REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES BARTON COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE Tuesday, Oct. 25 at 4 p.m. Room F-30/ZOOM, Fine Arts Building

1. CALL TO ORDER AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

4. INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS AND NEW EMPLOYEES

5. HLC UPDATE &nbsp; &nbsp;Myrna Perkins, Chief Accreditation Officer will give this update.

6. FACULTY COUNCIL REPORT &nbsp; &nbsp;Amanda Alliband, Chemistry Instructor and Faculty Council Chair will facilitate this report.

7. 2022 COMMUNITY REPORT &nbsp; &nbsp;Maggie Harris, Chief Communications Officer will present this report.

8. STRATEGIC PLANNING &nbsp; &nbsp;Todd Mobray, Director of Institutional Effectiveness will facilitate this update.

9. RETURN ON INVESTMENT &nbsp; &nbsp;Todd Mobray, Director of Institutional Effectiveness will give this report.

10. MONITORING REPORT – END 2 WORK PREPAREDNESS &nbsp; &nbsp;Kathy Kottas, Dean of Workforce Training &amp; Community Education will facilitate this report.

11. CONSENT AGENDA &nbsp; &nbsp;Routine items are presented for action in one motion. Any Trustee may remove an item from the consent agenda for individual discussion and action. It is recommended that the Board approve the consent agenda as presented. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; a. Personnel &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; b. BOT Meeting Minutes of September 27, 2022

12. INCIDENTAL INFORMATION AND DISCUSSION ITEMS &nbsp; &nbsp;a. President’s Report of Monthly Activities &nbsp; &nbsp;b. KACCT/Board Chair Report by Mike Johnson, Board Chair &nbsp; &nbsp;c. KBOR Update by Carl Heilman, President &nbsp; &nbsp;d. Upcoming Events &nbsp; &nbsp;e. Miscellaneous

13. EXECUTIVE SESSION (if needed) &nbsp; &nbsp;In compliance with KSA 75-4319, the Board will recess to executive session, if needed, in compliance with the Kansas Open Meetings Act.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1627047186061.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES BARTON COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE Tuesday, Oct. 25 at 4 p.m. Room F-30/ZOOM, Fine Arts BuildingAgenda1. CALL TO ORDER AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE2. OFFICIAL BOARD MEETINGS3. PUBLIC COMMENT4. INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS AND NEW EMPLOYEES5. HLC UPDATE &nbsp; &nbsp;Myrna Perkins, Chief Accreditation Officer will give this update.6. FACULTY COUNCIL REPORT &nbsp; &nbsp;Amanda Alliband, Chemistry Instructor and Faculty Council Chair will facilitate this report.7. 2022 COMMUNITY REPORT &nbsp; &nbsp;Maggie Harris, Chief Communications Officer will present this report.8. STRATEGIC PLANNING &nbsp; &nbsp;Todd Mobray, Director of Institutional Effectiveness will facilitate this update.9. RETURN ON INVESTMENT &nbsp; &nbsp;Todd Mobray, Director of Institutional Effectiveness will give this report.10. MONITORING REPORT – END 2 WORK PREPAREDNESS &nbsp; &nbsp;Kathy Kottas, Dean of Workforce Training &amp; Community Education will facilitate this report.11. CONSENT AGENDA &nbsp; &nbsp;Routine items are presented for action in one motion. Any Trustee may remove an item from the consent agenda for individual discussion and action. It is recommended that the Board approve the consent agenda as presented. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; a. Personnel &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; b. BOT Meeting Minutes of September 27, 202212. INCIDENTAL INFORMATION AND DISCUSSION ITEMS &nbsp; &nbsp;a. President’s Report of Monthly Activities &nbsp; &nbsp;b. KACCT/Board Chair Report by Mike Johnson, Board Chair &nbsp; &nbsp;c. KBOR Update by Carl Heilman, President &nbsp; &nbsp;d. Upcoming Events &nbsp; &nbsp;e. Miscellaneous13. EXECUTIVE SESSION (if needed) &nbsp; &nbsp;In compliance with KSA 75-4319, the Board will recess to executive session, if needed, in compliance with the Kansas Open Meetings Act.14. PUBLIC COMMENT15. ADJOURNMENT

BCC Board of Trustees meeting agenda (10/25)

I fully understand that drought covered a vast majority of Kansas, including Barton County and the surrounding area. But I figured it never hurts to inform farmers of this opportunity. Irrigated soybeans are always an option and sometimes certain areas get an extra rain or two during the growing season that might have made for an above average soybean crop.

The Kansas Soybean Association is calling all soybean farmers in Kansas to enter their competitive soybean crop into the Kansas Soybean Yield Contest by December 1.

New to the 2022 Yield and Value Contests, the Kansas Soybean Association will sponsor three participants to attend Commodity Classic in March 2023. First place in both contests, as well as one randomly drawn participant who entered both contests, earn the trip.

The Kansas Soybean Commission sponsors a monetary prize for the top three finishers in each district, as well as an additional $1,000 for the overall dryland and irrigated winners and any who top the 114.3 bushel-per-acre record. The amounts per district are that first place receives $300, second receives $200, and third receives $100. All participants receive a T-shirt for entering.

Districts are determined by region, tillage method, and irrigation status, with a total of 18 districts in consideration. No-till on the Plains supplies additional awards in the no-till categories. Farmers may enter multiple categories, but only one entry per field.

Eligible fields must consist of at least five contiguous acres as verified by the Farm Service Agency, GPS printout or manual measurement. A non-relative witness, either Kansas State Research and Extension personnel or a specified designee, must be present at harvest and should ensure that the combine grain hopper is empty prior to harvest. Official elevator-scale tickets with moisture percentage and foreign matter included must accompany entries to be considered.

The statewide Kansas Soybean Value Contest that analyzes protein, oil and other soybean qualities is also open for entries. Entrants submit 20-ounce samples, which are evaluated by Ag Processing, Inc. to determine the value. Monetary awards are also given to the three highest-value entries. Farmers may enter both the yield and value contests.

Results of the contests are to be shared January 11, 2023, at the Kansas Soybean Expo in Topeka.

A full guide of contest rules and regulations, as well as the digital entry form, are available at kansassoybeans.org/association/contests/. Questions may be directed to the Kansas Soybean office by phone at 877-KS-SOYBEAN (877-577-6923) or to local KSRE offices.

Stacy Campbell is a Crop Production Extension agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact him by e-mail at scampbel@ksu.edu or by calling 785-628-9430.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574181994278.png" alt="written by: Stacy Campbell - Cottonwood Extension District" />
 <figcaption>written by: Stacy Campbell - Cottonwood Extension District</figcaption>
 </figure>I fully understand that drought covered a vast majority of Kansas, including Barton County and the surrounding area. But I figured it never hurts to inform farmers of this opportunity. Irrigated soybeans are always an option and sometimes certain areas get an extra rain or two during the growing season that might have made for an above average soybean crop.The Kansas Soybean Association is calling all soybean farmers in Kansas to enter their competitive soybean crop into the Kansas Soybean Yield Contest by December 1.New to the 2022 Yield and Value Contests, the Kansas Soybean Association will sponsor three participants to attend Commodity Classic in March 2023. First place in both contests, as well as one randomly drawn participant who entered both contests, earn the trip.The Kansas Soybean Commission sponsors a monetary prize for the top three finishers in each district, as well as an additional $1,000 for the overall dryland and irrigated winners and any who top the 114.3 bushel-per-acre record. The amounts per district are that first place receives $300, second receives $200, and third receives $100. All participants receive a T-shirt for entering.Districts are determined by region, tillage method, and irrigation status, with a total of 18 districts in consideration. No-till on the Plains supplies additional awards in the no-till categories. Farmers may enter multiple categories, but only one entry per field.Eligible fields must consist of at least five contiguous acres as verified by the Farm Service Agency, GPS printout or manual measurement. A non-relative witness, either Kansas State Research and Extension personnel or a specified designee, must be present at harvest and should ensure that the combine grain hopper is empty prior to harvest. Official elevator-scale tickets with moisture percentage and foreign matter included must accompany entries to be considered.The statewide Kansas Soybean Value Contest that analyzes protein, oil and other soybean qualities is also open for entries. Entrants submit 20-ounce samples, which are evaluated by Ag Processing, Inc. to determine the value. Monetary awards are also given to the three highest-value entries. Farmers may enter both the yield and value contests.Results of the contests are to be shared January 11, 2023, at the Kansas Soybean Expo in Topeka.A full guide of contest rules and regulations, as well as the digital entry form, are available at kansassoybeans.org/association/contests/. Questions may be directed to the Kansas Soybean office by phone at 877-KS-SOYBEAN (877-577-6923) or to local KSRE offices.Stacy Campbell is a Crop Production Extension agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact him by e-mail at scampbel@ksu.edu or by calling 785-628-9430.

CAMPBELL: 2022 Kansas soybean yield and value contests

News from the Oil Patch, Oct. 24 John P. Tretbar

The benchmark Nymex crude futures contract settled Friday just over $85 a barrel, but by lunchtime Monday prices were down slightly. Midday prices were just over $84 a barrel in New York for the near-month contract. London Brent was just under $93. Kansas crude prices dropped a dollar Friday. Prices are about half a dollar lower on the week, but $5.50 higher than on Oct. 1. Kansas Common crude starts the week at $75.25 per barrel at CHS in McPherson. Diesel prices in Kansas average $5.14 per gallon Monday, up eleven cents from a week earlier, 46 cents from a month ago, and $1.76 more than last year at this time. Current diesel prices in Kansas are just 23 cents shy of the all-time high. Regular gasoline prices continued to drop.&nbsp; In Kansas, the average price for a gallon of regular was $3.42 according to AAA.&nbsp;&nbsp; The Energy Information Administration last week reported an increase in diesel fuel inventories and deliveries. But, current diesel stockpiles remain 20% below the five-year seasonal average. Total gasoline stockpiles dropped by 100-thousand barrels from the week before, and are about seven percent below the five-year average. EIA reported a big drop in crude stockpiles, but an increase in U.S. production. Inventories were down 1.7 million barrels to 437.4 million barrels as of October 14th. EIA reports a 76-thousand barrel-per-day increase in last week's domestic crude-oil production, which is once again over 12 million barrels per day. Imports were down 200-thousand barrels per day to 5.9 million. The Kansas Rig Count held steady at 27 active rigs east of Wichita and 32 in the western half of the state. Drilling was underway Friday on a well in Stafford County, and operators were about to spud new wells in Ellis and Russell counties. Kansas operators have spudded 1,261 wells so far this year, a 51% increase over last year at this time. Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service is scouting 500 wells currently in various stages of drilling or completion. Kansas regulators approved 27 new drilling permits over the last week, nine in eastern Kansas and 18 west of Wichita. That's 1,333 new drilling locations statewide so far this year, compared to 869 by this point last year. Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service reports 37 newly completed wells for the week, 22 east of Wichita and 15 in Western Kansas. That's 1,293 so far this year compared to 697 a year ago. Crude output from the #3 producing state held steady in August at 1.07 million barrels per day. The North Dakota Department of Mineral Resources reports operators continue to exceed the state's anti-flaring standards, capturing 94% of the natural gas produced at oil wells. Texas became the first state in the nation to begin plugging abandoned oil and gas wells using federal grants from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Plugging work began last week on an abandoned oil and gas well northeast of Corpus Christi in South Texas. The state's energy regulator, the Railroad Commission of Texas, announced they will used the initial grant to plug about 800 abandoned wells statewide. That's in addition to the one-thousand wells they plan to plug in their State Managed Plugging program, which is funded with industry fees and fines. A government report shows the nation's shale producers are slowing down the completion of wells from their inventories of wells drilled but uncompleted (DUC). The Energy Information Administration says its tally of at 4,333 DUCs in the seven largest plays is down ten wells from the month before. The tally dropped in five regions. Increases were posted in the Haynesville Shale in Texas and Louisiana, and the Niobrara play in Colorado, Nebraska and Wyoming. Government analysts use the DUC inventory as a barometer of our ability to quickly raise crude production. Exxon Mobil completes its exit from Russia, following what it calls "the expropriation." The company complains the Russians unilaterally terminated the company's interests in the Sakhalin-1 project and transferred them to a Russian operator. The project is a giant, complex operation that produced about 227,000 barrels a day last year. It has multiple records for the longest wells ever drilled, uses ice breakers to maintain exports when the sea freezes, and was regarded as an engineering marvel when it first started pumping in 2005.&nbsp; Exxon announced its intentions to withdraw shortly after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1577125598039.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>News from the Oil Patch, Oct. 24 John P. TretbarThe benchmark Nymex crude futures contract settled Friday just over $85 a barrel, but by lunchtime Monday prices were down slightly. Midday prices were just over $84 a barrel in New York for the near-month contract. London Brent was just under $93. Kansas crude prices dropped a dollar Friday. Prices are about half a dollar lower on the week, but $5.50 higher than on Oct. 1. Kansas Common crude starts the week at $75.25 per barrel at CHS in McPherson. Diesel prices in Kansas average $5.14 per gallon Monday, up eleven cents from a week earlier, 46 cents from a month ago, and $1.76 more than last year at this time. Current diesel prices in Kansas are just 23 cents shy of the all-time high. Regular gasoline prices continued to drop.&nbsp; In Kansas, the average price for a gallon of regular was $3.42 according to AAA.&nbsp;&nbsp; The Energy Information Administration last week reported an increase in diesel fuel inventories and deliveries. But, current diesel stockpiles remain 20% below the five-year seasonal average. Total gasoline stockpiles dropped by 100-thousand barrels from the week before, and are about seven percent below the five-year average. EIA reported a big drop in crude stockpiles, but an increase in U.S. production. Inventories were down 1.7 million barrels to 437.4 million barrels as of October 14th. EIA reports a 76-thousand barrel-per-day increase in last week's domestic crude-oil production, which is once again over 12 million barrels per day. Imports were down 200-thousand barrels per day to 5.9 million. The Kansas Rig Count held steady at 27 active rigs east of Wichita and 32 in the western half of the state. Drilling was underway Friday on a well in Stafford County, and operators were about to spud new wells in Ellis and Russell counties. Kansas operators have spudded 1,261 wells so far this year, a 51% increase over last year at this time. Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service is scouting 500 wells currently in various stages of drilling or completion. Kansas regulators approved 27 new drilling permits over the last week, nine in eastern Kansas and 18 west of Wichita. That's 1,333 new drilling locations statewide so far this year, compared to 869 by this point last year. Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service reports 37 newly completed wells for the week, 22 east of Wichita and 15 in Western Kansas. That's 1,293 so far this year compared to 697 a year ago. Crude output from the #3 producing state held steady in August at 1.07 million barrels per day. The North Dakota Department of Mineral Resources reports operators continue to exceed the state's anti-flaring standards, capturing 94% of the natural gas produced at oil wells. Texas became the first state in the nation to begin plugging abandoned oil and gas wells using federal grants from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Plugging work began last week on an abandoned oil and gas well northeast of Corpus Christi in South Texas. The state's energy regulator, the Railroad Commission of Texas, announced they will used the initial grant to plug about 800 abandoned wells statewide. That's in addition to the one-thousand wells they plan to plug in their State Managed Plugging program, which is funded with industry fees and fines. A government report shows the nation's shale producers are slowing down the completion of wells from their inventories of wells drilled but uncompleted (DUC). The Energy Information Administration says its tally of at 4,333 DUCs in the seven largest plays is down ten wells from the month before. The tally dropped in five regions. Increases were posted in the Haynesville Shale in Texas and Louisiana, and the Niobrara play in Colorado, Nebraska and Wyoming. Government analysts use the DUC inventory as a barometer of our ability to quickly raise crude production. Exxon Mobil completes its exit from Russia, following what it calls "the expropriation." The company complains the Russians unilaterally terminated the company's interests in the Sakhalin-1 project and transferred them to a Russian operator. The project is a giant, complex operation that produced about 227,000 barrels a day last year. It has multiple records for the longest wells ever drilled, uses ice breakers to maintain exports when the sea freezes, and was regarded as an engineering marvel when it first started pumping in 2005.&nbsp; Exxon announced its intentions to withdraw shortly after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.&nbsp;&nbsp;

News from the Oil Patch: Kansas diesel prices near all-time high

From the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce...

On Thursday, Oct. 6, EagleMed LLC cut the red ribbon celebrating their new aircraft addition. EagleMed is a privately owned and operated air medical transport service. 

A subsidiary of Air Medical Group Holdings since August 2009, EagleMed has been in business for over thirty years. The company began operations in 1977 and conducted its first “dedicated” air medical transport patient flight on Sept. 1, 1981. 

EagleMed is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Services (CAMTS) and dedicates all facets of the company towards providing the highest quality patient care in the safest environment possible. EagleMed has 23 bases in a 7 state area across the Midwest and Southeastern United States. Although the primary service area is the Central United States, the flexibility of both helicopters and fixed wing aircraft allows EagleMed to provide timely transport to anywhere in the country. 

For more information contact EagleMed (785) 216-9087.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1666624384466.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>From the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce...On Thursday, Oct. 6, EagleMed LLC cut the red ribbon celebrating their new aircraft addition. EagleMed is a privately owned and operated air medical transport service. A subsidiary of Air Medical Group Holdings since August 2009, EagleMed has been in business for over thirty years. The company began operations in 1977 and conducted its first “dedicated” air medical transport patient flight on Sept. 1, 1981. EagleMed is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Services (CAMTS) and dedicates all facets of the company towards providing the highest quality patient care in the safest environment possible. EagleMed has 23 bases in a 7 state area across the Midwest and Southeastern United States. Although the primary service area is the Central United States, the flexibility of both helicopters and fixed wing aircraft allows EagleMed to provide timely transport to anywhere in the country. For more information contact EagleMed (785) 216-9087.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Great Bend Chamber celebrates EagleMed's new aircraft

Farmers Nationwide Send a Strong Message to EPA on Atrazine

More than 16,000 farmers and agricultural organizations representing corn, citrus, grain sorghum, sugarcane, and other crops recently united against EPA’s proposed revision to its 2020 atrazine registration review decision, submitting comments calling for the agency to base decisions on credible scientific evidence. Efforts to help farmers speak out against the proposal were coordinated by the Triazine Network, a diverse coalition of state and national agricultural groups, including National Sorghum Producers, across the nation that rely on&nbsp;atrazine and other triazine herbicides to control weeds. The atrazine comment period ended October 7.&nbsp;The next step is a Scientific Advisory Panel, which EPA has committed to convening to examine the science behind its proposed 3.4 ppb level of concern. NSP will keep its members updated as the process moves forward.

Farmers Can Now Make 2023 Crop Year Elections, Enroll in Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage Programs

Agricultural producers can now change election and enroll in the&nbsp;<a href="https://sorghumgrowers.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=c7d6bd689602a83f8b92ea37d&amp;id=aaba9ac638&amp;e=d30ea29a91" target="_blank">Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage</a>&nbsp;programs for the 2023 crop year, two key safety net programs offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Signup began Monday, and producers have until March 15, 2023, to enroll in these two programs. Additionally, USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) has started issuing payments totaling more than $255 million to producers with 2021 crops that have triggered payments through ARC or PLC.&nbsp;&nbsp;Full details are available&nbsp;<a href="https://sorghumgrowers.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=c7d6bd689602a83f8b92ea37d&amp;id=7782ee7e16&amp;e=d30ea29a91" target="_blank">here</a>.

According to an Agri-Pulse&nbsp;<a href="https://sorghumgrowers.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=c7d6bd689602a83f8b92ea37d&amp;id=db0184e868&amp;e=d30ea29a91" target="_blank">report</a>, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will USDA's&nbsp;county committee structure that insures farmers have a say in the administration of farm programs. USDA’s Equity Commission recently approved a draft recommendation that Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack consider replacing the committee system. In an interview with&nbsp;Agri-Pulse&nbsp;<a href="https://sorghumgrowers.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=c7d6bd689602a83f8b92ea37d&amp;id=b1c5af4157&amp;e=d30ea29a91" target="_blank">Newsmakers</a>, Vilsack said there does need to be an “appropriation representation” of the minority farmers in each county. “I think that's the critical concern. I don't think it's a situation of essentially doing away with the county structure. It's just making sure that it works fairly and justly,” he told Agri-Pulse.

USDA Provides Payments of nearly $800 Million in Debt Relief to Farmers

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced this week that distressed borrowers with qualifying USDA farm loans have already received nearly $800 million in assistance, as part of the $3.1 billion in assistance for distressed farm loan borrowers provided through Section 22006 of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The IRA directed USDA to expedite assistance to distressed borrowers of direct or guaranteed loans administered by USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) whose operations face financial risk. Learn more about the details of this initiative&nbsp;<a href="https://sorghumgrowers.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=c7d6bd689602a83f8b92ea37d&amp;id=112e13f15d&amp;e=d30ea29a91" target="_blank">here</a>.

Mississippi River Flow a Continuing Concern&nbsp;as Rising Dollar Impacts Food Importers

Water levels on the Mississippi River have reached the lowest level in three decades, putting a serious strain on the movement of agriculture products, oil and other materials. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is conducting emergency dredging to resume the flow of goods in some areas, but the impacts on the transportation of goods, and subsequently food prices, have been far-reaching. Learn more from Farm Policy News&nbsp;<a href="https://sorghumgrowers.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=c7d6bd689602a83f8b92ea37d&amp;id=a7021ebf5c&amp;e=d30ea29a91" target="_blank">here</a>.

By October 16, eighty-nine percent of the nation’s sorghum acreage was mature, 3 percentage points behind last year but 2 points ahead of the 5-year average. Fifty-seven percent of the 2022 sorghum acreage had been harvested by October 16, one percentage point behind last year but 8 points ahead of average. Sorghum harvest advanced 10 percentage points or more during the week in five of the six estimating states. Texas leads at 98 percent harvested followed by South Dakota at 61 percent, Oklahoma at 40 percent, Colorado and Kansas at 39 percent and Nebraska at 34 percent.

National Sorghum Foundation Appoints Jeff Dahlberg as Chairman

The National Sorghum Foundation recently announced a leadership transition as Jeff Dahlberg, Ph.D., begins his role as chairman of the foundation, replacing Larry Lambright. Dahlberg&nbsp;worked as the research director for National Sorghum Producers and the United Sorghum Checkoff Program for more than 20 years and recently retired as director of the University of California Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Parlier. Read more&nbsp;<a href="https://sorghumgrowers.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=c7d6bd689602a83f8b92ea37d&amp;id=7484c48940&amp;e=d30ea29a91" target="_blank">here</a>.

Get your camera (or even your phone camera) ready.&nbsp;We want to see your sorghum farm life! Submit your photos&nbsp;<a href="https://sorghumgrowers.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=c7d6bd689602a83f8b92ea37d&amp;id=134942a370&amp;e=d30ea29a91" target="_blank">here</a>, or tag us in your #FromTheField photos on social media for a chance to be featured in the upcoming Fall edition of the&nbsp;Sorghum Grower&nbsp;magazine! Photos can include your crop, equipment, yourself, your families etc. Submit at&nbsp;<a href="https://sorghumgrowers.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=c7d6bd689602a83f8b92ea37d&amp;id=a8d932ee4c&amp;e=d30ea29a91" target="_blank">SorghumGrowers.com/thisissorghum</a>.

Sorghum&nbsp;Checkoff Releases Weekly&nbsp; Sorghum&nbsp;Basis Snapshot

The&nbsp;Sorghum&nbsp;Checkoff, with Southwest Agribusiness Consulting, released its weekly&nbsp;sorghum&nbsp;basis snapshot, available at&nbsp;<a href="https://sorghumgrowers.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=c7d6bd689602a83f8b92ea37d&amp;id=e798cd1ac0&amp;e=d30ea29a91" target="_blank">SorghumCheckoff.com</a>.

To view this week’s Gulf export grain report, click&nbsp;<a href="https://sorghumgrowers.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=c7d6bd689602a83f8b92ea37d&amp;id=e32cfc9cc6&amp;e=d30ea29a91" target="_blank">here</a>.

About Sorghum Notes Sorghum&nbsp;Notes&nbsp;is a publication of the National&nbsp;Sorghum&nbsp;Producers. NSP represents U.S.&nbsp;sorghum&nbsp;producers and serves as the voice of the&nbsp;sorghum&nbsp;industry from coast to coast through education and legislative and regulatory representation. Learn more at&nbsp;<a href="https://sorghumgrowers.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=c7d6bd689602a83f8b92ea37d&amp;id=9c45bde0b4&amp;e=d30ea29a91" target="_blank">www.SorghumGrowers.com</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579197583316.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Farmers Nationwide Send a Strong Message to EPA on Atrazine</h2>More than 16,000 farmers and agricultural organizations representing corn, citrus, grain sorghum, sugarcane, and other crops recently united against EPA’s proposed revision to its 2020 atrazine registration review decision, submitting comments calling for the agency to base decisions on credible scientific evidence. Efforts to help farmers speak out against the proposal were coordinated by the Triazine Network, a diverse coalition of state and national agricultural groups, including National Sorghum Producers, across the nation that rely on&nbsp;atrazine and other triazine herbicides to control weeds. The atrazine comment period ended October 7.&nbsp;The next step is a Scientific Advisory Panel, which EPA has committed to convening to examine the science behind its proposed 3.4 ppb level of concern. NSP will keep its members updated as the process moves forward.<h2>Farmers Can Now Make 2023 Crop Year Elections, Enroll in Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage Programs</h2>Agricultural producers can now change election and enroll in the&nbsp;<a href="https://sorghumgrowers.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=c7d6bd689602a83f8b92ea37d&amp;id=aaba9ac638&amp;e=d30ea29a91" target="_blank">Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage</a>&nbsp;programs for the 2023 crop year, two key safety net programs offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Signup began Monday, and producers have until March 15, 2023, to enroll in these two programs. Additionally, USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) has started issuing payments totaling more than $255 million to producers with 2021 crops that have triggered payments through ARC or PLC.&nbsp;&nbsp;Full details are available&nbsp;<a href="https://sorghumgrowers.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=c7d6bd689602a83f8b92ea37d&amp;id=7782ee7e16&amp;e=d30ea29a91" target="_blank">here</a>.<h2>USDA Will Keep County Committees</h2>According to an Agri-Pulse&nbsp;<a href="https://sorghumgrowers.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=c7d6bd689602a83f8b92ea37d&amp;id=db0184e868&amp;e=d30ea29a91" target="_blank">report</a>, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will USDA's&nbsp;county committee structure that insures farmers have a say in the administration of farm programs. USDA’s Equity Commission recently approved a draft recommendation that Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack consider replacing the committee system. In an interview with&nbsp;Agri-Pulse&nbsp;<a href="https://sorghumgrowers.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=c7d6bd689602a83f8b92ea37d&amp;id=b1c5af4157&amp;e=d30ea29a91" target="_blank">Newsmakers</a>, Vilsack said there does need to be an “appropriation representation” of the minority farmers in each county. “I think that's the critical concern. I don't think it's a situation of essentially doing away with the county structure. It's just making sure that it works fairly and justly,” he told Agri-Pulse.<h2>USDA Provides Payments of nearly $800 Million in Debt Relief to Farmers</h2>The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced this week that distressed borrowers with qualifying USDA farm loans have already received nearly $800 million in assistance, as part of the $3.1 billion in assistance for distressed farm loan borrowers provided through Section 22006 of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The IRA directed USDA to expedite assistance to distressed borrowers of direct or guaranteed loans administered by USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) whose operations face financial risk. Learn more about the details of this initiative&nbsp;<a href="https://sorghumgrowers.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=c7d6bd689602a83f8b92ea37d&amp;id=112e13f15d&amp;e=d30ea29a91" target="_blank">here</a>.<h2>Mississippi River Flow a Continuing Concern&nbsp;as Rising Dollar Impacts Food Importers</h2>Water levels on the Mississippi River have reached the lowest level in three decades, putting a serious strain on the movement of agriculture products, oil and other materials. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is conducting emergency dredging to resume the flow of goods in some areas, but the impacts on the transportation of goods, and subsequently food prices, have been far-reaching. Learn more from Farm Policy News&nbsp;<a href="https://sorghumgrowers.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=c7d6bd689602a83f8b92ea37d&amp;id=a7021ebf5c&amp;e=d30ea29a91" target="_blank">here</a>.<h2>Sorghum Crop Update</h2>By October 16, eighty-nine percent of the nation’s sorghum acreage was mature, 3 percentage points behind last year but 2 points ahead of the 5-year average. Fifty-seven percent of the 2022 sorghum acreage had been harvested by October 16, one percentage point behind last year but 8 points ahead of average. Sorghum harvest advanced 10 percentage points or more during the week in five of the six estimating states. Texas leads at 98 percent harvested followed by South Dakota at 61 percent, Oklahoma at 40 percent, Colorado and Kansas at 39 percent and Nebraska at 34 percent. <h2>National Sorghum Foundation Appoints Jeff Dahlberg as Chairman</h2>The National Sorghum Foundation recently announced a leadership transition as Jeff Dahlberg, Ph.D., begins his role as chairman of the foundation, replacing Larry Lambright. Dahlberg&nbsp;worked as the research director for National Sorghum Producers and the United Sorghum Checkoff Program for more than 20 years and recently retired as director of the University of California Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Parlier. Read more&nbsp;<a href="https://sorghumgrowers.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=c7d6bd689602a83f8b92ea37d&amp;id=7484c48940&amp;e=d30ea29a91" target="_blank">here</a>.<h2>Last Call! Send Us Your Sorghum Photos</h2>Get your camera (or even your phone camera) ready.&nbsp;We want to see your sorghum farm life! Submit your photos&nbsp;<a href="https://sorghumgrowers.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=c7d6bd689602a83f8b92ea37d&amp;id=134942a370&amp;e=d30ea29a91" target="_blank">here</a>, or tag us in your #FromTheField photos on social media for a chance to be featured in the upcoming Fall edition of the&nbsp;Sorghum Grower&nbsp;magazine! Photos can include your crop, equipment, yourself, your families etc. Submit at&nbsp;<a href="https://sorghumgrowers.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=c7d6bd689602a83f8b92ea37d&amp;id=a8d932ee4c&amp;e=d30ea29a91" target="_blank">SorghumGrowers.com/thisissorghum</a>.<h2>Sorghum&nbsp;Checkoff Releases Weekly&nbsp; Sorghum&nbsp;Basis Snapshot</h2>The&nbsp;Sorghum&nbsp;Checkoff, with Southwest Agribusiness Consulting, released its weekly&nbsp;sorghum&nbsp;basis snapshot, available at&nbsp;<a href="https://sorghumgrowers.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=c7d6bd689602a83f8b92ea37d&amp;id=e798cd1ac0&amp;e=d30ea29a91" target="_blank">SorghumCheckoff.com</a>. <h2>Market News</h2>To view this week’s Gulf export grain report, click&nbsp;<a href="https://sorghumgrowers.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=c7d6bd689602a83f8b92ea37d&amp;id=e32cfc9cc6&amp;e=d30ea29a91" target="_blank">here</a>. About Sorghum Notes Sorghum&nbsp;Notes&nbsp;is a publication of the National&nbsp;Sorghum&nbsp;Producers. NSP represents U.S.&nbsp;sorghum&nbsp;producers and serves as the voice of the&nbsp;sorghum&nbsp;industry from coast to coast through education and legislative and regulatory representation. Learn more at&nbsp;<a href="https://sorghumgrowers.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=c7d6bd689602a83f8b92ea37d&amp;id=9c45bde0b4&amp;e=d30ea29a91" target="_blank">www.SorghumGrowers.com</a>.

National Sorghum Producers - Sorghum Notes

By COLE REIF Great Bend Post

Many parents are starting to mark down all the Halloween celebrations
around the community coming up, and they can add one more. The Grade School
Halloween Parade will take place Oct. 31 in Ellinwood. 
The grade school students and daycare children will make their way down Main
Street where local businesses will hand out candy. Ellinwood Chamber of
Commerce board member Jennifer Klepper said anyone is welcome to come watch or
participate in the parade. 
"The event is starting to grow, which I really love," said Klepper. "Sunflower Bank has really gotten into the costumes. We've had other businesses that dress up. The kids walk down the street and trick-or-treat. It's a lot of fun and the kids enjoy getting out." 
Children from Ellinwood Grade School, St. Joseph Catholic School and St. John’s
Child Development Center will make their way down the brick street around 2
p.m. on Halloween.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1666378072470.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By COLE REIF Great Bend PostMany parents are starting to mark down all the Halloween celebrations
around the community coming up, and they can add one more. The Grade School
Halloween Parade will take place Oct. 31 in Ellinwood. 
The grade school students and daycare children will make their way down Main
Street where local businesses will hand out candy. Ellinwood Chamber of
Commerce board member Jennifer Klepper said anyone is welcome to come watch or
participate in the parade. 
"The event is starting to grow, which I really love," said Klepper. "Sunflower Bank has really gotten into the costumes. We've had other businesses that dress up. The kids walk down the street and trick-or-treat. It's a lot of fun and the kids enjoy getting out." 
Children from Ellinwood Grade School, St. Joseph Catholic School and St. John’s
Child Development Center will make their way down the brick street around 2
p.m. on Halloween.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Halloween parade for children in Ellinwood

Clara Barton Medical Center offers a variety of in-patient and out-patient services, many of which revolve around the in-house pharmacy. Pharmacy staff plays a key role in preparing, storing, compounding, and dispensing medicines as well as advising healthcare professionals on their safe, effective, and efficient use. Last week during National Pharmacy Week Clara Barton’s pharmacy department had something extra special to celebrate thanks to the Clara Barton Foundation and community benefactors, as their newly expanded and renovated space nears completion.

Even though Clara Barton is a non-profit rural hospital, they are still held to the same regulatory standards as other larger hospital organizations. One glaring issue that arose over the years was only having a segregated compounding area and not a full-functioning compliant cleanroom, meaning everything is done in one small space.

In addition to the growing pains associated with adding new services and providers, pharmacy staff quickly ran out of space and storage operating out of a cramped 354 sq. ft. room. In 2020 alone 208,900 doses of medication were dispensed. That number increased to 255,505 in 2021 and is predicted to surpass that yet again in 2022.

“Behind the scenes, many don’t realize the amount of inventory we have to keep on hand for the number of patients we serve and various services and treatments we offer at our facility,” said Amanda Hoffman, Pharmacy Director/VP. “While it’s exciting to be part of such a progressive organization, the pharmacy we currently work out of is still the original 1950s layout and restricts our capability of future growth.”

While the pharmacy expansion wasn’t in the original construction plans, it was discovered that having a separate cleanroom with a compounding hood would soon be a requirement as new regulations emerged. Drug compounding is an essential process in the pharmacy where they combine ingredients in-house to create a medication tailored to the needs of the patient. Numerous patients at Clara Barton rely on this process in the form of IV medications.

It became apparent that a pharmacy expansion was more of a necessity than a “want”, and the Clara Barton Foundation stepped up to fundraise for construction costs. Foundation membership and event proceeds gained support from both near and far, raising over $115,000. These contributions came from local businesses, community members, employees, family members, and friends of Clara Barton and the foundation.

“We are extremely grateful for everyone that made this expansion possible, allowing us to comply with these new regulations,” said Hoffman. “Not only will this ensure the safety of our patients and staff, but it will also enhance the care and treatment of all patients we serve. Year after year, community support has been crucial to our organization’s success and we truly appreciate every single person who made this project possible, so we can maintain the highest standard of pharmaceutical care now and well into the future.”

The new, expanded pharmacy is on track to be completed by November 18th. It will feature a separate clean room, centralized pharmaceutical storage, a designated workspace for staff, increased security and safety, and ample room for future growth.

As the pharmacy gets ready to move into its newly expanded space, the foundation has taken on a new project - bringing the comforts of home to Clara Barton with the addition of 13 La-Z-Boy treatment recliners to the ER, OR, and nursing floor.

In the spring of 2021, a $132,000 grant was instrumental in funding a multi-functional procedure room available for both IV Therapy and ER patient care, a large infusion treatment room, and a private infusion treatment room. While the expansion of the ER’s outpatient services and infusion area will allow for better patient flow and access to services, the grant doesn’t cover the cost of furnishing these expanded areas.

“Healthcare is constantly changing and advancing, requiring continuous investment in our facilities, equipment, and programs,” said Michelle Moshier, Clara Barton Foundation Director. “Dynamic improvements like the renovations to the in-house pharmacy and addition of IV infusion rooms, would not have been possible without the support of donors. The standard of care at Clara Barton Medical Center has been ever-increasing thanks to philanthropic support. We are grateful for charitable donations of all sizes that help advance the health of our communities.”

Foundation membership and community support have been essential to the success of Clara Barton Medical Center. If you would like to become a foundation member or help with their current fundraising project, visit www.clarabartonhospital.com/membership or call the foundation office at 620-292-0814.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1666373891164.jpeg" alt="Clara Barton Medical Center’s pharmacy department celebrated National Pharmacy Week with grateful hearts as their newly expanded and renovated space nears completion. Thanks to the efforts of the Clara Barton Foundation and community benefactors, these renderings will be a reality in just a few short weeks." />
 <figcaption>Clara Barton Medical Center’s pharmacy department celebrated National Pharmacy Week with grateful hearts as their newly expanded and renovated space nears completion. Thanks to the efforts of the Clara Barton Foundation and community benefactors, these renderings will be a reality in just a few short weeks.</figcaption>
 </figure>BUSINESS NEWSClara Barton Medical Center offers a variety of in-patient and out-patient services, many of which revolve around the in-house pharmacy. Pharmacy staff plays a key role in preparing, storing, compounding, and dispensing medicines as well as advising healthcare professionals on their safe, effective, and efficient use. Last week during National Pharmacy Week Clara Barton’s pharmacy department had something extra special to celebrate thanks to the Clara Barton Foundation and community benefactors, as their newly expanded and renovated space nears completion.Even though Clara Barton is a non-profit rural hospital, they are still held to the same regulatory standards as other larger hospital organizations. One glaring issue that arose over the years was only having a segregated compounding area and not a full-functioning compliant cleanroom, meaning everything is done in one small space.In addition to the growing pains associated with adding new services and providers, pharmacy staff quickly ran out of space and storage operating out of a cramped 354 sq. ft. room. In 2020 alone 208,900 doses of medication were dispensed. That number increased to 255,505 in 2021 and is predicted to surpass that yet again in 2022.“Behind the scenes, many don’t realize the amount of inventory we have to keep on hand for the number of patients we serve and various services and treatments we offer at our facility,” said Amanda Hoffman, Pharmacy Director/VP. “While it’s exciting to be part of such a progressive organization, the pharmacy we currently work out of is still the original 1950s layout and restricts our capability of future growth.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1666373878901.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>While the pharmacy expansion wasn’t in the original construction plans, it was discovered that having a separate cleanroom with a compounding hood would soon be a requirement as new regulations emerged. Drug compounding is an essential process in the pharmacy where they combine ingredients in-house to create a medication tailored to the needs of the patient. Numerous patients at Clara Barton rely on this process in the form of IV medications.It became apparent that a pharmacy expansion was more of a necessity than a “want”, and the Clara Barton Foundation stepped up to fundraise for construction costs. Foundation membership and event proceeds gained support from both near and far, raising over $115,000. These contributions came from local businesses, community members, employees, family members, and friends of Clara Barton and the foundation.“We are extremely grateful for everyone that made this expansion possible, allowing us to comply with these new regulations,” said Hoffman. “Not only will this ensure the safety of our patients and staff, but it will also enhance the care and treatment of all patients we serve. Year after year, community support has been crucial to our organization’s success and we truly appreciate every single person who made this project possible, so we can maintain the highest standard of pharmaceutical care now and well into the future.”The new, expanded pharmacy is on track to be completed by November 18th. It will feature a separate clean room, centralized pharmaceutical storage, a designated workspace for staff, increased security and safety, and ample room for future growth.As the pharmacy gets ready to move into its newly expanded space, the foundation has taken on a new project - bringing the comforts of home to Clara Barton with the addition of 13 La-Z-Boy treatment recliners to the ER, OR, and nursing floor.In the spring of 2021, a $132,000 grant was instrumental in funding a multi-functional procedure room available for both IV Therapy and ER patient care, a large infusion treatment room, and a private infusion treatment room. While the expansion of the ER’s outpatient services and infusion area will allow for better patient flow and access to services, the grant doesn’t cover the cost of furnishing these expanded areas.“Healthcare is constantly changing and advancing, requiring continuous investment in our facilities, equipment, and programs,” said Michelle Moshier, Clara Barton Foundation Director. “Dynamic improvements like the renovations to the in-house pharmacy and addition of IV infusion rooms, would not have been possible without the support of donors. The standard of care at Clara Barton Medical Center has been ever-increasing thanks to philanthropic support. We are grateful for charitable donations of all sizes that help advance the health of our communities.”Foundation membership and community support have been essential to the success of Clara Barton Medical Center. If you would like to become a foundation member or help with their current fundraising project, visit www.clarabartonhospital.com/membership or call the foundation office at 620-292-0814.

Clara Barton celebrating in-house pharmacy renovations

By MIKE COURSON Great Bend Post

Many Barton County residents use the courthouse in downtown Great Bend to conduct government business, from paying taxes to serving as jurors. It may have come as a shock to see a citizen carrying a firearm outside the courthouse earlier this month. But Barton County Director of Operations Matt Patzner said the courthouse has to follow the rules.

"The rule that we're dealing with is the fact that you're allowed to open carry in the courthouse," he said. "So, essentially, him doing that is completely legal, and there's nothing we really can do about it. Obviously, we want to keep employees feeling safe, so we'll take every precaution we can. If we have to need to have extra sheriff's deputies over here just to keep an eye on him, then we'll do everything we can. As far as restricting him from carrying a firearm in here, we can't do it just because it's legal."

Kansas State Statute 75-7c10 states there are some restrictions to the state's open carry laws, including subsection four, which states, "any courthouse, except that nothing in this section would preclude a judge from carrying a concealed handgun or determining who may carry a concealed handgun in the judge's courtroom." Subsection five states, "any polling place on the day an election is held."

However, there are exceptions to the exceptions. Patzner explained that, because the courthouse does not have manned metal detectors, those who need to use the building are still legally allowed to carry personal protection.

"If you're restricting guns in the courthouse and everybody is going through that metal detector, then everybody's going through the same thing," he said. "You're not coming in and feeling unprotected without your gun, essentially, because everybody is without their gun. I guess metal detectors are the only way you can do that legally, in the state of Kansas, in a courthouse."

The protections of the Second Amendment, Kansas open carry laws, protection for voting laws, and early voting only complicate the matter further. Patzner said the county continues to examine the issue.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1619186644580.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By MIKE COURSON Great Bend PostMany Barton County residents use the courthouse in downtown Great Bend to conduct government business, from paying taxes to serving as jurors. It may have come as a shock to see a citizen carrying a firearm outside the courthouse earlier this month. But Barton County Director of Operations Matt Patzner said the courthouse has to follow the rules."The rule that we're dealing with is the fact that you're allowed to open carry in the courthouse," he said. "So, essentially, him doing that is completely legal, and there's nothing we really can do about it. Obviously, we want to keep employees feeling safe, so we'll take every precaution we can. If we have to need to have extra sheriff's deputies over here just to keep an eye on him, then we'll do everything we can. As far as restricting him from carrying a firearm in here, we can't do it just because it's legal."Kansas State Statute 75-7c10 states there are some restrictions to the state's open carry laws, including subsection four, which states, "any courthouse, except that nothing in this section would preclude a judge from carrying a concealed handgun or determining who may carry a concealed handgun in the judge's courtroom." Subsection five states, "any polling place on the day an election is held."However, there are exceptions to the exceptions. Patzner explained that, because the courthouse does not have manned metal detectors, those who need to use the building are still legally allowed to carry personal protection."If you're restricting guns in the courthouse and everybody is going through that metal detector, then everybody's going through the same thing," he said. "You're not coming in and feeling unprotected without your gun, essentially, because everybody is without their gun. I guess metal detectors are the only way you can do that legally, in the state of Kansas, in a courthouse."The protections of the Second Amendment, Kansas open carry laws, protection for voting laws, and early voting only complicate the matter further. Patzner said the county continues to examine the issue.

Gun laws tricky when it comes to Barton County Courthouse

10/21 BOOKED: Kelly Polzin on Barton County District Court warrant, to serve sentence. BOOKED: Derek Muller on Rice County District Court warrant for Felony Theft, bond set at $5,000 C/S.

BOOKED: David Pilgrim on Barton County District Court case, to serve sentence.

BOOKED: Phillip Ramey on Great Bend Municipal Court case, to serve sentence.

BOOKED: Eric Torres on Central Kansas Community Corrections arrest and detain order for Probation Violation, no bond set.

BOOKED: Zachariah Dittrick on Barton County District Court warrant for Probation Violation, bond set at $20,000 C/S.

RELEASED: Joseph McNett on Sedgwick County District Court warrant for Contempt of Court.

RELEASED: Derek Muller on Rice County District Court warrant for Felony Theft, after posting $5,000 surety bond through Ace Bail Bonds.

10/22 BOOKED: Two juveniles on Barton County District Court case for Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of Paraphernalia, and Possession of Tobacco by a Minor.

BOOKED: Joshua Smith on Russell County District Court warrant for Domestic Battery, bond set at $1,000 C/S.

RELEASED: Two juveniles on Barton County District Court case for Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of Paraphernalia, and Possession of Tobacco by a Minor, to Juvenile Services.

RELEASED: Raul Rocha on Barton County District Court case for Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, after posting $10,000 surety bond through Ace Bail Bonding.

10/23 BOOKED: Sterling Mills on Great Bend Municipal Court case for Domestic Battery and Criminal Restraint, bond set at $1,000 C/S.

BOOKED: Shandon Myers on Barton County District Court case for Criminal Threat, bond set at $5,000 C/S.

BOOKED: Tyler Moeder on Hoisington Municipal Court case for Domestic Battery, bond set at $1,000 C/S or 18-hour OR.

RELEASED: Sterling Mills on Great Bend Municipal Court case for Domestic Battery and Criminal Restraint, after posting $1,000 surety bond through Ace Bail Bonds.

RELEASED: Phillip Ramey on Great Bend Municipal Court case, after serving sentence.

RELEASED: Shannon Ybarra on Barton County District Court case for Probation Violation, on $5,000 OR bond.

RELEASED: David Pilgrim on Barton County District Court case, after serving sentence.

RELEASED: Zachariah Dittrick on Barton County District Court warrant for Probation Violation, after posting $20,000 surety bond through Around the Clock Bail Bonding.

RELEASED: Shandon Myers on Barton County District Court case for Criminal Threat, after posting $5,000 surety bond through Ace Bail Bonding.

RELEASED: Tyler Moeder on Hoisington Municipal Court case for Domestic Battery, after posting $1,000 surety bond through Ace Bail Bonds.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1632144146661.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>10/21 BOOKED: Kelly Polzin on Barton County District Court warrant, to serve sentence. BOOKED: Derek Muller on Rice County District Court warrant for Felony Theft, bond set at $5,000 C/S.BOOKED: David Pilgrim on Barton County District Court case, to serve sentence.BOOKED: Phillip Ramey on Great Bend Municipal Court case, to serve sentence.BOOKED: Eric Torres on Central Kansas Community Corrections arrest and detain order for Probation Violation, no bond set.BOOKED: Zachariah Dittrick on Barton County District Court warrant for Probation Violation, bond set at $20,000 C/S.RELEASED: Joseph McNett on Sedgwick County District Court warrant for Contempt of Court.RELEASED: Derek Muller on Rice County District Court warrant for Felony Theft, after posting $5,000 surety bond through Ace Bail Bonds.10/22 BOOKED: Two juveniles on Barton County District Court case for Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of Paraphernalia, and Possession of Tobacco by a Minor.BOOKED: Joshua Smith on Russell County District Court warrant for Domestic Battery, bond set at $1,000 C/S.RELEASED: Two juveniles on Barton County District Court case for Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of Paraphernalia, and Possession of Tobacco by a Minor, to Juvenile Services.RELEASED: Raul Rocha on Barton County District Court case for Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, after posting $10,000 surety bond through Ace Bail Bonding.10/23 BOOKED: Sterling Mills on Great Bend Municipal Court case for Domestic Battery and Criminal Restraint, bond set at $1,000 C/S.BOOKED: Shandon Myers on Barton County District Court case for Criminal Threat, bond set at $5,000 C/S.BOOKED: Tyler Moeder on Hoisington Municipal Court case for Domestic Battery, bond set at $1,000 C/S or 18-hour OR.RELEASED: Sterling Mills on Great Bend Municipal Court case for Domestic Battery and Criminal Restraint, after posting $1,000 surety bond through Ace Bail Bonds.RELEASED: Phillip Ramey on Great Bend Municipal Court case, after serving sentence.RELEASED: Shannon Ybarra on Barton County District Court case for Probation Violation, on $5,000 OR bond.RELEASED: David Pilgrim on Barton County District Court case, after serving sentence.RELEASED: Zachariah Dittrick on Barton County District Court warrant for Probation Violation, after posting $20,000 surety bond through Around the Clock Bail Bonding.RELEASED: Shandon Myers on Barton County District Court case for Criminal Threat, after posting $5,000 surety bond through Ace Bail Bonding.RELEASED: Tyler Moeder on Hoisington Municipal Court case for Domestic Battery, after posting $1,000 surety bond through Ace Bail Bonds.

Barton County Sheriff's Booking Activity (10/21 - 10/23)

While the holiday focus is currently on organizing costumes and making
sure you have enough candy, staff with the Great Bend Public Lands Department is getting ready to have a bright Christmas. Preparation for displaying the
Christmas light decorations around town will begin near Halloween, to give
city staff enough time to have them ready for the Saturday after Thanksgiving. 
Public Lands Director Scott Keeler said it takes his staff between three to
four weeks to make repairs to light fixtures, display the holiday decorations
and add any new pieces. Turning Great Bend into a “Christmas city” has taken on
much more responsibility compared to when Keeler first started working for the
city. "I remember we had some old decorations up and down Main Street, and a few lights around the courthouse," said Keeler. "It used to be flood lights that we would put by the pillars. We pretty much relied on Christmas Fantasy Village down south. There really wasn't too much and it took about a week to put up." 
A massive amount of lights and displays are now featured at Veterans Memorial
Park, Barton County Courthouse and Brit Spaugh Park. 
The new .15% quality of life sales tax this year has allocated funds to
Christmas light decorations to make repairs and bring in additions. Keeler said
there will be more motion displays this year. 
"As far as lighting in different areas, are hands are tied a little bit," said Keeler. "At the present time, we only have so much electricity and availability in the area. We have to stay near to those points because we have to have power to run them." 
The lights will go on the Saturday after Thanksgiving to coincide with the Home
for the Holidays Festival and Parade.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1607962762841.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By COLE REIF Great Bend PostWhile the holiday focus is currently on organizing costumes and making
sure you have enough candy, staff with the Great Bend Public Lands Department is getting ready to have a bright Christmas. Preparation for displaying the
Christmas light decorations around town will begin near Halloween, to give
city staff enough time to have them ready for the Saturday after Thanksgiving. 
Public Lands Director Scott Keeler said it takes his staff between three to
four weeks to make repairs to light fixtures, display the holiday decorations
and add any new pieces. Turning Great Bend into a “Christmas city” has taken on
much more responsibility compared to when Keeler first started working for the
city. "I remember we had some old decorations up and down Main Street, and a few lights around the courthouse," said Keeler. "It used to be flood lights that we would put by the pillars. We pretty much relied on Christmas Fantasy Village down south. There really wasn't too much and it took about a week to put up." 
A massive amount of lights and displays are now featured at Veterans Memorial
Park, Barton County Courthouse and Brit Spaugh Park. 
The new .15% quality of life sales tax this year has allocated funds to
Christmas light decorations to make repairs and bring in additions. Keeler said
there will be more motion displays this year. 
"As far as lighting in different areas, are hands are tied a little bit," said Keeler. "At the present time, we only have so much electricity and availability in the area. We have to stay near to those points because we have to have power to run them." 
The lights will go on the Saturday after Thanksgiving to coincide with the Home
for the Holidays Festival and Parade.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

Great Bend staff preparing for Christmas light displays setup 

Today A 40-percent chance of showers, mainly before 1 p.m. Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 58. North northwest wind 14 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Tonight Partly cloudy, with a low around 35. Northwest wind 7 to 9 mph.

Tuesday Sunny, with a high near 65. Northwest wind 7 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Tuesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 37. North wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Wednesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 66. Light south southeast wind increasing to 13 to 18 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 26 mph.

Wednesday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 43.

Thursday A 30-percent chance of rain, mainly after 1 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 63.

Thursday Night A 50 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 40.

Friday A 20-percent chance of rain before 1 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 60.

Friday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 36.

Saturday Sunny, with a high near 64.

Saturday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 36.

Sunday Mostly sunny, with a high near 64.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Today A 40-percent chance of showers, mainly before 1 p.m. Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 58. North northwest wind 14 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.Tonight Partly cloudy, with a low around 35. Northwest wind 7 to 9 mph.Tuesday Sunny, with a high near 65. Northwest wind 7 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.Tuesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 37. North wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the evening.Wednesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 66. Light south southeast wind increasing to 13 to 18 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 26 mph.Wednesday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 43.Thursday A 30-percent chance of rain, mainly after 1 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 63.Thursday Night A 50 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 40.Friday A 20-percent chance of rain before 1 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 60.Friday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 36.Saturday Sunny, with a high near 64.Saturday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 36.Sunday Mostly sunny, with a high near 64.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Monday's Weather

By JAMES BELL 
Hays Post

VICTORIA — This month, Victoria residents heard updates
from the <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/20265d70-4cca-400e-9a7e-69323db9d166">Victoria
Community Coalition as they continue in their effort to repurpose the former St.
John’s Rest Home.</a>

Coalition chair and <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/20265d70-4cca-400e-9a7e-69323db9d166">building owner Jeff Pfeifer </a>opened
the meeting by highlighting progress already been made to bring the
beloved building back to life under the proposed name St. John’s Place.

<a href="https://heartlandcommunityfoundation.org/">The
Heartland Community Foundation</a>, Pfeifer said, awarded the project a $5,000
grant for architectural work and set up an account for the organization to accept
tax-deductible donations. An application that would secure the organization as
a not-for-profit 501(c)3 is also underway and associated media explaining the
project has been developed, including the launch of a <a href="https://www.victoriakscommunity.com/">coalition website.</a>

During the meeting, the coalition also shared the results
of a completed survey that would qualify the project for grants. They
reported responses from 73 percent of homes in the city with active meters.

The survey highlighted the city’s largest
employers out of the 49 listed — the Victoria school district, Nex-Tech and
Frank’s Oilfield Service — and other economic data, but some of the most telling data centered around the workforce in the city.

“We are a retirement community,”
said Victoria Community Coalition Treasurer Marilyn Braun. “Out of the 979 people that we actually surveyed,
there are 228 that are 66-plus years of age. Out of those 228, 226 are actually
retired, doing nothing. They are retired.”

Further, they found a significant portion
of the available Victoria workforce works outside the city.

“Of that percentage that we
talked to, 50 percent had a worker in Hays,” Pfeifer said. “Of that, 25 percent
had two or more people working in Hays.”

He said that amounts to 70
percent of homes with working individuals are working in Hays.

“Basically, what it told me
was, Victoria provides housing for Hays employers, and Hays provides employment
for Victoria residents,” Pfeifer said.

He said those findings reflect
a mutually beneficial situation.

“I don't see any reason not
to reach out to Hays and see how we can work together,” Pfeifer said. “And I've
been trying to do that.”

He noted the coalition has
been working with Hays-based economic development organizations such as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.growhays.com/">Grow Hays</a> and the <a href="https://hayschamber.com/">Hays Chamber,</a> along with their continued work
with the Northwest Kansas Planning and Development Commission <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/93f2e61e-a2e0-43d8-9f38-f7beacb841b5">after the
city of Victoria signed up earlier this year.</a>

“We're a bedroom community to
Hays,” Braun said. “We are a retirement community, and we got to do something to
bring families in and make housing available for them. It was very clear in the
interviews with the employers that finding housing within Victoria is problematic.
That was stated by a couple of the employers interviewed. But that's where we
are.”

Outside of giving the coalition
a clear view of the housing and workforce needs in the city, the survey allows
the coalition to apply for Moderate Income Housing program grants available
for cities with populations under 60,000 in Kansas.

“This will be our foundation
for when we apply to the MIH grant,” Pfeifer said. “We're going to ask for
$650,000 from the state that is for housing.”

Homes owned in the community
totaled 321, with 117 above the median home value of $172,700 — 204 homes were
below the median.

The survey found 71 renters in
the city, paying an average rent of $730 monthly. Eighty-three percent reported rent
under that amount.

“So, the rent in town is fairly
low,” Braun said.

The survey also
reported that many currently living in the community would qualify for housing
developed in the facility.

“We did find out that for the MIH grant that we were looking at, for 100 percent of income, one person could
have $60,600 income, two people could have $69,300 in income and still qualify
to live in an MIH moderate-income housing facility,” Braun said.

She said 171 Victoria
households are under that threshold.

“What this did was support
the need for affordable housing,” Pfeifer said. “So, that leads us to our plan.”

As envisioned currently, the
former rest home would include 20 rental units, comprised of studio, one- and
two-bedroom apartments, a childcare center large enough for 20-25 children and open
community space. Rent is being roughly projected at $1 per square foot for the
apartments.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/4e8ad16c-9ee2-43ac-bfc0-857f715636e6">The Ellis
County Historical Society had previously announced they would create a satellite
museum in the building as well and would occupy around 9,000 square feet of the around 40,000 square foot facility.</a>

In the proposed agreement, currently being finalized, the society will receive 10 years
of free rent. At the same time, they are responsible for the cost of repairing and updating
their portion of the building.

“It's
good for them, and it's good for our community, good for Ellis County,” Pfeifer
said. “They want to focus on the church, the history of the Church, on the
artifacts of the church, and they want to focus on the Volga German heritage.”

Moving forward, Pfeifer said the
most pressing issue is repairing the aging roof of the entire facility. Due to
its current state and the building’s design, nearly all of the whole top will need to be replaced at one time.

He estimates $500,000 to $650,000
would be needed to repair the roof entirely. 

Once the roof is secured, Pfeifer said
the project would be split into phases, with the total project expected to cost less than $3 million.

Phase
one would include the construction of 11 apartments in the newest part of
the building, along with the child care center.

But everything is dependent on the
current ability of the coalition to raise funds, and while much of the project
cost is hoped to be covered by grant and organizational funding, community
efforts will be important to demonstrate “buy-in” from Victoria residents.

“They want to see what you're
bringing to the table with what you're requesting,” said Heartland Community
Foundation Executive Director Sarah Meitner. “They'll see the time that the
community has put in the time and it counts for something.”

Time and effort, along with the influx of community dollars
into a project, project the overall desire of residents to see a project
completed, she said.

“And that's why we're here,”
Pfeifer said. “The last piece tonight is, 'How do we do that?' ”

He said currently the coalition
has three efforts underway, including a donor campaign, physical work at the facility
and fundraisers.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/9020a3c3-5787-4198-8ef6-638ce2acd105">One
fundraiser has been planned featuring homemade popcorn balls.</a>

While those fundraisers might generate relatively small amounts compared to the total project cost, Hansen
Foundation Facilitator Betty Johnson said it demonstrates more than just a financial
commitment.

“It's important for even a Hanson or Schmidt Foundation or Patterson Foundation that the residents of Victoria
have financially invested,” Johnson said. 

But she said a long list of
small contributions matters far more than just a few very large ones.

And it can help leverage the support
of the community.

“All
you're doing is presenting an opportunity,” Johnson said. “We have an
opportunity to talk to them about what's going on in their community, letting
them know, and giving them an opportunity to invest and be a part of some great
things going on.

“It [shows]
the community cares, and that they believe, and they care and lead by putting
dollars in,” she continued. “That's the way Hansen looks at it, is that there's
other skin in the game.”

And with
the holiday season being a typically more fruitful time for philanthropic
giving, Meitner said the push to the end of the year to raise funds for the
roof can be successful with a high level of involvement.

“Something
like 80-ish percent of charitable giving happens during the month of November
and December,” she said. “So, it's the time to get this project out in the
community and abroad and even further through alumni or through even into Hays
or rural areas and start telling them why this is important and how this
benefits the community.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1666403002211.jpeg" alt="Victoria Community Coalition chair Jeff Pfeifer and treasurer Marilyn Braun share information developed from a recent community survey during a recent community on Oct. 5. Photo by James Bell/Hays Post." />
 <figcaption>Victoria Community Coalition chair Jeff Pfeifer and treasurer Marilyn Braun share information developed from a recent community survey during a recent community on Oct. 5. Photo by James Bell/Hays Post.</figcaption>
 </figure>By JAMES BELL 
Hays PostVICTORIA — This month, Victoria residents heard updates
from the <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/20265d70-4cca-400e-9a7e-69323db9d166">Victoria
Community Coalition as they continue in their effort to repurpose the former St.
John’s Rest Home.</a>Coalition chair and <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/20265d70-4cca-400e-9a7e-69323db9d166">building owner Jeff Pfeifer </a>opened
the meeting by highlighting progress already been made to bring the
beloved building back to life under the proposed name St. John’s Place.<a href="https://heartlandcommunityfoundation.org/">The
Heartland Community Foundation</a>, Pfeifer said, awarded the project a $5,000
grant for architectural work and set up an account for the organization to accept
tax-deductible donations. An application that would secure the organization as
a not-for-profit 501(c)3 is also underway and associated media explaining the
project has been developed, including the launch of a <a href="https://www.victoriakscommunity.com/">coalition website.</a>During the meeting, the coalition also shared the results
of a completed survey that would qualify the project for grants. They
reported responses from 73 percent of homes in the city with active meters.The survey highlighted the city’s largest
employers out of the 49 listed — the Victoria school district, Nex-Tech and
Frank’s Oilfield Service — and other economic data, but some of the most telling data centered around the workforce in the city.“We are a retirement community,”
said Victoria Community Coalition Treasurer Marilyn Braun. “Out of the 979 people that we actually surveyed,
there are 228 that are 66-plus years of age. Out of those 228, 226 are actually
retired, doing nothing. They are retired.”Children in the city totaled
218.Further, they found a significant portion
of the available Victoria workforce works outside the city.“Of that percentage that we
talked to, 50 percent had a worker in Hays,” Pfeifer said. “Of that, 25 percent
had two or more people working in Hays.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660869675268.jpeg" alt="The former St. John's Rest Home in Victoria. File Photo" />
 <figcaption>The former St. John's Rest Home in Victoria. File Photo</figcaption>
 </figure>He said that amounts to 70
percent of homes with working individuals are working in Hays.“Basically, what it told me
was, Victoria provides housing for Hays employers, and Hays provides employment
for Victoria residents,” Pfeifer said.He said those findings reflect
a mutually beneficial situation.“I don't see any reason not
to reach out to Hays and see how we can work together,” Pfeifer said. “And I've
been trying to do that.”He noted the coalition has
been working with Hays-based economic development organizations such as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.growhays.com/">Grow Hays</a> and the <a href="https://hayschamber.com/">Hays Chamber,</a> along with their continued work
with the Northwest Kansas Planning and Development Commission <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/93f2e61e-a2e0-43d8-9f38-f7beacb841b5">after the
city of Victoria signed up earlier this year.</a> “We're a bedroom community to
Hays,” Braun said. “We are a retirement community, and we got to do something to
bring families in and make housing available for them. It was very clear in the
interviews with the employers that finding housing within Victoria is problematic.
That was stated by a couple of the employers interviewed. But that's where we
are.”Outside of giving the coalition
a clear view of the housing and workforce needs in the city, the survey allows
the coalition to apply for Moderate Income Housing program grants available
for cities with populations under 60,000 in Kansas.“This will be our foundation
for when we apply to the MIH grant,” Pfeifer said. “We're going to ask for
$650,000 from the state that is for housing.”Homes owned in the community
totaled 321, with 117 above the median home value of $172,700 — 204 homes were
below the median.The survey found 71 renters in
the city, paying an average rent of $730 monthly. Eighty-three percent reported rent
under that amount.“So, the rent in town is fairly
low,” Braun said.The survey also
reported that many currently living in the community would qualify for housing
developed in the facility.“We did find out that for the MIH grant that we were looking at, for 100 percent of income, one person could
have $60,600 income, two people could have $69,300 in income and still qualify
to live in an MIH moderate-income housing facility,” Braun said.She said 171 Victoria
households are under that threshold.“What this did was support
the need for affordable housing,” Pfeifer said. “So, that leads us to our plan.”As envisioned currently, the
former rest home would include 20 rental units, comprised of studio, one- and
two-bedroom apartments, a childcare center large enough for 20-25 children and open
community space. Rent is being roughly projected at $1 per square foot for the
apartments.<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/4e8ad16c-9ee2-43ac-bfc0-857f715636e6">The Ellis
County Historical Society had previously announced they would create a satellite
museum in the building as well and would occupy around 9,000 square feet of the around 40,000 square foot facility.</a>In the proposed agreement, currently being finalized, the society will receive 10 years
of free rent. At the same time, they are responsible for the cost of repairing and updating
their portion of the building.“It's
good for them, and it's good for our community, good for Ellis County,” Pfeifer
said. “They want to focus on the church, the history of the Church, on the
artifacts of the church, and they want to focus on the Volga German heritage.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1666403285864.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Next Steps</h2>Moving forward, Pfeifer said the
most pressing issue is repairing the aging roof of the entire facility. Due to
its current state and the building’s design, nearly all of the whole top will need to be replaced at one time.He estimates $500,000 to $650,000
would be needed to repair the roof entirely. Once the roof is secured, Pfeifer said
the project would be split into phases, with the total project expected to cost less than $3 million.Phase
one would include the construction of 11 apartments in the newest part of
the building, along with the child care center.But everything is dependent on the
current ability of the coalition to raise funds, and while much of the project
cost is hoped to be covered by grant and organizational funding, community
efforts will be important to demonstrate “buy-in” from Victoria residents.“They want to see what you're
bringing to the table with what you're requesting,” said Heartland Community
Foundation Executive Director Sarah Meitner. “They'll see the time that the
community has put in the time and it counts for something.”Time and effort, along with the influx of community dollars
into a project, project the overall desire of residents to see a project
completed, she said.“And that's why we're here,”
Pfeifer said. “The last piece tonight is, 'How do we do that?' ”He said currently the coalition
has three efforts underway, including a donor campaign, physical work at the facility
and fundraisers.<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/9020a3c3-5787-4198-8ef6-638ce2acd105">One
fundraiser has been planned featuring homemade popcorn balls.</a>While those fundraisers might generate relatively small amounts compared to the total project cost, Hansen
Foundation Facilitator Betty Johnson said it demonstrates more than just a financial
commitment.“It's important for even a Hanson or Schmidt Foundation or Patterson Foundation that the residents of Victoria
have financially invested,” Johnson said. But she said a long list of
small contributions matters far more than just a few very large ones.And it can help leverage the support
of the community.“All
you're doing is presenting an opportunity,” Johnson said. “We have an
opportunity to talk to them about what's going on in their community, letting
them know, and giving them an opportunity to invest and be a part of some great
things going on.“It [shows]
the community cares, and that they believe, and they care and lead by putting
dollars in,” she continued. “That's the way Hansen looks at it, is that there's
other skin in the game.”And with
the holiday season being a typically more fruitful time for philanthropic
giving, Meitner said the push to the end of the year to raise funds for the
roof can be successful with a high level of involvement.“Something
like 80-ish percent of charitable giving happens during the month of November
and December,” she said. “So, it's the time to get this project out in the
community and abroad and even further through alumni or through even into Hays
or rural areas and start telling them why this is important and how this
benefits the community.”

Victoria Community Coalition shares updates on former St. John’s Rest Home project

It happens to the best drivers.  So in the event that you hit a deer, Barton County Sheriff Brian Bellendir recommends that you should take the following steps:

*Pull to the side of the road as soon as it is safe to do so.

*Turn on your hazard lights and remain in the vehicle until you are sure it is safe.

*Call 911 if injuries are involved.  If you believe you are safe and just need to notify emergency services, call 620.793.1920 – that’s the administrative line at Communications.

*Stay away from the deer. If it is still alive, it could be confused, injured and dangerous if approached. 

*When contacting the authorities, let them know if the deer is in a dangerous spot on the road so that it can be removed.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1666370446637.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>From Barton County...It happens to the best drivers. So in the event that you hit a deer, Barton County Sheriff Brian Bellendir recommends that you should take the following steps:*Pull to the side of the road as soon as it is safe to do so.*Turn on your hazard lights and remain in the vehicle until you are sure it is safe.*Call 911 if injuries are involved. If you believe you are safe and just need to notify emergency services, call 620.793.1920 – that’s the administrative line at Communications.*Stay away from the deer. If it is still alive, it could be confused, injured and dangerous if approached. *When contacting the authorities, let them know if the deer is in a dangerous spot on the road so that it can be removed.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Barton Co. Sheriff: Steps to take if you hit a deer

“Just put on your boots and do it again,” was an apt sentiment a farmer recently expressed to Brandi Miller, president/CEO of the Kansas Cooperative Council, for how producers are dealing with weather concerns, delayed supply chains and trying to find help. But she wants to remind growers that they have more resources than their own grit and gumption, thanks to their local agricultural cooperatives, which are also working to tackle these unprecedented concerns.

“Given the challenges agriculture has faced in the last two years, we’ve been in this place that nobody has experienced before,” Miller said. “We’ve obviously been through droughts before — that’s not new — but not compounded with some of the residual supply chain issues and labor challenges.”

Miller and her team are taking to the road this October to visit with cooperatives and their members across the state as part of National Cooperative Month, proclaimed this year by both Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Kansas Governor Laura Kelly. Drawing a member’s name from a hat, the Kansas Cooperative Council is treating one cooperative in each of its four districts to lunch. Doing so has allowed them to dig into how agricultural cooperatives are working to address both today’s issues and tomorrow’s.

“It’s been great because it gives us a chance to sit down not just with the people that we usually interact with — which is usually the CEO or the manager — but also a lot of employees,” she said, noting that with this year’s drought and start-stop fall harvest there has been more time for those discussions. “We’ve had some great conversations with folks talking about their challenges, what we need to be watching going into the next legislative session and what opportunities there are to support our members better.”

According to the Kansas Cooperative Council, Kansas is home to more than 575 cooperative locations serving more than 116,000 members and employing more than 5,000 people. The local co-op is where farmers deliver and store their grain, market their crops, obtain field recommendations and purchase inputs. Agricultural cooperatives also return earnings to their members, known as patronage.

Outside of this now-standard set of services, cooperatives provide credit, insurance, electric service, health care, housing, telephone services and even childcare. Cooperatives also support the health of local economies by creating jobs, paying property taxes and income taxes and giving to charity.&nbsp;

Each October since the 1930s, the American agriculture industry has expressed appreciation for these member-owned, member-controlled businesses during National Co-Op Month. In addition to touring the state, Kansas Cooperative Council is also having a Co-op Month photo contest this month; entries are due by October 25. To enter or learn more about the work of cooperatives in Kansas, visit the organization’s Facebook page at&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001i0Rirz8lXIpRSPiCUYCS9lnleYfDxEVWXOHc-6r0nyiRBNc3cHb-FoWSzRbUXeiC0FRL5OPpBcNg5J0vOVDmjn0DNNKsQJ8frdSejGj7-QyeVmfAelpuemrwpmE6RkueFYbcTwq1GmV-zltiSdgxqdWWhMoOKgbtY_hm_iT0XoehByPiNqy-dw==&amp;c=L05Uf7LxlcsnEVMgjowmQp7lVAPgIuOjEcxtlWFtCrodFPSgzMK4Vw==&amp;ch=w9FeYcNkS8viZW7YxE5UvHPHwP36D8EgLXh2Dx35lbNacltvHUr7kw==" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/KansasCooperativeCouncil</a>.&nbsp;

“I always try to encourage folks to learn about what their cooperatives are doing in their communities,” Miller said. “A common theme that cooperatives have is that they care about the communities they serve. It’s what I love working in this environment because these are businesses that support communities all year long, not just for the month of October.”

Written by Julia Debes for Kansas Wheat

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1628192917024.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>“Just put on your boots and do it again,” was an apt sentiment a farmer recently expressed to Brandi Miller, president/CEO of the Kansas Cooperative Council, for how producers are dealing with weather concerns, delayed supply chains and trying to find help. But she wants to remind growers that they have more resources than their own grit and gumption, thanks to their local agricultural cooperatives, which are also working to tackle these unprecedented concerns.“Given the challenges agriculture has faced in the last two years, we’ve been in this place that nobody has experienced before,” Miller said. “We’ve obviously been through droughts before — that’s not new — but not compounded with some of the residual supply chain issues and labor challenges.”Miller and her team are taking to the road this October to visit with cooperatives and their members across the state as part of National Cooperative Month, proclaimed this year by both Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Kansas Governor Laura Kelly. Drawing a member’s name from a hat, the Kansas Cooperative Council is treating one cooperative in each of its four districts to lunch. Doing so has allowed them to dig into how agricultural cooperatives are working to address both today’s issues and tomorrow’s.“It’s been great because it gives us a chance to sit down not just with the people that we usually interact with — which is usually the CEO or the manager — but also a lot of employees,” she said, noting that with this year’s drought and start-stop fall harvest there has been more time for those discussions. “We’ve had some great conversations with folks talking about their challenges, what we need to be watching going into the next legislative session and what opportunities there are to support our members better.”According to the Kansas Cooperative Council, Kansas is home to more than 575 cooperative locations serving more than 116,000 members and employing more than 5,000 people. The local co-op is where farmers deliver and store their grain, market their crops, obtain field recommendations and purchase inputs. Agricultural cooperatives also return earnings to their members, known as patronage.Outside of this now-standard set of services, cooperatives provide credit, insurance, electric service, health care, housing, telephone services and even childcare. Cooperatives also support the health of local economies by creating jobs, paying property taxes and income taxes and giving to charity.&nbsp;Each October since the 1930s, the American agriculture industry has expressed appreciation for these member-owned, member-controlled businesses during National Co-Op Month. In addition to touring the state, Kansas Cooperative Council is also having a Co-op Month photo contest this month; entries are due by October 25. To enter or learn more about the work of cooperatives in Kansas, visit the organization’s Facebook page at&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001i0Rirz8lXIpRSPiCUYCS9lnleYfDxEVWXOHc-6r0nyiRBNc3cHb-FoWSzRbUXeiC0FRL5OPpBcNg5J0vOVDmjn0DNNKsQJ8frdSejGj7-QyeVmfAelpuemrwpmE6RkueFYbcTwq1GmV-zltiSdgxqdWWhMoOKgbtY_hm_iT0XoehByPiNqy-dw==&amp;c=L05Uf7LxlcsnEVMgjowmQp7lVAPgIuOjEcxtlWFtCrodFPSgzMK4Vw==&amp;ch=w9FeYcNkS8viZW7YxE5UvHPHwP36D8EgLXh2Dx35lbNacltvHUr7kw==" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/KansasCooperativeCouncil</a>.&nbsp;“I always try to encourage folks to learn about what their cooperatives are doing in their communities,” Miller said. “A common theme that cooperatives have is that they care about the communities they serve. It’s what I love working in this environment because these are businesses that support communities all year long, not just for the month of October.”Written by Julia Debes for Kansas Wheat

Wheat Scoop: Converse with your coop during National Cooperative Month

USD 428 Board of Education meeting Eisenhower Elementary School, 1212 Garfield, Great Bend October 25, 2022 12:00 Noon

4. Building Report &nbsp; &nbsp;Principal JoAnn Blevins and other staff members will share information regarding the academic programs and the school improvement efforts at Eisenhower Elementary School.

5. Approval of Grants and Contributions

6. Eisenhower Elementary Walk Through

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1666383567895.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>USD 428 Board of Education meeting Eisenhower Elementary School, 1212 Garfield, Great Bend October 25, 2022 12:00 NoonAGENDA1. Call to Order / Roll Call2. Adoption of Agenda3. Recognition of Visitors4. Building Report &nbsp; &nbsp;Principal JoAnn Blevins and other staff members will share information regarding the academic programs and the school improvement efforts at Eisenhower Elementary School.5. Approval of Grants and Contributions6. Eisenhower Elementary Walk Through7. Adjournment

USD 428 school board meeting agenda (10/25)

The
drought monitor report as of Tuesday, October 20, indicates almost all of our
area still in extreme drought with exceptional drought creeping into southern
Stafford County.&nbsp; There are only small
slivers in three counties not at least abnormally dry.&nbsp; Exceptional drought, it doesn’t get any
worse, covers about one-third of the state with extreme drought another third.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;The
six to ten-day outlook (October 25 to 29) indicates a 33 to 40% chance of below
normal temperatures and near normal precipitation.&nbsp; The eight to fourteen-day outlook (October 27
to November 2) indicates a 40 to 50% chance of above normal temperatures and a
33 to 40% chance of below normal precipitation.&nbsp;
The outlook is pretty grim until the first of next year. 

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; TMI (Too Much Information) is an
acronym for instances when people tell you much more information than you
really want or care to know.&nbsp; How does
this relate to agriculture?&nbsp; This column
and almost everyone in crop production preaches that you can’t have enough
information.&nbsp; Information allows a
producer to make the best economic and agronomic decisions.&nbsp; We will accept that as true.&nbsp; So how can you have too much
information?&nbsp; Let’s take time to consider
this.

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The
last thirty or do years have witnessed and information explosion in
agriculture, especially the last fifteen years.&nbsp;
We now have yield monitors to map the yield over small parts of each
field in detail.&nbsp; Soil grid sampling
along with interpolations methods allow us to accurately measure soil
properties from pH to various nutrient levels from phosphorus, potassium and
zinc to organic matters levels.&nbsp; Plant
nutrient levels can be monitored remotely or through tissue analysis.&nbsp; We can monitor soil moisture levels across a
field.&nbsp; And the list goes on.&nbsp; Sounds good and in many ways, it is, however
we can suffer from information overload.&nbsp;
How?

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Producers
have many options for obtaining soils information.&nbsp; For precision agriculture, grid sampling is
recommended.&nbsp; This allows you to know how
a given factor changes across a field.&nbsp;
You can generate many data layers: pH, organic matter levels, phosphorus
(P), potassium, electrical conductivity, etc.&nbsp;
However, you may not need all this data collection or at least no
annually.&nbsp; You may know you soil has a pH
well-above 7.&nbsp; There is no reason to
worry about soil acidity.&nbsp; Or your
nutrient levels, say P, may be in the very high range.&nbsp; Or perhaps, you have sampled for sulfur and
your soil has very low levels of sulfur.&nbsp;
There is no need to sample every year, unless you are able to rapidly
increase organic matter levels rapidly, as you simply determine your average
yield, how much sulfur it takes, and then fertilize with that amount.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1595683730716.jpeg" alt="Barton Community College Agriculture Instructor Dr. Victor Martin" />
 <figcaption>Barton Community College Agriculture Instructor Dr. Victor Martin</figcaption>
 </figure>The
drought monitor report as of Tuesday, October 20, indicates almost all of our
area still in extreme drought with exceptional drought creeping into southern
Stafford County.&nbsp; There are only small
slivers in three counties not at least abnormally dry.&nbsp; Exceptional drought, it doesn’t get any
worse, covers about one-third of the state with extreme drought another third.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;The
six to ten-day outlook (October 25 to 29) indicates a 33 to 40% chance of below
normal temperatures and near normal precipitation.&nbsp; The eight to fourteen-day outlook (October 27
to November 2) indicates a 40 to 50% chance of above normal temperatures and a
33 to 40% chance of below normal precipitation.&nbsp;
The outlook is pretty grim until the first of next year. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; TMI (Too Much Information) is an
acronym for instances when people tell you much more information than you
really want or care to know.&nbsp; How does
this relate to agriculture?&nbsp; This column
and almost everyone in crop production preaches that you can’t have enough
information.&nbsp; Information allows a
producer to make the best economic and agronomic decisions.&nbsp; We will accept that as true.&nbsp; So how can you have too much
information?&nbsp; Let’s take time to consider
this.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The
last thirty or do years have witnessed and information explosion in
agriculture, especially the last fifteen years.&nbsp;
We now have yield monitors to map the yield over small parts of each
field in detail.&nbsp; Soil grid sampling
along with interpolations methods allow us to accurately measure soil
properties from pH to various nutrient levels from phosphorus, potassium and
zinc to organic matters levels.&nbsp; Plant
nutrient levels can be monitored remotely or through tissue analysis.&nbsp; We can monitor soil moisture levels across a
field.&nbsp; And the list goes on.&nbsp; Sounds good and in many ways, it is, however
we can suffer from information overload.&nbsp;
How?·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Producers
have many options for obtaining soils information.&nbsp; For precision agriculture, grid sampling is
recommended.&nbsp; This allows you to know how
a given factor changes across a field.&nbsp;
You can generate many data layers: pH, organic matter levels, phosphorus
(P), potassium, electrical conductivity, etc.&nbsp;
However, you may not need all this data collection or at least no
annually.&nbsp; You may know you soil has a pH
well-above 7.&nbsp; There is no reason to
worry about soil acidity.&nbsp; Or your
nutrient levels, say P, may be in the very high range.&nbsp; Or perhaps, you have sampled for sulfur and
your soil has very low levels of sulfur.&nbsp;
There is no need to sample every year, unless you are able to rapidly
increase organic matter levels rapidly, as you simply determine your average
yield, how much sulfur it takes, and then fertilize with that amount.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The
other major problem with lots of data is simply how to put it together, analyze
it, and develop a management plan from it.&nbsp;
A producer may have the time and expertise to do just that.&nbsp; But often the volume of data is overwhelming
and it pays to have a professional do just that.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Finally,
before contracting services to do what we have mentioned, make sure it’s clear
who owns the data.

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