PAWNEE COUNTY PROGRESS 2015
Special to the Great Bend Tribune Sunday, Jan. 25, 2015
Fort Larned celebrates 50-year milestone
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ORT LARNED — As the best preserved Indian Wars military post on the Santa Fe Trail, Fort Larned National Historic Site is one of our Nation’s most compelling places to tell of the turbulent 1860s as different cultures clashed over control of the American west. For the Plains Indians, it is a story of fighting for homelands in the face of overwhelming numbers and superior weapons. For the military, it is a tale of Indian relations, some peaceful and others that weren’t. Traders, immigrants and other
travelers on the Santa Fe Trail added their cultural exchanges as they traveled to settle new lands, or to simply profit from trade goods. Fort Larned’s 2014 seemed to busier than ever with events and activities ranging from school field trips to celebrating Smokey Bear’s 70th birthday! The most significant event this year had to do with a 50- year celebration. In 2014 Fort Larned celebrated a 50-year milestone at the Labor Day event. The fort became the first designated park in Kansas
to be admitted into the National Park Service in 1964. Hundreds of visitors enjoyed hearing talks on the fort’s history as a military post, working ranch, as well as the extensive restoration work done by the Park Service over the last 50 years. The Old Guard provided a free lunch at noon, immediately following the raising of a 20-by-36 foot garrison flag with help from military color guards from nearby Fort Riley and McConnell Air Force Base. The 1st Infantry Regimental Band See FORT, 10
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• GREAT BEND KAN. TRIBUNE • SUNDAY, JANUARY 25, 2015
Chamber director celebrates 2014 progress BY JIM MISUNAS jmisunas@gbtribune.com
LARNED — Lauren Long has worked 18 months as Larned’s Area Chamber of Commerce director and Pawnee County’s Economic Development director. Long worked as a research Vista for Re-Engage Omaha, Neb. Metropolitan Community College in Omaha hosts Re-Engage Omaha, an AmeriCorps Vista grant funded project that seeks to alleviate poverty through education as well as community and economic development. Long developed a leadership program for the Sandhills Resource Conversation and Development that addressed the professional needs of several Nebraska counties. The native of Springfield, Neb. graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a degree in psychology in 2012. The Tribune conducted a questionand-answer session with Long: Q: What are the major accomplishments so far? A: “The most recent accomplishments in the past few months are: • E-Community Status ($90,000 for the use of marketing and entrepreneurial loans); • Taco Bell (expected to open, May 2015); • Rozel Fitness Center (expected to open, spring/summer 2015); • Rediscover Pluto Miniature Golf Course (selected as a pilot project for Kanstarter, completion date, spring/ summer 2015).” Q: What has been some of your highlights? A: “An ongoing highlight is the evolution of the Larned Area Chamber of Commerce and Pawnee County Economic Development. Each month we continue to broaden our reach to state organizations, tourists, community members and businesses. As a result, we are accomplishing more projects and engaging unfamiliar voices in order to improve the quality of life in Pawnee County.” Q: How important has been getting the housing project under way for Larned and Pawnee County? A: “Housing is an important component in any community. Our community understands we must embrace the expansion of infrastructure in order to
Lauren Long, Larned’s Area Chamber of Commerce director and Pawnee County Economic Development director sustain and grow Pawnee County. “This notion can be seen in the Prairie Vista housing project, Pawnee Valley Community Hospital, the recruitment of Taco Bell, the USD 495 school bond issue, and other quality of life projects (e.g. fitness centers, parks).” Q: What have been some of the challenges the Chamber has faced? A: “Communication and marketing. A question we are constantly asking ourselves is, “Are we successfully reaching our target population?” This pertains to everything — events, open forums, policy changes. When you are marketing your community (whether for events or new residents/tourists/businesses), you cross your fingers and hope you are reaching the interested parties. Luckily, our community is open-minded to implementing various marketing strategies. But, we are always wonder if we are successfully communicating with the public. “Unfortunately with advertising, those numbers are difficult to track.
That setback has not hindered our efforts, though. In the last year, we have updated our newsletter, added social media pages, and redesigned our website. These will build a foundation for the future marketing strategy the Larned Area Chamber of Commerce is planning to implement in this upcoming year.” Q: Has Larned getting certified as an E Community had some benefits yet? A: “Yes. Like the previously awarded E-Communities, we will have the ability to financially support entrepreneurs through loans and additional resources. This year, NetWork Kansas has implemented a facilitator component to compliment the funding. “For the next year, we will participate in a program called Community E-Accelerator. Leon Atwell of Advancing Rural Prosperity will facilitate our E-Community Team in the process of identifying and initiating a entrepreneurship strategy. This strategy will focus on the development of an action
plan that will target a particular entrepreneurial group (e.g. transition businesses, start-ups, expansions).” Q: What can we learn from the volunteers in Burdett working on the mini-golf course project? A: “This is a great example of how a community expanded their network in order to accomplish a goal. Like many rural communities, we are constantly faced with the question, “How are we going to fund (fill in the blank)?” “As a result, potentially rewarding projects go to the wayside. “The Kansas Sampler Foundation understood this issue, hence the development of Kanstarter. This crowd-sourcing website challenged us to outline and promote a project beyond the traditional notion of community (i.e. county lines, city limits, main street). This is a lesson that not only communities can better understand, but businesses and individuals, too. How are we embracing technology in order to accomplish our goals?”
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Ag Systems specializes in irrigation design, service LARNED — Ag Systems, 810 E. 14th and U.S. 56, was purchased by the Schoonover brothers in 1983. Don Schoonover and Kent Schoonover have worked in irrigation design and service since 1977. The service department of five, factory-trained technicians has more than 100 years of combined experience. They service and stock parts for all brand pivots covering an area from Dodge City to Great Bend and Hays to Pratt. Valley Center Pivots are celebrating 50 plus years of service and are committing all their future years in conserving water with the newest innovations in sprinkler packages, oil moisture monitoring and computerized panels. To better serve their customers, Valley Center Pivot Dealer, Ag Systems, Inc. of Larned, is now providing
insurance services for all brands of irrigation equipment. Don Schoonover is licensed by the state of Kansas to write policies and adjust claims through Diversified Agrisurance. Diversified Agrisurance has been in business more than 30 years and is the
largest single insurer of irrigation equipment. You can get replacement cost coverage on all pivots up to 24 years of age and limited coverage on pivots 25-29 years of age. Many policies only cover the depreciated value of a pivot; however, this plan will insure complete re-
placement, up to the value insured, if the need arises. This is a multi-risk plan, which covers damage from wind, tornado, hail, fire, lightning, and theft. Added coverage that most other companies do not insure for include, vandalism, flood, rodent damage, and collision with farm
implements. Diversified Agrisurance also has a very unique feature available, the mechanical and electrical endorsement. This endorsement will pay for sudden and/or accidental structural loss or damage caused by or resulting from a mechanical or electrical failure. Some
companies only cover the part that caused the damage, but not the resulting damage. Competitive rates with deductible as low as $500 per occurrence (not per pivot) are available. Feel free to stop in or call Ag Systems, Inc. 620-2852111. If you are an Agrisurance policyholder, all you need to do is fill out and sign a form to transfer your policy to Ag Systems, Inc. Services at Ag Systems include a well stocked parts department carrying MC Crometer flow meters, galvanized chemical check valves, pivotal monitors, and monthly specials. Ag Systems is committed to offering the best Service, Parts and Design for years to come for all your irrigation needs. Contact them at 620-285-2111 for service or parts, or visit their new website at http://agsystems. valleydealers.com.
Larned Auto Parts JIM MISUNAS Great Bend Tribune
Larned Auto Parts, 211 W. 4th Street in Larned offers parts and service for cars, trucks, tractors and industrial vehicles. Larned Auto Parts is open from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays.
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• GREAT BEND KAN. TRIBUNE • SUNDAY, JANUARY 25, 2015
Santa Fe Trail Museum houses history LARNED — The Santa Fe Trail Center Museum and Research Library is a regional museum dedicated to the historic Santa Fe Trail and the settlement era of central Kansas. Located on 10 acres, the museum complex consists of the main museum, four historic structures, three reproduction homes, and two large exhibition buildings that house antique agricultural implements and automobiles. The Trail Center’s collections include 15,000 three-dimensional objects, 6,000 historic photographs, and a large archival collection. The archival documents at the museum include historic Pawnee County records such as marriage licenses, election records, school records, court cases, and personal property tax records. In addition, the Trail Center houses archival documents about local businesses and organizations, Pawnee County events, family history files, and much more. The library and archives are open to the public. Researchers interested in using the available resources are advised to call ahead and make an appointment to ensure someone is available to help. The Santa Fe Trail began in 1821 when Mexico gained independence from Spain, opening up trade opportunities for American and Mexican merchants. Freight wagons pulled by oxen and long trains of pack mules transported goods up and down the trail until 1880, when the railroad neared Santa Fe. Exhibits in the main museum depict the story of the trail and the people who traveled on it. As the era of the historic trade route was ending a new one was beginning; settlement of the Plains. Pioneers from the East established homes, farms and large ranches along the ruts of the old trail. In addition to exhibits in
JIM MISUNAS Great Bend Tribune
The rich history of Larned and Pawnee County comes to life at the Santa Fe Trail Center and Research Library west of Larned on U.S. 156. Various exhibits about the Santa Fe Trail and its history are displayed during the year.
the main building that illustrate what life was like on the plains in the early 1900s, there is a sod house, dugout home and, mini log cabin on the grounds of the Trail Center. Historic structures include a 1910 railroad depot, 1906 church, 1880’s limestone cooling house, and early
1900s one-room schoolhouse. Other exhibits in the main museum include a full-sized mounted buffalo, Wichita Indian grass lodge, and numerous Native American artifacts. These exhibits tell the story of the Plains Indians who inhabited this region before the
arrival of the white man. Two large exhibition
buildings —the Dale and Melba Woods Farm
Museum and the Dale and Melba Woods Automobile Museum—house a large collection of antique agricultural equipment and automobiles. Each year the museum holds many successful events that appeal to a broad range of people. Some of the many fun events scheduled in 2015 at the Santa Fe Trail Center include the traveling exhibit “Imprinting the West: Manifest Destiny, Real and Imagined,” April 6 to May 25, Family Fun Kite Fly in May, Sawdust Doll Making workshop in June, Sizzlin’ Summer Shindig in August, the Santa Fe Trail Tired Iron Show in October, and more. The museum offers facility rentals for meetings, workshops, and parties. A digital projector and screen are available for use. In addition, the historic Johnson Street Escue Chapel is available for church services and weddings. Admission to the museum is $4 for adults, $2.50 for ages 12-18, $1.50 for ages 6-11, and free for children age 5 and under. Docents are available to give tours to school groups, provided they are booked in advance. Admission for organized school tours is half price. Members of the museum are free. The Santa Fe Trail Center is located two miles west of Larned on K-156. Hours of operation are Tuesday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For information on the museum, upcoming events or a facility rental please call 620/285-2054, email museum@santafetrailcenter.org or check our website at www.santafetrailcenter.org.
Comfort Pro merger
620-285-6914 M&F Plumbing in Larned has been in business since 1950. Comfort Pro started in 2008. Comfort Pro owner Barry Stalcup purchased M&F on Dec. 1, 2014. Comfort Pro will continue to work from the Larned location, 117 W 5th, and the Great Bend location, 1020 Frey. Slatcup will move the Great Bend location in 2015 to a 23,000 square-foot shop located at 503 Williams.
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GREAT BEND (KAN.) TRIBUNE • SUNDAY, JANUARY 25, 2015 •
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Larned marketing Prairie Vista housing BY JIM MISUNAS jmisunas@gbtribune.com
LARNED — The city of Larned has begun top market the newly-named Prairie Vista housing project. “Having the Prairie Vista name really helps because now we have an identity to market,” said Charles Spina, the city of Larned’s first-ever assistant housing administrator. “We’re open for business.” Anyone with questions can contact Spina at 620285-8500 or 285-8519. Spina resigned his First Ward council spot to accept the responsibility of overseeing the housing project. “The name should reflect the best that the city of Larned has to offer,” said Spina, who has been marketing the duplex units through various methods. “This is a city project that everybody has invested in. It’s a way of bringing in new people to reside in the city.” Road signs off K-156 and Morris will help market Prairie Vista. Local cable channel 20 also features Prairie Vista images. “The signage will be a reminder for people traveling back and forth what we have to offer,” he said. The 3-bedroom rental
JIM MISUNAS Great Bend Tribune
Prairie Vista is the name of the Larned housing project that features 10 duplexes and 20 housing units available for rental. Charles Spina serves as the city’s assistant housing administrator. For information, contact Spina at 620-285-8500 or 620-285-8519.
duplexes with single car garages occupy 1,200 square feet per unit. The estimated value of the duplexes is more than $130,000. They are targeted to rent for $875 a month. Interested parties can view the duplexes anytime. Spina has contacted major employers Pawnee Valley Community Hospital
and Larned State Hospital to make their businesses aware of the duplexes. “These duplexes are really nice. The city council added a few amenities. The safe rooms are a really nice for every apartment.” A recent ribbon-cutting marked the home stretch of a $3.2 million housing project that has built 10 du-
plexes and 20 rental spots at K-156 and Morris. “The city council wanted more housing to be available, but we also wanted to invest in the city of Larned,” Spina said. “They are owned by the city outright.” Larned city manager Lane Massey said the city accepted most of the financial risk. The city owns
the property and develops road, sewer and water infrastructure. The city has 20 additional acres to purchase for future development. Future development is likely to be rewarded with some city-based incentives. The final touch has been exterior landscaping. The city will handle all street maintenance and landscap-
ing. “The landscaping really finishes the neighborhood,” Spina said. “We’ll add some shrubs and trees.” City manager Massey, and city staff members Austin Battin; Alan Taylor, street superintendent, Frieda Smith, code enforcement, and their crews have invested time in the project. Larned used a $400,000 grant from the Kansas Housing Resources Commission to help with infrastructure and development. The Kansas Housing Resources Corporation is a self-supporting, public corporation which serves as the primary administrator of federal housing programs on behalf of the state of Kansas. Leawood’s Overland Property Group, LLC, served as the Prairie Vista developer. Overland Park’s Property Group’s 40 developments feature more than 2,000 units and $250 million of affordable and market-rate apartments. Matt Gillam, Overland Property Group, said Larned officials accepted all of the risk by issuing a $2.5 million bond to cover construction costs that the city hopes to recoup once the duplexes are rented.
Doerr’s Ace Hardware store features Clark-Kensington LARNED — Doerr’s Ace Hardware Ace Store, 602 Broadway, enjoys being part of a paint product that illustrates the company’s rich history. The company explains the naming of ClarkKensington paint.. “What’s in a name? “Our Clark-Kensington paint says it all. “Clark Street is where Richard Hesse, the president
of Ace from 1929-1973, had his first store. “Kensington Court, where the main offices are located, represents the universe of all Ace retailers. It evokes not only the proud legacy of our past, but also the bright potential of our future. “We have decades of paint know how. “But we’re not old-fashioned and tired.
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resonated with consumers was a combination of two names. “They said that it sounded like a designer brand — fashionable, yet respectable and trustworthy. It was a name that reflected what people know and love about Ace — our core competencies.” Doerr’s phone number is 620-285-2171.
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olden Valley, Inc. is a farmer owned grain and supply cooperative formed December 1, 2001 by the consolidation of Golden Plains Cooperative of Rozel and Sanford, Farmers Coop Grain and Supply of Burdett and Tri-Ag Coop of Sanford. Located in Pawnee County, Kansas, Golden Valley handles wheat, corn, milo and soybeans at three locations with approximately 4.5 million bushels of combined grain storage. Our full service Crop Production Department in Sanford provides a full range of agronomy services including custom application of dry and liquid fertilizer and chemicals, soil testing, wholesale and retail sales of fertilizer and chemicals, application equipment rental, custom blending and NH3 outlets at Rozel, Burdett and Sanford. The Petroleum Department offers cardtrol pumps at all three locations and a bulk fuel delivery truck for on site deliveries. The Service Department, located in Rozel, provides a variety of services and products for farm and automotive needs. Golden Valley can replace or repair tires either in our shop or in the field with our on farm tire truck. At the Burdett location, Golden Valley operates a full service feed mill, a seed cleaner and a farm store offering a selection of hardware and farm supplies. Main office located at 102 South Main, Rozel, KS
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• GREAT BEND KAN. TRIBUNE • SUNDAY, JANUARY 25, 2015
Eakin Enterprises, Inc. celebrating 65 years LARNED — Eakin Enterprises, Inc. in Larned is proud to celebrate its 65th year in business in 2015. Currently owned and operated by Chad Eakin, the business was founded in 1950 by Wanda and Willis Eakin, Chad’s grandparents. Before moving to Larned, the Eakins leased a sandpit in Dodge City. They purchased a concrete plant in Larned in 1957 which was located just east of the train depot. That plant was later moved to the current location onehalf mile west of Larned on U.S. 56. The business was run by Willis and Wanda with the help of their two young sons Wendell (Chad’s father) and Nolan. While in high school Chad helped the business and started his own construction business. In 2001 an additional concrete plant was put into operation in Great Bend, and in 2004 the Hays Ready Mix location was opened. The remainder of the Larned business was purchased by Chad from remaining family members in 2006.
COURTESY PHOTO
The Telebelt belt conveyor pours a concrete base at the Larned elevators. The Telebelt is designed to place high volumes of materials easily — concrete, gravel, rock, backfill and sand.
Currently, the three locations employee 45 people. The main office for the business is located at 111 Main in Larned.
Eakin Enterprises, Inc. covers a very large area with a variety of services including sand and gravel, dirtwork, concrete con-
struction, ready-mixed concrete, and construction rental equipment. “Customer service is very important to us and going
that extra mile for our customers makes a huge difference,� Chad Eakin said. Also available is the Telebelt, a truck- mounted tele-
scopic belt conveyor ideal for a variety of applications including foundations, decks, backfilling, mat pours, slabs, and footings. The Telebelt is designed to place high volumes of materials easily- concrete, gravel, rock, backfill, sand and more. New to the Eakin fleet this year is an Alliance 37Z Concrete pump truck with a horizontal reach of 106 feet. The new pump will compliment the Teleblet and will be able to pump concrete over and around buildings or houses into a back yard or into a building through a doorway if needed. Currently the Telebelt places materials for contractors in all of Central and Western Kansas including parts of Oklahoma, Colorado, and Nebraska. Eakin’s web site address is www.eakinenterprises. com. Eakin also features a Facebook page (https:// www.facebook.com/eakinenterprises) that feature some of their work. For information, call Eakin Enterprises, Inc., 620-2852097.
Larned Rec enjoying a basketball renaissance LARNED — The Larned Recreation Commission conducts organized basketball games for youngsters in third through sixth grades at the Larned Community Center. The leagues compete in January and February. But Larned Recreation Director Mike Seeman really enjoys the fundamentals of teaching basketball to 50-plus youngsters who are enrolled in kindergarten through second grades. The clinics on Saturday teaches the youngsters the basic fundamentals of basketball from coaches and volunteers. Informa-
tion about the clinics are passed out through the schools systems. “I really enjoy the introductory level — teaching ballhandling and shooting and the basic rules of the game,� Seeman said. “It’s 50 kids on one floor — it’s organized chaos. But it’s really entertaining.� Organized leagues are formed for third and fourth-grade girls and boys and fifth and sixthgrade boys and girls. Siblings are placed on the same team and youngsters from the Pawnee Heights school district are kept together. Six to 10 players are placed on each team.
The recreational leagues feature teams from Kinsley and Macksville and the teams compete in each town. There are four third and fourth-grade girls teams, five fifth and sixthgrade girls teams and five third and fourth and five fifth and sixth-grade boys teams. Larned has 18 girls competing in the fifth and sixth-grade division, a record number. “We’ve worked with
the Kinsley and Macksville districts with soccer and basketball to give the teams some competition,� Seeman said. Seeman’s biggest task is signing up volunteer coaches. Teams typically practice once or twice a week, but gym space and time is always limited. Larned Community Center practices are limited to half of the court. “The Larned Communi-
ty Center is an extremely busy place and practice space is a premium,� Seeman said. “Basketball is definitely one of the most popular sports.� Seeman said several youngters play on recreational teams and also play in Mid-America Youth Basketball sponsored tournaments. “The more kids playing basketball, the better they will learn the game,�
Seeman said. “It’s always a good thing if the youngsters can learn the fundamentals and the rules before they start junior high basketball. There are players who play both rec league and MAYB tournament and some do who do one or the other.� For information, call the Larned Recreation Commission, 620-2856002; or email larnedrec@ sbcglobal.net.
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Commission proud of accomplishments BY JIM MISUNAS jmisunas@gbtribune.com
LARNED — Thanks to the success of Pawnee Valley Community Hospital, the Pawnee County commissioners are on schedule for a optimistic 2015. The hospital delivered profit in excess of $1 million over the past calendar year. Pawnee County has three elected commissioners who meet at 9 a.m. on Mondays. Commissioners are Gary Caplinger, First District, 620-2853416; Donna Pelton, Second District, 620-285-6586; Kathy Bowman, Third District 620285-2530. Bowman is starting her 26th year with the Pawnee County board of commissioners. Pelton, appointed as chair, has served 22 years and Caplinger
is a newly elected commissioner. The most recent certified population figures show Larned has 4,046 residents and Pawnee County has 6,919 residents. Financing and overseeing Pawnee Valley Community Hospital has been the commissioners’ primary financial responsibility in recent years. “Keeping Pawnee Valley Community Hospital is my No. 1 accomplishment,� Bowman said. “At one time, we felt like we’d lose healthcare and have nothing here. It was quite a battle. We had to provide leadership. I was glad I wasn’t afraid to speak up.� Pelton concurred with Bowman. “These past few years the hospital has been our No. 1 priority,� Pelton said. “Any-
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thing that would’ve stopped its growth or productivity would’ve been a bad thing. There was a fight and I’m glad we won that battle. Our citizens are ecstatic with their hospital.� Pelton said she has learned a lot and enjoyed her time serving Pawnee County. “This has made me appreciate anyone in a role of public service. It’s made me a better citizen,� she said. “I’ve enjoyed getting to know more than I knew 22 years ago. I’ve enjoyed visiting with people.� Bowman and Pelton form a two-person welcoming committee to commission meetings. “I enjoy working with the people of Pawnee County,� Bowman said. “If you are open to the public, you want to welcome them. We’re approachable and we’ll listen.�
The commissioners are responsible for overseeing a $14 million dollar budget that features 80 to 90 full-time and part-time employees. “With the way the situation is, we’re better off than the state of Kansas,� Bowman said. “We worry about the state (funding) level right now. It’s a concern. The more they take away, the less we will get. Somehow, we may have to pick up more services.� Pelton said citizens may have to learn to live without some state services. “One of my biggest concerns is to live in a place where our citizens are not taxed more than what they can bear,� she said. “I don’t want them taxing people more in property and income taxes to get things we may not need.�
Pawnee County department heads are Carl Miller, appraiser; John M. Settle, Pawnee County attorney; Ruth M. Searight, clerk; Kay Schartz, clerk of the district court; Kurt Demel, highway administrator; Robin Rhiza, interim health administrator; Delores Wren, register of deeds; Scott King, sheriff; Kathy Jadwin, treasurer; Mark Wagner, emergency preparedness and zoning; and Rod Wheaton, solid waste supervisor. Bowman and Pelton said the commission is proud of the improvements at Camp Pawnee, which was started by the local Larned Pride Committee. Bowman said once the Larned Pride Committee got things rolling, it was easy to approve improvements, which were accomplished with community support.
Celebrating Home offers opportunities LARNED — Debora Fox-Johnson of Larned joined Celebrating Home as a director/fundraising specialist in 2002. Celebrating Home has grown to be the biggest party-plan house decoration business in the U.S. Celebrating Home markets home decorating and entertaining products and fashion accessories. “I love to help groups, organizations, individuals, or anyone that needs to earn extra money with our fundraiser programs,� Fox-Johnson said. “A 40 to 50 percent profit can be earned.� Celebrating Home sponsors a monthly “Girl’s Afternoon Out,� paddle party/cash and carry sale. Get in touch if you would like to be notified about local events. Starting in 2015, FoxJohnson will feature new
“Look Booksâ€? every two months featuring pottery, jewelry, totes and home dĂŠcor. You can make 50 percent instant cash and designer dollars by sharing new “Look
Books� with family and friends making it flexible to work around your family and work schedules. There are no quotas, territories or deliveries.
“We offer great opportunities for our hostesses to earn free products,� Fox-Johnson said. “We have monthly customer and hostess specials. We have treasure chest clearance sales updated twice a week online.� Celebrating Home offers part-time and full-time opportunities to designers across the continental United States and Puerto Rico! “You can earn extra income for your family budget, plus free products and free incentive trips,� Fox-Johnson said. “I recently returned from a five-day Caribbean cruise incentive trip.� For a free information packet, contact Debora Fox-Johnson at 620285-9686; or access her website — http://www. celebratinghome.com/ sites/SHOPWITHDEBORA/PWSHome.aspx.
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• GREAT BEND KAN. TRIBUNE • SUNDAY, JANUARY 25, 2015
MOVING FORWARD
Pawnee Valley, administrator look to bright future LARNED — John Hughes, Pawnee Valley Community Hospital’s new hospital administrator, joined the team at PVCH Jan. 5, 2015. Hughes, originally from North Carolina, has worked most recently at Ellinwood District Hospital and has 19 years of experience in healthcare. His management style focuses on creating a team oriented organization that specializes in providing quality healthcare to meet the needs of the communities that they serve. “I have been overwhelmed by the amount of support we have for this hospital from the community,� said Hughes. “Pawnee Valley Community Hospital is a healthcare gem in Kansas and we have so much to offer. We have some of the top — bar none — healthcare professionals in the state. With the high standards expected by the community, it really brings a tremendous accountability to this position, and I am thrilled to be able to be a part of this great healthcare team.� With the arrival of Hughes, healthcare services being offered continue to expand and evolve as Pawnee Valley Community Hospital forges ahead in 2015 to meet the healthcare needs of their patients. “Pawnee Valley Community Hospital’s mission is to become the best critical access hospital in rural America,� Hughes said. “This mission is not taken lightly and PVCH is raising the bar by providing exceptional healthcare and services to the communities and patients that they serve.� Along with serving the community as a 25-bed Medicare certified critical access hospital with acute nursing, swing bed services and emergency care, Pawnee Valley Community Hospital offers a number of outpatient services including but not limited to up-
JIM MISUNAS Great Bend Tribune
Above, Pawnee Valley Community Hospital administrator John Hughes joins Linda Henderson, Pawnee Valley marketing director, during a Chamber of Commerce coffee hour recently. Left, Pawnee Valley Community Hospital has added CT scanning and MRI services at the Pat Young Imaging Center.
per and lower GI Scopes, cataract surgery, PICC Line placement, dental surgery and specialized nursing services. Pawnee Valley Community Hospital is designated as a Level IV Trauma Center by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. Level IV Trauma Centers are rural hospitals whose primary role is to stabilize seriously injured patients and, if necessary,
transfer them to a high level trauma center. Hospitals that have achieved Level IV Trauma Center designation have demonstrated a commitment to providing optimal care for those who have been seriously injured. This is one component of a comprehensive statewide trauma system designed to get patients with life-threatening injuries to a hospital with the necessary resources available.
The Pat Young Imaging Center has continued to expand their services since the new hospital opened it’s doors. The first major addition was the GE 64-slice low dose CT Scanner followed by the state-of-art Nuclear Camera which is used for cardiac nuclear stress testing and nuclear medicine testing. The imaging center also features X-ray, ultra sound, digital mammography, and Dexascan bone
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Manual differentials are a beneficial service to the oncology patients in our area. During the lab’s last CLIA Survey, they once again received zero citations for the second year in a row. CLIA is an bi-annual survey performed by Kansas Department of Health and Environment. Pawnee Valley Community Hospital’s Respiratory Department offers therapy services for patients with lung disorders, including asthma, emphysema and other lung illnesses, patients suffering from COPD, emergency respiratory services, or for patients recovering from
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density scans. The newest addition to the imaging center, unveiled in December 2014, was a new GE Optima Wide Bore — Short Tube MRI. This MRI can now offer a better patient experience during their exam while also providing upgraded technology, a wide bore — short tube to lessen the claustrophobic reaction, increased safety features and better imaging. Pawnee Valley Community Hospital has upgraded to a high complexity lab which now allows the hospital to do blood banking and manual differentials in addition to normal lab testing.
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PVCH, from page 8 heart attack who require cardiopulmonary rehab. These services are administered using cutting edge equipment and technology guided by fully trained and licensed respiratory therapists. Cardiac Rehab Services offered at PVCH include cardiac nuclear stress testing, cardiopulmonary exercise training, stateof-the-art wireless patient monitoring system, and education and counseling to reduce further cardiac risks. Pawnee Valley Community Hospital’s Sleep and Diagnostic Center, following inspection by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM), has been recommended for full accreditation. The AASM accreditation is the gold standard by which the medical community and the public can evaluate sleep medicine services. The Standards for Accreditation ensure that sleep medicine providers display and maintain proficiency in areas such as testing procedures and policies, patient safety and follow-up, and physician and staff training. Dr. Son Troung oversees the Sleep and Diagnostic Center at Pawnee Valley Community Hospital. He is board certified in critical care, sleep medicine, internal medicine and pulmonary
The Road To Pawnee Valley It was in June 2009, that the citizens of Pawnee County were informed by Catholic Health Initiatives, owner of St. Joseph Memorial Hospital, that they would be closing the critical access facility in September. This meant that not only would there no longer be a hospital in Pawnee County, but the critical access license would be lost forever. The community’s response was to rally and fight for what was rightfully theirs. It was then that the Community Health Organization filed a civil lawsuit on behalf of Pawnee County to preserve the hospital’s Critical Access designation. Pawnee County settled the lawsuit with CHI and CKMC agreeing to transfer hospital ownership back to the citizens of Pawnee County. Pawnee County voters also overwhelmingly approved a one percent sales tax increase which was earmarked for healthcare in Pawnee County. As a part of the settlement agreement with CHI the County purchased the hospital building and equipment from CHI and CKMC. A five year management agreement was made with Hays Medical Center March 1, 2010, to manage the hospital’s operations on behalf of the citizens of Pawnee County. On March 1, 2010, the closing date of the transfer, St. Joseph Memorial Hospital officially became Pawnee Valley Community Hospital, Inc. Since the Saint Joseph building could no longer effectively serve the needs of the community, the citizens of Pawnee County broke ground for a replacement hospital on September 25, 2011, and the new hospital was completed in April 2013. Over 1,200 people attended the hospital’s Open House on April 28, 2013. The following day patients were moved into the new healthcare facility. On that same day Pawnee Valley Community Hospital experienced its highest number of admissions in one day.
diseases. Patients can have their sleep studies done throughout the month at PVCH and then receive their follow up with Dr. Troung during his monthly clinic at PVCH. On the second Thursday of each month PVCH’s Sleep & Diagnostic Center hosts a sleep apnea awareness clinic featuring guest speakers who provide information relating to sleep apnea while also answering patient questions about sleep disorders and breathing difficulties. Pawnee Valley Community Hospital’s Physical Therapy and Advance Rehabilitation department offers three kinds of reha-
bilitation — occupational therapy, physical therapy and speech therapy. All three departments are conveniently located in one location with specialized therapists staffing each department. New to their program is Lymphedema Therapy. Lymphedema most commonly follows a surgical procedure in which there has been removal of or damage to the lymph nodes or vessels which causes swelling of a body part (face, neck, trunk, genitals, arms, legs, etc.). PVCH provides the most up-to-date treatment available called Complete Decongestive Therapy (CDT) which includes
Manual Lymph Drainage (MLD), compression therapy, exercises, skin and nail care and instructions on self care. PVCH offers a number of educational outreach programs including their new Diabetic Solutions Classes designed to give people with diabetes the tools and knowledge needed to better manage their disease. The two-day class is held the first and second Tuesday of every other month from 8:45 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and it is not required that you do the consecutive classes in the same month. The class covers diabetes information, healthy eating - meal planning and carb counting, being active (exercise), monitoring your blood sugars, diabetes medications, problem solving, reducing risks (complications), healthy coping. The class does require a physician referral to enroll. A community health fair is hosted in partnership with First State Bank and the Pawnee County Health Department in both the spring and fall. Along with information on health services, the health fair offers lab testing at reduced rates and flu shots. PVCH sponsors the annual Fun Run/Walk event to benefit the student athletes of Larned High
School by funding equipment used to support the athletic performance of these student athletes. The Pawnee Valley Community Hospital Auxiliary, over 80 members strong, is an invaluable asset to the hospital. Their volunteers host the hospital’s information desk, coordinate the sixth-grade health fair,
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• GREAT BEND KAN. TRIBUNE • SUNDAY, JANUARY 25, 2015
FORT, from page 1 from Fort Riley entertained visitors in the afternoon with various songs commemorating the Army story. They also played military marches as volunteers in period uniforms lowered the garrison flag at the end of the day in the traditional Army flag lowering ceremony known as Retreat While the winter months are usually a quiet time, spring always brings the fort to life with events such as the annual meeting of the fort’s friends’ group, The Fort Larned Old Guard, in April, called the Mess and Muster. April and May are busy months for school field trips as well. The annual Kansas Kids Fitness Day at Fort Larned took place in May. Almost 300 third graders enjoyed perfect weather while learning about the fort and playing different fitness games around the buildings and on the parade ground. Fort Larned features one of the best volunteer programs in the Midwest. Last year, volunteers contributed 10,326 hours of volunteer time at the fort, with the majority of that time, 8,000 hours, helping provide interpretive programs for the visitors. Another 1,600 hours were contributed to maintenance assistance from mowing to helping with restoration of the buildings. The remaining volunteer time went to help with administrative functions. One of the big events at the fort was the completion of the new pedestrian bridge and parking lot on the west side of the fort in August. This bridge replaces the
vehicle bridge on the north side of the historic buildings, and is located very close to the location of the original Army bridge. The fort’s summer season got into full swing with the Memorial Day Weekend living history event. The Fort Larned Heritage Garden, worked by staff and volunteers, added an aesthetic view of the back of the North Officer’s Quarters. Several gardens provided the enlisted men with fresh food during the operating years of the fort. Fort Larned National Historic Site hosted the First Colorado Volunteer re-enactment group who helped provide military programs such as infantry and artillery demonstrations for the visitors. In June, the fort hosted a Youth Photography Workshop which included instruction from a professional photographer. The workshop was made possible through the Golden Belt Community Grant Program and the Fort Larned Old Guard. Participants spent several hours on park grounds using their photo capturing skills after some time spent in a classroom setting. The Fourth of July event showcased the best photographs of each participant in the Youth Photography Workshop. This year most of the activities planned were for children: painting, natural dyes, relays, seed art, and dressing up in soldiers’ uniforms. The popular Candlelight Tour was back this year in October and many park volunteers helped with the event. The theme was civilian support on frontier military posts. Most Army
COURTESY PHOTO
Living quarters from Fort Larned’s 1860s are depicted at Fort Larned National Historic Site.
posts had a variety of civilian workers to help the military carry out the daily post activities. The scenes played out to highlight the work of such people as carpenters, blacksmiths, laundresses, teamsters, scouts, guides, clerks, servants, school teachers, and hospital matrons. All of these workers contributed to the smooth running of the post, allowing the Army to concentrate on their job of providing protection to travelers along the Santa Fe Trail. Fort Larned’s Christmas event had a new offering in 2014 — pictures with Santa! Families brought their children for a free photo with Santa in a historic setting. About 40 children saw Santa at the event. There was more Christmas music of the 1800s this year and more visitors overall.
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