Pawnee County Progress 2017

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FACING THE FUTURE

PAWNEE COUNTY

PROGRESS Special to the Great Bend Tribune • Sunday, January 29, 2017

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• GREAT BEND (KAN.) TRIBUNE • SUNDAY, JANUARY 29, 2017

‘Entrepreneurial mindset’ remains focus for 2017 BY VERONICA COONS vcoons@gbtribune.com

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hen the Larned Chamber of Commerce began posting information about an upcoming workshop for entrepreneurs, it was time to contact Sydney Blanton, Larned Chamber and Pawnee County Economic Development director, and we talked about what the outlook for 2017 is for Pawnee County. In 2016, Sydney Blanton was working on completing her Master’s Degree in Business Administration with a double major in entrepreneurship and management. She was happy to report that she completed her classes in December, and that means now she can devote more of her time to her favorite pastime, reading. And that’s good news because in February, Pawnee County Economic Development is kicking

off its eight week Icehouse entrepreneurial campaign based on the book, “Who owns the Ice House.� The Ice House Entrepreneurship Program is a revolutionary new online learning program designed to inspire and engage participants in the fundamental concepts of an entrepreneurial mindset and the unlimited opportunities it can provide. The eight-week program will be Blanton led by Jetmore Economic Development Director Lea Ann E. Seiler, a Kauffman Foundation trained facilitator for the Kansas Ice House. The workshop is being brought to Pawnee County thanks to a partnership with Network Kansas and the Kauffman Foundation, the Kansas Icehouse. The goal is to help rural communities grow by focusing

on entrepreneurship development, Blanton said. Another related program is the Youth Entrepreneurship Competition. Aimed at youth, the focus is on rural community success in business. Students will identify simple problems and think through simple solutions to create a business. “Ideas don’t need to be grand,� Blanton said. Some entrepreneurial successes for Larned in 2016 included the opening of Taco Bell. Also, owners of a successful local business, H & H Roofing, took an old restaurant and transformed it into a needed business, the Santa Fe Trails Laundry Company. Currently a laundromat, the options to expand into other laundry services in the future exist. “You have to continually look to the future, plan five to 10 years,� Blanton said. “While there are no current prospects for

big manufacturing plants moving to the area, the Chamber is continually looking for ways to encourage the community to be on the lookout for ideas.� One goal for 2017 is to survey consumers and assess needs or wants that may help existing businesses to remain viable, especially with competition with online. Blanton hopes to get an idea of what industry gaps are. How she will share those findings is changing too. Roundtables are being replaced with an electronic version Blanton will be sending out as a blast. While she admits to being “old school� in her preference to meeting face to face, it’s important to adapt and change she said. Everyone is doing more, and time is a precious commodity. She is above all willing to adopt whatever works best for people, and will provide quick responses to the needs of the business community.

Larned looks to strengthen ties, build new relationships BY VERONICA COONS vcoons@gbtribune.com

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he City of Larned will start the year by undergoing a transition from the current city manager, Lane Massey, to a new city manager as yet to be announced. In January, the city council and mayor scheduled interviews with applicants for the position, and according to Mayor William Nusser, they are hopeful that the position will be accepted and a new city manager announced soon. In December, 2016, Monica Steinert was promoted to City Finance Director, and will be working with Nusser and the council on an updated long range financial plan for the city. The current plan has been on the shelf for a while, Nusser said, and now it’s time to make adjustments.

Nusser is looking forward to building strong relationships there that will allow the city and the county to better partner on solutions, such as the clean up from the recent January ice storm that resulted in mountains of broken tree limbs around the county, as well as power outages throughout the area. Some projects that were started in 2016 and expected to be wrapped up in 2017 include the airport maintenance facility project and an additional KLINK project on US-56 west towards Kinsley. The city will also continue its efforts to rehabilitate water wells. So far two have been replaced and at the January city council meeting, approval to move forward with work on a third well was given. These wells were deteriorating due to age, and are one example of why the city needs to review its long-range fiscal plan, Nusser said.

Also, a sewer lift station is set to be replaced, in partnership with USD 495 as part of the recent school bond issue that is affording the district an opportunity to build a new elementary school and make security and other upgrades to the high school. There is new leadership at USD 495 also, and as the city and school district work together to bring about a successful project, Nusser looks to strengthening relationships there also. At the end of school, three Larned schools will shut their doors, destined to be sold by the school district. A condition of the school bond issue directs USD 495 to either sell the buildings or demolish them in a timely period. Then, in August, students will enter the doors of their new elementary school located at the northern edge of the city. The new school will accommodate grades PreK-

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5, Nusser said. In mid-January, the district’s website included a link for a name survey for the new school. Work on the high school’s plumbing and electric systems is progressing, and should be finished in time for the start of the 20172018 school year. Improvements will also close the campus, providing students more security. One feature is a community fitness center that residents will be provided card access to. Also in 2017, the city will be celebrating another All School Reunion during Santa Fe Trail Days in June. This is something that happens every few years, Nusser said, and the city will pull out all the stops to make it a special gathering for alumni and their families.

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GREAT BEND (KAN.) TRIBUNE • SUNDAY, JANUARY 29, 2017 •

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PVCH provides full arsenal of advanced imaging equipment SPECIAL TO THE TRIBUNE

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any hospitals across the country struggle to stay up-to-date when it comes to important imaging equipment, but Pawnee Valley Community Hospital is in a position of strength in the area of diagnostic services. Advanced imaging equipment such as Computed Tomography machine (CT), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) and Digital X-ray, is expensive, so not every hospital has the latest equipment and some don’t have it at all. PVCH is fortunate to be able to offer the citizens of Pawnee County some of the most advanced imaging technology in the region. What PVCH doesn’t have in house is provided via a mobile unit by HaysMed. “Many small hospitals like PVCH don’t offer these imaging services so we are fortunate to be able

to offer this technology to the community,� said Eric Lybarger, PVCH Administrator. “We are proud to offer in-house X-ray, CT and DEXA services Monday thru Friday. MRI’s are currently scheduled two days per week, but can be added on per special request at as we are growing that service.� Lybarger said mobile imaging plays an important role in providing services to patients. We are fortunate to have access to the mobile mammography and mobile ultrasound units from HaysMed. Some of the most significant imaging equipment at PVCH includes: CT scanner: The GE Optima 660 64-slice CT scanner features radiation dose reduction, energy saving design, plus builtin detectors that allows it to be upgraded into a 128 slice scanner, without having to invest in a whole new scanner. This CT scanner allows noninvasive scanning capability that in a single rotation can create 64 high-resolution anatomical image cuts that are thinner than

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a credit card and form a 3-dimensional view of the internal organs. In addition to providing better images, its speed is significant because it shortens breath holds during the scan, which can be a benefit for geriatric, pediatric, and trauma patients. MRI: PVCH utilizes a GE 450W 1.5T model with a wide (70cm) bore/ short bore that can ac-

commodate patients up to 500 lbs. An MRI scanner is a device in which the patient lies surrounded by a large powerful magnet and the magnetic field is used to align the magnetization of the atomic nuclei in the body. Since MRI exams can take from 30 minutes to 1 hour per body part examined, PVCH also offers cinema vision which is a headset

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and goggles that allows patients to watch TV while they are getting their exam. Although not every exam can be done with the TV because the headset doesn’t always fit in some procedures, when patients can use the TV it is helpful to pass the time, which helps reduce patient motion and anxiety, thus improving image quality. Mobile Digital X-ray: The advantage of a mobile unit is that images are available immediately rather than having to wait the typical 10-15 minutes for standard X-ray processing. The mobile unit allows Radiology personnel to X-ray the patient where they are, in the ER for example or in a patient room, and receive instant digital images without a wait time for the patient. There are numerous advantages to using mobile X-ray for technologists, patients and physicians alike.

Generosity made it possible Generosity from the community has made it possible for PVCH to

purchase much of this equipment. The gifts are provided through the Pawnee Valley Community Hospital Foundation, which exists to help meet the healthcare and wellness needs of the citizens of Pawnee County. Acts of generosity when the replacement hospital first opened sparked a trend in giving that funded the purchase of other important imaging equipment and facility enhancements such as the Healing Garden. “We’ve been fortunate to have very generous individuals and organizations donate funds to Pawnee Valley Community Hospital Foundation through the years to make it possible for the hospital to be in a great position from an imaging technology standpoint,� Lybarger said. “These donors understood the opportunity they had to help purchase something that significantly enhanced healthcare in Pawnee County. As a result, PVCH is able to meet the needs of the community and to keep patients from having to go elsewhere for their care.�

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• GREAT BEND (KAN.) TRIBUNE • SUNDAY, JANUARY 29, 2017

PCHS helping friends with four paws SPECIAL TO THE TRIBUNE

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awnee County Humane Society, Inc. is a non-profit animal rescue group operating a no-kill shelter in Pawnee County. PCHS’s mission is to prevent suffering, neglect, abuse and cruelty to animals through community awareness and education, promoting responsible pet ownership and ending the euthanasia of healthy, adoptable animals in Pawnee County. The group began in 2005 when some concerned citizens in Larned wanted to do something about pet homelessness in the city.

At that time the only option for strays was a three day stay in the city pound and euthanasia if they weren’t claimed by their owners. Recognizing that many healthy, adoptable animals were being put down for lack of a safe, caring place to stay until they could be adopted they decided to do something about it. The group was originally established as a steering committee under the City of Larned. Their first priority was decreasing the euthanization of these unclaimed pets. Without a shelter the group did this by establishing a network of volunteer foster homes. Caring individuals opened their homes, and their hearts, to these animals, giving them time to

find homes. As awareness of their efforts grew, PCHS also began helping with animals from Pawnee County. The group incorporated in 2008 as a non-profit charity and in August of 2011 they opened their shelter at the corner of 8th Street and Hwy 264 in Larned. Over the years PCHS has rescued over 2000 stray dogs and cats, giving them food, shelter and medical care until they are adopted. They have also returned hundreds of lost pets to their owners. All the animals adopted out by PCHS are microchipped, which is one of the best ways to ensure lost pets return to their owners. They also offer microchipping to the public

for $10 for each pet microchipped. The shelter is operated through a partnership with the City of Larned and the Kansas Department of Corrections. The city owns the shelter and pays for the utilities and maintenance, and KDOC provides inmates for animal care Monday through Friday. Volunteers care for the animals on evenings and weekends. All the operating funds come from donations and fundraisers. PCHS looks forward to a time when shelters will no longer be necessary because pet owners are responsible and pets are spayed and/or neutered. Spaying and neutering your pets is the best way to help reduce the homeless pet population in your community.

Eakin reputation set in concrete BY TRIBUNE STAFF news@gbtribune.com

services including sand and gravel, dirt work, concrete construction, ready-mixed concrete, and construction rental equipment. According to Chad “customer service is very important to us and going that extra mile for our customers makes a huge difference.”

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akin Enterprises in Larned is a local provider for readymix concrete, sand, gravel, and dirt for both commercial and residential projects. It has three locations across central Kansas: Hays Ready-Mix in Hays, Eakin Ready-Mix in Great Bend, and Larned ReadyMix in Larned. But, the company has a rich history in the area. Eakin Enterprises Inc., has been a family owned business for over 60 years. Currently owned and operated by Chad Eakin, the business was founded in 1950 by Chad’s grandparents, Wanda and Willis Eakin. Prior to moving to Larned, the Eakins leased a sandpit in Dodge City. In 1957 they purchased a concrete plant in Larned which was set up east of the train depot. They later moved the plant to the current location one-half mile west of Larned on U.S. 56. The business was run

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Eakin Enterprises staff works on the new Camp Aldrich building in Barton County.

by Willis and Wanda with the help of their two sons, Wendell (Chad’s father) and Nolan. Chad started helping the business as a young boy and opened his own construction business while still in high school. Another concrete plant

was put into operation in Great Bend in 2001, and in 2004 the Hays Ready-Mix location was added to the growing business. Chad purchased the remainder of the original Larned business from other family members in 2006.

The three locations currently employ 45 people. The main business office is located in Larned with Chad overseeing the day to day services and projects of the work crews. Eakin covers a very large area with a variety of

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Services: • Ready Mix - sand and gravel For over 60 years the Eakin family has been providing quality ready-mix concrete, sand, and gravel. Sand and gravel delivery is available by semi or tandem load. No job too big or too small. Free estimates are available upon request. • Telebelt and pump The Telebelt is a truckmounted telescopic conveyor that will reach lengths up to 110 feet. Perfect for moving concrete, sand, and other materials into hard to reach areas. The Alliance 37Z Concrete Pump has a horizontal reach of 106 feet and a vertical reach of 119 feet. • Concrete construction

Commercial or residential concrete construction crews offer professional, turn-key project completion for home or business. Sidewalks, parking lots, driveways, foundations, basements, excavation and dirt work. • Decorative stamped concrete Add polish and class to your patio or porch with our decorative stamped concrete. Hundreds of design and color combinations are available to make your patio or porch one of a kind. • Equipment rental Bobcats Skid Steers Excavators Loaders Trenchers Power Trowels Electric Jackhammers Concrete Saws • Demolition Demolition and debris removal services, crushing and recycling. The company is located at 111 Main St. in Larned. It can be contacted at 620285-2097 or www.eakinenterprises.com.

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olden Valley, Inc. is a farmer owned grain and supply cooperative formed December 1, 2001 by the consolidation of Golden Plains Cooperative of Rozel and Sanford, Farmers Coop Grain and Supply of Burdett and Tri-Ag Coop of Sanford. Located in Pawnee County, Kansas, Golden Valley handles wheat, corn, milo and soybeans at three locations with approximately 4.5 million bushels of combined grain storage. Our full service Crop Production Department in Sanford provides a full range of agronomy services including custom application of dry and liquid fertilizer and chemicals, soil testing, wholesale and retail sales of fertilizer and chemicals, application equipment rental, custom blending and NH3 outlets at Rozel, Burdett and Sanford. The Petroleum Department offers cardtrol pumps at all three locations and a bulk fuel delivery truck for on site deliveries. The Service Department, located in Rozel, provides a variety of services and products for farm and automotive needs. Golden Valley can replace or repair tires either in our shop or in the field with our on farm tire truck. At the Burdett location, Golden Valley operates a full service feed mill, a seed cleaner and a farm store offering a selection of hardware and farm supplies. Main office located at 102 South Main, Rozel, KS

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GREAT BEND (KAN.) TRIBUNE • SUNDAY, JANUARY 29, 2017 •

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H&H Roofing heads to new location SPECIAL TO THE TRIBUNE

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&H Roofing recently moved its operations to 614 Topeka in Larned, early December. Along with having a location in town to serve their customers the office also

serves as a showroom for the exterior construction division. H&H Roofing sells PROVIA brand products that are industry leading in quality, construction, security, and energy efficiency. In July 2016 H&H Roofing hired Brian Dreiling to lead their expansion into windows,

siding, doors, fascia, and soffit. Brian has over seven years of experience in exterior construction including window wraps, siding, windows, doors, fascia, and soffit repair. Brian treats every project like it is his own home, caring deeply about the quality of work he provides. His attention to details

and construction skills will increase your homes curb appeal, while making it more energy efficient. Brian has a crew of trained installers that produce high quality construction on every job. Janet and Justin Hammond have owned and operated H&H Roofing for over nine years. When

Janet was asked to comment about the business she stated “My favorite thing about H&H Roofing is the opportunity it has given not only my family but our employees and their families. We currently have 14 employees and owning a company that provides jobs warms my heart. I would

have never imagined H&H Roofing would grow to what it is today, but God knew. He has truly orchestrated our steps and we are so blessed he has chosen us to lead this company.” H&H Roofing is open from 8-5 Monday through Friday. Stop by or call them at 620-285-0040.

Local boutique dresses up Larned BY RUSSELL EDEM redem@gbtribune.com

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or many small towns boutiques are the thing of the past, but for Larned a group of women got together and decided to change that. Dress It Up is a store created by women for women, they offer the latest in trendy fashion including hand bags, shoes and accessories. This trendy little store is not your common shop, it was created through an idea that a store can be ran by the community for the community and offer what people need at a reasonable price. “This store is extremely important to the community,” Store Manager Teressa George said. “It provides the women of the community a place to shop, they don’t have to travel and being a community owned store it benefits everyone.” According to George, the idea of the store came about after a group visited the town and identified the needs of the community. One of the needs was a women’s clothing store. For 15 months, ap-

proximately 25 women of the community started to hold weekly meetings to brain storm ideas about what kind of store to open, building ideas, what items they would need and how the store would be operated. The idea that led these women to open this store and make it community operated came through in one of the meetings. George and a few other women that were involved in the project visited other stores that are operated this way and they decided to go with this concept. “After visiting these stores, we thought this was a great idea and it would be a great asset to our community,” George said. Out of the 25 that started this project, nine of them became board members that meet once a month and go over the operation of the store. The store itself has three part time employees and is open six days a week. According to George, the store keeps the inventory fresh with new products coming in about once a month and they try to provide something for everyone.

COURTESY PHOTO

Merchandise is pictured lining the wall at Dress It Up, 501 Broadway, Larned.

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Larned Golf Course 681 E. 14th Street, Larned 6 620-285-4955 Well maintained course features small & sloped Bentgrass greens with bluegrass & perennnial rye fairways. Includes sloping, dog legged fairways & tree-lined water hazards. 9 hole, par 35 course, course rating is 35.9 and it has a slope rating of 106.

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• GREAT BEND (KAN.) TRIBUNE • SUNDAY, JANUARY 29, 2017

Building children’s education from the ground up BY RUSSELL EDEM redem@gbtribune.com

The future looks bright for the children of USD 495. When they settle in to the 2017-2018 school year, they will be doing so in a brand new elementary school. “This is huge for the children and the community,� USD 495 Superintendent Jon Flint said. “The kids will benefit from it the most along with the teachers. They will have the newest technology, all the teaching staff will be in one building, students can stay in one building for six years instead of having to move every two years. Just having all the resources under one roof will be so beneficial to all.� According to Flint, they will take control of the school in July and hope to be moved in by mid August allowing enough time to get settled in before they open the doors for the new school year. The school is 90 percent enclosed, with all the drywall work done in the first wing of classrooms and the dry wall is going up in the second wing. Painting has been started along with drop ceilings being installed in other parts of the school. Most of the parking lot has been completed. “The progress is moving along very good,� Flint said. “The crews are hard at work and are on schedule.� The new school allows USD 495 to sell or demolish three existing buildings. State aid for the construction project is 36 percent. USD 495 uses five buildings for elementary education, but the buildings became outdated, according to Brent Hemken, co-chair for Foundation for the Future. “Our teachers have done an outstanding job educating their students in buildings which have

COURTESY PHOTO

Pictured here is an aerial shot of the progress of the new school.

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An artist’s rendering of the new elementary school building upon completion.

gotten older,� Flint said. “They have provided a lot of positive input that will benefit the students.� Current structures to be replaced include — Pre-K (3-4 year olds), Hillside and Sacred Heart; kindergarten, Hillside Elementary (1955); first, second grades, Phinney Elementary (1952); and third,

fourth grades, Northside Elementary (1965). The elementary school site was donated. A $250,000 donation cut the cost for the wellness center, which will be shared with the community. Other USD 495 buildings utilized are Tri-County Special Education Coop (1962); Larned Middle

School (1996); and Larned High School (1952), annex (1975) and south wing (1986). At the high school, $5.1 million of improvements and additions are underway. A multi-purpose storm shelter and weight room/community fitness center are being built. “We’re excited that the voters bought into the

future,� said Kevin Holt, a member of the Foundation for the Future, which backed the issue. “When you pass a bond issue, it breathes life into your schools.� Holt said the Fort Larned administration put together a strong case for improving the district’s buildings. “In Larned, we’re in the

midst of a bright future and this is the next step,� Holt said. “There were people who worked hard to educate the public. The work the committee invested was worthwhile.� The middle school is the district’s newest building, but it would also benefit from the bond issue. The plan will remove grade five from the middle school and return those students to an elementary school setting. More space will be available at the middle school, while fifthgraders will move to a more appropriate setting. “This bond is a positive step for stake-holders, students, staff, parents and the community,� said Troy Langdon, Larned principal. “The facilities will provide a place where students can grow with 21st century skills. There will be wellness opportunities for our community.�

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GREAT BEND (KAN.) TRIBUNE • SUNDAY, JANUARY 29, 2017 •

7

LASTING LEGACY

Son pays tribute to father BY JIM MISUNAS jmisunas@gbtribune.com

T

he 6-foot-6 bronze Indian statue featuring stunning detail is dedicated to Larned football fans everywhere. One of the plaques at Earl Roberts Field pays tribute to Brandon Bartz’s late father Michael with the inscription — “For the Love of the Game.” Michael Bartz died during the summer of 2013 due to a heart attack just before Brandon played high school football with his brother Jeromy at Larned High School. Their parents, Michael and Sandi, were Larned High sweethearts destined to be together. Michael Bartz played on Larned’s 1985 playoff team. Eighteen years later, Michael Bartz never got a chance to see his sons compete in a 2013 playoff game. Brandon said he wanted people to remember his father’s work behind the scenes to promote the local Western Kansas Junior Football League. “My dad loved juniortackle football and always wanted youngsters to experience the chance to play football and learn life’s lessons from the game. He grew up loving football.” Brandon wanted the Indian statue to be built first-class. He ordered it

COURTESY PHOTOS

Sandi Bartz, Jeromy Bartz, Fort Hays State University junior; Brandon Bartz, Larned High senior; Trevor Bartz, Larned Middle School eighth-grader.

from “Bronzeman,” in Los Angeles. The website writes — “All of our bronze sculptures are hand crafted and cast in the ancient ‘Lost Wax Process,’ which captures incredible detail and results in a higher quality bronze sculpture.” “It was very expensive,” Brandon said. “But when the people knew why I was making the statue, I think they sent my project to the

top of the list.” Every time a donation arrived, Brandon thought of his father, who had performed good work for others because it knew it was the right thing to do. Major $2,500 contributors were the Bartz Family, Kyle and Tamara Beckwith, Lewis Young, Jim and Suzan Haynes and the Larned Junior Indian Football Club. “I knew most of the peo-

ILS

ple who donated personally. I knew when they gave donations it was because of what my dad has done for others over the years,” he said. “It had nothing to do with me. People have been awesome.” Larned High teacher Janet Fleske knew Brandon had the passion to raise more than $35,000 in donations for the most ambitious “Do Hard Things,” English

project she’s ever witnessed. “Brandon’s project was special because he first had a ‘why’ for his project — to give honor to his dad and to the sport he loved,” Fleske said. “He then came up with the idea of the Indian. That’s why the project was so successful — he had the ‘why’ before he had the idea.” Brandon first got the idea of creating a life-size Indian

statue when he saw a stuffed Eagle at Kingman High School last year. Fleske said Brandon achieved the valuable lesson of engaging others to help with a project. “It’s to help them learn to achieve something that is too big to do alone,” Fleske said. “They learn to work with others, learn how to overcome obstacles, and learn to self-reflect.”

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• GREAT BEND (KAN.) TRIBUNE • SUNDAY, JANUARY 29, 2017

Fort Larned receives field trip grant SPECIAL TO THE TRIBUNE

L

ARNED — This current school year Fort Larned National Historic Site has received a grant from the National Park Foundation, the official charity of America’s national parks, to support the Every Kid in a Park (EKIP) program. The fort staff invites all fourth graders to enjoy their national park here in the heart of Kansas at this captivating historic place. The grant funds will help pay for most, or possibly all, the fuel costs for the buses that transport students. Fourth graders, in addition to other grades, will experience a unique education program that combines nature and history for a plethora of hands-on opportunities. The original fort consists of nine original sandstone buildings surrounding a parade ground. Students will emerge themselves in the lifestyle of the 1860’s military when going inside the buildings. Park rangers will facilitate exploration of the different cultures that interacted upon the Santa Fe Trail and at the fort. The buildings are not the only resources that are protected and preserved. Beside the bank of the Pawnee River with woodlands the national park acreage includes the prairie and an oxbow which will be part of a nature program presented in the spring to the students. This spring field trip season at the fort will be packed with opportunities for learning and having fun. “There’s so much to discover at Fort Larned NHS, and we’re excited to welcome fourth graders

VERONICA COONS Great Bend Tribune

and teachers to participate in the hands-on learning activities. We hope that our young visitors can develop a lifelong connection to our nation’s history and natural resources,” said Superintendent Betty Boyko. “Fort Larned NHS education staff prepares for most classes visiting in the spring, but every day is a good day to visit the fort – we even have rainy day activities. We encourage teachers and principals to make reservations soon.”

Private and parochial schools are invited to take advantage of the transportation grant provided they are utilizing buses. The grant is part of the Foundation’s Open OutDoors for Kids program. Fort Larned is a fee-free site, but the EKIP program gives fourth grade students, and those accompanying them, free access to more than 2,000 federally managed lands and waters. Visit www.EveryKidinaPark.gov to download the pass and obtain more information.

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tional parks and, through our support, the National Park Foundation hopes to share them with as many kids as possible.” The newly expanded Every Kid in a Park website has links to educational activities, trip planning, field trip options, the downloadable pass, and additional information in both English and Spanish. After completing a fun educational activity, the child can download and print a pass. The paper pass can be traded for

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“These grants are planting the seeds for lifelong relationships with national parks and their programs,” said Will Shafroth, president of the National Park Foundation. “By providing access to transformative experiences like listening to the sound of birds chirping, walking the halls of a school that tell a civil rights story, looking up at a dark night sky, or pitching a tent with a friend for the first time, these children are forever impacted. We appreciate the power of na-

a more durable pass at participating federal sites nationwide. Every Kid in a Park is part of President Obama’s commitment to protect our nation’s unique outdoor spaces and ensure that every American has the opportunity to visit and enjoy them. The program, now entering its second year, is a call to action for children to experience America’s spectacular outdoors, rich history and culture. Every Kid in a Park is a crucial component of a multi-pronged approach to inspire the next generation to discover all that our nation’s public lands and waters have to offer, including opportunities to be active, spend time with friends and family, and serve as living classrooms to build critical skills. The Every Kid in a Park program is an Administration-wide effort between the Department of the Interior, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of the Army, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The program continues each year with the then-current group of fourth graders. After 12 years, every school-age child in America will have had an opportunity to visit their public land and waters for free, inspiring the next generation to be stewards of our nation’s shared natural and cultural heritage. For more information, please visit www.everykidinapark.gov and follow the program on Twitter @everykidinapark, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. For additional information about Fort Larned National Historic Site please visit: www.nps.gov/fols or call 610-285-6911.

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GREAT BEND (KAN.) TRIBUNE • SUNDAY, JANUARY 29, 2017 •

9

COURTESY PHOTO

Pawnee Heights High School is where author and journalist Stan Finger attended. Finger’s novel, “Fallen Trees,� was published in August, 2016, and is currently available through Amazon.

Rozel home to journalist and author Stan Finger BY VERONICA COONS vcoons@gbtribune.com

R

OZEL — Earlier this month, we stopped in at the Rozel community center over the noon hour where we happened to run into the mayor and street superintendent having lunch with a crew of men who had presumably been busy all week removing fallen limbs resulting from the ice storm that hit Kansas Jan. 15 and 16. Nancy Wilson, the mayor, said that while are no big projects planned for Rozel in 2017, other than storm cleanup, the Rozel picnic, held in mid-August, will benefit the Rozel Volunteer Fire Department, helping to raise money for new equipment. Rozel is home to USD 496 and Pawnee Heights High School, where alumnus Stan Finger attended school. In August, 2016, Finger published his book, “Fallen Trees,� and the district website notes that two copies have been added to the high school’s library. According to his biography on Amazon.com,

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Finger grew up on a farm in central Kansas dreaming of becoming a writer. He made that dream come true, working as a veteran journalist for the Wichita Eagle. Here, a synopsis of “Fallen Trees�: “Robbie Richten is at a crossroads both personally and professionally. A promising relationship has faded. His freelance writing career in Kansas City is withering. He returns to his childhood home, a family farm in central Kansas, hoping to sort out his future. While there, he crosses paths with a friend and former classmate who has suffered a devastating loss. They connect anew, prompting Robbie to wonder if something more is possible. But then Robbie’s ex-girlfriend in Kansas City reaches out, seeking another chance. As he struggles to revive his writing career, Robbie finds himself torn between two women. Where will his heart lead him?� A Pulitzer Prize nominee and award-winning writer, Finger is also the co-author of “Into the Deep,� (2007) a book about a flash flood on the Kansas Turnpike that killed six people in 2003. He makes his home in Wichita.

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• GREAT BEND (KAN.) TRIBUNE • SUNDAY, JANUARY 29, 2017

Work continues on Burdett course BY DALE HOGG dhogg@gbtribune.com

B

URDETT — It’s been a long time coming, but its almost done. This small Pawnee County community known as the hometown of Clyde Tombaugh, the discoverer of Pluto,is putting the finishing touches on a putt-putt golf course. The facility pays homage to the town’s famous son. “We have the majority of the golf course finished,� said the spunky Katie Hammeke, president of the Burdett PRIDE Committee. “However, there is still a few holes we need to finish.� “It is kind of unique,� City Superintendent Leonard Mostrom he said about the course. Civic leaders are breathing life back to the carpeted greens, a project that started months before with an effort to revitalize the playground, as well. With the right promotion, proponents say, the little course could be a potential rural draw for those driving in the area as a place to stop, have lunch and stretch their legs while playing nine holes. Miniature golf has been around since the 1920s, but in Burdett, at the height of the putt-putt craze, a community group decided the town needed its own course. For the 1976 U.S. centennial, Burdett residents built a little park, said Mostrom. About a year later, the local Lions Club constructed the free miniature golf course as another community betterment project. “I never was a big golfer,� Mostrom said as he gave a tour of the greens, adding they are challeng-

VERONICA COONS Great Bend Tribune

Pictured is the putt-putt golf course in Burdett.

ing. However, use has risen and fallen over the years at many Kansas miniature golf courses, some which have been abandoned. At Burdett, because of loss and theft over the years, golfers must bring their own ball and putter something not everyone has laying around the house, Mostrom said. He recalls an experience a while back, when a “couple of women stopped by, and they just got excited about it.� Hammeke, a resident of Burdett since 2006, has been more than impressed with the community. “We having amazing friends to come help with the projects. We all bring our

children and they play while we work, sometimes they have fun helping us with our projects too. “It is awesome to see what people can accomplish when they work together! Friends make these projects well worth the time spent on them. She also has an investment in the town. “All small towns need everyone in their community to give back, in order to help the town stay alive and prosper,� Hammeke said. “I have four children now and I want to teach them to help those around them and get involved to make a difference.� That was Kansas promoters Marci Penner and WenDee LaPlant, who

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ventured off the highway at Burdett during one of their tours of the state. Their goal is to promote the state’s treasures and lure in tourists to towns like Burdett. What’s not unique about a free miniature golf course in a town of 245, asks Penner. Penner, executive director of the Kansas Sampler Foundation, even brought up the course at her Big Rural Brainstorm in Newton earlier this year. “The big group of 180 was brainstorming how to make that golf course a big deal,� she said, someone even threw out the idea of building a giant golf ball. Katie Hammeke, who works at the local coopera-

tive and is president of the Pride committee, said her group raised $19,000 in just seven months through grants, donations and fundraisers to put in a new play area for children a project she hopes is completed by mid-summer. That’s phase 1, she said. Phase 2 is to renovate the golf course, which will start with a community discussion tonight at the park. Not only would it be family activity for locals, but a stop for those vacationing with their family who are traveling down the highway, she said. “It is a unique feature,� said Hammeke, who moved to town seven years ago after she married a

local farmer. “Where else do you go where you don’t have to pay to play?� Lauren Long, executive director of the Larned Area Chamber of Commerce and an advocate for the project, said some ideas have included having hole sponsors or even rounding up clubs from around Pawnee County. “I think smaller counties sometimes think they get forgotten,� she said. “It would be nice to show Burdett does matter and this Putt-Putt course is awesome.� For now, she said, the group wants to make sure the ideas are something the community supports. “It’s really important to get every community together to work toward promoting economic growth,� she said, adding maybe all the communities in Pawnee County would want to chip in. “It’s a grassroots approach to community development where you are pulling together these different resources, whether it is communities in your county or the state of Kansas.� Besides funding needs, communities will be able to list supplies and labor needed as well. But if Burdett folks can get behind the project and get it going before that, she doesn’t want to get in their way, she added. Burdett epitomizes what she loves about small towns and the people and support that surround them, Penner said. Small ideas become big ideas. “If Burdett does it well, it will be an inspiration for other small towns to take it to a new level,� Penner said. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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• GREAT BEND (KAN.) TRIBUNE • SUNDAY, JANUARY 29, 2017

Santa Fe Trail Museum brings the past into the future BY VERONICA COONS vcoons@gbtribune.com

L

ARNED — In January, we caught up with Santa Fe Trail Museum Director Becca Hiller and asked her what interesting things are in store for the museum in 2017. We weren’t disappointed. Hiller, it turns out, attended a week-long educational seminar in October 2016 where she found new inspiration and ideas for the museum, and has been itching to get started. That, and the renovation of a key gallery at the museum, means there is plenty to look forward to.

Funding high priority

The seminar was the Fundraising Bootcamp for Cultural Nonprofits presented by the Kansas Humanities Council, which the Ft. Larned Historical Society board provided funds for her to attend. Since then, Hiller came back determined to build a planned giving program for the museum, something that they don’t have. She’s also planning to conduct a community-wide survey to help the museum pinpoint needs and the best way to fill them. “We are an education and historical organization, so it’s not like we’re going to completely change into the corner disco,” she said. “But within that larger framework, we need to determine how we can adjust how we do this to meet those needs.” Something many people don’t realize about the Santa Fe Trail Museum, Hiller said, is that all but a sliver of its funding comes from admissions, memberships and donations. “Our funding comes from the people who support us actively on a day to day basis,” Hiller said. “We don’t receive any state funding, and we don’t receive any federal funding unless we’ve received a federal grant for something, but then that’s very specific to that something.” Pawnee County also allots a small portion of funding because the museum is the official repository of the county’s historical documents, including birth, marriage and death certificates. The community’s support is especially important because in a county of 7,000 to have an institute like this that includes a 26,000

VERONICA COONS Great Bend Tribune

The newly renovated East Gallery opens Sunday, Kansas Day.

sq. ft. main building with nine additional buildings on a 10-acre grounds with a professional staff is practically unheard of in central Kansas. “The founders of our institute were looking to the future,” Hiller said. “They saw this museum as becoming something of a gem, that was a regional museum that told this wonderful story about western expansion, the Santa Fe Trail, settlement in this region, and be able to be pointed to as to where you go to immerse yourself in this history.” As the fifth director since the museum’s founding, it’s important to Hiller to honor that vision.

Gallery renovation big

The East Gallery renovation is where the most significant changes will be seen in 2017, Hiller said. There, staff members and volunteers are expanding and improving all of their interpretation in regards to the bison, trappers, the Plains Indians and the Santa Fe Trail. It’s a project that began a long time ago, but it wasn’t until 2016 that they were really able to get it going in earnest, she said.

interpretive way. A plexiglass-paneled cabinet called a vitrine will be part of the display, where additional artifacts and interpretation, including QR codes will be incorporated into the interpretation. Visitors can use their smartphones to read the QR codes to link to additional interpretive media, like videos, to enrich their experience even more. The day’s program will be about bison. A representative from the Barker Ranch, where Wally was raised, will talk about how he got into raising bison. He will be joined by the man who shot and then prepared Wally to go to the taxidermist, who will also speak about that process. Further into the future, eventually interpretive panels will be added to the “1919” exhibit, with a waist-high rail with interpretive panels added to each room.

First, much reading had to be done before the museum’s exhibit developer could get to work. First up was the display in the hallway where now three newly created interpretive panels display artifacts from the museum’s collection. Now brought to light, they lead visitors into the gallery filled with dioramastyle exhibits displaying the lives of native peoples and the wildlife that was common prior to settlement. Work on the new displays has been a painstaking process. Unlike the old plaques that consisted mostly of large fields of text, the new displays will feature a wide variety of media that will allow visitors of all ages, learning styles, and reading ability to walk away with a rich and memorable experience “A struggle for museums is figuring out how to get people to stop and read display panels,” Hiller said. “That’s been one of our aims.” The older panels, which date back quite a ways, were big long sections of text. “No one wants to read that,” she said. “It strains the eye and makes reading it more difficult. We want to improve that.” The challenge is to have the people who read the least be able to get the overall idea that the people who read the most have in depth. Museums are all facing the challenge of how to better interpret and engage visitors, she added. Studies over the years have revealed what works and what doesn’t, and things have come a long way since the Victorian era when displays with little to no interpretation were the norm. Then, people didn’t necessarily know what they were looking at, so they were unable to put the experience into context. Museums then began labeling, then added some text, and now they look to inform visitors of the larger context. It’s not just “back then,” but now it’s “this is how it fits into the larger picture,” she said. Museum science now understands more about how people learn, and what you have to give people so that they can walk away with that comprehension. On Jan. 29 at 2 p.m., the museum will present its Kansas Day presentation, as well as the reopening of the second section of the East Gallery, featuring “Wally,” the bison. Wally has called the museum home for 30 years, but now he will be displayed in a new and more

Rotating artifacts

Hiller said there are many artifacts the museum has accumulated over its history that are stored away, waiting for their chance to be on display. Being able to bring some of them out for the new gallery is something she’s particularly excited about. Those in new displays in the hallway, as mentioned, had been packed away since the founding of the museum. “People want to see the artifacts they’ve donated, and that’s perfectly understandable,” she said. But if people don’t become members, make monetary donations, and if they don’t visit the museum, then funds that pay for a staff person who could rotate artifacts doesn’t happen either. It’s a vicious cycle though, she added, because if the museum doesn’t rotate artifacts and bring them out where people can see them, then they won’t make donations, and they won’t pay admission to come out here and they don’t become members. So which comes first? Finding creative solutions and always being appreciative of the work of volunteers is paramount to the museum’s success. “We are always looking for people who will volunteer and do different things,” Hiller said. On her wish list is a volunteer who has the skills and interest who could create temporary exhibits. That way, more artifacts can be brought into the light. If this sounds like you, or someone you know, Hiller is waiting to hear from you.

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All Mattresses All Furniture

EACH

WFW75HEDW

WED75HEDW

*Price does not include pedestals.

Offer good February 1-18, 2017

All TV’s

2301 10th, Great Bend 620-792-3999 9

Main

All Vacuums

2013 Lakin Great Bend, KS 67530 Tel. 620-793-9361 Fax: 620-792-7857

Morton

All Grills

Get $25 off your taxes!

$

25

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TAX PREPARATION FOR NEW CLIENTS Expires April 15, 2017 Coupon Code: 33043

eric.doan@hrblock.com

10th Street

3 Blocks West of Main

www.hrblock.com

Hours: Mon.-Fri. 9 - 6 Sat. 9 - 5

Check Out Our Web Page: www.greatbendappliance.com

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