Ellinwood Hospital &amp; Clinic welcomed first-grade students from Ellinwood Grade School and St. Joseph Catholic School for a Teddy Bear Clinic, a hands-on event designed to help children learn how a hospital works while easing fears about visiting a health care facility.

Students arrived carrying their favorite teddy bears and stuffed animals, ready to step into the role of healthcare professionals for the day. The young participants began their morning with a welcome before heading off to explore the hospital.

The clinic began with a tour of several hospital departments, giving students a behind-the-scenes look at how healthcare teams work together to care for patients. One highlight of the morning was a visit with EagleMed and local emergency responders, where students saw emergency vehicles up close and learned how patients are transported during emergencies.

As they moved through the hospital, students learned about the work happening in areas such as therapy, the emergency department and the laboratory. Hospital staff shared demonstrations and explained how equipment and teamwork help doctors and nurses diagnose and treat patients.

After the tour, students participated in the Teddy Bear Clinic. They rotated through hands-on stations where they helped care for their stuffed animals by checking heartbeats with stethoscopes, applying bandages, exploring medical imaging, giving pretend immunizations and learning proper handwashing techniques.

The event is designed to help children feel more comfortable in health care settings while showing them that hospitals are places where people come to heal and be cared for by compassionate professionals.

“Our goal is to make health care approachable and fun for kids,” Kristy Rupe, Ellinwood Hospital Foundation Director, said. “Experiences like this help remove fear and replace it with curiosity and confidence.”

The Teddy Bear Clinic also introduced students to the many careers that make a hospital run — from nurses and therapists to laboratory staff and emergency responders.

Ellinwood Hospital &amp; Clinic partnered with Ellinwood Grade School and St. Joseph Catholic School to host the event and provide students with an opportunity to learn more about their local hospital.

For more information about Ellinwood Hospital &amp; Clinic, visit www.ellinwooddistricthospital.org or call 620-564-2548

Ellinwood Hospital & Clinic welcomes first graders for Teddy Bear Clinic

Little did Larry Vogt know that when he and the late Dennis Carson started spraying insulation into attics and walls that their successor would celebrate 50 years in business.

The proprietors’ last initials became what was called C&amp;V Insulation in 1976. The next year, Vogt sold his half of the business to Carson, who expanded services to include gutters, doors, windows, siding and more. The name became C&amp;V Home Improvement.

A few decades later, enter Matt Hoisington, who took ownership of C&amp;V in 2010 and added Kansas Doors in 2016. Today, the name of the business at 1107 10th in Great Bend is C&amp;V Kansas Doors.

Vogt, Ellinwood, originally became involved when the owners of an insulation-manufacturing company in Hesston approached him.

“I was raised in Hesston and became acquainted with the father-and-son team of Alvin and John Blough. They asked if I was interested in the insulation business,” Vogt recalled. “Since Dennis and I were teachers at Ellinwood High School, it was a summer and weekend job.”

Even though he enjoyed working with Carson, Vogt wanted to continue teaching business and economics, and tend to his involvement in Kwik Kar Wash. Carson resigned from teaching chemistry to devote himself full-time to his new company.

“After I left, Dennis expanded the services and we remained great friends. It was a great relationship. He understood why I wanted to sell.”

Today, Vogt said he can’t take much credit for the 50-year-old company’s success but is glad to have been in on the ground floor.

“Matt has taken a successful business and made it even more successful,” Vogt commented. “The important ingredient in any business is the kind of person you are working with. Matt is a great man to know personally and to do business with.

“Dennis would be extremely pleased; he liked and respected Matt. I know he would feel good about what has happened over the years.”

More background Hoisington will never forget meeting Dennis Carson who, in 2009, was ready to retire and sell C&amp;V Home Improvement.

“I was making a presentation at a civic club, representing the KANSASWORKS office where I helped match job seekers with employers,” Matt recalled. “Dennis was in the audience and beat me back to my office. He said ‘work for me for a year, learn the trade and then buy the business.’

“But impatient Matt wanted to buy it then. Dennis and I met about a year later and came to an agreement.”

The company had moved from Ellinwood to 2407 10th in Great Bend before finding its new home on East 10th in 2013.

“This building housed White’s garage,” Hoisington related. “We gutted and remodeled the building and put in a heated shop. A lot was happening on this side of town; the timing was good.”

While he credits the original C&amp;V guys for laying the groundwork, Hoisington gives much of the credit to his employees for the company’s success.

“Employees make the company, not the owner,” he said. “They are all accountable and responsible to our customers and our company. I appreciate Dennis’s foresight in realizing he had to diversify the business to make it work. Now our staff continues to succeed in all our areas of expertise.”

Hoisington started with six employees and now has 13, with a total of more than 230 years of experience. The C&amp;V division handles jobs within an hour of Great Bend; Kansas Doors goes from I-135 to the Colorado border.

“They all understand that we stand by our work, and if there is a problem, we make it right. I learned from Dennis that if you don’t take care of your customers, you won’t get return calls. Because of this, most of our business is word-of-mouth, with repeat customers and referrals.”

C&V Kansas Doors celebrates 50 years of serving local, area customers

Great Bend Recreation Commission March 9, 2026 4 p.m. Carl Soden Recreation Center

1. Call to Order 1.1 Adoption of Agenda: Action Item 1.2 Introduction of Guests

2. Consent Agenda: Action Item 2.1 Minutes: February 9th, 2026 2.2 Bills Payable 2.3 Financial Reports

3. Communications 3.1 Liaison Report USD#428/City of Great Bend 3.2 Board Members’ Comments

4. Old Business Reports 4.1 Enrichment Report 4.2 Fitness-Heath-Wellness Report 4.3 Sports Report 4.4 February Attendance Report

5. New Business 5.1 Golf Course Update: Information Item

Great Bend Rec Commission board meeting (March 9)

USD 428 BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING March 9, 2026 5 p.m.

1. CALL TO ORDER 1.1 Roll Call 1.2 Adoption of Agenda 1.3 Recognition of Visitors 1.4 Request to Speak Reminder · Persons may present ideas or concerns regarding USD 428. The Board will take no action at this meeting. Such items will be referred to the appropriate administrator(s) for future information and researched and reported back to the Board at a later meeting. Personalities and behavior of employees are not to be presented during this period but are to be reported to the employee’s immediate supervisor. The president shall determine the amount of time to be spent for citizen participation.

2. COMMUNICATIONS · Board Member Comments · USD 428 Education Foundation · Written Communications / Correspondence

3. RECOGNITIONS / PRESENTATIONS · USD 428 Career Milestone Program Each year, the Board of Education formally recognizes district employees for their continued commitment to Great Bend Public Schools. Service milestones are honored in five-year increments. For the 2026 recognition cycle, 69 staff members have reached service milestones, representing a cumulative 920 years of service to the district. Staff members who have achieved 20 or more years of service have been invited to the meeting to be recognized by the Board of Education and Administration.

· Director’s Report Each month, a district director will present department updates to board members. Matt Westerhaus, District Activities Director, will present a report to the board at this meeting.

4. UNFINISHED BUSINESS A. Second Reading 7-12 ELA Curriculum Adoption (Refer to Mrs. Blevins) (Attachment 4.A) In February, the 7-12 ELA curriculum team presented Savvas MyPerspectives as their recommendation for the adoption of materials for the PreK-12 English Language Arts curriculum. MyPerspectives is a rigorous curriculum that delivers deeper knowledge aligned with standards. At this Second Reading, the administration recommends approval.

5. NEW BUSINESS A. Approval of Pilot materials - Imagine Learning Traverse (Refer to Mrs. Blevins) (Attachment) Mrs. Blevins will update the Board on Imagine Learning Traverse for grades 9-12. The administration recommends approval to purchase the social studies pilot materials for $4,400. The social studies pilot will take place in fall 2026.

B. Approval of Fire Panel Quotes (Refer to Mr. Popp) (Attachment) Fire panel systems in each school across the district are outdated and need replacement. Mr. Popp will give an update on the fire panel systems at the schools and recommend based on the quotes received.

C. Approval of KASB Conflict Letter and Waiver (Refer to Mr. Thexton) (Attachment 5.B) The Barton County Special Services is requesting KASB legal support to review and update the Special Services Cooperative Agreement for member districts USD 355, 403, 431, and 428. Because a single KASB attorney would be advising all districts on the same agreement, each board must approve a Waiver of Conflict acknowledging the shared representation and that KASB cannot withhold agreement-related information from any member district. The administration requests approval of the waiver.

6. CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION REPORT (Refer to Assistant Superintendent JoAnn Blevins) A. KESA 2026 Action Plan Administration will share the 2026 KESA Action Plan that will guide school improvement efforts around balanced assessment. The administration recommends board approval of this plan.

B. Preschool and Kindergarten Pre-Enrollment The district's annual Preschool and Kindergarten Pre-Enrollment is scheduled for Wednesday, April 8, from 5:00 to 7:30 pm at Little Panthers Preschool/District Education Center. The event provides new families with information about USD 428 Preschool and Kindergarten programs. Families of current LPP students do not need to attend.

C. Summer School 2026 Planning Mrs. Blevins will share the initial work being completed to prepare for student learning during the summer of 2026.

D. Summer Professional Development Mrs. Blevins will share with the board details for summer professional learning opportunities for teachers.

E. Curriculum Meeting (Attachment 6.E) § Curriculum Steering Committee: Minutes 3/3/26, Next meeting 5/5/26 § Professional Development Council (PDC) Minutes 3/2/26. Next meeting 4/6/26

7. BUSINESS AND OPERATIONS REPORT (Refer to Assistant Superintendent John Popp) A. Safety Committee Update The Safety Committee continues to discuss security threats and emergency reunification plans. Several committee members have attended school security training. All employees receive training on the district’s Standard Response Protocol.

B. Project Updates Board members and the administration will discuss updates on the following projects. § GBHS HVAC Project § District Camera System – Park and Riley Cameras § Roofing Projects: Park, GBHS Gym, Pac/Fieldhouse connection area § GBMS Parking Lot (bids due 2:00 p.m. on 3/24/2026)

8. SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT (Refer to Superintendent Khris Thexton) A. Legislative Update Mr. Thexton will discuss current Legislative issues affecting school districts.

D. Approval of Grants / Contributions (Attachment)

10. CONSENT AGENDA A. Approval of BOE Meeting Minutes [February 10 and February 26, 2025] B. Bills and Financial Reports C. Personnel Report

11. EXECUTIVE SESSION The Board of Education will recess into executive session. No action is expected after the session.

“Madam President, I move that the Board recess into executive session to discuss negotiated staff topics pursuant to the exception for employer-employee negotiations under KOMA. The open meeting will resume in this Board room at : P.M.”

12. UPCOMING MEETING DATES · No School on Friday, March 13, for Teacher Grading/Collaboration. · Spring Break: USD 428 will observe Spring Break March 16-20, 2026. · IBB Negotiation Meeting at 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, at the District Education Center. · BOE Luncheon Meeting: Wednesday, March 25, 2026, at Little Panthers Preschool. · Preschool and Kindergarten Pre-Enrollment: 5:00-7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, at the Little Panthers Preschool/District Education Center, located at 1809 24th Street. Current LPP students do not need to attend. · BOE Regular Meeting: The next BOE regular monthly meeting is scheduled for April 13, 2026, at the District Education Center.

USD 428 Board of Education meeting agenda (March 9)

A Kansas Senate bill that would eventually eliminate property taxes in the state is scheduled for a public hearing on Tuesday.

The Kansas Senate Committee on Federal and State Affairs will hold a hearing on Senate Bill 488 at 9:30 a.m. on March 10. The measure is titled the Kansas Property Tax Freedom Act of 2026.

The proposal would phase out property taxes over several years. Under the bill, local governments would be limited to 50% of their 2025 mill levy in tax year 2026 and 25% of the 2025 levy in 2027. Beginning in 2028, property taxes on real and personal property would be prohibited under the plan.

To replace lost revenue, the legislation would establish a “Kansas fair share purchase surcharge” beginning Jan. 1, 2027. Purchases of $20 or more would carry a flat $1.60 surcharge, while purchases under $20 would be charged 7.6% of the purchase price.

Revenue from the surcharge would be distributed primarily to local governments and schools, with 48% allocated to school districts and 35% to counties, cities and other local taxing entities. Additional funds would support the state general fund and a reserve fund intended to stabilize revenue and potentially provide taxpayer rebates if the balance exceeds $500 million.

The bill also outlines exemptions from the surcharge, including groceries eligible for SNAP, prescription drugs, motor fuel, utilities, child care services and K-12 tuition.

Even if approved by lawmakers, the plan would only take effect if Kansas voters pass a constitutional amendment prohibiting property taxes during a statewide election.

Kansas 'Property Tax Freedom Act' set for legislative hearing

Booked Montoya-Rodrugiez, Uriel on Barton County District Court warrant #BT2025TR0398 for Serve Sentence. Bond set at No Bond.

Booked Caruthers, Crystal on Barton County District Court case #26-325 Aggravated Battery, Possession of Stolen Property, Interference with LEO, Criminal Possession of a Firearm with a bond of $20,000.00 Cash or Surety.

Booked Rouan, Jennifer on Barton County District Court Warrant #BT2024CR0066 for Serve Sentence with No Bond.

Booked Ramirez, Sergio on Barton County District Court warrant #BT2025CR0490 for Failure to Appear bond set at NO BOND.

Booked Klemptner, Jesse D. on Barton County District Court case #BT2025CR0126 for Serve Sentence. Bond set at NO BOND.

Booked Smith, Sebastion S.L. on Barton County District Court Warrant BT2025CR0208 for Probation Violation. Bond set at No Bond.

Booked Lynd, Tyler V. on Barton County District Court warrant #BT2023CR0016 for Probation Violation; bond set at NO BOND.

Booked in Carl, John D. JR. on Great Bend Municipal Court for Failure to Appear. Bond set at $500.00 Cash or Surety

Booked Cook, Andrew J. on Barton County District Court case #26-39 Battery DV, Battery on LEO, Battery on LEO, Criminal Damage to Property, and Interference with LEO; bond set at $2,500.00 Cash or Surety.

Booked Smith, Calvin L. C. on Great Bend Municipal Court case #26-339 for Domestic Battery; bond set at $1,000.00 Cash or Surety or 48 Hour O.R.

Released Smith, Calvin L. C. on Great Bend Municipal Court case #26-339 for Domestic Battery by posting a $1,000.00 surety bond through Ace Bail Bonds.

Released Montoya-Rodrugiez, Uriel on Barton County District Court warrant #BT2025TR0398 on Serve Sentence for time served.

Booked Kirby, Daulton on Great Bend Municipal court #26-0340 for Driving While Under the Influence with a bond of $1,000.00 cash or surety.

Booked Phillips, Wesley David Jr. on Hoisington Municipal Court case # 26-41 for Driving While Suspended, Ignition Interlock, and Max speeds. Bond set at $2,500.00 Cash or Surety.

Released Kirby, Daulton on Great Bend Municipal court #26-0340 for Driving While Under the Influence, posted surety bond of $1,000.00 through Ace Bail Bonding.

Released Rouan, Jennifer on Barton County District Court Warrant #BT2024CR0066 for Serve Sentence. Time Served.

Released Phillips, Wesley David Jr. on Hoisington Municipal Court case #2641 for Driving While Suspended, Ignition Interlock, and Max speeds. By posting a $2,500.00 Surety bond through Ace Bail Bonds.

Released Klemptner, Jesse D. on Barton County District Court case #BT2025CR0126 for Serve Sentence with time served.

Barton County Sheriff's Office Booking activity (3/6-3/8)

Monday Sunny, with a high near 80. West southwest wind around 7 mph becoming east northeast in the afternoon. Monday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 46. South wind 7 to 9 mph.

Tuesday A chance of showers between 1pm and 4pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 4pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 75. South wind 9 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Tuesday Night Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 1am, then a chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 37. East wind 10 to 18 mph becoming north after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 28 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Wednesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 53. Breezy. Wednesday Night Clear, with a low around 34.

Thursday Sunny, with a high near 71. Breezy.

Monday's weather

The Ellinwood Lady Eagles are headed to the state tournament after a thrilling 46-44 victory over TMP Marian in the Smith Center Sub-State championship Friday Night.

The win sends Ellinwood to the Kansas Class 2A State Basketball Tournament for just the second time in school history. The Lady Eagles enter state play with an impressive 25-1 record.

Ellinwood will face No. 8 seed Rossville Tuesday in the opening round of the state tournament at Tony’s Pizza Event Center in Salina. The semifinals and championship games will be played Thursday and Saturday at White Auditorium in Emporia.

Eagle Media will provide live play-by-play coverage of the Lady Eagles’ state tournament run on 100.7 Eagle Country. Plus, worldwide streaming coverage available at GreatBendPost.com.

Coverage of Ellinwood’s opening-round game will begin Tuesday, March 10, with the pregame show at 1:45 p.m. and tipoff scheduled for 2 p.m. Cayden Sanders will have the play-by-play call.

Eagle Media is also seeking sponsors to support the Ellinwood state tournament broadcasts. Businesses, organizations or individuals interested in sponsoring coverage can call the Eagle Media Center at 620-792-3647, contact their Eagle Media sales representative, or email <a>gbsales@eaglemedia.com</a> for more information. Deadline to Sponsor is 5PM on Monday, March 9.

STATE BOUND: Ellinwood Lady Eagles Win Sub-State Thriller, Eagle Media to Broadcast State Tournament Run

The
drought monitor, as of Tuesday, March 3rd, indicates that much of
the southern third of the state, as far as Stafford and Reno Counties here with
it creeping into Barton Counties, is in moderate drought or abnormally
dry.&nbsp; Extreme Southeast Kansas is in
severe drought.&nbsp; We have gone from 64%
totally out of dry conditions to 54%.&nbsp; &nbsp;Our area is in good shape.&nbsp; The six to ten day forecast (March 10 to 14)
indicates a 40 to 50% chance of leaning above normal for temperatures and a 33
to 40% of leaning above normal for precipitation.&nbsp; The eight to fourteen-day forecast indicates
(March 12 to 18) indicates a 33 to 50% chance of leaning above normal for temperatures
and a 33 to 40% chance of leaning below normal for precipitation.

Today’s
topic deals with the possible effects of international conflicts on our agricultural
industry.&nbsp; This doesn’t have to involve
military actions as conflict between countries comes in many forms.&nbsp; In general terms, what are the possible
effects, both good and bad, on producers when nations come into conflict?

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; During
World War I, American agriculture saw a boom as the war in Europe opened
markets for our agricultural products overseas.&nbsp;
The downside was that after the end of the war, there was a major
collapse in demand overseas and American agriculture was in a “depression” long
before 1929.

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Union
farmers did quite well during the Civil War with the major challenge being able
to obtain enough help.&nbsp; Many ag companies
made fortunes selling provisions to the government for troops.&nbsp; Ferdinand Schumacher and Robert Stuart took
founded their fledgling company in the 1850s and later split.&nbsp; Schumacher’s company moved to Akron Ohio and
made a fortune during the war.&nbsp; You know
his company today as Quaker Oats.&nbsp; 

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; World
War II also saw a boom for agricultural commodities.&nbsp; Food production was deemed so essential that
draft exemptions were available for farmers.&nbsp;
Again, the major challenge was enough labor.&nbsp; Many of you may be familiar with the German
POW camps in Kansas and in many cases, this helped provide labor.

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Food
programs such as USAID and others were used during the conflict of the Cold War
as a way to help nations in need and to stave off communism.

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; During
the Carter administration, after the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, sales were
halted to the Soviet Bloc and significantly hurt commodity prices.

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The
“Tariff Wars” caused a spike in all aspects of input and machinery costs and
negatively effect commodity prices due to export disruptions.

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; More
recently starting with Desert Storm and up through the current conflict with
Iran, and you can through the Ukraine War in there, these conflicts have caused
spikes in oil prices and that has increased fuel prices for ag as well as the
costs for nitrogen and other fertilizers.&nbsp;
Exports of commodities such as wheat are being disrupted with all that’s
going on in the Middle East.

Barton Ag Instructor Dr. Vic Martin - International Conflict and Agriculture

By DALE HOGG Hogg Strategies &amp; Stories

From a tiny garage-sized location with three employees to a regional home-service industry leader, Stueder Contractors Inc. has defined the "American Dream" in Great Bend for four decades. In recognition of that journey, the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce named the company its 2025 Business of the Year.

The business joined Citizen of the Year Nancy Sundahl, Legacy Award recipient Mark Calcara and NextGen Leader of the Year Cody Harris as honorees during the chamber’s 104th annual awards banquet Saturday, Feb. 28, at the Great Bend Events Center.

“It’s very humbling,” Terry Stueder said of the honor, looking at a display of photographs tracing the company’s 42-year history. Looking at the list of past recipients, he said it is hard to imagine they belong in such rarified company.

The Business of the Year Award recognizes local companies that demonstrate excellence and leadership in the marketplace. The award is open to chamber members who excel in five key areas: customer service, business growth, resilience, community engagement and innovation. According to the chamber, the honor highlights businesses that lead with integrity and serve as an inspiration to the community.

To qualify, businesses must show measurable growth and a commitment to improving products or services while contributing to the betterment of Great Bend through local initiatives. Stueder Contractors has shown particular resilience, expanding its footprint multiple times—including a major renovation of its 10th Street storefront five years ago - to meet community needs.

Founded in August 1984 by rural Claflin native Terry Stueder, who was 22 at the time, and his wife Great Bend native MelEesa Stueder, then a senior at Kansas State University, the company began with Terry, one technician and a part-time secretary. He took over an Ellinwood business whose owner was nearing retirement, opened in Great Bend and grew it from there.

Today, the business has 22 employees and a fleet of 15 service trucks, providing a full suite of services including heating, cooling, plumbing, electrical and water treatment.

The business began in a space barely larger than a garage with a small attached office. Roughly five years later, the Stueders outgrew the rental property and purchased the building adjacent to their current site. While they expected the new location to last a lifetime because it tripled their square footage, they outgrew the space in two years and purchased their current facility, which they have also expanded and remodeled.

The chamber played a pivotal role in the company's early success, dating back to when Irv Gotsche first invited Terry to join the organization while the business was just starting.

“That was one of the best decisions I've ever made,” Terry said. Because the business lacked an advertising budget, the networking opportunities the chamber offered helped propel the fledgling operation to what it is today.

The Stueder family’s connection to the chamber runs deep; Terry served as an ambassador and as board chair in 1999.

Beyond the chamber, MelEesa said the community has been supportive. “They’ve been very good to us. We just want to give back where we can. We’ve been blessed.” The company contributes to many organizations and fundraising efforts.

Additionally, Terry said they saw a need for a home and garden show and sponsored the Spring Expo for more than 20 years. Even though they do not golf, they are contributing to the Great Bend Recreation Commission’s effort to revamp the former Club at StoneRidge golf course because they see the need for such a facility.

“It hasn’t always been like this,” MelEesa said, adding that many see their 10th Street storefront and fleet of trucks and assume it has always been successful. “We started from nothing.”

When they were first married, MelEesa had a job with the Pizza Hut corporate office in Wichita to support the business. She commuted, or the couple would meet in Hutchinson just to see one another.

Now, Terry is still involved every day, just in a less hands-on capacity. While he used to run service calls and handle all the estimating, their current crew has allowed him to take a break from those specific tasks. “They are what make us tick,” he said.

Several of their staff members have worked for the company for over 25 years. They include Steve Wondra, water treatment sales; Alan Crowther, plumbing manager; Gary Wondra, HVAC sales; and Marla Poppelreiter, office manager.

“We hope to continue this into a second generation,” MelEesa said. Their daughter, Tarynn Kirmer (who lives with her husband Benn in Claflin) and their son-in-law, Rusty Newton (husband of daughter Evann), work for the family business.

Their other daughter, Brenna Marshall and husband Logan, live in Great Bend, and their son, Trent lives in Emporia.

· 2018 Keller Real Estate &amp; Insurance Agency

· 2016 Countryside Veterinary Associates

· 2004 Adams Brown, Beran &amp; Ball Chtd.

· 2002 CPI Qualified Plan Consultants Inc.

From garage to regional leader: Stueder Contractors named Business of the Year

By ELLE HUTCHINSON Barton County Media Consultant

Members of the Barton County Commission recently traveled to Topeka to participate in County Day at the Capitol, an annual event that brings together county officials from across Kansas to engage with state legislators and represent their local communities.

The event provided an opportunity for county leaders to connect with officials from other counties, share ideas, and represent the interests of their residents while visiting with legislators and others at the Capitol. County Day serves as an important forum for local officials to maintain a strong presence in the legislative process and ensure the perspective of Kansas counties is heard.

An important moment for Barton County during the visit came when Commissioner Barb Esfeld testified before lawmakers regarding House Bill 2745, proposed legislation affecting counties across the state. Drawing on her extensive background and knowledge in property appraisal, Commissioner Esfeld represented Barton County during the hearing, with the full support of the Commission in attendance.

Her testimony provided lawmakers with insight from the local government level and highlighted the importance of thoughtful policy decisions that consider how statewide actions affect counties and the communities they serve.

Barton County’s participation in County Day reflects the Commission’s continued commitment to staying engaged with state leaders and ensuring the voices of Barton County residents are represented at the Capitol.

Barton County represented at County Day at the state capitol

Now is the time to recognize those who go above and beyond! You can nominate a School Hero! On the fourth Tuesday of each month, Eagle Media will select a Hero to recognize! The winner will also receive $500! Nominate a School Hero is presented by: <a href="https://opikan.com/">OPI</a> (Office Products Incorporated) &amp; Golden Belt Printing.&nbsp;

Any adult who works at a school in Barton County is eligible to be nominated. Admin, Teachers, Para's, Coaches, Maintenance, Cafeteria, etc.

Nominate a School Hero! Presented by: OPI & Golden Belt Printing

Big Bend Custom Engraving, Freedom Claims Management, Great Bend Redi Mix, Francis Financial, Medial Park Pharmacy, R&amp;R Roofing, Allstaff Chartered, Miller Plastics, Rosencrants Bemis Water Well Service, Great Bend Rec, Jimlo Glass Center, Haz Mat Response

Make a Difference Contest 

- Water Cooler Monday with Garrett Fitzpatrick

Monday on Sports Day(Watch)

Great Bend, KS — Great Bend Masonic Lodge #15 and The Isis Sunflower Shrine Club are proud to host an unforgettable night of basketball, laughter, and community spirit as the world famous Harlem Wizards take the court at Great Bend High School on Thursday, April 16th, 2026. Doors open at 6pm for an exciting game at 7pm.

In this high-energy, family friendly event, the Harlem Wizards will face off against the Great Bend Fire Department. Fans can expect dazzling trick shots, thunderous slam dunks, hilarious comedy, and nonstop crowd interaction. Best of all, all proceeds benefit the local community.

More than a basketball game, a Harlem Wizards event is a fully interactive show. The Wizards combine participation that keeps fans of all ages engaged from the start to finish.

Kids wearing a Harlem Wizards jersey will be invited onto the court for pre-game warmups, and throughout the game the crowd will have chances to take part in the contests and on-court fun.

Since 1962, the Harlem Wizards have played over 15,000 games worldwide, raising more than $25 million for community organizations. Basketball legends such as Connie Hawkins and Marques Haynes once wore the Wizards uniform, and today’s stars –including Eric “Broadway” Jones, Dwayne “Swoop” Simpson, and Lamarvin “Showtime” Jackson—continue that proud tradition of entertainment and service.

Ticket Information Buy online at: WWW.HARLEMWIZARDS.COM

Don’t miss your chance to see the Harlem Wizards take on the Great Bend Fire Department!! It’s a night of fun, laughter, and community pride the whole family will remember.

Brought to you by the Great Bend Masonic Lodge #15 and Sunflower Shrine Club

Harlem Wizards Bring High-Flying Hoops and Community Fun to Great Bend

Bartonsports.com The Barton Community College women's bowling team broke through on the national stage Saturday afternoon, capturing the program's first NJCAA Women's Bowling National Championship at Royal Scott Lanes in Lansing, Michigan.

After finishing runner-up in the championship's inaugural 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons, the Cougars finally pushed through the door in year seven, securing the title with a 12,025 pin total to bring Barton Athletics' 61st National Championship back to Great Bend.

The Cougars set the tone immediately in singles action behind Tailynn Level's individual national championship, rolling games of 202, 278, and 183 for a 663 series, becoming Barton's third individual national champion in program history, joining Taylor Cessna's 2020-21 and Alexandria Newell's 2019-20 crowns.

Joining Level inside the top five in singles were Ellie Weeks, placing third with a 617 series (208, 204, 205), and Anne Timmermeyer, finishing fifth behind a 583 series (182, 177, 224) as the trio became the first in program history to place three bowlers inside the top five.

Barton also delivered a strong showing in the three-game doubles competition as the twins of Rose Timmermeyer and A. Timmermeyer combined for a seventh-place finish, rolling games of 368, 334, and 357 for a 1,059 series. Alexis Wareman and Level delivered the Cougars' next highest result, finishing 20th with a 970 series behind games of 300, 333, and 337.

Barton's strong start in the individual events carried into the team standings as the Cougars closed Thursday's opening day atop the leaderboard with 5,411 pins, narrowly ahead of Iowa Central Community College (5,359) and Mid Michigan College (5,285).

Friday's Opening 3 Baker block games saw Barton extend its advantage, pushing its total to 7,980 pins, keeping Iowa Central in second at 7,847 while Mid Michigan remained third with 7,763.

The Cougars carried a 133-pin lead into Saturday's competition, but the margin tightened during the Middle 3 Bake blocks as Iowa Central clawed within 54 pins, setting up a tight decisive final Baker stretch.

Over the final trio of Baker rounds, Iowa Central trimmed Barton's advantage to just 12 pins, but the Cougars remained poised down the stretch, never surrendering the top spot while converting in the clutch to secure the program's first NJCAA National Championship with a 12,025 tournament total and 54-pin margin of victory.

The Cougars' standout trio was also recognized in the All-Events standings earning All-America honors for finishing inside the top eight. A. Timmermeyer led Barton with a sixth-place finish behind a 2,185 total followed by Weeks in seventh with 2,179, while Level rounded out the Cougars All-America performers in eighth with 2,164, marking the first time in program history Barton placed three bowlers inside the All-America standings.

While the Cougars were paced by their All-America trio throughout the individual portion of the championship, Barton also received important contributions across the lineup, including Victoria Martinez, who stepped in during the Baker rounds to deliver in crucial moments off the bench to help secure the program's first national title.

Guiding the Cougars to the historic victory was head coach Mike Perry, who was named the Women's Coach of the Tournament, alongside the contributions of volunteer assistant coach Todd Pfeifer.

Barton women's bowling captures first NJCAA National Championship

Tuesday March 10 Class 2A Girls @ Tony's Pizza Events Center - Salina 2:00 Ellinwood (25-1) vs Rossville (15-10) Class 1A-DII @ White Auditorium - Emporia 4:00 Victoria (17-9) vs Lebo (19-7) Class 1A-DI @ Kansas Wesleyan University - Salina 8:00 Central Plains (24-2) vs Canton-Galva (17-8) Wednesday, March 11 Class 1A-DI Girls @ Friends University - Wichita 12:00 Hodgeman County (20-6) vs Pretty Prairie (22-2) Class 1A-DI Girls @&nbsp;Tony's Pizza Events Center - Salina 4:00 (Central Plains (18-8) vs Little River (24-2) Class 3A Girls @ United Wireless Arena - Dodge City 6:00 Holcomb (24-2) vs Ellsworth (17-6)&nbsp;&nbsp;

Area State Quarterfinal matchups

The Barton Community College men's track and field team produced a remarkable final-day full-squad surge Saturday to capture the 2026 NJCAA Indoor Track and Field National Championship inside Washburn University's Sneed Indoor Athletic Facility in Topeka.

Entering the final day sitting seventh in the team standings and projected for a third- or fourth-place finish, the Cougars erupted for a dominant Saturday performance to edge New Mexico Junior College by a single point, finishing with 75 points to the Thunderbirds' 74 while Iowa Central placed third with 72.

Saturday became a historic moment for Barton athletics as the women's bowling team secured its NJCAA national championship earlier in the day before the men's track and field team followed with its own title performance.

The championship marks Barton's 62nd NJCAA team title overall and the 11th indoor national championship for the men's program. The victory also continues the long-standing success of Barton's track and field and cross country programs, which have now produced 59 of the College's 62 NJCAA team championships. The finish also extended the men's program's streak to 12 consecutive seasons placing inside the top seven nationally.

The victory also adds to the coaching résumé of head coach David Schenek, who captured his sixth NJCAA national title leading Barton's men and women programs. Coincidentally, Schenek's first championship came during the 2010 season — the last time Barton's men won the indoor national title. Schenek was also honored as the meet's NJCAA Men's Coach of the Meet following the Cougars' title performance. The championship is also the second for fifth-year assistant coach Emmanuel Dixon and the first for first-year assistant Garison Breeding.

The Cougars produced 13 scoring performances and a wave of personal-best marks across the championship meet. After scoring limited points on Friday in the shot put and high jump events to sit seventh in the standings, Barton exploded into contention early Saturday behind one of the meet's most impactful events.

The Cougars piled up 19 points in the weight throw, sweeping the runner-up through fourth-place finishes as&nbsp;Jaylon Calder&nbsp;placed second with a personal-best toss of 18.65m (61-2.25),&nbsp;Gabe Daugherty&nbsp;finished third at a personal-best 18.25m (59-10.50), and&nbsp;Ilia Ciui&nbsp;added fourth with a personal-best 18.10m (59-4.75).

Calder later added another scoring performance in the shot put, placing fifth with a personal-best mark of 16.62m (54-6.50). His combined efforts produced 12 team points, the second-highest scoring total among male field event competitors at the meet.

Leading Barton's scoring charge was&nbsp;Chavez Penn, whose outstanding weekend produced 18 team points, tied for the second-most among all male competitors and the most among field event athletes. Penn captured the national title in the high jump with a personal-best clearance of 2.15m (7-0.50), improving his own seventh-best mark in program history, before finishing runner-up in the triple jump with a personal-best leap of 15.96m (52-4.50), also moving into seventh on Barton's all-time list.

The Cougars also received a championship performance on the track as&nbsp;Keandro Gordon&nbsp;captured the national title in the 600 meters, racing to a personal-best and facility-record time of 1:16.91, the second-fastest mark in program history, missing the school record by just three hundredths of a second.

Additional track scoring came from the 400 meters where&nbsp;LaMont Johnson&nbsp;placed third in a personal-best 46.32, moving into third in program history, while&nbsp;Simeon Adams&nbsp;added an eighth-place finish with a personal-best 46.94, now seventh on Barton's all-time list.

Barton's 60m hurdle crew added valuable points as&nbsp;Nizer Smith&nbsp;finished sixth in a personal-best 8.03 and&nbsp;Trevoy Smith&nbsp;placed seventh in 8.13 as both entered the meet with limited experience in the event.

The Cougars also delivered one of the meet's most memorable relay performances as the 4x800-meter relay team of&nbsp;Macdonald Jansen,&nbsp;Keandro Gordon,&nbsp;Sergi Gonzalez, and&nbsp;Shavan Jarrett&nbsp;placed third in a program-record time of 7:31.84, shattering the previous school record by more than seven seconds and ranking as the fifth-fastest performance in NJCAA Indoor Championship history.

Jansen later delivered a crucial point in the 1000 meters, finishing eighth in a personal-best 2:27.34 after leading the race through the opening 600 meters before holding on down the stretch. The effort moved him into fifth on Barton's all-time list while providing a valuable late point for the Cougars heading into the meet's final event.

Closing out the championship effort, Barton's 4x400-meter relay team of&nbsp;Emmanuel Adams,&nbsp;Keandro Gordon,&nbsp;Simeon Adams, and&nbsp;LaMont Johnson&nbsp;placed fourth in 3:09.56 to help secure the Cougars' one-point victory.

Barton will now turn its attention to the outdoor season, opening competition March 20–21 at the Louisiana Classics in Lafayette, Louisiana. Barton's NJCAA Indoor Championship Results 60m Hurdles: 6th&nbsp;Nizer Smith&nbsp;(PB 8.03), 7th&nbsp;Trevoy Smith&nbsp;(8.13 *8.09 in Prelims *1st Time in event) 200m: 19th&nbsp;Aragorn Straker&nbsp;(SB 21.51) 400m: 3rd&nbsp;LaMont Johnson&nbsp;(PB 46.32 *3rd Fastest Program History - moves up from 4th), 8th&nbsp;Simeon Adams&nbsp;(PB 46.94 *7th Fastest Program History), 17th&nbsp;Emmanuel Adams&nbsp;(PB 47.74) 600m: CHAMPION&nbsp;Keandro Gordon&nbsp;(PB and Facility Record 1:16.91 *2nd Program Fastest - missed record by .03 secs), 14th&nbsp;Furious Trammel&nbsp;(1:20.16), 16th&nbsp;Trevoy Smith&nbsp;(1:20.34)800m: 14th&nbsp;Shavan Jarrett&nbsp;(1:52.81) 1000m: 8th&nbsp;Macdonald Jansen&nbsp;(PB 2:27.34 *5th Program Fastest - moves up from 6th) Long Jump: 9th&nbsp;Chavez Penn&nbsp;(7.25m, 23-09.50) Triple Jump: RUNNER-UP&nbsp;Chavez Penn&nbsp;(PB 15.96m, 52-04.50 *7th Program Furthest), 19th&nbsp;Devon Williams&nbsp;(13.34m, 43-09.25) High Jump: CHAMPION&nbsp;Chavez Penn&nbsp;(PB 2.15m, 7-00.50 *Improves his 7th Program Highest) Shot Put: 5th&nbsp;Jaylon Calder&nbsp;(PB 16.62m, 54-06.50), 11th&nbsp;DeAndre Bristol&nbsp;(14.64m, 48-00.50) Weight Throw: RUNNER-UP&nbsp;Jaylon Calder&nbsp;(PB 18.65m, 61-02.25 *10th Program Best), 3rd&nbsp;Gabe Daugherty&nbsp;(PB 18.25m, 59-10.50), 4th&nbsp;Ilia Ciui&nbsp;(PB 18.10m, 59-04.75) 4x400m Relay: 4th 3:09.56 (Emmanuel Adams,&nbsp;Keandro Gordon,&nbsp;Simeon Adams, and&nbsp;LaMont Johnson) *Already has 2nd Fastest Program History 4x800m Relay: 3rd 7:31.84 (Macdonald Jansen,&nbsp;Keandro Gordon,&nbsp;Sergi Gonzalez, and&nbsp;Shavan Jarrett) *PROGRAM RECORD **5th Fastest in NJCAA Championship Meet History

Barton men's track and field surges to NJCAA Indoor National Championship

Extending the program's streak to ten straight Top-5 finishes, the Barton Community College women's track and field team placed fourth overall this weekend at the NJCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships held Friday and Saturday inside Washburn University's Sneed Indoor Athletic Facility in Topeka.

The Cougars totaled 60 points, finishing just two behind Odessa College for third-place hardware. Iowa Western Community College racked up 111 points to claim the national title, followed by New Mexico Junior College with 89.

Leading Barton's performance were a pair of repeat national champions in&nbsp;Alexia Walker&nbsp;and&nbsp;Asharria Ulett, as the Cougars produced 11 scoring performances while recording eight personal bests and four season-best marks across the two-day meet.

Walker successfully defended her national title in the pentathlon, capturing her second straight championship with a winning total of 3,564 points to become a two-time NJCAA Indoor Pentathlon Champion. In building her winning total, Walker claimed the pentathlon's high jump victory while adding runner-up finishes in both the 60-meter hurdles and long jump events. She later added to Barton's team score elsewhere in the meet with a sixth-place finish in the open long jump and by running a leg on the Cougars' fifth-place 4x400-meter relay team.

Ulett added Barton's second national title of the meet in the 60-meter hurdles, successfully defending her crown with a personal-best 8.25 to become a two-time NJCAA Indoor Champion in the event. The mark improved her previous best of 8.29 and moved her to second-fastest in Barton program history.&nbsp;Camoy Binger, whose 8.26 earlier in the season now ranks third in program history, finished runner-up in 8.40.

Celine Riddle&nbsp;provided one of the meet's most productive performances in the field events, totaling 14 team points with a runner-up finish in the long jump at 5.95m (19-6.25) and a third-place effort in the triple jump with a season-best leap of 12.25m (40-2.25). Riddle's 14 points represented the second-highest individual scoring total among all female field athletes at the national meet, accounting for nearly a quarter of Barton's 60 team points.

Natasha Fox&nbsp;turned in a breakthrough performance in just her second collegiate pentathlon appearance, placing fourth overall with a personal-best 3,222 points. The sophomore recorded three personal-best marks during the competition in the 60-meter hurdles, high jump, and shot put, and later returned to the track to compete in the open 600 meters.

Additional field event scoring came from&nbsp;Jahmeka Brown, placing fifth in the high jump at 1.66m (5-5.25), and&nbsp;Zadie Mackey&nbsp;finishing seventh in the weight throw with a personal-best mark of 16.73m (54-10.75), missing the program's all-time Top-10 list by just three inches.&nbsp;Shamoyea Morris&nbsp;also recorded a personal-best toss of 16.26m (53-4.25) in the event.

Closing out the meet, Barton's 4x400-meter relay team of Walker,&nbsp;Thomphang Basele,&nbsp;Maya Maldonado, and&nbsp;Narissa McPherson&nbsp;finished fifth in a season-best time of 3:47.49 to round out the Cougars' scoring.

The Cougars will now take some time off before beginning preparations for the outdoor season, traveling to Lafayette, Louisiana, for the Louisiana Classics on March 20-21.

Pentathlon: 2-Time CHAMPION&nbsp;Alexia Walker&nbsp;(3564pts), 4th&nbsp;Natasha Fox&nbsp;(PB 3222pts)&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 60m Hurdles: 2nd&nbsp;Alexia Walker&nbsp;(8.87), 5th&nbsp;Natasha Fox&nbsp;(PB 9.18)&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; High Jump: 1st&nbsp;Alexia Walker&nbsp;(1.59m, 5-02.50), 4th&nbsp;Natasha Fox&nbsp;(PB 1.56m, 5-01.25)&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Shot Put: 10th&nbsp;Alexia Walker&nbsp;(9.45m, 31-00.00), 13th&nbsp;Natasha Fox&nbsp;(PB 8.97m, 29-05.25)&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Long Jump: 2nd&nbsp;Alexia Walker&nbsp;(5.67m, 18-07.25), 12th&nbsp;Natasha Fox&nbsp;(4.81m, 15-09.50)&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 800m: 4th&nbsp;Natasha Fox&nbsp;(2:30.22), 5th&nbsp;Alexia Walker&nbsp;(2:32.70)

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