Each week we’ll take a step back into the history of Great Bend through the eyes of reporters past. We’ll reacquaint you with what went into creating the Great Bend of today, and do our best to update you on what “the rest of the story” turned out to be.

This week, we return to 1992.  Things haven’t changed a whole lot in 20 years, but children have grown up and in some ways, what was once old has been made new, became old and is now new again.  Whew!  That’s a little confusing, but read on and you’ll discover why.  

The cost of the weekly grocery bill has gone up, but some things aren’t as expensive as they used to be.

Hunting continues to be a popular attraction to the area, and over the past decade, rules and regulations concerning guide services have swung like a pendulum.  You know what they say--the more things change, the more they stay the same.  

Double-lung transplant recipient doing well
Often, we read stories about people coming together to raise funds to help a fellow neighbor, friend or relative suffering from life-threatening health circumstances.  Operations or therapy are needed.  We hope the person was able to get the help they needed, but often, we never find out.

In September, 1992, The Great Bend Tribune ran the story by Susan Thacker, Former Ellinwood girl awaits double-lung transplant : Golden Belt residents offer assistance by hosting fund raiser.   
The story referenced a previous story from 1986 when Jessi Neinke was four years old, suffering from Cystic Fibrosis, a  disease that causes respiratory and digestive problems.

Now, as she was entering the sixth grade, she would be attending school at home, going out with her family in a wheel chair.  She longed for a time when she could put away her Nintendo and computer, stop watching television, and once again go swimming.  

The family moved to St. Louis to be closer to the hospital when a viable lung transplant would be available.  She was the second in line when the story was written.  A benefit dance was planned to take place at the Parish Center in Ellinwood, and Neinke’s uncle, Jerry Tinkel of Claflin, was working with others to set up additional fundraisers.  

Today, Neinke is around 30 years old, and according to public information on her facebook page, is living a full and interesting life.

“I’ve lived an interesting life and I’m looking to live a lot more in the next few years. I love going out and doing new things and meeting new people. I am a very straight forward person and I call it like I see it; sometimes I can censor myself, but sometimes it doesn’t occur to me, otherwise I’m a very easy to get along with person. I don’t like fake people, people who like fake people, or people who think they like fake people (now I’m just bored). Odd facts about me: I am severely deaf (you wouldn’t notice). I’m a shorty 4’10”! I had a double lung transplant in 1992 and I am a few years away from making Guinness book of world records as a record number of years as a double lung transplant survivor due to Cystic Fibrosis. I have about 40% of the lung function that a person should have. I have a million different facial expressions. I like to work out and eat healthy, then watch movies all day and eat fudge and ice cream all day!” -- Jessi Neinke

Changes in hunting guide permits
With the waterfowl, pheasant and deer hunting seasons on the horizon, hunters and those who guided them were busy trying to interpret new regulations by the Kansas Dept. of Wildlife and Parks requiring guides who made more than $500 to not only take CPR classes, but also keep extensive records of their transactions.  This included both commercial guide services and provisional guides--those who only offered services for short periods of time to make some extra cash.  

Great Bend Travel and Tourism director Cris Collier said this could hurt Great Bend’s popularity as a hunting destination, as guides were in demand and she was reluctant to ask provisional guides to help out.  

According to Collier, the KDWP scrapped the program because it was too cumbersome to manage.  Likely, it discouraged hunters, and resulted in numbers for hunting licenses and permits to go down.  In recent years, the KDWPT has been working on campaigns to increase the popularity of hunting once again, including programs to introduce youth to the sport.  

Today, according to the Kansas Dept. of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism, commercial guides are defined as those who advertise their services and provide and require written agreements about the services they will provide and the amount those services will cost.  Services include use of pack or riding stock, transportation, equipment, and/or facilities.  

As of Sept. 6, 2012, the KDWPT will require commercial guides only to possess a guide permit while working on public land.  The permits are free, and the application can be accessed online at the KDWPT website.  
            
TP high, salmon low
With all the talk this year about anticipated rise in food costs due to drought and pent-up world wide demand, lets take a look at how things compare.  

In 1992, the median household income in the United States was $29,448.  Today, it takes $48,117 to have the same purchasing power.   The Kansas City Star reported on Sept. 19 that median household incomes in Kansas are currently $48,964.  So, if prices are only keeping pace with inflation, they should only be about 40 percent higher today than they were in 1992.  

Wednesday’s sale advertisement for Dillons for the week of Sept. 19 through 25 listed Angel Soft bathroom tissue four roll package on sale, 10 for $10, or $1 a package.  In 1992, same week, a 4 roll package of Kleenex brand tissue sold for $.49.  Currently, fresh, farm raised salmon fillets are selling for $5.99 lb., but in 1992, they were selling for $4.99 lb.  A 12-pack of 7-Up goes for $4 this week, but in 1992, it cost $2.99.  So, some items are more expensive today, while others seem to be less expensive.  One big change for newspapers, however, is the way the advertisements were delivered.  In 1992, they were printed inside the newspaper, and today they are printed as fliers that are inserted into the newspaper.  

Vintage Wheels  
The Vintage Wheels of Great Bend antique car club sponsored the 17th Annual Swap Meet and Car Show over the weekend in 1992. According to the story, Car club to host show, swap meet,   the club expected 100 vintage car owners and 20-40 swappers to attend.  On display were a 1921 Model T, a 1951 Crosley Super Convertible, a 1972 Oldsmobile Cutlass Convertible and a 1984 Corvette.  Each car has unique characteristics that draw in automobile enthusiasts, even today.
The club still exists.  During June Jaunt this past summer, they held an antique car show in Ellinwood.  With car shows like My Classic Car, Pimp My  Ride and Overhaulin’ popping up on cable, interest in restoration of classic cars is on the rise again, after several years of declines.