By MIKE COURSON Great Bend Post

The Barton County Commission wants voters to know it does not plan on raising property taxes - not by a single dollar. But of course, it's not that simple. Former Barton County Commissioner and current Kansas Senator Alicia Straub spoke at Wednesday's weekly meeting to discuss the state's revenue neutral rate (RNR) law and how it impacts counties.

Last year, state legislators passed Senate Bill 13 to increase transparency regarding property taxes. While the bill has good intentions, it also muddies the waters for local taxing entities and citizens alike. Straub joined Wednesday's commission meeting to help clarify the issue.

"I, admittedly, voted in favor of Senate Bill 13 not to cause you all a bunch of grief, but because it is transparent," Straub said. "But it's not perfect. Nothing we do in Topeka is perfect, it really isn't."

Given the many variables in property valuation and the number of entities taxing that valuation, Commissioner Kirby Krier said that, although the county intends to collect the same overall dollar amount as last year, individual taxpayers will see variations in their county tax bill. Commissioner Barb Esfeld pointed out that, although the county does not plan to raise taxes, taxpayers may see an increase if other taxing entities in the county raise mill levies.

"You have to be very careful with that statement because the valuation of the land went down a little over two percent," Krier said. "Someone is making that up if we budget the exact same dollars we did last year. Someone will have their taxes raised to make up that difference."

Per the new revenue neutral laws, any taxing entity that intends to collect more tax dollars than the year before must send a notice of intent to do so to all taxpayers. The county clerk's office is charged with mailing those notices. This year that mailing cost just over $14,000, which the state will refund to the county. In the future, entities included on the notice will have to split that cost.

"I understand how much it costs to send out a mailing for all parcels in the county," said Straub. "I served on the county commission here for four years, so I know it costs roughly 10 grand. I don't feel like that's cost beneficial to the taxpayer or the county as a whole."

To further complicate matters, taxing entities use figures as of July 15 but budgets are set in November. Entities that do not express an intent to exceed revenue neutral but do anyway are required to refund that amount to taxpayers. Entities that express an intent to exceed revenue neutral, must weigh the difference between bringing in additional revenue and paying the postage costs to notify voters. The new laws push entities to say they will exceed revenue neutral even if there is no real intent.

"We do not intend to raise taxes, however we're being forced to send out a letter that says we intend to raise taxes," said Commission Chair Shawn Hutchinson.

Hutchinson suggested, and County Treasurer Jim Jordan agreed, a tax credit would be easier and cheaper to manage in instances of refunds. Straub intends to push for amendments to S.B. 13, including omitting refunds for less than $5 to allow for small variations in property valuation changes between July 15 and November. Making the information available upon request would also save the county and state mailing costs.

The commission plans to keep actual tax dollars received the same as last year despite inflation costs. Commissioner Jennifer Schartz expressed frustration that S.B. 13 does not take inflation into consideration.

"The inflation on the cost of fuel is just astronomical," Schartz said. "It's something we did not have any power over. It really affected how we can serve our constituents because when we have to allow this much money for fuel, something else has to be cut."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1621346419755.jpeg" alt="Alicia Straub" />
 <figcaption>Alicia Straub</figcaption>
 </figure>By MIKE COURSON Great Bend PostThe Barton County Commission wants voters to know it does not plan on raising property taxes - not by a single dollar. But of course, it's not that simple. Former Barton County Commissioner and current Kansas Senator Alicia Straub spoke at Wednesday's weekly meeting to discuss the state's revenue neutral rate (RNR) law and how it impacts counties.Last year, state legislators passed Senate Bill 13 to increase transparency regarding property taxes. While the bill has good intentions, it also muddies the waters for local taxing entities and citizens alike. Straub joined Wednesday's commission meeting to help clarify the issue."I, admittedly, voted in favor of Senate Bill 13 not to cause you all a bunch of grief, but because it is transparent," Straub said. "But it's not perfect. Nothing we do in Topeka is perfect, it really isn't."Given the many variables in property valuation and the number of entities taxing that valuation, Commissioner Kirby Krier said that, although the county intends to collect the same overall dollar amount as last year, individual taxpayers will see variations in their county tax bill. Commissioner Barb Esfeld pointed out that, although the county does not plan to raise taxes, taxpayers may see an increase if other taxing entities in the county raise mill levies."You have to be very careful with that statement because the valuation of the land went down a little over two percent," Krier said. "Someone is making that up if we budget the exact same dollars we did last year. Someone will have their taxes raised to make up that difference."Per the new revenue neutral laws, any taxing entity that intends to collect more tax dollars than the year before must send a notice of intent to do so to all taxpayers. The county clerk's office is charged with mailing those notices. This year that mailing cost just over $14,000, which the state will refund to the county. In the future, entities included on the notice will have to split that cost."I understand how much it costs to send out a mailing for all parcels in the county," said Straub. "I served on the county commission here for four years, so I know it costs roughly 10 grand. I don't feel like that's cost beneficial to the taxpayer or the county as a whole."To further complicate matters, taxing entities use figures as of July 15 but budgets are set in November. Entities that do not express an intent to exceed revenue neutral but do anyway are required to refund that amount to taxpayers. Entities that express an intent to exceed revenue neutral, must weigh the difference between bringing in additional revenue and paying the postage costs to notify voters. The new laws push entities to say they will exceed revenue neutral even if there is no real intent."We do not intend to raise taxes, however we're being forced to send out a letter that says we intend to raise taxes," said Commission Chair Shawn Hutchinson.Hutchinson suggested, and County Treasurer Jim Jordan agreed, a tax credit would be easier and cheaper to manage in instances of refunds. Straub intends to push for amendments to S.B. 13, including omitting refunds for less than $5 to allow for small variations in property valuation changes between July 15 and November. Making the information available upon request would also save the county and state mailing costs.The commission plans to keep actual tax dollars received the same as last year despite inflation costs. Commissioner Jennifer Schartz expressed frustration that S.B. 13 does not take inflation into consideration."The inflation on the cost of fuel is just astronomical," Schartz said. "It's something we did not have any power over. It really affected how we can serve our constituents because when we have to allow this much money for fuel, something else has to be cut."

Former Barton Commissioner returns to discuss new budget complexities

On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times host Gary Shorman speaks with&nbsp;radio show host Mike Cooper.

<div><iframe title="Forward Ever: Radio show host Mike Cooper" allowtransparency="true" height="300" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=5a6qm-12957a5-pb&from=pb6admin&square=1&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=auto&logo_link=podcast_page&btn-skin=3267a3&size=300" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times host Gary Shorman speaks with&nbsp;radio show host Mike Cooper.

🎤Forward Ever: Radio show host Mike Cooper

By COLE REIF Great Bend Post

As a service to the community, a local organization provided free
haircuts to children 17 years old and younger last Friday at three locations in
Barton County. Communities Organizing to Promote Equity, known as COPE,
provided 108 free haircuts. 
COPE was formed in Barton County to identify and reduce barriers to health and
wellbeing for all residents.

COPE Lead Callie Miller said last month that offering free
haircuts prior to the school year starting is just one way the group can assist
the underserved. 
"We've learned that, with the underserved community, sometimes things like hygiene are taken for granted," said Miller. "Things like haircuts for their kids when they're heading back to school. This allowed people that may not be able to afford it help their kids get ready for the school year." 
Lox Salon and Furbs Hair Studio in Great Bend and 5th Street Hair
Studio in Ellinwood all participated in the event.&nbsp; &nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660056238831.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By COLE REIF Great Bend PostAs a service to the community, a local organization provided free
haircuts to children 17 years old and younger last Friday at three locations in
Barton County. Communities Organizing to Promote Equity, known as COPE,
provided 108 free haircuts. 
COPE was formed in Barton County to identify and reduce barriers to health and
wellbeing for all residents. COPE Lead Callie Miller said last month that offering free
haircuts prior to the school year starting is just one way the group can assist
the underserved. 
"We've learned that, with the underserved community, sometimes things like hygiene are taken for granted," said Miller. "Things like haircuts for their kids when they're heading back to school. This allowed people that may not be able to afford it help their kids get ready for the school year." 
Lox Salon and Furbs Hair Studio in Great Bend and 5th Street Hair
Studio in Ellinwood all participated in the event.&nbsp; &nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660056266215.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660056213207.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

Organization provides 100+ free haircuts to Barton Co. youth

Barton County Sheriff’s
Office Incident Log (8/9) 
 
Animal Complaint 
 
At 7:12 a.m. an animal complaint was reported at 25 NW 50 Road in Hoisington. 
 
Child in Need of Care 
 
At 9:29 a.m. a report of a child in need of care was made at 1400 Main Street. 
 
Cattle Out 
 
At 5 p.m. a report of cattle out was made at N. US 281 Highway &amp; NW 150
Road. 
 
Driving / Driver Complaint 
 
At 5:05 p.m. a driving complaint was reported in the 600 block of NE K-156
Highway in Ellinwood. 
 
Great Bend Police Department Incident Log (8/9)

At 10:27 a.m. a Dodge Caliber bearing Kansas 914KTA parked in the roadway for a month was reported in the 1600 block of Broadway.

At 12:17 p.m. a red Charger driving recklessly was reported in the 3200 block of 10th Street.

At 3:40 p.m. a fire alarm was reported at 1301 Taft Street.

At 3:53 p.m. EMS assistance was needed at 16th Street &amp; Baker Avenue.

At 3:57 p.m. a report of dogs at large and fighting was made at 910 Baker Avenue.

At 5:05 p.m. a vehicle unable to maintain lanes was reported in the 600 block of NE K-156 Highway in Ellinwood.

At 6:10 p.m. EMS assistance was needed at 3503 10th Street.

At 7:04 p.m. a report of smoke was made at 2212 10th Street. Coming from the furnace.

At 7:29 p.m. The Page, 2920 10th Street, reported a customer failing to pay. Customer was located and returned to pay the ticket.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1592405093656.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Barton County Sheriff’s
Office Incident Log (8/9) 
 
Animal Complaint 
 
At 7:12 a.m. an animal complaint was reported at 25 NW 50 Road in Hoisington. 
 
Child in Need of Care 
 
At 9:29 a.m. a report of a child in need of care was made at 1400 Main Street. 
 
Cattle Out 
 
At 5 p.m. a report of cattle out was made at N. US 281 Highway &amp; NW 150
Road. 
 
Driving / Driver Complaint 
 
At 5:05 p.m. a driving complaint was reported in the 600 block of NE K-156
Highway in Ellinwood. 
 
Great Bend Police Department Incident Log (8/9)Parking ComplaintAt 10:27 a.m. a Dodge Caliber bearing Kansas 914KTA parked in the roadway for a month was reported in the 1600 block of Broadway.Driving / Driver ComplaintAt 12:17 p.m. a red Charger driving recklessly was reported in the 3200 block of 10th Street.Structure FireAt 3:40 p.m. a fire alarm was reported at 1301 Taft Street.Unconscious / FaintingAt 3:53 p.m. EMS assistance was needed at 16th Street &amp; Baker Avenue.Animal ComplaintAt 3:57 p.m. a report of dogs at large and fighting was made at 910 Baker Avenue.Driving / Driver ComplaintAt 5:05 p.m. a vehicle unable to maintain lanes was reported in the 600 block of NE K-156 Highway in Ellinwood.Breathing ProblemsAt 6:10 p.m. EMS assistance was needed at 3503 10th Street.Structure FireAt 7:04 p.m. a report of smoke was made at 2212 10th Street. Coming from the furnace.TheftAt 7:29 p.m. The Page, 2920 10th Street, reported a customer failing to pay. Customer was located and returned to pay the ticket.

Cop Shop (8/9)

8/9 BOOKED: Shannon Larson on KDOC warrant for Parole Violation, no bond set.

BOOKED: Craig Gowdy on Barton County District Court case, to serve sentence.

BOOKED: Ryler Bass on Barton County District Court warrant for Failure to Appear, bond set at $638 cash only.

RELEASED: Matthew Madden on Barton County District Court warrant for Breach of Privacy x6, after posting $10,000 surety bond through A-1 Bail Bonds.

RELEASED: Raymond Chapman on Barton County District Court case for Distribution of Opiates 3.5g&lt;100g within 1,000 feet of&nbsp; School Posting, after posting $50,000 surety bond through Ace Bail Bonds; and Rush County District Court warrant, after posting a cash bond of $608.

RELEASED: Ryler Bass on Barton County District Court warrant for Failure to Appear, after posting a cash bond of $638.

RELEASED: Travis Good on a Barton County District Court warrant for Failure to Appear, with time served; transferred to Green County, Mo.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1623272376285.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>8/9 BOOKED: Shannon Larson on KDOC warrant for Parole Violation, no bond set.BOOKED: Craig Gowdy on Barton County District Court case, to serve sentence.BOOKED: Ryler Bass on Barton County District Court warrant for Failure to Appear, bond set at $638 cash only.RELEASED: Matthew Madden on Barton County District Court warrant for Breach of Privacy x6, after posting $10,000 surety bond through A-1 Bail Bonds.RELEASED: Raymond Chapman on Barton County District Court case for Distribution of Opiates 3.5g&lt;100g within 1,000 feet of&nbsp; School Posting, after posting $50,000 surety bond through Ace Bail Bonds; and Rush County District Court warrant, after posting a cash bond of $608.RELEASED: Ryler Bass on Barton County District Court warrant for Failure to Appear, after posting a cash bond of $638.RELEASED: Travis Good on a Barton County District Court warrant for Failure to Appear, with time served; transferred to Green County, Mo.

Barton County Sheriff's Booking Activity (8/9)

The 2022-23 school year has yet to begin but already, some blockbuster moves are being made. At Monday's USD 428 Great Bend Board of Education meeting, the board voted 7-0 to move forward with a $4.82 million renovation plan to the support services facility located on east 10th Street. Once complete, the building will house both the district's food services and maintenance departments. 

The project opened with a budget exceeding $6 million. Assistant Superintendent John Popp said the project was scaled back to the essentials but will still provide district employees with a comfortable and functioning work environment.

"We don't need to do all that much to the maintenance-transportation side," he said. "It's got more space, it's got more bays. It has room to store things. It does need heat. It doesn't have a good system at this point, so we do need to put some heat in there. We're trying to keep the cost to the bare minimum on that side of things, and yet still put in a, not the deluxe-model kitchen, but something that will be very functional and able to expand in in the future."

The project will be paid for from the district's capital outlay fund, which had approximately $9.1 million as of July 1. To help replenish capital outlay, the district has proposed a mill levy increase from 6.492 mills to the maximum eight mills for capital outlay, and increased from 41.124 mills to 41.840 for the entire 2022-23 budget.

"We've been building capital outlay for a few years for this project and other projects," Popp said. "One of the things we heard from the bond campaign is that we try to pay for more things out of the money we generate, without having to do a bond. That's one of the things we've been trying to do is build up our capital outlay so we can do things like this."

Renovations are scheduled to begin in January 2023 with a finish date in May. McCownGordon Construction received some 70 bids from local contractors. Project Manager Todd Dumler said local contractors will complete the earthwork, site utilities, fencing, masonry, overhead doors, glass and glazing, flooring, fire protection, electrical, mechanical, and plumbing.

"As you can see from that list, those are all people with a Great Bend address who would be doing work on this building," Dumler said. "We're proud of the fact that we can keep those local dollars in this tax base."

Wichita-based SCFJ Architecture drew up the plans, and Vice President Matt Hamm said the finished drawing was pared back considerably. An original rendition included polished floors and glass doors to display some of the district's vehicles. The final plans are more practical.

"We always start high with the bar," Hamm said. "It's just natural to have a wish list and start high. We really cut that way back, only to the bare minimum now. I still think it's going to be a fantastic building even with the savings that were trimmed out."

Part of the costs involves a new HVAC system since the building currently does not have heat. The maintenance and kitchen facilities will have separate HVAC systems to prevent cross-contamination. But Dumler said the most significant costs came from kitchen equipment.

"I know the $4.8 million is big, but that kitchen is a sophisticated, modern kitchen like you'd see in a lot of new districts that are building brand new buildings," he said. "You guys are making use of an existing building and inserting that kitchen."

USD 428 Maintenance Director Davis Dirk and Food Services Director Kristy Alvord both said the new facility will meet their needs. Director of Grounds and Transportation Cody Schmidt agreed and said district staff may be able to save further money by handling some of the concrete work after the renovation.

"I'm a grounds guy so site work is a little iffy for me, just outside with parking lots and things," he said. "I think that's something we work through after it's established, and I think that's stuff we can do internally to save us a lot of money. We may not be able to complete it as fast, but we can definitely pour concrete with some of the best of them. 

"This building is probably what we need if not a little more, in my opinion."

The board also approved 7-0 a pair of additional alternatives to the plan. It approved the purchase of three compartment sinks and a 60-quarter mixer for $39,426, and a revised electrical gear line for $9,315.

Renovations are set to begin in January and be completed by May. Kitchen equipment will be moved from the current facility on Broadway to the new facility during the summer months to minimize disruption to the summer lunch program.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660072165840.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By MIKE COURSON Great Bend PostThe 2022-23 school year has yet to begin but already, some blockbuster moves are being made. At Monday's USD 428 Great Bend Board of Education meeting, the board voted 7-0 to move forward with a $4.82 million renovation plan to the support services facility located on east 10th Street. Once complete, the building will house both the district's food services and maintenance departments. The project opened with a budget exceeding $6 million. Assistant Superintendent John Popp said the project was scaled back to the essentials but will still provide district employees with a comfortable and functioning work environment."We don't need to do all that much to the maintenance-transportation side," he said. "It's got more space, it's got more bays. It has room to store things. It does need heat. It doesn't have a good system at this point, so we do need to put some heat in there. We're trying to keep the cost to the bare minimum on that side of things, and yet still put in a, not the deluxe-model kitchen, but something that will be very functional and able to expand in in the future."The project will be paid for from the district's capital outlay fund, which had approximately $9.1 million as of July 1. To help replenish capital outlay, the district has proposed a mill levy increase from 6.492 mills to the maximum eight mills for capital outlay, and increased from 41.124 mills to 41.840 for the entire 2022-23 budget."We've been building capital outlay for a few years for this project and other projects," Popp said. "One of the things we heard from the bond campaign is that we try to pay for more things out of the money we generate, without having to do a bond. That's one of the things we've been trying to do is build up our capital outlay so we can do things like this."Renovations are scheduled to begin in January 2023 with a finish date in May. McCownGordon Construction received some 70 bids from local contractors. Project Manager Todd Dumler said local contractors will complete the earthwork, site utilities, fencing, masonry, overhead doors, glass and glazing, flooring, fire protection, electrical, mechanical, and plumbing."As you can see from that list, those are all people with a Great Bend address who would be doing work on this building," Dumler said. "We're proud of the fact that we can keep those local dollars in this tax base."Wichita-based SCFJ Architecture drew up the plans, and Vice President Matt Hamm said the finished drawing was pared back considerably. An original rendition included polished floors and glass doors to display some of the district's vehicles. The final plans are more practical."We always start high with the bar," Hamm said. "It's just natural to have a wish list and start high. We really cut that way back, only to the bare minimum now. I still think it's going to be a fantastic building even with the savings that were trimmed out."Part of the costs involves a new HVAC system since the building currently does not have heat. The maintenance and kitchen facilities will have separate HVAC systems to prevent cross-contamination. But Dumler said the most significant costs came from kitchen equipment."I know the $4.8 million is big, but that kitchen is a sophisticated, modern kitchen like you'd see in a lot of new districts that are building brand new buildings," he said. "You guys are making use of an existing building and inserting that kitchen."USD 428 Maintenance Director Davis Dirk and Food Services Director Kristy Alvord both said the new facility will meet their needs. Director of Grounds and Transportation Cody Schmidt agreed and said district staff may be able to save further money by handling some of the concrete work after the renovation."I'm a grounds guy so site work is a little iffy for me, just outside with parking lots and things," he said. "I think that's something we work through after it's established, and I think that's stuff we can do internally to save us a lot of money. We may not be able to complete it as fast, but we can definitely pour concrete with some of the best of them. "This building is probably what we need if not a little more, in my opinion."The board also approved 7-0 a pair of additional alternatives to the plan. It approved the purchase of three compartment sinks and a 60-quarter mixer for $39,426, and a revised electrical gear line for $9,315.Renovations are set to begin in January and be completed by May. Kitchen equipment will be moved from the current facility on Broadway to the new facility during the summer months to minimize disruption to the summer lunch program.

Everything and the kitchen sink: USD 428 approves $4.8 million plan

Today Sunny and hot, with a high near 98. Light east northeast wind becoming east 5 to 10 mph in the morning.

Tonight Clear, with a low around 63. East wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south southeast after midnight.

Thursday Sunny and hot, with a high near 99. Light and variable wind becoming east southeast 5 to 10 mph in the morning.

Thursday Night Clear, with a low around 62. Southeast wind 6 to 10 mph.

Friday Sunny and hot, with a high near 99. South wind 6 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Friday Night Clear, with a low around 68.

Saturday Sunny and hot, with a high near 99.

Saturday Night Clear, with a low around 72.

Sunday Sunny and hot, with a high near 101.

Sunday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 73.

Monday Sunny and hot, with a high near 101.

Monday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 71.

Tuesday Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 97.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Today Sunny and hot, with a high near 98. Light east northeast wind becoming east 5 to 10 mph in the morning.Tonight Clear, with a low around 63. East wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south southeast after midnight.Thursday Sunny and hot, with a high near 99. Light and variable wind becoming east southeast 5 to 10 mph in the morning.Thursday Night Clear, with a low around 62. Southeast wind 6 to 10 mph.Friday Sunny and hot, with a high near 99. South wind 6 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.Friday Night Clear, with a low around 68.Saturday Sunny and hot, with a high near 99.Saturday Night Clear, with a low around 72.Sunday Sunny and hot, with a high near 101.Sunday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 73.Monday Sunny and hot, with a high near 101.Monday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 71.Tuesday Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 97.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Wednesday's Weather

News from the Oil Patch, Aug. 8 John P. Tretbar

The 85th Annual Convention &amp; Trade Show of the Kansas Independent Oil &amp; Gas Association is coming up. The event is scheduled Sunday and Monday, August 14th and 15th, at the Hyatt Regency/Century-Two Performing Arts &amp; Convention Center in Wichita. Plans are coming together for the trade group's golf and sporting clays tournaments as well. You can find out more at their Web site, KIOGA.org.

More than half of the states in the US are boasting average gasoline prices below four dollars a gallon on Monday, and the national average is getting close. Kansas ranks among the ten cheapest state gasoline markets in the country, with a statewide average of $3.64 a gallon, according to the auto club Triple A. The national average pump price dropped to $4.05, down nearly 70 cents from a month ago. We spotted $3.59 across Great Bend and $3.93 at most stations in Hays. Regulators in Kansas report 172 intent-to-drill notices in July. That's 1,023 Intents so far this year, compared to 630 by the end of July last year. A search of the Kansas Corporation Commission Web site returns two new Intents in Barton County, six in Ellis County, one in Russell County and four in Stafford County. Baker Hughes reported 764 active drilling rigs across the US, a decline of seven oil rigs including six in New Mexico. The count in Louisiana was down three rigs, while Texas was up two. Kansas operators have spudded 805 new wells so far this year, up 61% from a year ago. Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service is currently scouting 449 wells in various stages of drilling and completion, an increase of more than 62% from a year ago. The Rig Count in Kansas for the week through August 4th shows 33 active drilling rigs in Western Kansas, which is up one from the week before. The count east of Wichita was unchanged at 25 rigs. Operators on Friday were about to spud one new well in Barton County, and another in Ellis County. Kansas regulators okayed 23 new drilling permits last week, 18 in eastern Kansas and five west of Wichita. That's 967 new drilling locations so far this year, compared to 577 a year ago. Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service reports 28 completed wells for the week, eight of them east of Wichita and 20 in Western Kansas. The year-to-date tally is 936 completed wells, compared to 461 a year earlier. The Kansas Geological Society's Nomenclature Committee approved recognized and named four new oil fields in Kansas at its meeting last month. That brings the total so far this year to 19 new oil and gas fields. Business is booming across the Lone Star State, thanks in large part to the oil patch. Texas is now boasting its highest-ever monthly oil and gas production tax collections for the second month in a row. The State Comptroller reports oil production tax collections reached $694 million, the highest monthly collections on record, up 84 percent from July 2021. Natural gas production taxes also reached a record high in July at $532 million, up 185 percent from last July. The state also reported record sales-tax collections in July. Shipments of crude oil by US railroads declined last week. The Association of American Railroads reports 9,744 tanker carloads of petroleum and petroleum products rolling the rails during the week through July 30th. That's down 294 carloads from the week before and a 5% drop from last year at this time. Canadian traffic was down for the week but nearly eight percent higher than the tally a year ago. The AAR reported July total rail traffic down 1.5% from a year ago, although oil-by-rail traffic for the month was unchanged. The government reported a rise in crude inventories of nearly five million barrels. As of July 29, US stockpiles were over 426 million barrels. The Energy Information Administration reports gasoline stockpiles rose by 200,000 barrels, but remain about three percent below the five-year average for this time of year. EIA reports weekly crude imports were up 1.2 million barrels per day last week, to 7.3 million. The four-week average, at 6.7 million barrels per day, is 1.7% higher than during the same four-week period last year. US crude production for the week through July 29 was up slightly from the week before, at 12,136,000 barrels per day, according to EIA. Big prices translate to big profits for Big Oil. Chevron reported earnings of $11.62 billion during the second quarter of the year, nearly four times the tally from a year earlier. Exxon posted second-quarter earnings of $17.9 billion, compared to $4.7 billion a year earlier. BP is making more money than at any time since 2008, thanks to high crude prices. The British super-major tripled its profits om Q2 to more than $8.5 billion, marking the second-highest quarterly profit tally in the company's history. Shell last week reported record quarterly profits of nearly $12 billion.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1577789001883.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>News from the Oil Patch, Aug. 8 John P. TretbarThe 85th Annual Convention &amp; Trade Show of the Kansas Independent Oil &amp; Gas Association is coming up. The event is scheduled Sunday and Monday, August 14th and 15th, at the Hyatt Regency/Century-Two Performing Arts &amp; Convention Center in Wichita. Plans are coming together for the trade group's golf and sporting clays tournaments as well. You can find out more at their Web site, KIOGA.org. More than half of the states in the US are boasting average gasoline prices below four dollars a gallon on Monday, and the national average is getting close. Kansas ranks among the ten cheapest state gasoline markets in the country, with a statewide average of $3.64 a gallon, according to the auto club Triple A. The national average pump price dropped to $4.05, down nearly 70 cents from a month ago. We spotted $3.59 across Great Bend and $3.93 at most stations in Hays. Regulators in Kansas report 172 intent-to-drill notices in July. That's 1,023 Intents so far this year, compared to 630 by the end of July last year. A search of the Kansas Corporation Commission Web site returns two new Intents in Barton County, six in Ellis County, one in Russell County and four in Stafford County. Baker Hughes reported 764 active drilling rigs across the US, a decline of seven oil rigs including six in New Mexico. The count in Louisiana was down three rigs, while Texas was up two. Kansas operators have spudded 805 new wells so far this year, up 61% from a year ago. Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service is currently scouting 449 wells in various stages of drilling and completion, an increase of more than 62% from a year ago. The Rig Count in Kansas for the week through August 4th shows 33 active drilling rigs in Western Kansas, which is up one from the week before. The count east of Wichita was unchanged at 25 rigs. Operators on Friday were about to spud one new well in Barton County, and another in Ellis County. Kansas regulators okayed 23 new drilling permits last week, 18 in eastern Kansas and five west of Wichita. That's 967 new drilling locations so far this year, compared to 577 a year ago. Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service reports 28 completed wells for the week, eight of them east of Wichita and 20 in Western Kansas. The year-to-date tally is 936 completed wells, compared to 461 a year earlier. The Kansas Geological Society's Nomenclature Committee approved recognized and named four new oil fields in Kansas at its meeting last month. That brings the total so far this year to 19 new oil and gas fields. Business is booming across the Lone Star State, thanks in large part to the oil patch. Texas is now boasting its highest-ever monthly oil and gas production tax collections for the second month in a row. The State Comptroller reports oil production tax collections reached $694 million, the highest monthly collections on record, up 84 percent from July 2021. Natural gas production taxes also reached a record high in July at $532 million, up 185 percent from last July. The state also reported record sales-tax collections in July. Shipments of crude oil by US railroads declined last week. The Association of American Railroads reports 9,744 tanker carloads of petroleum and petroleum products rolling the rails during the week through July 30th. That's down 294 carloads from the week before and a 5% drop from last year at this time. Canadian traffic was down for the week but nearly eight percent higher than the tally a year ago. The AAR reported July total rail traffic down 1.5% from a year ago, although oil-by-rail traffic for the month was unchanged. The government reported a rise in crude inventories of nearly five million barrels. As of July 29, US stockpiles were over 426 million barrels. The Energy Information Administration reports gasoline stockpiles rose by 200,000 barrels, but remain about three percent below the five-year average for this time of year. EIA reports weekly crude imports were up 1.2 million barrels per day last week, to 7.3 million. The four-week average, at 6.7 million barrels per day, is 1.7% higher than during the same four-week period last year. US crude production for the week through July 29 was up slightly from the week before, at 12,136,000 barrels per day, according to EIA. Big prices translate to big profits for Big Oil. Chevron reported earnings of $11.62 billion during the second quarter of the year, nearly four times the tally from a year earlier. Exxon posted second-quarter earnings of $17.9 billion, compared to $4.7 billion a year earlier. BP is making more money than at any time since 2008, thanks to high crude prices. The British super-major tripled its profits om Q2 to more than $8.5 billion, marking the second-highest quarterly profit tally in the company's history. Shell last week reported record quarterly profits of nearly $12 billion.&nbsp;&nbsp;

News from the Oil Patch: KIOGA Convention starts Sunday

The Commission meeting will be live-streamed through Microsoft Teams. Citizens may view the meeting through their own sign in or by signing in “anonymously”. Please follow this link: https://bit.ly/3Mq8Zqd. If you wish to participate in the discussion of any item, please call (620) 793-1800 for instructions.

BOARD OF BARTON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS Commission and Board of Agenda Meeting Aug. 10 9 a.m. Until Close

I. OPENING BUSINESS: &nbsp; &nbsp;A. Call Meeting to Order. &nbsp; &nbsp;B. Recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance. &nbsp; &nbsp;C. Consider Approval of the Agenda. &nbsp; &nbsp;D. Minutes of the July 13, 2022, the July 20, 2022, the July 27, 2022 and the August 3, 2022, Regular Meetings are not available. &nbsp; &nbsp;D. Consider the minutes of the July 13, 2022, the July 20, 2022, the July 27, 2022, and the August 3, 2022, Regular Meetings. &nbsp; &nbsp;E. Any citizen wishing to make statements during the discussion of any item must first be recognized by the Commission Chair. After being recognized, that person should state their name and the name of any organization represented. Statements should be limited to five minutes. &nbsp; &nbsp;F. Cell phones and other electronic devices, other than those used by the media and law enforcement, should be shut off.

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

III. NEW BUSINESS - All new business to be considered by the Commission will be heard at this time.

&nbsp; &nbsp;A. LEGISLATIVE DISCUSSION: Revenue Neutral Rate: &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; -Matt Patzner, Director of Operations, will provide details. During the 2021 legislative session, the tax lid was removed and the Kansas Legislature enacted Senate Bill (SB) 13. This legislation established notice and public hearing requirements if a taxing entity's proposed budget will exceed the property tax levy’s revenue neutral rate (RNR). Generally, the RNR is the tax rate in mills that would generate the same property tax revenue in dollars as levied the previous tax year using the current tax year’s total assessed valuation. Senator Alicia Straub has been invited to discuss the RNR law.

&nbsp; &nbsp;B. COUNTY CLERK’S OFFICE: Bulk Mailer for Revenue Neutral Rate Notices Final Billing: &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; -Bev Schmeidler, County Clerk, will provide details. On July 13, 2022, the Commission approved a bid from Postalocity for bulk printing and mailing the Revenue Neutral Rate notices as required by Kansas law. Once printed, the number of notices were double that of the original projection which resulted in a final billing of $14,920.37. At this time, the Commission will be asked to ratify the payment of the remainder of the billing at $9,032.90.

&nbsp; &nbsp;C. COUNTY ENGINEER: Emergency Repair of Off-System Bridge No. 297: &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; -Barry McManaman, County Engineer, will provide details. Off-System&nbsp;Bridge No. 297 crosses Cow Creek on NE 70 Road approximately 0.2 miles west of NE 150 Avenue. The existing corrugated steel deck is failing. Under an agreement submitted by Kirkham Michael, design, bid and inspection services will be provided at a cost of $19,000.00.

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

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

&nbsp; &nbsp;B. APPOINTMENTS: &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; -Although subject to change, the following appointments have been scheduled: &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 10:00 a.m. or following the close of the Agenda Meeting – Great Bend Economic Development – Sara Hayden, Director. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 10:30 a.m. – Economic Development – Bob Whetmore, Great Plains Development, and Ms. Hayden. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 11:00 a.m. – Funding Request – Mary Anne Stoskopf, Secretary/Treasurer, Barton County Rural Water District No. 1 &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 11:15 a.m. – Project Update – Don Mars, DMA Architects, PA, and OSE. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 1:15 p.m. – Façade Improvement Grants – Forest Avenue Antiques, LLC. and Hammond, Inc. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 1:45 p.m. – Personnel discussion – Karen Winkelman, Health Director. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 2:00 p.m. – Request to release RFP, two diesel pickups – Darren Williams, County Works Director. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 2:30 p.m. – Regular Business Discussion – Matt Patzner, Director of Operations.

THE COUNTY EDITION, KVGB-AM – Thursdays at 11:05 a.m. Commissioner Jon Prescott is scheduled for August 11, 2022.

V. OTHER BUSINESS: &nbsp; &nbsp;A. Discussion Items. &nbsp; &nbsp;B. Citizens or organizations may present requests or proposals for initial consideration. &nbsp; &nbsp;C. The Commissioners are available to the Public on Wednesdays during regular business hours. &nbsp; &nbsp;D. One or more Commissioners may be present in the Commission Chambers conducting county business throughout the day on Wednesdays. &nbsp; &nbsp;E. The Commissioners may, individually, schedule personal appointments related to County business at their discretion. &nbsp; &nbsp;F. The next Regular Meeting will be at 9:00 a.m., Wednesday, August 17, 2022.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1655397973849.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The Commission meeting will be live-streamed through Microsoft Teams. Citizens may view the meeting through their own sign in or by signing in “anonymously”. Please follow this link: https://bit.ly/3Mq8Zqd. If you wish to participate in the discussion of any item, please call (620) 793-1800 for instructions.BOARD OF BARTON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS Commission and Board of Agenda Meeting Aug. 10 9 a.m. Until CloseI. OPENING BUSINESS: &nbsp; &nbsp;A. Call Meeting to Order. &nbsp; &nbsp;B. Recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance. &nbsp; &nbsp;C. Consider Approval of the Agenda. &nbsp; &nbsp;D. Minutes of the July 13, 2022, the July 20, 2022, the July 27, 2022 and the August 3, 2022, Regular Meetings are not available. &nbsp; &nbsp;D. Consider the minutes of the July 13, 2022, the July 20, 2022, the July 27, 2022, and the August 3, 2022, Regular Meetings. &nbsp; &nbsp;E. Any citizen wishing to make statements during the discussion of any item must first be recognized by the Commission Chair. After being recognized, that person should state their name and the name of any organization represented. Statements should be limited to five minutes. &nbsp; &nbsp;F. Cell phones and other electronic devices, other than those used by the media and law enforcement, should be shut off.II. OLD BUSINESS - Items tabled, or scheduled, from previous Commission Meetings, will be heard at this time. &nbsp; &nbsp;-There is no Old Business at this time.III. NEW BUSINESS - All new business to be considered by the Commission will be heard at this time.&nbsp; &nbsp;A. LEGISLATIVE DISCUSSION: Revenue Neutral Rate: &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; -Matt Patzner, Director of Operations, will provide details. During the 2021 legislative session, the tax lid was removed and the Kansas Legislature enacted Senate Bill (SB) 13. This legislation established notice and public hearing requirements if a taxing entity's proposed budget will exceed the property tax levy’s revenue neutral rate (RNR). Generally, the RNR is the tax rate in mills that would generate the same property tax revenue in dollars as levied the previous tax year using the current tax year’s total assessed valuation. Senator Alicia Straub has been invited to discuss the RNR law.&nbsp; &nbsp;B. COUNTY CLERK’S OFFICE: Bulk Mailer for Revenue Neutral Rate Notices Final Billing: &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; -Bev Schmeidler, County Clerk, will provide details. On July 13, 2022, the Commission approved a bid from Postalocity for bulk printing and mailing the Revenue Neutral Rate notices as required by Kansas law. Once printed, the number of notices were double that of the original projection which resulted in a final billing of $14,920.37. At this time, the Commission will be asked to ratify the payment of the remainder of the billing at $9,032.90.&nbsp; &nbsp;C. COUNTY ENGINEER: Emergency Repair of Off-System Bridge No. 297: &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; -Barry McManaman, County Engineer, will provide details. Off-System&nbsp;Bridge No. 297 crosses Cow Creek on NE 70 Road approximately 0.2 miles west of NE 150 Avenue. The existing corrugated steel deck is failing. Under an agreement submitted by Kirkham Michael, design, bid and inspection services will be provided at a cost of $19,000.00.IV. ENDING BUSINESS – After new items are heard by the Commission, the following items, including announcements, will be heard.&nbsp; &nbsp;A. ANNOUNCEMENTS: &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; -Following the close of the Agenda Meeting, the Commission will consider the authorization of personnel changes for classified positions, sign any documentation approved during the agenda meeting or sign any other documentation required for regular County business. Similar action may take place throughout the day.&nbsp; &nbsp;B. APPOINTMENTS: &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; -Although subject to change, the following appointments have been scheduled: &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 10:00 a.m. or following the close of the Agenda Meeting – Great Bend Economic Development – Sara Hayden, Director. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 10:30 a.m. – Economic Development – Bob Whetmore, Great Plains Development, and Ms. Hayden. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 11:00 a.m. – Funding Request – Mary Anne Stoskopf, Secretary/Treasurer, Barton County Rural Water District No. 1 &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 11:15 a.m. – Project Update – Don Mars, DMA Architects, PA, and OSE. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 1:15 p.m. – Façade Improvement Grants – Forest Avenue Antiques, LLC. and Hammond, Inc. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 1:45 p.m. – Personnel discussion – Karen Winkelman, Health Director. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 2:00 p.m. – Request to release RFP, two diesel pickups – Darren Williams, County Works Director. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 2:30 p.m. – Regular Business Discussion – Matt Patzner, Director of Operations.THE COUNTY EDITION, KVGB-AM – Thursdays at 11:05 a.m. Commissioner Jon Prescott is scheduled for August 11, 2022.V. OTHER BUSINESS: &nbsp; &nbsp;A. Discussion Items. &nbsp; &nbsp;B. Citizens or organizations may present requests or proposals for initial consideration. &nbsp; &nbsp;C. The Commissioners are available to the Public on Wednesdays during regular business hours. &nbsp; &nbsp;D. One or more Commissioners may be present in the Commission Chambers conducting county business throughout the day on Wednesdays. &nbsp; &nbsp;E. The Commissioners may, individually, schedule personal appointments related to County business at their discretion. &nbsp; &nbsp;F. The next Regular Meeting will be at 9:00 a.m., Wednesday, August 17, 2022.VI. ADJOURN

Barton County Commission meeting agenda (8/10)

Wheatland Electric Cooperative, Inc. invites the community to an open house celebrating one year at their new location, 200 10th Street, Great Bend on Thursday, Aug. 18 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The open house is a come and go event with refreshments and door prizes. Facility and green space tours will be available, and Wheatland’s Hyundai Kona will be on hand for members wanting to experience driving a 100% electric vehicle.

Wheatland Electric broke ground on the new 30,000 square-foot building in September 2020 to centralize operations in the central district and better serve the Great Bend community. The facility officially opened Aug. 18, 2021.

The brick building features both a walk-in customer-service lobby and drive-up window, boasts an outdoor green space with working fossil-free energy sources — a wind-generator, a solar generator, and battery storage — and is irrigated with a water recovery system. A publicly accessible electric vehicle level 2 charging station was added in December.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1659967463493.jpeg" alt="Wheatland Electric is celebrating one year in their new facility at 200 10th Street, Great Bend, with a come-and-go open house on Thursday, Aug. 18 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m." />
 <figcaption>Wheatland Electric is celebrating one year in their new facility at 200 10th Street, Great Bend, with a come-and-go open house on Thursday, Aug. 18 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.</figcaption>
 </figure>Wheatland Electric Cooperative, Inc. invites the community to an open house celebrating one year at their new location, 200 10th Street, Great Bend on Thursday, Aug. 18 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.The open house is a come and go event with refreshments and door prizes. Facility and green space tours will be available, and Wheatland’s Hyundai Kona will be on hand for members wanting to experience driving a 100% electric vehicle.Wheatland Electric broke ground on the new 30,000 square-foot building in September 2020 to centralize operations in the central district and better serve the Great Bend community. The facility officially opened Aug. 18, 2021.The brick building features both a walk-in customer-service lobby and drive-up window, boasts an outdoor green space with working fossil-free energy sources — a wind-generator, a solar generator, and battery storage — and is irrigated with a water recovery system. A publicly accessible electric vehicle level 2 charging station was added in December.

Wheatland Electric hosting one-year celebration open house

As the official day for the start of school is approaching for several
schools in Great Bend, the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce is ready to welcome
teachers and educational staff back to school. 
The 7th annual Great Bend Business Showcase, a teacher appreciation
event, will take place Monday, Aug. 15 from 8:30 a.m. - 11
a.m. in the Panther Activity Center (PAC) at Great Bend High School. 
Chamber CEO Megan Barfield said the event gives businesses an opportunity to
showcase their products and services to more than 700 employees of the school
district, while expressing appreciation for teachers and staff as they kick-off
the school year. 
"The businesses love the interaction and giving teachers cool things for their classrooms," said Barfield. "There are lots of door prizes that go on. Credit Union of America is our premier sponsor and they always give away a couple of big scholarships to teachers for their classrooms."

More than 50 businesses are registered to have a booth at the showcase. 
The showcase is open for all USD 428 staff and Holy Family School, Central
Kansas Christian Academy and Barton Community College.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1659019195670.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By COLE REIF Great Bend PostAs the official day for the start of school is approaching for several
schools in Great Bend, the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce is ready to welcome
teachers and educational staff back to school. 
The 7th annual Great Bend Business Showcase, a teacher appreciation
event, will take place Monday, Aug. 15 from 8:30 a.m. - 11
a.m. in the Panther Activity Center (PAC) at Great Bend High School. 
Chamber CEO Megan Barfield said the event gives businesses an opportunity to
showcase their products and services to more than 700 employees of the school
district, while expressing appreciation for teachers and staff as they kick-off
the school year. 
"The businesses love the interaction and giving teachers cool things for their classrooms," said Barfield. "There are lots of door prizes that go on. Credit Union of America is our premier sponsor and they always give away a couple of big scholarships to teachers for their classrooms."More than 50 businesses are registered to have a booth at the showcase. 
The showcase is open for all USD 428 staff and Holy Family School, Central
Kansas Christian Academy and Barton Community College.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Great Bend Chamber ready to welcome teachers back

The Central Kansas Community Choir (CKCC) is recruiting singers for the fall 2022 season. Rehearsals will be held from 7-9 p.m. Monday evenings starting Sept. 12 at the First United Methodist Church in Great Bend.

The CKCC is sponsored by Barton Community College and strives to provide challenging performances of quality literature for the enjoyment of the residents of the Central Kansas area. Choir membership is open to all singers high school age and above. Participants must have a choral singing background and be able to attend all rehearsals as the literature will be challenging and rehearsal time is relatively short.

Barton County residents and those in surrounding counties interested in participating can contact Barton Director of Choral Activities Dr. Eric Foley at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:foleye@bartonccc.edu" target="_blank">foleye@bartonccc.edu</a>&nbsp;or (620) 792-9395.

The Community Choir will rehearse with the Barton Concert Choir and the combined choirs will be directed by Foley.

This fall marks the 11th season for this ensemble. It was founded in the spring of 2003 by former director Vern Fryberger. It is a non-denominational mixed chorus. Each singer will be charged a $25 fee to help pay for music and production expenses.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1659708722124.jpeg" alt="The Central Kansas Community Choir performs in the Barton Fine Arts Auditorium in 2021." />
 <figcaption>The Central Kansas Community Choir performs in the Barton Fine Arts Auditorium in 2021.</figcaption>
 </figure>Story by Joe VinduskaThe Central Kansas Community Choir (CKCC) is recruiting singers for the fall 2022 season. Rehearsals will be held from 7-9 p.m. Monday evenings starting Sept. 12 at the First United Methodist Church in Great Bend.The CKCC is sponsored by Barton Community College and strives to provide challenging performances of quality literature for the enjoyment of the residents of the Central Kansas area. Choir membership is open to all singers high school age and above. Participants must have a choral singing background and be able to attend all rehearsals as the literature will be challenging and rehearsal time is relatively short.Barton County residents and those in surrounding counties interested in participating can contact Barton Director of Choral Activities Dr. Eric Foley at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:foleye@bartonccc.edu" target="_blank">foleye@bartonccc.edu</a>&nbsp;or (620) 792-9395.The Community Choir will rehearse with the Barton Concert Choir and the combined choirs will be directed by Foley.This fall marks the 11th season for this ensemble. It was founded in the spring of 2003 by former director Vern Fryberger. It is a non-denominational mixed chorus. Each singer will be charged a $25 fee to help pay for music and production expenses.

Singers wanted for the Central Kansas Community Choir

Comment to&nbsp;Protect Your Access to Atrazine <a href="https://sorghumgrowers.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=c7d6bd689602a83f8b92ea37d&amp;id=c55f5a7bd1&amp;e=d30ea29a91" target="_blank">Please take two minutes to fill out the comment form and join us in stopping EPA</a>&nbsp;from limiting your access to atrazine. Included in more than 90 herbicide products across the U.S., limiting atrazine will have broad implications. Atrazine is utilized on 75 percent of U.S. sorghum acres, and the proposal will have drastic impacts on a large majority of those acres, significantly reducing application rates and requiring additional mitigation measures and reporting procedures. It also prohibits all aerial application and application during when rain is forecast within 48 hours.

Join us in the fight.&nbsp;<a href="https://sorghumgrowers.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=c7d6bd689602a83f8b92ea37d&amp;id=b016f0547a&amp;e=d30ea29a91" target="_blank">Tell EPA to stick to sound science and the 2020 finalized atrazine registration review</a>.&nbsp;Anything less is unacceptable. POLICY, REGULATORY AND ISSUE&nbsp;UPDATES

Democratic Budget Reconciliation Takes Another Step Forward with Senator Sinema’s Support&nbsp; Following the unexpected news last week of a budget reconciliation compromise between Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV), all eyes turned to Senator Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) to see if the senior Senator from Arizona would embrace the deal. This week, having secured changes to the agreement, including preservation of certain tax breaks and inclusion of drought mitigation, Senator Sinema signed off on the legislation, meaning that all 50 Senate Democrats and Vice President Kamala Harris can clear the measure in the upper chamber with 51 votes provided that the parliamentarian ultimately clears the package in the "Byrd Bath" process whereby each provision of the bill is examined to see whether it meets strict Byrd Rule requirements. Despite this overarching agreement,&nbsp;Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) is advocating last-minute changes to new electric-vehicle tax-credit limits, which the senior Senator from Michigan says are currently unworkable. The Congressional Budget Office analyzed the package to determine costs. CBO indicates although the agriculture conservation provisions provide&nbsp;$19.9 billion to incentivize the sequestration and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, the Department of Agriculture is expected to only be able to spend $15.3 billion before the new funding stream dries up under Byrd Rule requirements that limit any new spending to the 10-year budget window. Hence, the increased funding is provided for each of fiscal years 2023 through 2026, with the Secretary prohibited from expending any of the dollars past September 30, 2031.&nbsp;The media reports on this have been confused. The bottom line is that $20 billion in new funding will be available in each of FY 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026, though CBO projects that the money will not all be used because NRCS is not able to fully utilize its current budget. The new funding does not establish a higher budget baseline for the Farm Bill although the Budget Committees could allow this next year in a budget resolution passed by Congress. If the Budget Committees do allow this, the new funding could be restructured in the 2023 Farm Bill to arrive at more achievable spending targets. This would take some real skill from lawmakers and, if done right, could&nbsp;be parlayed into other needed&nbsp;investments&nbsp;in the Commodity Title and crop insurance. Debate in the Senate is expected to occur beginning tomorrow, Saturday, and extend through the weekend, culminating in a vote-a-rama wherein Senators will be called upon to cast votes on amendments roughly every five minutes until such time that the chamber allows for a final vote on the package. Debate on the measure is limited to 20 hours under reconciliation procedures, but there is technically no limit on amendments, meaning the Senate continues to vote on amendments until Senators fizzle out. Access the CBO report&nbsp;<a href="https://sorghumgrowers.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=c7d6bd689602a83f8b92ea37d&amp;id=c1ea247839&amp;e=d30ea29a91" target="_blank">here</a>&nbsp;and read a comprehensive overview&nbsp;<a href="https://sorghumgrowers.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=c7d6bd689602a83f8b92ea37d&amp;id=9cd5eae53c&amp;e=d30ea29a91" target="_blank">here</a>. Senator Hoeven Says Increases in PLC and ARC Reference Prices are a Priority in Next Farm Bill Senator John Hoeven (R-ND), the Ranking Republican Member on the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee and a senior Member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, told a meeting of the American Sugar Alliance that Price Loss Coverage (PLC) and Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) reference prices ought to be increased in the next farm bill, declaring this to be a priority during reauthorization next year. A long-time champion of the American farmer and rancher, Senator Hoeven has worked in the context of each farm bill&nbsp;to strengthen the farm safety net. The statement comes as Agricultural and Food Policy Center Co-Director Bart Fischer, Ph.D., told the same forum that the Farm Bill’s two primary commodity programs — the Agricultural Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage — now account for just three percent of farm bill spending while the cost of the nutrition title has grown dramatically. Read more&nbsp;<a href="https://sorghumgrowers.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=c7d6bd689602a83f8b92ea37d&amp;id=b8a164da54&amp;e=d30ea29a91" target="_blank">here</a>. FPAC Undersecretary Bonnie Opines on Climate Incentives, Crop Insurance, and Crop Protection Products&nbsp; While addressing the American Sugar Alliance’s International Sweetener Symposium, USDA Undersecretary for Farm Production and Conservation Robert Bonnie said&nbsp;America’s farmers have an opportunity to be “a real hero in our ability to address climate change” through improvements in productivity and climate-smart practices, but he also added that a successful climate program “has to work for agriculture.” Bonnie stressed the importance of crop insurance as a risk management tool, saying, “crop insurance is critically important for so many folks in agriculture.” He noted that there are ways to increase crop insurance accessibility by improving the products available to farmers. The Undersecretary also noted USDA is trying to work with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to address concerns over the reduction in the availability of crop protection products, acknowledging that climate-smart practices—to say nothing of ample supplies of food and fiber—are dependent on the use of such products. Read more&nbsp;<a href="https://sorghumgrowers.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=c7d6bd689602a83f8b92ea37d&amp;id=58af3da2ac&amp;e=d30ea29a91" target="_blank">here</a>. USDA May Increase Climate Program Funding&nbsp;&nbsp; USDA Undersecretary for Farm Production and Conservation Robert Bonnie indicated the Department may allocate more than the initially announced $1 billion for the Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities program but said the decision is ultimately up to the White House and Secretary Tom Vilsack. “We thought [$1 billion] was big enough that it put a strong marker out there. We were frankly surprised at the level of input and the level of proposals we've gotten,” Bonnie said. Applications for the program total around $20 billion. The grants are likely to be announced in September, according to Bonnie. Read more&nbsp;<a href="https://sorghumgrowers.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=c7d6bd689602a83f8b92ea37d&amp;id=6a5a34eef5&amp;e=d30ea29a91" target="_blank">here</a>.&nbsp; FSA: Next Round of Disaster Payments Will Take Time Farm Service Agency Associate Administrator Steve Peterson said Phase II of the Emergency Relief Program (ERP) will take more time to process than Phase I payments where applications could be pre-filled by USDA using data on file. Peterson says the next round of ERP payments will include producers who did not have crop insurance claims or did not receive Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program payments as well as producers for their quality losses and other losses not covered under Phase I. Read more&nbsp;<a href="https://sorghumgrowers.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=c7d6bd689602a83f8b92ea37d&amp;id=bb84ca7faa&amp;e=d30ea29a91" target="_blank">here</a>.&nbsp; 2022 Disaster Bill Introduced in the House&nbsp; Reps. Dan Newhouse (R-WA), Mike Thompson (D-CA) and more than 20 House colleagues have introduced legislation to make 2022 losses eligible for USDA’s Emergency Relief Program (ERP). “We are looking at any legislative vehicle that could contain this bill and pass, and the appropriations process is a good candidate again,” Thompson said. “I am committed to reauthorizing this program for hard hit growers.” Access the bill language&nbsp;<a href="https://sorghumgrowers.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=c7d6bd689602a83f8b92ea37d&amp;id=88372d9788&amp;e=d30ea29a91" target="_blank">here</a>. USDA has made more than $6 billion in ERP payments so far to more than 255,000 applications, according to the Farm Service Agency (FSA). Associate FSA Administrator Steve Peterson said, “drought is the number one cause of loss” this year. Read more from FSA&nbsp;<a href="https://sorghumgrowers.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=c7d6bd689602a83f8b92ea37d&amp;id=58d98dbd08&amp;e=d30ea29a91" target="_blank">here</a>. House Agriculture Committee Republicans Request Hearing on EPA Handling of Crop Protection Products House Agriculture Committee Ranking Republican Member Rep. Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson (R-PA), Vice Republican Leader, Rep. Rick Crawford (R-AR), and the Ranking Republican Member of each Subcommittee, penned a letter to Committee Chairman David Scott (D-GA) urging the Committee to schedule a hearing with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Regan regarding the agency’s handling of crop protection products. “The Biden EPA has already made steps towards restricting or canceling chlorpyrifos, Enlist, glyphosate, atrazine, sulfoxaflor, DCPA, diuron, organophosphates, neonicotinoids, and many more,” the lawmakers write. “This has eroded public trust in the regulatory process and is undermining confidence in the scientific integrity of the EPA.” Read the letter&nbsp;<a href="https://sorghumgrowers.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=c7d6bd689602a83f8b92ea37d&amp;id=ab3b9df4b9&amp;e=d30ea29a91" target="_blank">here</a>. EPA Not Expected to Meet Glyphosate Deadline Imposed by 9th Circuit Court of Appeals The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said in court filings this week that it will not meet the court-ordered deadline for the agency to review its cancer assessment and to conduct an Endangered Species Act (ESA) review of the herbicide glyphosate. EPA asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit to give the agency more time, indicating it would be unable to issue a new interim decision or final registration decision for glyphosate until 2026 because of the complexity of the issues involved and the lengthy timeframe needed to complete its ESA review and consultation with the federal wildlife agencies. The court is not expected to rule until the petitioners in the case file their response to EPA’s request. Read more&nbsp;<a href="https://sorghumgrowers.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=c7d6bd689602a83f8b92ea37d&amp;id=550cf4c7bf&amp;e=d30ea29a91" target="_blank">here</a>.&nbsp; Senators Tuberville, Cotton Sponsor Bill Banning Chinese Land Ownership&nbsp; Senators Tom Cotton (R-AR) and Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), the latter a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, introduced a bill that would prohibit Chinese Communist Party members from purchasing any land in the United States. “We cannot continue giving our top adversary a foot in the door to purchase land in the United States and undermine our national security,” said Senator Tuberville.&nbsp;Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) has introduced companion legislation in the House. Read the joint press release&nbsp;<a href="https://sorghumgrowers.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=c7d6bd689602a83f8b92ea37d&amp;id=d45b31264b&amp;e=d30ea29a91" target="_blank">here</a>. USDA Announces Additional ReConnect Broadband Dollar USDA’s Rural Development division has&nbsp;<a href="https://sorghumgrowers.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=c7d6bd689602a83f8b92ea37d&amp;id=5ecea34455&amp;e=d30ea29a91" target="_blank">announced</a>&nbsp;the fourth round of its ReConnect program, which will offer more than $1 billion to expand broadband in rural America and begin taking applications in September. The new round will award up to $150 million dollars in loans, twice that for loan-grant combinations, and another $700 million for grants. Calling this the “Summer of High-Speed Internet,” Rural Development Undersecretary Xochitl Torres Small said the Round 4 announcement comes on the heels of the program making public the first batch of its Round 3 recipients last week. More awards will be announced throughout the month.

Sorghum Smart Talk: Policy Edition - New Episode - #015 In this episode, National Sorghum Producers CEO Tim Lust is joined by Triazine Network Co-Chair and Kansas Corn CEO Greg Krissek to discuss the EPA's recent proposal on atrazine and what growers can do to engage in the fight to keep this important tool.

USGC Elects Sorghum Checkoff's Ulibarri Secretary-Treasurer Verity Ulibarri, past chairwoman of the United Sorghum Checkoff Program (USCP), was elected secretary-treasurer of the US Grains Council (USGC) board of directors during the USGC’s 62nd Annual&nbsp;Board of Delegates meeting&nbsp;July 25-27 in Sacramento, California, US.&nbsp;The Sorghum Checkoff also is represented on the USGC board by Adam Schindler, USCP vice chairman from Reliance, South Dakota, US, who was appointed as the Asia Advisory Team (A-Team) lead. The USGC has seven A-Teams that engage members in the organization’s export market development efforts.&nbsp;Former USCP board member Jim Massey, from Robstown, Texas, US, also will continue to serve on the USGC board as the Sorghum Sector director. Read the full USCP release&nbsp;<a href="https://sorghumgrowers.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=c7d6bd689602a83f8b92ea37d&amp;id=50ed779ec5&amp;e=d30ea29a91" target="_blank">here</a>. Sorghum Foundation Announces 2022-2023 Scholarship Winners The National Sorghum Foundation (NSF) presented scholarships to three students for the 2022-2023 academic school year with awards totaling $4,500. The winning students are Joshua Strine from Texas A&amp;M University (TAMU), Trace Harris also from TAMU and Benjamin Kamrath from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL).

The 2022 Bill Kubecka Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Strine who is from Bryan, Texas, and currently in graduate school at TAMU, pursuing a master’s degree in agricultural economics. The 2022 Bruce Maunder Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Harris who is a junior agricultural economics major at TAMU from Poth, Texas.&nbsp;Kamrath was awarded the Darrell Rosenow Memorial Scholarship. He is from Columbus, Nebraska, and is a sophomore agronomy major at UNL.&nbsp; These scholarships provide each winner $1,500 to assist with education expenses. The Bill Kubeka Memorial Scholarship winner, Strine, will also have the opportunity to travel to Washington, D.C., with National Sorghum Producers as part of the scholarship award to learn more about policies and regulations impacting the U.S. sorghum industry. Read the full release&nbsp;<a href="https://sorghumgrowers.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=c7d6bd689602a83f8b92ea37d&amp;id=8981f3a871&amp;e=d30ea29a91" target="_blank">here</a>. Sorghum Checkoff Still Accepting Applications to Leadership Sorghum The United Sorghum Checkoff Program is accepting applications for&nbsp;<a href="https://sorghumgrowers.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=c7d6bd689602a83f8b92ea37d&amp;id=8db84267cf&amp;e=d30ea29a91" target="_blank">Leadership Sorghum</a>&nbsp;Class VI, a program designed to cultivate the next generation of sorghum leaders. During the 14-month leadership program, class members will have the opportunity to experience various aspects of the sorghum industry in addition to personal development and networking opportunities.&nbsp;Applications are available&nbsp;<a href="https://sorghumgrowers.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=c7d6bd689602a83f8b92ea37d&amp;id=827bb4368f&amp;e=d30ea29a91" target="_blank">here</a>&nbsp;and are due by 5:00 pm CST on September 23.&nbsp;To learn more about Leadership Sorghum, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://sorghumgrowers.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=c7d6bd689602a83f8b92ea37d&amp;id=01da83cf9d&amp;e=d30ea29a91" target="_blank">SorghumGrowers.com</a>. Sorghum U Wheat U Registration Open Sorghum U Wheat U, hosted by High Plains Journal, is set for Aug 11 in Wichita, Kansas. This is a free, one-day, educational event. The event will begin at 8:30 a.m. and includes a farmer panel discussion made up of sorghum and wheat farmers across the High Plains. There are several breakout sessions planned including a presentation on Resource Conservation in Action: Big benefits from a Small Grain by National Sorghum Producers and Sorghum Checkoff Sustainability Director, Adam York. There will also be a discussion on sorghum weed control with Sorghum Checkoff Director of Agronomy Brent Bean, Ph.D., and Past Chairman Kent Martin, Ph.D. For more information regarding Sorghum U Wheat U and to register for the event, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://sorghumgrowers.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=c7d6bd689602a83f8b92ea37d&amp;id=64e04398a3&amp;e=d30ea29a91" target="_blank">https://www.hpj.com/suwu/</a>.&nbsp; Fall Sorghum Grower Magazine: Photo Submissions Get your camera (or even phone camera) ready, we want to see your sorghum field! Submit your field photos&nbsp;<a href="https://sorghumgrowers.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=c7d6bd689602a83f8b92ea37d&amp;id=05873434b6&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&nbsp;edition of the sorghum grower magazine! Sorghum Crop Update By July 31, forty-three percent of the nation’s sorghum acreage had reached the headed stage, 12 percentage points behind last year and 8 points behind the 5-year average. Twenty-one percent of the sorghum acreage was at or beyond the coloring stage by July 31, one percentage point behind last year and 2 points behind average. Twenty-eight percent of the nation’s sorghum acreage was rated in good to excellent condition on July 31. Sorghum Checkoff Releases Weekly Sorghum Basis Snapshot The Sorghum Checkoff, with Southwest Agribusiness Consulting, released its weekly sorghum basis snapshot, available at&nbsp;<a href="https://sorghumgrowers.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=c7d6bd689602a83f8b92ea37d&amp;id=91d80f1190&amp;e=d30ea29a91" target="_blank">SorghumCheckoff.com</a>.

Sorghum in the Spotlight: <a href="https://sorghumgrowers.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=c7d6bd689602a83f8b92ea37d&amp;id=6ba3ba077d&amp;e=d30ea29a91" target="_blank">Sorghum Foundation Announces 2022-2023 Scholarship&nbsp;Winners</a>&nbsp;- Seed Today <a href="https://sorghumgrowers.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=c7d6bd689602a83f8b92ea37d&amp;id=6b19ea3b26&amp;e=d30ea29a91" target="_blank">The 10 Highest Protein Grains to Add to Your Diet</a>&nbsp;- The Beet. <a href="https://sorghumgrowers.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=c7d6bd689602a83f8b92ea37d&amp;id=4f6b0adf6c&amp;e=d30ea29a91" target="_blank">The United States Contributes USD $223 Million to Help WFP Save Lives and Stave off Severe Hunger in South Sudan</a>&nbsp;- U.S. Embassy in South Sudan <a href="https://sorghumgrowers.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=c7d6bd689602a83f8b92ea37d&amp;id=378fabee5a&amp;e=d30ea29a91" target="_blank">First report of sugarcane aphid on grain sorghum in Kansas</a>&nbsp;- KSU Agronomy Updates <a href="https://sorghumgrowers.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=c7d6bd689602a83f8b92ea37d&amp;id=331c7b1831&amp;e=d30ea29a91" target="_blank">Sorghum Producers Remind Others to Comment on EPA Atrazine Proposal</a>&nbsp;- KUVR

Upcoming Events August 11&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://sorghumgrowers.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=c7d6bd689602a83f8b92ea37d&amp;id=c2e549d9ca&amp;e=d30ea29a91" target="_blank">Sorghum</a><a href="https://sorghumgrowers.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=c7d6bd689602a83f8b92ea37d&amp;id=31718adddd&amp;e=d30ea29a91" target="_blank">&nbsp;U</a>&nbsp;- Wichita, KS August 15 &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<a href="https://sorghumgrowers.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=c7d6bd689602a83f8b92ea37d&amp;id=5db6c007d9&amp;e=d30ea29a91" target="_blank">World Aquaculture Society, Aquaculture Conference</a>&nbsp;- Newfoundland, Canada August 15&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; NSP Board Meeting - Wichita, KS August 17&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; USCP Board Meeting - Wichita, KS September 5&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Labor Day-Office Closed October 8&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://sorghumgrowers.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=c7d6bd689602a83f8b92ea37d&amp;id=8d896f01ec&amp;e=d30ea29a91" target="_blank">Food &amp; Nutrition Conference &amp; Expo (FNCE)</a> October 12 &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<a href="https://sorghumgrowers.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=c7d6bd689602a83f8b92ea37d&amp;id=2fcfd215d0&amp;e=d30ea29a91" target="_blank">Export Exchange</a> Market News&nbsp;-&nbsp;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=dbd634655c&amp;e=d30ea29a91" target="_blank">here</a>. About Sorghum Notes Sorghum Notes is a publication of the National Sorghum Producers. NSP represents U.S. sorghum producers and serves as the voice of the sorghum industry from coast to coast through education and legislative and regulatory representation.

National Sorghum Producers - Sorghum e-Notes

The drug dynamic is shifting across Kansas and Barton County. In the first half of 2021, the state saw 338 drug overdoses, a 54-percent increase from the first half of 2020. Almost half of those overdoses were fentanyl-related. The trafficking and use of fentanyl are far different from the homemade meth labs that used to blight Barton County.

"At one point, we were busting a lab a week," said Barton County Sheriff Brian Bellendir. "At one point, we had our own hazardous material recovery guys, and everybody was trained in dealing with that stuff, but we haven't seen a lab here for years. The reason is it's much cheaper and safer to just import it."

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 50 to 100 times stronger than morphine. Originally developed as a pharmaceutical to manage pain in cancer patients, fentanyl is now added to other drugs to increase potency, or even disguised as other drugs because it is more addictive.

"We had actually had a couple of cases of that where they think they're buying meth, and it's been laced with fentanyl because fentanyl is much cheaper," Bellendir said. "It has the opposite effect. You've got a depressant and a stimulant together. It's kind of like getting in your car and standing on the brakes and pushing the gas pedal to the floor."

Like other depressants, fentanyl can cause relaxation, euphoria, and sedation. Unlike many other street drugs, including cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine, the margin of error in an overdose is much lower. 

"With fentanyl, it's so narrow," said Bellendir. "You get outside of that band, it's lethal. We've had a couple fentanyl deaths here over the years. The last few years we've had quite a few overdoses. We do carry Narcan in our cars just for that reason. A lot of times, if you're in a rural area, you're going to beat the ambulance to where you're going. If you're dealing with an overdose or suspected overdose, that might be the only chance this person's got. It basically shuts down your respiratory system. You just go to sleep."

Nationally, drug overdose deaths have climbed virtually every year since 1999, making a big jump from nearly 71,000 cases in 2019 to just shy of 92,000 cases in 2020. Fentanyl-related overdose deaths have doubled from approximately 30,000 in 2017 to 60,000 in 2020.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1659633830978.jpg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By MIKE COURSON Great Bend PostThe drug dynamic is shifting across Kansas and Barton County. In the first half of 2021, the state saw 338 drug overdoses, a 54-percent increase from the first half of 2020. Almost half of those overdoses were fentanyl-related. The trafficking and use of fentanyl are far different from the homemade meth labs that used to blight Barton County."At one point, we were busting a lab a week," said Barton County Sheriff Brian Bellendir. "At one point, we had our own hazardous material recovery guys, and everybody was trained in dealing with that stuff, but we haven't seen a lab here for years. The reason is it's much cheaper and safer to just import it."Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 50 to 100 times stronger than morphine. Originally developed as a pharmaceutical to manage pain in cancer patients, fentanyl is now added to other drugs to increase potency, or even disguised as other drugs because it is more addictive."We had actually had a couple of cases of that where they think they're buying meth, and it's been laced with fentanyl because fentanyl is much cheaper," Bellendir said. "It has the opposite effect. You've got a depressant and a stimulant together. It's kind of like getting in your car and standing on the brakes and pushing the gas pedal to the floor."Like other depressants, fentanyl can cause relaxation, euphoria, and sedation. Unlike many other street drugs, including cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine, the margin of error in an overdose is much lower. "With fentanyl, it's so narrow," said Bellendir. "You get outside of that band, it's lethal. We've had a couple fentanyl deaths here over the years. The last few years we've had quite a few overdoses. We do carry Narcan in our cars just for that reason. A lot of times, if you're in a rural area, you're going to beat the ambulance to where you're going. If you're dealing with an overdose or suspected overdose, that might be the only chance this person's got. It basically shuts down your respiratory system. You just go to sleep."Nationally, drug overdose deaths have climbed virtually every year since 1999, making a big jump from nearly 71,000 cases in 2019 to just shy of 92,000 cases in 2020. Fentanyl-related overdose deaths have doubled from approximately 30,000 in 2017 to 60,000 in 2020.

Barton County sheriff: fentanyl is different, more dangerous

The Tuff Enuff Obstacle Run has been canceled for this Saturday's Party in the Park in Great Bend.

City staff said there were not enough pre-registrations and the city will move the mud run to every five years, returning in 2025.

This was the only portion that was canceled. The rest of the schedule for Aug. 13 at Veterans Memorial Park remains the same.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660057891346.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The Tuff Enuff Obstacle Run has been canceled for this Saturday's Party in the Park in Great Bend.City staff said there were not enough pre-registrations and the city will move the mud run to every five years, returning in 2025.This was the only portion that was canceled. The rest of the schedule for Aug. 13 at Veterans Memorial Park remains the same.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658373291902.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

Mud run canceled for 'Party in the Park' in Great Bend

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

1. July Financial Statement – Mark Dean 2. Case New Holland Partnership – Mary Foley 3. Area and State Unified Schools District Services – Karly Little 4. Facilities and Grounds Review – staff 5. Dr. Heilman approved the following: &nbsp; &nbsp; IT Agreements/MOUs &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; • OKTA Professional Services through Carahsoft; Reston, VA &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; • Labster Inc.; Somerville, MA &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; • Ellucian; Reston, VA – amendment &nbsp; &nbsp; The Center for Innovation and Excellence &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; • Quality Matters; Annapolis, MD &nbsp; &nbsp; MLT Program &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; • Mercy Health East Communities; Chesterfield, MO &nbsp; &nbsp; MOU &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; • United States Army Garrison; Fort Riley – for Educational Services &nbsp; &nbsp; Nursing &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; • Grand Canyon University; Phoenix AZ – articulation agreement &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; • Pratt Community College; Pratt, KS – MOU &nbsp; &nbsp; Welding &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; • American Welding Society; Miami, FL – annual renewal &nbsp; &nbsp; Military On-Site Training MOST) &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; • Fort Carson, CO – training agreement

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1627047186061.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>BARTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES Monthly Study Session Tuesday, Aug. 9 – 4 p.m. F-30, Fine Arts Building/ZOOMDiscussion Topics1. July Financial Statement – Mark Dean 2. Case New Holland Partnership – Mary Foley 3. Area and State Unified Schools District Services – Karly Little 4. Facilities and Grounds Review – staff 5. Dr. Heilman approved the following: &nbsp; &nbsp; IT Agreements/MOUs &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; • OKTA Professional Services through Carahsoft; Reston, VA &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; • Labster Inc.; Somerville, MA &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; • Ellucian; Reston, VA – amendment &nbsp; &nbsp; The Center for Innovation and Excellence &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; • Quality Matters; Annapolis, MD &nbsp; &nbsp; MLT Program &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; • Mercy Health East Communities; Chesterfield, MO &nbsp; &nbsp; MOU &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; • United States Army Garrison; Fort Riley – for Educational Services &nbsp; &nbsp; Nursing &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; • Grand Canyon University; Phoenix AZ – articulation agreement &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; • Pratt Community College; Pratt, KS – MOU &nbsp; &nbsp; Welding &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; • American Welding Society; Miami, FL – annual renewal &nbsp; &nbsp; Military On-Site Training MOST) &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; • Fort Carson, CO – training agreement

BCC Board of Trustees study session agenda (8/9)

The Barton County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s assistance in solving a theft. 

On Aug. 4, approximately 100 joints of 2 and 3/8 tubing was stolen from a lease near Hitschman in rural Barton County. The loss is estimated to be roughly $10,000.

If you have information about this person or any other crime, please call Crime Stoppers at 620-792-1300 or 888-305-1300.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660056593460.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The Barton County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s assistance in solving a theft. On Aug. 4, approximately 100 joints of 2 and 3/8 tubing was stolen from a lease near Hitschman in rural Barton County. The loss is estimated to be roughly $10,000.If you have information about this person or any other crime, please call Crime Stoppers at 620-792-1300 or 888-305-1300.

Barton Co. law enforcement seeking help in stolen oilfield tubing

Barton County Sheriff’s
Office Incident Log (8/8) 
 
Burglary / In Progress 
 
At 12:11 a.m. a burglary was reported at 508 S. Schiller Avenue in Ellinwood. 
 
Non-Injury Accident 
 
6:35 a.m. an accident was reported at SW 70 Road &amp; SW 130 Avenue in Pawnee
Rock. 
 
Cattle Out 
 
11:55 a.m. a report of cattle out was made at NW 180 Road &amp; NW 110 Avenue. 
 
Driving / Driver Complaint 
 
At 1:29 p.m. a driving complaint was reported at 15 NE 60 Avenue. 
 
At 1:50 p.m. a driving complaint was reported at W. US 56 Highway at MM 197. 
 
At 3:33 p.m. a driving complaint was reported at 3208 Railroad Avenue. 
 
Traumatic Injuries 
 
At 5:12 p.m. traumatic injuries were reported on Kansas Avenue. 
 
Non-Injury Accident 
 
At 8:01 p.m. an accident was reported in the 600 block of SE 20 Road in
Ellinwood. 
 
Driving / Driver Complaint 
 
At 10:14 p.m. a driving complaint was reported at W. US 56 Highway &amp; SW 20
Road. 
 
Cattle Out 
 
At 10:42 p.m. a report of cattle out was made at NE 150 Road &amp; Susank Road.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1592405093656.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Barton County Sheriff’s
Office Incident Log (8/8) 
 
Burglary / In Progress 
 
At 12:11 a.m. a burglary was reported at 508 S. Schiller Avenue in Ellinwood. 
 
Non-Injury Accident 
 
6:35 a.m. an accident was reported at SW 70 Road &amp; SW 130 Avenue in Pawnee
Rock. 
 
Cattle Out 
 
11:55 a.m. a report of cattle out was made at NW 180 Road &amp; NW 110 Avenue. 
 
Driving / Driver Complaint 
 
At 1:29 p.m. a driving complaint was reported at 15 NE 60 Avenue. 
 
At 1:50 p.m. a driving complaint was reported at W. US 56 Highway at MM 197. 
 
At 3:33 p.m. a driving complaint was reported at 3208 Railroad Avenue. 
 
Traumatic Injuries 
 
At 5:12 p.m. traumatic injuries were reported on Kansas Avenue. 
 
Non-Injury Accident 
 
At 8:01 p.m. an accident was reported in the 600 block of SE 20 Road in
Ellinwood. 
 
Driving / Driver Complaint 
 
At 10:14 p.m. a driving complaint was reported at W. US 56 Highway &amp; SW 20
Road. 
 
Cattle Out 
 
At 10:42 p.m. a report of cattle out was made at NE 150 Road &amp; Susank Road.

Cop Shop (8/8)

8/8 BOOKED: Eduardo Torres on Barton County District Court case for Possession of Stimulant, Possession of Marijuana, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, bond set at $10,000 C/S.

BOOKED: Jill Alexander on Barton County District Court case, to serve sentence.

BOOKED: Caden Bieker on Barton County District Court warrant for Aggravated Criminal Sodomy and two counts of Aggravated Sexual Battery, bond set at $500,000 C/S.

BOOKED: Demarkaus Newman on Riley County District Court warrant for Failure to Appear, bond set at $5,000 C/S.

BOOKED: Kristina Halatek on Barton County District Court warrant for Failure to Appear, bond set at $200 cash only or 48-hour OR.

BOOKED: Brandi Stewart on Barton County District Court warrant for Forgery and Theft by Deception, bond set at $10,000 C/S.

BOOKED: Matthew Madden on Barton County District Court warrant for Breach of Privacy x6, bond set at $10,000 C/S.

RELEASED: Stephen Bonnar on three Barton County District Court warrants for Probation Violation, released to Reno County Sheriff's Office.

RELEASED: Randy Chambers on four Great Bend Municipal Court warrants for Contempt of Court, after posting $1,000 surety bond through Around the Clock Bail Bonding.

RELEASED: Alexis Barnard on Great Bend Municipal Court warrant for Failure to Appear, by order of the court.

RELEASED: Daniel Chapman on Barton County District Court case for Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute, after posting $50,000 surety bond through Ace Bail Bonds.

RELEASED: Kristina Halatek on Barton County District Court warrant for Failure to Appear, after posting a $200 cash bond.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1623272376285.png" alt="Ace-Bail-Bonding---July-4th.png" />
 <figcaption>Ace-Bail-Bonding---July-4th.png</figcaption>
 </figure>8/8 BOOKED: Eduardo Torres on Barton County District Court case for Possession of Stimulant, Possession of Marijuana, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, bond set at $10,000 C/S.BOOKED: Jill Alexander on Barton County District Court case, to serve sentence.BOOKED: Caden Bieker on Barton County District Court warrant for Aggravated Criminal Sodomy and two counts of Aggravated Sexual Battery, bond set at $500,000 C/S.BOOKED: Demarkaus Newman on Riley County District Court warrant for Failure to Appear, bond set at $5,000 C/S.BOOKED: Kristina Halatek on Barton County District Court warrant for Failure to Appear, bond set at $200 cash only or 48-hour OR.BOOKED: Brandi Stewart on Barton County District Court warrant for Forgery and Theft by Deception, bond set at $10,000 C/S.BOOKED: Matthew Madden on Barton County District Court warrant for Breach of Privacy x6, bond set at $10,000 C/S.RELEASED: Stephen Bonnar on three Barton County District Court warrants for Probation Violation, released to Reno County Sheriff's Office.RELEASED: Randy Chambers on four Great Bend Municipal Court warrants for Contempt of Court, after posting $1,000 surety bond through Around the Clock Bail Bonding.RELEASED: Alexis Barnard on Great Bend Municipal Court warrant for Failure to Appear, by order of the court.RELEASED: Daniel Chapman on Barton County District Court case for Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute, after posting $50,000 surety bond through Ace Bail Bonds.RELEASED: Kristina Halatek on Barton County District Court warrant for Failure to Appear, after posting a $200 cash bond.

Barton County Sheriff's Booking Activity (8/8)

The new school year is just around the corner, and all the students are ready to show off their new school clothes. The schools want to look nice as well. Jefferson Elementary School in Great Bend is currently seeking donations to replace the sign in front of its facility.

"The sign we had in front before that we took out was no longer working," said Jefferson Principal Adam Niedens. "It was one of those automated, electronic ones and scrolled across information on there. Since it wasn't working, we figured let's not go back to the electronic route and spend all that money on that since we we're able to put out everything on social media, or send parents text messages and emails and all those alerts, basically the same stuff you would scroll across the sign."

The school approached Mark's Custom Signs with the idea of a new sign, and Mark's provided several options. A winning design was voted on for a sign just over five feet high with a price tag of $12,000. Into the month of August, the school was still several thousand dollars short of purchasing the sign.

"We take a lot of pride in our building here as staff members," Niedens said. "I feel like our parents and family members of our school take a lot of pride in our school as well, and wanted something out front that represents us and the school well."

Donations for the sign can be made to the USD 428 Education Foundation, 201 S Patton Road, Great Bend. Checks should have "Jefferson Sign" in the memo line. Online donations may be made by <a href="https://usd-428-education-foundation.square.site/jefferson?fbclid=IwAR1BzZMzhjQEL6y-4I-PXPnd4UXc4VztEd8nq7cYUK3U-73-IXiJCj4RU2g">CLICKING HERE.</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1659710755449.png" alt="A design of the new sign that will go in front of Jefferson Elementary in Great Bend." />
 <figcaption>A design of the new sign that will go in front of Jefferson Elementary in Great Bend.</figcaption>
 </figure>By MIKE COURSON Great Bend PostThe new school year is just around the corner, and all the students are ready to show off their new school clothes. The schools want to look nice as well. Jefferson Elementary School in Great Bend is currently seeking donations to replace the sign in front of its facility."The sign we had in front before that we took out was no longer working," said Jefferson Principal Adam Niedens. "It was one of those automated, electronic ones and scrolled across information on there. Since it wasn't working, we figured let's not go back to the electronic route and spend all that money on that since we we're able to put out everything on social media, or send parents text messages and emails and all those alerts, basically the same stuff you would scroll across the sign."The school approached Mark's Custom Signs with the idea of a new sign, and Mark's provided several options. A winning design was voted on for a sign just over five feet high with a price tag of $12,000. Into the month of August, the school was still several thousand dollars short of purchasing the sign."We take a lot of pride in our building here as staff members," Niedens said. "I feel like our parents and family members of our school take a lot of pride in our school as well, and wanted something out front that represents us and the school well."Donations for the sign can be made to the USD 428 Education Foundation, 201 S Patton Road, Great Bend. Checks should have "Jefferson Sign" in the memo line. Online donations may be made by <a href="https://usd-428-education-foundation.square.site/jefferson?fbclid=IwAR1BzZMzhjQEL6y-4I-PXPnd4UXc4VztEd8nq7cYUK3U-73-IXiJCj4RU2g">CLICKING HERE.</a>

Jefferson Elementary school accepting donations for new sign

Today Sunny, with a high near 93. Northeast wind 5 to 9 mph becoming east southeast in the morning.

Tonight Mostly clear, with a low around 65. East wind 6 to 10 mph.

Wednesday Sunny, with a high near 96. Calm wind becoming east 5 to 9 mph in the morning.

Wednesday Night Clear, with a low around 64. East wind 6 to 10 mph becoming south after midnight.

Thursday Sunny, with a high near 95. Light south wind becoming southeast 5 to 10 mph in the morning.

Thursday Night Clear, with a low around 64.

Friday Sunny, with a high near 96.

Friday Night Clear, with a low around 69.

Sunday Sunny and hot, with a high near 100.

Sunday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 72.

Monday Sunny and hot, with a high near 100.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Today Sunny, with a high near 93. Northeast wind 5 to 9 mph becoming east southeast in the morning.Tonight Mostly clear, with a low around 65. East wind 6 to 10 mph.Wednesday Sunny, with a high near 96. Calm wind becoming east 5 to 9 mph in the morning.Wednesday Night Clear, with a low around 64. East wind 6 to 10 mph becoming south after midnight.Thursday Sunny, with a high near 95. Light south wind becoming southeast 5 to 10 mph in the morning.Thursday Night Clear, with a low around 64.Friday Sunny, with a high near 96.Friday Night Clear, with a low around 69.Saturday Sunny and hot, with a high near 99.Saturday Night Clear, with a low around 72.Sunday Sunny and hot, with a high near 100.Sunday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 72.Monday Sunny and hot, with a high near 100.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Tuesday's Weather

It takes a village to run a large school district. USD 428 Great Bend employs approximately 700 full and part-time workers. At Monday's August board of education meeting, USD 428 Director of Human Resources Tonya Miller shared a new staff incentive program to help keep the district fully staffed.

"The employee referral program is something we want to put in place as a recruitment tool," Miller told the board. "We're kind of already doing it informally. It's really successful. But we'd like to start incentivizing our staff to continue that."

Miller said the program benefits everyone. Employees have the best knowledge of job candidates, and hiring employees from referrals leads to better retention rates and saves the district money. 

"It gets employee referrals that are highly qualified, they're invested in the community, they're normally people we want to work with, they're a culture fit," she said. "So you reduce costs by not having turnover; they normally stay longer."

In the program, the district will post an open position. Candidates who are referred by a current employee will fill out the usual application and a referral form. The process stays confidential per district guidelines. If the candidate is hired, the referring employee will receive an additional $250. Another $50 is added for bilingual hires. The program does not apply to administrative employees or hiring managers, and temporary summer helpers do not qualify.

The board did not need to vote on the program Monday night, but Assistant Superintendent John Popp asked for its blessing.

"Word of mouth from your employees, they are your best recruiters," said Board President Jacquie Disque. "This only makes sense to incentivize them to look to some of those people they know would be a good fit."

Miller also reported on a recent job fair held for food service employees. The district was down 13 food service employees after the 2021-22 school year. Food services staff helped recruit some new employees, and the district advertised with local media prior to the July 28 job fair.

"Through all of that extra advertising, we had more applications coming in," Miller said. "We filled eight of those positions prior to the actual event. At the event, we had 16 people show up; really good, quality candidates. From the actual event, we hired three."

Miller reported Food Services Director Kristy Alvord now has her largest staff in two years. Popp later reported that all positions in the district have been filled, with seven positions being filled by long-term substitute teachers. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660011790025.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By MIKE COURSON Great Bend PostIt takes a village to run a large school district. USD 428 Great Bend employs approximately 700 full and part-time workers. At Monday's August board of education meeting, USD 428 Director of Human Resources Tonya Miller shared a new staff incentive program to help keep the district fully staffed."The employee referral program is something we want to put in place as a recruitment tool," Miller told the board. "We're kind of already doing it informally. It's really successful. But we'd like to start incentivizing our staff to continue that."Miller said the program benefits everyone. Employees have the best knowledge of job candidates, and hiring employees from referrals leads to better retention rates and saves the district money. "It gets employee referrals that are highly qualified, they're invested in the community, they're normally people we want to work with, they're a culture fit," she said. "So you reduce costs by not having turnover; they normally stay longer."In the program, the district will post an open position. Candidates who are referred by a current employee will fill out the usual application and a referral form. The process stays confidential per district guidelines. If the candidate is hired, the referring employee will receive an additional $250. Another $50 is added for bilingual hires. The program does not apply to administrative employees or hiring managers, and temporary summer helpers do not qualify.The board did not need to vote on the program Monday night, but Assistant Superintendent John Popp asked for its blessing."Word of mouth from your employees, they are your best recruiters," said Board President Jacquie Disque. "This only makes sense to incentivize them to look to some of those people they know would be a good fit."Miller also reported on a recent job fair held for food service employees. The district was down 13 food service employees after the 2021-22 school year. Food services staff helped recruit some new employees, and the district advertised with local media prior to the July 28 job fair."Through all of that extra advertising, we had more applications coming in," Miller said. "We filled eight of those positions prior to the actual event. At the event, we had 16 people show up; really good, quality candidates. From the actual event, we hired three."Miller reported Food Services Director Kristy Alvord now has her largest staff in two years. Popp later reported that all positions in the district have been filled, with seven positions being filled by long-term substitute teachers.

USD 428 Great Bend staffing numbers looking up for 2022-23 school year

The Kansas Department of Transportation is now accepting applications for the fall 2022 round of the agency’s Cost Share Program. More than $100 million has been given to Kansas communities since the Cost Share Program’s began in 2019.

The Cost Share Program provides financial assistance to local entities for construction projects that improve safety, leverage state funds to increase total transportation investment and help both rural and urban areas of the state improve the transportation system. This is the seventh round of projects to receive funding.

“The continuation of the Cost Share Program shows KDOT’s ongoing commitment to improving transportation and creating economic growth and job opportunities across Kansas,” said Michelle Needham, Economic Development Programs Manager. “Past Cost Share participants have proven this program to be the financial boost that many small and large communities needed to achieve their project goals.”

An informational webinar on the program will take place on Thursday, Aug. 18, at 10 a.m. The application process will be discussed, and attendees can ask questions. To register for the webinar, go to:&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDAsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMjA4MDguNjE5Mjc2MzEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3VzMDZ3ZWIuem9vbS51cy93ZWJpbmFyL3JlZ2lzdGVyL1dOX1ZlUV9pOGtTUXl1OWdjN1ZwckxkMWc_dXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWdvdmRlbGl2ZXJ5In0.Ilds2-igHQWyOZSwhFUfCCSGr_B1PXvBCLDfAUhDl2A/s/1410648818/br/142232641571-l" target="_blank">https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_VeQ_i8kSQyu9gc7VprLd1g</a>

All transportation projects are eligible, including roadway (on and off the state system), rail, airport, bicycle/pedestrian and public transit. Candidate projects should include investments that provide transportation benefits and are not eligible for other KDOT programs. This round of grant funding has an overall budget of $11 million, with a maximum awarded amount of $1.5 million per project.

The deadline to submit applications is Sept. 15. More information and the application link are on KDOT’s website at&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMjA4MDguNjE5Mjc2MzEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwOi8vd3d3LmtzZG90Lm9yZy9Db3N0U2hhcmUvQ29zdFNoYXJlUHJvZ3JhbS5hc3A_dXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWdvdmRlbGl2ZXJ5In0.ns2QXbxL0Gbuexca5AH9p6IuUptXusPwYA7TpXtKm_0/s/1410648818/br/142232641571-l" target="_blank">http://www.ksdot.org/CostShare/CostShareProgram.asp</a>. All applications will be completed online, and a sample PDF application will be available for preview.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1592777344559.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The Kansas Department of Transportation is now accepting applications for the fall 2022 round of the agency’s Cost Share Program. More than $100 million has been given to Kansas communities since the Cost Share Program’s began in 2019.The Cost Share Program provides financial assistance to local entities for construction projects that improve safety, leverage state funds to increase total transportation investment and help both rural and urban areas of the state improve the transportation system. This is the seventh round of projects to receive funding.“The continuation of the Cost Share Program shows KDOT’s ongoing commitment to improving transportation and creating economic growth and job opportunities across Kansas,” said Michelle Needham, Economic Development Programs Manager. “Past Cost Share participants have proven this program to be the financial boost that many small and large communities needed to achieve their project goals.”An informational webinar on the program will take place on Thursday, Aug. 18, at 10 a.m. The application process will be discussed, and attendees can ask questions. To register for the webinar, go to:&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDAsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMjA4MDguNjE5Mjc2MzEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3VzMDZ3ZWIuem9vbS51cy93ZWJpbmFyL3JlZ2lzdGVyL1dOX1ZlUV9pOGtTUXl1OWdjN1ZwckxkMWc_dXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWdvdmRlbGl2ZXJ5In0.Ilds2-igHQWyOZSwhFUfCCSGr_B1PXvBCLDfAUhDl2A/s/1410648818/br/142232641571-l" target="_blank">https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_VeQ_i8kSQyu9gc7VprLd1g</a>All transportation projects are eligible, including roadway (on and off the state system), rail, airport, bicycle/pedestrian and public transit. Candidate projects should include investments that provide transportation benefits and are not eligible for other KDOT programs. This round of grant funding has an overall budget of $11 million, with a maximum awarded amount of $1.5 million per project.The deadline to submit applications is Sept. 15. More information and the application link are on KDOT’s website at&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMjA4MDguNjE5Mjc2MzEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwOi8vd3d3LmtzZG90Lm9yZy9Db3N0U2hhcmUvQ29zdFNoYXJlUHJvZ3JhbS5hc3A_dXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWdvdmRlbGl2ZXJ5In0.ns2QXbxL0Gbuexca5AH9p6IuUptXusPwYA7TpXtKm_0/s/1410648818/br/142232641571-l" target="_blank">http://www.ksdot.org/CostShare/CostShareProgram.asp</a>. All applications will be completed online, and a sample PDF application will be available for preview.Please contact Needham,&nbsp;<a href="mailto:michelle.d.needham@ks.gov" target="_blank">michelle.d.needham@ks.gov</a>, with any questions.

Local