USD 428 takes music to the Senior Center

The Great Bend USD 428 Vocal Music Department invites the public to its annual Vocal Music Showcase at the Great Bend Senior Center, 2005 Kansas Ave., from 9-11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 9.

Coffee cake will be provided by the USD 428 Central Kitchen, and coffee brewed by the Senior Center will be available at this free event. 

Performance Schedule:

9 a.m. - Eisenhower 5/6 grades

9:30 a.m. - Lincoln 5/6 grades

10 a.m. - Riley 3/4 grades

10:30 a.m. - Great Bend Middle School Music in Motion/ Women in Harmony

11 a.m. - GBHS Madrigal Pop Singers

County announces holiday closing, meetings

Barton County announced the following holiday hours and observance, along with meetings that elected county officials may attend and plans to canvass the election on Nov. 16.

• Barton County Office Buildings will be closed on Friday, Nov. 11, in observance of the Veterans Day holiday. The Health Department and the Records Division of the Sheriff’s Office will also be closed that day. The Landfill will be open from 8-11 a.m. on Friday and then will close for the remainder of the day. Emergency services will be in normal operation.

• The Memorial Parks Advisory Committee has scheduled the dedication of the Fourth Stone at the Veterans Memorial for 1:30 p.m., Friday, which is Veterans Day. The ceremony will be held at the Golden Belt Memorial Park, 59 NW 50 Road, Great Bend. County officials may attend the dedication.

• County elected officials may also attend the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development’s Pints and Politics Event on Monday, Nov. 14, beginning at 4:30 p.m. at Dry Lake Brewing, 1305 Main, Great Bend.

• The County Commission will meet as the Board of County Canvassers on Wednesday, Nov. 16, at 8:30 a.m. in the Office of the County Clerk. At that time, they will canvass the Nov. 8 general election ballots.

City Council looks at Events Center fees

The Great Bend City Council will meet at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 7 at City Hall, 1209 Williams St. One can also view the meetings on Access TV via Cox Cable Channel 20 or live online at www.facebook.com/gbcitycouncil/. The meeting will be recorded.

The agenda includes:

• Great Bend Livestock Company Inc.’s sewer rate.

• Fees charged to use the Great Bend Events Center.

• The Great Bend Municipal Airport fixed-base operator agreement.

• A work session to discuss Rural Housing Incentive Districts.

Commission to look at longevity pay  

The Barton County Commission will meet at 9 a.m. Wednesday at the Barton County Courthouse, 1400 Main in Great Bend. The meeting will be open to the public but will also be streamed live due to COVID-19.

It will be live-streamed through Microsoft Teams. Citizens may view the meeting through their own sign-in or by signing in anonymously. 

To participate, follow the link https://bit.ly/3wDyhLU. Those who wish to take part in the discussion of any item can call 620-793-1800 for instructions.

The agenda includes:

• Board appointments to the Health Department Advisory Committee

• Longevity pay for employees

• Adoption of the 2022-2023 authorized positions listing 

Following the agenda meeting, the following appointments are scheduled:

• 10 a.m. – Social Determinates of Health Grant – Karen Winkelman, Health Director.

10:15 a.m. – 2023 biennial bridge inspection proposals – Barry McManaman, County Engineer.

10:30 a.m. – Solid Waste Planning Committee Membership – Jennifer Hamby, Solid Waste Director.

11 a.m. – Courthouse HVAC Project Update via Teams – OSE.

Noon – Regular Business Discussion – Matt Patzner, Director of Operations.

GBMS bands concert is Tuesday

The Great Bend Middle School Bands will present a concert at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 8 in the school’s main gym. Bands featured in this performance will be the 7th-grade band, the jazz band and the 8th-grade band.

Director Don Regehr said the 7th-grade band will present some energetic music featuring two great women composers, Carol Brittin Chambers and Katie O’Jara LaBrie. 

“The jazz band will have your fingers snappin’ with some blues, a Latin groove and will be swingin’ with an arrangement of the ‘Sesame Street Theme,’” Regehr said. “The 8th-grade band will feature two pieces titled ‘Marches of the Armed Forces’ and ‘Silversides, To Answer the Call ...’ In this way we would like to honor veterans, those who are currently serving, and their families who sacrifice so much.”

The concert is free to attend.

School board announces goal-setting session

The Great Bend USD 428 Board of Education will hold a special work session at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 7, at the District Education Center, 201 South Patton Road. A guest representative from the Kansas Association of School Boards will be present to facilitate the review of current goals and to assist in setting new district goals.