Inspired Living March-April 2023

STITCHERS HONOR VETERANS STITCHERS

Publisher’s Note:

Thank you for reading the InspiredLiving Magazine published by the Great Bend Tribune. In this March/ April 2023 edition we are inspired by the women that give their time and talents to making quilts for and honoring Veterans from all of the service branches.

We want you to get to know Police Chief Chance Bailey from Ellinwood and school teacher Cindy Wilborn, from Hoisington. We also want you to meet people that share our love for this community, like Becca Maxwell from Ellinwood. Learn about a part of history from an article written by Linda McCaffery with the Barton County Historical Society, then stop out there and see them.

Do you have someone that has inspired you, give me a call or email me as we would love to consider them for one of our next editions.

Don’t miss out on all of the events this community has to offer, you can check them out on the calendar pages 12 and 13. This issue also includes yummy recipes for spring basketball game gatherings, book reviews, information on babies, pets and lots more. I hope you enjoy.

---- Judy Duryee

PUBLISHED BY THE GREAT BEND TRIBUNE

PUBLISHER: .................Judy Duryee

EDITOR: ......................Susan Thacker

LOCAL PHOTOGRAPHY: ....Hugo Gonzalez

GRAPHIC DESIGN: ..........Karma Byers

Hugo Gonzalez

Katie Joyner

SALES: .......................Tammy Mason

Inspired Living Great Bend, 2012 Forest Ave., Great Bend, KS 67530 inspiredliving@gbtribune.com 620-792-1211

The information contained within Inspired Living is intended for educational purposes only and not intended to be used as medical advice or to diagnose or treat any ailment. Please consult your doctor prior to beginning any diet, supplement or exercise plan.

The publisher of the Great Bend Tribune and Inspired Living does not endorse any of the products or services promoted in this magazine and did not verify the accuracy of any claims made in articles or advertising. All materials contained in Inspired Living are copyright protected and may not be reproduced without permission.

Members of the Golden Plains Quilts of Valor met recently at the American Legion Post 180 in Great Bend to select fabric for their next projects. Standing, from left to right: Millie Hill, Edie McQuade, Amy Schartz Mellor, Judy Burnette, Wendy Brackeen and Linda Shull. Seated: Diane Schultz, Jyl Nokes, Margaret Evers and Tina Duryee.

COVER PHOTO BY HUGO GONZALEZ GREAT BEND TRIBUNE

STITCHERS HONOR VETERANS

January 27 at the American Legion Post 180 in Great Bend.

On a recent Saturday, quilters met at the post home to pick up fabric and sewing supplies for their next projects.

“We have a ‘fabric day’ once a month,” said Judy Burnette, a longtime member of the group. Members walked between rows of red, white and blue fabrics, as well as large panels of patriotic-themed material – “more than you’d find if you walked into a fabric store.”

Funds for the sewing materials are donated, as are the hours volunteers spend making the quilts. Group leader Amy Schartz Mellor picks up the finished quilt tops and takes them to her home, where she uses a long-arm machine to finish the quilting.

At the end of each month, veterans are invited to the American Legion where the quilts are presented in person. As each veteran’s years of service are described, the quilt is unfurled for display and the veteran is photographed with the quilt and its makers.

Post Commander Boe Levingston is often seen in these photos, holding up one corner of a quilt.

“It can be very emotional for a lot of people,” he said. “It’s an honor for me to help hold the quilt while it is being presented.”

TRIBUNE PHOTO

Above: Wendy Brackeen measures fabric.

Below: Edie McQuade, left, and Amy Schartz Mellor hold this year’s raffle quilt, a fundraiser for Golden Plains Quilts of Valor.

The American Legion family periodically hosts send-offs for current military personnel being deployed and welcome-home celebrations when they return. The quilts are one more way to let those who served their country know they are not forgotten.

A national movement

The Golden Plains Quilts of Valor members are part of a bigger group known as the Quilts of Valor Foundation. The national group was started in 2003 by Catherine Roberts from Seaford, Delaware. Her son was on a year-long deployment to Iraq when she was inspired to give something back to those returning home from deployments. A homemade quilt was her way to welcome them home with the love and gratitude they deserved.

Great Bend joined the Quilts of Valor Foundation in 2012, agreeing to follow the national guidelines for how quilts are made and awarded. Doris Berkley and her daughter Debbie Berkley were among the organizers.

Doris, who passed away in 2022 at the age of 93, was proud of helping establish the group and for personally hand-embroidering hundreds of pillowcases to go with the quilts.

Deborah “Debbie” Berkley, a Great Bend attorney, preceded her mother in death in 2015.

“Debbie Berkley and I were really good friends and when she and her mom were starting it, I was in on some of the first quilts made,” Burnette said.

Debbie Berkley also encouraged Mellor, who was an assistant county attorney at the time, to join the group.

Mellor recalls her friend asking if she sewed.

“I said I used to make clothes for my daughter. My mom taught me how to sew

What goes into a quilt?

The quilt top is pieced or sewn together by cutting fabric and sewing it back together in different designs according to whatever pattern is being used. Some feature quilt “blocks” while others have predominant fabric panels of printed designs.

After the quilt top is complete, it is sent to a quilter who puts the top together with the batting (the middle layer that makes a quilt warm and heavy) and the backing fabric.

At that point, the three layers, or quilt sandwich as it is called, is actually quilted. After the quilting is complete, the binding is sewn to the edge of the quilt and then stitched down by hand.

Former Barton County Attorney Amy Schartz Mellor, now retired and living in Wichita, has been the Golden Plains Quilts of Valor chapter leader for several years now. She does all of the quilting on a “long arm” in the basement of her home.

“I loved quilting from the start — absolutely loved it,”

when I was a little kid,” Mellor said.

“And she said, ‘Well, if you can sew a straight seam, you can make a quilt.’”

Mellor asked Berkley if the group could make a quilt for Darrell Peters, a World War II veteran who was a good friend of her father, Melvin Schartz.

“She said, ‘Well, sure. But what about your dad? Isn’t he a veteran?’”

Melvin Schartz was a U.S. Army veteran who served stateside during the Korean War. Overshadowed by World War II before it and the Vietnam War after, Korea is often called

she said.“When we make the top part, we call that piecing. We sew the little pieces together, make a quilt and then (in the past) it would go to a lady in St. John named Barbara Watson, who was initially our longarmer. But at times it was inconvenient to get the quilts down there to St. John and back. I took a class over in La Crosse on how to run a long-arm machine and fell in love with that too. Thankfully, my husband agreed and (we got a long-arm machine). It’s on a 12-foot frame in my basement.”

The Forgotten War. Schartz, who broke his leg during basic training and remained stateside during his years of service, may also have felt “forgotten” in a way. He used to say he didn’t consider himself a “real” veteran.

Mellor finished quilts for Peters and for her father for her first Quilts of Valor presentations. In those days, some veterans were invited to dinner at the American Legion and then surprised with a quilt presentation. (The Quilts of Valor Foundation now requires veterans to be notified in advance if they are scheduled to receive a quilt.)

TRIBUNE PHOTO

Senator Robert Dole, seated, is shown at a meeting June 11, 2014, at the Best Western Angus Inn courtyard, where he was presented with a Quilt of Valor presented by chapter members Judy Burnette, left, and Debbie Berkley. Also shown in the background are Great Bend residents Richard Friedeman and Bob Parish.

COURTESY PHOTO

Amy Schartz Mellor is shown using a long-arm quilting machine.

The surprise presentation to Mellor’s father changed his whole outlook on his service, and changed his life, she said.

At the presentation, Debbie Berkley made the comment, “You know, Mr. Schartz, those are years of your life you’re never going to get back. Uncle Sam didn’t ask where you wanted to go; Uncle Sam sent you where you were needed. Every veteran that enters the service takes the same oath, up to and including your life. You have to realize that you’re as much a veteran as anyone else who has ever served,” Mellor recalled.

“After that, it just totally changed his life,” she said. Her father bought a hat, a bumper sticker and a new Army ring. From then on, at programs when bands paid tribute to the different branches of military service by playing their theme songs, Mr. Schartz would stand with the other Army veterans, proud of his service.

“He was so proud,” she said.

Levingston said there are other local veterans who could receive a Quilt of Valor if they would ask. Some, like Schartz, served but didn’t see combat action. Others, such as Vietnam veterans, were treated poorly when they came home from a war they fought in that became increasingly unpopular.

“A lot of these guys feel like they don’t deserve it,” Levingston said, but every veteran deserves thanks for their service. “You signed the paper so, yeah, you do deserve it.”

Expanding their reach

The Quilts of Valor group relies on word of mouth to get the word out to more veterans. The Quilts of Valor Foundation (qovf.org) has an online form for nominating a service member or living veteran. There are also nomination forms from the QOV members and at the Great Bend American Legion Post 180 at 1011 Kansas Ave.

“We find that we only get the veterans’ names by word of mouth,” Burnette said, adding she wishes more people would nominate veterans for the honor. “You know, I read obituaries all the time where this person served in the military but we didn’t know it, or we could have given them a quilt. We wish there was a way to get more veterans’ names. They can contact the post here; they always have applications.”

While Great Bend is the hub for the group, it has expanded beyond Barton County.

When the Golden Plains Quilts of Valor group first began, their finished quilts were delivered to Abilene to be displayed at the Eisenhower Museum and then delivered to veterans. A post card was attached so the recipient

could let the chapter know where the quilt ended up. Quilts were sent to Fort Riley, Wichita, Leavenworth and other places but none of the returning veterans from the Great Bend area seemed to receive one.

“At that point, Debbie said, ‘You know, this is ridiculous. We have a lot of veterans in our area. We are just going to make Quilts of Valor and award them to our local veterans.’ So that’s how it got started locally,” Mellor said.

Debbie Berkley contacted the American Legion Post 180 about the newly formed group. The post offered a room for the chapter to use to hold their monthly meetings and for a place to sew.

So on August 14, 2012, the Golden Plains Quilt of Valor held their first meeting. Twelve people signed up to participate.

Today, the national organization has established state regions for chapters. The group based in Great Bend serves 13 counties: Barton, Stafford, Edwards, Pawnee, Rush, Ness, Ellis, Russell, Ellsworth, Rice, McPherson, Marion and Chase. While most of the presentations are made at the Great Bend American Legion on the final Friday of each month, Quilts of Valor members will travel to other counties or to local homes if the veterans are unable to travel to the programs.

Honor and comfort

Quilts have always combined elements of beauty and utility, providing comfort and warmth while telling a story. For the veterans who receive Quilts of Valor, the presentations have special meaning.

“It just amazes me how many veterans we give quilts to who tell us that nobody has ever thanked them. It just blows my mind,” Mellor said. “We’ve had World War II veterans who have told us ‘nobody has ever thanked us before.’ They’ll stand up there when they’re getting their quilt, tears just flowing down their faces. For a lot of guys, it’s really emotional. That’s why I’m so passionate about it, because I’ve seen how it can change lives.”

Veterans also send Mellor photos from home. One sent a picture of himself sitting in his chair, wrapped in his quilt as he watched a ball game on television. Another veteran told her his quilt was displayed on a wall but he was taking it down to use while he went through knee surgery.

900 and counting

Sen. Roger Marshall sent the Golden Plains Quilts of Valor a letter congratulating the group on delivering its 900th quilt in January 2023.

One hundred twenty-five of those quilts were made by one member, LaWanna Krestine.

“A friend, Debbie Berkley, and her mom talked me into making one quilt,” Krestine said. “I enjoyed it so much, I just kept doing it.”

She has a son who served in the military for 30-some years, as well as grandchildren in the military. However, none of her family members received one of her Quilts of Valor because they don’t live in this area.

“Mine just go to whoever needs them,” she said.

She made the decision that sewing would be her part for honoring those who serve in the military. For that reason, she almost always has a quilt in progress.

“I got one cut out this morning,” she said. “I like making quilt blocks; it’s saved my sanity. I thoroughly enjoy doing it.”

And, noting that service members don’t get to stop their work during the holidays, neither does she. “I usually like to spend the holidays just working on a quilt.”

Another member, Judy Burnette, has been with the group from the beginning. She’s made Quilts of Valor for former high school classmates, and recently made one for the son of a classmate, a retired major.

“One of my most special quilts went to Bob Dole. When he was here once he was doing a presentation at the Black Angus in the courtyard. Doris and Debbie Berkeley and I went and we took a quilt because we didn’t know if he had gotten one or not. He had seen a lot of presentations, but he himself had never received one,” she said.

Edie McQuade started making quilts for family members independently before she officially joined the Quilts of Valor chapter. Fabric is expensive, so the number of members was capped at first. Today, the American Legion post helps supply the materials. Auxiliary members sell desserts and other fundraisers go toward the chapter expenses. The chapter also raffles off a quilt every year.

Although much of the actual sewing is done on their own, McQuade enjoys the time that chapter members spend together. “It’s nice to be able to visit with other quilters, rather than just doing it on my own.”

Margaret Evers didn’t start quilting until after she retired in 2016. Like many members in the group, she started by making quilts for family members and friends she knew. Later, she worked on projects not knowing who would be the recipient.

She remembers starting a quilt with a panel that featured an airplane, with four smaller airplanes on the edges. “I thought, this will go to somebody in the Air Force.” The recipient was Great Bend Airport Manager Martin Miller.

“It’s still a special warm feeling when you know that these guys – and I’ve given them to several gals – they really appreciate your time and the effort,” Evers said. “It’s because we appreciate them and that they gave us their time and service.”

“If anybody knows of a veteran, especially locally, that hasn’t received a quilt of valor, we would love to know and recognize them,” Mellor said.

TRIBUNE PHOTO

LaWanna Krestine, center, a long-time member of Golden Plains Quilts of Valor, was recognized on August 30, 2019, at the American Legion Argonne Post 180 in Great Bend, for her 100th Quilt of Valor awarded. She is pictured with Amy Schartz Mellor, left, and chapter founder Doris Berkley, right.

Hazy B E ER S A R E BEERS ARE H E R E T O S TAY HERE TO STAY

They are more popular than ever, particularly hazy IPAs. Drizly, an alcohol delivery app, reported in 2020 a 761% increase in year-over-year sales growth in hazy beers. That’s a big number with big bucks behind it.

For years, brewers worked to produce crisp, clear brews without haze, but with the boom in the market, beers are trending more toward turbidity. That’s the technical term for hazy. It refers to any instability in beer in which insoluble materials (proteins, yeasts, fruit extracts) appear.

Hazy IPAs tend to be juicy and they also look a lot like unfiltered fruit juice with their opaque coloring. They tend to be less bitter than other IPAs, making them a popular option. Some brewers are also adding ingredients to their beers to make them even more hazy, such as Dogfish Head’s Hazy-O!, brewed with four different kind of

oats to give it a silky smooth texture and a creamy taste. Wynkoop Brewing in Colorado adds climbing chalk to On Belay Hazy IPA. It’s not as weird as it sounds; chalk can be added to beers to adjust for water minerals. This time, the brewery said it gives the IPA a “fluffy mouthfeel.”

Belgian-style witbeirs are another hazy brew that’s hitting the market. The cloudy pours are creamy and smooth and can feature perfumes of orange peel, coriander and other additives, plus a bready note from traditional ingredients wheat and oats. Beers such as Blue Moon Belgian White, Florida Cracker from Cigar City Brewing, Two Jokers Double-Wit from Boulevard Brewing Co. are all witbeirs.

Some beers are only hazy when the beer is chilled to the freezing point but it disappears as the beer warms. This is called a chill haze and is different from a

permanent haze, where the brew is hazy at any temp. Biological hazes come from the growth of living microorganisms in the beer, which are not necessarily bad things as it includes yeasts, whereas non-biological hazes come from non-living materials, such as the proteins from grains.

Hazy beers are just what they sound like, brews that aren’t clear in the glass.

Nacho Average Party

Cheesy, gooey nachos go great with basketball and they easily feed a crowd. For your March Basketball party, please even the pickiest eaters with a nacho bar that will allow your guests to make their own delicious dish.

GO BOWLING

Bowls are the best way to go for a nacho bar. Plates can get tough to manage if the chips are piled high (and they will be). Pick a pack of disposable bowls with a basketball theme for easy clean up. Bowls can also more easily contain spoonfuls of salsa, cheese, sour cream, guac, or black beans.

FIXINS

We should probably get on to what to put on that nacho bar.

Start off with the right chip. If you have glutenfree guests, most corn tortilla chips are gluten free. Just look for the GF symbol somewhere on the bag. You can also get chips that are low sodium for guests watching their salt. If you want to kick it up a notch, look for blue corn chips, red corn chips, chips bathed in chili and/or lime, and much more at your local grocer. Put them out in giant, clearly labeled bowls.

Next comes the glue that holds it all together, the cheese. You can go the easy route and buy a variety of jarred cheese dips that can be heated up and poured into warming trays or a waiting slow cooker. Also buy shredded cheeses for sprinkling over the finished product.

Now for the protein. Grilled chicken strips, browned ground beef with taco seasoning, fajita steak strips, black beans, grilled shrimp, browned chorizo, all good choices for your nacho bar. Keep each item toasty in a warming tray and watch how long items like shrimp are left out. For the rest of the bar, put out an assortment of toppings and condiments. Grilled peppers and onions are a good start, along with salsa, guacamole, refried beans or bean dip, sour cream and the usual staples. Go long with sliced limes, pico de gallo, tomatillo salsa, fresh sliced avocado (coat lightly in lime juice to keep it from turning brown), grilled vegetables, rice, jalapenos, and chopped fresh cilantro.

SAFETY FIRST

Remember to keep cold things cold by balancing a small bowl of your food in a larger bowl of ice. Also put a serving spoon in each dish to avoid cross contamination.

badge Behind the

Q. Chief Bailey how long have you been in law enforcement and is this what you always wanted to do with your life?

A. I started my career with the Kansas Department of Corrections in October of 1999 then came to the City of Ellinwood as a Police Officer in December of 2006. I’m the third generation of Law Enforcement in my family and can’t imagine doing anything else.

Q. What is the most memorable thing in your career?

A. The most memorable thing in my career to date would be graduating from the Kansas University Law Enforcement Leadership Academy Command School. This was a yearlong program and achieved my Public Manager Certificate. The graduation ceremony was impressive and held in the State Capital Building.

Q. Have you ever given a relative a ticket?

A. No, I’ve never had a family member on a traffic stop, but I suspect if it happens it will be with my daughter.

Q. What do you like to do in your off-duty time?

A. In my off-duty time I enjoy riding motorcycles, going to the kids’ ball games and spending time with friends and family at the lake.

Q. If you could tell the public any one thing, what would it be?

A. If I could tell the public one thing it would be to please research financial scams and how to avoid becoming a victim. There are hundreds of new scams every year and it’s a challenge to keep up with all of them. Some of the scams are extremely convincing and can lead to significant loss. The Ellinwood Police Department puts on a class how to avoid and detect scams once a year at the Heritage Center.

BOOKS YOU CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT

Ask any librarian at the Great Bend Public Library who is one of the most popular authors right now, or who we can’t keep on the shelves lately and I guarantee you they will say, Colleen Hoover. Whether you have read all her books and are looking for something new yet similar or just looking for a read-a-like while you wait for a copy of Verity, we have you covered with this list of suggestions for fans of the contemporary romance genre.

–

Hannah Grippin, Outreach Manager, Great Bend Public Library

Every Summer After by Carley Fortune

“They say you can never go home again, and for Persephone Fraser, ever since she made the biggest mistake of her life a decade ago, that has felt too true. Instead of glittering summers on the lakeshore of her childhood, she spends them in a stylish apartment in the city, going out with friends, and keeping everyone a safe distance from her heart.

Until she receives the call that sends her racing back to Barry’s Bay and into the orbit of Sam Florek – the man she never thought she’d have to live without.

For six summers, through hazy afternoons on the water and warm summer nights working in his family’s restaurant and curling up together with books – medical textbooks for him and work-in-progress horror short stories for her – Percy and Sam had been inseparable. Eventually that friendship turned into something breathtakingly more, before it fell spectacularly apart.

When Percy returns to the lake for Sam’s mother’s funeral, their connection is as undeniable as it had always been. But until Percy can confront the decisions she made and the years she’s spent punishing herself for them, they’ll never know whether their love might be bigger than the biggest mistakes of their past.” -Goodreads

The Light We Lost

by Jill Santopolo

“Lucy is faced with a life-altering choice. But before she can make her decision, she must start her story – their story – at the very beginning.

Lucy and Gabe meet as seniors at Columbia University on a day that changes both of their lives forever. Together, they decide they want their lives to mean something, to matter. When they meet again a year later, it seems fated – perhaps they’ll find life’s meaning in each other. But then Gabe becomes a photojournalist assigned to the Middle East and Lucy pursues a career in New York. What follows is a thirteen-year journey of dreams, desires, jealousies, betrayals, and, ultimately, of love. Was it fate that brought them together? Is it choice that has kept them away? Their journey takes Lucy and Gabe continents apart, but never out of each other’s hearts.”

-Goodreads

“Brooklynite Eva Mercy is a single mom and bestselling erotica writer, who is feeling pressed from all sides. Shane Hall is a reclusive, enigmatic, award-winning literary author who, to everyone’s surprise, shows up in New York.

When Shane and Eva meet unexpectedly at a literary event, sparks fly, raising not only their past buried traumas, but the eyebrows of New York’s Black literati. What no one knows is that twenty years earlier, teenage Eva and Shane spent one crazy, torrid week madly in love. They may be pretending that everything is fine now, but they can’t deny their chemistry – or the fact that they’ve been secretly writing to each other in their books ever since.

Over the next seven days in the middle of a steamy Brooklyn summer, Eva and Shane reconnect, but Eva’s not sure how she can trust the man who broke her heart, and she needs to get him out of New York so that her life can return to normal. But before Shane disappears again, there are a few questions she needs answered… ”-Goodreads

Part of Your World

by Abby Jimenez

After a wild bet, gourmet grilled-cheese sandwich, and cuddle with a baby goat, Alexis Montgomery has had her world turned upside down. The cause: Daniel Grant, a ridiculously hot carpenter who’s ten years younger than her and as casual as they come – the complete opposite of sophisticated city-girl Alexis. And yet their chemistry is undeniable.

While her ultra-wealthy parents want her to carry on the family legacy of world-renowned surgeons, Alexis doesn’t need glory or fame. She’s fine with being a “mere” ER doctor. And every minute she spends with Daniel and the tight-knit town where he lives, she’s discovering just what’s really important. Yet letting their relationship become anything more than a short-term fling would mean turning her back on her family and giving up the opportunity to help thousands of people.

Bringing Daniel into her world is impossible, and yet she can’t just give up the joy she’s found with him either. With so many differences between them, how can Alexis possibly choose between her world and his?

The Kiss Quotient

by Helen Hoang

“Stella Lane thinks math is the only thing that unites the universe. She comes up with algorithms to predict customer purchases –a job that has given her more money than she knows what to do with, and way less experience in the dating department than the average thirty-year-old.

It doesn’t help that Stella has Asperger’s and French kissing reminds her of a shark getting its teeth cleaned by pilot fish. Her conclusion: she needs lots of practice – with a professional. Which is why she hires escort Michael Phan. The Vietnamese and Swedish stunner can’t afford to turn down Stella’s offer, and agrees to help her check off all the boxes on her lesson plan – from foreplay to more-than-missionary position...

Before long, Stella not only learns to appreciate his kisses, but to crave all the other things he’s making her feel. Soon, their no-nonsense partnership starts making a strange kind of sense. And the pattern that emerges will convince Stella that love is the best kind of logic…” -Goodreads

BIRD WATCHING

Come out to Cheyenne Bottoms and do some bird watching this spring! Of the 477 species of birds found in Kansas 352 have been seen at Cheyenne Bottoms. www.exploregreatbend.com

STORM FURY ON THE PLAINS

Two-hour program presented by meterologists from the National Weather Service from Wichita. Open to anyone with an interest in severe weather in Kansas. Crest Theatre, 1905 Lakin, 6:30 p.m. Contact Amy Miller, Barton County Emergency Management Director at 620-793-1919 for more information.

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KANSAS WETLANDS EDUCATION CENTER

Free come-and-go event, 1:00-4:00 p.m. daily. Drop-in Spring Break Activities. Come out for a different hands-on activity each afternoon of Spring Break. Activities include: All About Frogs, Bird Bingo!, Where Birds Lay, PokeBirds, and Nature Journaling.

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LADIES NIGHT OUT #1, GREAT BEND THEME: ST.

PATRICK’S DAY

Get your gal pals out and go shopping! Participating stores will be open showing off their unique products and ladies will love the drinks, snacks and pampering.

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ST. PATRICK’S DROP IN DAY O’ FUN

Children are welcome to this come and go event. Wear your green for a scavenger hunt, create a leprechaun trap, eat a rainbow snack and make a craft. 10:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Children’s department, Great Bend library. Great Bend Public Library, 1409 Williams.

March 23-

KANSAS WETLANDS EDUCATION CENTER

Free event, 10:15 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. KWEC Turtle Tots Club. Eye Spy Animal Eyes is a program for children ages 3-5, featuring a story, activities and a craft. Preregister by March 13 by calling KWEC at 877-243-9268.

KANSAS WETLANDS EDUCATION CENTER

WALK KANSAS

March 26 through May 20. Teams of six form or individuals themselves sign up to commit to walk enough minutes to walk across, across and back or around Kansas. Deadine to sign up is March 20, cost is $10.00 per participant. Contact Cottonwood District Office 620-793-1910 for information.

PAWESOME EASTER EGG HUNT

An Easter Egg Hunt for your canine family members! Easter eggs will have pet-safe treats. Enroll at the event at 1:00. Hunt begins at 1:15 p.m. Fee $5.00 per dog. www.greatbendrec.com

KANSAS WETLANDS EDUCATION CENTER

Free event, 10:15-11:15

a.m. KWEC Turtle Tots Club is a program for children ages 3-5, featuring a story, activities and a craft. Preregister by April 3 by calling KWEC at 877-243-9268.

CENTRAL KANSAS HEALTH AND WELLNESS EXPO

FLASHLIGHT EGG HUNT

Great Bend Sports Complex

8:00 p.m. 0-2 yr olds

8:30 p.m. 3-12 yr olds

Pre-registration required. Fee $5.00. www.greatbendrec.com

KANSAS WETLANDS EDUCATION CENTER

Free event, 1:00 p.m.

KWEC WILD Club provides free monthly programs for school-aged children and their families designed to get kids off screens and outside exploring nature. Call KWEC to register 877-243-9268.

HEALTH & Wellness EXPO

Greater Prairie Chicken Lek Tours. Come watch prairie chickens on their breeding grounds from a blind. Early morning tours available on 10 dates. $40 per person. Tour details at wetlandscenter.fhsu.edu.

Come out and check in with the vendors at the health and wellness expo sponsored by the Great Bend Tribune. Noon - 7:00 p.m. at the Columbus Club, 723 Main, Great Bend.

April 21

Must preregister.

KICK THE HABIT KICKBALL TOURNAMENT

2nd Annual Kick the Habit Kickball Tournament sponsored by Central Kansas Partnership Youth Crew. Students from 6th-12th grade teams. Contact juvenileservices@bartoncounty.org to sign teams up. 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. Great Bend Sports Complex.

PANCAKE FEED

Join us for Sunflower Diversified Services 20th Annual Pancake Feed. Tickets available at the door. Proceeds go to support the children and adults of Sunflower Diversified.

4:00 - 7:00 p.m. Prince of Peace Parish Center, 4100 Broadway, Great Bend.

MAY

DOWNTOWN ART & WINE WALK

Hit the streets of Great Bend and check out the art and artists in participating stores and sample their refreshments! 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at participating businesses.

There’s lots of events going on at the Great Bend Public LIbrary every month. Find more information by going to:

https://libcal.greatbendpl.info/calendar/ or check with the library at 1409 Williams

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There’s lots of events and activities going on at the Great Bend Recreation Center every month. Find more information by going to: https://greatbendrec.com

Hoisington Recreation Commission: https://hoisingtonrec.com Ellinwood Recreation Commission: https://ellinwoodrec.com

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GREAT BEND ALIVE FRIDAYS ON FOREST

Get together with your friends for an evening of socializing downtown on Forest Avenue. This group is part of Great Bend Economic Development. 5:00-9:00 p.m. www.gbedinc.com/gbalive

CINCO DE MAYO FESTIVAL & SPRING FLING VENDOR EVENT

This festival is held in downtown Great Bend at the courthouse square. Parade, food, entertainment, dancers, vendors and more! www.exploregreatbend.com

THE WALL THAT HEALS

A Vietnam Veterans Memorial Replica and Mobile Education Center. Visit at Al Burns Field at Veterans Memorial Park in Great Bend. Free admission - Open 24 hours.

Closes Sunday at 2:00 p.m. www.exploregreatbend.com/ wallthathealsgbks

5TH ANNUAL PAWS & CLAWS CAR SHOW

Car Show for the animals - all makes & models welcome. Entry fee $25all proceeds to Adopt A Pet / Golden Belt Humane Society. 10:00 a.m. Noon registration. Fun events all day! Brit Spaugh Park & Zoo, North Main, Great Bend.

592 NE K156 Hwy.

592 NE K156 Hwy.

592 NE K156 Hwy.

592 NE K156 Hwy.

Central Kansas

Dealing With Pesky Allergies

It’s amazing how much misery can be associated with everyday interactions

Blame exposure to everything from the environment to pets, from medications to food.

But there’s a way to avoid certain irritants, and to lessen the impact of the sneezing, scratchy throats and itchy eyes which may follow. If left unchecked, sufferers are at risk for more serious health issues.

Talk to your doctor if you begin to experience a new allergic reaction — or if your symptoms seem to be worsening. In some very serious cases, a visit to a local urgent care or emergency room may be required to get more immediate care.

DEFINING ALLERGIES

Allergies are actually the result of our immune system’s overreaction to foreign substances, according to the Mayo Clinic. Our antibodies identify these substances as harmful, even though they may not be. The most common allergies involve many everyday found things. Airborne allergens include animal dander, pollen, mold and dust mites. Certain foods may also produce a reaction, including wheat, peanuts, seafood, tree nuts, milk and eggs, among others. Many are allergic to insect bites or stings, including bees, ant and wasps. Penicillin and other related antibiotics are allergens for some. Latex is a common skin irritant.

COMMON SYMPTOMS

In most cases, the symptoms of an allergic reaction mimic a cold. The difference is in how quickly these reactions take hold. You may quickly develop a runny nose, itchy eyes, rashes, swelling, sneezing or breathing problems as your immune system cranks up. Check for sensitivities and talk to your doctor about any family history with allergies. Many of these reactions are minor, but in the severest of cases a life-threatening situation known as anaphylaxis may occur. In that case, immediate medical care is needed.

TREATMENT AND PREVENTION

Unfortunately for sufferers, there is no cure for allergies. Still, you can help lessen the occurrences through avoidance, deep cleaning and certain treatments. Allergy meds, including antihistamines and nasal-saline sprays, are typically effective — even at over-the-counter strengths. Check with your doctor, however, before starting any regular regimen of medicine. You may have to avoid time spent with certain pets. For those with a sensitivity to mold, better ventilation and the use of a dehumidifier can reduce moisture. More frequent housecleaning and bedding wash schedules can lessen the impact for those who react poorly to dust or mites.

a newborn

Bathing

How new parents can

approach bathing a newborn

New parents are faced with a host of unfamiliar challenges. Navigating nightly interruptions to sleep and changing diapers are among the more notable hurdles new parents must clear, but a host of other activities, such as bathing, require a new approach when a newborn is involved.

Extra caution is required when new parents are bathing their bundles of joy. Bathing a newborn can be nerve-wracking, especially for new parents. These tips courtesy of the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) can help parents calm their nerves and enjoy bath time with their babies.

PRIOR TO THE UMBILICAL CORD STUMP FALLING OFF

Dermatologists recommend giving children sponge baths until the umbilical cord stump falls off and heals. The Mayo Clinic notes that the stump typically falls off within one to three weeks, and during this time parents should keep the stump dry. That need to keep the stump dry is why sponge baths make sense until it falls off, as it's easier to do so when bathing babies with a sponge as opposed to in a tub.

When giving a sponge bath, lay the baby down on a comfortable flat surface. Keep the baby warm by wrapping him or her in a towel and only exposing the part of the baby you’re washing. Using lukewarm water, gently wipe the baby’s face and scalp with a dampened washcloth, making sure to clean the creases in the baby’s neck and behind the ears. Gently wash the rest of the baby’s body with the washcloth, making sure to rinse off and dry each area before moving on to another part of the child’s body.

AFTER THE UMBILICAL CORD STUMP HAS FALLEN OFF

The AAD recommends parents switch to traditional bathing once the umbilical cord stump has fallen off and the area has healed.

• Prepare the bathing area ahead of time. A sink or a small plastic tub can be a great place to bathe a newborn. Gather supplies, including a washcloth, fragrancefree baby soap and, if necessary, a baby shampoo prior to bath time.

• Place the baby in lukewarm water. Once supplies have been gathered, the

baby’s bath can be filled with lukewarm water. Parents can test the water on their wrist to ensure it’s not too hot before placing the child in it. Gently guide the baby, feet first, into the water, making sure that most of the child’s body is well above the water. Periodically pour warm water over the baby’s body to keep him or her warm.

• Follow the same procedure when you were still sponge bathing. Gently wash the baby’s face and scalp with a washcloth. If the child has hair, the AAD recommends using a baby shampoo once or twice a week. A washcloth can be used to wash the rest of the baby’s body, including between the child’s fingers and toes. Rinse off all soap after cleaning each area, and immediately wrap the baby in a warm towel once the bath is complete.

A fragrance-free moisturizer can be applied to a baby’s skin if parents notice skin is dry after bath time.

Bathing a newborn can inspire both nerves and awe. Parents can speak with their child’s physician for more tips on how to approach bath time.

MAKE IT AUTOMATIC Five ways to save without thinking about it

cents from every purchase into your savings account. That can add up to a lot of money over the course of a year.

Just be careful to watch your bank balance and make sure it doesn’t dip too low because of these transfers. An overdraft fee can wipe out any savings if you’re careless.

3. Card rewards

card debt under control.

Luckily, some new debit cards are cropping up that offer similar rewards without the risk of falling into debt. They let you get rewards for your own routine spending, which is a nice feeling.

4. 401k

to encourage you to invest, you’re simply leaving money on the table if you don’t participate in the 401k plan. It’s the smartest move on this list.

5. Extra money

Luckily, there are some ways you can make it easier. One of the simplest ways to make savings a habit is to make it an automatic thing, something you do without even having to think about it.

Here are five ways to start meeting your savings goals with little effort:

1. Direct deposit

Virtually every employer offers direct deposit for paychecks. But did you know they can usually deposit part of your paycheck into a savings or retirement account, too?

Talk to your human resources office to see if you can automatically route part of every paycheck into savings. If you never see it show up in your checking account, you’re less likely to fritter it away by spending it. And if it happens automatically, every single time you get a check, you’ll know your savings will grow over time if you just leave your money alone.

2. “Round up” bank accounts

Yes, this is a marketing gimmick that some banks use to lure in customers, but it can actually help many people save money.

With these programs that “round up” your purchases to the nearest dollar, you can automatically transfer a few

This is another gimmick that can bite you if you’re not careful — or be a nice reward if you’re cautious. Some credit cards offer rewards for spending. You don’t want to carry a credit card balance, obviously, so if you can pay off the full amount every month it can be an easy way to save for a few perks. The key is discipline to make sure you keep credit

If you’re not taking advantage of your employer’s 401k plan, you should be.

Not only do these retirement plans offer an easy way to put money aside every single month, but they also typically grow tax free. And because most employers offer some kind of matching funds

Finally, every time you get some extra money — say, a tax refund or a bonus from your job — it’s a good idea to put it directly into savings. Even if you spend a portion of the extra money, it should be a part of your regular habits to save the bulk of it.

Remember, a lot of small windfalls over your lifetime can add up to a huge windfall when it’s time to retire.

As any successful saver can tell you, savings don’t just happen on their own. It takes discipline and practice to be able to save some money from every paycheck so you can meet your financial goals over time.

Prepare children children to welcome a new pet to welcome a new

Excitement is the order of the day when welcoming a new pet into a home. Families often go to great lengths when picking a new pet for their household, spending significant time studying specific breeds and preparing their homes for the new addition. Despite that preparation, no one truly knows how a family dynamic will shift until the pet comes home.

Adults who have had pets in the past may know what to expect when welcoming a new pet to the family, but kids with no such experience may need a little coaching. The following are some ways parents can prepare youngsters to welcome a new pet into their homes.

• Emphasize respect for the animal. The Animal Humane

Society (AHS) urges parents to teach children how to touch animals with respect. Many children naturally love animals, and that enthusiasm may compel them to be a little overexcited in their initial interactions with their new pet. In such instances, pets may feel threatened, even by small children, which could lead them to bark, growl or lunge at youngsters. So it’s important for parents to teach children how to approach and touch their new pets prior to bringing the animal into the home.

• Explain body language to kids. Deciphering a dog’s body language is an important part of communicating with the animal, as dogs utilize posture, facial expression and other physical cues to communicate with their human companions. Parents

can speak with the adoption agency and/or their veterinarians about body language specific to certain animals and what each gesture may signify. Explain these gestures to children so they can learn when to leave a pet alone or when to engage with it.

• Encourage kids to give animals a period to adjust. Kids may not be the only ones who don’t know what to expect when welcoming a new pet into their homes. The pets themselves may be a little nervous. Explain to children that the animal’s initial days in the home should be seen as an adjustment period and not necessarily a time to engage in lots of play with the animal. For example, when welcoming a new cat or kitten

into a home, the AHS urges parents to limit children’s interactions to gentle petting when the cat approaches. This initial adjustment period is not the time to pick up the cat or encroach on it physically. This time should be free of sudden movements and loud noises as the pet adjusts to its new surroundings.

The day a new pet first comes home is a momentous one for families. Parents can help that transition go smoothly by preparing young children for the newest member of the family.

Cindy Wilborn Wellness Teacher Hoisington Middle School

BY: RILEY BRUNGARDT rbrungardt@gbtribune.com

Q: Did you know you always wanted to be a teacher?

A: No, I did not always know I wanted to be a teacher. My dream as a kid wasn’t a very realistic one, it was to be an archaeologist. I’ve always been fascinated with treasures that are buried for us to find, but in college I started out as a graphic design major. I then switched gears, it was an impulsive decision and it was the best decision I made. Art has a place in my heart and it always will, but majoring in it at Fort Hays was not for me. I have always enjoyed working with kids and playing sports, so becoming a P.E. teacher made the most sense for me.

Q: What classes do you teach?

A: I have four sections of sixth grade wellness, then I have two sections of Cardinal Action Council, and one section of combined seventh and eighth grade wellness. My wellness classes focus on social skills and developing those skills. Cardinal Action Council does services for the school and we have been ever since we returned to in-person activities after COVID. It has been more of a service class where they go out in their small teams every day and do chores around the school.

Q: How do you inspire students in and out of the classroom?

A: I want my students to figure out who their authentic self is and run with it. We get a lot of kiddos with that herd mentality, and it actually hinders them from figuring out who they are. That can lead to making some decisions that they wouldn’t make if they were following their values on their own. I tell kids, “there will be times in your life where you will be better off going it alone with your values in tact rather than with a group who lacks those same values.” Sometimes trying to get them to see that is very difficult, but I think we’re making some progress.

Q: What are your pastimes outside of school?

A: I enjoy family time the most. I love being out in the country and enjoying the outdoors. I love taking daily walks in the country looking for wildlife with my family.

Q: What is your favorite quote or something you say all the time?

A: Several come to mind. Let me try to remind myself, “leadership without character is a failure in leadership” and I think that is so true. Another one, “show respect even to people who don’t deserve it not as a reflection of their character but as a reflection of yours.” Those are pretty much my big quotes. One I’ve said so many times in my life to students and my own three kids is “know better, do better.” If you know better then you should do better, that just makes sense to me.

The growing zones are temperature minimums for your area, ranging from the coldest — 1a, or -60 to -55 degrees Fahrenheit — to 13b, or 65 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

Each zone represents the mean extreme minimum temperature — meaning it’s the average coldest temperature. It does not mean that that’s the coldest it’s ever been or ever will be. You should still prepare for somewhat colder temperatures than what is shown on the map.

FINDING YOUR ZONE

You can find your USDA growing zone by going to the interactive GIS map at planthardiness.ars.usda.gov and entering your ZIP code. Experts at the local garden center or agricultural extension office will also be able to tell you your hardiness zone. This area in central Kansas is 6a and 6b.

ZONE 6 HAS A MEDIUM-LENGTH GROWING SEASON

The zone 6 medium-length growing season, is usually frost-free from mid-May to late September. Plants that do well in this area include: asters, astilbe, bee balm, hostas, hyacinths, irises, cannas, salvia, crocus, daffodils, delphiniums, glads, hibiscus, lilies, peonies, phlox, coneflowers, sedum, tulips and yarrow. Then you need to look at whether your yard has areas of shade, like for hostas or lots of direct sunlight for salvia. This will help you determine which plants are right for your yard.

SUMMER BULBS

Planting Spring bulbs that bloom in the summer can thrive in most zones. These are the flowers that produce some of the most vibrant colors, this includes: dahlias, lilies, gladiolus, cannas, and begonias.

SUN PERENNIALS

Perennials come back each year, some for many years. These plants include: asters, peonies, irises, roses, hibiscus, and coneflowers. Check the labels or consult your garden center for how much sunlight each plant needs. Also ask about whether morning sun is enough or if they can tolerate the afternoon sun in Kansas.

Sometimes, it’s not that you have a black thumb. Maybe you’ve been buying the wrong plants for your USDA growing zone.

Honoring Dr. Walter Doyce Broadnax

BY LINDA MCCAFFERY Barton County Historical Society

Often, we don’t realize the accomplishments of people in our own communities. For example, Jesus’ return to Nazareth, where people had little faith that he could perform miracles. Jesus wisely said, “A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and among his own kin and in his own house.”

(Mark 6:4) Such is the case of a 1962 Hoisington High School graduate, Walter Broadnax. His family and friends knew him as Doyce. To his students and colleagues, he was Dr. Broadnax. Walter, a descendant of enslaved people, had a distinguished career as an educator, author, and public servant.

Broadnax was raised in Hoisington, Kansas, in the part of town that had no paved roads, no indoor plumbing or sewage, and attended a predominantly white elementary school. He demonstrated both ambition and leadership early in life, becoming superintendent of his Sunday school at the First Baptist Church when he was just 16 years old, and graduating from Hoisington High School as an outstanding senior student in 1962.

Walter’s family name was taken from W. F. Broadnax, a wealthy Rockingham County, North Carolina man who owned a plantation and Walter’s family. After the Civil War, the family moved west, settling in Star City, Arkansas, where Walter was born on October 21, 1944. Later, his family of three children moved to Hoisington, Kansas. Walter’s father, also named Walter, worked for the Missouri Pacific railroad. The family lived in South Hoisington, as it was near the railroad tracks and maintenance shops. Although the community was not officially segregated, the majority of Black residents did live in the area.

Walter attended Hoisington Public Schools and graduated as an outstanding high school graduate in 1962. He attended Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas earning a Bachelor’s Degree in 1967. He then enrolled in the School of Public Administration at the University of Kansas in 1967 and was awarded the honor of a Ford Foundation Fellow or

scholarship. In 1969, he graduated with a Master’s Degree in Public Affairs. Walter then earned his Ph.D. from the Maxwell School of Citizenship at Syracuse University in 1975 and embarked on a long career in public service. The following information is from “Public Service Stories: Walter Broadnax”. Health and Human Services. University of Nebraska Omaha.

21 September 2022:

From 1974 to 1975, Dr. Broadnax taught at Syracuse University and was a staff consultant to the New York State Department of Correctional Services. In 1976, he was appointed co-director, Joint International City Management Association/National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration, Urban Management Education Program, United States Department of Housing and Urban Development in Washington, D.C. Until 1979, he was professor of public administration at the Federal Executive Institute and taught at the University of Virginia, Howard University and the University of Maryland. He also worked as director of Services to Children, Youth and Adults for the State of Kansas in Topeka. Broadnax joined the Carter administration in 1980 as the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the United States Department of Health, Education and Welfare. He was senior staff member for the Advanced Study Program of the Brookings Institution. In 1981, he joined Harvard Kennedy School, where he chaired the Massachusetts Executive Development Program and was founding director of the innovations in state and local government programs. In 1987, Broadnax was appointed president of the New York Civil Service Commission. During this time he worked as adjunct professor of Public Policy at the University of Rochester from 1990 to 1993. In 1992, he served on the Harvard South Africa Program team and as a transition team leader for President Bill Clinton.

Research, and from 1993 to 1996, worked as Deputy Secretary and COO of the United States Department of Health and Human Services under Donna Shalala. He also worked as a professor at the University of Maryland and Dean of the School of Public Affairs at American University.

In 2002, Dr. Broadnax became the second president of Clark Atlanta University, after Thomas W. Cole Jr. Under his leadership, Clark Atlanta University became the second private historically Black College or university classified as a RU/H: Research Universities (high research activity) institution by the Carnegie Foundation. Howard University is the first RU/H: Research Universities (high research activity).

Broadnax served on Colin Powell’s U.S. Secretary of State management advisory board, Comptroller General of the United States David Walker’s advisory board and NASA’s Return to Flight Task Force.

Walter Broadnax retired due to health issues and passed on December 2, 2022, survived by his wife Angel L. Wheelock, (also from Hoisington), and daughter Andrea. Many colleagues remember this remarkable man. Judy Mower as representative:

“When was it? Where was it? I can’t remember exactly, but we were gathered to celebrate Walter’s retiring from the Maxwell School faculty. Professors, staff, students, friends from across campus and around the community. Most striking in my memory is just the feeling in that roomwarmth, respect, good humor. The love and admiration for this man were so palpable in that room. I hope he felt it, too”.

Walter Broadnax was an American academic administrator who was Distinguished Professor of Public Administration at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University.

WhyBYDALEHOGG

dhogg@gbtribune.com

When asked why she loves Ellinwood, Becca Maxwell, Sunflower Bank community development officer, had a simple answer.

“Ellinwood has everything that I need. I can get everything from a great cup of coffee, pick up my groceries and even a trip to the gas station for a great pizza,” she said. “It is all within a mile radius of my home. Small towns are full of independent businesses that rely on the local community for support and you can get their services on a first name basis. In Ellinwood, the saying is ‘Shop Local, Support Local.’”

Undeniably, one of the benefits of living in a small town is the sense of the community one can find there, she said. “Being familiar with everyone on Main Street and the school, you find yourself becoming much more involved in the community than I ever expected. Though bigger cities can be filled with lots of people,

Ellinwood and this part of Kansas

it can often be harder to develop lasting connections. In smaller towns you have less anonymity and more opportunities to lend a hand and volunteer.”

Staying busy and involved

She and her husband Greg run the Velocity Volleyball club in Ellinwood. “That keeps us very busy year around,” she said. In addition:

• They are members of the St. John Lutheran Church where their youngest is attending confirmation.

• She is the president of the United Way of Central Kansas Board of Directors.

• She just recently got involved with Communities Organizing to Promote Equity (COPE) in Barton County.

• She is also active with several organizations in Ellinwood to help write community grants.

“I also volunteer with the school helping when they need a volunteer to work a game or an activity,” she said.

But why Ellinwood?

The Ellinwood After Harvest Festival, 2022.

“I am from Assaria and went to Bethany College in Lindsborg with my husband,” she said. “My husband is from Leadville, Colo., and for some reason we ended up in Ellinwood for his first teaching position and we never left.

When we came for his interview, the people were so friendly and we noticed everyone waved at us. That was unique. It was a very friendly community everyone talked to us like they already knew us.”

She can work for a $5.7 billion company and live in Ellinwood. “I never expected this type of opportunity when I moved to Ellinwood years ago. I have a lot of opportunity in my job and can still live in a rural community with only one stop light.” And there is more.

“Also, Ellinwood has unique traditions like the Ellinwood After Harvest Festival and Christkindlmarket, that bring the whole town together to celebrate,” she said. “Ellinwood sits in the center of Kansas on the Santa Fe Trail and has amazing history with an underground abandoned city below the Main Street businesses.”

Her husband, who teaches art and coaches at Ellinwood High School, loves that Ellinwood is located between the Cheyenne Bottoms

and Quivira National Wildlife Refuge. He is a wildlife artist and it has been inspiration for a lot of his artwork.

Family and interests

Their oldest daughter Mya played volleyball at Barton Community College and will be moving to Kearney, Neb., to attend University of Nebraska - Kearney this fall to continue her passion of coaching volleyball at the next level. Their youngest daughter Mette is in Middle School at Ellinwood and is active in all sports.

Her hobbies include sitting in gyms all across Kansas watching volleyball and many sports activities on evenings and most weekends. She also loves doing photography.

Her professional path

She had the opportunity to land her first job when she moved to Barton County at The Great Bend Tribune. “It was a great position for me to get to know the community.”

From there, she went to KSNC-TV to learn that television advertising medium. Then in 2006, Sunflower Bank had built a new branch on 10th Street and she was asked to manage the team.

“I have been with Sunflower Bank for 17 years now and recently was promoted to the Community

Kansas and Colorado,” she said. “The expansion of the Community Affairs Office is a commitment to serving the credit needs of, and empowering communities –including low-moderate-income

development.

“We have a long community history at Sunflower Bank and we will continue our efforts to ensure a strong connection to our communities in which we live, work

Get the right care, in the right place.

When you need prompt medical attention, whether your condition is minor or serious, we have the care teams to meet your needs. Experts at the Convenient Care Walk-In Clinic at St. Rose Medical Pavilion provide highquality care for minor illnesses and injuries – from cold and flu symptoms to cuts and sprains. No appointment is necessary. And for serious or life-threatening conditions, our emergency room team at Great Bend Campus provides excellent care around the clock.

Learn more about where to go for the care you need at KansasHealthSystem.com/GreatBendLocations

Convenient Care Walk-In Clinic

St. Rose Medical Pavilion

3515 Broadway Ave.

Great Bend, KS 67530

620-792-2511

Monday-Friday: 7 a.m.-7 p.m.

Saturday-Sunday: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Emergency Room

Great Bend Campus

514 Cleveland St.

Great Bend, KS 67530

620-792-8833

Open 24/7