The city of Great Bend continues to offer assistance to residents following Sunday's storm. City Administrator Brandon Anderson said a cooling station has been established at the Great Bend Events Center, 3111 10th Street, for residents without air conditioning. Those without power can stop in throughout the day.

"They're welcome to bring water and supplies as we're not sure what is provided at this time," Anderson said.

The American Red Cross is also en route and will also assist with the operation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1607112129072.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Great Bend PostThe city of Great Bend continues to offer assistance to residents following Sunday's storm. City Administrator Brandon Anderson said a cooling station has been established at the Great Bend Events Center, 3111 10th Street, for residents without air conditioning. Those without power can stop in throughout the day."They're welcome to bring water and supplies as we're not sure what is provided at this time," Anderson said.The American Red Cross is also en route and will also assist with the operation.

Cooling Station now open at Great Bend Events Center

By MIKE COURSON Great Bend Post

Straight-line winds or a tornado? Sunday evening at 6:15 p.m., the National Weather Service in Wichita issued a tornado warning for Barton County and the city of Great Bend after a possible radar-indicated tornado moved through the city limits. Sheriff Brian Bellendir said no official cause of widespread damage has been determined.

"It's still open for debate whether this was straight-line winds or we had the possibility of a tornado that didn't quite touch down," he said. "At one point, the National Weather Service issued a tornado warning for a radar-indicated tornado over Great Bend but we don't know for sure. It's going to take some time to assess the damage. Someone will probably fly over it and see if they can tell."

The city of Great Bend tested its tornado sirens on Tuesday. Because of the timing of Sunday's storm, the sirens did not go off. Large hail began to fall on the area just before 6 p.m., and winds picked up considerably before the tornado warning was issued.

"I don't know what happened for sure," Bellendir said. "When I heard there had been a radar-indicated tornado, I called dispatch and told them to cycle them and it didn't happen. Something happened there, we don't know. It may have been, too, that we had no power already. That said, when the Weather Service called, we were already in the thick of the storm. There may have been power lines down before they ever warned us. If you don't have any power to those sirens, they aren't going to work."

Bellendir and deputies saw widespread damage around the county. Approximately a mile of power poles were snapped off on Northeast 20 Road north of Great Bend.  

"It looks like this kind of followed US-281 south," said Bellendir. "I don't think Hoisington had much damage. I think they had some limbs down. But the further south and closer to Great Bend you got, the more damage you're seeing. We're seeing whole trees that were completely uprooted. They're not broken off. I probably saw 50 trees last night. We've had kind of a wet year and the ground is soft, then you've got these 80-90 mile-an-hour winds on these trees and it just pushed them over and uprooted them completely. I've seen that happen before but not this number of trees."

Bellendir urged the public to remain cautious as clean-up begins. Do not go out if it can be avoided, and be safe when using generators.

"We've got a ton of downed powerlines all over town, so be wary of those," he said. "At some point, they're going to try to energize this system. You don't want to be in contact with any of that stuff when they energize." 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689602850865.jpeg" alt="First Southern Baptist Church located at 19th and Harrison Street in Great Bend had a portion of its roof blown off during Sunday's storm." />
 <figcaption>First Southern Baptist Church located at 19th and Harrison Street in Great Bend had a portion of its roof blown off during Sunday's storm.</figcaption>
 </figure>By MIKE COURSON Great Bend PostStraight-line winds or a tornado? Sunday evening at 6:15 p.m., the National Weather Service in Wichita issued a tornado warning for Barton County and the city of Great Bend after a possible radar-indicated tornado moved through the city limits. Sheriff Brian Bellendir said no official cause of widespread damage has been determined."It's still open for debate whether this was straight-line winds or we had the possibility of a tornado that didn't quite touch down," he said. "At one point, the National Weather Service issued a tornado warning for a radar-indicated tornado over Great Bend but we don't know for sure. It's going to take some time to assess the damage. Someone will probably fly over it and see if they can tell."The city of Great Bend tested its tornado sirens on Tuesday. Because of the timing of Sunday's storm, the sirens did not go off. Large hail began to fall on the area just before 6 p.m., and winds picked up considerably before the tornado warning was issued."I don't know what happened for sure," Bellendir said. "When I heard there had been a radar-indicated tornado, I called dispatch and told them to cycle them and it didn't happen. Something happened there, we don't know. It may have been, too, that we had no power already. That said, when the Weather Service called, we were already in the thick of the storm. There may have been power lines down before they ever warned us. If you don't have any power to those sirens, they aren't going to work."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689602963491.jpeg" alt="Many trees were uprooted in and around Great Bend, including this large pine on 18th Street." />
 <figcaption>Many trees were uprooted in and around Great Bend, including this large pine on 18th Street.</figcaption>
 </figure>Bellendir and deputies saw widespread damage around the county. Approximately a mile of power poles were snapped off on Northeast 20 Road north of Great Bend. "It looks like this kind of followed US-281 south," said Bellendir. "I don't think Hoisington had much damage. I think they had some limbs down. But the further south and closer to Great Bend you got, the more damage you're seeing. We're seeing whole trees that were completely uprooted. They're not broken off. I probably saw 50 trees last night. We've had kind of a wet year and the ground is soft, then you've got these 80-90 mile-an-hour winds on these trees and it just pushed them over and uprooted them completely. I've seen that happen before but not this number of trees."Bellendir urged the public to remain cautious as clean-up begins. Do not go out if it can be avoided, and be safe when using generators."We've got a ton of downed powerlines all over town, so be wary of those," he said. "At some point, they're going to try to energize this system. You don't want to be in contact with any of that stuff when they energize."

Barton Co. Sheriff: Tornado not yet ruled out in Great Bend's Sunday storm

The City of Great Bend is putting together a storm cleanup plan for trees &amp; limbs. Today City Staff is focusing on clearing Streets ONLY, however the next step will be to drive every neighborhood and pick up down trees and limbs with these following rules.

Thank you for your understanding in this matter, we will release more information as we have it.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689602429510.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>From the City of Great Bend...The City of Great Bend is putting together a storm cleanup plan for trees &amp; limbs. Today City Staff is focusing on clearing Streets ONLY, however the next step will be to drive every neighborhood and pick up down trees and limbs with these following rules.<ul>
 <li>If you are able to take your own tree limbs to the City Compost Site, we would greatly appreciate the help and effort.</li><li>If you are unable to take your own limbs, please gather them to the edge of your yard by the curb.</li><li>The city will drive every neighborhood to pick up tree parts that are gathered in citizens yards next to the curb. HOWEVER, they will ONLY drive by one time, so please make it a priority to get yours gathered as soon as possible. We will release some sort of map and plan on dates as soon as we can.</li><li>Please cut trees and limbs to&nbsp;6 feet or shorter&nbsp;to help city efforts and cleanup.</li><li>Please help elderly and unable citizens as we strive together to clean up our community. If you are unable to clean up your yard, please contact City Hall at&nbsp; 620-793-4111 or email chayes@greatbendks.net and ask to be added to the unable to clean list and we will connect a group of workers/volunteers to your area.&nbsp;</li>
 </ul>Thank you for your understanding in this matter, we will release more information as we have it.

City of Great Bend offering tree cleanup service

Wheatland Electric continues to work on restoring power to the city of Great Bend. According to the Wheatland website, more than 9,000 customers, or 100 percent of customers, in Great Bend are without power though portions of the city's power were restored before midnight Sunday evening.

"We do still have quite a few members that are without power, said Wheatland Director of Member Services and Corporate Communications. "Sunflower Electric Power Corporation, our power supplier, worked through the night, as well as Wheatland crews. They continue to work to repair downed transmission structures in Great Bend. We are hoping that repairs are going to be made late morning/early afternoon. If everything goes well, we should have power restored hopefully by mid-afternoon."

A tornado warning was issued for Barton County and the city of Great Bend just after 6 p.m. Sunday, and strong winds and hail toppled many power poles and lines in the area. A Wheatland crew from Garden City will be in Great Bend Monday to assist local workers. Wheatland will reassess by the end of the day to determine if more outside assistance is required.

"We are starting to reenergize some of the lines right now," Conine said. "As we're doing so, more damage is becoming apparent. There might be still isolated outages. There might be a chance your neighbor has power and you don't. That's why we encourage our members to call that number just so we know."

Conine said Wheatland has automated metering, so the company often knows of outages before customers do. During regular business hours, call the Great Bend office at (620) 793-4223 to report outages or any damage to lines. Outside of business hours, call 1-800-ON-AGAIN (1-800-662-4246).

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689601516541.jpeg" alt="Wheatland crews work on damage infrastructure on north Washington in Great Bend Monday morning. Check out live coverage of Sunday's storms on 100.7 and 106.9 FM." />
 <figcaption>Wheatland crews work on damage infrastructure on north Washington in Great Bend Monday morning. Check out live coverage of Sunday's storms on 100.7 and 106.9 FM.</figcaption>
 </figure>By MIKE COURSON Great Bend PostWheatland Electric continues to work on restoring power to the city of Great Bend. According to the Wheatland website, more than 9,000 customers, or 100 percent of customers, in Great Bend are without power though portions of the city's power were restored before midnight Sunday evening."We do still have quite a few members that are without power, said Wheatland Director of Member Services and Corporate Communications. "Sunflower Electric Power Corporation, our power supplier, worked through the night, as well as Wheatland crews. They continue to work to repair downed transmission structures in Great Bend. We are hoping that repairs are going to be made late morning/early afternoon. If everything goes well, we should have power restored hopefully by mid-afternoon."A tornado warning was issued for Barton County and the city of Great Bend just after 6 p.m. Sunday, and strong winds and hail toppled many power poles and lines in the area. A Wheatland crew from Garden City will be in Great Bend Monday to assist local workers. Wheatland will reassess by the end of the day to determine if more outside assistance is required."We are starting to reenergize some of the lines right now," Conine said. "As we're doing so, more damage is becoming apparent. There might be still isolated outages. There might be a chance your neighbor has power and you don't. That's why we encourage our members to call that number just so we know."Conine said Wheatland has automated metering, so the company often knows of outages before customers do. During regular business hours, call the Great Bend office at (620) 793-4223 to report outages or any damage to lines. Outside of business hours, call 1-800-ON-AGAIN (1-800-662-4246).

Wheatland hopes to restore power by Monday afternoon

All Barton County Services Closed except emergency response

Report an Outage to Wheatland Electric 800-662-4246

No Friendship Meals no Meals on Wheels, no General Public Transportation

Russell Municipal Golf Course closed until noon (7/17)

Conserve Water Order in Hoisington Minimize Water Usage

Heart of Kansas Family Healthcare Closed Today

City of Great Bend tree limb Curbside Pickup will continue through the week

Great Bend Wetlands Waterpark pool (7/17)

Call in closings now to 620-792-3647 or email gbnews@eagleradio.net

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1639539889486.png" alt="Presented by H&amp;B Communications" />
 <figcaption>Presented by H&amp;B Communications</figcaption>
 </figure>All Barton County Services Closed except emergency responseReport an Outage to Wheatland Electric 800-662-4246No Friendship Meals no Meals on Wheels, no General Public TransportationClara Barton Medical Clinic-Great BendCottonwood Extension Office Closed TodayNo Great Bend Optimist Meeting TodayNo USD 428 REACH program (7/17)Russell Municipal Golf Course closed until noon (7/17)Great Bend Public Library ClosedConserve Water Order in Hoisington Minimize Water UsageHeart of Kansas Family Healthcare Closed TodayGreat Bend Front Door closed until NoonCity of Great Bend tree limb Curbside Pickup will continue through the weekGreat Bend Brit Spaugh Zoo (7/17)Great Bend Wetlands Waterpark pool (7/17)No Hoisington Friendship Meals---Call in closings now to 620-792-3647 or email gbnews@eagleradio.net

Closings & Cancellations - July 17th

By MIKE COURSON Great Bend Post

The high school sports season is ramping up with the first day of practices slated for Aug. 14. Great Bend High School is rolling out a new ticket option for fans ahead of the fall season. Courtney Duvall, activities director assistant, said there are two options, including a $150 pass for one individual to attend any home event during the 2023-24 school year.

"It equals out to about 21 games," she said. "That pass in particular really tries to reach out to families with multi-sport athletes or multiple athletes. Option two is a punch pass. Basically, it's 10 punches to any event, so 10 'tickets.'  You can use multiple tickets in one night. That could be something that you buy for the family. You can also repurchase that as many times throughout the year as you want."

Option two costs $60. Both options are entirely digital through GoFan. Great Bend High School will host more than 60 home sporting events throughout the school year. The Panther cross country teams open their season at home on Aug. 31, and the Panther football team begins the 2023 campaign at home against McPherson on Sept. 1.

<a href="https://gofan.co/event/1002215?schoolId=KS25138">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;or scan the QR code below to purchase either ticket option.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1666802996419.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By MIKE COURSON Great Bend PostThe high school sports season is ramping up with the first day of practices slated for Aug. 14. Great Bend High School is rolling out a new ticket option for fans ahead of the fall season. Courtney Duvall, activities director assistant, said there are two options, including a $150 pass for one individual to attend any home event during the 2023-24 school year."It equals out to about 21 games," she said. "That pass in particular really tries to reach out to families with multi-sport athletes or multiple athletes. Option two is a punch pass. Basically, it's 10 punches to any event, so 10 'tickets.' You can use multiple tickets in one night. That could be something that you buy for the family. You can also repurchase that as many times throughout the year as you want."Option two costs $60. Both options are entirely digital through GoFan. Great Bend High School will host more than 60 home sporting events throughout the school year. The Panther cross country teams open their season at home on Aug. 31, and the Panther football team begins the 2023 campaign at home against McPherson on Sept. 1.<a href="https://gofan.co/event/1002215?schoolId=KS25138">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;or scan the QR code below to purchase either ticket option.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689343409872.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

Great Bend High School offering new ticket options for fans

A large portion of Great Bend remains without power more than 12 hours after a strong thunderstorm ripped through the area Sunday evening. At 2 a.m. Wheatland Electric reported all power had been restored, but most of the east side of Great Bend remains without.

At 4:22 p.m. Sunday evening, a severe thunderstorm moved into northern Russell County. The cell had produced a tornado warning in Osborne County earlier in the day. That storm appeared to be tracking east of Great Bend when another cell developed behind that. Golf ball-sized hail was reported just northeast of Great Bend at 5:59 p.m. The National Weather Service out of Wichita also had reports of up to 2.25 inch hail, and softball-sized hail was reported near the Great Bend Airport.  At 6:15 p.m., the National Weather Service issued a Tornado Warning for Barton County as the storm moved across Great Bend. 

By 6:30 p.m., the National Weather Service had canceled the Tornado Warning for Barton County as areas of circulation moved south into Stafford County. 

A survey of damage reported to other media outlets include several power poles snapped near Hoisington, Great Bend, Larned, and Stafford County. Several large trees were uprooted within Great Bend city limits, and the large hail caused extensive damage, especially on the west side of Great Bend. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689593366002.jpeg" alt="Two large trees were uprooted Sunday evening at the&nbsp; Trinity Lutheran Church near 24th and Adams in Great Bend. Hail and powerful winds caused considerable damage throughout the area." />
 <figcaption>Two large trees were uprooted Sunday evening at the&nbsp; Trinity Lutheran Church near 24th and Adams in Great Bend. Hail and powerful winds caused considerable damage throughout the area.</figcaption>
 </figure>Great Bend PostA large portion of Great Bend remains without power more than 12 hours after a strong thunderstorm ripped through the area Sunday evening. At 2 a.m. Wheatland Electric reported all power had been restored, but most of the east side of Great Bend remains without.At 4:22 p.m. Sunday evening, a severe thunderstorm moved into northern Russell County. The cell had produced a tornado warning in Osborne County earlier in the day. That storm appeared to be tracking east of Great Bend when another cell developed behind that. Golf ball-sized hail was reported just northeast of Great Bend at 5:59 p.m. The National Weather Service out of Wichita also had reports of up to 2.25 inch hail, and softball-sized hail was reported near the Great Bend Airport. At 6:15 p.m., the National Weather Service issued a Tornado Warning for Barton County as the storm moved across Great Bend. By 6:30 p.m., the National Weather Service had canceled the Tornado Warning for Barton County as areas of circulation moved south into Stafford County. A survey of damage reported to other media outlets include several power poles snapped near Hoisington, Great Bend, Larned, and Stafford County. Several large trees were uprooted within Great Bend city limits, and the large hail caused extensive damage, especially on the west side of Great Bend.

Large portion of Great Bend remains powerless following storm

BARTON COUNTY —The Sunday evening storm brought damaging winds and large hail to Russell, Barton and Stafford County.

Sunflower had more than a dozen high-voltage transmission structures down and three substations offline in Great Bend. Crews were on site repairing the damage overnight.

&nbsp;Midwest Energy had many poles and wires down; the city of Great Bend was the damage epicenter, with lots of window, roof and tree damage, according to the utility. Midwest Energy crews continue to work to restore service.

 Sunflower crews worked through the night to repair downed transmission structures on NE 20 Road in Great Bend. Sunflower&nbsp; hopes repairs will be completed by mid-morning to early afternoon Monday morning. This should restore power to Great Bend transmission system.  

Other repairs on Railroad Avenue in Great Bend will continue throughout the coming days.

As a reminder, stay away from downed power lines as you can't tell visually if a line is energized.

Main roads have been cleared in the city of Great Bend, according to Great Bend Fire and EMS. Not all side roads are completely cleared.&nbsp; The Fire Department will send more crews out Monday morning.

Wheatland Electric also has crews out trying to restore power to the area.

The National Weather Service will be conducting a damage survey across Russell and Barton Counties Monday investigating possible tornadoes from the storms.

Check the Post for additional details as they become available.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689590471875.png" alt="Police working to clear streets in Great Bend-photo courtesy Great Bend Police" />
 <figcaption>Police working to clear streets in Great Bend-photo courtesy Great Bend Police</figcaption>
 </figure>BARTON COUNTY —The Sunday evening storm brought damaging winds and large hail to Russell, Barton and Stafford County.Sunflower had more than a dozen high-voltage transmission structures down and three substations offline in Great Bend. Crews were on site repairing the damage overnight.&nbsp;Midwest Energy had many poles and wires down; the city of Great Bend was the damage epicenter, with lots of window, roof and tree damage, according to the utility. Midwest Energy crews continue to work to restore service.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689590725516.png" alt="Crews working overnight to restore service-photo courtesy Midwest Energy" />
 <figcaption>Crews working overnight to restore service-photo courtesy Midwest Energy</figcaption>
 </figure> Sunflower crews worked through the night to repair downed transmission structures on NE 20 Road in Great Bend. Sunflower&nbsp; hopes repairs will be completed by mid-morning to early afternoon Monday morning. This should restore power to Great Bend transmission system. Other repairs on Railroad Avenue in Great Bend will continue throughout the coming days.As a reminder, stay away from downed power lines as you can't tell visually if a line is energized.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689590996952.png" alt="Storm damage in Great Bend photo courtesy Great Bend Police" />
 <figcaption>Storm damage in Great Bend photo courtesy Great Bend Police</figcaption>
 </figure>Main roads have been cleared in the city of Great Bend, according to Great Bend Fire and EMS. Not all side roads are completely cleared.&nbsp; The Fire Department will send more crews out Monday morning.Wheatland Electric also has crews out trying to restore power to the area.There are no reports of injuries.&nbsp; The National Weather Service will be conducting a damage survey across Russell and Barton Counties Monday investigating possible tornadoes from the storms.Check the Post for additional details as they become available.

Crews working to restore power, clear roads after Sunday storm

Great Bend Rec. -&nbsp;

All GB Rec Commission morning classes will not be held tomorrow (Monday, July 17th) due to the storm and clean up.&nbsp;At this time all programs will be held as scheduled starting at 1:00 pm for the remainder of the day.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1639539889486.png" alt="Monday Closings and Delays Presented by H&amp;B Communications" />
 <figcaption>Monday Closings and Delays Presented by H&amp;B Communications</figcaption>
 </figure>Great Bend Rec. -&nbsp;

All GB Rec Commission morning classes will not be held tomorrow (Monday, July 17th) due to the storm and clean up.&nbsp;At this time all programs will be held as scheduled starting at 1:00 pm for the remainder of the day.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Closings & Delays

RUSSELL COUNTY —Two people were injured in separate accidents during Sunday evening's severe thunderstorm and high winds in Russell County.

Just after 5p.m. Sunday, a 2020 Freightliner semi driven by Mohamed&nbsp; Soliman I, 53, Charlotte, North Carolina, was&nbsp; westbound on Interstate 70 at 193 Street. The semi rolled and came to a rest on its driver's side.

EMS transported a passenger from the sleeper birth Victor&nbsp;Navarro, 57, Charlotte, North Carolina, to Russell Regional Medical Center and then to Hays Medical Center. The driver was not injured.&nbsp;

A few minutes later, a 2017 Ford F150 towing a 2021 Cougar Travel Trailer and driven by Damon L. Brown, 51,&nbsp; Pauls Valley, Oklahoma, was eastbound on Interstate 70 just east of 193rd Street.&nbsp; Strong winds from the thunderstorm rolled the pickup and camper over.

EMS transported a passenger April D. Brown, 46, Pauls Valley, Oklahoma, to Russell Regional Hospital.

RUSSELL COUNTY —Two people were injured in separate accidents during Sunday evening's severe thunderstorm and high winds in Russell County.Just after 5p.m. Sunday, a 2020 Freightliner semi driven by Mohamed&nbsp; Soliman I, 53, Charlotte, North Carolina, was&nbsp; westbound on Interstate 70 at 193 Street. The semi rolled and came to a rest on its driver's side.EMS transported a passenger from the sleeper birth Victor&nbsp;Navarro, 57, Charlotte, North Carolina, to Russell Regional Medical Center and then to Hays Medical Center. The driver was not injured.&nbsp;A few minutes later, a 2017 Ford F150 towing a 2021 Cougar Travel Trailer and driven by Damon L. Brown, 51,&nbsp; Pauls Valley, Oklahoma, was eastbound on Interstate 70 just east of 193rd Street.&nbsp; Strong winds from the thunderstorm rolled the pickup and camper over.EMS transported a passenger April D. Brown, 46, Pauls Valley, Oklahoma, to Russell Regional Hospital.

2 hospitalized after accidents during Sunday's severe storm

The Eagle Media Center in Great Bend went live covering storm damage and cleanup efforts following the storm on Sunday, July 16.&nbsp; Storm information was aired on 100.7 Eagle Country and Hits 106.9.

The Eagle Media Center was on generator power, and B104.3 The Point as well as 1590 and 95.5 FM are currently off air.

The Eagle Media Center in Great Bend went live covering storm damage and cleanup efforts following the storm on Sunday, July 16.&nbsp; Storm information was aired on 100.7 Eagle Country and Hits 106.9. The Eagle Media Center was on generator power, and B104.3 The Point as well as 1590 and 95.5 FM are currently off air.

LIVE RADIO STORM COVERAGE - 100.7 Eagle Country & Hits 106.9

Hear this month's Focus on Hoisington show with Hoisington City Manager Jonathan Mitchell&nbsp;and Code Enforcement Officer Dolores Kipper that aired July 13, 2023.

The Focus on Hoisington program airs the second Thursday of the month at 11:30 a.m. on 1590 KVGB &amp; 95.5 FM.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1687372980932.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Hear this month's Focus on Hoisington show with Hoisington City Manager Jonathan Mitchell&nbsp;and Code Enforcement Officer Dolores Kipper that aired July 13, 2023.<div><iframe title="Focus on Hoisington show" allowtransparency="true" height="150" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:150px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=6s2w6-14562eb-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=f6f6f6&font-color=auto&logo_link=episode_page&btn-skin=60a0c8" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>The Focus on Hoisington program airs the second Thursday of the month at 11:30 a.m. on 1590 KVGB &amp; 95.5 FM.&nbsp;

🎙Post Podcast: Focus on Hoisington show

Great Bend City Council meeting July 17 - 6:30 p.m. City Hall Council Chambers The council meeting will be livestreamed for the public to view on the city council Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/gbcitycouncil/. Agenda Opening: Pledge of Allegiance A. Consent Agenda B. Old Business C. Recognition of Visitors and Announcements &nbsp; &nbsp;The public is free to comment on items not listed on the agenda. Comments should be limited to three minutes. D. New Business &nbsp; &nbsp;1. Councilmember Reports &nbsp; &nbsp;2. Administrator's Update &nbsp; &nbsp;3. CVB / Community Coordinator Report &nbsp; &nbsp;4. Steve Baize Rezoning - 127 South US 281 Highway &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Steve Baize is the owner of the property located at 127 S. US 281 Highway. He is looking to build a home that overlooks the pond at the property. Baize has requested to rezone the lot. &nbsp; &nbsp;5. Utilities Trucks &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The city is looking to purchase two mid-size trucks for utilities. These trucks will be utilized by the lab technician and utilities superintendent. Motion to approve the bid for Ehler Chevrolet for the purchase of two trucks not to exceed $71,754. &nbsp; &nbsp;6. Brit Spaugh Park Design Services &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The city staff released the RFP for design services for the Brit Spaugh Park addition. On June 30, city staff opened four proposals from design firms with the low bid coming in at $85,400 from BG Consultants. &nbsp; &nbsp;7. Executive Session &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; A motion to recess into executive session to seek legal advice for pending legal matters. &nbsp; &nbsp;8. Recess to Justice Center and Reconvene at Justice Center &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The governing body will recess and reconvene over at the new Justice Center, 1121 Baker Avenue, to take a tour of the building. This will be part of the open meeting and open to the public if anyone wishes to join the council there. Following the tour, the regular city council meeting will adjourn at the Justice Center. Adjournment

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1585774044357.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Great Bend City Council meeting July 17 - 6:30 p.m. City Hall Council Chambers The council meeting will be livestreamed for the public to view on the city council Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/gbcitycouncil/. Agenda Opening: Pledge of Allegiance A. Consent Agenda B. Old Business C. Recognition of Visitors and Announcements &nbsp; &nbsp;The public is free to comment on items not listed on the agenda. Comments should be limited to three minutes. D. New Business &nbsp; &nbsp;1. Councilmember Reports &nbsp; &nbsp;2. Administrator's Update &nbsp; &nbsp;3. CVB / Community Coordinator Report &nbsp; &nbsp;4. Steve Baize Rezoning - 127 South US 281 Highway &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Steve Baize is the owner of the property located at 127 S. US 281 Highway. He is looking to build a home that overlooks the pond at the property. Baize has requested to rezone the lot. &nbsp; &nbsp;5. Utilities Trucks &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The city is looking to purchase two mid-size trucks for utilities. These trucks will be utilized by the lab technician and utilities superintendent. Motion to approve the bid for Ehler Chevrolet for the purchase of two trucks not to exceed $71,754. &nbsp; &nbsp;6. Brit Spaugh Park Design Services &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The city staff released the RFP for design services for the Brit Spaugh Park addition. On June 30, city staff opened four proposals from design firms with the low bid coming in at $85,400 from BG Consultants. &nbsp; &nbsp;7. Executive Session &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; A motion to recess into executive session to seek legal advice for pending legal matters. &nbsp; &nbsp;8. Recess to Justice Center and Reconvene at Justice Center &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The governing body will recess and reconvene over at the new Justice Center, 1121 Baker Avenue, to take a tour of the building. This will be part of the open meeting and open to the public if anyone wishes to join the council there. Following the tour, the regular city council meeting will adjourn at the Justice Center. Adjournment

Great Bend City Council meeting agenda (7/17)

The Kansas Department of Transportation expresses its appreciation for employees celebrating state service anniversaries in August. KDOT is proud to acknowledge them for the long-term dedication they have provided to the state of Kansas.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1592777344559.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The Kansas Department of Transportation expresses its appreciation for employees celebrating state service anniversaries in August. KDOT is proud to acknowledge them for the long-term dedication they have provided to the state of Kansas.Those celebrating 45 years:<ul>
 <li>Mark Becker, Highway Maintenance Supervisor,&nbsp;Plainville</li><li>Ricky Gitchel, Highway Maintenance Supervisor,&nbsp;Phillipsburg</li><li>Gary Rutledge, Equipment Operator,&nbsp;Edgerton</li>
 </ul>Those celebrating 35 years:<ul>
 <li>William Hughes, Professional Civil Engineer II,&nbsp;Valley Falls</li>
 </ul>Those celebrating 25 years:<ul>
 <li>Sharron Holliday, Legal Assistant,&nbsp;Denison</li><li>Jeremiah Jacobs, Equipment Mechanic,&nbsp;Girard</li>
 </ul>Those celebrating 20 years:<ul>
 <li>Craig Kenyon, Equipment Operator Senior,&nbsp;Hutchinson</li>
 </ul>Those celebrating 15 years:<ul>
 <li>David Davis, Equipment Operator Specialist,&nbsp;Elmdale</li><li>Michael Gager, Engineering Technician Specialist,&nbsp;Topeka</li><li>Jodi Kirk, Assistant Bureau Chief,&nbsp;Manhattan</li><li>James Stumbaugh, Public Service Administrator II,&nbsp;Tecumseh</li><li>Michele Tiedeman, Senior Administrative Assistant,&nbsp;De Soto</li><li>Andrew Wilson, Area Engineer,&nbsp;Wichita</li>
 </ul>Those celebrating 10 years:<ul>
 <li>Stephen Lacey, Electronics Technologist,&nbsp;Holton</li><li>Luke Rosdahl, Management Analyst I,&nbsp;Topeka</li><li>Alan Waymaster, Equipment Operator,&nbsp;Ellsworth</li>
 </ul>

KDOT employees celebrate service anniversaries

The
drought monitor report as of Tuesday, July 11 is essentially unchanged since
last week for our area.&nbsp; Remember this
doesn’t include anything from Tuesday on.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
The western third of the state has seen the greatest improvement and
Northeast Kansas is backsliding a bit.&nbsp; The
six to ten-day outlook (July 18 to 22) indicates a 50 to 60% chance of leaning
above normal for temperatures and a 33 to 40% chance of leaning to above normal
precipitation.&nbsp; The eight to fourteen-day
outlook (July 20 to 26) indicates normal to a 33 to 40% chance of leaning to above
normal temperatures and the same for precipitation.&nbsp; The above normal temperatures don’t bode well,
especially if the area doesn’t receive moisture.&nbsp; Hopefully, most corn will be pollinated by
then.

There are many hot button issues in agriculture: climate change. input
and output prices, environmental concerns, GMOs, pesticides, protecting pollinators,
labor shortages, organic agriculture, and so on.&nbsp; There are many new ideas and solutions out
there.&nbsp; Over the last fifty or so years,
the agricultural community has focused on finding ways to protect soils and the
overall environment while increasing production to feed an ever-increasing
world population.&nbsp; There have been many
approaches from conservation tillage to genetic engineering.&nbsp; With the climate challenges agriculture faces,
there is renewed focus on what can be done to mitigate the climate challenge
for production.&nbsp; The newest of these,
while also being older than we realize, is regenerative agriculture.&nbsp; If you are a producer the concept is being
promoted everywhere.&nbsp; The NRDC and
various companies/organizations are working to promote and implement the
concept.&nbsp; But what is regenerative
agriculture?

There are several definitions of
regenerative agriculture but they all revolve around these principles:

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A
holistic approach to the entire ecosystem.&nbsp;
Land is a dynamic system and all aspects of it, from the microbes to
plants and the soil from its chemical composition to organic matter
levels.&nbsp; It recognizes that all are
interconnected and vital for the overall health of the land and for food,
fiber, and fuel production.

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The
overall concept is to regenerate, or restore/improve, soil health and to
improve the entire ecosystem.&nbsp; This will
benefit not only agricultural land but all land and improve the quality of life
for everyone.

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Another
key concept is there is no one plan to achieve this goal but the practices
implemented must be tailored to the specific environment.&nbsp; 

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It
is also a philosophy.&nbsp; One that seeks to
work with and not against the environment and climate.&nbsp; The theory is if you do this, you can improve
the land, all land whether agricultural or not while maintaining/improving
productivity.&nbsp; 

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The
result should be a more resilient environment better able to bounce back from
severe disturbances while minimizing the reliance on synthetic inputs.

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Finally,
a few key aims include improving soil physical, chemical, and biological
health; decrease soil erosion, increase biodiversity; decrease surface and
groundwater pollution.&nbsp; And at the same
time improve individual and regional economies and quality of life.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682025352095.jpeg" alt="Barton Community College Agriculture Instructor Dr. Vic Martin" />
 <figcaption>Barton Community College Agriculture Instructor Dr. Vic Martin</figcaption>
 </figure>The
drought monitor report as of Tuesday, July 11 is essentially unchanged since
last week for our area.&nbsp; Remember this
doesn’t include anything from Tuesday on.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
The western third of the state has seen the greatest improvement and
Northeast Kansas is backsliding a bit.&nbsp; The
six to ten-day outlook (July 18 to 22) indicates a 50 to 60% chance of leaning
above normal for temperatures and a 33 to 40% chance of leaning to above normal
precipitation.&nbsp; The eight to fourteen-day
outlook (July 20 to 26) indicates normal to a 33 to 40% chance of leaning to above
normal temperatures and the same for precipitation.&nbsp; The above normal temperatures don’t bode well,
especially if the area doesn’t receive moisture.&nbsp; Hopefully, most corn will be pollinated by
then.There are many hot button issues in agriculture: climate change. input
and output prices, environmental concerns, GMOs, pesticides, protecting pollinators,
labor shortages, organic agriculture, and so on.&nbsp; There are many new ideas and solutions out
there.&nbsp; Over the last fifty or so years,
the agricultural community has focused on finding ways to protect soils and the
overall environment while increasing production to feed an ever-increasing
world population.&nbsp; There have been many
approaches from conservation tillage to genetic engineering.&nbsp; With the climate challenges agriculture faces,
there is renewed focus on what can be done to mitigate the climate challenge
for production.&nbsp; The newest of these,
while also being older than we realize, is regenerative agriculture.&nbsp; If you are a producer the concept is being
promoted everywhere.&nbsp; The NRDC and
various companies/organizations are working to promote and implement the
concept.&nbsp; But what is regenerative
agriculture?There are several definitions of
regenerative agriculture but they all revolve around these principles:·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A
holistic approach to the entire ecosystem.&nbsp;
Land is a dynamic system and all aspects of it, from the microbes to
plants and the soil from its chemical composition to organic matter
levels.&nbsp; It recognizes that all are
interconnected and vital for the overall health of the land and for food,
fiber, and fuel production.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The
overall concept is to regenerate, or restore/improve, soil health and to
improve the entire ecosystem.&nbsp; This will
benefit not only agricultural land but all land and improve the quality of life
for everyone.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Another
key concept is there is no one plan to achieve this goal but the practices
implemented must be tailored to the specific environment.&nbsp; ·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It
is also a philosophy.&nbsp; One that seeks to
work with and not against the environment and climate.&nbsp; The theory is if you do this, you can improve
the land, all land whether agricultural or not while maintaining/improving
productivity.&nbsp; ·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The
result should be a more resilient environment better able to bounce back from
severe disturbances while minimizing the reliance on synthetic inputs.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Finally,
a few key aims include improving soil physical, chemical, and biological
health; decrease soil erosion, increase biodiversity; decrease surface and
groundwater pollution.&nbsp; And at the same
time improve individual and regional economies and quality of life.Next week:&nbsp; how this can be done.

Barton Ag Instructor Dr. Vic Martin - Regenerative Agriculture Part I

Our last water update was posted June 21. The center has recorded 1.31" of rain since. Birds are using any areas with standing water. Herons, Egrets, Ibis, Avocets, Stilts, Killdeer, Ducks, Pelicans, and Gulls are relatively commonly seen during most trips. We are also seeing an influx of early fall migrant shorebirds, including Least Sandpipers, Stilt Sandpipers, Lesser Yellowlegs, and Greater Yellowlegs. Recovering from the drought continues to be a slow process.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689345281794.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>From Kansas Wetlands Education Center...Our last water update was posted June 21. The center has recorded 1.31" of rain since. Birds are using any areas with standing water. Herons, Egrets, Ibis, Avocets, Stilts, Killdeer, Ducks, Pelicans, and Gulls are relatively commonly seen during most trips. We are also seeing an influx of early fall migrant shorebirds, including Least Sandpipers, Stilt Sandpipers, Lesser Yellowlegs, and Greater Yellowlegs. Recovering from the drought continues to be a slow process.&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689345297754.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689345311690.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689345325266.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689345338194.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689345351681.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689345365409.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

Cheyenne Bottoms water level update

7/14/2023 - Unfortunately, the restrooms at the visitors center were vandalized over night. The visitors center - including restrooms is closed to the public until further notice. Law enforcement will be reviewing camera footage. We would like to thank Russell Rotary for continuing to volunteer their time caring for the landscaping and picking up trash at the new park. 

Sadly, three separate acts of vandalism have taken place at the new Historic Park, including the splash pad and visitor center. Incidents such as vandalism not only disrespect the hard work of community volunteers and civic groups put int building the park but also compromise the safety and enjoyment of all visitors.  As a community, we must stand united against such senseless acts. Continued vandalism may result in the parks closure until additional security cameras are installed.  We kindly request the assistance of all community members in reporting any suspicious activity, as your vigilance can play a significant role in preventing similar incidents from occurring in the future, anywhere in our community.&nbsp;&nbsp;

A ribbon cutting and grand opening for Russell’s new Historic Park was held July 8. The park is located at the corner of 8th and Kansas streets and includes a visitor center, public restrooms, a splash pad and playground equipment.

The splash pad will be available for use daily between the hours of 10 a.m. and 9 p.m.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689000107399.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>From the City of Russell...7/14/2023 - Unfortunately, the restrooms at the visitors center were vandalized over night. The visitors center - including restrooms is closed to the public until further notice. Law enforcement will be reviewing camera footage. We would like to thank Russell Rotary for continuing to volunteer their time caring for the landscaping and picking up trash at the new park. ---Sadly, three separate acts of vandalism have taken place at the new Historic Park, including the splash pad and visitor center. Incidents such as vandalism not only disrespect the hard work of community volunteers and civic groups put int building the park but also compromise the safety and enjoyment of all visitors. As a community, we must stand united against such senseless acts. Continued vandalism may result in the parks closure until additional security cameras are installed. We kindly request the assistance of all community members in reporting any suspicious activity, as your vigilance can play a significant role in preventing similar incidents from occurring in the future, anywhere in our community.&nbsp;&nbsp;---A ribbon cutting and grand opening for Russell’s new Historic Park was held July 8. The park is located at the corner of 8th and Kansas streets and includes a visitor center, public restrooms, a splash pad and playground equipment.The splash pad will be available for use daily between the hours of 10 a.m. and 9 p.m.

Vandalism reported at new Historic Park in Russell

A native of South America, tamanduas are a rare site in the United States. One on the slipper slide? Unheard of. But not at Great Bend's Brit Spaugh Zoo. Curator Ashley Burdick said Enzo the anteater has been a hit on the zoo's new slide.

"The kids love him," she said. "He's not an animal you see very often in zoos, especially. They're considered a lesser anteater. Oftentimes, you'll see the giant anteaters at zoos but he's a little less common, and he's just a fun one for the kids to get close to and pet."

Enzo's trips down the slide are hit-and-miss. Tamanduas are nocturnal animals that do not favor the daylight hours, and the heat index climbing past the century mark makes his appearances a special treat. 

 "He was out for the Great Race that was in town, so he went down the slide that day," Burdick said. "Especially with how hot it is, it will probably have to wait until it gets cooler before he comes out."

Tamanduas have tongues that can reach as long as 16 inches, perfect for grabbing ants and termites out of their colonies. They typically eat around 9,000 insects a day. Giant anteaters can grow as large as 85 pounds, while tamanduas usually top out at around 10 pounds.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689265600294.png" alt="When he's feeling up to it, Enzo the lesser anteater at the Brit Spaugh Zoo in Great Bend, will go down the slide with kids." />
 <figcaption>When he's feeling up to it, Enzo the lesser anteater at the Brit Spaugh Zoo in Great Bend, will go down the slide with kids.</figcaption>
 </figure>By MIKE COURSON Great Bend PostA native of South America, tamanduas are a rare site in the United States. One on the slipper slide? Unheard of. But not at Great Bend's Brit Spaugh Zoo. Curator Ashley Burdick said Enzo the anteater has been a hit on the zoo's new slide."The kids love him," she said. "He's not an animal you see very often in zoos, especially. They're considered a lesser anteater. Oftentimes, you'll see the giant anteaters at zoos but he's a little less common, and he's just a fun one for the kids to get close to and pet."Enzo's trips down the slide are hit-and-miss. Tamanduas are nocturnal animals that do not favor the daylight hours, and the heat index climbing past the century mark makes his appearances a special treat. "He was out for the Great Race that was in town, so he went down the slide that day," Burdick said. "Especially with how hot it is, it will probably have to wait until it gets cooler before he comes out."Tamanduas have tongues that can reach as long as 16 inches, perfect for grabbing ants and termites out of their colonies. They typically eat around 9,000 insects a day. Giant anteaters can grow as large as 85 pounds, while tamanduas usually top out at around 10 pounds.

Brit Spaugh Zoo's tamandua making the most of new slide

By COLE REIF Great Bend Post

The public is invited to take their first look at the new Justice Center
Monday, July 17, as the Great Bend City Council will take a tour of the $8.8 million
police station and municipal court. While the move-in date is not scheduled
until September, City Administrator Brandon Anderson said the 20,100
square-foot facility is at a good point to view. "Most of the construction is done," said Anderson. "I feel comfortable it would be pretty safe for all of us to run through there without hard hats. It's definitely come a long way since I first saw it when I came to interview. I'm really excited to showcase that." 
The city council will tour the police station, at the intersection of 12th
Street and Baker Avenue, at the end of the regularly scheduled meeting Monday at City
Hall which begins at 6:30 p.m. The governing body will recess and reconvene at the
Justice Center, 1121 Baker. Being part of the open meeting, the public
is welcome to join the tour to take a peek at the facility.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689357601453.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By COLE REIF Great Bend PostThe public is invited to take their first look at the new Justice Center
Monday, July 17, as the Great Bend City Council will take a tour of the $8.8 million
police station and municipal court. While the move-in date is not scheduled
until September, City Administrator Brandon Anderson said the 20,100
square-foot facility is at a good point to view. "Most of the construction is done," said Anderson. "I feel comfortable it would be pretty safe for all of us to run through there without hard hats. It's definitely come a long way since I first saw it when I came to interview. I'm really excited to showcase that." 
The city council will tour the police station, at the intersection of 12th
Street and Baker Avenue, at the end of the regularly scheduled meeting Monday at City
Hall which begins at 6:30 p.m. The governing body will recess and reconvene at the
Justice Center, 1121 Baker. Being part of the open meeting, the public
is welcome to join the tour to take a peek at the facility.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Public welcome to tour new Great Bend police station Monday

New prices at Pawnee County Landfill

Hear this week's County Edition show with Eagle Radio's Steve Webster and members of the Central Kansas Partnership Rise Up that aired July 13, 2023.

The County Edition program airs every Thursday at 11:05 a.m. on 1590 KVGB &amp; 95.5 FM.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1687372980932.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Hear this week's County Edition show with Eagle Radio's Steve Webster and members of the Central Kansas Partnership Rise Up that aired July 13, 2023.<div><iframe title="County Edition: Central KS Partnership Rise Up" allowtransparency="true" height="150" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:150px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=m9mc3-14562b8-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=f6f6f6&font-color=auto&logo_link=episode_page&btn-skin=60a0c8" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>The County Edition program airs every Thursday at 11:05 a.m. on 1590 KVGB &amp; 95.5 FM.&nbsp;

🎙Post Podcast: County Edition - Central KS Partnership Rise Up

The Kansas Department of Transportation is announcing a call for projects to be submitted to the state’s Rail Service Improvement Program. An estimated $10 million in funding is available to award projects that enhance safety, promote economic efficiency and sustainability to the state’s rail network.

Projects for this program are now being accepted – the deadline for submissions is Sept. 1. Awarded projects are expected to be announced in spring of 2024. Applicants are required to provide a 30% match of total project cost. There are no minimum or maximum project award amounts. The application process will be conducted via Microsoft Forms and can be accessed through KDOT’s website -&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDAsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmtzZG90Lmdvdi9idXJlYXVzL2J1clJhaWwvcmFpbC9kZWZhdWx0LmFzcD91dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9Z292ZGVsaXZlcnkiLCJidWxsZXRpbl9pZCI6IjIwMjMwNzEzLjc5NjA1NzAxIn0.iCNKvkBF4OE0NlNcEozIFLH41rz9jWq4AUTANyxqkY4/s/1410648818/br/222619805105-l" target="_blank">https://www.ksdot.gov/bureaus/burRail/rail/default.asp</a>.

Qualified entities include any Surface Transportation board certified Class II or Class III railroad, a port authority established in accordance with Kansas laws, any entity meeting the rules and regulations established by K.S.A. 75-5050 or any owner or lessee industry track located on or adjacent to a Class II or Class III railroad in the state of Kansas.

For more information on program details, contact Michael Espinoza, Freight and Rail Program Manager, at (785) 296-3228 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:Michael.Espinoza@ks.gov">Michael.Espinoza@ks.gov</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676998840170.jpg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The Kansas Department of Transportation is announcing a call for projects to be submitted to the state’s Rail Service Improvement Program. An estimated $10 million in funding is available to award projects that enhance safety, promote economic efficiency and sustainability to the state’s rail network.Projects for this program are now being accepted – the deadline for submissions is Sept. 1. Awarded projects are expected to be announced in spring of 2024. Applicants are required to provide a 30% match of total project cost. There are no minimum or maximum project award amounts. The application process will be conducted via Microsoft Forms and can be accessed through KDOT’s website -&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDAsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmtzZG90Lmdvdi9idXJlYXVzL2J1clJhaWwvcmFpbC9kZWZhdWx0LmFzcD91dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9Z292ZGVsaXZlcnkiLCJidWxsZXRpbl9pZCI6IjIwMjMwNzEzLjc5NjA1NzAxIn0.iCNKvkBF4OE0NlNcEozIFLH41rz9jWq4AUTANyxqkY4/s/1410648818/br/222619805105-l" target="_blank">https://www.ksdot.gov/bureaus/burRail/rail/default.asp</a>.Qualified entities include any Surface Transportation board certified Class II or Class III railroad, a port authority established in accordance with Kansas laws, any entity meeting the rules and regulations established by K.S.A. 75-5050 or any owner or lessee industry track located on or adjacent to a Class II or Class III railroad in the state of Kansas.For more information on program details, contact Michael Espinoza, Freight and Rail Program Manager, at (785) 296-3228 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:Michael.Espinoza@ks.gov">Michael.Espinoza@ks.gov</a>

KDOT announces call for projects for Rail Service Improvement Program

In April 2023, United Way of Central Kansas announced a fund of $5,000 for a new initiative. These Impact Grants offer non-profits the opportunity to apply for funding of up to $1,000 per year for a specific program or project in Barton or Pawnee counties.

The funding awarded to Dropping 22, Inc will be utilized to support their upcoming Resilience &amp; Wellness Training for emergency service workers. The Resilience &amp; Wellness Training for emergency service workers is a comprehensive program designed to address the unique challenges faced by these dedicated individuals.

"We are thrilled to partner with Dropping 22, Inc in their mission to support the well-being of our local emergency service workers," said Charell Owings, Executive Director of United Way of Central Kansas.

Dropping 22, Inc is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping Veterans, First Responders, the Military Community, and their families reduce their risk of suicide and improve their mental health so they can overcome trauma, depression, anxiety, and other stressors.

The Resilience &amp; Wellness Training for Emergency Service Workers is scheduled for August 30, 2023. Contact Dropping 22, Inc at 620-786-0687 for more information.

ElderCare Inc is also the recipient of a $500 Impact Grant that will be used to help cover the cost of 1,200 meal trays for Barton County Meals on Wheels. These trays are required for meal deliveries to ensure that food is kept at a temperature that keeps the clients safe.

“We have partnered with ElderCare and Meals on Wheels for many years and are committed to helping them sustain the services they provide for some of our most vulnerable citizens," said Owings. "Not only does this program provide a healthy meal but it is also a wellness check and a chance for socialization.”

Eldercare Inc is dedicated to helping persons maintain an optimum quality of life by offering services which allow them to remain in their homes and community with safety and dignity.

About United Way of Central Kansas: United Way of Central Kansas is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving lives and strengthening communities in the Central Kansas area. Through strategic partnerships and impactful initiatives, United Way of Central Kansas works to address the most pressing needs of the community and create lasting change.

The Impact Grant application is still open and can be found at www.uwck.org.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689342779496.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>In April 2023, United Way of Central Kansas announced a fund of $5,000 for a new initiative. These Impact Grants offer non-profits the opportunity to apply for funding of up to $1,000 per year for a specific program or project in Barton or Pawnee counties.The funding awarded to Dropping 22, Inc will be utilized to support their upcoming Resilience &amp; Wellness Training for emergency service workers. The Resilience &amp; Wellness Training for emergency service workers is a comprehensive program designed to address the unique challenges faced by these dedicated individuals."We are thrilled to partner with Dropping 22, Inc in their mission to support the well-being of our local emergency service workers," said Charell Owings, Executive Director of United Way of Central Kansas.Dropping 22, Inc is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping Veterans, First Responders, the Military Community, and their families reduce their risk of suicide and improve their mental health so they can overcome trauma, depression, anxiety, and other stressors.The Resilience &amp; Wellness Training for Emergency Service Workers is scheduled for August 30, 2023. Contact Dropping 22, Inc at 620-786-0687 for more information.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689342742641.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>ElderCare Inc is also the recipient of a $500 Impact Grant that will be used to help cover the cost of 1,200 meal trays for Barton County Meals on Wheels. These trays are required for meal deliveries to ensure that food is kept at a temperature that keeps the clients safe.“We have partnered with ElderCare and Meals on Wheels for many years and are committed to helping them sustain the services they provide for some of our most vulnerable citizens," said Owings. "Not only does this program provide a healthy meal but it is also a wellness check and a chance for socialization.”Eldercare Inc is dedicated to helping persons maintain an optimum quality of life by offering services which allow them to remain in their homes and community with safety and dignity.About United Way of Central Kansas: United Way of Central Kansas is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving lives and strengthening communities in the Central Kansas area. Through strategic partnerships and impactful initiatives, United Way of Central Kansas works to address the most pressing needs of the community and create lasting change.The Impact Grant application is still open and can be found at www.uwck.org.

United Way awards Dropping 22 & ElderCare with $500 grants

“Continuous wheat and fallow wheat are two different crops.”&nbsp;

That statement was made at a resolutions session of the Kansas Association of Wheat Growers (KAWG) last fall from northwest Kansas wheat farmer Chris Tanner, who serves as KAWG vice president. As two different crops, they should be able to be insured separately, he said.&nbsp;

“Farmers currently don’t have the option to insure wheat enterprise units by fallow and continuous separately and must combine them,” said Tanner. “Fallow APH and continuous APH are reported separately but blended for crop insurance purposes.”&nbsp;

This sentiment was never more evident than when Tanner’s wheat was threatened by hail, once again, this week.&nbsp;

Even with the multiyear drought and rains during harvest, Tanner’s fallow wheat was yielding about 70 bushels per acre, compared with his wheat after corn that was yielding only 20 to 40 bushels per acre. Wheat in northwest Kansas was fortunate this year, benefiting from the early summer rains because of its later development than wheat in other parts of the state.&nbsp;

At the fall resolutions session, KAWG voted to add a resolution stating, “The KAWG supports efforts to improve crop insurance performance for farmers through the separation of enterprise units by fallow and continuous, while still offering combined units to those who it would benefit.” This resolution was then approved by the full KAWG membership in January 2023 and presented to the National Association of Wheat Growers in March.&nbsp;

Then last month, U.S. Senators Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-KS) and Michael Bennet (D-CO) introduced legislation that will allow farmers to insure wheat enterprise units by fallow and continuous, while still offering a combined option for those who it would benefit. This is similar to the 2014 Farm Bill provision providing for separate enterprise units for irrigated and non-irrigated acreage of crops.&nbsp;

KAWG commends the bipartisan efforts of Marshall and Bennet to work on behalf of farmers to improve the safety net in the upcoming Farm Bill.&nbsp;

KAWG president Kyler Millershaski said, “Making the change to be able to separate the two cropping styles would be a great benefit to wheat farmers by allowing them to protect their crops and operations effectively, giving them more confidence in their business decisions, and bringing an important tool (crop insurance) up to date with modern farming practices.”&nbsp;

For now, Tanner’s good fallow wheat is safely in the bin and harvest continues on the lower-yielding wheat after corn. Millershaski isn’t as lucky, since this year’s delayed harvest has yet to begin on his farm in southwest Kansas. Even so, harvest won’t last long once it gets going, as his family will only be able to harvest about 10 percent of last fall’s planted acres. The other 90 percent were already lost to the drought.&nbsp;

Even while in the combine cab, Millershaski, Tanner and others are working on behalf of all Kansas farmers for the betterment of the industry. To bring up other issues that would benefit Kansas farmers or to become a KAWG member, contact kawg@kswheat.com.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1684379707210.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>“Continuous wheat and fallow wheat are two different crops.”&nbsp;That statement was made at a resolutions session of the Kansas Association of Wheat Growers (KAWG) last fall from northwest Kansas wheat farmer Chris Tanner, who serves as KAWG vice president. As two different crops, they should be able to be insured separately, he said.&nbsp;“Farmers currently don’t have the option to insure wheat enterprise units by fallow and continuous separately and must combine them,” said Tanner. “Fallow APH and continuous APH are reported separately but blended for crop insurance purposes.”&nbsp;This sentiment was never more evident than when Tanner’s wheat was threatened by hail, once again, this week.&nbsp;Even with the multiyear drought and rains during harvest, Tanner’s fallow wheat was yielding about 70 bushels per acre, compared with his wheat after corn that was yielding only 20 to 40 bushels per acre. Wheat in northwest Kansas was fortunate this year, benefiting from the early summer rains because of its later development than wheat in other parts of the state.&nbsp;At the fall resolutions session, KAWG voted to add a resolution stating, “The KAWG supports efforts to improve crop insurance performance for farmers through the separation of enterprise units by fallow and continuous, while still offering combined units to those who it would benefit.” This resolution was then approved by the full KAWG membership in January 2023 and presented to the National Association of Wheat Growers in March.&nbsp;Then last month, U.S. Senators Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-KS) and Michael Bennet (D-CO) introduced legislation that will allow farmers to insure wheat enterprise units by fallow and continuous, while still offering a combined option for those who it would benefit. This is similar to the 2014 Farm Bill provision providing for separate enterprise units for irrigated and non-irrigated acreage of crops.&nbsp;KAWG commends the bipartisan efforts of Marshall and Bennet to work on behalf of farmers to improve the safety net in the upcoming Farm Bill.&nbsp;KAWG president Kyler Millershaski said, “Making the change to be able to separate the two cropping styles would be a great benefit to wheat farmers by allowing them to protect their crops and operations effectively, giving them more confidence in their business decisions, and bringing an important tool (crop insurance) up to date with modern farming practices.”&nbsp;For now, Tanner’s good fallow wheat is safely in the bin and harvest continues on the lower-yielding wheat after corn. Millershaski isn’t as lucky, since this year’s delayed harvest has yet to begin on his farm in southwest Kansas. Even so, harvest won’t last long once it gets going, as his family will only be able to harvest about 10 percent of last fall’s planted acres. The other 90 percent were already lost to the drought.&nbsp;Even while in the combine cab, Millershaski, Tanner and others are working on behalf of all Kansas farmers for the betterment of the industry. To bring up other issues that would benefit Kansas farmers or to become a KAWG member, contact kawg@kswheat.com.&nbsp;

Wheat Scoop: Wheat growers advocate for enterprise unit separation

Adams Brown Wealth Consultants has ranked among the nation’s top financial planning firms, as&nbsp;measured by assets under management (AUM) according to Accounting Today's 2023 Wealth Magnets&nbsp;list of top firms. Coming in at 74 out of 150 firms, Adams Brown is the only firm from Kansas or Arkansas&nbsp;to make the list. Now in its 17th year, being recognized as a Wealth Magnet is a testament to the quality&nbsp;of service provided by CPA firms with financial planning practices.&nbsp;

This year's study saw participation from over 200 firms submitting their AUM data. The rigorous&nbsp;evaluation involved data reported directly by the financial planners, supplemented with information&nbsp;from broker-dealers and independent market research services. Adams Brown's position on this list was&nbsp;earned purely through merit and performance, with no monetary transactions involved for ranking.&nbsp;

"Being recognized in this way is a clear affirmation of the trust our clients place in us," said Justin&nbsp;Mitchell, partner, managing wealth consultant. "This ranking isn't just about our firm's success; it's&nbsp;about the success of our clients. Our ultimate goal is to help our clients achieve their personal and&nbsp;financial goals, and we couldn't be more proud to serve as their trusted advisors."&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615564199155.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>BUSINESS NEWSAdams Brown Wealth Consultants has ranked among the nation’s top financial planning firms, as&nbsp;measured by assets under management (AUM) according to Accounting Today's 2023 Wealth Magnets&nbsp;list of top firms. Coming in at 74 out of 150 firms, Adams Brown is the only firm from Kansas or Arkansas&nbsp;to make the list. Now in its 17th year, being recognized as a Wealth Magnet is a testament to the quality&nbsp;of service provided by CPA firms with financial planning practices.&nbsp;This year's study saw participation from over 200 firms submitting their AUM data. The rigorous&nbsp;evaluation involved data reported directly by the financial planners, supplemented with information&nbsp;from broker-dealers and independent market research services. Adams Brown's position on this list was&nbsp;earned purely through merit and performance, with no monetary transactions involved for ranking.&nbsp;"Being recognized in this way is a clear affirmation of the trust our clients place in us," said Justin&nbsp;Mitchell, partner, managing wealth consultant. "This ranking isn't just about our firm's success; it's&nbsp;about the success of our clients. Our ultimate goal is to help our clients achieve their personal and&nbsp;financial goals, and we couldn't be more proud to serve as their trusted advisors."&nbsp;

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