Progress Community 2018

GREAT BEND (KAN.) TRIBUNE • SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2018 •

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Special to the Great Bend Tribune Sunday, February 18, 2018

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• GREAT BEND (KAN.) TRIBUNE • SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2018

All Stars focuses on 6th graders

BY SUSAN THACKER sthacker@gbtribune.com

F

or years, fifth grades at many elementary schools in Barton County have been taught Drug Abuse Resistance Education, with law enforcement officers providing the D.A.R.E. curriculum. This year, Great Bend USD 428 sixth graders have a new class, All Stars, provided by the 20th Judicial District Juvenile Services.

The program started last year at Riley Elementary and this year is at all five of USD 428’s elementary schools. Teachers and family support workers at the schools received training and present the materials, although Kurt Schaub and Casey Rowland from Juvenile Services also facilitate the classes.

The plan is to offer All Stars to sixth graders at Hoisington, Claflin, Ellinwood and Wilson starting this August, sponsors said.

Beth Rein, student support coach at Riley Elementary, talked about All Stars at a recent school board meeting. “The goal is for students to think deeply about their futures,� she said. First they describe their ideal future. Then, “they start to identify steps to getting to that ideal future.�

Like D.A.R.E., All Stars helps students talk about the benefits of avoiding drugs and alcohol. One of its goals is to reduce use and abuse, especially of gateway drugs: alcohol, cigarettes, marijuana and inhalents. If the use of these substances can be prevented, the use of harder drugs such as cocaine, methamphetamine and heroin is almost automatically reduced, according to All Stars materials.

The program also seeks to help individuals avoid other risky behaviors, such as early sexual experience, fighting and bullying. “It’s a hands-on, very cool curriculum,� Rein said.

The Great Bend Tribune was invited to sit in on an All Stars class taught by Adam Cline at Eisenhower Elementary. Students has just finished a social studies lesson and were ready for the give-andtake of All Stars, which started with a discussion. “Think about some of society’s ‘unwritten rules,’�

Cline said to the sixth graders. “Can you give me an example?�

Unwritten rules can include “chew with your mouth closed� and “always let people out of the elevator before you enter

SUSAN THACKER Great Bend Tribune

Sixth grade students at Eisenhower Elementary think about behavior that could be good for society during an All Stars class. Teacher Adam Cline is seen in the background.

SUSAN THACKER Great Bend Tribune

LEFT: Juvenile Services intern Payton Nusz sits in on an All Stars class. Nusz is a student at Barton Community College. She plans to go on the Fort Hays State University and eventually wants to be a probation officer.

it.� “What about picking up trash when you see it?� Cline asked. “How is that related to your community, or society?�

As the talk moved from unwritten rules to behaviors, the students decided that good behaviors could be good for society. They tried to think of examples of good and bad behaviors.

Society has rules, and so does the classroom. In fact, Great Bend schools have already adopted and posted behavior standards that boil down to three things: Be safe, be respectful and be responsible.

As the discussion moved from rules to expectations and standards, Cline had the students stand and move around the classroom collecting more ideas for their lists of good and bad behaviors. “What are

the standards you expect of yourself and others?

Discuss,� he said. “They come up with great answers,� Schaub commented. “They’re smarter than you think.�

Next year, most of these sixth graders will leave their elementary schools and move to Great Bend Middle School. “There are going to be new things. We try to prepare them,� Schaub said. “It’s a great class. Kids like it and teachers like it,� he continued. “We get the kids to start thinking about their futures and what it takes to get there.

We talk to them about, ‘What kind of qualities you look for in people?

What does it take to go from sixth grade to reaching that goal?’ We talk about who’s responsible for their future,� Schaub said. “They’re the ones responsible for their behavior.�

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GREAT BEND (KAN.) TRIBUNE • SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2018 •

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Updates and expansions part of ongoing zoo improvements experience the same life cycle they would in the wild.

In 2013, counters taking part in the North American Butterfly Count in the Great Bend Area identified 26 different species of butterflies. Chrysalises of many of those native species will open in the butterfly house. Native is important, Hamlin said, so if any escape there is no worry over damage that could be done to the environment.

Butterflies and bears: exhibits to reopen Spring 2018

BY VERONICA COONS vcoons@gbtribune.com

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aintaining and updating the exhibits at the Great Bend Brit Spaugh Zoo, is an ongoing project, ensuring the zoo continues to be a vibrant attraction the city can be proud of. This spring improvements to the butterfly house and the grizzly bear exhibit will receive top billing.

Improved access to the butterfly house will make visiting one of the zoo’s seasonal exhibits more enjoyable to visitors who are confined to wheelchairs, and by extension, patrons pushing young children in strollers. Earlier this year, the pulverized rubber trail was removed, and cement was poured throughout the exhibit making the exhibit compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, zoo curator Sara Hamlin said. The next phase of the update will be a new door, which will also be built to ADA standards.

PHOTOS BY VERONICA COONS Great Bend Tribune

A newly poured cement path inside the Great Bend Brit Spaugh Zoo’s butterfly house will allow greater access to enjoy the wonders of a variety of native butterflies as early as Mother’s Day.

“It was really a pain for those who need wheelchairs, as well as mother pushing strollers, to visit the butterfly exhibit, so we decided to do something about it,” she said.

“These are small steps we continue to take in order to ensure the zoo is a fun and enjoyable place for all of our patrons for years to come,” Hamlin said.

The butterfly exhibit will reopen around Mother’s Day in May, she added. By that time,

Currently under construction, the Great Bend Brit Spaugh Zoo’s grizzly bear exhibit expansion is expected to be complete in April. The bears will enjoy nearly double the space to play.

the new entrance will be completed, ensuring the butterflies remain inside

the enclosure where they can be enjoyed up close. The house, covered

in shade cloth, is not climate controlled, so butterflies in the exhibit

Bears The zoo is also currently expanding its grizzly bear exhibit. The space was originally designed to accommodate two bears, Max and Maggie.

Maggie died in 2011, and in 2013, the zoo acquired three grizzly bear cubs. The active cubs have shared the space with Max ever since, and it wasn’t long before the space began to look shabby and it was clear the four would need more space. The exhibit is currently under construction.

When completed, it will nearly double the space available and allow more enrichment experiences ensuring the bears enjoy happier lives, Hamlin said.

The $877,290 expansion was contracted in February, 2017, and is expected to be completed in April. The bears will then be introduced to their new space, and the zoo will announce when it will celebrate the grand reopening of the exhibit with the public.

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• GREAT BEND (KAN.) TRIBUNE • SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2018

RUSSELL EDEM Great Bend Tribune

Construction crews wait for the weather to warm up before they can lay the concrete for the rest of the highway.

GOAL-LINE WITHIN REACH Ellinwood KDOT project nearly finished

BY RUSSELL EDEM

The Kansas Department of Transportation project in Ellinwood that was started over two years ago is now near completion as crews finalize the last parts of the construction project, of course this is dependent on the weather as to when exactly the project will be finished. “We are looking for a March completion date for the construction project in Ellinwood,�

City Administrator Chris Komarek said. “This is all dependent on the weather over the next few months, as it has to be a certain temperature to finish laying the rest of the concrete to finish the highway and to complete the entire project.�

KDOT designed the plans for the work in the city which included replacing of concrete pavement, curbs, gutter and work on the storm sewers, starting at Park Ave. and ending at SE 115 Ave. “The roadway and the

storm drains were in very bad condition, KDOT workers were always out here doing maintenance on the roadway and patching potholes,� Komarek said. “This was a great safety concern as well with all the rough parts of the road. vehicles would swerve to miss the potholes and this could of lead to other accidents. The curbing was in poor shape which was dangerous for people walking across the street and stepping over the damaged curbs. We are very excited to see this project near completion.�

The replacement of the roadway also provided an opportunity for the city and other utility providers to move existing lines for gas, cable and communications, and update their infrastructure in the process to better serve the city of Ellinwood with utility services.

Like every big project, this one has seen its delays over the last few years.

In the beginning of 2016 there were funding issues, when the State of Kansas

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RUSSELL EDEM Great Bend Tribune

Traffic comes to a slow as they move through the construction in Ellinwood.

took funds from KDOT to supplement the states general fund.

Progress was halted early in the spring of 2016 when bids for engineering of both the water and sewer projects associated with the KDOT project were rejected as significantly higher than expected. It was determined that hiring separate contractors for each project was a problem

because the window of time for completion was too tight.

The city and KDOT opted to combine both projects, and realized savings, allowing the project to be rebid later that spring. Smoky Hill LLC from Salina, was chosen to be the contractor for $12.255 million project.

In late summer of 2016 a storm moved through

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the area dumping a lot of rain that caused work to slow and the contractor encountered heavy equipment issues slowing the process even more.

Finally in October of 2016 the speed of the project picked up until winter finally set in.

Over the course of 2017 the project maintained a steady pace with some smaller set backs, but the company worked through

the issues and continued getting all the storm drains along with most of the curbing and highway completed.

2018 brought the finish line even closer, crews still have some concrete to lay near the intersection of U.S. 56 and Main Street and to finish the curbing in that area as well and then wrap us any other work to complete the project.

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GREAT BEND (KAN.) TRIBUNE • SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2018 •

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Star of Hope continues efforts SPECIAL TO THE TRIBUNE

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very year the world faces disasters, both man-made and natural.

Unfortunately, we cannot prevent disasters from happening, but we can assist those affected and help in disaster risk reduction. In Houston, Star of Hope saw Harvey do an estimated 180 Billion dollars of damage.

This was and is terrible, still in the United States we have insurance, materials on hand, federal assistance and a vibrant economy, said Mark Presson, Ellinwood-based chief executive officer of Star of Hope. In the north of Argentina in a small town, they have almost no economy and tiny reserves. Missing are the many community organizations fed economically with generous donations of those able to give so they can act fast.

During the morning of Jan. 20, at this small Argentinian town, intense rain resulted in an accumulated rainfall of 12 inches at Star of Hope projects in SĂĄenz PeĂąa Argentina. This unusual rain caused flooding in 100

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Star of Hope emphasizes the equal value of all children, especially the ones who have various disabilities.

percent of the city and the collapse of the sewerage system. Homes and buildings were flooded in water between four and six feet deep.

Even after celebrating mass for 200,000 people in Argentina, Pope Francis reached out to residents of the town that was destroyed, citing he could not visit.

SĂĄenz PeĂąa, which is part of the Chaco Province, is located 700 miles from Buenos Aires, far off the beaten path. Star of Hope has been active there with several different projects for over 40 years. “This is one of the worst localized disasters we have ever seen,â€? Presson said.

Due to this situation, some people are still

suffering from illnesses such as gastrointestinal pain and skin rashes. “People need to supply food, milk powder, drinking water, mattresses etc, building materials as well,� said Daniell Johansson, manager for Star of Hope Argentina. “Many time our brothers and sisters in developing nations are forced to

live a life of starting over again, one disaster swings into another and with no savings and no reserve, there is no progress for the children, the men, and the women,� Johansson said.

In SĂĄenz PeĂąa, the flooding came up to

the bed mattresses and thus ruined almost all the refrigerators, much furniture and caused a lot of capital destruction. “Then we have a large number of indigenous Topa people some who are living in basic huts or shacks; constructions that were simple and basic are now 100 percent waterlogged and that leads to new health issues,� Johansson said.

Star of Hope has the staff and the capacity on location to help those who are hit hardest in SĂĄenz PeĂąam; people are devastated. What we need is the help to shore up the emergency funds that Star of Hope Argentina can use right now, to help the people who are hardest hit.

Children, widows, the very poor and so on, Presson said. “Star of Hope is your local connection to sending your blessings internationally and now we need your help,� Presson said.

Donate at www.starofhope.us/quick, or send a check to P.O. Box 427, Ellinwood, KS, 67526.

Call 866-653-0321 for more information.

Your local international partner is relief and development. Learn about this and give a hand up, please read the article on this page and send a blessing.

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• GREAT BEND (KAN.) TRIBUNE • SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2018

FOCUSING ON CARE

Woodhaven Care Center in Ellinwood.

Woodhaven Care Center has new administrator

BY RUSSELL EDEM

T

his past November the Woodhaven Care Center in Ellinwood got a new face added to its staff, Michael Adam has taken over as Administrator for the Center. “I am very happy to be here and working with great people and wonderful residents of the center,� Adams said. “I have been working in administrations since 1994 mostly as interim positions. I was looking for something that was long term and I seen that Woodhaven was looking for a new administrator, I thought to myself that this would be a great place to work, so I applied and here I am, it is a wonderful place.�

Adam’s short term goals for the center is getting to know his staff and the residents of the facility and getting to know what challenges the residents are facing. “I need to be aware of what difficulties the residents are going through, So I am aware of what we can do to make sure they are living at the highest level of Independency and to maintain their dignity,� Adam said. “This is important not only to me, but to our staff as well.�

His long term goals for the center is making sure it is financially sound in order to have the means to take care of the residents and to maintain a highly skilled staff to take care of them. “We have a great staff here that really care for our residents,� Adams said. “This facility is recognized by the government for providing above average care for the residents. This would not be possible if I was not able to take care of them and provide them with all the necessary tools they need for their job.�

What woodhaven Care Center has to offer families for their loved ones.

Independent Living Five Star independent living services are designed to support and sustain active and engaged seniors. At Five Star, independent doesn’t mean alone: it offers a concierge model to make it easy for residents to access the services, activities, and resources they desire. The trained staff and exciting programs keep seniors as busy as they choose to be.

Skilled Health Care Typical nursing homes offer a lot of nursing but not much “home�. Five Star provides skilled nursing care on either a long-term or short-term basis, in an environment that contributes to the health and well-being of our seniors. All Five Star skilled nursing facilities offer 24-hour nursing care to address the residents’ many health care needs.

Rehabilitation & Wellness Offering greater comfort and more amenities than a typical nursing home, Five Star communities offer senior rehab services including occupational, speech, and physical therapy. Its highly experienced team will work with clients to set specific goals and map out a customized plan to reach their maximum independence.

Respite Care / Short-term Stays For seniors needing temporary care or whose family have to travel or take time for themselves – or for those who want to “test drive� life at one of our senior living communities – Five Star offers short stays. Whether for a week or a few months, seniors enjoy exceptional care, community activities, dining, and housekeeping services – and family members enjoy peace of mind.

Lifestyle360 At Five Star Senior Living, they invite residents into its senior living communities not just to live with us, but to thrive with us.

It’s been widely publicized that adults are living longer but there is a lot of evidence that we aren’t necessarily living longer in a healthy state. Five Star is working to change that with our Lifestyle360 program - a holistic approach to active community living that focuses on five dimensions of wellness: intellectual, social, physical, emotional, and spiritual.

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Michael Adam is the new administrator for Woodhaven Care Center in Ellinwood.

His main responsibilities are to maintain his staff and make sure they are taking care of the residents of the center. To make sure they receive the best care possible. He is also responsible for making sure his staff is taken care of and to provide them with the tools they need to do their job.

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A twist on Tex-Mex Mi Tierra’s in Hoisington offers unique menu items

BY DALE HOGG dhogg@gbtribune.com

H

OISINGTON – It was before 9 on a recent Wednesday morning.

The front of the house at Mi Tierra’s Mexican Restaurant in Hoisington was chilly and the only light was the sun filtering through the blinds. Raul Villasenor strolled through the empty dining room, through the swinging doors and into the already bustling kitchen.

It was two hours before opening and the cooks were hard at work. The aromas of the Tex-Mex cuisine was already filling the air.

Raul and his brother Gonzalo are partners in Mi Tierra’s. Raul operates Mi Tierra’s and Gonzalo runs El Potrillo in Lyons. “I’ve always worked in restaurants,�

Raul said. He started out washing dishes and has work his way up in the food-service business. “I really enjoy what I do,� he said, in somewhat broken English. His passion shows in the spotless eatery and in the variety of items on the menu.

He and his brother (who comes up with most of the menu development) draw of family and traditional Mexican recipes. But, they are also influenced by their years of experience in other types of restaurants. “We have some different things,� he said, comparing Mi Tierra’s to other Mexican restaurants. “We have some more choices.�

Mi Tierra’s first opened six years ago. “I remember it well, it was Dec. 27, 2011,� Raul said.

Business was slow at first, but gained momentum.

It has become a popular destination

DALE HOGG Great Bend Tribune

Mi Tierra’s Mexican Restaurant in Hoisington prides itself on unique menu items.

for folks from around the area. “We get people from all over,� he said.

A native of Guadalajara, Mexico, Raul has spent most of his life in the United States. Before Mi Tierra’s, he had most recently lived in Manhattan and Hutchinson.

He moved to Hoisington to become a restaurateur.

However, “the building was old,� he said. He has made a lot of upgrades and done a lot of remodeling.

Family is also important. He, his wife and three-year-old child are a part of the community, and they remain close with his brother and his family in Lyons. “We do everything together,� he said. “It works for us.�

Hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. It is closed on Mondays.

Mia Tierra is located at 118 E. First in Hoisington. Call 620-292-6009 for more information.

DALE HOGG Great Bend Tribune

Cooks are hard at work in the Mi Tierra’s Mexican Restaurant kitchen.

Privileged to help.

Kathy Burt, Agent 165 South Main Hoisington, KS 67544 Bus: 620-653-2332 kathy.burt.cn7v@statefarm.com

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• GREAT BEND (KAN.) TRIBUNE • SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2018

New dining option

DALE HOGG Great Bend Tribune

Sonic Drive-in in Hoisington opened early in 2017 amid much fanfare. Hoisington’s Sonic includes include indoor seating and a drive-thru in addition to the familiar drive-in spaces,

Long-time business

Manweiler Chevrolet in Hoisington is a staple on the community’s Main Street. Gene Manweiler is the fourth generation selling Chevrolet products and services at the dealership. His great grandfather started the family business back in 1928.

Regardless of the many changes we have seen through time, his philosophy is still working today – “Treat the customer the way you would want to be treated yourself.” This is the personal touch that has kept our family business going strong for 88 years.

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Hoisington’s 122nd Annual August 31 - September 3, 2018 Join us for one of the largest parades in the state!

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GREAT BEND (KAN.) TRIBUNE • SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2018 •

9

New tricks helping seniors By embracing tech, older residents keep in touch, manage lives

BY DALE HOGG dhogg@gbtribune.com

J

udith Lange took her first computer class about a decade ago. Now, the 72-year-old Great Bend woman has whole-heartedly embraced today’s technology.

“It has opened the world to me,” she said. “I can do things I couldn’t have done before.”

She is not alone.

The use of technology among seniors is growing at an unprecedented rate, reports the Association of Mature American Citizens. “According to several recent studies, more and more older Americans are using smart phones, computers and the Internet in their daily lives than ever before,” says AMAC President Dan Weber.

Smart phone usage among seniors, for example, is up 24 percent over the past five years, according to a Pew Research Center study. Pew says that 59 percent of 65 to 69 year olds and 49 percent of 70 to 74 year olds use smart phones.

Pew has been tracking the adoption of new technology among various segments of the population for some 15 years. And, in that period of time the Research Center says Internet usage among the 65-plus population grew from 14 percent to 67 percent.

Sarah Stevensen, who writes about the elderly, says that “not only are cell phones crucial to helping seniors stay connected with friends and family, they may also help perform critical safety functions like providing medication reminders and GPS locations.”

Overall, she adds, “today’s technology can keep seniors engaged, connected, mentally active, and physically safe, making it increasingly important for our loved ones to keep in the high-tech loop.”

“I knew I was behind the times,” Lange said. But, she saw the benefits of computers and cell phones for her personal life, and as a way to give her more marketable job skills.

“Now I help my neighbors with their computers,” she said. “I am teaching others.”

She took computer classes through the Barton Community College Silver Cougar Club. She praised the instructors and what she learned.

Lange has helped produce newsletters and worked on other programs.

She has also carried a cell phone for years.

She stores needed documents, follows her email, tracks medications and utilizes GPS on a regular basis.

“Before the cell phone, I couldn’t do this,” she said.

Life changing Gary Shapiro, president and CEO, Consumer Technology Association says “Technology is fundamentally changing the way we live - and active aging tech can dramatically improve our lives as we age. These innovative, connected technologies not only enable seniors to live safer, healthier and longer lives - whether through personal health technology or remote monitoring solutions - they also allow their caregivers to be more closely connected while they care for their aging loved ones. More, these consumer benefits can translate into billions of dollars in savings for the U.S. healthcare industry.”

There’s widespread agreement that technological innovations such as Face Time and Skype are particularly important for the well being of seniors - particularly those who have long-distance relationships with friends and family, says AMAC’s Weber.

“Simply put, they allow them to stay in touch and engage in social interaction that can aid memory and relieve the feeling of isolation that can cause depression. Unlike a phone call, these technologies allow us to have face-to-face contact. The old saw claims that ‘you can’t teach an old dog new tricks,’ but today’s old dogs are bettering their lives with the help of new tricks they are learning with the help of 21st Century technological innovation.”

According to the Dodge City-based Southwest Kansas Area Agency on Aging, tech features such as text messgaging, emails and social media are essential new options for seniors.

“In a matter of seconds, you can send a message to your son, receive a photo from your granddaughter or email an invitation to a family gathering,” a SWKAAA brochure reads. While younger people are typically the “experts” on these new resources, many older adults also utilize the internet, social media and cell phones to communicate and receive information.

“These tools are an effective way to connect with your family, friends and community resources, particularly children

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and young adults,” SWKAAA notes.

“It’s a great way to keep in touch with family,” Lange said. She has loved ones scattered around the country, and without social media outlets like Facebook they might not be able to communicate.

According to UnitedHealthcare’s 2012 100@100 survey of centenarians, staying socially engaged is just as important to healthy aging as genetics and maintaining a healthy body.

While no technology can take the place of in-person human interaction, video chat services like Skype, or Internet-based communication channels such as email and social media, can supplement seniors’ social interactions when visits with friends and family aren’t possible or too infrequent. Seniors can check with their local senior center for Internet how-to classes, or they can have

a tech-savvy grandchild get them set up and show them the ropes.

But, it warns, there are pitfalls. Precautions must be taken for security, privacy and safety.

Even so, Lange is an apostle for seniors and technology. “I encourage every senior to take a computer class.”

Tech benefits for seniors RSVP/Volunteers in Action of Central Kansas Director Linn Hogg said that to be able to interact with many of the services or organizations, seniors need they have to be able to utilize the internet. The Social Security Administration is also making it easier for seniors to fulfill their enrollments and make changes by using its portals.

See SENIOR TECH, 11

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BCC program to cover educating kids with autism STORY AND PHOTO BY BRANDON STEINERT Barton Community College

K

im Specht’s career as an educator took an unexpected and compassiondriven turn about 10 years ago. As an early childhood education (preschool) instructor, Specht had not yet taught a child on the autism spectrum. Her first experience came when a friend asked if she could watch their little boy, who they suspected had some degree of autism. “I watched him and the entire day he sat in the dirt and played without saying a word,� she said. “He was later diagnosed and I continued to baby-sit him. Then he was in my class as a preschooler. I read and read and researched autism; however, a lot of my learning came from the experience of working with children with autism.�

Specht watched him grow and develop over the past decade, advancing from nonverbal to initiating greetings and showing sympathy to those around him, offering words of comfort to Specht when she was sad and reminiscent about her son’s senior year in high school.

She is building curriculum to train early education teachers to provide quality care for children with autism.

The class will cover the autism spectrum disorder, behavior expectations, social and emotional aspects and early intervention. “It’s been an amazing journey, and I want to help others unlock those special moments you can have with kiddos who are on the spectrum,� she said. “I had no idea what that meant back then. “This class is not just for early childhood education majors,� she added, saying her courses are open to the community at large. “This is for anyone who wants to know more about spectrum disorders or whose lives have been touched by them. It’s a very open and welcoming class.�

Specht also teaches a course on parenting, which she said has the same welcoming approach and is available to anyone looking to learn more about the history of parenting and modern techniques. The class

Barton Career Fair This feature is the third of four stories to be released by Barton Community College in February in celebration of Career Technical Education (CTE) Month.

CTE month will culminate with a Career Technical Education Fair open to the public from noon to 2:30 p.m.

Feb. 28 in the Case New Holland Shop in the Northeast side of the Technical building.

Registration opens at noon.

The fair will feature demonstrations, hands-on-activities, refreshments, prizes and photo ops with the Barton mascot.

To sign up, contact Denise Schreiber at 620-792-9324 or schreiberd@bartonccc.edu.

Students in eighth grade through seniors in high school are invited to attend a keynote address and tours beginning at 9:30 a.m. in the auditorium lobby in the Fine Arts Building on campus.

will start in the fall.

Instructor and coordinator of the Early Childhood Education program Roni Wertz said she is proud to add the coursework to the program’s curriculum. She said it’s easy coming to work every day knowing how critical early education is to the community and a functional society. “Research shows good quality childcare by educated professionals generates a lifetime of benefits,� she said. “Our students have invested in the future by joining one of Barton’s Early Childhood Education classes and programs. The community is welcome to take advantage of these offerings and make time to learn, laugh and play each and every day.�

For more information visit earlychildhood.bartonccc.edu or contact Wertz at wertzr@bartonccc.edu or 620-786-1130.

GREAT BEND (KAN.) TRIBUNE • SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2018 •

11

SENIOR TECH, from page 9

21st Century technology is bettering the lives of seniors And, “many of our volunteer drivers for RSVP are learning how to use their GPS on their smart phones,� she said. “They also find it more convenient to log in their hours on our web page as well as keep up with what is happening in our community by visiting our Facebook page.�

There’s still a long way to go before we can consider our senior citizens to be fully tech savvy. The fact is, today’s technology can keep seniors engaged, connected, mentally active, and physically safe, making it increasingly important for our loved ones to keep in the high-tech loop.

UnitedHealthcare notes that technology is changing the face of aging. It can improve quality of life by may help to keep older adults healthy, safe and socially connected while making caregiving tasks less stressful for their family members.

In addition to longdistance communication, there are other benefits to seniors. • Surveys consistently show that 80 to 90 percent of seniors want to stay in their own home as they age.

A number of technological solutions can make doing so safer for them. Any senior that lives alone should have a Personal Emergency Response System. A PERS device allows the wearer to call for help with the simple push of a button. Both seniors and their families can have peace of mind knowing the PERS can facilitate a call for help in any emergency situation.

Safety is also a paramount concern for seniors who suffer from Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias, especially those prone to wandering.

A number of GPS tracking

devices that can monitor a senior’s location and send alerts are great tools to keeps caregivers’ worries at bay and prevent potentially dangerous or deadly situations. Check out these innovative GPS gadgets for Alzheimer’s wanderers. • Many nursing homes and assisted living communities have already recognized the recreational and exercise benefits that Nintendo’s Wii sports games offer for elderly adults.

Seniors living at home could also benefit by owning a Wii or other video game system controlled by motion. The games offer a fun opportunity for seniors to engage in light physical activity from the comfort of their own living room.

For mental exercise, seniors could try games such as Tetris (spatial recognition), Trivial Pursuit (fact recall), or Mahjong (memory and matching).

Encourage seniors to practice on their own and then challenge their grandkids.

• Many seniors find it challenging to keep track of their medications. The reason why is clear: According to a 2009 survey by Medco Health Solutions, more than half of the older adult respondents said they took at least five different prescription drugs regularly, and 25 percent said they took between 10 and 19 pills a day.

Pill boxes help, but technological solutions that also provide reminders and “time to refillâ€? alerts could potentially aid adherence to the prescribed medication schedule. Seniors and their caregivers can take advantage of the RxmindMe or Personal Caregiver medication reminder smartphone apps to reduce missed medications and prevent medication errors. • Health tracking – online tools simplify the process of maintaining and accessing seniors’ health information Smartphone apps and cloud-based health information tracking systems can

help seniors and their family caregivers keep information such as medical history, physician contacts, medication schedules, and health conditions organized and handy.

Most of the technologies on this list wouldn’t be possible without wireless internet. Seniors need to make sure their residence is internet-ready, and even nursing homes are using wireless internet technology.

Home monitoring systems that employ sensor

devices can be, literally, lifesavers for those seniors who live alone, either at home or in assisted living.

They can detect emergencies such as falls, report unusual behavior, and even track vital signs—without intruding on privacy.

If s senior loved is concerned about getting lost, or who has dementia and occasionally wanders, GPS technology can immediately alert caregivers to their location. There are separate GPS

FOR RESULTS THAT

trackers that attach to the wrist or clothing, as well as smartphone GPS apps.

And assistive technology in the home can go far in helping seniors remain independent—and safe. Besides home monitoring and GPS, there are devices such as LED lighting, medication dispensing appliances, photo-enhanced phone dialers, and stove shut-off systems, all of which can help seniors with mild cognitive and motor impairment.

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• GREAT BEND (KAN.) TRIBUNE • SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2018

BCYP makes a difference

BY SUSAN THACKER sthacker@gbtribune.com

W

hen Megan Hammeke and her husband moved back to Great Bend a few years ago, they joined the Barton County Young Professionals, a program of the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce & Economic Development.

Now Hammeke is chairman of the BCYP steering committee.

This group is open to anyone in the Barton County area between the ages of 21 and 40(ish), and is designed to foster business and social networking.

The mission of the group is three-fold: 1. Lead. Developing young leaders in today’s workforce.

2. Network. Fostering business and social networking.

3. Volunteer. Providing opportunities to give back to the community.

A lot of young people have one idea about the group, not realizing that BCYP emphasizes all three areas, Hammeke said. “My husband and I

moved back to Great Bend and were looking for ways to get involved,� Hammeke said. “We started attending BCYP mixers and community service projects.�

Members enjoy a variety of monthly events, which rotate between sponsored networking events, lunch-and-learn meetings, leadership events, family socials, and community impact projects. “The chamber supports the BCYP group, so there isn’t any fee to join at all,�

Hammeke said. “We do ask that members take part in community service projects and try to attend at least two of our quarterly mixers.�

There are opportunities to become more involved, which is how Hammeke joined the steering committee and became its chairman this year. “We want to show

leadership in our community and have a great place to network,� Hammeke said. When newcomers arrive in Great Bend, such as the score of new teachers that move here every summer, they need a place to network both socially and professionally, she said. “BCYP offers a chance to be part of something and to learn that Great Bend is a great place to be.� “Each December we have a ‘Party with a Purpose.’ For the last three we adopted CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) kids. Some kids (in the court system) get pulled from their home and have nothing of their own.� BCYP has provided dozens of children with duffles or gym bags filled with PJs, books and other gifts.

BCYP has also worked with Great Bend Rotary Club to raise funds for the Tot Spot playground equipment north of the Wetlands Water Park.

One of the most recent projects was to buy bicycle racks for area communities. Funds raised at BCYP Half Marathons

COURTESY PHOTO

Members of Barton County Young Professionals assemble more than 400 literacy kits for United Way of Central Kansas during a service project on Jan. 18 at the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce. Backpacks filled with fun learning materials will be distributed during Kindergarten Roundup.

and 5K events were used for that purpose.

Members also established the Born Learning trails at the Great Bend Brit Spaugh Zoo and in Claflin, and every year volunteers repaint the stations along these trails.

Recent activities On Jan. 18, 19 members of the Barton County Young Professionals group gathered in the confer-

ence room at the Chamber office to help assemble more than 400 literacy kits for United Way of Central Kansas. The kits include flash cards, alphabet worksheets, and other resources for parents to use when helping prepare their preschool students for kindergarten. Each kit also contained a “Curious George� book.

The kits will be distributed to local schools in

Barton and Pawnee County to be given out during Kindergarten Roundup events this spring.

The next community project is the Charity Supply Drive, scheduled for March 24.

To learn more about BCYP or to join, go to the website bartonyp.com. “We also have a very active Facebook page, or attend a mixer or project,� Hammeke said.

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