Progress Commerce 2023

Be Our Guest training up and going Penner named 2022 Frontline Employee of the Year

BY DALE HOGG dhogg@gbtribune.com

Christina Hayes, Great Bend community coordinator and Convention and Visitors Bureau director, was almost giddy as she gave her report to the City Council at Tuesday night’s council meeting. She had good news about the CVB’s new initiative to improve customer service for the community’s front-line employees.

“The Be Our Guest Academy is officially open,” she said. “I’m so excited about this program. I’m so excited

about what’s happening.” This dates back to last summer. A Colorado couple was inspired by Hayes’ visit to the Denver Travel Show and wanted to visit the area to go bird watching.

But, they met with a blank stare when they asked for information from their hotel clerk here.

“I’ve mentioned a couple of times, we have a big issue in Great Band with people saying ‘we don’t know where to go. There’s nothing to do,’” she said. “That is a rip to the heart when we’re working so hard and we’re giving up our

weekends to go promote Great Bend.”

This inspired Be Our Guest, a joint online customer service training project with Barton Community College. Hayes calls it the CVB’s capstone program and had hoped to roll it out in January.

But now, “you can officially register through our website at beourguestinGBks.com,” she said.

This training is paid for by the CVB, and it’s easy because businesses can sign up all their employees that would work on the frontline. This includes anybody

Bed tax numbers strong in 22

Great Bend Convention and Visitors Bureau Director had some good news for the City Council Tuesday night. In her annual report, she noted the transient guest tax, or bed tax, made a strong showing in 2022.

“It was the highest ever recorded in

who deals with the public, such as medical receptionists, gas station clerks and hotel clerks. It is free and all online, Hayes said. If done in one setting it would take about three hours to complete, but participants have three months to finish. “It’s really quick and easy,” she said.

A star example

“I have special guests here tonight,” she said. When those birders from Colorado came to town, these folks “helped us do some damage control.” She introduced Larami Klein, city administrative assistant, and Amanda Gaddis, CVB visitor services representative, who helped the couple

2022,” she said. All of this money goes to fund the CVB with 1% funding the Events Center. The revenue was $27,000 more in 2022 than it was in 2021, she said. “We had more events, more invites for groups and weddings, and all of that.”

and helped create this program. She also introduced Linda Penner with the Kansas Wetlands Education Center who went above and beyond to offer assistance.

“She helped make Great Bend shine, not the time that those birders were in town, but every other time helping visitors get to where they needed and to explore new things.”

With this program, they started a Frontline Employee of the Year Award. Hayes presented that to Penner for 2022.

“Linda has provided customer service that is out of this world, not only for Great Bend but our entire county,” Hayes said. “She retired this

ON THE FRONT COVER

past winter, but we want her to know that she’s so appreciated in Great Bend.” Penner helps travelers passing through and also goes along with Hayes and her staff to trade shows to help promote the area. “She’s the best of the absolute best.” She was getting ready to leave with Hayes Wednesday morning to a trade show in Omaha, Neb., and will be gone through Sunday. “I want to thank everybody,” said Penner. “What a nice surprise. But I’m so eager to represent the City of Great Bend. “It’s always so much fun to represent this area and really push tourism and try to get people to our area.”

PHOTO BY DALE HOGG GREAT BEND TRIBUNE

Great Bend Mayor Cody Schmidt, center, presents the 2022 Frontline Employee of the Year Award to Linda Penner, who works at the Kansas Wetlands Education Center, during the City Council meeting this past Tuesday night. Also pictured from left to right are: Larami Klein, city administrative assistant; Christina Hayes, city community coordinator and Convention and Visitors Bureau director; Amanda Gaddis, CVB visitor services representative; and Curtis Wolf, director of the KWEC.

Planting the seeds of entrepreneurship

Eco Devo programs helping grow local businesses

BY DALE HOGG dhogg@gbtribune.com

Being smack in the middle of the nation’s breadbasket, Barton County residents are used to growing products to meet the world’s appetite.

But, said Great Bend Economic Development Inc. President Sara Arnberger, what if that same mentality and innovation could be applied to growing new business leaders as well – planting the seeds of entrepreneurship, if you will?

“Entrepreneurship is paramount to the growth and success of a rural community,” Arnberger said. “By championing and supporting entrepreneurship, we are ‘growing our own’ so to speak. With local entrepreneur growth, those individuals will always have a better understanding of the local market needs and a greater passion to succeed because they have ownership in the area - they call it home.”

To this end, GBED has two initiatives in the works – its IGNITE Rural Business competition and the Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge.

IGNITE Arnberger likens the IGNITE program to the TV program Shark Tank, where start-up business owners pitch their ideas to a group of investors. GBED launched this effort last November.

The idea is that one entrepreneur will win

$50,000 to open/start a business in Barton County.

A total of $95,000 will be given away at the end of the IGNITE Rural Business competition, including $50,000 to the grand finale winner in October of 2023.

Second place will be awarded $30,000 and third place gets $10,000, according Arnberger. Those following along the journey of the competition will vote online for the People’s Choice Award and award a business with $5,000.

New inventions/ businesses are encouraged to apply as well as startups. This competition exists to empower, support, and cultivate entrepreneurs.

“Here in Barton County, we strive to champion creativity and innovative thinking and complement a project or idea with the tools, resources, and investment necessary to see it thrive,” she said. “We aim for this competition to be the first of many efforts to continue that mission in a positive and impactful way.”

The competition provides participants with the opportunity for exposure of their business and assistance from local business professionals, as well as substantial prize money for three businesses. The Ignite committee is partnering with NetworkKansas and the Small Business Development Center. NetworkKansas has facilitated the use of Venture Dash as the contestant portal. Venture Dash allows contestants to submit materials and track their progress. NetworkKansas and the SBDC also connect contestants to mentors and assistance with their business plans.

For more information and local inspiration, GBED has interviewed some of Barton County’s entrepreneurs and posted those videos on its YouTube Channel, as well as @GBEDinc on TikTok.

In round one, all competitors submit the necessary materials through

the Venture Dash platform. The link to the portal is on the GBED website, gbedinc. com.

Applications may be submitted until June 30.

In round two, the competition pool is narrowed. Businesses will be selected to engage in a one-on-one meeting with a business planning professional. To have viable businesses in the next round, each contestant will be paired with a local business mentor. Contestants will have a final Q&A with the Ignite team before the final five contestants are chosen for the live Ignite Finale event in October.

The live Ignite Rural Business competition finale on Oct. 5, will have participants pitching to a jury in front of a live audience at the Crest Theater in Great Bend. Then, the Ignite jury will conduct a Q&A session following every pitch. Composed of experts from the private and/or public sectors with relevant business experience, the jury will base their decisions on innovation, creativity, long-term business strategy, and viability.

For more information about being a sponsor of the live event or becoming a business mentor, contact GBED staff at marketing@ gbedinc.com or call 620796-2407.

Starting young

There is also the other end of the spectrum, Arnberger said. GBED is planning the thirdannual Barton County Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge. Students in grades 7-12 in Barton County could submit a business idea or concept through last Wednesday in the hopes of taking home cash.

“This competition, sponsored along with the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce, was created to challenge our youth, encourage our business community to partner with and mentor our younger generations, and foster an entrepreneurial spirit,” she said. It is also a partnership with NetWork Kansas.

NetWork Kansas holds regional and state Youth Entrepreneurship Challenges as part of its mission in developing entrepreneurship ecosystems throughout Kansas. The partnership

with NetWork Kansas allows YEC contestants the use of Venture Dash.

GBED and the chamber partner on this competition since they both work on strengthening the area’s workforce for the business community, and in this case, that means nurturing the next generation, she said.

This competition and live trade show will take place at the Great Bend Events Center on March 8.

All participants will share their ideas with the public. Students will also make formal four-minute presentations to the judges. The judging panel is made up of a wide array of business professionals.

The public is invited and encouraged to attend this event to cheer on our student competitors and show their support for the next generation of business ideas. Students learn about writing an executive statement and what is important to share in their four-minute presentation, but they are also learning some of the soft skills that will help them navigate life in the workforce. A great side effect of this competition is the student competitors gain experience with professional networking with judges, mentors, and the community, as well as building social capital.

After the trade-show portion of the event, the winners will be announced. There is $2,500 in prize money to be divided among the top competitors. Third place will receive $500, second place will receive $750, and first place will receive $1,000 and the opportunity to continue on to the state level competition. Audience members will have a chance to vote for their favorite and award one competitor $250.

For more information, contact GBED staff at marketing@gbedinc.com or call 620-796-2407.

Welcome to Spectrum CPA Partners LLC

When the partners sat down to decide on a name for our new venture, we didn’t want to just string our last names together. Instead, we wanted to convey our wide range of accounting services.

The word “spectrum” caught our attention. The result was the opening of Spectrum CPA Partners LLC on Oct. 1, 2016, at 1400 Polk, Great Bend.

Spectrum describes the full gamut of services and “partners” refers to our clients – not partners in the firm.

From the beginning, we have differentiated ourselves. We have a deep range of experience and knowledge. But we are not so big that we lose the personal touch. This means clients may call the office and talk with a real person, not a recording.

You are not just passed to person after person. When new clients come to us, this is what they are looking for. They also feel free to email or stop by.

Spectrum serves a mix of private businesses, nonprofit organizations and individuals with accounting and income-tax services throughout Kansas and in other states. Currently, the smallest business is a one-person venture and the largest has 48 employees. We have the capability of serving even bigger businesses. But many of our clients are small companies with one to 10 employees.

Spectrum is the result of the merger between Holste & Bowers LLC, an accounting firm that opened in Great Bend in 2008, and Ray A. Cheely Chartered, a longtime local accounting firm.

We would like to say our successful merger was the result of only good planning. But there was some luck involved. The merger went more smoothly than we could ever have imagined.

When we talk with other people about their mergers, we often hear that our experience is a rarity. All the pieces came together because this is an amazing group of people. They are caring, helpful and willing to learn.

All of this makes a huge difference.

Current employees are: Barry Bowers, CPA and partner; Cynthia Lockwood, accountant/partner; Sheri Yager, Rick Warnken, John Lane, Tammy Curtis, Todd Stephenson, and Ally

Stocker, all staff accountants; Kayla Wimmer, CPA; and Joni Haines, receptionist. Everyone here is a central Kansas resident; many were born and raised here. Individually, we serve on many civic and non-profit boards; as an office, we deliver Meals on Wheels and sponsor Operation Christmas Child. We are always talking about ways to become even more involved in the community. Spectrum’s service menu includes: payroll services; QuickBooks training; business consulting and planning; bookkeeping; income-tax services; investment tax planning; financial and estate planning; and human resources consulting. But we are always creating new services to help you succeed. If you need help

with something that isn’t on the list, please don’t hesitate to ask.

The firm also keeps on top of ever-changing technology. The learning curve is huge but it is exciting to be part of finding ways to make life a little easier for our clients.

One example of making life easier is called Build Your Own Bookkeeper (BYOB), which is an all-inclusive solution that offers relief from day-to-day accounting hassles, while providing 24/7 access to financial data.

With the BYOB system, we pay your bills, record deposits, prepare payroll

and payroll tax returns, furnish financial statements, produce W-2s, prepare tax returns and offer advice throughout the year. You define your needs and we assess how BYOB can be integrated.

These are important services, especially for a business that reaches a point that there is no time for the basics of bookkeeping.

All of us here want to help local and area businesses. After all, Great Bend is home. If we can help small businesses be more successful, the local economy grows and more people are working.

TRIBUNE PHOTO

Judges review the exhibit of a Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge during last year’s event The YEC is an initiative to help grow new businesses in Barton County.

Great Bend Cycle offers more than motorcycles

Longtime business keeps the tradition alive

BY DALE HOGG dhogg@gbtribune.com

Motorcycles have always been a force in Ted King’s life. Perhaps that is what has driven him to keep his longtime dealership at the corner of 10th and Williams open for 44 years.

“I discovered motorcycles way before girls,” King quipped.

Like all businesses, the times have forced him to adapt and change, but he plans to keep the doors open as long as possible. “I’m not going anywhere,” he said.

The road to here

“My first motorcycle was some type of a scooter with a Kohler engine and a belt drive with no transmission,” he recalled. “Helping my dad get it up and running showed me that patience was more important than getting mad and upset.”

“I rode that until I moved up to a Yamaha 80,” he said. “I spent most of my time and money at Stokers BSA (Birmingham Small Arms Company, a former British motorbike manufacturer) in Jackson, Mich. In my junior year of high school I moved up to a ‘real’ motorcycle – A 250 BSA Scrambler. I still have that motorcycle, along with all but a couple of motorcycles I have owned.”

King has road raced and drag raced bikes and has raced the Bonneville Salt Flats Motorcycle

Speed Trials in Utah. He and his wife Sharon met when he was in the military in North Dakota. They married and graduated from college there.

After a couple teaching gigs, he and his wife moved to Ellinwood in about 1977. “I opened a Moto Guzzi dealership and was also teaching school there.”

“I closed the Guzzi business and came to Great Bend Honda in June of 1979,” he said. Great Bend Honda was formed in February of 1979 when Buttons Honda changed hands.

“In 1979, Great Bend had four motorcycle dealers – Honda, Yamaha, a Kawasaki/Suzuki and Harley Davidson,” King said.

Time to adapt

Then came a process of attrition.

The Kawasaki/Suzuki dealership closed in the early 1980s and King picked up Kawasaki. In the mid to late 80s the Yamaha dealership closed, and shortly after that, the Harley dealer closed as well.

King operated Great Bend Honda/Kawasaki for about 35 years. Then things changed.

“In late 2013 Honda Motor Corporation, gave me the ‘opportunity’ to find a larger facility,” he said, adding this would have meant relocating and/or building a new dealership. “I chose not to make that kind of

investment.”

The longtime business is now known as Great Bend Cycle. “We are strictly parts, accessories and service. We do no unit sales,” he said.

“When we parted ways with Honda and Kawasaki there were two Honda/Kawasaki dealerships in Wichita,” King said. One of them also carried Moto Guzzi. The other one also carried Yamaha and Suzuki and KTM.

“I went to both of their closing auctions to pick up equipment and tools for here,” he said. The larger of the two dealerships had their auction in November of 2018.

“When I am asked why don’t I retire, I reply, why go home to do my wife’s stuff, when I can be here,” King joked. “Besides, she is here on the weekends. She and her quilting group have taken over part of the building.”

A new supplier to better serve Harley Davidson motorcycles has been added.

With the continued loss of dealers and repair shops in the western half of Kansas, they are serving customers out to Goodland, Smith Center, Pratt and Sublett.

The business is located at 2111 10th St. in Great Bend. It is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays, but they are available 24-7 by phone or text at 620-7922301.

DALE HOGG Great Bend Tribune

Ted King sits atop one of the motorcycles in Great Bend Cycle this week. Although he no longer sells bikes, he does parts and repair work.

A full selection of tires is among the many types of parts offered by Ted King at Great Bend Cycle .

Barton County Facade Grants set for round two

Commission

success of first projects

touts

BY DALE HOGG dhogg@gbtribune.com

The Barton County Commission on Feb. 8 voted to build on the success of the county’s Facade Improvement Program by approving another $250,000 for a second round of grants. The program provides funds for downtown businesses in the county to spruce up their fronts as a means for economic development.

The first round was OKed in 2021 when the commission dedicated $630,000 to the project, County Administrator Matt Patzner said.

Under new guidelines, the grants still cover up to 75% of eligible project costs, with a maximum award of $20,000. But, a minimum of 50% must be for visual impact, and only 25% can go for windows and 25% for signage.

Also, the covered areas are more restricted. Businesses must be on a city’s main street or within a sight line of it.

For now, applications will be taken through March 15. But the commission will revisit this if there is a need to extend the deadline.

Grant recipients paid as of Dec. 31, 2022:

• Barnard Tire and Automotive –$7,238.05

• Cates Carquest – $20,000.00

• Concept Commercials, Inc. –$14,292.78

• Concept Commercials, Inc. –$20,000.00

• Dilly & Doc Creative Studio, LLC

– $7,662.28

• Dry Lake Brewing, LLC –$19,479.72

• Forest Avenue Antiques, LLC –$5,090.06

• Hoisington Community Development Company, Inc. –$16,581.76

• Jared and Adeline Chansler –$8,512.50

• Jimlo Glass Center, Inc. –$15,825.00

• JJJM Investments, LLC –$20,000.00

• Kent A. Roth – $6,663.24

• Kirmer Electric, LLC – $5,812.80

• Lumpy’s Home Field, LLC –$18,814.39

• Mayers Properties, LLC –$20,000.00

• Mi Tierra Restaurant and Bar –$17,692.55

• Miller’s of Claflin, Inc. –$17,039.24

• Miller’s of Claflin, Inc. –$4,062.23

• Miller’s of Claflin, Inc. –$17,595.71

• Moore Development Corporation – $19,753.80

• Murine Prosser – $5,215.61

• Musgrove Petroleum, LLC –$6,221.85

• My Town LP – $3,825.00

• SJLMJ LLC – $20,000.00

• The Beauty Bar Salon, LLC –$12,345.29

• Twisted Fusion – $19,666.57

• Two Chicks & Some Old Bird –$20,000.00

Of the original $630,000, cash on hand totals $260,609.57. Grant recipients whose projects were extended to June 30 include:

• AJN Investments, LLC –$20,000.00

• B&H Development LLC –$20,000.00

• Boots Wine Bar, LLC to High Noon LLC –

Businesses that have expressed an interest in the program are Millers of Claflin, three projects, and Crazy Beautiful. Those interested can contact the Barton County Administrator’s Office, 620-793-1800. Information is also available on the county’s website bartoncounty.org under the “Living in Barton County” and “Facade Improvement Grants” tabs.

The Beauty Bar, 1908 12th St., Great Bend.

Beugelsdijk Chiropractic, 1309 Williams, Great Bend.

Dry Lake Brewing, 1305 Main, Great Bend.

Loretta Miller’s Gallery, 2019 and 2021 Forest Ave., Great Bend.

MyTown continues its mission of downtown growth

When MyTown representatives reflect on the past year, they immediately recall what could have been a devastating event – the Jan. 19 fire in the Zarah Building at Lakin and Main.

“But we survived, thanks to the quick response of the Great Bend Fire Department and other entities,” said Mark Mingenback, executive board member. “Once we breathed a sigh of relief, it gave us the opportunity to find a way to turn lemons into lemonade.

“The result is a new downtown restaurant, which we had discussed for years.”

Dennis Crouse and Rick Riggs opened Tellers 1872 in November at 1919 Lakin Ave. They continue to own and operate RePerks, a coffee house/restaurant, also in the Zarah Building; its front entrance is at 1216 Main.

“Dennis and Rick are reporting a resounding success and are exceeding their expectations at Tellers 1872,” Mingenback said.

Mark Bitter, another MyTown executive board member, provided the design work for the new eatery.

“It was Mark’s vision to tie the décor into Great Bend’s 150th anniversary, which was last year,” Mingenback said. “Kudos also to the Barton County Historical Society for helping with photos and advertisements from that era.

“It is great to see real people in

First Kansas Bank

real ads from that time decorating the walls at Tellers.”

MyTown continues to work on the Zarah Building, where loft condos and apartments will be constructed on the upper floors.

“This is still in the early stages and we want to accommodate those who prefer to own and those who prefer to rent,” Mingenback commented.

MyTown has applied for a Kansas Department of Commerce grant to help with this project. “A state grant would go a long way to helping our downtown continue to grow,” Mingenback said.

QuicSpace

The newest addition in the Zarah Building is a 300-squarefoot room, named QuicSpace, which is available to rent for meetings, retreats, birthday parties, and bridal and baby showers.

Sheryl Cheely, executive board member, noted “there could be any number of good uses for this nice space. Let’s say a regional business manager came to town and needed a place to meet with the team. The group could gather at QuicSpace and have easy access to many amenities.”

First Kansas Bank, a family owned bank and locally managed, is located at 4001 10th St., Great Bend, KS and the lobby is currently open Monday - Friday 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., to contact this bank call 620-793-7005. First Kansas Bank was established as a Barton County State Bank before changing its name and adding more locations. It also has locations in Claflin, Hoisington, and Hays.

This past year First Kansas Bank has been involved in several organizations. Organizations and clubs such as Barton County Young Professionals, Kiwanis, Rotary, Barton County College Foundation Board, and more.

Recently First Kansas Bank sponsored a “Final Friday on Forest” in Fall of 2022. This year First Kansas Bank soon will have been in business for 122 years.

Sunflower Bank

Sunflower Bank located at 13 N Main St, Ellinwood, KS is currently open Monday - Friday 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., to contact this bank call 620-282-2010.

The room has a 55-inch, wall-mounted TV; WiFi; and a small office. The entrance is handicapped accessible.

“In addition,” Cheely noted, “there is convenient parking and you would be within easy walking distance of five restaurants and a microbrewery. You could also have a meal or snacks catered by these nearby establishments.” Capacity is about 15 people for a conference and a few more for a social event.

Past and future

Current businesses that owe their beginnings to MyTown are Hatchet Axtion; Gambino’s; Renue Salon, Spa & Fashion Boutique; Images by Emily Photography; RePerks; Tellers 1872; and Heart of Kansas Mercantile/Miss Pretty Pickles. Most of these businesses pay rent to MyTown, which is searching for a retail or service venture to fill 2,400 square feet on the first floor of the Zarah Building.

“Our mission always has been to populate downtown Great Bend with viable businesses,” Cheely emphasized. “We are happy to say that the vacancy rate

business, MyTown will help with the location, design and some remodeling,” she continued. “For example, Hatchet Axtion needed significant improvements and MyTown invested in new

In the community this past year Sunflower Bank has participated in “Stuff the Bus” and paying students for getting good grades.

“Stuff the Bus” is an event that allows the needs of Community Partners to be voiced to the community. Items needed are items necessary for the success of the community. Sunflower Bank has helped support this event.

Another way Sunflower Bank has been involved in the community is through paying students for good grades. This “Pay for A’s” event happens twice a year and being a member of the bank isn’t required. Students bring in their report cards and are entered into a drawing.

Six students from Ellinwood and six students from Great Bend are rewarded with $10 per ‘A’ they receive.

Equity Bank

Equity Bank has two Great Bend locations at 725 McKinley St. and 1321 Main St. and can be contacted at 620-793-4275 (McKinley St. ) or 620-793-5900 (Main St.). Their current lobby hours are 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Monday - Friday.

Equity Bank has taken initiative in their community. They

$2.5 million in private money. Virtually all funds have come from private resources, with the exception of an early loan from the city of Great Bend that was paid off long ago.

have made financial literacy a priority in their community by providing courses to the schools and senior centers, they are also involved with their Chamber of Commerce.

Equity Bank’s employees will be volunteering their time to help with the 2nd annual “Kick the Habit” kickball tournament scheduled for March 25th, and they will be volunteering at the upcoming Special Olympics.

Wilson State Bank

Wilson State Bank has served its community for over 130 years. Current lobby hours are 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. at 201 N. Main St., Hoisington, KS. You can call them at 620-653-4113.

Wilson State Bank is an active member of the Chamber of Commerce, sponsored the barbecue that takes place during Labor Day weekend this past year, sponsored the Clara Barton Golf Tournament, and supports other businesses in the community.

They have provided funds for Clara Barton expansion projects, the GPS kids club, and for Hoisington Recreation Center’s youth sport programs.

COURTESY PHOTO

Jess Sinn, left, and Braylin Bretz welcome customers to Tellers 1872, located at 1919 Lakin. MyTown was instrumental in opening the new downtown restaurant.

BY SUSAN THACKER sthacker@gbtribune.com

From siding replacement to patio repairs to brand new buildings, 65 residential building permits for projects estimated to cost $10,000 or more were filed in Great Bend in 2022. This does not include roofing projects.

The projects are listed here by parcel address, owner name, description and estimated project cost:

• 2201 26th St.; Roberts, Hilda J.; full bathroom remodel; $18,067

• 1414 Holland St.; Sullivan, John L Jr. and Ann M.; attached garage with lean-to; $42,000

• 2210 12th St.; Luse, Ida Marie Revocable Trust; replace siding and flooring and drywall on interior of home; $10,000

• 2818 Broadway Ave.; Smith, Perry M Revocable Trust; replace and repair portion of windows with pocket replacements; $49,643

• 1300 Patton Road; Nokleby, David B; remove and replace sidewalk and expand existing back patio; $12,588

• 5513 Broadway Ave.; Ney, Tammy L; install 16’ x 32’ swimming pool; $65,000

• 5217 Ridgeway Dr.; Palmer, Dennis J and Marlene M; build 20’ x 24’ detached garage and pour two new concrete patios; $28,000

• 1814 Riviera Dr.; Stiles, Roxanne; install 4-foot black iron fence; $11,000

• 2511 Forest Ave.; Warren, Christopher L; remove plaster and lathe throughout houseinstall sheetrock, remodel kitchen and bathroom; $60,000

• 321 College View Dr.;

Kuhlman, James H and Deborah L; build 36’ x 50’ shed; $55,000

• 2818 Broadway Ave.;

BY SUSAN THACKER sthacker@gbtribune.com

$12,000

• 2512 Gano St.; Thompson, Adeline J; build 6’ wood privacy fence; $10,791

• 2822 18th St.; Lang, Dean

A; build new detached garage; $60,000

• 216 Skyline Dr.; Hundley, Tom Jr. and Tamara Kaye; build home and shop;

$150,000

•28 SE 20 Road; Johnson, Steven C. and Bernie; build 24’ x 36’ detached garage; $40,000

• 706 Odell St.; Owings, Jeremy; house remodel: repair & replace siding, repair porch, repair/replace sheetrock throughout house, remodel bathroom; $10,000

• 903 Hickory St.; Monroe, Orville L and Jacquelyn B.; install vinyl log siding; $16,094

• 202 Bermuda Road; Johnson, Eric; build 30’ x 40’ detached garage; $50,000

• 2500 Rock Bridge Road; McManaman, Barry C and Cathie S; install 2 egress windows and window wells on west side of house; $12,000

• 1409 Tyler St.; Woodmansee, Michael R and Marissa J.; finish basement and install egress window;

$17,642

• 315 Point Dr.; Gant,

$30,000

• 4851 Camelot West; Mermis, Bryan and Ellen; master bath remodel; $40,000

• 331 Point Dr; Dykes, Luke D and Renee K; install 14’ x 20’ storage shed; $10,200

• 3632 Meadowlark Lane; Liston, Janet; Add garage in backyard; $22,000

• 2221 Cleveland St.; Dawes, Michael J and Dana M; remodel master bathroom; $12,000

• 2525 Dry Creek; Ralston, Kelby J; build 16’ x 16’ master bathroom addition with 36’ x 16’ covered patio; $25,000

• 2250 Prairie Rose Dr.; Sheldon, Kristin M and Brandi N; remove and replace siding; $22,169

• 2010 Lincoln St.; Ralston, Kelly W and Cheryl R; build 16’ x 30’ garage and install small section of new fencing; $22,000

• 2910 16th St. Stafford, Daniel and Lois pour driveway and patio; $10,000

• 2109 26th St.; Feil, Evonda L; install 6’ vinyl privacy fence; $12,000

• 816 Stone St.; Krug, Dale L and Jerys R; roof repairasphalt; $14,000

• 2521 Shawnee Dr.; King, Jeremy W. build 24’ x 24’ liv-

Katie B; interior renovation for owner occupancy $50,000

• 2514 11th St.; Maneth, David W; install new siding; $30,000

• 3015 24th St.; Goodenough, Mark A and Darcy J; pour 20’ x 33’ stamped patio, 25’ x 20’ patio and 16’ x 13’ pad with footing for future storage shed; $12,056

• 265 NE 30 Ave.; Tomlinson, Robert L and Debbie S; build 40’ x 36’ storage building $43,500

• 1305 Lincoln St.; Wells, Kenneth E; pour 35’ x 45’ x 5 slab for new garage and 35’ x 10’ x 6” driveway. Permit will be issued later for the building; $16,500

• 84 NE 25 Road; Herrman, Gerald J and Eileen M; build new residential building on lot; $190,000

• 155 U.S. 281; K & CS Enterprises LLC; build 40’ x 40’ building on property for storage & living; $217,000

• 1309 Baker Ave.; Weis, Betty L; build 12’ x 30’ detached garage; $16,000

• 6003 10th St.; Anspaugh, Todd L; convert commercial building to residential living space; $58,000

• 1619 Van Fleet Lane;

siding; $20,000

• 1113 9th St.; Al G and Patricia L Smith; demolition of house and foundation/ cleanup; $10,300

• 3223 Forest Ave.; Keith A and Juanita Reimer; new foundation (Crawl space)/ porches and stops; $36,538

• 1205 Taft St.; Anderson, Rollin J and Denise J; install fireplace addition/well for basement; $11,500

• 1205 Taft St.; Anderson, Rollin J and Denise J; install foundation for new fireplace; $11,210

• 1301 Monroe St.; Keeler, Scott; kitchen remodelcounters, cabinets, flooring; $20,000

• 704 Odell St.; Johnson, Lloyd and Emelia K; install new siding; $31,392

• 5935 16th St. Ter.; Burns, Logan T and Traci L; build 30’ x 30’ detached garage $40,000

• 1300 Patton Road; Nikleby, David B; build 6’ wood privacy fence around back yard $13,000

• 1410 Sheridan St.; Smith, Sandra S and Taylor; remove and replace 11 windows and wraps; $11,229

• 3105 Broadway Ave.; Rondeau, Mark A and

Michello O; remodel bathroom - remove tile on floors & walls, remove tub and install onyx shower base, install new drywall, paint and flooring; $12,000

• 2242 Canterbury Lane; Panuganti, Srinivasa Chari & Veerayyagari, Annapurna; build new single family home (3 bedroom, 3 1/2 bath, 3 car attached garage); $400,000

• 5540 Eisenhower Ave.; Wells, J & C Family Trust; build 6’ vinyl privacy fence; $10,115

• 4470 Prairie Rose Circle; McFarren, Troy E and Shelly D; build 18’ x 18’ pool house; $10,000

• 1901 Polk St.; Schmeidler, Dallas A; remove and replace windows;

commercial building permits, listed by parcel address, owner name, description and estimated cost:

• 514 Cleveland St.; University of Kansas Health System (UKHS); Interior Renovation; $460,000

• 625 10th St.; USD 428; Interior Renovation; $3,511,033

• 1121 Baker Ave.; City of Great Bend; New;

$5,777,185

• 2019 Lakin Ave.; Mayers Properties LLC; Exterior Renovation; $27,500

• 1309 Williams St.; SJLMJ LLC; Exterior Renovation; $135,000

• 36 NE 27 Ave.;

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• 1121 Baker Ave.; City of Great Bend; New; $486,263

• 1820 2nd St.; Sunflower

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GBHS students manage investment portfolios

BY SUSAN THACKER sthacker@gbtribune.com

For the seventh year, Great Bend High School students are learning about finances by managing their own stock portfolios using $100,000 in virtual money.

Once again, the district is working in partnership with Legacy Financial Solutions (formerly Hiss Sherman Wealth Management) to host an online investment challenge for students. There is one contest open to all GBHS students and one for district staff

Starting on Feb. 1, participants began with a $100,000 virtual portfolio to invest in stocks, bonds and mutual funds.

The competition runs for one month. The top three participants from each contest that have the highest account values at the market close on Wednesday, March 1, will win gift cards valued at $100, $50 and $25, respectively, sponsored by Legacy Financial Solutions.

This year, approximately 260

students and 35 staff are participating.

“The Legacy Financial Solutions competition at Great Bend High School gives students a chance to learn about the

stock market in a short term,” said instructor Robin Linsner. “This real-world competition gives students an idea of how their decisions in a short time frame can be

different from a long term – lifelong investment for their futures.

“During the course of the semester in the investing class, students are learning what

investing is and why they should start as soon as they can,” she continued.

“They learn what the difference is between saving and investing and how inflation rates

are affecting how much adults are able to either save or invest for their future retirements.

Students will learn what risk is, what its role is in investing, and analyze effective strategies to manage investment risk such as investing early, diversification, and dollar cost averaging.”

On top of understanding the importance of investing for retirement, students learn the different options available for this investing, Linsner said. These options include 401(k) plans, Roth IRAs, traditional IRAs, and pensions.

Once students have completed the monthlong competition, the investing students will then enter into a new contest, also sponsored by Legacy Financial Solutions, that will be over a longer two-month period. Students will choose a partner and work together to create the best portfolio they can by using the concepts taught in class through the semester and what they learned in the shortterm competition.

Barton Foundation gifts have lasting impact

BY SUSAN THACKER sthacker@gbtribune.com

Last year, the Barton Community College Foundation awarded 316 scholarships and funded 33 program and project grants, according to the 2022 Annual Report. That includes $100,000 in matching funds for the Welding Lab expansion.

In 2022, the Barton Community College Foundation launched two new giving societies – the Legacy Society and the Pioneer Society. – and added 11 new funds from new and old friends, according to Lindsey Bogner, director of Institutional Development.

“The Pioneer Society is a way for us to recognize the longest standing donors in the Foundation’s history,” Bogner said. “As we recognize donors for lifetime giving and other types of giving, the first donors can get lost sometimes, because times were different when those funds were set up; it cost less to go to school, it wasn’t a common practice to give through estates, and we had lower thresholds for endowment set up. We wanted to build a way to recognize donors who have made a difference because they supported the Foundation when it was new.

“The Legacy Society is a way for us to recognize those who have made or

are planning to make an estate gift at their passing to support the Foundation,” she continued. “Some of the donors recognized included us in the planning, and others left it a surprise. Every person is different in how they approach estate planning, and we want to include ways to recognize those memories that live

on through the gift of education.

“One of our dear friends, Dr. Bill King, passed recently, but when he was working through his plans, he wanted us to be able to share his inclusion of the Foundation in that process. The creation of the Legacy Society was in part thanks to him and his foresight in

leveraging his support of the college to encourage others to give.”

To discuss giving opportunities contact Bogner at bognerl@ bartonccc.edu or call 620786-1141.

New friends and funds

Each year, the Foundation grows with

the help of new and old friends, Bogner said. This past year, 11 new funds were added, including the Schmidt Foundation Scholarship, which funds the largest scholarship the Foundation has ever been able to offer.

Last September, the college announced that five Barton Business students

were getting a huge nancial boost of $10,000 toward paying for college so they can pursue career goals after school with as little debt as possible. The scholarship program also includes a mentorship program and is funded by a generous gift from the Schmidt Foundation of e students awarded scholarships include Jenna Dean and Andrea Orona Favela, of Great Bend, Mary Dimmitt of Ellinwood, Matthew Donecker of Claflin and Ashton Waggoner of La Crosse. New funds in 2022 are:

Annual funds

• Cashco Welding Scholarship

• J Money Scholarship (created by Jason Murray)

• S. Larry Edwardson Memorial Scholarship

• Schmidt Foundation Scholarship

Endowments

• Barton BASICS Scholarship Endowment

• Clarence and Jeanette Haak Memorial Endowment

• Dr. Bill King Grant for Healthcare

• Jim Cavanaugh Scholarship

• Laryl “Lucky” Rous Endowment

Special Funds

• Ag Complex Capital Campaign

• Student Emergency Assistance Fund

PHOTO COURTESY OF BARTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE

The first recipients of the five new $10,000 scholarships to Barton Community College are, from left: Ashton Waggoner of La Crosse, Jenna Dean of Great Bend, Mary Dimmitt of Ellinwood, Andrea Orona Favela of Great Bend and Matthew Donecker of Claflin.

COURTESY PHOTO

Great Bend High School students analyze stock trends as they manage virtual portfolios for an investment challenge sponsored by Legacy Financial Solutions.

Work continues on USD 428 projects

Bend

commented on progress at the sites, starting with the East

still working on trying to get the best class sizes and the most functional space for the staff,” Thexton said. That’s on the east,

That part of the campus could include the Barton County Special Services offices. “A lot of that will just be reusing the space that’s already there.”

Howton hired as Ellinwood Chamber exec

Great Bend, residing in part of small towns and her family was always spearheading community service projects. Upon moving at age 13, she and her sister formed in Pawnee Rock where they performed citywide cleanup and organized special events to donate proceeds to Heartland Center for Spirituality. er she graduated from Kansas State with her bachelor’s degree, she decided to pursue her

other passion, massage therapy. That led her to the small town of Deming, N.M., to become the youngest enterprise facilitator of the nonprofit Sirolli Group. She worked both in and out of the country with small business owners to achieve goals of opening or streamlining their businesses for continued success.

Shortly after Howton graduated from The Mesilla Valley School of Therapeutic Arts, she leveraged this knowledge to open Great Bend Therapeutic Massage, which she has owned and operated for over 10 years.

She resides in Ellinwood

with her husband Eric and their furry companions. When not working or relaxing at home, she enjoys frequent visits from their son and daughter. Howerton embodies the belief that just as throwing a small stone out to a pond causes ripples in the water, even the smallest act of service and kindness can have a rippling effect to be felt through the entire community. She looks forward to working with the Ellinwood Chamber of Commerce Board and to help further the interests of small businesses in the area.

Dorian Howton

Restaurant project still in the works

Effort also includes outdoor area, lofts

BY DALE HOGG dhogg@gbtribune.com

The project to develop a new restaurant and outdoor space at Williams and Forest in downtown Great Bend is progressing, just not quickly.

“It’s moving along, just at a slower pace than we would like,” said Mark Mingenback. He was speaking on behalf of Andy Mingenback and Brentwood Builders, who are developing the Landing Restaurant & Outdoor Gathering Place.

In the fall of 2021, the Kansas Department of Commerce launched a new community revitalization program, the Historic Economic Asset Lifeline (HEAL), to address the

issue of restoring the allure to Kansas downtowns. With HEAL, the state assists building owners with matching grants to cover eligible expenses as historic properties are revitalized.

Marketing Maven Consulting

Marketing Maven is a full-service marketing firm offering website design, video production, design, and brand management for companies throughout the state of Kansas. Based in Great Bend, the growing company has additional team members in Hays, Manhattan, and Kansas City. Marketing Maven was founded in 2014 on a part time basis, and went full time in 2016 and has only continued to grow since then. Their clients are in many different industries, including agriculture, construction, healthcare, housing, retail, home services, automotive, and many others. Marketing Maven primarily exists as an outsourced marketing department for companies that don’t have their own, but they also do special projects a la carte for businesses who just need a little help here and there. Learn more about Marketing Maven and see samples of their work at www.HireAMaven.com. And find them on social media using the hashtag #HireAMaven.

This project was awarded $43,960 in HEAL grants.

The eatery will be inside the now-vacant building adjacent to the empty lot which is the site of the B-29 mural. The

loft project includes the upstairs.

Andy owns the building with the mural. In September 2021, the Barton County Commission awarded him a $20,000 Facade

Improvement Grant.

At that time, the idea was to restore the front of the building, as well as develop the lot into a green space with a pavilion with a stage and other amenities, such as large

video screen and fire pits.

“We will have an attractive venue that will be appealing for young families,” Mark said. A wrought-iron fence will surround the lot to prevent small children from running into the street.

That is still the plan, Mark said. But, there are some wrinkles with the building part of the effort.

“We have applied for historical tax credits,” he said. This is a lengthy, twopart process.

Andy has a cool design for the building facade, but has to wait to see if his vision meshes with the tax credits’ historic criteria.

Time is of the essence, Mark said. There are looming deadlines for both the HEAL and Facade grants.

As far as the building’s interior, they will develop that into a build-to-suit restaurant, Mark said. They will do the basic remodeling and seek restaurateurs to rent the space.

“We’re just trying to put the pieces of the puzzle together,” Mark said.

620-792-2301

TRIBUNE PHOTO

This site at Forest and Williams beneath the B-29 mural is the location of a planned restaurant and outdoor area.

GB Car Care

GB Car Care is a family owned and veteran owned automotive detail shop. We offer interior and exterior detail services on a variety of vehicles and equipment. Everything from car/ truck, SUV, farm ag equipment, boats, and everything in between. We’re continuously updating our equipment, products, and methods, keeping up-to-date on the automotive detail industry. We have a mobile wash unit which gives us the ability to service equipment on location. We currently employ two full-time detail technicians and one part-time. We’re entering our 4th year of full-time operations and we would like to thank our loyal customers for allowing us to continue serving them. 4904 8th St. is where you can find us. If you can’t make it to us, no worries! We also offer pick-up and delivery!

Eagle Mutual

On January 1, 2023 the former Farmers Mutual Insurance Company, located in Ellinwood Kansas, changed its name to Eagle Mutual. The Board of Directors, management, staff and agency force are excited about the new chapter for the company as Eagle Mutual. The only change will be the legal name of the company and those necessary changes along with that. Our ownership remains a mutual company owned by our policyholders. Our address/location, phone numbers, personnel, and much more remain the same. Simply the same great service with a new look.

A company name change is not that uncommon, given that there have been five previous name changes in the company history, most occurring within the first few decades of existence.

Founded in April 1896 under the name of “German-American Farmers Association of Barton County, Kansas,” the company then became the “Union of German Farmers of Barton County and Vicinity, Kansas” in 1899. This occurred as the company first formally organized to “support, instruct, and promote custom in cooperation with the Farmer in a Mutual Way.” Synonymously through the end of the 1890s and early 1900s the company was referred to as “Barton County German Farm Insurance Company,” although that name may have never been official, and the records prior to 1906 have forever been lost. In March of 1916 the company first became a chartered corporation with the State of Kansas with records showing the name was changed at that time from “German Mutual Fire Insurance Company” to “German Mutual Fire and Lightning Insurance Company.” However, in 1918, as World War I was nearing an end, anti-German sentiment was high and rumors spread that the company was sympathetic to the German cause. Therefore, in April 1918 the company name was changed to “Farmers Mutual Insurance Company of Barton County” which remained for many years.

Even more interesting than the name change is the fact that the official language of the company, including all records and policies, was German. Many of the company founders were also decorated German military members prior to leaving Germany for the United States, settling in Barton County on farmsteads as homesteaders in the late 1800s. There was a very rich German heritage to our founders and to the company in its early years. However, due to that anti-German sentiment in World War I, the company changed the official language to

English, with the records being in German up through that vote and the next line in the minutes being in English.

From 1918 till the late 1900s the company operated mainly in Barton and surrounding counties of Kansas, with limited offering beginning with only Fire and Wind then expanding to Fire and Extended Coverages. Yet in 1987 the company sought to expand geographically and renamed once again to the most recent former name of “Farmers Mutual Insurance Company” dropping the “of Barton County” at that time. Along with the statewide expansion in the 1990’s, the company began to offer Liability and packaged Homeowners/ Farmowners coverage.

The 1990s were a challenge for the company with many years of consecutive losses, in the early 2000s the market was in favor of the company with large increases in production and profitability. However, that cycle of losses returned following a very hard market in reinsurance. This drove retentions high the years of 2006-2009, and were some of the toughest years in the history of the company. As a result of those losses the company restructured and laid forth a recovery plan which focused on reducing exposure as more clearly defining a niche to remain competitive within. Consequently, since 2010 the company has written exclusively coverage on a Basic or Broad form Actual Cash Value basis with great success. Adding to that niche a commercial offering of similar coverage structure in 2018 that focuses on insurance coverage that fulfills our goal of continuing the “Mutual Way” which has always been core to our company through the mission that remains to “Provide Kansans with insurance protection that is reliable and personal.”

Even though the company has changed its name a few times throughout company history, the name usually included “Farmers”. Current reality is that the company has moved away from insuring active farmers over the past quarter century. As modern farms and farming equipment needs grew to be active or successful in farming operations, the farm exposures have increased in value creating a severity of risk which the company could no longer maintain without undue risks. For the past few decades, the company’s focus has been on residential exposures and has only recently expanded to cover small commercial exposures in rural Kansas communities, thus no longer corelating to the use of “Farmers” within the name. Additionally, over the history as Farmers Mutual Insurance Company the company once benefited from the leading name being similar to others in the industry. In recent years this has become troublesome, there is constant confusion due to the name. Agents, vendors, customers, and many others often confused the company with, or believed the company was a part of, other companies with that began with “Farmers…” or “Farmers Mutual…” Therefore, reducing the recognition of the company into a position where our identity and image were blurry at best.

To gain, or regain, an identity that we can immerse ourselves in is the primary reasoning behind the name change. We wish to have greater visibility through marketing and promotion of our company with a name that is purely ours. Furthermore, we desire to have a recognizable image within our Agents and Policyholders that continues to stand for our core values. In choosing the new name, Eagle Mutual, after deep consideration to many others, we had many factors leading to this new name.

The Eagle is our local school mascot, and for our subsidiary, an agency that serves the needs of the local community, the name Eagle was the only choice. That entity’s name is now Eagle Insurance, Inc. operating as an independent agency serving the local insurance needs of our community. Which

does add credence to our choice of Eagle Mutual, as with local contributions and involvement the similarity of name of our company and subsidiary agency is beneficial. However, beyond the local community there was additional reasoning. The Bald Eagle is the national bird, a majestic raptor who’s the default sign of freedom. We feel that our agents and customers have freedom with choosing our company. We offer the freedom to insure at ACV with coverage options that allow tailoring of coverage to suit the needs of many Kansans. Insuring their risks without forcing them to insure at Replacement Cost, where they may have higher rate factors due to the age or condition of their property. We offer the freedom to restrict or exclude certain known hazards, thus allowing us to offer coverage when the standard or preferred market may not insure the risk.

Although the color theme may be bright, perhaps even patriotic in the use of red, white, and blue, it’s the colors of an actual Eagle that have additional meaning. The black and white Eagle, is representative of the black and white nature of our policies and coverage, in that we are straightforward explaining that our coverage contains limits and conditions. We feel those are not only clearer to understand but also physically in the black and white of our policies. We would rather define any limitation upfront than to have to settle that condition after a loss. We seek to add clarity at inception of the policy, to provide clear understanding down the road. We owe that clarity, that consistency in performance, the sharpness of an Eagle eye. To not only the specific risk we are accepting but to our policyholders as a whole, because we are Mutual and that “Mutual Way” is our core.

So why would we choose anything other than this new name, we are “Eagle Mutual!”

• For more information, to discuss any quotes, or for photos that may be needed for any articles published regarding this change please contact Justin Lear, CEO at 1-620-566-1155 or justinl@eaglemutual.net.

• Eagle Mutual, formerly Farmers Mutual Insurance Company, was founded in 1896 near Ellinwood, KS and has operated in the community since. They service all of Kansas providing insurance coverages through over 200 independent agencies to consumers in the state. Eagle Mutual insures primarily residential and small commercial property throughout the state, servicing those coverages from here in Ellinwood. And Eagle Mutual also services the local insurance needs of consumers through their own independent agency, Eagle Insurance Inc., offering coverages for nearly any exposure the consumers here in Ellinwood community, through the many companies that the agency represents.

Adams Brown Strategic Allies & CPAs

Adams Brown Strategic Allies and CPAs is located at 2006 Broadway Ave, Suite 2A and can be contacted by calling 620792-2428 or kboswell@adamsbrowncpa.com.

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

The firm was founded in 1945 and includes 19 firm partners. Services provided include accounting, payroll; business advising; outsourced CFO and controllership; audit and attestation; tax advising for businesses and individuals; and wealth management.

For more information, visit www.adamsbrowncpa.com.