Progress Community 2019

Page 1

GREAT BEND (KAN.) TRIBUNE • SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2019 •

Special to the Great Bend Tribune ne Sunday, February 17, 2019

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• GREAT BEND (KAN.) TRIBUNE • SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2019

K-96 highway improvements, Northwest Passage may be back Local officials to testify Thursday about highway projects BY DALE HOGG dhogg@gbtribune.com

Although it remains up in the air, the on-again, off-again Northwest Passage may be on once again, local officials hope. This is the stretch of the long-proposed diagonal highway ultimately connecting Wichita to I-70 that cuts through Reno, Rice and Barton counties. Great Bend Chamber of Commerce President Jan Peters said efforts to resuscitate the improved K-96 corridor, first suggested over 30 years ago, are in the works. Peters joined a coalition of area officials in testifying before the 2018 Joint Legislative Transportation Vision Task Force in November at the Meridian Center in Newton. On the table now, Peters said, is the next phase of the passage, one tying Hutchinson to Sterling. “This really is a huge project for us,� Peters said. “This is our chance to be heard.� But for now, “we are in a holding pattern,� she said. “The biggest issue is funding.� Joining Peters was: Debra Teufel with the Hutchinson/ Reno County Chamber of Commerce; John Sweet, a consultant from Lyons; Taggart Wall from Sterling; and Jon Prescott from Sunflower Diversified Services in Great Bend. All support this effort, but realize resources and funding are limited. “This was the first step,� she said. “If we weren’t at the table now, we would have missed out.� Also factored into this is the change to Gov. Laura Kelly’s administration and the appointment of Julie Lorenz as the secretary of transportation, Peters said. Lorenz has been involved in the discussions about transportation needs and is a good fit. But, “they are still putting people in place,� Peters said. What is the taskforce? The Joint Legislative Transportation Vision Task Force, was comprised of 35 members from across the state. State Senator Carolyn McGinn and Representative Richard Proehl serve as co-chairs for the task force, which features 12 legislators, 14 transportation stakeholder/ industry leaders, five local

DALE HOGG Great Bend Tribune

Great Bend City Administrator Kendal Frances chats with Sunflower Diversified Services Executive Director Jon Prescott on the sidelines of the @018 Joint Legislative Transportation Vision Task Force hearings last November in Newton.

government officials and four ex officio members. From August to November, the body convened nine regional meetings Their charge was to: Evaluate the state’s transportation system, the way it uses state highway funds, and whether funding levels are sufficient; seek local input on existing and emerging transportation needs; and make recommendations on the state’s future transportation system needs and the structure of the State Highway Fund. In the end, the body heard from more than 300 stakeholders providing testimony. Through these discussions, the following themes have emerged: There are unmet transportation needs across the state; transportation investments generate economic growth, create jobs, enhance safety and improve mobility and quality of life for citizens; and recent funding reductions have caused needs to go unmet, and the state must provide a steady, consistent source of revenue going forward.

recommendations for Kansas transportation going forward. The following are tentative recommendations crafted by the task force: • Kansas must provide adequate, consistent and stable transportation funding. • The remaining 21 T-WORKS projects should be completed. This includes the Northwest Passage K-96 portion from Nickerson to Sterling. Kansas should provide the necessary investment in highway preservation to improve system health. • While the previous highway project selection process worked well, minor modifications to include factors such as practical improvements, cost sharing and priority corridors should be considered. • Kansas must invest in transit, rail, aviation, and bicycle/pedestrian paths to provide a quality transportation system that serves all Kansans. The task force will release a final report of the recommendations early this year.

Some history The Northwest Passage, a proposed diagonal corridor from Wichita

northwest to the cities of Hutchinson, Great Bend and Hays, was considered by the Kansas Legislature

in 1986. Legislation directed the Kansas Turnpike Authority to study the feasibility of constructing turnpike projects or freeways on three major corridors, including this route. An engineering study was completed to determine comparative costs and traffic usage for two-lane and four-lane alternates on both existing and new locations. In 1989, the Legislature approved a Comprehensive Highway Program that started the selection of corridor highway projects. The first leg of the passage, K-96 from Wichita to Hutchinson, was one of them. “This completed fourlane expressway now provides that important regional link in South Central Kansas,� Peters said. According to the K-DOT traffic flow map, average traffic counts at the midway point of this highway carried 7,450 in 1990 and by July 2017 carried 11,300 vehicles. See PASSAGE, 3

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GREAT BEND (KAN.) TRIBUNE • SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2019 •

3

PASSAGE, from page 2 What is the Northwest Passage? The idea was to build a new Super 2 K-96 alignment on four-laned right of way from Hutchinson to north of Sterling, bypassing Nickerson and Sterling. During the community consult meeting in 2012, seven cities and three counties officially endorsed this as a Tier 1 project. Bid letting was set for October 2016. Construction was set to begin in January 2017. This project seemed like the next logical extension of KDOT’s major corridor modernization effort which has seen the construction of US 400/K-96 in Southeast Kansas, the K-96 bypass around Wichita, the K-96 expressway from Wichita to Hutchinson and the K-96 Bob Dole Bypass around Hutchinson. The next phase would look at taking the route to Great Bend and on to I-70. But, in 2016, 25 modernization projects were delayed due to the pressures on the State General Fund that caused a shift of funding from KDOT, thus delaying scheduled projects. “We want them to revisit these projects,� Peters said. “A lot of these projects were valid then and they are valid today.� The K-96 project has always been popular with state officials, she said, adding it was their number one pick from the 25 projects shelved. “What they’ve always liked about this is the regional support.� In addition to the 39 pages of testimony, the team presented a stack of letters of support from communities, officials and others. Why is it needed? The existing roadway’s right angle turns, steep side slopes and very narrow pavement, shoulders and right-of-way make it extremely dangerous, area officials say. Area K-DOT

engineers state that the roadway has outlived its useful life. The condition of the roadway warrants complete replacement since some consider it the worst stretch of K-96. The proposed new alignment will save an estimated 15 minutes for emergency vehicles traveling to the Regional Medical Center in Hutchinson or to Wichita trauma centers. The existing circuitous route through Nickerson and Sterling’s Main Street dramatically slows traffic. Truck and travelers presently use several alternative routes, mostly county roads, which are not built to accommodate this load. Upgrades to this stretch of highway will further the long term goal of connecting Wichita to the northwest and 1-70. There is strong regional support from Reno, Rice and Barton counties as well as the cities along the corridor. The region has unanimously endorsed a Super 2 configuration on four-lane right-of-ways with by-passes at Nickerson and Sterling. “As a region we supported the 2010 T-WORKS program and we compliment the Legislature for creating this Transportation Task Force to begin the process of resolving the dilemma that has occurred with the ongoing transfers from the highway fund to other areas of state government, thus leaving much of the 2010 programs unfinished,� Peters said. “This task force sets into motion a statewide initiative to identify current and future transportation needs throughout Kansas,� she said. “There is a great deal at stake here for our region with the K-96/ Sterling project along with the hundreds of other previously approved projects that Kansas cities and counties have been

DALE HOGG Great Bend Tribune

Great Bend Chamber of Commerce President Jan Peters testifies before the 2018 Joint Legislative Transportation Vision Task Force in November at the Meridian Center in Newton on the proposed Northwest Passage.

promised through the T-Works program.� The task force and T-Works Administered through the Kansas Department of Transportation, the Transportation Works for Kansas (T-Works) program is a 10-year, $7.8 billion program passed by the Legislature in 2010. Community input and other research identified priority projects in each of KDOT’s six districts covering all 105 counties. In the South Central District, encompassing Barton and surrounding counties, the K-96 corridor in Reno and Rice counties was tagged as a “firsttier priority project in September 2012. Created by state statutes, the body is comprised of state senators and representatives, including 109th District Rep. Troy Waymaster, R-Bunker

Hill, who covers much of northern, eastern and western Barton County. Among the non-legislative members is Kip Spray of Great Bend’s Venture Corporation representing the Kansas Contractors Association. The goal for the task force is to evaluate the T-Works program and the current state of the transportation system, identify other possible priorities, and assess funding. It will present its report in the 2019 legislative session. This will be the next comprehensive transportation plan, Peters said. It encompasses not just roads, but also air and rail transportation, as well as transload facilities, like the one in Great Bend. The Newton hearing is one of several being conducted by the task force around the state addressing various projects, all vying for limited funding.

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• GREAT BEND (KAN.) TRIBUNE • SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2019

Great Bend - Better than Great! wrapping up its first phase BY SUSAN THACKER sthacker@tbgbribune.com

The Great Bend - Better Than Great! Steering Committee is days away from presenting a draft document of its work on a vision for the community. Cochairs Regan Reif from Barton County Young Professionals and Mark Mingenback will make a presentation at the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce Annual Banquet on Feb. 23. Great Bend Chamber and Economic Development President and CEO Jan Peters said the idea to create a vision for the next 20-plus years started more than a year ago. Interim City Administrator George Kolb said “‘I really think this community needs a vision,’� Peters recalls. The Great Bend Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and Barton County Young Professionals pulled a group together, selected a consultant and talked through the process with Linda Marmie and Mark Calcara, trustees of the Harms Trust. “They were really fired up,� Peters said. “We told them we had the right people in place.� The Harms Trust

DEMOGRAPHICS Race and Ethnicity

Population by Age 2018

2010 2018

2010

2018

WHITE

84.0%

81.8%

BLACK OR AFRICAN AMERICAN

1.7%

1.8%

AMERICAN INDIAN AND ALASKA NATIVE

0.6%

0.6%

ASIAN

0.2%

0.3%

PACIFIC ISLANDER

0.1%

0.1%

OTHER

11.0%

12.5%

TWO OR MORE RACES

2.3%

2.9%

75 to 84 6%

SUSAN THACKER Great Bend Tribune

Workshop materials help the visioning committee focus on new ideas.

provided a grant that allowed the steering committee to hire Sheila Shockey of Shockey Consultants. Although she lives in the Kansas City area, Mingenback notes that Shockey is originally from Kinsley and she “gets� rural Kansas. “We felt comfortable with her knowledge and awareness of what it’s like to live in a rural community,� he said.

After two workshops to involve the community at large, as well as presentations to civic groups and an online survey, the excitement for what comes next is building. “There’s a tremendous amount of awareness about it around the community,� Mingenback said. However, steering committee members caution that the results of this effort won’t be a “silver bullet.�

Our Top Strengths • Good schools (164 votes) • Park & rec system (162) • Natural areas & wildlife (123) • Activities & events (107)

• Nonprofit organizations (102) • Young professionals (58) • Quality health care (42) • Diversity (35) • Downtown (28) • Airport & industrial park (14) • Other (12) • Art culture & history (11) • Education workforce (10) Our Biggest Challenges • Drug & alcohol abuse (175) • Lack of retail choices (129) • Crime (95)

27,674

-2.97%

-2.91%

15,519

26,839

2018

15 to 24 13%

45 to 54 11% 35 to 44 11%

• Wages not increasing (93) • Brain drain (80) • Poverty (75) • Lack of affordable homes (57) • Online sales over local (43) • Lack of workforce (42) • Aging population (36) • Other (28) • Declining health (17) • Uncertainty of oil industry (15) • Decline in ag economy (15) • Declining population (5) • Workforce housing (3) • Changing weather patterns (2)

Millennial Population

17%

HOUSING

7,139 6,371 HOUSING UNITS

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The group started by looking at members’ awareness of the community and what they would consider Great Bend’s top 10 issues. The topics were tremendously diverse, which was not surprising since the task force itself was quite diverse and started with almost 60 members. However, some topics seemed to arise across every sector. An example was the problem of drug use. It affects crime, it is a health issue and it creates problems for employers who struggle

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2016 2 DUPLEXES (4 UNITS)

2017 2 APARTMENT BUILDINGS (48UNITS)

Age of Housing Stock Built

Built

Built

1939

1940-

1960-

19.4%

30.3%

30.1%

Built

Built

1980-

2000

79.8% of housing stock built prior to 1980

or earlier

1999

16.9%

to find employees who can pass a drug test. “Every person in the room had different priorities of what they want to see changed,� Reif said. At the latest community meeting, participants brainstormed what a utopian Great Bend would look like. They also talked about obstacles and opportunities. There may be goals that are attainable, such as curbside recycle, but a community vision is also about defining who we are

1959

or later

3.3%

1979

and how we can share a common core. As others who have gone down this road have noted, community visioning is a process for developing a consensus about what future the community wants. “A vision statement captures what community members value most about their community, and the shared image of what they want their community to become,� says MRSC.org, a vision website for Washington state communities.

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OCCUPIED UNITS

3,777 2,594 768 190 70

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AGES 22-37

2016 estimate from American Fact Finder

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25 to 34 14%

GREAT BEND

OWNER OCCUPIED

Community survey Great Bend - Better Than Great! received 316 responses to its community survey. People were asked “What are our community’s top strengths?� and “What are our community’s biggest challenges?� Responders could choose three in each category.

15,995

2010

5 to 14 14%

55 to 64 12%

Population BARTON COUNTY

Under 5 7%

65 to 74 9%

Hispanic Origin* - 19.8% *Hispanic includes respondents of any race

GREAT BEND

85+ 3%

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GREAT BEND (KAN.) TRIBUNE • SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2019 •

5

DNA test reveals biological family BY SUSAN THACKER sthacker@gbtribune.com

A Great Bend man found his biological family last year after taking a commercial DNA test and joining Ancestry.com. Ron Mason, ad manager and sales rep for Marmie Auto Group, was surprised at age 62 to learn he had 11 siblings and many cousins, most located in Montgomery, Alabama. More than 26 million people have taken an at-home ancestry test, adding their DNA to four leading commercial ancestry and health databases, according to a recent study by MIT Technology Review. Mason sent his saliva sample to Ancestry in October of 2017 and got the results on Dec. 27, 2017. “I’m 62 percent Irish; the rest is English and Scandinavian,� he said. But Mason wanted to know more than where his ancestors came from. He was looking for his birth parents. He knew his mother’s name, date of birth and where she was born. Mason’s parents had adopted him from Sellers Baptist Children’s Home in New Orleans, Louisiana. The state has closed records, so he was only able to obtain “nonidentifying information� about his biological father. Ron’s wife, Tammy, encouraged him to join Ancestry.com, for an additional fee, and see if the DNA sample could yield clues through the organizations’s large database. Several names started popping up as soon as he entered the website.

SUSAN THACKER Great Bend Tribune

Ron Mason, Great Bend, researched his family history through DNA and Ancestry.com.

“I picked the top three on the list,� which appeared to have a high probability of being related, he said. The third person was a second cousin on his biological mother’s side of the family. “I talked to Bridget McQuillan Williams,� he said. The pieces of the puzzle began to come together after Mason found the mausoleum where his birth mother was interred and read the plaque. Through staff at the cemetery, he found a phone number for his youngest halfbrother, Richard Smith. In February of 2018 he called Smith on the telephone. Mason has made some “cold calls� as a salesman, but that was nothing compared to calling a long-lost brother out of the blue. “I’m trying to talk to this guy who

I’ve never met,� he said. “It was a good conversation.� When Mason was able to provide his biological mother’s date of birth and other information, his half-brother called back and said, “You have a sister, Hillaria, who is five years older.� That was a surprise, because the scant information Mason had received about his father hasn’t indicated there were other children. “I was an only child, according to my birth records,� Mason said. But in fact, he also had siblings Deborah, Frances, Karen, Donna and Evelyn, Patty, James, Bill and Beth, and many second cousins. “On May 1, I called Bill Stewart, my half-brother,� Mason said. He met the whole family last June in Montgomery, Alabama. “There’s 12 of us total brothers and sisters,�

COURTESY PHOTO

Ron Mason, front row, at left, poses for a photo with members of his biological family, who he met for the first time last year. The front three are Ron, his half-sister Beth and half-brother Bill; also pictured are first cousin’s on his biological father’s side at the Stewart family home in Greensboro, Alabama.

Mason said, but there were four birth fathers in the family. “I was a ‘love child.’� More family history Learning the basic family history provided by the DNA test itself was also interesting. “I didn’t know anything about myself,� Mason said. For most of his life, he was satisfied to know he was raised by two loving parents. If you asked him about

his heritage, he might answer, “I was a happily-raised young kid. I knew I was adopted as an infant but didn’t have the curiosity.� Now he also knows that his biological family’s story can be traced to Munster, Ireland, and his ancestors migrated to North America as Central Appalachian settlers circa 1825. “I took the chance of finding out who I was and at 62 I found out.�

Wolf Hotel has long standing history BY CHRIS MCCORD

The Historic Wolf Hotel in Ellinwood is nothing short of Ellinwood’s pride and joy! Built in 1894, the building is enjoying 125 years and is holding true to its craftmanship, charm, and even its mystery! The building got a new lease on life in 2013 when Chris McCord purchased the property, first as his home, but with the help of friends and family who volunteered their time, it has been turned back into its originally intended uses. The Historic Wolf Hotel and Events center is available for overnight stays, party and event needs, but also, the staff has created an underground saloon, specializing in prohibition era drinks, open to the public every

Friday and Saturday evening. The newest, and McCord’s personal favorite takes place on Sundays. Every Sunday, his crew does what they call “Period Style Fried Chicken.� They dress in period clothing, serve on vintage china, and give you not only good food, but a neat experience in what has been known as Barton County’s most beautiful dining room for a century! The dinner is done in conjunction with the Ellinwood Underground Tunnel tour giving people a chance to come eat and also check out the old tunnels during a tour. You’ll be impressed by the experience brought to you to little Ellinwood, Kansas. Make some time and give The Historic Wolf Hotel a call.

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• GREAT BEND (KAN.) TRIBUNE • SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2019

Study: Volunteering is good for you Programs like RSVP of Central Kansas reduce depression and loneliness, increase life satisfaction BY DALE HOGG dhogg@gbtribune.com

WASHINGTON, D.C. – A new independent report that provides evidence that consistent volunteering can improve the health and well-being of people age 55 and older was released last week by the Corporation for National and Community Service, the federal agency responsible for the nation’s volunteer and service efforts. This comes as no surprise to Linn Hogg, RSVP of Central Kansas Director. “I am always impressed at the energy and zest for life their volunteers show,” she said. “Barton and Pawnee county volunteers help in many areas of our communities.” The study examined how participation in national service contributes to changes in health and well-being of Senior Corps volunteers in the Senior Companion and Foster Grandparent programs — which help homebound seniors maintain independence and tutor and mentor at-risk youth, respectively. A companion study explored the health benefits to caregivers who receive support from Senior Corps Senior Companion volunteers. Hogg said a great deal of those areas include access to care through medical transportation, access to food through senior food boxes and food pantries and Meals On Wheels, access to financial security through free tax preparation and access to health insurance information through Medicare (SHICK) counseling. RSVP of Central Kansas volunteers also give their time and talents in most of the non-profit organizations in the area, Hogg said. “Our volunteers feel this gets them out of the house and connects them back to people,” Hogg said. “Plus, they feel good about what they do and it helps to forget the little aches and pains you are feeling. Some of our volunteers have suffered a loss in their life and being able to focus on something outside of their home helps them to deal with that.” “I’m thrilled with the release of this independent study because it confirms what we have long believed to be true: Senior Corps volunteers are not only improving the lives of others, they are also improving their own,” said Deborah Cox-Roush, director of Senior Corps. “These volunteers are feeling healthier and less depressed. What’s also exciting is they say they feel less socially isolated, which we know has important health benefits. Along the way, Senior Corps volunteers found a sense of accomplishment, opportunities for personal growth, and chances to form meaningful relationships.” “As this study shows volunteering is not just about do good for others,” Hogg added. “It is also about feeling good about what you are doing. That in itself is a great boost to your confidence and spirit.” The survey findings According to the research, Senior Corps volunteers report much higher self-rated health scores, which is considered a valid marker of actual health, compared to older adults in similar circumstances who do not volunteer. They also reported feeling significantly less depressed and isolated compared to non-volunteers. After two years of service in Senior Corps, 84 percent of older adults reported improved or stable health.

DALE HOGG Great Bend Tribune

Pictured are RSVP of Central Kansas volunteers at their 2018 appreciation banquet. A new study shows the value of volunteering.

TRIBUNE FILE PHOTO

RSVP of Central Kansas/AARP Foundation Tax-Aide volunteers help with tax preparation last year. This is one of the many ways volunteers give back to their communities, benefiting from their involvement.

Thirty-two percent of Senior Corps volunteers who reported good health at the beginning of the study reported improved health at the two-year follow-up. Of those who reported five or more symptoms of depression at the beginning of the study, 78 percent said they felt less depressed two years later. Eighty-eight percent of Senior Corps volunteers who first described a lack of companionship reported a decrease in feelings of isolation after two years. Among those who initially reported a lack of companionship, 71 percent reported an improvement in their companionship status. “Our Senior Corps volunteers have a decadeslong history of setting examples for all of us to follow by serving our friends and neighbors,” said Barbara Stewart, CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service, the federal agency that administers the Senior Corps program. “These 220,000 men and women provide vital support to Americans, both young and young-at-heart, and reap health benefits in return. We are grateful for the generosity of our super seniors and their commitment to making a difference in their communities.” Senior Corps provides opportunities to Americans who might not otherwise have the opportunity to serve their community due to financial or other barriers – 80 percent of volunteers in the study reported a household income of less than $20,000 per year and one-third reported a long

lasting condition that limits basic physical activity. Open to Americans 55 and older with incomes up to 200 percent of the poverty line, the Foster Grandparent Program and Senior Companion Program are unique among volunteer organizations in that volunteers earn a small stipend. While the large majority of volunteers reported joining service for altruistic reasons, close to one-third had an underlying financial reason, due to the stipend, for volunteering. Senior Corps volunteers found their community service satisfying and meaningful, and they reported having opportunities for personal growth, a sense of accomplishment, and friend-making, all factors associated with improved health, psychological, and emotional well-being and connection to the community. More than 75 percent remained in service through the first year, compared to two-thirds of volunteers nationally. Retention was highest among volunteers with the lowest income, those who reported a disability, and those who attained at most a high school diploma or had not graduated high school. How the survey worked The national study, launched in 2014, collected data from 1,200 first-time Senior Corps volunteers throughout their service with the Foster Grandparent and Senior Companion programs to determine the effect of national service on older adults’ overall health and well-being. The study

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surveyed first-time Senior Corps volunteers upon entrance into the program and again at one- and twoyear follow-up intervals, using survey questions adopted from the University of Michigan’s annual Health and Retirement Study. A companion study of caregivers determined that caregivers found the assistance of Senior Companions beneficial and for some, the respite provided by a volunteer even improved their health. The study surveyed caregivers of Senior Companion clients prior to the start of respite care and again at a one-year followup point. Nearly 76 percent of caregivers in the criticalneeds group reported Senior Companion respite services helped them “a lot”

with both personal time and household management. Approximately 60 percent of caregivers with critical needs reported that Senior Companion services helped them “a lot” or a “great deal” and allowed them to be more involved in social activities and enjoy time with their friends or relatives. Approximately 40 percent of caregivers who

rated their health as fair or poor before respite support, now rate their health as good. Most caregivers (92 percent critical needs, 86 percent with essential needs, and 93 percent with moderate needs) reported they were satisfied with the respite services received from the Senior Companion program. Each year, Senior Corps engages approximately 220,000 Americans 55 and older through its Foster Grandparent, Senior Companion, and RSVP programs – all addressing some of the nation’s most pressing challenges – everything from fighting the opioid epidemic, reducing crime and reviving cities, connecting veterans to jobs and benefits, preparing today’s students for tomorrow’s jobs, ensuring seniors age independently and with dignity, and helping Americans rebuild their lives following a disaster. These studies are part of a larger body of research that highlights the positive impact of national service, particularly for senior volunteers and the communities in which they serve. More information on this research and Senior Corps programs is available at seniorcorps.gov/ healthyvolunteers.

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GREAT BEND (KAN.) TRIBUNE • SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2019 •

7

SUSAN THACKER Great Bend Tribune

Dr. Mike Malone, DVM, examines a screech owl at the Great Bend Brit Spaugh Zoo.

Dr. Malone celebrates 40 years as zoo veterinarian BY SUSAN THACKER sthacker@gbtribune.com

Dr. Mike Malone, DVM, has been the veterinarian to the Great Bend Brit Spaugh Zoo for 40 years. Before he started the Animal Care Hospital, located at 3400 10th St. in Great Bend, Malone graduated from Kansas State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine in 1979 and joined Dr. Jerry L. Schrader at Countryside Veterinary Associates. Although K-State’s College of Veterinary Medicine is well known, it didn’t really have a zoo program at that time, Malone said. However, he was

interested in exotic animals and so was his study partner, who would go on to work at Orlando Sea World. Countryside was chosen to doctor the zoo animals, but since the most established vets had full schedules the work often fell to Malone. “It just kind of fell in my lap and I enjoyed doing it,� he said. Then Great Bend’s Director of Public Lands Jerry Tillery hired him to work as the zoo foreman, a position Malone held at the end of 1982 and beginning of 1983, until he opened his own veterinary practice. See VETERINARIAN, 8

Dr. Jackie Corbett examines, Sunny the sun conure at the zoo.

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• GREAT BEND (KAN.) TRIBUNE • SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2019

COURTESY PHOTOS

Bird watchers line up to see the wonders of Cheyenne Bottoms in his file photo from a Wing & Wetlands festival.

Rediscover the Wetlands with KWEC this Spring BY CURTIS WOLF Kansas Wetlands Education Center

Spring is the prime time to explore our local wetlands. The marsh springs to life as wetland plants begin to grow, animals become active, and thousands of waterfowl and shorebirds migrate through the area. After the doldrums of winter, most people are also

ready to get their nature fix. The Kansas Wetlands Education Center has lined up a fun calendar of spring events for all ages. STEM activities Looking for something for the kids to do over Spring Break? Check out daily Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) activities at

KWEC from March 9-17. All activities are free, and different drop-in activities will be presented each day. This is also a great time to try out the new interactive KWEC exhibits! No sign-up is required.

See KWEC, 9

VETERINARIAN, from page 7 Dr. Malone has tended to animals of every species, shape, and size Creatures great and small He’s tended to animals of every shape and size, from fish and reptiles to birds and mammals. “My favorites were the tigers — they’re just so neat,� he said. “The most confusing animal is the sloth.� They hang upside down most of the time, which causes the internal organs to press down and makes for a most unusual X-ray. Those who have known the zoo as long as Malone has can remember when it had two polar bears that spent much of their time in a swimming pool. Polar bears may be the most dangerous animals ever housed at the zoo, but that’s not the reason the Great Bend Brit Spaugh Zoo won’t ever replace them. Polar bears are the only bear species considered to be sea mammals. They depend on the ocean for their food and habitat, and modern zoos are expected to create habitats that reflect that, including saltwater pools. “We couldn’t meet the requirements,� Malone said.

Dr. Jackie Twenty years after Malone graduated from K-State, Dr. Jackie Corbett also graduated from the Veterinary School and joined Animal Care Hospital. She has been caring for zoo animals for 20 years. Drs. Malone and Corbett visit the zoo almost every Wednesday afternoon to conduct physical exams and provide routine care. They are also on call as needed. The zoo clinic is located in the Raptor Center (the building that serves as the main entrance to the zoo) and there is a large window that allows visitors to watch procedures. By the 1990s when Corbett attended vet school, there were more opportunities to study zoo animals. Corbett shares Malone’s interest in exotic animals and in college she was chosen for an internship at Woods Hole Science Aquarium, near Boston, Mass. “These days you can almost specialize in zoo medicine,� Malone said. But while Kansas has

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13 named zoos, as well as other animals parks, most zoo veterinarians have regular animal care practices. The Great Bend vets have worked with specialists, such as Dr. Winter from Midwest Animal Dentistry & Oral Surgery in Wichita who recently paid a visit to Rerun, Great Bend’s female Lar Gibbon. Thanks in large part to the internet, those who practice zoo medicine are able to share their wisdom. “You have all of these people, and they’re very quick to give you comments. That has really advanced zoo medicine a lot,� Malone said. “We can get so much more information so quickly.�

Dr. Mike Malone, DVM, examines a screech owl held by zookeeper/veterinary assistant Ashley Burdick at the Great Bend Brit Spaugh Zoo.

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KWEC, from page 7 Kansas Wetland Education Center offers a unique nature experience Lek Tour For the adventurous types, come check out a Greater Prairie Chicken Lek Tour. Male prairie chickens put on a fascinating show of booming, dancing, and fighting on breeding grounds, called leks, during the early spring. KWEC has organized tours to take people to a local lek to watch these antics from mid-March through April. All that is required is getting up early in the morning and being able to sit in a blind for several hours, but the show is amazing. Check the KWEC website for available tour dates. There is a fee of $35 per tour. Biosphere Blockparty! Celebrate Mother Earth with KWEC at a brand new event, KWEC’s Biosphere Blockparty! on Saturday April 13. This free, come-and-go event from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. will be a fun way to explore water conservation, energy usage, recycling, and other ways to help out our planet. Activities include a rain barrel making workshop, recycling crafts, energy displays by the Kansas Energy Program, solar oven cookie baking by Heartland Farm, the Kansas Conservation District’s streambank erosion trailer, and a wildflower plant giveaway. This is a free event and no registration is required, except for the rain barrel making workshop, which is limited to 40 families. Register for the rain barrel workshop by calling 877-2439268. Wings & Wetlands Improve your shorebird identification skills by attending the Wings & Wetlands Birding Festival. This two-day event, May 3-4, is full of guided birding field trips to Cheyenne Bottoms and Quivira NWR during the peak of shorebird migration. It features bird

identification workshops, meals, and socializing with other birders. Registration is required for this event by vising the festival webpage at nature.org/wingsandwetlands. Photography Do you enjoy taking pictures of wildlife? Join the Central Kansas Photography Club at KWEC on May 18 for the annual Digital Photography Seminar. Nature photographer Ellen Nelson will give a full day workshop on improving your wildlife photography skills. Registration is required and includes lunch. KWEC is your one-stop shop for every visit to Cheyenne Bottoms and is located at Cheyenne Bottoms along K-156, 10 miles northeast of Great Bend. Admission is free. KWEC is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1-5 p.m. The Center is closed on Mondays from November 1 through March 31 and on major holidays. Check the KWEC website (http://wetlandscenter.fhsu.edu) for more information on these and other upcoming events or call toll-free, 877-243-9268.

Children display bird feeders made at a KWEC spring break activity in this file photo.

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Rotary Club plays big part in festival BY RUSSELL EDEM

The After Harvest Festival in Ellinwood is an important time for the city and it would not be possible without the support of many businesses, club and citizens. The Ellinwood Rotary Club falls into that category. Every year since 1980 they have organized the parade during the festival. “This is an important event for the community, Ellinwood Rotary club president Mary Drake said. “I think the parade is a huge part of making the After Harvest Festival a success. Everyone wants to come out and watch the parade.� The Ellinwood Rotary Club members do a lot of things to make the parade what it is. They get the floats organized, help the MC of the parade announce the floats as they pass by the judges stand which the Rotary Club builds. Members are stationed along the parade route to help keep the parade moving along and help with safety. The members helps with parade float entries and recruiting the judges. This is just a small list of what the members do for the parade. The Rotary Club Rotary is a global network of 1.2 million neighbors, friends, leaders, and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change – across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves. Solving real problems takes real commitment and vision. For more

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Ellinwood fire truck in After Harvest Festival in 2017.

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Master Gardeners look to second year of serving area BY VERONICA COONS vcoons@gbtribune.com

After advocating for three years to bring a Master Gardener trainee program to Barton County, Cottonwood Extension Agent Alicia Boor’s efforts paid off in 2018 when the first class of Barton County Master Gardeners were certified in November. They completed their initial training throughout the first quarter of 2018 under the sponsorship of Boor and Rip Winkle, another Extension Agent, after attending 50 hours of weekly, daylong classes under the instruction of numerous Kansas State University professors. This training prepared them to provide the required 40 hours of community service first-year trainees undertake to earn certificates designating them as official Kansas State University Extension Master Gardeners. Eight class members completed all aspects of training and volunteer service, and met in January to discuss continuing and upcoming projects for 2019. In 2018, BCMGs assisted with management of Great Bend’s Community Orchard at the Great Bend Brit Spaugh Zoo. They provided numerous hours of assistance during the renovation of the Butterfly House at the zoo which included planting and caring for butterflyattracting flowers, installation of a drip irriga-

COURTESY PHOTO

Master Gardeners receiving recognition and certificates at the October 2018 meeting of the Barton County Extension Master Gardeners Wednesday at noon included: (Front) Sarah Shirer, Extension Agent Rip Winkle, Monica Bowers, Extension Agent Alicia Boor. (Back) Veronica Coons, Gary Weiser, Arlyn Scheuerman, Diana Scheuerman, Karen Morton, Barbara Davenport, Lori Dumler and Tonni Bodine (Linda Dougherty was unavailable for the photo).

tion system, designing interpretive brochures for visitors, and assisting with interpretation and care of cocoons. They also volunteered to design, plant and care for the colorful pots located

throughout the zoo. Some provided assistance with the Great Bend Beautification Committee’s efforts to redesign permanent beds at the Great Bend Public Library grounds.

During the spring and summer months, some members reached out to the community to answer a variety of gardening questions to the public who visited the Summer Street Stroll

Farmer’s Market on Thursday evenings. Mid-spring, some BCMGs assisted with weed identification and control and planting of native flowers at the Kansas Wetlands Educa-

tion Center, and returned in the fall where they provided information about home composting at the annual Butterfly Festival in September. See GARDEN, 12

Congratulations! Dr. Mike Malone has been the Great Bend Brit Spaugh Zoo Veterinarian for 40 years!

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• GREAT BEND (KAN.) TRIBUNE • SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2019

GARDEN, from page 11 Now certified, team digs in to ongoing projects, growth opportunities Throughout the spring and summer, BCMGs managed a community garden plot at Washington School, where they provided valuable feedback about seed varieties undergoing development through KSU. The fruits of these labors were shared with the community. Master Gardeners gave bags of produce to community members who stopped by to ask questions about the garden and gardening in general, as well as delivering produce to many community partners who provided encouragement and assistance early on in its development. The horticulture exhibit at the Barton County Fair in July was successful in part due to the work of the entire contingent of BCMGs. From set-up to take down, from placement and manning, members were there to welcome exhibitors, offer advice, share information, and to help with judging entries. Some Master Gardeners participated in open class entries of both flowers and vegetables. In November, the 2018 class of Master Gardeners completing the KSU requirements became certified at an end of year harvest banquet featuring dishes that included many fully or partially home grown produce. The class said farewell to Winkle, who completed the MG year before moving on to Colorado. Boor once more took the reins of BCMGs. With a new gardening season on the horizon, many of the previous year’s projects will be continued. BCMGs evaluated the effectiveness of last year’s efforts, and are committed to continuing to reach out and serve at the Butterfly House and throughout the zoo. Keep

an eye out for new plantings around the exterior of the Butterfly House this year. The community vegetable garden will soon be under way for another season, with Master Gardeners manning one bed, and faculty and staff at Washington School and Parent and Teacher Resource Center tending the other two gardens. Volunteers plan to continue partnering with KWEC for special events like the Butterfly Festival. Assistance with other community projects will continue. Involvement with the Barton County Historical Society Museum is one new area members are currently exploring. Making a social media presence was identified as one way the membership can disseminate important horticultural information with the community. Members recently created a facebook page where photos, information, and the occasional video will be shared. Be sure to visit the Barton County Extension Master Gardeners and select “see first” when you like the page in order to get timely posts to your facebook page. The BCMGs welcome questions from those who are interested in the program. A teaching and a learning spirit, a commitment to providing accurate and research based information, and the willingness and ability to attend all training sessions and commitment to providing 40 hours of community service over the course of the year are the qualities Master Gardeners seeks in candidates. Don’t hesitate to reach out for more information. There’s always room for another set of hands in the garden.

TRIBUNE FILE PHOTOS

Barton County Master Gardeners Rip Winkel and Gary Weiser gather produce last August.

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