By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
Staff at the Barton County Health Department is busy year-round, but Saturday, April 25 is shaping up to be especially busy with a pair of events planned around Jack Kilby Square in downtown Great Bend. Child Care Licensing Surveyor Felicia Fyler said the fun begins from 10-11 a.m. that morning with the Bicycle Safety Rodeo.
“It’s free fun with prizes and safety skills to learn,” she said. “You’ll need your bike, your helmet, and your kids for a good time.”
Registration is required for the event. Forms are available at the Barton County Health Department, or on its website and Facebook pages. The forms were also distributed to area schools. Forms need to be completed and returned by April 17.
Drug Take Back Day will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. outside the Health Department at Kansas and Lakin Aves. It’s an opportunity to properly dispose of any unused prescription or non-prescription drugs. Fyler also highlighted the important of April for other reasons.
“Just a reminder that April is Child Abuse Awareness Month,” she said. “It’s a time to come together as a community to protect children and support families. Child abuse can take many forms, including physical, emotional, and neglect, but it is preventable. You can make a difference – learn the warning signs, support your local families, and speak up if something doesn’t seem right.”
Show your support for child abuse survivors by wearing the color blue on select dates in April.