There are about 4.4 million confirmed pregnancies in the U.S. every year. Of those, about one in four end in miscarriage, 26,000 end in stillbirth, 19,000 end in infant death during the first month and another 39,000 end in infant death during the first year.  
With these disheartening facts in mind, the Barton County Commission Monday morning approved a proclamation declaring Tuesday, Oct. 15, as Barton County Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day. This is part of National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month.
As a part of the effort, community members are invited to attend Remembering Our Babies which will coincide with the national “Wave of Light” candlelight ceremony Tuesday tonight, said Janel Rose of the Barton County Health Department. The event will begin at 7 p.m. at the band shell in the Barton County Courthouse Square in downtown Great Bend.  
The simple ceremony will begin with the lighting of one candle precisely at 7 p.m. which will be part of a continuous “wave of light that will spread around the globe in 24 hours,” Rose said. There will also be a prayer, a sharing of stories and other remembrances.
“The loss of a child is one of life’s most devastating losses,” Rose said. “We want to honor the babies that have gone too soon.” 
National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month was initiated in 1988 by President Ronald Reagan.
In other business, the commission:
• Approved distributing 2013 Special Alcohol Funding to the Barton County Sheriff’s Office Drug Abuse Resistance Education program ($3,000) and to Dream Inc. ($6,175.76). Barton County had solicited applications for the distribution of the funds, derived from the 10 percent gross receipts tax on the sale of liquor in private clubs, Rose said. This money may be expended only for the purchase, establishment, maintenance or expansion of services or programs whose principal purpose is alcoholism and drug abuse prevention and education, alcohol and drug detoxification, intervention in alcohol and drug abuse or treatment of persons who are alcoholics or drug abusers or are in danger of becoming alcoholics or drug abusers. For 2013, monies available total $9,175.76, which includes $2,500 in unexpended 2012 funds.  
• Accepted the resignation of Donald Popp as the Union Township clerk effective July 17, 2013. The commission then accepted the township board’s recommendation and appointed Justin Ludwig to the clerk’s position. The commission noted Popp, who moved into town and had to relinquish his post, has served well for many years.
• Approved continuing with  WorkFit physical capacity profile testing for pre-employment purposes. The testing determines the abilities of the potential employee to perform a job’s essential functions, with or without reasonable accommodation, Boeckman said. This reduces the possibility of placing an individual in a position where they can be hurt, thus reducing work-related injuries and potential workers compensation claims. The service rate is $105 per test through Barton Community College.  
• Heard an update from County Administrator Richard Boeckman on the county’s employee handbook and authorized revisions to it. Boeckman said he reviews the book annually to assure compliance with current State and Federal laws and employment trends. Last year, there were so me major changes, but this year, there were only a few minor adjustments.
• Heard an update on county departmental activities from Boeckman.