Each month, Eagle Radio in Great Bend will recognize groups or individuals that make a big impact on our community. This Appreciation Month is highlighting the Great Bend City Council.
By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
Great Bend resident Junior Welsch acknowledges it is amazing how much youth
sports has grown over the years. Following his daughter’s sports career as a
child and collegiately, softball and basketball games took Welsch all over the
state and sometimes out of state.
“We went down to Bartlesville, Oklahoma for one of our daughter’s games,” said
Welsch. “She also played basketball one year at Barton Community College and we
went to a tournament in Texas. Of course, competing for Great Bend High School,
you always looked at the trip to Liberal and said ‘here we go again.’”
Growing up in Garfield, just over 30 miles southwest of Great Bend, Welsch
never needed to go far. Loving the outdoors, the river was close and Junior
enjoyed everything about the small, rural town life.
“Everybody knew everybody. That will always be my home.”
Residing in Great Bend the past 27 years, Welsch feels the city has to continue
to push to get younger adults to live in Great Bend. Seeing dozens of
ballfields while traveling to watch his daughter play, Junior wants to see
improvements to sporting facilities and parks in town.
Welsch’s voice is now heard on the Great Bend City Council after being
appointed to a Ward 4 seat in February 2020.
“If you are going to keep seeing things you want to change, but not willing to
step up and do it, then you should not have the right to complain when it does
not change,” said Welsch.
Knowing that the Great Bend community is based on agriculture and oil, Welsch felt
his job at the Great Bend Coop was a good way to hear what many citizens need.
As a child, Welsch and his friends would help the coop in Garfield with
inventory in early January each year. He continued to help clean
around elevators and assist farmers as he could. Following high school, Welsch
began working at a feedyard.
“I did some plumbing for about four years, but realized I was going to have to
be out of town for plumbing, so I went back to the feedyard,” said Welsch. “I
decided the benefits were not going to be as great and moved on from there to
work at the Great Bend Coop.”
Working for Great Bend Coop for the past 15 years, Welsch is now learning his
newest role of being part of a governing body.
“You never realize how much is going on behind the scenes with the city,” said
Welsch. “What all the city employees do, even fire and police, is amazing to
keep this place functioning.”
Welsch wants all citizens to know the city is trying to constantly improve
their services and what they offer those that live here.
“A lot of people feel that Great Bend is not trying to better themselves,” said
Welsch. “I know from sitting through this, the city is trying to bring in
new businesses and improve the community. I don’t think people see that.”
While his traveling days to watch his children play sports have passed, Welsch
now spends his time traveling throughout Great Bend, looking for ways to advance
the community.
“I’ll get the agenda and then drive around over the weekend so I know what they
are talking about. If there are certain businesses it pertains to, I’ll reach
out to them.”