‑68/U.S. 169/K‑7 junction, east 0.4 mile, pavement marking, 0.4 mile, Heartland Traffic Services Inc., Kansas City, Kansas, $26,762.75.

Wilson ‑&nbsp;400‑103 KA‑7309‑01 – U.S. 400: beginning 3.02 miles northwest of the U.S. 400/K‑47 junction, northwest 0.6 mile, pavement marking, 0.6 mile, Cillessen and Sons Inc., Kechi, Kansas, $47,503.75.

Wilson ‑&nbsp;39‑103 KA‑6728‑01 ‑ K‑39, bridge #021 over Snake Creek located 7.12 miles east of the U.S. 400/K‑39 junction, and bridge #022 over the Verdigris River located 8.48 miles east of the U.S. 400/K‑39 junction, bridge repair, Wildcat Construction Co. Inc. &amp; Subsidiaries, Wichita, Kansas, $1,243,678.64.

Barton ‑&nbsp;4‑5 KA‑7320‑01 ‑ K‑4, beginning 0.57 mile east of the U.S. 281/K‑4 junction east to the Rice/Barton county line, pavement marking, 16.1 miles, Roadsafe Traffic Systems Inc., Chicago, Illinois, $147,348.22.

Barton ‑&nbsp;281‑5 KA‑7319‑01 – U.S. 281, beginning at the west city limits of Hoisington northwest to the Russell/Barton county line, pavement marking, 15.3 miles, Roadsafe Traffic Systems Inc., Chicago, Illinois, $223,566.78.

Harvey ‑&nbsp;135‑40 KA‑0052‑01 ‑ I‑135/36th Street interchange, 2 miles south of the I‑135/U.S. 50 south junction, grading, bridge and surfacing, Pearson Construction LLC, Wichita, Kansas, $16,534,022.31.

Rice ‑&nbsp;14‑80 KA‑7322‑01 ‑ K‑14, beginning 3.77 miles north of the U.S. 56/K‑96/K‑14 junction north to the Rice/Ellsworth county line, pavement marking, 8.3 miles, Roadsafe Traffic Systems Inc., Chicago, Illinois, $230,360.50.

Barton ‑&nbsp;4‑5 KA‑7321‑01 ‑ K‑4, beginning at the Barton/Rush county line east to the U.S. 281/K‑4 west junction, pavement marking, 10.0 miles, Cillessen and Sons Inc., Kechi, Kansas, $207,551.70.

Rush ‑&nbsp;4‑83 KA‑7318‑01 ‑ K‑4, beginning at the K‑4/U.S. 183 junction east to the Rush/Barton county line, pavement marking, 15.1 miles, Roadsafe Traffic Systems Inc., Chicago, Illinois, $231,760.51

Sumner ‑&nbsp;160‑96 KA‑6941‑01 – U.S. 160, bridge #142 over the Union Pacific Railroad located 0.23 mile southwest of the U.S. 81/U.S. 160 west junction in Wellington, bridge repair, Wildcat Construction Co. Inc. &amp; Subsidiaries, Wichita, Kansas, $523,379.99.

Statewide ‑&nbsp;106 KA‑6863‑01 ‑ K‑96, U.S. 54 and K‑15 in Sedgwick, Butler and Sumner counties, signing, Cooper Construction LLC, Emporia, Kansas, $2,605,955.08.

Stevens ‑&nbsp;95 TE‑9605‑01 ‑ U.S. 56, between South Polk Street and South Main Street in Hugoton, pedestrian and bicycle paths, Multicon Inc., Park City, Kansas, $580,671.01.

The following project was approved from the April 17, 2024, letting.

Linn ‑&nbsp;54 C‑5081‑01 ‑ Bridge, 1.0 mile north and 1.2 miles west of LaCygne over BNSF Railroad, bridge replacement, Dondlinger &amp; Sons Construction Co. Inc., Wichita Kansas, $1,991,283.58.

The following projects were approved from the May 22, 2024, letting.

Shawnee ‑&nbsp;89 TE‑0505‑02 – A total of 10 locations connecting to Landon, Shunga and North Levee Trails, pedestrian and bicycle paths, 3.5 miles, Julius Kaaz Construction Co. Inc., Leavenworth, Kansas, $598,598.00.

Sumner ‑&nbsp;96 TE‑0506‑01 ‑ North side of 16th Street, from A Street to Woodlawn Avenue, pedestrian and bicycle paths, 0.5 mile, APAC-Kansas Inc. Shears Division, Hutchinson, Kansas, $420,521.65.

Sumner ‑&nbsp;96 TE‑0509‑01 ‑ 4th Avenue, from Merchant Street to Main Street; Logan Street from 4th Avenue to 7th Avenue; and around Watson Park, pedestrian and bicycle paths, 0.7 mile, Barkley Construction LLC, Wichita, Kansas, $610,649.40.

The Kansas Department of Transportation announces approved bids for state highway construction and maintenance projects. The letting took place June 20, 2024, in Topeka. Some of the bids may include multiple projects that have been bundled based on proximity and type of work.District One — NortheastDouglas ‑&nbsp;40‑23 KA‑3634‑03 – U.S. 40, from the K‑10/U.S. 40 junction southeast to the K‑10/U.S. 59/U.S. 40/Iowa Street interchange; K‑10, from 1.21 miles south of the I‑70/KTA/K‑10 junction south to the K‑10/U.S. 40 junction; grading, bridge and surfacing, 7.4 miles, Emery Sapp &amp; Sons Inc. and Subsidiaries, Columbia, Missouri, $170,597,911.20.Jefferson ‑&nbsp;59‑44 KA‑7333‑01 – U.S. 59, from the U.S. 59/98th Street junction north to the Jefferson/Atchison county line, crack repair, 13.6 miles, Pavement Pro's LLC, McPherson, Kansas, $116,836.82.Jefferson ‑&nbsp;92‑44 KA‑7353‑01 ‑ K‑92, from the K‑92/Lovers Lane intersection in the city of McLouth northeast to the Jefferson/Leavenworth county line, crack repair, 5.5 miles, Pavement Pro's LLC, McPherson, Kansas, $57,185.71.Jefferson ‑&nbsp;4‑44 KA‑7354‑01 ‑ K‑4, from the K‑4/K‑92 junction northeast to the K‑4/U.S. 59 junction, crack repair, 18.3 miles, Pavement Pro's LLC, McPherson, Kansas, $108,288.49.Johnson ‑&nbsp;7‑46 KA‑6797‑01 ‑ K‑7, bridge #332 over the BNSF Railroad located 0.59 mile east of the K‑7/Old U.S. 56 west junction, bridge repair, Pyramid Contractors Inc. And Pyramid Properties Inc., Olathe, Kansas, $647,140.60.Shawnee ‑&nbsp;70‑89 KA‑7350‑01 ‑ I‑70, beginning 0.22 mile west of SW Valencia Road east to 0.31 mile east of SW Eagle Ridge Lane, pavement marking, 5.0 miles, Cillessen and Sons Inc., Kechi, Kansas, $302,397.36.Shawnee ‑&nbsp;24‑89 KA‑7340‑01 – U.S. 24, beginning at the Pottawatomie/Shawnee county line east to the west city limits of Silver Lake, beginning 0.39 mile east of Northwest Menoken Road east to 0.11 mile west of Northwest Rochester Road, crack repair, 14.2 miles, Pavement Pro's LLC, McPherson, Kansas, $119,091.64.Statewide ‑&nbsp;106 KA‑7335‑01 – U.S. 75 in Shawnee County, beginning at the 2-lane/4-lane split north to the Osage/Shawnee county line, beginning at the Osage/Shawnee county line north to the south edge wearing surface of the Topeka Boulevard bridge, beginning at the north edge wearing surface of the Topeka Boulevard bridge north to end of hot mix asphalt surface; and K‑4 in Shawnee County, beginning at the Shawnee/Wabaunsee county line northeast to the K‑4/Auburn Road junction, crack repair, 25.1 miles, Pavement Pro's LLC, McPherson, Kansas, $257,063.21.Statewide ‑&nbsp;32‑106 KA‑7355‑01 ‑ K‑32 in Douglas County, from the K‑32/U.S. 24 junction east to the Leavenworth/Douglas county line; and K‑32 in Leavenworth County, from the Leavenworth/Douglas county line east to the Leavenworth/Wyandotte county line, crack repair, 17.2 miles, Pavement Pro's LLC, McPherson, Kansas, $185,208.62.District Two — North CentralEllsworth ‑&nbsp;70‑27 KA‑7231‑01 ‑ Light tower #1, located westbound I‑70, center of the rest area. Light tower #2, located eastbound I‑70, center of the rest area, lighting, 0.7 mile, Phillips Southern Electric Company Inc., Wichita, Kansas, $113,216.00.Marion ‑&nbsp;56‑57 KA‑7349‑01 – U.S. 56, from 6th Street in Lincolnville north to 0.15 mile south of 340th Road, 4-inch overlay, 4.8 miles, Shilling Construction Co. Inc., Manhattan, Kansas, $1,334,751.46.District Three — NorthwestRooks ‑&nbsp;24‑82 KA‑5754‑01 – U.S. 24, bridge #012 over South Fork Solomon River Drainage located 0.26 mile west of the U.S. 183/U.S. 24 junction, bridge replacement, Klaver Construction Company Inc., Wichita, Kansas, $2,310,818.48.Sheridan ‑&nbsp;23‑90 KA‑6019‑01 ‑ K‑23, from 0.25 mile south of County Road 70 north to Walnut Avenue in Hoxie - includes bridges #016 over the South Fork Solomon River and #017 over the Sand Creek Bridge, grading, bridge and surfacing, 6.2 miles, Sporer Land Development Inc., Oakley, Kansas, $19,012,746.87.District Four — SoutheastCherokee ‑&nbsp;69‑11 KA‑7308‑01 – U.S. 69A, beginning at the U.S. 69A/U.S. 400/K‑66 junction north 0.33 mile, pavement marking, 0.3 mile, Heartland Traffic Services Inc., Kansas City, Kansas, $35,322.00.Greenwood ‑&nbsp;54‑37 KA‑7068‑01 – U.S. 54. bridge #068 over the Verdigris River located 0.3 mile west of the Woodson/Greenwood county line, bridge repair, PBX Corporation &amp; Subsidiary, Sapulpa, Oklahoma, $178,849.29.Labette ‑&nbsp;59‑50 KA‑7307‑01 – U.S. 59, beginning at the U.S. 59/U.S. 160 junction north 0.41 mile, pavement marking, 0.4 mile, Heartland Traffic Services Inc., Kansas City, Kansas, $38,580.25.Linn ‑&nbsp;69‑54 KA‑6735‑01 – U.S. 69, bridge #057 over the Marias Des Cygnes River located 0.88 mile south of the K‑52/U.S. 69 north junction, bridge repair, Bettis Asphalt &amp; Construction Inc., Topeka, Kansas, $477,049.80.Miami ‑&nbsp;68‑61 KA‑7306‑01 ‑ K‑68, beginning 0.86 mile west of the K‑68/U.S. 169/K‑7 junction, east 0.4 mile, pavement marking, 0.4 mile, Heartland Traffic Services Inc., Kansas City, Kansas, $26,762.75.Wilson ‑&nbsp;400‑103 KA‑7309‑01 – U.S. 400: beginning 3.02 miles northwest of the U.S. 400/K‑47 junction, northwest 0.6 mile, pavement marking, 0.6 mile, Cillessen and Sons Inc., Kechi, Kansas, $47,503.75.Wilson ‑&nbsp;39‑103 KA‑6728‑01 ‑ K‑39, bridge #021 over Snake Creek located 7.12 miles east of the U.S. 400/K‑39 junction, and bridge #022 over the Verdigris River located 8.48 miles east of the U.S. 400/K‑39 junction, bridge repair, Wildcat Construction Co. Inc. &amp; Subsidiaries, Wichita, Kansas, $1,243,678.64.District Five — South CentralBarton ‑&nbsp;4‑5 KA‑7320‑01 ‑ K‑4, beginning 0.57 mile east of the U.S. 281/K‑4 junction east to the Rice/Barton county line, pavement marking, 16.1 miles, Roadsafe Traffic Systems Inc., Chicago, Illinois, $147,348.22.Barton ‑&nbsp;281‑5 KA‑7319‑01 – U.S. 281, beginning at the west city limits of Hoisington northwest to the Russell/Barton county line, pavement marking, 15.3 miles, Roadsafe Traffic Systems Inc., Chicago, Illinois, $223,566.78.Harvey ‑&nbsp;135‑40 KA‑0052‑01 ‑ I‑135/36th Street interchange, 2 miles south of the I‑135/U.S. 50 south junction, grading, bridge and surfacing, Pearson Construction LLC, Wichita, Kansas, $16,534,022.31.Rice ‑&nbsp;14‑80 KA‑7322‑01 ‑ K‑14, beginning 3.77 miles north of the U.S. 56/K‑96/K‑14 junction north to the Rice/Ellsworth county line, pavement marking, 8.3 miles, Roadsafe Traffic Systems Inc., Chicago, Illinois, $230,360.50.Barton ‑&nbsp;4‑5 KA‑7321‑01 ‑ K‑4, beginning at the Barton/Rush county line east to the U.S. 281/K‑4 west junction, pavement marking, 10.0 miles, Cillessen and Sons Inc., Kechi, Kansas, $207,551.70.Rush ‑&nbsp;4‑83 KA‑7318‑01 ‑ K‑4, beginning at the K‑4/U.S. 183 junction east to the Rush/Barton county line, pavement marking, 15.1 miles, Roadsafe Traffic Systems Inc., Chicago, Illinois, $231,760.51Sumner ‑&nbsp;160‑96 KA‑6941‑01 – U.S. 160, bridge #142 over the Union Pacific Railroad located 0.23 mile southwest of the U.S. 81/U.S. 160 west junction in Wellington, bridge repair, Wildcat Construction Co. Inc. &amp; Subsidiaries, Wichita, Kansas, $523,379.99.Statewide ‑&nbsp;106 KA‑6863‑01 ‑ K‑96, U.S. 54 and K‑15 in Sedgwick, Butler and Sumner counties, signing, Cooper Construction LLC, Emporia, Kansas, $2,605,955.08.District Six — SouthwestStevens ‑&nbsp;95 TE‑9605‑01 ‑ U.S. 56, between South Polk Street and South Main Street in Hugoton, pedestrian and bicycle paths, Multicon Inc., Park City, Kansas, $580,671.01.The following project was approved from the April 17, 2024, letting.Linn ‑&nbsp;54 C‑5081‑01 ‑ Bridge, 1.0 mile north and 1.2 miles west of LaCygne over BNSF Railroad, bridge replacement, Dondlinger &amp; Sons Construction Co. Inc., Wichita Kansas, $1,991,283.58.The following projects were approved from the May 22, 2024, letting.Shawnee ‑&nbsp;89 TE‑0505‑02 – A total of 10 locations connecting to Landon, Shunga and North Levee Trails, pedestrian and bicycle paths, 3.5 miles, Julius Kaaz Construction Co. Inc., Leavenworth, Kansas, $598,598.00.Sumner ‑&nbsp;96 TE‑0506‑01 ‑ North side of 16th Street, from A Street to Woodlawn Avenue, pedestrian and bicycle paths, 0.5 mile, APAC-Kansas Inc. Shears Division, Hutchinson, Kansas, $420,521.65.Sumner ‑&nbsp;96 TE‑0509‑01 ‑ 4th Avenue, from Merchant Street to Main Street; Logan Street from 4th Avenue to 7th Avenue; and around Watson Park, pedestrian and bicycle paths, 0.7 mile, Barkley Construction LLC, Wichita, Kansas, $610,649.40.

KDOT announces approved June bids

There are several reasons why healthy vegetable crops produce flowers and no fruit. Most squash, cucumbers and melons have separate male and female flowers on each plant. Usually, male flowers appear first in the season. Female flowers have a swollen area beneath the petals while male flowers have a narrow base. Check your plants to see if both flower types are present. If male and female flowers are present, observe the area for pollinators. If few to no pollinators are present, vegetables with separate male and female flowers may not produce fruit.

You can pollinate the flowers by transferring pollen from a male flower to the stigma of the female flower using a paintbrush. Mark that flower and notice if it is the only one that sets fruit. If this is the case the problem is likely a lack of pollinators.

Pollinator activity can be inhibited by the weather. Pollinators are less active on cold and rainy days. The use of insecticides can also harm pollinators. If using herbicides, apply them in the evening when the flowers have closed for the day.

High temperatures can cause some vegetable plants to drop their blossoms prematurely. Tomatoes will stop producing fruit in temperatures above 95 degrees F. Production will resume once the temperature decreases. Ensure plants receive adequate water during this time. Though nitrogen can promote vegetative growth, too much can inhibit flower and fruit production. Follow recommended rates for fertilizer applications.

Alicia Boor is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact her by e-mail at aboor@ksu.edu or calling 620-793-1910.

K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity employer and provider. Kansas State University, County Extension Councils, Extension Districts, and U.S. Department of Agriculture Cooperating.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1698681527025.jpeg" alt="written by: Alicia Boor - Cottonwood Extension District" />
 <figcaption>written by: Alicia Boor - Cottonwood Extension District</figcaption>
 </figure>There are several reasons why healthy vegetable crops produce flowers and no fruit. Most squash, cucumbers and melons have separate male and female flowers on each plant. Usually, male flowers appear first in the season. Female flowers have a swollen area beneath the petals while male flowers have a narrow base. Check your plants to see if both flower types are present. If male and female flowers are present, observe the area for pollinators. If few to no pollinators are present, vegetables with separate male and female flowers may not produce fruit. You can pollinate the flowers by transferring pollen from a male flower to the stigma of the female flower using a paintbrush. Mark that flower and notice if it is the only one that sets fruit. If this is the case the problem is likely a lack of pollinators.Pollinator activity can be inhibited by the weather. Pollinators are less active on cold and rainy days. The use of insecticides can also harm pollinators. If using herbicides, apply them in the evening when the flowers have closed for the day.High temperatures can cause some vegetable plants to drop their blossoms prematurely. Tomatoes will stop producing fruit in temperatures above 95 degrees F. Production will resume once the temperature decreases. Ensure plants receive adequate water during this time. Though nitrogen can promote vegetative growth, too much can inhibit flower and fruit production. Follow recommended rates for fertilizer applications.Alicia Boor is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact her by e-mail at aboor@ksu.edu or calling 620-793-1910.K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity employer and provider. Kansas State University, County Extension Councils, Extension Districts, and U.S. Department of Agriculture Cooperating.

BOOR: Vegetables produce flowers but not fruit

From Fort Larned National Historic Site...

Our entrance sign is the first glimpse our visitors get of the park as they’re driving along the highway, and first impressions count. We are very proud of this new sign and none of this would have been possible without the incredible dedication of the maintenance team and all of those who worked tirelessly behind the scenes. Their efforts ensure that every visitor can easily find their way to the park and begin their historical adventure. 

We are always trying to make our park a welcoming place for all who come to visit, so keep an eye out for even more new things. Come out and visit us soon and see the new sign for yourself. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720446631666.jpeg" alt="Photo by Ben Long, NPS&nbsp;&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Ben Long, NPS&nbsp;&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>From Fort Larned National Historic Site...Our entrance sign is the first glimpse our visitors get of the park as they’re driving along the highway, and first impressions count. We are very proud of this new sign and none of this would have been possible without the incredible dedication of the maintenance team and all of those who worked tirelessly behind the scenes. Their efforts ensure that every visitor can easily find their way to the park and begin their historical adventure. We are always trying to make our park a welcoming place for all who come to visit, so keep an eye out for even more new things. Come out and visit us soon and see the new sign for yourself.

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