Progress Commerce & Finance 2022

DEDICATION 2022 Commerce & Finance Progress

Special to the Great Bend Tribune Sunday, February 27, 2022

Special Great Bend Tribune Special to to thethe Great Bend Tribune Sunday, February 2022 Sunday, February 27,20, 2022

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• GREAT BEND (KAN.) TRIBUNE • SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2022

What’s up with land prices?

Land values at record highs

BY DALE HOGG dhogg@gbtribune.com

It’s been and exciting time in the agricultural land market with more farms being placed on the market and new buyers coming in.

“The market is up and solid right now,” said Kevin Keller with Keller Realty in Great Bend. Generally speaking, he puts land values at record highs.

“Values are appreciating very, very well,” he said.

“What started as a gradual strengthening of sales prices last fall escalated into aggressive bidding the past five months to generate new highs in prices paid for farmland in many areas. Prices for good quality farmland are up 15 to 35 percent depending on the location,” said Randy Dickhut, senior vice president of real estate operations with Farmers National Company.

What has propelled this upsurge in prices? Will the aggressive bidding continue?

“It was a really good year in agriculture and oil,” Keller said.

Commodity and oil prices are strong and interest rates are low.

Another of the determining factors in establishing the price paid for ag land in the marketplace is the equilibrium of the supply of land for sale and the demand to buy.

Higher commodity prices and better farm incomes, in part from government payments, propelled grain producers to be more aggressive bidders for farmland during the last few months of 2020. More favorable financial conditions for many farmers in 2021 also boosted their interest in purchasing land. Additional buying interest during the past year came from

TRIBUNE FILE PHOTO

The value of agricultural land is at record highs.

individuals looking for an inflation hedging investment or the security of a farmland asset, too.

In the past 12 months, most areas of the Grain Belt experienced an increase in the amount of land sold starting with additional sale activity last fall. A number of states saw a 10 percent or more bump in the number of transactions while others had

a more moderate increase in sales.

“Non-operating landowners became more active sellers of land during 2021 with the higher prices drawing their attention as well as the potential threat of tax law changes,” Dickhut said.

“Sellers increasingly turned to Farmers National Company to market and sell their land as evidenced by the 62 percent

boost in the number of acres sold by the company during the past 12 months compared to last year along with a 14 percent increase in the number of transactions.

The company also set a new record in real estate sales volume with more than $765 million of land sold during the year.”

The higher prices paid for farmland also were driven

by the increased use of competitive bidding sales methods in the hottest land markets generating the best sales prices for sellers. In addition to the traditional public auction, the use of various online auction methods have now become commonplace.

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TRIBUNE FILE PHOTO

The market for agricultural property is a strong one.

PRICES, from page 2

Several factors leading to record land prices in Midwest “Farmers National Company held more than double the number of land auctions the last part of 2021 than in 2020 with the most done as simulcast auctions combining a live auction with an auctioneer being broadcast simultaneously to online bidders,” Dickhut said.

With the arrival of the New Year, the question in the land market is whether the strength in prices will carry forward. At this point, if the fundamental factors supporting land prices continue in the current direction, the market should be firm to somewhat higher.

Commodity prices and farm incomes will need to remain above longterm averages to provide the financial ability for producers to consider buying more land. If the supply of land for sale doesn’t outpace the demand from producers and investors, the land market will remain in equilibrium at the higher prices. Finally, everyone will be watching interest rates as to when they will rise, by how much and what effect there may be on land prices.

“If any of these

underlying factors change or unexpected world or national events come about, the land market could pause and even change direction depending on the size of any changing factor. For now, the outlook for the land market is positive as farmland continues to be a safe, long-term investment,” Dickhut said.

In the meantime, “it’s looking like these prices are going to hold for now,” Keller said. The next couple years will likely remain strong.

But, the ag and oil sectors are vulnerable to rapid fluctuations, he said. Things could change quickly.

Kansas falls into the region with Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas and Arkansas.

Buying interest in farmland has accelerated the past year, moving land values to new highs.

“Year to year, we are seeing land prices up 10 to 20% for good cropland,” said Paul Schadegg, western area sales manager for Farmers National Company.

“Farmers and investors are most interested in higher quality farmland, which is seeing the biggest year-to-year price

increase, but the value of all types of land has strengthened. Investors are looking for a safe, long-term inflation hedging asset and farmland is known for that.”

The current agricultural land market has more buyers than sellers. The inventory of farms for sale is presently at a low point for all land brokers as buyers have been aggressively purchasing what has been listed for sale.

“Higher commodity prices drive the demand for good cropland. It is making farmers even more bullish to buy farmland,” Schadegg said.

Competitive bidding among potential buyers is delivering the best sales prices to sellers in most areas.

“If you want top dollar in my area, some type of open bidding auction such as a public or simulcast online, or written bid sale brings out the most buyers and best prices,” Schadegg said.

The expectation is for additional farms and ranches to come up for sale in the new year due to the higher prices received.

“We are seeing increased selling interest

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Other regions • Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota Buyers are aggressively pushing land prices to record highs in the Northern Plains.

“Year to year, we are seeing land prices up 15 to 35 percent for good cropland,” said Brian Mohr, northern area sales manager for Farmers National Company.

Prices for ranchland and pasture are up as well, but are not experiencing the same increases as good cropland in the region. Ranchers and investor buyers are active in the West River region of South Dakota. Drought conditions have somewhat tempered interest in the hardest hit areas though.

Having come through the COVID pandemic and an early summer drought, the current agricultural land market still has more buyers than sellers. The inventory of farms for sale is presently at a low point for all land brokers, since buyers have been aggressively purchasing

what has been listed for sale.

Again, higher commodity prices are driving this demand and putting farmers in the mood to buy, Mohr said, noting the bidding is driving up prices.

He is also seeing more interest from landowners wanting to sell.

• Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan and Kentucky Land prices this fall have remained strong for high quality cropland in the eastern Corn Belt.

“Illinois has seen land prices move up by as much as 20 percent and Indiana up by 14 percent for Class A farms,” reports Linda Brier, eastern area sales manager for Farmers National Company.

Likewise, western Ohio cropland values are up 5 to 6 percent or more with a recent land sale of $13,000 per acre. A farm in southwestern Kentucky sold for more than $13,000 an acre in October.

“Public and online auctions remain the best way to sell high quality farmland in the area and local farmers and investors remain the biggest buyers of

cropland,” Brier said.

Supply also has increased from six months ago as sellers flooded the market in a rush to capture high prices and to avoid potential changes in tax policy.

“The demand for good quality farmland more than offset the increase in the number of farms for sale to boost prices higher,” Brier said. “One change from a year ago that we are seeing is the decline in demand for recreational land. Wooded ground that is not incomeproducing is sitting on the market longer and doesn’t have the interest that it did during the first year of the pandemic. This doesn’t include the forest industry in Kentucky, as Kentucky hardwood is in high demand and continues to rise.”

Brier expects to see land values continue to be strong into 2022 for top quality cropland.

“We are actively booking auctions in January and February.

With rates on the rise for long-term borrowing costs, sellers who didn’t get their land on the market in 2021 are anxious to get their property sold in the first quarter of 2022,” he said.

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• GREAT BEND (KAN.) TRIBUNE • SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2022

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City cuts ribbon at Events Center When the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting and coffee at the recently remodeled Great Bend Events Center the morning of last May 20, it was a celebration of a project years in the making.

“I am so excited about the improvements we’ve made to this building,” said Christina Hayes, Great Bend community coordinator and Convention and Visitors Bureau director.

The city-owned center houses the offices of Hayes’ CVB office and Great Bend Economic Development Inc. President Sara Hayden, and is located at 3111 10th St. Standing at the head of the large main ballroom, Hayes enthusiastically bragged about the facility to those attending the chamber gathering.

“We are very proud to have this,” she said. “We are excited about the future.”

In 2016, renovations started on the front portion of the venue. In May of 2020, the City Council approved an over $500,000 renovation to a portion of the long-vacant office complex attached to the back of the building.

At the ribbon cutting, they unveiled the room names, which were determined by City Administrator Kendal Francis and city department heads, Hayes said.

“They all have historic ties to Great Bend,” she said. The main ballroom is now called the B-29 Superfortress Conference Room, the small room up front is called Cheyenne Bottoms Conference Room, the room just down the hall is the Santa Fe Trail Room and the big room that was used by the City Council for meetings in 2021 is the Fort Zarah Room.

“We want to be the premier place for weddings and other events,” Hayes

said. For the city, it is a quality of life issue.

The center is funded by revenue it brings in from events, which was hurt some by the COVID-19 pandemic, and by 1% of the transient guest tax that is charged for heads in beds at local motels, she said. The rest of the guest tax funds the CVB. State statutes mandate that the transient guest tax promote tourism and conventions.

Formerly known as the Highland Hotel, it originally had 174 rooms and was started in 1962.

The center and the office complex behind it (which is also now owned by the city) were built in the 1980s.

In June of 2011, the council approved utilizing $500,000 donated by an anonymous group of local residents to purchase the convention center portion, including the offices in back.

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Barton Community College offers Behind The Wheel (BTW) classes for students wanting to earn a Commercial Driver’s License.

Barton online CDL Theory classes available now; next sessions start in April Those wanting to start a professional driving career can now take Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) Theory and Behind The Wheel (BTW) classes through Barton Community College. Courses are offered for Class A and B licenses, along with Passenger and School Bus endorsements. The courses are structured as a six-week online theory course and an eight-week Behind the Wheel (BTW) course that meets on the Great Bend campus. For latest class schedules visit

cdl.bartonccc.edu.

New Entry Level Driver Training Regulations (ELDT) took effect nationwide on Feb. 7. These regulations state that anyone wanting to obtain a commercial license or add endorsements to their current license must attend and receive both theory and BTW certifications from a registered training provider.

CDL instructor Maggie Tracy said Barton’s setup is ideal because it is a one-stop shop that

provides both theory and BTW certification and the driving test at a great value to community members.

“When a student takes Barton’s courses, they are able to use the Barton trucks to train and test and are also able to utilize Barton’s network of educational resources, like instructors who have many years of experience, to complete their training,” she said.

For more information, contact Tracy at 620786-1120 or tracym@ bartonccc.edu.

GREAT BEND (KAN.) TRIBUNE • SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2022 •

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GBED childcare facility coming along Childcare shortage vexes eco devo efforts

BY DALE HOGG dhogg@gbgtribune.com

Great Bend Economic Development President Sara Hayden said plans for GBED’s new childcare facility are progressing. They already have the final architectural renderings, and are finalizing the plans.

“We are now kind of in the final logistic stages here of meeting with our last potential investors to finish up the funding,” she said. They are working with GLMV Architects of Wichita on the project.

“They’ve done a great job for us,” she said. “And with what they say, we should be on track to break ground in the summer as long as everything keeps moving as it is now.”

They have a location selected for the center, she said. The current property owner wants to keep it private for now, but the site is centrally located.

“We will announce it soon,” Hayden said.

The planning for this was done by a childcare task force under GBED. They are working closely with Garden City to duplicate successful efforts there.

The Finney County Childcare and Early Learning Network board was formed in 2019 and began work in identifying spaces that could accommodate childcare. The group has been awarded tax credits to help expand services to address longterm workforce requirements in the growing community.

Hayden’s group is developing a self-sustaining childcare center in Great Bend. This is just the start and they hope to

Workforce summit set for April The Great Bend Economic Development Inc. Workforce Task Force is continuing its planning for a workforce summit to take place on April 20 and 27, GBED President Sara Hayden said.

“That will be a two-day event,” she said, speaking to the City Council recently. “The first day is education-based with education for employers as well as job seekers.”

The second day will consist of a job fair.

“We all know that workforce is a major obstacle,” she said, adding the sponsors want to help alleviate this. “We want to be able to provide whatever we can in the ways of education and support to be able to make that happen.”

The task force gathered feedback from the business community and from job seekers. This event sprung from those discussions.

continue with this model and establish centers in other county communities.

She said they will not compete with existing childcare providers. Instead, they want to network with them and offer assistance where needed.

The problem Barton County, like most Kansas counties, suffers from a childcare shortage, a shortage that hinders economic growth and frustrates parents, Hayden said. “We have seen statistics showing that Barton County has close to 700 children who are in need of childcare,” Hayden said, citing numbers from the Salina-based Child Care Aware of Kansas. “That tells us that we really need to come up with some kind of a support network

to be able to help to solve that problem.”

This relates directly to the issue of the community’s workforce and workforce development, she said. If parents can’t get back into the workforce because they can’t find childcare, then that impacts their broader efforts.

Speaking to the workforce issue, a recent survey of 91 Great Bend employers showed that 85% need to hire right now, or will be hiring in the in the near future, Hayden said. The respondents also noted their number one problem is finding employees – employees who will need childcare.

“We’re working closely with Garden City,” she said. “They have created a great support network solution.”

Great Bend wants to duplicate that success, Hayden said. The plan here is to put together a task force working together with the schools, major employers, the city and county, and childcare providers in the community “so that we again can create this support network,” Hayden said.

Not alone Great Bend and Barton County are not alone his this struggle, said Kelly Davydov, executive director of Child Care Aware of Kansas, a nonprofit referral service that reports child care supply and demand.

According to 2020 data, 37% of the state’s 105 counties have one childcare slot for every 10 infants and toddlers, and 17% have no openings.

“It’s very pervasive,” Davydov said.

Between 2017 and 2020, the number of in-home daycare providers dropped from 2,915 to 2,259. While group facilities and childcare centers increased in numbers slightly, it is the so-called family childcare programs are the backbone of childcare in rural communities, she said.

“This is partially due to the pandemic, but that is not the only reason,” she said. “There is just a downward trend.”

In April 2020, 17% of Kansas providers reported closing temporarily because of

COVID-19. That percentage fluctuates, but there is still an impact.

Breaking down Barton County’s numbers further, Davydov said there are 21-30 kids age 3 years and younger for every childcare opening.

“Kansas employers need child care in order to attract and retain a productive workforce that builds the Kansas economy,” she said. “Parents need child care in order to work and provide for their families. It is all interrelated.”

Parents are forced to cobble together childcare plans, Davydov said. This is frustrating for them, and may mean the children don’t get the benefit of having trained providers.

“It definitely comes down to a combination of needing childcare and needing affordable childcare,” Hayden said.

Childcare can cost around $600 per month for one child, so parents face a dilemma and may have to weigh the value of going back to work.

“Again, it’s not just a Great Bend or a Barton county thing.

This is this is a focus for rural communities all across the state,” she said.

There were problems before COVID-19, she said. “But virtual learning came around and those issues that were there have been exacerbated.”

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• GREAT BEND (KAN.) TRIBUNE • SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2022

Dedicated to their craft

Dry Lake Brewery brings unique flavor to downtown GB

BY DANIEL KIEWEL dkiewel@gbtribune.com

Not everyone gets a chance to turn a garage hobby into a thriving business, but Dry Lake Brewing co-owners Kevin Burkey and Ryan Fairchild have had the rare opportunity to do just that. However, the road from garage to tap has been a long one, paved with countless hours of sweat equity.

A seed is planted The business partners and friends originally met more than a decade ago as students at Barton Community College and co-workers at Applebee’s.

Burkey spent several years in Wichita where he met his wife, who is from Hoisington. They moved back to Great Bend with two children in 2015.

“She wasn’t planning on living anywhere but Barton County,” he joked, “So if I wanted to stay with her I had to come home.”

Similarly, Fairchild, a Larned native, said his wife Marisa convinced him to remain in the area close to family, rather than moving to Colorado to pursue additional schooling.

Burkey began home brewing as a hobby in his garage in 2011. Fairchild’s interest in homebrewing began in 2016, when, as an avid bicyclist, he kicked off the inaugural Bike Brew Q, a now annual event that combines road cycling and craft beer. Through that, Fairchild connected with several brewers who attended the event, sparking his own interest in the hobby, to which he dove in, “headfirst.”

The hobby developed into an formal Barton County Home brewers group, through which the two reconnected.

Initially, in 2018, the two began competitive home brewing with a commercial quality setup in Burkey’s garage. As their hobby became more well known, a mutual friend approached them with the idea of opening a brick and mortar brewery.

Though they had previously discussed the idea only in passing, their friend was intent on seeing the idea become a reality.

A brew is born Money was the first hurdle. The friend asked what would stop them if that was not a limiting factor.

Finding an adequate building was the other

TRIBUNE FILE PHOTO ABOVE: Dry Lake Brewery co-owner Kevin Burkey gives Great Bend High School students an inside look at the craft brewing process during a Manufacturing Day event last fall. BELOW: The entrance to Dry Lake Brewing is pictured early Thursday.

hurdle. Both insisted any new brewery should be downtown, in the hopes to be a part of a downtown resurgence, but finding properties downtown that fit their needs was initially difficult. Then, a day after the initial meeting with their friend in April 2019, Brown’s Shoe Fit closed.

Within a week, Burkey said, he and his wife had an agreement in place with Brown’s officials in Iowa to purchase the now-vacant property. After determining what the building needed, they took ownership in May. Fairchild said his wife, initially, was skeptical of the budding idea, but quickly became supportive.

Burkey joked, though, the business started “backward.” With an idea that had only recently been formalized, they now had a building but still no formal business plan.

The original plans for how the building would look, they said, were drawn on a napkin, which architects and engineers were able to turn into reality.

“That’s exactly how it looks (now),” they said.

With location in place, the pair set about building a business plan and sought out investors, with the initial goal of opening in the summer of 2020. By February of 2020, they had investors, money, equipment and contractors lined up. At that point, Burkey quit his full-time job to focus on building the brewery. Just as they were set to begin formal work on the brewery, though, a global pandemic threw them, and the rest of the world, a major setback.

Crafting a new business Instead of folding under the weight of COVID, they adapted.

“We pumped the

brakes on everything at that point and we really pivoted,” Bukey said. “We said, ‘instead of paying somebody to do this, what can we do?’”

Like the beer brewing process, which can take from two weeks to eight or 10 weeks, the building process was timeconsuming, with a lot of love and care poured into the effort.

Every weekend, Burkey said, the two were in the building taking out shelves, tearing down drywall, pulling up carpet, taking plaster off the wall, and getting the building down to bare brick walls to rebuild from the ground up. The two joke that they became contractors overnight.

With a world shut down due to COVID-19, they set out to do as much of the work as possible themselves. Though the framing was done professionally, Burkey said the two did everything from trim, to paint, to drywall and texturing.

“We put a lot of unskilled man-hours into this building,” Burkey joked.

They re-purposed many materials. The bar area alone includes

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a shipping container damaged in a 2018 storm,;decades-old oak from a local lake dock, and a bar top made from wood out of a bowling alley in Larned.

Serving up community Finally, after more than two years of investment, the brewery opened its doors May 6, 2021.

As the construction phase wound down, Burkey said the two had to pivot once again.

“We were construction guys, then we had to learn to be bar owners, because neither of us were really bartenders.” Their first full-time bartender, who has since moved on, was instrumental in helping them learn the ropes in that regard.

As the business got off the ground, they both put in so many hours and days establishing the venture that, “we basically lived here,” Burkey said. As things have progressed, however, Burkey still puts in more than 60 hours a week at the brewery, while Fairchild commits 20plus hours a week while maintaining his “other” full-time job as an IT specialist for Innovative

Livestock Services.

As co-owners in the venture, Burkey said the they both have defined roles in the business, in which both men wear a lot of hats. Burkey handles much of the accounting and beer production side of the brewery, while Fairchild manages the tap room and handles much of the marketing. As small business owners, they also both wear the hat of janitor, however.

Despite the long hours and hard work, Burkey said he enjoys being able to set his own schedule and be out of the daily routine of a regular job.

“Here, I never have the same day (twice) and I enjoy that.”

With a full-time job “putting out fires” as he puts it, in IT, Fairchild quips he enjoys having a job where, “when someone comes to you with a problem, we have 12 solutions on tap.”

As a self-described people person, Fairchild enjoys seeing how the brewery has brought people from the community together.

“The idea of bringing something back downtown, getting to interact with people and having a positive effect

is what keeps me going,” Fairchild said.

For Fairchild, though, he likes the simplicity of getting back to the way brewing used to be. “Preprohibition, there were a lot of neighborhood bars.

To get fresh beer, it had to be brewed pretty local.”

They also both enjoy the collaborative nature of small craft brewing, which they say is seeing a resurgence. It is common practice, Fairchild noted, for craft brewers to share products and ideas, and it is a very supportive network.

As time has gone on, the brewery has become more than just, “a place that makes beer,” but a community gathering spot for friends and organizations.

“It’s just a really cool gathering spot,” Burkey said.

And it was that desire to be a community gathering space that first gave the brewery its identity.

“Dry Lake,” which was chosen from more than 50 original ideas, refers to the old Lake Barton, a place still popular with outdoor enthusiasts such as Burkey and Fairchild, who are both avid bicyclists. The now-dry lake north of Great Bend, which was allowed to drain of water decades ago, was once a social center-point for residents.

What’s on tap in the future While they were not sure what kind of reception to expect, the positive response has been overwhelming.

People were rooting for us ... so once we did open, we actually couldn’t keep beer on tap, we were struggling to make it fast enough,” Burkey said.

“We’ve been just maxed out since day one.”

Because of the positive response, the brewery owners are already in the process of increasing both the production capability and their offerings.

They’ve purchased new production tanks and will be obtaining canning equipment in the near future, so they will be able to sell four- and six-packs to go.

As they prepare for the future, they want to be a part of making Great Bend strong for its current residents, as well as a destination for visitors and new residents in the future.

“Anything we can do to help that economic development push,” Fairchild said. “We want to help continue to grow Great Bend, just make this a place people want to be.”

GREAT BEND (KAN.) TRIBUNE • SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2022 •

7

OPI, Golden Belt Printing II find success with innovation and progressive action A couple of Office Products Inc. (OPI) business decisions in the last year or two proved to be worth the effort in 2021, said Kenny Vink, coowner.

One of those decisions was to become an Authorized Distributor for Fuller Industries products.

“Our relationship with Fuller has really taken off,” Vink said. “It was a big learning curve to educate all staff members about Fuller’s numerous products but it has definitely been worth it. Everyone stepped up to the task and it is working well for all of us.”

Each of OPI’s four locations carries some of Fuller’s commercial cleaning products on the shelves but ordering is a quick-and-easy process, Vink said. “If it is not on display we can order it and pick it up for you.

The variety and quality of cleaning products can’t be beat.”

OPI’s brick-and-mortar expansion also has led to a new customer base in northwest Kansas. The fourth store is located at 2001 Vine in Hays. Other locations are 1204 Main in Great Bend, 516 Broadway in Larned, and 724 N. Main in Russell.

The family-owned company opened in 1959 in downtown Great Bend, and later added stores in Larned, Russell and Hays.

“Staff at our four locations work together to ensure that business owners

COURTESY PHOTOS Joey Bahr

Left: Matt Mai inspects a project that is rolling off the large-format printer at Golden Belt Printing II. Right: Stephanie Cerda checks the stock of Fuller Industries products available at Office Products Inc.

and individuals get the office products and services they need quickly,” Vink commented. “It is a great team effort.”

The OPI family also is looking forward to further enhancement of its information technology (IT) services. Although a new relationship is still in its infancy, OPI is now a member of a group called “The 20.”

“Our new association with The 20 will help us take computer networking and security services to the next level,” said Joey Bahr, technology sales representative. “These services are designed for any

company that wants to get a better handle on current technology or is considering an upgrade.

“Security is a huge aspect of this,” Bahr continued. “We know businesses want their computers and networks to be secure and our relationship with The 20 will enhance these efforts.”

The 20 is only one entity OPI collaborates with to provide IT services.

Others include companies that offer training, backup solutions and remote computer management.

“The 20 is just the newest addition to our toolkit,” Bahr explained. “We

Treasurer: Sales tax collections up in Barton County

BY DANIEL KIEWEL dkiewel@gbtribune.com

As the economy begins to recover, Barton County Treasurer Jim Jordan said the county is seeing more retail sales taxes fill the coffers than in previous years.

For the calendar year of 2021, Barton County collected a total of $2,569,536.04 in retail sales tax, collecting anywhere from $186,262.74 per month for the year. This is up more than $200,000 from 2020, and has risen marginally each year since 2017.

The City of Great Bend has also seen a steady increase in its annual sales tax collections over the same time period. In 2020, the city collected just over $2.1 million in total sales tax, up a little over $160,000 from 2020, and up more than $200,000 from calendar years 2017 through 2019, in which the city collected between $1.84 million and $1.89 million each year. Currently, that tax is divided between the city’s general fund, Economic Development, and infrastructure.

Jordan said the revenue comes to the county in five distributions per year from the state of Kansas for all sales tax collected in the county. The county, in turn, distributes sales taxes to any local entities that have a local sales tax. In Barton County, that includes the four largest incorporated

cities in the county, Great Bend (0.75%), Hoisington (0.5%), Ellinwood (0.5%) and Claflin (0.6%). All have a city-wide sales tax in addition to the county and state sales taxes. Sales taxes are distributed by the state two months following the month in which they are collected. In Barton County, there is also a county-wide sales tax of 1.0%, in addition to the state-wide 6.5% sales tax.

Residents in the cities of Great Bend and Ellinwood approved ballot initiatives in November 2021 to increase sales taxes in the respective municipalities.

In Great Bend, residents approved three sales tax questions totalling 0.45%, or 45 cents on each $100 spent, which will increase the city sale tax to 1.2% effective April 1. Added to the state sales tax of 6.5% and the Barton County sales tax of 1.0%, Great Bend’s total after April 1 will be 8.7%.

The three separate propositions sought to help finance the cost of a new police station; quality of life improvements in the City of Great Bend,improvements to parks and other recreational facilities, as well as maintenance; and financing operations for the city’s police and fire departments, including the funding of pension plans for first responders.

In Ellinwood, residents approved an additional 0.5% sales tax that will also go into effect April 1. This

raises the total city sales tax to 1%. Added to the 6.5% Kansas sales tax and the 1.0% county sales tax, the total after April 1 will be 8.5%.

The money generated by this tax will be used for “construction, maintenance and repair of general infrastructure and for such other governmental purposes as may be in the best interest of the City of Ellinwood,” according to the ballot question.

The increases come, however, as the Kansas Legislature continues to debate a plan to reduce or eliminate the state’s 6.5% sales tax on food.

Gov. Laura Kelly’s office estimates that a bill completely eliminating the state’s food sales tax would save the average Kansas family of four $500 per year.

With the issue still under debate in the Kansas Legislature, however, it is unclear if such a bill will pass, and if it does, how soon such a decrease would go into effect.

Jordan said he has yet to determine exactly what fiscal impact such a reduction would have on the county or on its municipalities.

According to Great Bend City Administrator Kendal Francis, current discussions in the Legislature center only on eliminating tax at the state level.

However, if they pivot and include local sales taxes in those cuts, he said the local economic impact would be significant.

always look for innovative ways to enhance IT services.”

Golden Belt Printing II Golden Belt Printing (GBP) II, 1125 281 Bypass, is home to a new large-format printer that cranked out many projects since it arrived early last year.

GBP is OPI’s sister company that also is owned by Kenny and Terry Vink.

“This printer is definitely the go-to machine for decals, signs, banners and vehicle wraps,” said Matt Mai, graphic artist. “And

it can handle anything in between. It greatly enhances our capabilities because there are many new functions that satisfy customer requests.”

The Roland TrueVIS 64-inch printer also is faster and more convenient for the operator, which allows a quicker turn-around time for customers.

Products that roll off the machine include programs and schedules for local and area sports teams. These are glossy, professional products that are free to school districts, which can sell them to local sports fans.

OPI and GBP handle all the design work and ad sales for these programs.

Mai noted that because of the greatly enhanced color gambit, the printer can make products and signage “that really pop.

We can share your message on signs using media such as magnetic, aluminum and acrylics. Vehicle wraps are really popular too.”

GBP’s products also include mailings, envelopes, letterhead, forms, booklets, flyers, brochures and business cards with or without protective coating. It also works closely with OPI’s Copy Center.

Great Bend Medicalodges Inc. has been serving communities in Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma since 1961.

Offering rehab to home, short term care, long term care and skilled nursing services in your hometown.

Give us a call at 620-792-2165 1401 Cherry Lane in Great Bend.

“We Serve and Enhance the Lives of Others With Caring Hands”

8

• GREAT BEND (KAN.) TRIBUNE • SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2022

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We’re 145 Years Young!

The Great Bend Tribune and its employees are proud to call Great Bend and the surrounding area home.

We’re local just like you. We plan to keep this area informed on events that affect all of our lives for 145 more years.

We will also keep you up to date on everything from current garage sales to the job market.

Stop in and see us!

We also have employment opportunities available.

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GREAT BEND (KAN.) TRIBUNE • SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2022 •

9

SUSAN THACKER Great Bend Tribune

Work continues on Clara Barton Hospital’s new clinic building at 906 McKinley St. in Great Bend. With an estimated cost of $3.3 million, this was the biggest project requiring a commercial building permit for the City of Great Bend in 2021.

Hospitals had biggest building projects in 2021

BY SUSAN THACKER sthacker@gbtribune.com

The City of Great Bend issued 29 major commercial building permits with an estimated cost of $10,000 or more in 2021, not including roofing

permits. Four permits were for projects with an estimated cost of more than $1 million.

The biggest project was the construction of a new clinic building at 906 McKinley St. by Clara Barton Hospital Asso-

ciation for an estimated $3,300,000.

The University of Kansas Health System - Great Bend Campus at 514 Cleveland St. had a permit for an interior remodel, with an estimated cost of $1,258,068. There was also

a permit at that address for a temporary sterile processing department, a $400,00 project. The University of Kansas Hospital Authority also had two permits for work at the St. Rose Health Center, 3515 Broadway Ave. One

was a $22,000 project to remove and replace an exterior wall, and the other was a $100,000 interior remodeling project.

Sunflower Electric Power Corporation received a permit in 2021 for an interior modeling

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• GREAT BEND (KAN.) TRIBUNE • SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2022

PHOTOS BY SUSAN THACKER Great Bend Tribune

Mitchell Motors, 1919 Main, is constructing a new building to replace one damaged by fire in 2021. The commercial building permit was for a project with an estimated cost of $386,650.

PROJECTS, from page 9

Great Bend issued 29 major building permits in 2021 The City of Great Bend’s project to install artificial turf to the baseball fields at the Sports Complex, located at 41 McKinley St. had a final cost of $1,360,700. The cost of this project is shared by the City, Great Bend Recreation Commission and Great Bend Unified School District 428.

The City of Great Bend had two other building projects in the $20,000 range. One was for a new building, the Alligator House at the Brit Spaugh Zoo, 2123 Main, with an estimated cost of $20,575, and the other was for a tenant storage silo at the Kansas Transload Services, 8920 8th St., a $20,000 project.

Other major projects were a tenant finish for the Cottonwood Center, 3703 10th St., with an estimated project cost of $402,477, and replacing the Mitchell Motors building at 1919 Main that was damaged by fire in 2021. The commercial building permit was for a project with an estimated cost of $386,650.

Major projects, owners and costs Here is the list of 29 commercial permits in Great Bend for 2021 that met or exceeded the estimated cost of $10,000. This list does not include roof repairs. There were 17 permits in 2020.

• 1425 Patton Road, LDK Partnership, interior remodel and install incinerator (Bryant Funeral Home), $60,000 • 3715 10th St., Commercial Equity Inc., interior remodel, $80,000 • 1700 Main, Dustin & Tara Brown, tenant finish (Lox Salon), $15,000 • 4107 10th St., Kroger: Texas LP, install new ice machine (Dillons), $100,000 • 1225 Patton Road, Center for Counseling & Consultation, exterior remodel, $52,100 • 705 B Harrison St., Langhals Enterprises LLC, change out wall (warehouse), $21,000 • 4708 10th St., Credit Union of America, interior remodel, $460,000 • 3515 Broadway, University of Kansas Hospital Authority, remove and replace exterior wall, $22,000 • 822 Main, Great Bend Cooperative

Association, interior remodel, $24,000 • 201 MacArthur Road, Clearshot Wireless Partners LP, Antenna upgrades, $15,000 • 625 Hubbard St., Bear Creek Ranch Inc., new monopole communication tower, $100,000 • 1205 Kansas, Jason & Megan Wondra, exterior remodel (Jimo Glass Center), $20,000 (shown on page 1).

• 906 McKinley St., Clara Barton Hospital Association Inc., new clinic building, $3,300,000 • 41 McKinley St., City of Great Bend, install artificial turf on baseball fields, $1,360,700 • 1025 Patton Road, Midwest Energy Inc., interior remodel, $44,904 • 3703 10th St., Commercial Equity Inc., tenant finish (Cottonwood Center), $402,477 • 617 Williams St., American Towers LLC, antenna upgrades, $15,000 • 2123 Main, City of Great Bend, new building (Brit Spaugh Zoo), $20,575 • 2300 Broadway, Sunflower Electric Power Corporation, interior remodel, $2,366,000 • 514 Cleveland St., LSC-UKHS HC2 DST, (University of Kansas Health System) temporary sterile processing department, $400,000 • 8920 8th St., City of Great Bend, tenant storage silo (Kansas Transload Services), $20,000 • 1017 C Jackson Street, Shaffer Properties LLC, $233,500 • 3010 10th St., Dan & Linda Boone (Boone’s Maytag Home Appliance), exterior remodel, $11,200 • 3515 Broadway, University of Kansas Hospital Authority, interior remodel, $100,000 • 5560 10th St., Sutherlands High Plains LLC, new building, $80,000 • 1919 Main, Julie Mitchell, new building (Mitchell Motors), $386,650 • 8823 4th St., Sunflower Diversified Services, Inc., interior remodel, $27,000 • 514 Cleveland St., LSC-UKHS HC2 DST (University of Kansas Health System), interior remodel, $1,258,068 • 2015 1/2 Lakin Avenue, B&H Development LLC, interior remodel, $460,000

Local Decisions Hoisington/Claflin

At First Kansas Bank our decisions are made locally.

We pledge our support and continued service to our customers and communities.

The Cottonwood Center, 3703 10th St., received a commercial building permit in 2021 for a tenant finish. The newest businesses at the Cottonwood Center are Domino’s Pizza and Vapor 100. The estimated project cost was $402,477.

Sunflower Electric Power Corporation received a commercial building permit in 2021 for an interior remodel of the building at 2300 Broadway, a project estimated to cost $2,366,000. Exterior work on the building, formerly occupied by Wheatland Electric, is going on now.

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• GREAT BEND (KAN.) TRIBUNE • SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2022

Local businesses remain dedicated This year, the Great Bend Tribune invited area businesses and organizations to take part in the annual Progress Edition. Information and photos on this page were submitted by commerce and finance-related businesses.

ences are Phil Lowry, 37 years; and Don Largent, 30 years.

Many changes have occurred over the years in the hearing industry. Improved technology has resulted in customer satisfaction reaching their all-time highs.

Customer choices now include cellphone accessibility and fall alerts, Heardt noted.

Hearing Healthcare is located at 2006 Washington St. in Great Bend. For an appointment or more information, call 800-964-8636 or 620-665-7551.

Sherwin-Williams Co.

Adams Brown Strategic Allies & CPAs Adams Brown Strategic Allies and CPAs is located at 2006 Broadway Ave, Suite 2A and can be contacted by calling 260-792-2428 or kboswell@adamsbrowncpa.com.

Office hours are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday through tax season from Jan. 1 through April 15 and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to noon on Friday from April 16 through Dec. 31.

Korby Boswell, Marketing and Growth Specialist at the Great Bend office, said that the firm was founded in 1945 and includes 19 firm partners. Services provided include accounting, payroll; business advising; outsourced CFO & controllership; audit & attestation; tax advising for businesses and individuals; and wealth management.

“Many things have changed many aspects of public accounting,” Boswell said. “It’s important to have the right professional service providers on your team.

“Adams Brown Strategic Allies and CPAs provides a wide range of consulting services to clients throughout the nation, with specialized teams,” Boswell noted. “The teams focus on agriculture organizations, construction companies, manufacturers, health-care professionals, governmental and not-for-profit organizations and small family-held businesses.”

Today the firm maintains numerous office locations throughout the central United States.

For more information, visit www.adamsbrowncpa. com.

Millers of Claflin Millers of Claflin Inc. was founded in 1903 by J.W. Miller. The store originally carried furniture, buggies, hardware, implements, and even windmills.

To this day, Millers is the largest furniture store between Kansas City and Denver, exceeding 90,000 square feet. One really must visit Miller’s to experience the variety and quality of furniture in the many showrooms.

For more than 118 years, the Miller family has been providing quality product at a good price and backing it up with friendly, personal service, in-stock selection as well as special order services, and fast, free delivery on everything they sell. Millers strives to have the best selection of home furnishings in Kansas with a price range that will fit all budgets.

Millers expanded its operation with the opening of their first Ashley HomeStore in Hays in March 2006 and then their second Ashley HomeStore in Salina in July 2014. In 2019, Millers opened The Furniture Clearance Center in Salina.

In 2021, Millers also opened The Furniture Clearance Center in Hays. Millers recently purchased 5.5 acres in the southwest portion of Salina in order to develop a new 120,000 square foot distribution center for their operation.

With stores in three cities, the total current fulltime employee count is at 79.

With every new generation comes change and fresh, new ideas. We look forward to introducing new customers to our quality of product and variety of selection and always welcome the return of past customers.

Millers of Claflin is located on Main Street in Claflin. For more information call 620-587-3601 or email Dawnya Hickel at dawnya@millersofclaflin.com.

The Sherwin-Williams Co. Paint Store in Great Bend offers interior and exterior paint, paint equipment and supplies, along with concrete and wood stain for most every application. Located at 3112 10th St., the contact number is 620-792-4335 or email sw707195@sherwin. com.

Branch manager Evan Lytle notes that the company’s product selection has increased exponentially over the years with more than 5,841 stores in the Sherwin-Williams corporate family.

Business hours are 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Sunday.

C&V Kansas Doors C&V Kansas Doors is located at 1107 10th St. in Great Bend. To contact, call 620-792-2500, or email matt@cvkdpros.com.

Office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

C&V Kansas Doors has evolved since its opening as C&V Improvement in Ellinwood in 1976 as an insulation business.

Matt Hoisington bought the business and moved it to Great Bend. “In 2016, we acquired Kansas Doors and became C&V Kansas Doors,” Hoisington noted.

“Currently, we have 10 full-time employees servicing Central and Western Kansas.”

In 2020, Kansas Doors merged with Wells Seamless Guttering.

C&V Kansas Doors offers exterior service and installation of overhead doors, replacement windows and doors, guttering, insulation, wraps and more.

Hoisington notes his keys to professionalism and customer satisfaction is to be patient and persistent.

“In my 11 years here, it has become more difficult to recruit and retain quality installers,” he said. “While we are able to procure quality products, we must have quality installation to do the job right.

“Always be grateful for the team members you have and, just as important, be grateful for the customer,” he said. “Both are blessings are the backbone of any business.”

Town & Country Supermarket Town & Country Supermarket, a retail grocery store, has been located at 818 N. Elm, Hoisington, for 65 years.

A family owed business for two generations, it is owned by Dolores and Randy Deutsch.

Store hours are 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday.

The full-service store features a deli, bakery, fresh meat and produce departments.

The technology has changed over the years, but the importance of customer service has not.

Asked if there was any advice they’d like to offer, the Deutsches replied, “Be kind to everyone.”

For more information contact Randy Deutsch at 620-653-2330 or email t.c@hois.kscoxmail.com.

We work hard to bring you the best selection of office supplies including furniture and cleaning products. t 4JHO 4IPQ t 1SJOU 4IPQ t $PQZ $FOUFS t (SBQIJD %FTJHO 4FSWJDF t %JSFDU .BJM 4FSWJDF t (SBQIJD %FTJHO 4FSWJDF t %JSFDU .BJM 4FSWJDF t "OE .PSF

Hearing HealthCare of Great Bend Hearing Healthcare of Great Bend has helped the hearing-impaired in Great Bend since 1992. Kenny Heardt, BC-HIS, is the owner. Herdt has served the Great Bend area for more than 20 years.

The business currently have for locations, in Great Bend, Hutchinson, Dodge City and Ulysses. Two other specialists board-certified in hearing instrument sci-

Stueder Contractors Inc. Over 37 years ago in August 1984, a young Terry Stueder started a small service company. On Aug. 1, 1986, Stueder Contractors was incorporated. From those humble beginnings of just Terry and one other employee, the company has grown to more than 20 employees with a fleet of 17 service vehicles.

Terry Stueder and his wife, Mel Eesa, are the first ones to say that their team is the reason for the business’s success. Of the 20 employees, four have worked at Stueders for more than 30 years, including Brian Wahlmeier, Alan Crowther, Steve Wondra, and Gary Wondra.

“We are very fortunate to have these veteran techs with so many years of experience and knowledge not only for providing service to our customers but in mentoring our new technicians. Many on our staff pride themselves in having master certifications in their trade,” Stueder said.

Stueder Contractors Inc. is a full service cooling, heating, refrigeration, plumbing, electrical, spa/pool, acrylic bath liners and water treatment business. Stueders appreciates all of its long-term, loyal customers and, as always, the company offers 24-hour service seven days a week. “Whether you’ve been with us since the beginning or your first call is today, I’d like to thank all of our customers for choosing Stueder Contractors and we look forward to continuing to serve you,” Terry Stueder said.

“We’ve made a lot of changes over the years but one thing that has stayed consistent is our dedication to ‘Service You Can Depend On, Prices You Can Trust.’”

Nex-Tech Wireless Nex-Tech Wireless has administrative offices at 3001 New Way in Hays with a contact number of 785-6212600. Its Great Bend locations include 2827 10th St., 620796-5400 and 3700 10th St. 620-792-3908. Business hours are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday; Saturday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m.

Nex-Tech provides wireless devices, service and accessories that connects thousands of people and businesses through a robust broadband network with cutting-edge technology. Nex-Tech also provides an array of enterprise solutions including: cloud services; cloud phones, network security, managed IT; physical security and surveillance; advertising solutions and network operations monitoring.

In business for more than 70 years, Nex-Tech has stores in more than 20 locations.

“Our mission is to provide an unrivaled customer experience by bringing trusted technology and superior service to our hometowns,” said Tasha Eichman, Hays brand manager. “The wireless industry has changed significantly over the years, especially the last few years.

“We’ve seen an improvement in devices and are always working to upgrade and optimize our network so that our customers can enjoy the best wireless experience possible.”

R&R Roofing Co. LLC R&R Roofing Co. LLC is located at 701 Main St. in Great Bend. To contact, call 620-793-6400 or email rr_ roofing@hotmail.com.

Danny Riggs and Bryan Riggs are current owners of the family-owned roofing company established in 1975. R&R offers all types of roofing for commercial and residential buildings, with seamless gutter installation and cleaning, leaf guard installation, fascia installation, repair and replacement; and soffit installation, repair and replacement.

The business also offers residential and siding installation, with vinyl, metal and aluminum siding options. Business hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

See LOCAL BUSINESSES, 13

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GREAT BEND (KAN.) TRIBUNE • SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2022 •

13

Youth polishing pitches for 2022 YEC

BY MIKE GILMORE mgilmore@GBTribune.com

About a thousand business-minded high school students are expected to be developing their displays and polishing their presentations for county competitions as the 2021-2022 Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge gets underway in Kansas. This year’s event marks the ninth year for the annual series coordinated by NetWork Kansas and the E-Community Partnership.

Winners from 54 local events will advance to a state championship hosted at Kansas State University on April 28.

According to state organizers, the event’s goal is to expose Kansas middle school and high school students to entrepreneurship, with the opportunity to develop and show off their business ideas in front of a panel of judges, business community members and their peers, with a chance at a cash prize.

At the local level, YEC competitions require students to prepare an executive summary and four-minute presentation.

Local events often feature interactive trade shows or “elevator pitches,” where students take their business plan from the drawing board to the board room. First place at the local event qualifies a student for the state competition, with up to 15 additional “wild card” applications accepted.

Last year, 898 students from 70 Kansas schools participated in 44 local events. The 2021 Championship, which was conducted virtually due to COVID-19 restrictions, awarded $36,000 in cash prizes. Each team that participated received $250, with 11 finalist teams that competed in a virtual Mock Board Room with a panel of judges received an additional $250.

Audrey and Sarah Manry, Larned High School, won an additional $1,000 for their “Bits of Thread” presentation as one of two state champion teams selected.

Second annual BC Challenge Barton County will be conducting its second annual YEC event March 8 at the Great Bend Events Center. The event is cosponsored by the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce and Great Bend Economic Development. At the local 2022 event, $2,500 in prize money will be divided among the top four competitors. Third place will receive $500, second place, $750 and first place will receive $1,000 and qualify for the state-wide competition.

Also, audience members will cast their votes for a “People’s Choice” award winner, which will receive $250 and one competitor will take home an additional $250 as a referral bonus.

Last year, a panel of local judges awarded three prizewinners following a “Shark Tank” style challenge, with their trade show displays and formal presentations to the panel.

Kiley Stevenson, a sophomore at El-

linwood High School, won both first place and “People’s Choice” awards for her baking business, Kiley’s Creations.

Katie Kuhlman, a Great Bend High School sophomore, won second place for her business, Sunshine Smoothies.

GBHS sophomore Bradley Hopkins won third place for his hand-crafted Pickle’s Custom Designs.

Pawnee County Challenge The Pawnee County YEC will be March 9. Participating students from 7th-12th grade will be vying for three top awards totalling $1,000. The event is sponsored locally by the Pawnee County Economic Development Commission.

At Last year’s event, sisters Audrey and Sara Manry won the state qualifying top prize. Second place went to Kansas Lange for “Two Little Goats” and third place was awarded to Reed Stedje and Yeimi Cordero for their “Tiger Press.”

LOCAL BUSINESSES, continued from page 12

Pryor Automatic Fire Sprinkler Inc. Pryor Automatic Fire Sprinkler Inc. moved to its new location at 5425 Second St. in Great Bend in 2024. To contact, call 620-792-6400 or email shelly@ pryorautomatic.com. Business hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday with 24-hour emergency service.

Pryor Automatic Fire Sprinkler, established in 2004, is a family-owned service business providing commercial and industrial fire sprinkler system design and installation, repairs and inspections, with fire door and backflow inspections.

Shelly Arnberger, CFO, notes that the business is the only locally-owned fire sprinkler company in Western Kansas. “Customer service is key and the backbone to a healthy relationship with our customers,” Arnberger said. “With fire and life safety codes ever-changing and evolving, we pride ourselves on providing our customers with the most up-to-date services and products in the industry.

“Professionalism and taking pride in your work needs to be a company-wide standard no matter what industry you are in,” she said.

Great Bend Car Care Great Bend Car Care is located at 4904 Eighth St. in Great Bend. To contact, call 620-786-8880 or email greatbendcarcare@gmail.com. Business hours are typically 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily.

Great Bend Car Care has provided full interior and

exterior detail and reconditioning as well as basic wash and vacuum for the past two years in Great Bend. The business has three full-time and one parttime detail technicians.

Owners Lance and Leon Haselhorst have expanded their service to include a mobile wash unit, which enables their detail technicians to travel to a customer’s location. It also enables the business to take on larger projects such as agricultural equipment, semi=trucks, fleet vehicles and recreational four-wheelers. The business also offers pickup and delivery.

A specialty includes collector cars, show cars or older models needing rejuvenation.

The owners note that keeping up on a vehicle’s appearance and cosmetic condition should be a priority as regular service or mechanical maintenance.

Sutherlands Lumber Company is located at 5520 10th St. in Great Bend. The contact number is 620-792-2900, or email at 3702mgr@sutherlands.com. Business hours are 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. The Great Bend location is a complete home improvement and hardware store. Also offered are custom buildings such as post frame barns, garages and deck packages. As a company, Sutherlands has been in business for more than 100 years.

“Computers have changed the way we operate and continue to do so every year,” noted branch manager Brandon Lawellin. “Customer service has to be our No. 1 priority.”

Marketing Maven Consulting Marketing Maven Consulting is located at 135 SW 30 Ave. in Great Bend. To contact, call 620-786-4896 or email rachel@marketingmavenconsulting.com. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.

Established by Rachel Mawhirter, Marketing Maven Consulting offers brand management, marketing and design services.

“We are basically an outsourced marketing department for companies that don’t have one or who need extra help,” Mawhirter noted. “We are the only award-winning brand management and design firm in the Midwest with transparent pricing and no bull.

“Our clients aren’t the business,” she said. “Our clients are the people that own the businesses. They’re successful business owners that need help. So, when you take care of people, the business and the loyalty follow.

“As social media and digital marketing continue to evolve, we are always learning and changing up our recommendations,” she said. “There is no ‘status quo’ in marketing. We are always challenging the norm and changing our recommendations to fullow trends and stay in front of the appropriate audiences.

“Always make decisions based on doing the right thing buy your client, and the growth will come.”

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Sunflower Electric Power Corporation Sunflower Electric Power Corporation’s Hays office is located at 301 W. 13th St. The contact phone number is 785-623-3341. Sunflower was formed in 1957 by six distribution cooperatives serving in western Kansas.

They created a company based on the cooperative business model that could provide wholesale generation and transmission services.

Sunflower’s members include six member distribution cooperatives and one wholly owned subsidiary serving members in 58 central and western Kansas counties: Lane-Scott Electric Cooperative, Pioneer Electric Cooperative, Prairie Land Electric Cooperative, Southern Pioneer Electric Company, The Victory Electric Cooperative, Western Cooperative Electric, and Wheatland Electric Cooperative.

Sunflower’s reputation is a result of more than 60 years of strong leadership, vision and innovation.

Sunflower’s democratically elected board of directors represents each member cooperative. Decisions by the Sunflower Board protect and enhance the ability to provide Sunflower’s members with reliable electricity at the lowest possible cost.

“The mission of electric cooperatives is to provide reliable electric services at the lowest possible cost, while using sound business practices,” noted Sunflower Communications Manager Cinthia Hertel. “Demand for electricity and consumer expectations, as well as changing technology and regulations, make the electric industry ever-challenging and exciting.”

14

• GREAT BEND (KAN.) TRIBUNE • SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2022

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