Inspired Living May-June 2023

Publisher’s Note:

This is my favorite time of year, the sun stays out longer, the weather is warmer and there is so much to do. In this issue of the InspiredLiving Magazine the calendar on pages 12 and 13 has lots of events you can get involved with or just attend: see the Wall that Heals, take in a car show, softball or baseball tournament, go to the summer street strolls, Great Bend Alive gatherings and so much more. Never a dull moment in this community, unless you want one.

We are inspired by students that are already giving back to their community. They are learning to be leaders. They are finding ways to help the community by picking up trash, promoting safe places for their peers and identifying hot zones, as well as collaborating to reduce substance use and misuse among youth.

We hope you get to know the people in this area like Great Bend Police Chief Steve Haulmark, Mark Newton, a band teacher in Ellinwood, and Joyce Link from Pawnee Rock, each one of them are making a difference in someone’s life. Learn about a part of history by reading the article that was in the Great Bend Tribune, May 1908. It is interesting to learn how Great Bend became the county seat.

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.

Remember to call your mom on Mother’s Day, or better yet go see her if you are lucky enough to still have her around. Those of us that don’t have ours with us wish we did.

---- Judy Duryee

Members of Barton County’s Youth Crew met for a scavenger hunt in the courthouse square on May 3 and posed for a group photo. Youth Crew allows students in grades 6-12 to get involved in their communities while making new friends.

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

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

LOCAL PHOTOGRAPHY: ....Hugo Gonzalez

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

Hugo Gonzalez

Katie Joyner

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

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.

materials contained in Inspired Living are copyright protected and may not be reproduced without permission.

COVER PHOTO BY HUGO GONZALEZ GREAT BEND TRIBUNE

Youth Crew:

with a purpose

Meet Barton County’s civic teen team

Story by Susan Thacker sthacker@gbtribune.com

Feature photos by Hugo Gonzalez hgonzalez@gbtribune.com

On a recent Saturday, members of Barton County’s Youth Crew could be found picking

up trash along U.S. 56 near Dundee and helping the Barton County Sheriff’s Office and Health Department with their Drug Take-Back Day. They’ve also helped with cleanup at the zoo, mapped “hot spots” for risky behavior in area communities and addressed the Barton County Commission on combating tobacco use and vaping among their peers.

Tyler Morton, prevention advocate at the 20th Judicial District Juvenile Services Office, said approximately 40 students in grades 6-12 are active in Youth Crew. While most are middle school students, some

high school students have also found time in their schedules to join the Youth Crew and its community engagement projects.

It started in 2020 as a new task force of the Central Kansas Partnership. Other CKP services are Be Well Barton County, the Summer Street Stroll, Central Kansas Breastfeeding Coalition, Suicide Prevention and Rise Up Central Kansas.

Youth Crew was the first task force to invite the youth of Barton County to empower their own generation and take their rightful seat at the decision-making table. According to the Task Force webpage, this is a chance for youths to shape work that reflects their values:

You can promote local change through programs, campaigns, policy, and community education. Join the Youth Crew to:

• Be heard

• Meet people

• Create real community change

• Receive letters of recommendation

• Gain community recognition

• Enhance scholarship opportunities

• Access paid internships

• Experience after-hours events

• Influence state-level decisions

What the students say

Damian Palma-Lopez, a sophomore at Great Bend High School, has participated in Youth Crew for two years. He helped the Evening Lions Club of Great Bend with the trash pickup near Dundee on a chilly morning in May.

He said it was so cold that he couldn’t feel his hands at one point, even though he was wearing gloves. But they were done within 90 minutes and he had fun.

“I just like helping,” he said.

Jasmine Figueroa, also a GBHS sophomore, joined Katelyn Sigler, public health educator at the Barton County Health Department, to attend the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America’s national convention in Florida. When they returned, they implemented one of the ideas from the forum, which was to do “community mapping.” They located safe spots for youths to have fun and “hot spots” where risky behavior might occur.

They learned that Hoisington already has tobacco-free parks, while in Great Bend only the playground area of parks are tobacco free. The hot spots in Great Bend are the high school and middle school, which might benefit from peer education on why students shouldn’t use tobacco or alcohol.

“We know there’s lots of vaping in the bathrooms in the high school, in middle school and even some grade schools,” Sigler said.

“Then we made an action plan to turn them into safe spots,” Figueroa said. They talked to the county commission and the health department’s advisory board.

Makinzie Beneke from Great Bend, Makiah

Webber from Hoisington and Jenna Sandberg from Ellinwood attended a Barton County Commission meeting on May 3 to represent Youth Crew in presenting the National Prevention Week proclamation. After the meeting, the students talked about their involvement in Youth Crew.

“I got really interested in Youth Crew because I feel like the prevention of drugs and alcohol abuse is very important in our community,” Beneke said. “We do a bunch of activities and events that all help kind of influence that in our community.” These have included a kickball tournament to “Kick the Addiction.”

“I got involved because I personally saw a lot of problems in our community and I wanted to help solve them,” Sandberg said. She has helped with projects such as the kickball tournament, a fun activity that she hopes will provide a positive distraction and help people get off their addiction.

“I got into Youth Crew because I come from a family that has had addict problems and I don’t want to see that for our community,” Webber said. Activities in Hoisington have included taking chalk art to every school and drawing prevention and awareness messages.

Other projects

Sponsors said students choose the projects they do and as they get more involved the students also lead some of the meetings.

Morton said some activities are just for fun, including a Youth Crew celebration planned for June. But even when they’re having fun, the Crew has a message to share. At Easter is was the Egg-

A-Palooza.

“Youth Crew 2023 Egg-A-Palooza was in a word...Eggcellent!” he said. “A big thank you to all of our local schools that allowed Youth Crew to ‘egg’ your school and bring a little pre-Easter cheer to your students. We delivered 2,000 (plastic) eggs to schools in Great Bend, Hoisington, and Holyrood. Several of our members helped put out eggs at their schools and other members helped fill the eggs at our Youth Crew meeting on April 2nd.”

Members have helped with the Trail of Lights greeters’ booth and had their own booth at the Great Bend Middle School Spring Expo. They worked with liquor stores for a project called “Sticker Shock.” Sticker Shock brings awareness toward underage drinking by displaying stickers on beer packaging as a “warning label.” The stickers inform the public of the consequences they can face if they provide or purchase alcohol for minors.

They’ve also collaborated with Barton Community College. Last August, Morton set up an event with the help of the men’s soccer coach, Rafael Simmons. Students toured the college campus and spent about 45 minutes talking with the coach about collegiate sports and what is expected from most coaches. Then they went out to the soccer field and did a mock scrimmage with the men’s and women’s soccer team. There was a scavenger hunt in the courthouse square and some members were looking forward to a color run in Hoisington in collaboration with Zero Reasons Why, a suicide prevention group.

– Damian Palma Lopez, Youth Crew

This year, three Youth Crew members were able to get jobs as high schoolers.

Other students will attend a national conference in July.

How it started

Marissa Woodmansee, director of the 20th Judicial District Juvenile Services office, helped Youth Crew get started as part of the Central Kansas Partnership and it went on to be grantfunded. A Drug-Free Communities grant was written by Sue Cooper, who at the time was a grant coordinator for Barton County. Thanks to the grant, Morton was designated as Prevention Advocate for Juvenile Services, allowing the work to go to the next level and expand.

The grant has two objectives: to increase community collaboration and to reduce substance use and misuse among youth. Over

time, it is hoped that addressing the factors that put youth at risk will reduce substance use and misuse among adults as well.

“The first year Sue wrote for it, we did not receive the grant,” Woodmansee said. “However, they gave great feedback to ensure a successful application the next year. We knew we wanted it to be youthled and create positive change for the youth and the community.”

The first meeting was held on June 3, 2020. There were six middle/high school students and six elementary students.

Civic support was available from the start. During the first monthly meetings, the Pilot Club provided treats and helped sponsor a trash pickup day at the Great Bend Brit Spaugh Zoo, the City of Great Bend donated pool passes, and the County Attorney’s office supplied pizza.

“The goal was to hold monthly meetings to keep students’ engagement with activities that gave back to the community,” Woodmansee said.

Youth Crew became federally funded in October of 2021, and Morton came on board in February of 2022. Funding is through a grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, so the focus is drug and alcohol prevention.

Katelyn Sigler at the Barton County Health Department also has a grant that focuses on Chronic Disease Risk (CDR) education. It focuses mostly on tobacco use, so Youth Crew is also able to collaborate with that

Because of that, a team of Youth Crew members traveled to Topeka to speak to legislators about their work on vaping, tobacco and marijuana awareness in the schools.

Why Youth Crew?

Morton sees Youth Crew as a way for adults to invest in the future generation of Barton County. Many students are exposed to the group during the sixth grade, where a program called All Stars stresses preventing risky behaviors among adolescents and helps to give kids hope to envision a bright and positive future for themselves.

In many ways, Youth Crew is an extension of All Stars that puts students in the driver’s seat and lets them act on what they’ve learned.

“They have a lot of aspirations for things they want to do,” Morton said. However, opportunities may appear

limited,especiallyinsmallcommunities.

limited, especially in small communities. “So, putting these kids out there, having them invest back into where they live, is a big thing. It gets them seen,” Morton said.

Stressing responsibility and commitment is a big piece of Youth Crew, he said.

The students developed a Youth Crew pledge that talks about being on time and being respectful. Participants are asked to attend at least 75% of the meetings in their communities (Great Bend, Ellinwood and Hoisington) if they’re able to, and to commit to several hours of community service.

There’s also a pledge they sign with their parents, agreeing to refrain from using drugs and alcohol. “It’s not necessarily that the kids have to abide by that to stay in the group but it’s kind of an expectation that everybody has of each other,” Morton said.

Sponsors say the results are paying off, and not just in a few cleaner parks.

“It’s fun to watch them grow and see them realize their potential,” Morton said. “It’s fun to watch them realize what they can achieve.”

A student doesn’t have to be extroverted or socially adept the join Youth Crew. They don’t have to know anything about civic engagement or their plans for the future. “This gives them a new peer group and people that feel the same way,” Morton said. “We work together and figure it out.”

How to get involved

To learn more about Youth Crew, send a message on the Youth Crew Instagram page or Facebook page, or find the Youth Crew tab on the Central Kansas Partnership website, CKpartnership.org.

I got really interested in Youth Crew because I feel like the prevention of drugs and alcohol abuse is very important in our community. We do a bunch of activities and events that all help kind of influence that in our community.

– Makinzie Beneke, Youth Crew

W H AT I S A WHAT IS A

B E E R BEER

Sour beers are one of the oldest brews around. Most beer made was sour before pasteurization and sterilization.

Today’s sours get their funky flavors from wild bacteria and yeasts, giving the beer a high level of acidity, while most modern beers are made in sterile environments with specific yeasts to give them their familiar flavor.

When brewing a sour beer, the brewer will start with the wort, the unfermented brew, and then introduce acid-producing bacteria. Sometimes, that’s a controlled process with specific bacteria, but they can also choose to just expose the wort to open air and see what shows up. The fermenting beer is then aged in tanks or wooden barrels for a slow fermentation process similar to sourdough bread. It can take months or even years to achieve just the right flavor. The brewer may choose to add fruits, spices or other ingredients to flavor the beer along the way.

Bacteria gives sour beer its flavor, namely lactobacillus — it turns sugar into lactic acid and is the thing in yogurt that makes it sour — and pediococcus, which

metabolizes without oxygen, making the beer more acidic the longer it hangs around. The wild yeast in sour beers is Brettanomyces, often shortened to Brett. It gives the beer a wild earthiness.

As you can imagine with wild roots, there are as many sours as there are people to drink them.

Lambics are Belgian wheat beers that’s made with spontaneous fermentation. It’s traditionally brewed in winter and aged for at least a year in the cool open air. A blend of young and old lambics is called geuze. Another Belgian beer is the Flanders, often fermented in large wooden vats. The finished brew has fruity, vanilla flavors. Gose is a German sour made with coriander and sea salt that walks a line between herby, salty and sour.

Sour beers go great on the dinner table. Pair them with hearty flavors that go with the earthy flavor from the wild yeasts. If you’re going with fruitier Flanders brews, look for cheeses that will draw out the sweeter notes in the beer.

The smell of a barbecue grill marks a change in the seasons

Nothing says “so long, winter” like crackling charcoal under a hot grate. Spring and summer is a time of longawaited outdoor get togethers with savory, fresh-made food. But everything can take an ugly turn if you aren’t meticulous about cleanliness, the quality of your tools and perhaps the most overlooked element of great grilling – preheating.

Grizzled grillers don’t make these kind of basic errors – and you don’t have to, either. Here’s a look at the most common mistakes, and how to avoid them:

USING THE WRONG TOOLS

Grilling involves an admittedly large number of critical elements. But you can do everything else right and still fumble before reaching the goal line if you have low-quality tools.

Are your tongs and spatula warped and rusted out? Is the grill brush clogged with last season’s residue? Upgrade to sturdier, longer-lasting new grilling tools, preferably made out of stainless steel.

Look for long-handled or extended versions, which offer maximum safety for reaching across a hot grill. Dishwasher-safe models make cleaning up easier than ever before.

NOT CLEANING THE GRILL

It’s a pain, of course, but the grill should be maintained before and after each and every use. Burn off grill residue, either by turning burners to high or building a large fire underneath. Scrape off excess grease and ash from under the grate. This allows flames to flow more freely. Sometimes these blockages snuff out the fire completely. Deep clean the entire thing two or three times a year, scrubbing everything by hand while keeping an eye out for dried-on food particles, rust or grease build up.

IMPATIENCE WITH PREHEATING

You wouldn’t put food directly into an oven before it’s had time to preheat. The same common sense approach should be taken with grills, which typically need at least a quarter hour to warm up. Putting food on too early can put you at

risk of undercooking, and spreading food-borne illnesses. Purchase and make use of a temperature gauge to make sure meat is cooked

appropriately. The approach to lower the heat once your food is added, something known as “low and slow” cooking, creates a juicer result.

badge Behind the

with Great Bend Police Chief Steve Haulmark

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

A. I have been in law enforcement since 1994. For as long as I can remember, I wanted to be a police officer. After high school, I knew that for me going to college would have been a waste of time and money, because I wasn’t focused on my education at that point in my life. Serving in the military is something that the men in my family have always done, and I thought that it could help me get to my goal. There are many similarities between being a soldier and being an officer – both rely heavily on chain of command, following guidance and direction, and wanting to serve others.

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

A. A good police officer wears many hats. He is a sturdy professional that might be called upon to be a marriage counselor, or a social worker, or to step in and be the disciplinarian when the parent has lost control. People call the police for all kinds of things, many of which have nothing to do with law enforcement. Often they do that because they don’t know what to do or where to turn for assistance. A police officer never knows what the next call for service will entail, and he must be prepared to handle anything. There have certainly been things in my career that I would just as soon not remember, but the memorable things are some of the men and women who I have had the honor to work with, who had compassion and care for others and who showed sincerity in their action and character. I have witnessed selfless service on many occasions and it made me proud to be a member of that brotherhood.

Q. Have you ever given a relative a ticket?

A. Fortunately, I have never encountered a family member on a traffic stop. I have been in a situation where someone that I had known for a very long time had been involved in a serious offense and I was present when they were arrested.

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

A. In my office I am frequently answering emails, reviewing best practices in the industry, and reviewing policies. I would much rather be out in the community than be working in my office.

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

A. Historically, law enforcement agencies measured successes by statistics, which were derived by measuring the output of officers (arrests, reports, tickets, etc.). While there is certainly a time and place for all of those things, my focus, and the direction that I have given my team, is to focus more on outreach and relationship building in the community and being more concerned with those outcomes – the types of things that are difficult to measure sometimes through statistics, but are every bit as important as enforcement.

W edding Day Emergency Kit

Unfortunately, the unexpected happens — and you’ll want to be ready

Preparing early helps alleviate worries about common mishaps that add unneeded stress during your nuptials. Don’t let your big event become marred by makeup disasters, torn clothing, or even a sudden pang of hunger. Packing a wedding day emergency kit helps ensure that none of that gets in the way as you prepare to walk down the aisle.

TOUCHING UP

You’ll be primped, prepared and dressed long before it’s time to say your vows, meaning there will be plenty of time for something to potentially go wrong. So keep critical beauty supplies nearby for any needed touch ups with your makeup, hair and perfume. Outdoor settings are increasingly popular for weddings, and they provide a variety of challenges — not least of which are smudges and running mascara, lipstick and foundation. Double check before taking pictures, and before saying “I do.” These critical extras from home may prove to be a lifesaver.

RE-STYLING ITEMS

Outdoor weddings are also a huge potential challenge to your carefully crafted hairstyle. Be prepared for a potentially windy situation by tucking away a brush, additional bobby pinks and hairspray in your dressing area. Depending on the season, you may need to freshen up with perfume and deodorant, in particular after taking your pictures. Bring any additional needed toiletries.

SEWING KIT

Wardrobe malfunctions happen, so pack an assortment of threads, needles, scissors and safety pins just in case. You’ll either need to master the skill of emergency sewing, or ensure that a trusted bridesmaid, matron or family friend is on hand in case of accidental tears, stepped on hems or other mishaps. Just knowing all of these things are available can significantly lower stress during what always promises to be a very busy schedule.

A LITTLE SNACK

With everything else that’s going on, you may not make time to eat and hydrate enough along the way. Nourishing yourself is critical to carrying everything off without a hitch. At the same time, however, you don’t want to overindulge. So don’t forget a few small, healthy snacks like nuts, granola or protein bars — and a few bottles of water, too. They’ll help you be at your best when it’s time to join together in matrimony before family and friends.

Books you can’t live without

Have you heard of the latest craze in the mystery genre, cozy mysteries? It’s a match made in heaven really, everyone loves a good enthralling mystery, add in a cozy English villa or seaside knitting festival, and who could resist cuddling up with a book like that for the afternoon? Lately, there has been an absolute boom in the cozy mystery genre, and the Great Bend Library is absolutely stocked with them. From the Beatrix Potter-esque Shady Hollow Mystery series to the trophy wife turned mystery-solving divorcee with her animal side kicks shenanigans of the Lovely Lethal Gardens series, we have a little something for everyone.

Shady Hollow

By

Juneau Black

“The first book in the Shady Hollow series, in which we are introduced to the village of Shady Hollow, a place where woodland creatures live together in harmony--until a curmudgeonly toad turns up dead and the local reporter has to solve the case.

Reporter Vera Vixen is a relative newcomer to Shady Hollow. The fox has a nose for news, so when she catches wind

that the death might be a murder, she resolves to get to the bottom of the case, no matter where it leads. As she stirs up still waters, the fox exposes more than one mystery, and discovers that additional lives are in jeopardy.

Vera finds more to this town than she ever suspected. It seems someone in the Hollow will do anything to keep her from solving the murder, and soon it will take all of Vera's cunning and quickness to crack the case.” -Goodreads

Arsenic in the Azaleas

By Dale Mayer

“After her ex-husband leaves her high and dry, former socialite Doreen Montgomery's chance at a new life comes in the form of her grandmother, Nan's, dilapidated old house in picturesque Kelowna … and the added job of caring for the animals Nan couldn’t take into assisted living with her: Thaddeus, the loquacious African gray parrot with a ripe vocabulary, and his buddy, Goliath, a monster-size cat with an equally monstrous attitude.

It’s the new start Doreen and her beloved basset hound, Mugs, desperately

need. But, just as things start to look up for Doreen, Goliath the cat and Mugs the dog find a human finger in Nan’s overrun garden.

And not just a finger. Once the police start digging, the rest of the body turns up and turns out to be connected to an old unsolved crime.

With her grandmother as the prime suspect, Doreen soon finds herself stumbling over clues and getting on Corporal Mack Moreau’s last nerve, as she does her best to prove her beloved Nan innocent of murder.” -Goodreads

The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels

By India Holton

“A prim and proper lady thief must save her aunt from a crazed pirate and his dangerously charming henchman in this fantastical historical romance.

Cecilia Bassingwaite is the ideal Victorian lady. She's also a thief. Like the other members of the Wisteria Society crime sorority, she flies around England drinking tea, blackmailing friends, and acquiring treasure by interesting means. Sure, she has a dark and traumatic past and an overbearing aunt, but all things considered, it's a pleasant existence. Until the men show up.

Ned Lightbourne is a sometimes assassin who is smitten with Cecilia from

the moment they meet. Unfortunately, that happens to be while he's under direct orders to kill her. His employer, Captain Morvath, who possesses a gothic abbey bristling with cannons and an unbridled hate for the world, intends to rid England of all its presumptuous women, starting with the Wisteria Society. Ned has plans of his own. But both men have made one grave mistake. Never underestimate a woman.

When Morvath imperils the Wisteria Society, Cecilia is forced to team up with her handsome would-be assassin to save the women who raised her--hopefully proving, once and for all, that she's as much of a scoundrel as the rest of them.”Goodreads

Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers

By Jesse Q. Sutanto

“Put the kettle on, there’s a mystery brewing…

Tea-shop owner. Matchmaker. Detective?

Sixty-year-old self-proclaimed tea expert Vera Wong enjoys nothing more than sipping a good cup of Wulong and doing some healthy ‘detective’ work on the internet (AKA checking up on her son to see if he’s dating anybody yet).

But when Vera wakes up one morning to find a dead man in the middle of her

tea shop, it’s going to take more than a strong Longjing to fix things. Knowing she’ll do a better job than the police possibly could – because nobody sniffs out a wrongdoing quite like a suspicious Chinese mother with time on her hands – Vera decides it’s down to her to catch the killer.

Nobody spills the tea like this amateur sleuth.” -Goodreads

Murder in the Mystery Suite

By Ellery Adams

“Tucked away in the rolling hills of rural western Virginia is the storybook resort of Storyton Hall, catering to book lovers who want to get away from it all. To increase her number of bookings, resort manager Jane Steward has decided to host a Murder and Mayhem week so that fans of the mystery genre can gather together for some role-playing and fantasy crime solving.

But when the winner of the scavenger hunt, Felix Hampden, is found dead in the Mystery Suite, and the valuable book he won as his prize is missing, Jane realizes one of her guests is an actual murderer. Amid a resort full of fake detectives, Jane is bound and determined to find a real-life killer. There’s no room for error as Jane tries to unlock this mystery before another vacancy opens up…” -Goodreads

GREAT BEND CITY BAND CONCERT

Free event at the band shell in Jack Kilby Square. Watch for their complete schedule.

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Clara Barton Hospital Foundation Annual Golf Tournament - Lake Barton Golf Course

BAT CATS BASEBALL

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THE WALL THAT HEALS

Clara Barton Hospital Foundation Annual Dinner & Auction – Hoisington Knights of Columbus

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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

PAWS & CLAWS CAR SHOW

A fundraiser for the Golden Belt Humane Society and Adopt a Pet. Brit Spaugh Park. 13

MOTHER’S DAY 14

Softball and Baseball Tournaments in May at Great Bend Sports Complex.

13-14 - USA Softball Tournament

20-21 - USSSA Baseball Tournament

25-26 - KSHSAA State 2-1A Baseball Championship www.greatbendrec.com

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SUMMER STREET STROLL Farmers Market and more. 4:00-7:00 p.m. Jack Kilby Square, Downtown Great Bend https://www.facebook.com/ gbsssfarmersmarket/ Summer Street Stroll every Thursday through October.

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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

This fun family event features food, musicians, games and more! Summer sidewalk sale at participating locations on June 3. Full schedule at www.k96junejaunt.com or www.facebook.com/ExploreGreatBend. Jack Kilby Square. All Ages. FRIDAY, June 4 SATURDAY, JUNE

June 4-6, 2021

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GBRC MACK June Jaunt Fun Fly Model Association of Central Kansas is promoting modeling activities. From 1:00 p.m. til dusk members fly and talk about model airplanes. Free come and go event at 114 SW 20th Ave., Roger Brining Model Airport. Event cancelled if the wind is 30 mph or greater or if it’s raining.

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Get down and groove on the front lawn from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. Library grounds, 1409 Williams. All Ages.

JAMMIN’ RANDY CONCERT

This award winning songwriter and performer will be here for an All Together Now program. Music, dancing, instruments and fun are in his “Be Kind” show. 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. Lower level meeting room. 1409 Williams. Children.

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Part of the Jayhawk Collegiate League, the team is made up of seven teams in South Central Kansas. They play at Al Burns field, Veterans Memorial Park, and home games are free! Check their site for their schedule greatbendbatcats.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

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2023 GREAT RACE ROUTE

120 cars from all over the world will be driving from St. Augustine, FL to Colorado Springs, Colo. They will stop in Great Bend and meet at Brit Spaugh Park at noon. FREE event, family-friendly atmosphere. check it out on facebook greatrace.com

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1 2 3 ANDRE CONCERT

Latin Grammy-winning music duo performs in Spanish and English. Their songs will get the whole family dancing and learning. 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. Lower level meeting room. 1409 Williams. Children.

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ELSENPETER MARIONETTES PRESENT SLEEPING BEAUTY

The 2-foot-tall, hand carved, wooden dolls become living charaters with definite personalities. This program will delight all. 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. Lower level meeting room. 1409 Williams. All ages.

JULY

GREAT BEND CITY FIREWORKS DISPLAY

Great Bend Expo Complex. Gates open at 7:30 p.m. Begin at dusk: 9:45-10:00 p.m. Bring your lawn chair or blanket. www.facebook.com/ExploreGreatBend

CH HIT & RUN PITC s and girls ages 7 to 14 Boys w off theeir abilities n this free show e programm. Hosted by the Grea national p at and Optimist Club. 5:30-7:0 Bend Rec 00 p. p m. m ports C Complex GB Sp

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

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

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Hoisington Recreation Commission: https://hoisingtonrec.com

Ellinwood Recreation Commission: https://ellinwoodrec.com

Ellinwood City Fireworks DisplayJuly 4

BARTON COUNTY FAIR Great Bend Expo Complex. A family event featuring 4-H exhibits, livestock judging, exhibits,entertainment, fair fun and more. www.bartoncountyfair.com

50th Annual After Harvest Festival Fun on the Brick Streets in Ellinwood celebrating the harvest, family and friends. This year’s theme is “AHF - Back on the Bricks - 50th Celebration.” Facebook at Ellinwood After Harvest Festival

Softball and Baseball Tournaments in July at Great Bend Sports Complex.

For online auction and for more information visit www.one.bidpal.net/clarabarton or call the Foundation office at 620-292-0814. Your generosity provides important funding needed to administer the highest quality of medical care to Clara Barton patients.

Take your medicine correctly to ensure good health

One major threat to your health is not taking prescribed medicines correctly.

If you don’t, you’re not alone. The Centers for Disease Control has identified it as a major problem. They estimate that people not taking their medications as directed causes 30 to 50 percent of chronic disease treatment failures and 125,000 deaths per year.

PRESCRIPTION STATISTICS

How bad is it? The CDC says that 20 to 30 percent of new prescriptions are never filled at the pharmacy. Half the time, medication is not taken as prescribed. Most people who are prescribed medicine for chronic diseases end up taking less than prescribed after six months or stop the medication all together. Only half of patients who take medications for high blood pressure continue taking their medication during long-term treatment.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says that not taking your medicine at the right time, in the right dose, in the right way and at the correct frequency can cause a disease to get worse and lead to hospitalization or even death.

There are many reasons people don’t take medicine correctly from not being able to afford the medication to experiencing unpleasant side effects to forgetfulness to mixing up different medicine regimens to feeling like their medications aren’t working.

TIPS TO STAY ON TRACK

The FDA has some recommendations for how to adhere to your medication regimen:

Take your medication at the same time every day. Connect your medication to another routine such as brushing your teeth or getting ready for bed.

Create a medicine calendar and write down every time you take medication and what dose you took.

Use a pill container with separate compartments for times of days and days of the week. Refill your pill container at the same time every week. Purchase timer caps for your pill bottles that will activate an alarm when your next dose is due.

Bring extra doses of medication when you are traveling in case you are delayed. When flying, keep all medication in your carry-on bag so they don’t get lost and the temperature in the cargo hold doesn’t damage them.

OTHER WARNINGS

Falling off track isn’t the only thing that can threaten your health. The pharmaceutical company Pfizer warns that it is important to talk to your doctor about why you need each drug, how to take it, how to store it and whether it can interact with anything such as alcohol.

They also warn against taking medication for any symptom other than what it was prescribed for, taking someone else’s medication or giving your medication to someone else or taking more or less of a medication than what your health care professional directed.

Talk to your pharmacist about whether your pharmacy offers a medication synchronization service that lets you refill all your prescriptions at the same time to get a more accurate supply and stay on track better.

A fun day at your local park can easily lead to emergency room visit.

More than 200,000 children are rushed to the hospital annually with playground-related injuries, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In some cases, these mishaps are nothing more than sprains, bruises or scrapes. In others, however, kids suffer concussions, broken bones and traumatic injuries to the brain. The CDC estimates that there are about 20,000 of those injuries each year.

WHERE INJURIES HAPPEN

Danger may lurk there, but it doesn’t mean we should avoid the local playground. Instead, understand where and how these mishaps occur so you can head them off. Roughly two-thirds of brain injuries, for instance, involve monkey bars, swings and climbing equipment. In fact, more injuries of all types happen around this equipment than elsewhere at public playgrounds. Talk to kids about these dangers, and pay close attention when they’re playing in this area.

Safety

THE PERFECT SPOT

Kids are sometimes injured because of inadequate cushioning around places where they may jump or inadvertently fall. Maintenance issues and poor design can play a role, too. Inspect any equipment before letting kids play, since well-maintained parks pose less risk. Rust and disrepair leads to lots of poor health care outcomes, too. Look for parks that have installed soft material in places where kids may fall, like mulch, wood chips or sand. The National Program for Playground Safety has come up with a catchy acronym to describe a perfect park experience: S.A.F.E., which stands for Supervision, Age appropriate design, Fall surface cushioning, and Equipment safety.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

Make sure kids are dressed for the part, meaning no necklaces, drawstrings or scarves that might get caught in equipment. Pay close attention to age suggestions at the park to make sure kids are playing in areas where they’re meant to be. Be aware of trip hazards like limbs, rocks or stumps – and point them out to children. Check that guardrails are in good working condition, and look for sharp points or edges. But most of all, simply pay attention. Younger children require active supervision,

so don’t think of a trip to the park as an opportunity to scroll through your phone. Remind kids of the playground

rules, be prepared to mediate any disagreements and make sure they take plenty of water breaks.

Planning for financial emergency

Disaster can strike anytime, so make sure you’re ready

Making the right financial choices beforehand can help lower your stress, limit disruption and smooth the way forward.

Whether you’ve experienced one of this era’s more powerful storms, an unexpected family crisis or sudden issue with employment or health, follow these simple planning strategies to limit the impact:

EMERGENCY FUNDS

The weather can turn, leading to high winds, flood or fire. Economies are no different, as we’ve seen with the 2008 banking crisis and the 2020 pandemic. Sudden changes with these outside forces can have a huge personal impact, in particular if you don’t have a reserve of needed funds to rely upon. Protect yourself from these unplanned hardships by saving money to help bridge financial gaps when emergencies happen. How much will depend on you or your family’s particular needs, but bank officials and financial planners typically recommend that you keep enough cash saved to take care of between three and six months worth of bills.

CLOSE EVALUATION

There are several financial markers that illustrate how prepared you are to navigate through any sudden issues. Monitor levels of general savings, as well as income, investments and debts. If there is obvious room to improve, begin by creating a budget that balances what you make against what you owe. Make smart cuts early, before disaster strikes, in order to create an emergency fund. Those choices are far easier to make when you’re not dealing with a pressing crisis.

ORGANIZE DOCUMENTS

When disaster strikes, you’ll have to gather a series of critical documents in order to make insurance claims. You’ll also need access to government documents like passports, and your living will. If this paperwork is tucked away in different places all over your home, it may be difficult to find under trying conditions. Place it all in a fireand water-safe lockbox or in a safetydeposit box, along with cherished heirlooms and other collectibles.

INSURANCE CONSIDERATIONS

Do deep dive into your insurance before you have to file a claim. This crucial umbrella of protection is an essential part of emergency planning, but may also come with certain

conditions or limitations. Know what your policy covers and does not cover before it’s needed. Righting the financial ship after an emergency

may be far more difficult if you don’t have the right kind of insurance, or the right amount. For instance, disability coverage may be required.

Pet Foods The Best

You may not end up with the cheapest options, but you’ll be helping your pet live a longer, healthier life through better nutrition. And isn’t that the most important part of all?

WHAT’S INSIDE

The Association of Animal Feed Control Officials has a series of specific rules when it comes to pet-food ingredients. Those labeled with “chicken” must contain at least 95 percent chicken. If two ingredients are named, the first ingredient must be in a higher percentage and together the two listed ingredients must result in 95 percent of the product by weight. Products with less than 95 percent of their labeled content must also include a descriptive term – like “liver dinner” or “liver entree” – and contain at least 25 percent of the listed ingredient. At the same time, pet foods that have the word “with” in the title are required to include at least 3 percent of that ingredient. Finally, “flavor” in the food branding requires a sufficient amount that the taste of the ingredient may be detected, but you should remember that there is no specific percentage requirement.

GOING ALL NATURAL

A good rule of thumb is to look for pet food that’s been labeled “natural.” These labels aren’t just for marketing purposes. In fact the Association of Animal Feed Control Officials sets rigid standards for those labels, too. Only ingredients derived from plants, animals or mined sources may be used in order to earn this designation. They also don’t have often-used chemical or synthetic ingredients like preservatives, artificial flavors and coloring.

SMALL PRINT

Many pet foods are loaded with by products and meal, both of which aren’t necessarily healthy for pets. By products are typically the matter that remains after animals are processed for human consumption, including their organs. Meal is dried protein solids created from carcasses that have been rendered. Both are often added simply to help increase the protein levels in food.

Look for labels that include phrases like “complete and balanced,” which means they can be served on a daily basis. Others with usage recommendations like “supplemental” or “intermittent” should be thought of as occasional treats, and make up 10 percent of less of a pet’s daily caloric intake.

Careful label reading will help guide you away from things they shouldn’t eat.

Mark Newton Ellinwood High School

Did you know you always wanted to be a teacher?

A. No, not until I was in college. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do specifically, other than be involved in music. College allowed me to understand that teaching music would be the direction I should go. I have really enjoyed sharing my love of all things MUSIC with students over the years, as well as expanding their horizons, both in music and life, in general.

What classes do you teach?

A. I’m currently teaching Band, 5-12 as my retirement job. Previously, I was in school administration at all levels.

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

A. I do my best to inspire students by keeping expectations high. I am constantly reinforcing and working towards them. I also do my best to model these said expectations.

What are your pastimes outside of school?

A. Spending time with my family. I enjoy playing and listening to music. I also enjoy mountain biking.

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

A. “Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a well preserved body, but rather, to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming ‘Wow! What a Ride!’”

— Hunter S Thompson

Backyard Upgrades on a Budget

Is your backyard due for an update? Sometimes simple landscaping or a new entertainment area will completely change your yard’s appearance.

When you feel uncomfortable making the upgrades, simply search your local area for competitive prices from numerous landscaping businesses. With their help and some creativity, you can create an outdoor paradise just outside your door.

When searching for a company to expertly renovate your outdoor living space, be sure to research their professional profile. Ask them about their experience based on a particular project and inquire about before and after photos they might have in a portfolio. Ensuring you find the right expert for the job is crucial to receiving the desired results.

ENTERTAINMENT AREA ON A BUDGET

If outdoor entertaining is your passion, you probably have numerous pieces of equipment like a barbecue grill, pellet smoker and patio set. Consider keeping them in one area by building a perimeter of pavers for your gear and fill in the middle with mulch or a weed-killing area rug. If you have space and electrical capabilities, enhance the space by installing a television in the gathering area. Use weatherproof covers to encapsulate the screen and seal other essential components from rain.

PLANT PERENNIALS

Perennials are flowers that return each year with attractive blossoms and pleasant scents. Save money by investing in these unique plants and creating beds

y scents. Save money by in around your property. perennia continue to pay off.

Each year, as your perennials begin to sprout, your investment will

For the best resu instructions duri

For the best results, pay close attention to the planting instructions during the initial process and find out how to protect them during the winter. Many should be cut back and covered with mulch.

BACKYARD ACCENTS

You likely incorporate your interior design with accent items to tie the room together. Your backyard should be no different as it benefits from minor aesthetics that provide significant results. Consider laying stepping stones throughout flower beds or solar lights to highlight a desolate part of the yard.

You accent item should be no pro stepp light

Great Bend Tribune, March 13, 1908

How Great Bend became the county seat in ‘72; Zarah also had strong pretensions, and the Santa Fe Railway Co. didn’t want either town.

A few days ago a Great Bend man who happened to be on the site of Old fort Zarah wile sitting on a rock, idly flicking the dust at the base of the stone with a whip dislodged an old ring. It was large enough for a man to wear and was doubtless the property of one of the soldiers stationed at the fort or of one of the inhabitants of the town of Zarah, which flourished on the site of the fort a few years after it was abandoned by the government. And this same town once had pretensions of becoming a city and was a larger town than Great Bend for a time. It

H o w G r e a t B e n d How Great Bend b e c a m e c o u n t y S e a t became county Seat

was by a trick,of the Great Bend company and by which Jos. Waters, then attorney for the Santa Fe, and one of the best lawyers in Kansas, was bested that Great Bend attained prominence and

Zarah disintegrated.

In 1871, the Santa Fe railroad was building through Kansas and had been granted a right-of-way. They owned each alternate section o and along the right-of-

way and were establishing their own towns. A party of men in Quincy, Ill., decided to establish a town somewhere in this part of the state and coming to Salina hired G.N. Moses and John Tilton, who were then scouts and buffalo hunters, to take them to this part of Kansas ahead of where the railroad had already been built. They came overland through Ellsworth and stopping one night on the Walnut Creek, near the Killam place decided that the present townsite was about the right place and it was by the suggestion of Jim Bickerdyke of Civil War fame, the town was named Great Bend because of the big bend in the Arkansas River at this point. The then came on and laid out the townsite and each one of the guides took a claim adjoining the townsite

1300 Blk Main St. in 1909.

COURTESY PHOTO of santafetrailresearch.com Fort Zarah Painting.

At about the same time Tite Buckbee had filed on the section on which old Fort Zarah stood and buildings had been brought in from Ellsworth. By the time there were two or three buildings up in Great Bend, Zarah had a restaurant, a livery barn, two stores and half dozen saloons. That fall the county was organized and George Berry appointed commissioner. In the first election held, W.H. Odell was elected county clerk, G.N. Moses, sheriff and John Cook, Jim Halsey and Mr. Lusk county commissioners. This constituted a Great Bend crown but they were afraid at the time to hold an election for a county seat as Zarah had about 100 inhabitants and there were not half that many people here. Before spring of the next year, however, a colony of Illinoisians, among them the Schnecks and Freys arrived and G.N. suggested that the election be recalled at once and bonds for a courthouse be voted for. This was done and Great Bend carried things by a good majority. By this time the railroad was through the county and settlers were coming in, but not in large numbers.

When the bonds were voted for the courthouse, the Santa Fe through its attorney, Joseph Waters, got an injunction against the commissioners issuing the bonds and Mr. Waters came out to have the same served. The Great Benders had wind of his coming and sheriff Moses sent everyone of his deputies out of town and hid out himself, and Mr. Waters spent the most of the day waiting around town for an officer to show up. In the meantime county Clerk Odell had sent word to the commissioners and the man McDonald, who had the contract to build the courthouse and they met on the prairie north of town and went to some place on the townsite, held a hurried meeting, issued the bonds, attached the official seal and hustled McDonald off to Ellinwood where he took the train for Emporia and sold the bonds to Plumb & Soden.

The next day the sheriff and his deputies came into town and when Wat4ers tried to get his injunction served, he found the work had already been done and the bonds sold. The Santa Fe had practically all the taxes to pay as the settlers had five year to pay for their land and it was for this reason they were against the building of the courthouse. But they were outwitted and the construction of the courthouse at once started. By doing this the matter of county seat fights between Zarah and Great Bend was settled and several hundred thousand dollars saved the people of the county. The towns were only three miles apart. A part of the Zarah colony moved to Great Bend after this settled and some went to ellinwood, title Buckbee, the founder of the town being a month the latter. The buildings were moved to the two towns. The office of the Barton County Flour Mills co., opposite the Morrison hotel in one of the Zarah buildings which was moved to Great Bend.

The Santa Fe Officials, or rather a part of them were in the habit of organizing their own towns and consequently did not do much in the early days to help the fellows who not only beat them in organizing a town but who also compelled the road to bear the largest part of the taxes of the county for several years.

BRIEFLY ....

Willis Winstead was the second elected sheriff of Barton County. According to Will Stokes, Winstead was one of the most efficient and courageous peace officers on the frontier. Three fearless desperados came to town boasting that they wwre going to get Winstead. The sheriff entered the saloon kept by Wakefield and Smith, in a one-story frame building that stood on the southwest corner of the public square. The three desperados were lined up at the bar, their guns on the bar in front of them. Upon seeing Winstead enter one of them snatching up his gun fired, the bullet grazing Winstead’s head and lodged in the door jamb. Simultaneously with the shot, Winstead’s gun barked an echo, and the bad man when down with a bullet square between his eyes. The other two threw up their hands and the Sheriff marched them off to jail.

Barton County Court House in 1912.

Barton County Mills in 1908.

WhyBY DALE HOGG dhogg@gbtribune.com

For Joyce Link, the reason for living in the small, Western Barton County community of Pawnee Rock is a simple one.

“Why I love Pawnee Rock and this part of Kansas? It’s small and rural, yet friendly and connected. She is from Missouri and her husband was from Chase, and after marrying, they moved to Pawnee Rock in 1976.

When they first moved here, her husband joined the Volunteer Fire Department, and she and a couple other ladies decided to as well and they volunteered for 43 years. Her husband was on the city council for a time, they co-owned a gas station in town, and belonged to the Christian

Pawnee Rock and this part of Kansas

Church.

Link worked at the school in Pawnee Rock as a custodian and then head custodian for 23 years. She and her husband helped organize and participated in something called “Pawnee Rockin’ Days” for many years, and Joyce is currently serving on the City Council.

As for why they stay, “It’s home. I love my neighbors and having a small community,” she said.

And, she said, there are some exciting things happening there.

JANET FLESKE Great Bend Tribune

Pawnee Rock champion works as a paraprofessional at Larned High School.

This includes community events, fund raising efforts and beautification projects to support the “‘community’ and bring more folks and businesses back to or into our friendly, small town atmosphere.”

She ran through a list of these efforts:

• They have a city wide clean-up effort this month and had a group of sixthgrade kids from Larned help deliver flyers about it all over town.

• They have ordered and will be erecting a new Pavilion by the end of May, thanks to individuals, family and foundation donations, fund raising events, and support from Barton County commissioners.

They will be planning a grand opening shortly thereafter.

• They have a group of volunteers from CUNA Mutual Group (soon rebranding to “TruStage”) coming to help with some landscaping, painting and cleaning for a “Community Impact Day.”

• They are planning their first

Annual Hard Rock 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run in July – raising more funds for playground equipment and continued beautification of the city park.

• And finally, “we are thinking about how we can bring back some of the things from the ‘Pawnee Rockin’ Days’ of old like a car show, and other events to bring our neighbors out and about into the community.”

Beyond this, she works as a paraprofessional with special needs kids with in the Larned school system.

Link has one son, living nearby, four grandchildren (living in Larned, Pawnee Rock, Derby and Maize) and eight great -grandkids.

Before her husband died in a farming accident in 2011, they enjoyed tractor pulling events and fishing. Now she enjoys her community involvement and her kids, grandkids and great-grandkids. She is also looking forward to the park improvement to have places to enjoy and celebrate with her neighbors and family.

We have a group of volunteers living in and around the community working with our mayor, city clerks, City Council and county officials to revive the town and bring it back to what it used to be,

— Joyce Link said.

Get the right care, in the right place.

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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

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