Burn ban remains
BY DALE HOGG
dhogg@gbtribune.com
The Barton County Commission Monday morning voted to renew the resolution calling for a county-wide burn ban. The ban was effective at 12:01 p.m. Monday and will remain in place until noon, June 7, unless extended.
“We’ve had some rain over the past week,” said Amy Miller, county emergency risk manager. But, fire chiefs across the county are still requesting the ban due to the on-going harvest and dry stubble fields.
Rain fall amounts varied from .20 of an inch at Great Bend to three inches at Beaver.
Under the ban, open campfires and fires are prohibited. Outdoor residential fireplaces, stoves and grills are not included. There are exceptions, but approval must come through the local fire department.
Any questions concerning local burning should be directed to the fire chief having jurisdiction of the area where the burning is to take place, Miller said. The fire chief may or may not issue an agricultural burning permit.
Violation of this state of emergency may result in fines of up to $2,500.
It was noted that, despite the ban, one controlled burn of a stubble field was allowed.
There are 12 students from two Barton County high schools headed to the national Future Business Leaders of America conference later this month in San Antonio, Texas. They were recognized Monday morning as the Barton County Commission approved a proclamation honoring them.
Making the trip will be: Kayla Schartz, Rachel Morales, Sarah Fox, Kyle Blakeslee, Rachel Doll, Stephanie Troyer, and club sponsor Lorie Betts from Ellinwood High School; and Sarah Niederee, Haley Deines, Kevin Smith, Dylan Dreiling, Donna Craven, Ryan Jacobs, and sponsor Cody Lee from Great Bend High School.
“We’re proud of you,” said commissioner Jennifer Schartz. “It makes me feel really good about the future.”
“We are a business-oriented, community service organization,” said Dreiling, president of the Great Bend club. His group sponsors a community-wide craft fair each year, helps with the Santa’s Workshop put on by the Great Bend Recreation Commission and holds a Dancing with the Staff competition as club fundraisers and to collect money for March of Dimes.
“We want to thank everyone in Barton County who has helped us complete our goals,” said Moralas of EHS.
The FBLA’s National Awards Program recognizes and rewards excellence in a broad range of business and career-related areas, said EHS advisor Betts. Through state-based competition, students test their business knowledge and skills and those who excel are invited to attend the five-day national event.
There will be competitions on such topics as spread sheets, desk-top publishing and cyber security.
In other business, the commission re-appointed Aliease Dougherty and Margaret Potter to the Park Advisory Committee which is charged with advising and assisting the commission regarding the care and maintenance of Golden Belt and Hillcrest memorial parks north of Great Bend. These appointments are for uncompensated three-year terms starting July 1 and ending in 2015.
The committee normally has seven members, and will have until July 1. However, at that time, Bill Maneth will retire and leave one opening.
