By MIKE COURSON Great Bend Post

Pie charts, by their nature, are created to simplify complex numerical data into an easy-to-see picture. Still, how the pie chart is split can be subject for debate. That was the case during Monday's Great Bend City Council meeting as city and county officials entered into a spirited conversation about pie charts related to property taxes. The debate culminated with Great Bend Mayor asking Chief of Police Steve Haulmark to remove Barton County Commissioner Shawn Hutchinson from the meeting. Council Member Jolene Biggs presented the motion that would allow the city to ask the county's permission to include another chart in the annual tax statements.

"My main concern is that the public, within the city of Great Bend, that pays property tax, understands what the property tax dollars are for the city of Great Bend that are going to be levied," Biggs said. "Granted, other cities, the school district, The Rec, they might like that also. That may be very difficult for the county to do, but I wanted to bring that up because I feel like that's important to the taxpayers, and it's important for them to understand that we're working hard here as a city to try and keep that down."

Hutchinson said the county offered an invitation to all taxing entities for a meeting in 2023. One of the agenda items was input for a pie chart. Hutchinson said the city of Great Bend backed out with less than a week's notice. Biggs said she recently reached out to the county for more inclusive tax data, but no one could provide the information. Barton County Treasurer Jim Jordan said he attempted to return Bigg's call twice, but no one answered. Hutchinson did provide the all-inclusive figures to each council member during Monday's meeting.

Of note on the 2025 graph is a slice indicating cities and the townships in the county are raising taxes to $10.45 million. A proposed graph from the city would show the city of Great Bend decreasing its taxes from a year ago, while the other cities and townships in the county are increasing taxes. While technically accurate, Hutchinson said the city's proposed chart is still deceptive.

"The thing that I kind of find hypocritical about this is that you put Great Bend with a down arrow, then you lumped all the other cities together to create an up arrow, when the one we already sent out gives three cities a down arrow and one city an up arrow," said Hutchinson. "So didn't you do the same you're complaining about?"

The county chart included a text box featuring tax information for the county's four largest communities. Great Bend, Hoisington, and Ellinwood lowered taxes by a total of nearly $350. That decrease was easily offset by a $32,000 increase by the city of Claflin. The numbers are easy to skew when lumped together in a pie chart.

"Well, actually, I wasn't really worried about the other cities," Biggs responded to Hutchinson.

"We're not really worried about you either," Hutchinson replied.

Hutchinson said he took the comment back before Schmidt began to explain that the conversation was Biggs' topic on the agenda, and she had voiced her concern.

"You going to shut me down, too, man?" Hutchinson asked Schmidt.

Hutchinson told Schmidt that's two First Amendment violations in two weeks, referencing the Dec. 1 council meeting in which the Great Bend Tribune's Andrew Murphy was not allowed the opportunity to speak per council rules regarding an agenda item.

"Chief (Haulmark), I'm done with him," said Schmidt. "This is my meeting. You can remove him. I'm not going to sit here and let him..."

Haulmark approached Hutchinson at the podium before Hutchinson and returned to their seats. Jordan reiterated why the county includes a pie chart in the annual tax statements, though Council Member Kevin Soupiset said council members are not immune to complaints from the public, either.

"I welcome any one of you up here on the board, the council members, to come sit in my office at tax time for two days and listen to the comments we get about our taxes our too high, and the belittling my staff takes from people," Jordan said. "This is one reason I did the graph, because I'm tired of us taking the beating for taxes."

Several council members agreed the information provided by Hutchinson may be better than a pie chart, but the board did vote on the motion presented by Biggs, which would allow the city to approach the county about inclusion of its own pie chart. The motion passed 4-3, with Urban, Davis Jimenez, and Gary Parr voting against.

Listen to Monday's full discussion above.

🎙️Pie chart discussion gets contentious during Great Bend City Council meeting

Booked in Dirreen, Alexandra L on Barton County District Court warrant #BT2024CR0383 for Probation Violation, bond set at NO BOND.

Released Weber, James L. Jr. to Kansas Department of Corrections.

Released Chapman, Daniel L, to Kansas Department of Corrections.

Booked in Ekker, Kelly A. on Barton County District Court warrant #BT2023CR0197 for Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Defective Headlamps; bond set at $1,000.00 Cash or Surety.

Released Ekker, Kelly A. on Barton County District Court warrant #BT2023CR0197 for Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Defective Headlamps; after posting a $1,000.00 surety bond through Ace Bail Bonds.

Booked Haines, Adyn on Barton County District court case #25-1285 for Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, No proof of Insurance, Basic Speed and no turn signal with a bond of $10,000.00 cash or surety.

Booked Fors, McKenzie M on McPherson County District Court Warrant #24CR248 for Failure to Appear with $2,500.00 Cash or Surety, and Barton County District Court case #25-1285 for Possession of Meth, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia with a bond of $10,000.00 Cash or Surety

Barton County Sheriff's Office Booking activity (12/16)

Wednesday Sunny, with a high near 58. Breezy, with a light and variable wind becoming south 15 to 20 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 32 mph. Wednesday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 36. Breezy, with a south wind 14 to 24 mph becoming north northwest after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 34 mph.

Thursday Sunny, with a high near 51. Windy, with a northwest wind 23 to 28 mph increasing to 31 to 36 mph. Winds could gust as high as 55 mph. Thursday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 26. Northwest wind 12 to 17 mph becoming west 6 to 11 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 24 mph.

Friday Mostly sunny, with a high near 59. Breezy, with a south wind 14 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph. Friday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 36.

Saturday Mostly sunny, with a high near 59. Saturday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 28.

Sunday Mostly sunny, with a high near 49. Sunday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 30.

Wednesday's weather

The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) urges sober driving this holiday season, one of the deadliest times on Kansas roads. &nbsp;

As part of the national safety campaign “Taking Down DUI,” which runs from Dec. 26 through Jan 2, drivers can expect increased law enforcement presence. Seventeen people died in traffic crashes between Dec. 18, 2024, and Jan. 1, 2025, with drugs or alcohol involved in 32 crashes that resulted in 26 injuries. &nbsp;

“Driving impaired is illegal and deadly,” said KDOT Behavioral Safety Manager Gary Herman. “Don’t risk hurting yourself or others. Drive Sober.”&nbsp;

If your celebration involves alcohol, planning ahead saves lives: &nbsp;

For more information on impaired driving, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://links-2.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.nhtsa.gov%2Frisky-driving%2Fdrunk-driving%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/0101019b27e4fca4-124fa694-61e6-4cbe-a1eb-578071b702d1-000000/lPO4KbJR47AHTwiQggd_4G_FYoY1vv_ngoa0NEg7kuU=435">nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drunk-driving</a>.&nbsp;

Kansas Dept. of Transportation urges drivers to stay sober over the holidays

By RYAN RUSSELL Stafford County Economic Development

Early in 2024, I began researching business gaps in Stafford County; specifically, industries where local demand was high, but services were either absent or located miles away. One need rose to the top quickly: diesel repair.

Despite the county having a large number of diesel vehicles - county fleets, farm equipment, trucking operations, and heavy machinery - there wasn’t a single diesel mechanic shop within county lines. Every year, hundreds of thousands of dollars were leaving Stafford County as residents and businesses were forced to travel elsewhere for repairs and maintenance.

As I started asking around to understand the landscape, one name kept coming up: Addison Willinger, a talented local diesel mechanic who had been commuting to Great Bend for work. Around that same time, Addison’s father, Troy Willinger, walked into my office to talk about his plans to build a diesel mechanic shop right here in St. John. The timing for grant support or donor outreach didn’t quite align. Business grants are rare and often require long lead times. Troy was committed to moving forward anyway without our support.

His determination paid off. By late summer of 2025, the Willinger family had completed construction and officially opened their new shop in August. Since then, Willinger Truck and Auto has been busy nonstop.

The Willinger’s also have long-term plans for expansion once the business is firmly established, a promising sign for the local economy.

The opening of this diesel mechanic shop fills a major gap in services for Stafford County. It keeps money in our local economy, supports local employment, and provides farmers, truckers, and residents with essential services right at home. It’s a great example of what happens when local initiative meets community need, and one more step forward in strengthening Stafford County’s business landscape.

Willinger Truck and Auto is located at 3 NE 40th Street in St. John. The shop is open 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, and Saturday by appointment. For more&nbsp;information about the shop visit our website at&nbsp;<a href="http://wtaauto.com/" target="_blank">wtaauto.com</a>.&nbsp;

New auto, diesel repair shop open for business in St. John

Well over half of the farmland in Kansas is leased. Therefore, there are lots of different lease arrangements, factors to consider and places where misunderstandings can happen. Additionally, many leases are still oral leases that are “signed” with a handshake.

One of the best ways to create a better understanding between tenant and landlord in most cases is to have a written lease. Having a written lease can lead to many topics for discussion that otherwise might not be considered. These, would include but are not limited to:

In addition to the previously mentioned items, a written pasture lease for example can spell out responsibilities of both parties in regards to:

- Grazing capacity restrictions and beginning and ending date of grazing season

A bonus of a written lease is that it documents the terms of the business relationship in case the contract is questioned. This can be especially important if the land changes hands.

Obviously, it is not necessary to have a written lease in order to have good communication between tenant and landlord but it can be helpful in spelling things out and avoiding misunderstandings and hard feelings. There may be some cases when introducing the possibility of implementing a written lease might damage the business relationship. Whether you have a written lease or not, make sure those lines of communication are kept open, visit with each other at least a few times a year.

Local County &amp; District Extension Offices have several resources concerning leases, written leasing arrangement forms, cash rental rate averages, Kansas Agricultural Lease Law publication C-668, etc. Go to www.agmanager.info and click onto the Farm Management tab. If you have questions contact your local County or District Extension Office. I can be contacted in the Cottonwood District Great Bend Office at 620-793-1910, and Stacy Campbell in the Hays office 785-628-9430.

The Cottonwood District will be hosting two meetings over Farmland Leasing arrangements on Jan. 8, 2026. Stacy Campbell and Alicia Boor will go over the ends and outs of good arrangements. Kay Prather from Kansas Agriculture Mediation will also be in attendance to answer any legal questions you may have over leasing.

The first one will be held at the Cottonwood Extension Office, 3007 10th St. in Great Bend, at 9 a.m. Coffee and Doughnuts will be provided. The second one will be at the Cottonwood Extension Office in Hays, 601 Main, at 1 p.m., and light refreshments will be provided. These are possible with a generous sponsorship from First Kansas Bank. An RSVP is appreciated at 620-793-1910 by Jan. 7. We hope to see you there!

Alicia Boor is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact her by e-mail at aboor@ksu.edu or calling 620-793-1910

K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity employer and provider. Kansas State University, County Extension Councils, Extension Districts, and U.S. Department of Agriculture Cooperating.

BOOR: Get it in writing - agriculture land leases

By DALE HOGG Barton County Media Consultant

High on the Christmas wish list for Barton County's emergency responders is a safe, dry holiday season. But that is a tall order for Santa, so officials are wishing for the best, but planning for the worst.

“In a perfect world, there would be no snow, no ice and no one getting hurt,” said Sheriff Brian Bellendir. But, for his office and the other departments charged with keeping the public safe, “winter is tough on us. We don’t know what is coming at us.”

“Generally, we’re prepared for it,” Bellendir said. But, as unpredictable as Mother Nature is, human behavior can be equally difficult to anticipate.

The Sheriff’s Office’s two biggest concerns are impaired driving and the weather, both of which are out of their control.

As for alcohol consumption, “if you drink, don’t drive. Get a designated driver,” he said. This is more of a problem during New Year's Eve than Christmas, but it can always be dangerous.

With the weather, rain, snow and ice can wreak havoc for motorists. “If the weather goes south, reconsider driving,” he said.

High speeds and slick roads severely increase stopping distances. “Take it slow,” he said, emphasizing the danger of black ice.

Summing up the roadway dangers, he offered two cautionary tales.

First, “wear your seatbelt,” the sheriff said. “My son was killed in August in an accident because he wasn’t wearing his seatbelt. Adam would be alive today if he had been.”

He also offered a historical footnote. “The deadliest crash in Barton County history took place on Dec. 31, 1969,” in a head-on collision near Dundee that claimed five lives.

Also during the holidays, “there are a lot of family interactions,” Bellendir said. Large family gatherings, seasonal stressors and drinking can lead to domestic discord.

This doesn’t just involve spouses, he said. Relatives can square off against one another as well.

Whatever the situation, “it comes down to using common sense,” he said. “We don’t get there until after something happened. It is up to everyone to be cautious and do what they can to stay safe.”

Preparing for the winter months is a marathon task for county road crews, who are currently spending time getting their fleets ready for the first major snowfall.

"The winter season usually consists of us spending a week to get the trucks, plows, spreaders, and other equipment ready for the winter," said County Works Director Chris Schartz. "There are various things we must do to make sure everything is working when we do get a winter storm.”

When snow or ice hits, Schartz noted the county focuses its efforts on treating the roads, but does not have a pre-treatment policy "due to the costs involved in that." Crews prioritize certain routes first to ensure emergency vehicles can access cities within the county. They are only responsible for county blacktops, focusing salt and sand applications on bridges and on the road sections leading up to stop signs.

However, the efficacy of their treatment options is dependent on Mother Nature cooperating.

"Salt only works to a certain temperature and if it is below that temperature, then it will not melt anything," Schartz said. "What we need is higher temps as well as sunlight."

Crews sometimes face conditions that force them to temporarily halt operations entirely. "Sometimes when the snow is blowing and there is little to no visibility, we will have to park our trucks until the visibility gets

better due to the safety of the operators," he explained. High winds also dictate how and when crews apply materials. "When snow is blowing, we will not put salt and sand down because it can cause it to drift up in areas, causing snow to stick, making it worse. Those are just some of the things that we deal with."

Communications Director Dena Popp has her list for 911 services, focusing on operational readiness and public education, particularly surrounding severe weather events.

Popp noted that the primary concern is ensuring the safety of dispatchers and maintaining adequate coverage during emergencies.

“With staffing, do we have enough staff on duty when severe weather hits?” Popp said. “This is something we have a backup plan for but depending on when it hits and where it starts, which 911 Dispatchers are available to come in without having to drive through it.”

The director also emphasized the need for coordination with other agencies, including Law Enforcement, Fire Crews, EMS, Road Crews for traffic issues, Wrecker companies, and Utility companies for downed poles or fires.

A key focus of the wish list is educating the public on the appropriate use of the emergency number.

“Do not call 911 for utility outages unless there is a fire or medical emergency,” Popp said. “We call the electric companies just like the public. However, we have emergencies — medical, fires, accidents, etc. incidents that we need to handle. We encourage the public to utilize their utility company phone number or website and call themselves. Please let us handle true emergencies.”

Popp also encouraged residents to monitor office social media pages for critical information.

“We encourage the public to watch social media,” she said.

Several Barton County departments have Facebook pages that offer real-time weather updates as well as warnings and safety tips. These include 911, Emergency Management, the Health Department, the Sheriff’s Office and the County’s main page – Barton County KS.

Finally, regarding road conditions, Popp advised the public to use reliable, dedicated resources.

“Please utilize Kandrive or call 511 from a cell phone, for road conditions. We do not have road conditions for roadways outside of Barton County.”

A Christmas wish list: Barton emergency personnel want to see a safe holiday season

Booked in Herzberg, Dale W. on Great Bend Municipal Court case #25-2066 for Aggravated Assault, bond set at $20,000.00 cash or surety and Barton County District Court case #25-1275 for Driving under the influence 2nd conviction.

Released Brown, Layton G. on a Great Bend Municipal Court case #202300552 for Serve Sentence. Time served.

Released Payne, Mckinley K. back to Kansas Department of Corrections.

Released Champ, Christina to Ellsworth County.

Released Villegas, Carli R. on a Barton County District Court case #8T2025CR0470 for Domestic Battery, and Domestic Battery. Released by Order of the Court.

Booked in Brohaugh, Michael C. on Great Bend Municipal Court warrant #202301280 for Contempt of Court, Indirect with a bond set at $555.00 cash only.

Booked Tubbs, Erin D. on Barton County District Court Case #25-1279 for lndirect Contempt of Court with No Bond, and Barton County District Court case #25-1280 Possession of Methamphetamine, Traffic of Contraband in a Correctional Facility with a Bond of $40,000.00 Cash or Surety.

Booked Herzberg, Dale W. on Kansas Department of Corrections warrant #2000055231 for Parole Violation, with a bond set at NO BOND.

Booked Grant, Travis L. on Barton County District Court warrant #BT2025CR0365 for violation of protective order. Bond set at $40,000.00 cash or surety. And Barton County District Court warrant #BT2025CR0366 for violation of protective order. Bond set at $2,500.00 cash or surety. Great Bend Municipal Court warrant #202400647 for failure to appear. Bond set at $2,500.00 cash or surety. Great Bend Municipal Court warrant #202400648 for failure to appear. Bond set at $2,500.00 cash or surety. Great Bend Municipal Court warrant #202400502 for failure to appear. Bond set at $2,500.00 cash or surety. Great Bend Municipal Court warrant #202400526 for failure to appear. Bond set at $2,500.00 cash or surety.

Barton County Sheriff's Office Booking activity (12/15)

Tuesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 58. West wind 6 to 8 mph. Tuesday Night Mostly cloudy during the early evening, then gradual clearing, with a low around 30. North wind 5 to 7 mph becoming light and variable after midnight.

Wednesday Sunny, with a high near 57. Light and variable wind becoming south 11 to 16 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph. Wednesday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 37. Breezy, with a south wind 11 to 20 mph becoming north northwest after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 28 mph.

Thursday Sunny, with a high near 49. Breezy, with a north northwest wind 23 to 28 mph decreasing to 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 43 mph. Thursday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 26.

Friday Mostly sunny, with a high near 59. Breezy. Friday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 35.

Saturday Mostly sunny, with a high near 61. Saturday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 28.

Tuesday's weather

The residents of Great Bend asked for it, and now they are getting a new pool. Monday night, the Great Bend City Council approved a new pool concept and a $705,000 contract with engineering firm JEO to officially begin work on a new 11,047-square-foot pool to replace the current city pool at Brit Spaugh Park. JEO's Brad Shores said the plan is to have the new pool ready for the 2027 swim season.

"We are wanting to move pretty aggressively on this," he said. "We're hoping to kick off design in January 2026, and wrap up that design in July 2026, with a contractor on board in September next year. The goal is to be open for the 2027, and you're not missing any pool seasons with this timeline. That's assuming we have a good construction season from a weather perspective, and that's assuming good contractor availability. We cannot guarantee either one of those."

The total project cost is estimated at $9.155 million. The project will be paid for by the city's 0.15 percent quality of life sales tax, which generated just under $730,000 last year. The new pool will be 945 square feet smaller than the current pool, which was built in 1936. The new design will feature one-meter and three-meter diving boards, a 34-foot-tall fly-time slide, a 31-foot-tall open-body slide, ADA slides, spray features, a basketball goal, and a climbing wall. The main swimming area will consist of eight 25-meter lanes, which may be used to host competitions. Great Bend Recreation Commission Aquatics Director Megan Hammeke addressed community questions about the design of the 215-foot-long lazy river.

"Every time that body of water disappears, you have to put a lifeguard there," she said. "We would have to up our number of lifeguards who work for us in a summer by a lot to have a bigger lazy river that would go behind things. This lazy river is kind of a good honestly-meet-in-the-middle as you get of one. Lazy rivers aren't cheap. It's not an easy thing to add on."

The first designs to come before the city council included a conflict between the fly-time slide and diving boards. Given the shared area, both would not be operational at the same time. The final design includes a separate 13-foot-deep pool for the slide, and a separate 13-foot-deep area for the diving boards, so both may be operational at the same time.

The existing feature slides and shallow water area on the northeast side of the pool will remain, and will need to be gel-coated and re-painted.

Before approving the design and contract with JEO, the council approved a notice and protest period for a GO bond that will be used to pay for the pool. The 20-year term of the bond will require a payment of approximately $560,000 annually, to be paid for with quality of life sales tax funds. Monday's vote started a 30-day protest period. If five percent of electors who voted in the most recent general election file a protest petition, that could delay or prevent issuance of bonds for the project. The protest period will end Jan. 25, 2026. 

Great Bend City Council approves new pool concept, design contract with JEO

News from the Oil Patch, Dec. 15 By John P. Tretbar

The U.S. is preparing to intercept more ships transporting Venezuelan crude oil following the seizure of a tanker last week. The operation had been planned for weeks, in the ongoing U.S. push to take down the so-called "Shadow Fleet," evading oil sanctions worldwide for years. This was the first seizure of a ship leaving Venezuela, which has been under U.S. sanctions since 2019. The seizure of the tanker, which is dubbed the "Skipper," caused at least one shipper to temporarily suspend the voyages of three freshly loaded crude cargoes totaling nearly six million barrels.

Reuters reports the U.S. Treasury imposed sanctions on six supertankers that recently loaded crude in Venezuela, and on four Venezuelans, including three relatives of the country's first lady. It was not known whether the newly sanctioned ships were among those now targeted for interception.

Crude-oil imports are up more than half a million barrels a day from last week, and from last year, at just under 6.6 million barrels per day. Over the last four weeks, imports average about 6.2 million barrels a day. The Energy Information Administration says that's nearly eight percent less than the same four weeks last year. Crude-oil exports increase 11% to surpass four million barrels a day. The four week average is down a quarter million daily barrels from a year ago at 3.8 million.

US crude production this week is up 38,000 daily barrels to yet another all-time record high. The Energy Information Administration reports output of 13,853,000 barrels per day. The four-week average dips slightly from a week ago but remains over 13.8 million. Cumulative production for the year 2025 has now topped 13.5 million barrels per day, another historic first.

Strategic oil stocks rise by another 200,000 barrels as commercial inventories drop. EIA reports commercial stockpiles dipped under 426 million barrels as of December 5, down 0.5% from a week ago, but up nearly four percent from a year ago. The Strategic Petroleum Reserve now totals just a few barrels under 412 million, a five percent increase from a year ago, and about 200-million barrels shy of it's peak.

The Rotary Rig Count from Baker Hughes is down one gas rig but up one oil rig for a total of 548 active drilling rigs. The count in Texas is up two; New Mexico is down three. Louisiana is up one and Colorado is down one.

The Kansas Rig Count from Independent Oil and Gas Service is 15 statewide. The tally in Western Kansas is up three to ten rigs. The last time we checked, drilling was underway on leases in Stafford, Gove and Finney counties.

Independent Oil and Gas Service this week reports seven newly completed wells in eastern Kansas, and seven west of Wichita, including one well in Russell County.

Kansas regulators okayed 18 new drilling locations this week, with four in Western Kansas, including one in Ellis County and one in Russell County. The KCC has approved 635 new permits this year, compared to more than a thousand by this time last year. &nbsp;The tally of Kansas wildcat wells drilled this year is down 23 percent.&nbsp; Independent Oil and Gas Service reports 94 wells completed in what amount to new fields in Kansas this year, which is down 28 wells. About 12% of the wells drilled so far this year have been wildcats. Total drilling activity is down 38% from a year ago.

An American company could soon take over sanctioned Russian oil and gas assets in Iraq. The huge "West Qurna Two" field pumps about ten percent of Iraq's crude output. Bloomberg reports the US government is backing a plan to transfer LukOil's stake to a US entity.&nbsp; Iraq's Oil Ministry last week said it’s approaching US companies to take over. Under current US sanctions, LukOil has until this Saturday, December 13th, to divest all of its international assets.&nbsp;&nbsp;

News from the Oil Patch: Skipper and the Shadow Fleet  - more to come

$20K Christmas Cash Giveaway Official Rules

Daily Registration Locations and Sponsored in part by: - Cornerstone Automotive and Tire - Mayo Money Management - GB Tires - Great Bend Appliance - Boone's Maytag - Z's Liquormart - Nex-Tech - Sutherlands - UPS Store/Westside Market - Nextech Wireless - Hoisington Veterinary Hospital - Memorial Art Company - Dawson Jewelers - Eldridge Fencing - Jimlo Glass Center

$20K Christmas Cash Giveaway

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 

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes underwent surgery in Dallas on Monday night to repair the ACL he tore in his left knee in a loss to the Chargers, and the team said in statement that he would begin the long rehabilitation process immediately.

The procedure was performed by Dr. Dan Cooper, a highly regarded orthopedist and the team physician of the Dallas Cowboys.

Mahomes tore the ligament when he was spun to the ground while trying to keep Kansas City’s postseason hopes alive late in the&nbsp;16-13 loss&nbsp;on Sunday. The team announced the severity of the injury in a statement later that night.

“I’ve had a good visit with him, a couple of different times. He’s in a good place,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said earlier Monday. “You know, he always feels like he let people down, but he comes back and he’s ready for the challenge ahead.”

There are a number of factors that go into how long the recovery time will be, including the severity of the tear. Most players are able to return to the field in six to 12 months, which means Mahomes should be back at some point next season.

Gardner Minshew will quarterback the Chiefs through the final three games of this season.

The Chiefs were eliminated from playoff contention for the first time in a decade Sunday with the loss to the Chargers, coupled with three other results that didn’t go their way. They had reached the past seven AFC championship games with Mahomes as the starter, winning three Super Bowls and losing two others along the way, including one to Philadelphia this past February.

“He'll attack it, just like he does everything else,” Reid said of the rehab. “There have been some pretty good quarterbacks that have had the same injury and done pretty well after they came back. He'll get after it, and he's got good people here to rehab him.”

That includes two of his current AFC rivals.

Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow tore both the ACL and MCL in his left knee in November 2020, and he recovered in time to play the next season, when he was voted the NFL's Comeback Player of the Year. Colts quarterback Daniel Jones tore his right ACL in November 2023 when he was with the Giants, and he came back to start Week 1 the following season.

Tom Brady tore his ACL and MCL in the Patriots' 2008 opener. He started all 16 games the next year and was voted NFL MVP.

The 30-year-old Mahomes has dodged such severe injuries for most of his career.

The worst may have come in 2019, when Mahomes dislocated his kneecap on a sneak against the Broncos. His most famous may have occurred during the 2022 playoffs, when he sustained a severe high ankle sprain; questions swirled around whether Mahomes would even be able to play the next week, and he not only did but eventually led the Chiefs to a Super Bowl title.

The Chiefs do not have another quarterback besides Mahomes signed for next season, so the last three weeks of this season could be an audition for Minshew, the veteran backup who finished out the loss to the Chargers on Sunday.

He completed three straight passes before an interception on a throw intended for Travis Kelce effectively ended the game.

“I've got a ton of confidence in Gardner,” Reid said. “I've watched him play with these other teams. He's started in the league. Our guys have confidence in him, and Chris Oladokun behind him will work, and he's been with us a while. Those are two guys we trust.”

Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes undergoes ACL surgery in Dallas, begins long road to recovery

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Flory Bidunga had 18 points and 10 rebounds to spur No. 17 Kansas to a 73-49 victory over Towson on Tuesday night.

Tre White had 16 points and a career-high six assists for the Jayhawks (9-3). Melvin Council, coming off&nbsp;a career-best 36-point performance&nbsp;in Saturday's&nbsp;overtime win&nbsp;over N.C. State, added 15 points.

Kansas improved to 273-9 at home against unranked opponents under coach Bill Self.

Sophomore guard Jamari McDowell started for preseason All-American Darryn Peterson, who missed an eighth game due to injury. Self said Peterson had quadriceps cramps.

Bidunga, who entered the night as the Big 12’s leading shot blocker, had two blocks in the first seven minutes and finished with three. He also scored KU’s first six points en route to his seventh career double-double.

A 6-foot-10 sophomore forward from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Bidunga was 7 of 8 from the field and 4 of 7 from the line.

Dylan Williamson scored 19 points for Towson (6-5), which never led. The Tigers drew within nine early in the second half before KU went on a 10-2 run. Kansas led by 25 in the second half and held an opponent below 50 points for the second time this year.

Bryson Tiller added 11 points for the Jayhawks.

The Tigers managed just four assists, although they did finish with a 22-12 advantage in offensive rebounds.

Still, Towson shot only 27.5% from the field and finished 3 of 12 from 3-point range against the stingy Jayhawks.

KU didn’t commit a foul until 9:11 remained in the first half. The Jayhawks hit 10 of their first 13 field-goal attempts.

Flory Bidunga has 18 points and 10 rebounds as No. 17 Kansas beats Towson 73-49

GENEVA (AP) — FIFA slashed the price of some World Cup tickets for teams’ most loyal fans following a global backlash and some will get $60 seats for the final instead of being asked to pay $4,185. FIFA said Tuesday that some $60 tickets will be made available for every game at the tournament in North America, going to the national federations whose teams are playing. Those federations decide how to distribute them to loyal fans who have attended previous games at home and on the road. Fans worldwide reacted with shock and anger last week on seeing FIFA’s ticketing plans that gave participating teams no tickets in the lowest-priced category.

LAS VEGAS (AP) — OG Anunoby scored 28 points and Jalen Brunson added 25 as the New York Knicks rally to beat the Spurs 124-113 and win the NBA Cup. The Knicks can now hang a banner next to their 1973 NBA championship banner in Madison Square Garden. New York's Karl-Anthony Towns contributed 16 points and 11 rebounds despite battling an injury. The Knicks dominated inside, outrebounding the Spurs 59-42. The Spurs led for much of the game, but the Knicks went on a 13-1 run late in the third quarter to take control. Each Knicks player with a standard contract earns an extra $318,560 for the win.

COURCHEVEL, France (AP) — Mikaela Shiffrin claimed a record-extending 105th World Cup victory after several of her top challengers went out during the opening run of a slalom night race. Shiffrin finished 1.55 seconds ahead of Swiss skier Camille Rast and 1.71 ahead of German racer Emma Aicher. Shiffrin has now won the opening four slaloms of the season and five straight including the final race of last season. Lara Colturi, Zrinka Ljutic and Katharina Liensberger each failed to finish the first run and Wendy Holdener crashed in the finish area. Up next Lindsey Vonn will be back in action this weekend for a downhill and a super-G in nearby Val d’Isere.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Receiver Davante Adams hasn't been ruled out for the Los Angeles Rams’ showdown at Seattle on Thursday night despite his hamstring injury. Coach Sean McVay said the NFC-leading Rams likely will wait until game time to make a final decision on the availability of the NFL’s touchdown receptions leader. The team remains hopeful Adams can play, although he won’t participate in their walk-throughs and practice Tuesday. Adams got hurt while running a long route in the fourth quarter of the Rams’ 41-34 comeback win over the Detroit Lions.

Top-ranked Carlos Alcaraz is parting ways with his longtime coach Juan Carlos Ferrero. Alcaraz announced the end of their seven-year partnership on Wednesday in a message on his social network. With Ferrero, Alcaraz has claimed six Grand Slam titles, including two French Open titles, two Wimbledon crowns, and two US Opens. Alcaraz expressed gratitude, saying Ferrero helped turn his childhood dreams into reality. He reflected on their journey, noting Ferrero's support both on and off the court, and shared his enjoyment of every step together.

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel is considering a quarterback change after Tua Tagovailoa’s continued struggles this season. Those were magnified in Monday night’s loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers that eliminated Miami from playoff contention for the second straight season. Tagovailoa threw for just 65 yards through three quarters, and the areas in which he has appeared to regress were evident again, from questionable decision-making to a lack of mobility that has hampered him throughout the season. McDaniel said he would give “more clarity” on his quarterback decision on Wednesday.

LONDON (AP) — Anthony Joshua's promoter says it would be “an absolute disaster and awfully embarrassing" if the British fighter lost to Jake Paul or was even taken the distance in their eight-round bout. Writing in a column for the BBC, Eddie Hearn acknowledges it is “crazy" that Joshua is getting in the ring with Paul, a YouTuber-turned-boxer. The 36-year-old Joshua is a former two-time world heavyweight champion and Olympic gold medalist. Hearn says the fight is part of a strategy to reignite the 36-year-old Joshua’s career while also giving him “one of his career-high paydays” for a bout on Friday that will be shown on Netflix.

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Macklin Celebrini has become the fastest San Jose player to reach 50 points in a season. He achieved the milestone with a spectacular spin-o-rama goal during a four-point night as the Sharks defeated the Calgary Flames 6-3 on Tuesday. Celebrini, just 19 and in his second NHL season, has 18 goals and 33 assists in 34 games. Only Wayne Gretzky and Sidney Crosby reached 50 points faster as teenagers. Celebrini's performance is a key factor in San Jose's current playoff position after the team struggled mightily in previous seasons. His exceptional play is gaining him respect across the league.

Curt Cignetti has been named The Associated Press coach of the year in college football for the second consecutive season. He is the first coach to win the award back-to-back since it was first presented in 1998. Cignetti has led Indiana to unprecedented success, with a 24-2 record over two seasons. The Hoosiers are 13-0 this year, Big Ten champions for the first time since 1967, and the top seed in the College Football Playoff. Cignetti received 47 first-place votes. Texas Tech’s Joey McGuire and Vanderbilt’s Clark Lea received two each, and Virginia’s Tony Elliott got one.

Terence Crawford has announced his retirement from boxing. The 38-year-old is going out on top, having claimed the title of best pound-four-pound boxer with a convincing victory over Canelo Alvarez in September. Crawford is the only male boxer to capture three unified division titles, which he accomplished with that unanimous decision over Alvarez before 70,482 fans at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. That gave Crawford the super middleweight championship and a 42-0 record with 31 knockouts. His final 20 bouts came with a belt on the line. In a video released Tuesday, Crawford says he's at peace with his decision.

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE Final	Vancouver	3	N-Y Rangers	0	 Final OT	Columbus	4	Anaheim	3	 Final	Detroit	3	N-Y Islanders	2	 Final	Toronto	3	Chicago	2	 Final	Boston	4	Utah	1	 Final	Philadelphia	4	Montreal	1	 Final	Edmonton	6	Pittsburgh	4	 Final	Minnesota	5	Washington	0	 Final	San Jose	6	Calgary	3	 Final	Colorado	5	Seattle	3

TOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALL Final	(1)Arizona	96	Abilene Christian	62	 Final	(3)Duke	97	Lipscomb	73	 Final	(5)UConn	79	Butler	60	 Final	(9)Michigan State	92	Toledo	69	 Final	(10)BYU	93	Pacific	57	 Final	(20)Tennessee	83	(11)Louisville	62	 Final	(12)North Carolina	77	East Tennessee State	58	 Final	(14)Arkansas	108	Queens	80	 Final	(17)Kansas	73	Towson	49	 Final	(19)Texas Tech	101	Northern Colorado	90	 Final	(22)St. John's	79	DePaul	66

Wednesday Sports Headlines and Scores presented by Barton Community College

Wednesday, December 17 12:30PM 1590/95.5FM - Sports Day Thursday, December 18 12:30PM 1590/95.5FM - Sports Day Friday December 19&nbsp; 12:30PM 1590/95.5FM - Sports Day 5:45PM Hits 106.9– H.S. Basketball Larned G&amp;B @ Kingman&nbsp; 5:45PM B104.3&nbsp; - Pratt G&amp;B @ Great Bend 6:30PM 1590/95.5FM - CFP First Round - Alabama @ Oklahoma Saturday, December 20 11:00AM 1590/95.5FM - CFP First Round - Miami, Fl @ Texas A&amp;M 3:00PM 1590/95.5FM - CFP First Round - Tulane @ Ole Miss 7:00PM 1590/95.5FM - CFP First Round - James Madison @ Oregon Sunday, December 21 12:00PM B104 - Chiefs Football - Kansas City @ Tennessee 12:00PM 1590/95.5FM - NFL Football - TBA Monday, December 22 12:30PM 1590/95.5FM - Sports Day 6:30PM 1590/95.5FM - Jayhawk Basketball - Davidson @ Kansas Tuesday, December 23 12:30PM 1590/95.5FM - Boca Raton Bowl - Toledo vs Louisville 4:30PM 1590/95.5FM - New Orleans Bowl - Western Kentucky vs Southern Miss Thursday, December 25 - Christmas Day 6:00PM B104 - Chiefs Football - Denver @ Kansas City Friday, December 26 3:00PM 1590/95.5FM - Rate Bowl - New Mexico vs Minnesota Saturday, December 27 10:30AM 1590/95.5FM - Pinstripe Bowl - Penn State vs Clemson 2:30PM 1590/95.5FM - Pop Tarts Bowl - BYU vs Georgia Tech Sunday, December 28 12:00PM 1590/95.5FM - NFL Football - TBA Tuesday, December 30 4:00PM 1590/95.5FM - Music City Bowl - Tennessee vs Illinois 8:00PM 1590/95.5FM - Alamo Bowl - TCU vs USC Wednesday, December 31 10:30AM 1590/95.5FM - ReliaQuest Bowl - Iowa vs Vanderbilt 2:30PM 1590/95.5FM - Citrus Bowl - Michigan vs Texas 6:00PM 1590/95.5FM - CFP Playoffs - Ohio St. vs TBA Thursday, January 1 11:00AM 1590/95.5FM - CFP Playoffs - Texas Tech vs TBA 3:00PM 1590/95.5FM - CFP Playoffs - Indiana vs TBA 7:00PM 1590/95.5FM - CFP Playoffs - Georgia vs TBA Friday, January 2 3:00PM 1590/95.5FM - Liberty Bowl - Navy vs Cincinnati&nbsp; 7:00PM 1590/95.5FM - Duke's Mayo Bowl - Wake Forest vs Mississippi St. Saturday, December 3 12:30PM 1590/95.5FM - Jayhawk Basketball - Kansas @ UCF 1:45PM 1590/95.5FM - Cougar Basketball - Butler W&amp;M @ Barton

Eagle Radio and Hull Broadcasting PBP Schedule

St. John 77 Larned 66; Larned Girls 33 St. John 32

LARNED SPORTS ON HITS 106.9 BROUGHT TO YOU IN PART BY... EQUITY BANK, INNOVATIVE LIVESTOCK SERVICES, SMITH DENTAL CLINIC, CLOCK REALTY &amp; INSURANCE, ROSENBERG FAMILY DENTISTRY, PROGRESSIVE THERAPY &amp; SPORTS MEDICINE, DOERR'S ACE HARDWARE, FARM BUREAU FINANCIAL SERVICES - LEIGH ANN SEEMAN, PAWNEE PLAZA, HEART OF KANSAS FAMILY HEALTH, COMFORT PRO, EAKIN ENTERPRISES, FRICK VETERINARY, USD #495 LARNED, CARR AUCTION &amp; REAL ESTATE, AG SYSTEMS, FUSION BANK, PICKET FENCE REAL ESTATE, AND BARTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE.

Sterling Boys 65 Hoisington 26; Hoisington Girls 60 Sterling 57

HOISINGTON SPORTS ON 100.7 EAGLE COUNTRY SPONSORED BY... EQUITY BANK, USD #431 HOISINGTON, EHLER CHEVROLET, CARDINAL PHARMACY, TOWN &amp; COUNTRY SUPERMARKET, SUPERIOR ESSEX, FIRST KANSAS BANK, INNOVATIVE LIVESTOCK SERVICES, MPIRE REALTY NIKKI HENDERSON, CLARA BARTON MEDICAL CENTER, HOISINGTON VETERINARY HOSPITAL, HOISINGTON HIGH SCHOOL BOOSTER CLUB, AMERICAN LEGION POST 286, ROSENBERG FAMILY DENISTRY, HOISINGTON RECREATION COMMISSION, CENTRAL CHIROPRACTIC, DR. TYLER SCHREMMER, AND BARTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE.

Emporia Boys 61 Great Bend 51; Emporia Girls 49 Great Bend 37

GREAT BEND SPORTS ON B104.3 THE POINT SPONSORED BY... GB TARP COMPANY, ADVANCE TRUCK &amp; DIESEL, KELLER REAL ESTATE &amp; INSURANCE, EQUITY BANK, INNOVATIVE LIVESTOCK SERVICES, THE FIELDHOUSE, MARMIE AUTO GROUP, MAGNA DRY CLEANING SERVICES, FREEDOM CLAIMS MANAGEMENT, GREAT BEND REC, ROSENBERG FAMILY DENTISTRY, CHRIS RAMSEY SHELTER INSURANCE, MITCH HANEY &amp; ASSOCIATES, FARMER'S BANK &amp; TRUST, SCOTT'S WELDING SERVICE, PEOPLE'S BANK &amp; TRUST, KERNS FLOOR SERVICE, NEX-TECH, COMFORT PRO, THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS HEATH SYSTEM - GREAT BEND CAMPUS, SUTHERLANDS, AND THE 10TH STREEET EYECARE CENTER. STONE SAND COMPANY AND STONE WASTE MANAGEMENT, ADVANCED THERAPY &amp; SPORTS MEDICINE, DAMM PIPE TESTING, GREAT BEND REDI MIX, INSURANCE PLANNING, EDWARD JONES, DELGADOS MEXICAN RESTAURANT, MPIRE REALTY, AMERICAN PLAINS COOP, AND CODY CROOK RED CEDAR LAND COMPANY. GB TIRES, THE ANIMAL MEDICAL CENTER, BARTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE, DR CHAD OHNMACHT DDS, AND WATKINS CALCARA CHARTERED.

- Jade Winter, head coach of Great Bend Girls Basketball

- Wyatt Thompson, Voice of the Kansas State Wildcats

Tuesday on Sports Day(Watch)

Panther Sports Powered by:&nbsp;Equity Bank. Sponsored in part by:&nbsp;GB Tarp Company, Advance Truck &amp; Diesel, Keller Real Estate &amp; Insurance, Innovative Livestock Services, The Fieldhouse, Marmie Auto Group, Magna Dry Cleaning Services, Freedom Claims Management, Great Bend Rec, Rosenberg Family Dentistry, Chris Ramsey - Shelter Insurance, Mitch Haney &amp; Associates, Farmer's Bank &amp; Trust, Scott's Welding Service, Kern Floor Service, Nex-Tech, Comfort Pro, The University of Kansas Health System - Great Bend Campus, People's Bank &amp; Trust, Sutherlands, The 10th Street Eyecare Center, Stone Sand Company and Stone Waste Management, Advanced Therapy &amp; Sports Medicine, Damm Pipe Testing, Great Bend Redi Mix, Insurance Planning, Edward Jones, Delgado's Mexican Restaurant, Mpire Realty, American Plains Coop, Cody Crook - Red Cedar Land Company, GB Tires, Animal Medical Center, Barton Community College, Dr. Chad Ohnmacht DDS, &amp; Watkins Calcara Chartered.

Additional Information: Great Bend Panther fans have a new way to follow their teams this year.&nbsp; The service features a live video stream of every home and away game, complete with the familiar B1043 The Point radio play-by-play patched in. Fans will be able to watch the action live from anywhere or go back and re-watch games at their convenience.

Cost: Fans may purchase access for $10 per game or buy a $100 season pass for the entire school year. A portion of the proceeds from the video stream will be donated back to USD 428, helping support Panther students and programs.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Part-time Job Opportunities: Eagle Media is also searching for Part-time positions to help with the video broadcasts for both Great Bend and Hoisington High School. Applicants must be 16 years old or older. To find out more about these opportunities you can view the Videographer position&nbsp;<a href="https://workforcenow.adp.com/mascsr/default/mdf/recruitment/recruitment.html?cid=7c09ab04-f576-4f5a-bdb8-f914cdd1f344&amp;ccId=19000101_000001&amp;jobId=564755&amp;lang=en_US&amp;source=CC4">here</a>.

WATCH: GBHS Basketball @ Emporia

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — All-Star third baseman Maikel Garcia and the Kansas City Royals have agreed to a five-year, $57.5 million contract that includes a club option for a sixth season, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press on Friday.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the contract is pending a physical. Garcia was arbitration-eligible for the first time in 2026, so the deal essentially buys out his arbitration years and potentially his first two years of free agency.

The 25-year-old Garcia is coming off a breakout season both in the field, where he won his first Gold Glove playing alongside All-Star shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., and at the plate, where he hit .286 with a career-high 16 homers and 74 RBIs.

While the Royals have prioritized landing outfield help in the offseason — they agreed to a $5.25 million&nbsp;deal with Lane Thomas&nbsp;on Thursday — they also wanted to ensure they maintained their franchise cornerstones. That began with re-signing catcher Salvador Perez to a $25 million, two-year contract in November, and it continued by keeping Garcia through at least the 2030 season.

He also is capable of playing shortstop and second base, and Garcia even dabbled with playing in the outfield last season.

By keeping him in the fold, the Royals also solidified what has been one of the better infields in baseball. Witt is coming off a second consecutive All-Star appearance and Gold Glove, Perez is a nine-time All-Star and five-time Gold Glove-winner, and first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino just had the best season of his four-year big league career, hitting .264 with 32 homers and 113 RBIs.

It also follows a trend of the Royals keeping their own. Each of those four players was signed and developed by Kansas City.

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