By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
Barton County Youth Crew members continue to represent the area throughout the state and the nation. Tuesday morning, Juvenile Services Prevention Advocate Tyler Morton appeared before the board of commissioners to seek approval for out-of-state travel to the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) Mid-Year Forum in Orlanda, Fla. From July 12-16.
“This will be our 14th and 15th Youth Crew members to go to one of these conferences, so we’re excited to take them,” Morton said. “We have representation from three host cities, which is exciting.”
Youth Crew members must be in the program for at least six months to be eligible to attend one of the conferences. This year, Morton had nine applicants for the trip, and four members were selected to travel. The members will learn at the conference, but also bring those experiences and information back home.
“(Juvenile Services Director Marissa Woodmansee) and I continue to maintain that that’s the most important piece of this whole thing,” Morton said, “is not just going to the conference and getting the information, but also bringing it back to the county, how can it help us here?”
Tuesday’s appearance before the commission was only to approve out-of-state travel for a county employee. The trip will be funded through the Drug Free Communities Grant Fund. Barton County Youth Crew has previously traveled to events in Nashville, Chicago, and Dallas. This will be the second trip to Orlando.