On Monday the Barton County Commission proclaimed March 22, 2021, as Central Plains Lady Oilers Basketball Day, recognizing the state basketball champs.
The Central Plains Lady Oilers basketball team had an outstanding 2020-2021 season, Commission Chairman Jim Daily said, reading the proclamation. The Lady Oilers finished the season with a 22-3 record, taking their seventh consecutive state championship and holding the third-longest win streak in the nation. The proclamation acknowledges their efforts and recognizes the student athletes, coaching staff and school administrators for their commitment to excellence as the Lady Oilers continue to make history.
Recognized were team members Kashlin Beck, Kailynn Depperschmidt, Melissa Donecker, Bryanna Hammeke, Jennah Jeffrey, Kyla Metro, Kassidy Nixon, Lauren Oeser, Lexi Oeser, Addy Ogle, Taylor Sheehy, Monica Short, Mollie Steiner and Callie Zink; coaches Pat Stiles Jim Ryan; and managers Adrianne Togersen, Cass Stout and Riley Thompson. The high school is led by Principal Toby Holmes; Central Plains USD 112 is led by Superintendent Greg Clark.
“The county commissioners of Barton County, Kansas, value student participation in extracurricular activities while attending area schools,” the proclamation reads. “These students must be supported by their families and friends, the school’s teachers, coaches and administration and the community as they learn balance to better achieve success in academics, arts and athletics.”
Whenever a team dedicates itself to coming together to break records, it is important that the community honors their efforts, the commissioners noted. “The commitment of their families, the student body, the administration and the community in supporting these student athletes as they made history is commended.”
The proclamation concluded, “The student athletes and managers, along with the coaching staff have brought honor to CPHS, the cities of Claflin, Bushton, Frederick, Geneseo, Holyrood, Lorraine and Odin, and Barton, Ellsworth and Rice counties.”
The commissions commented that the student athletes overcame adversity in a difficult year and said their hard work will serve them well in the years to come, in all they do.
Daily said the commission was honoring “the young ladies who have taken the national championship again,” and Commissioner Kirby Krier corrected him, saying, “It was the state championship but they would have taken the national (if there was such a tournament).” He added that there was no state tournament last year. “No doubt they would have won last year, (making this) eight consecutive years.”
Meeting at a glance
Here’s a quick look at Monday’s Barton County Commission meeting:
• The commission approved a proclamation recognizing the Central Plains Lady Oilers basketball team for its state championship.
• The Road and Bridge Department’s 2021 cold-mix asphalt bid was approved. Venture Corporation provided the only bid at $7.85 per ton, a 6-cent decrease from 2020.
• The commission approved a bid from Steel Builders Construction of Great Bend for $54,677 for improvements to the north maintenance shop at the Barton County Landfill.
• Discussion of the county’s COVID-19 mask mandate was added to the agenda. The commission voted to meet as the Board of Health at the close of the regular agenda. As the Board of Health, the commissioners then voted 3-2 not to rescind Resolution 2020-05, which opted out of an executive order by Gov. Laura Kelly last November but which did instate a less restrictive mask mandate than the one imposed by the executive order.
