In other business Monday morning, the Barton County Commission:
• Learned that the Barton County Health Department earned the Gold Level Breastfeeding Employees Support Award from the Kansas Breastfeeding Coalition and its Business Case for Breastfeeding Program. Last summer, the Health Department initiated a campaign to locate dedicated lactation rooms in local businesses. One outcome was this award, said Health Director Lily Akings.
• Approved the Central Kansas Community Corrections fiscal year 2015 comprehensive plan. The plan, which amounts to a grant application for state funding, totals $424,591.39.
• Approved a proposal from SCS Aquiterra totaling $109,980 for engineering services for the Barton County Landfill for the 2014-2016.
• Heard an update on county departmental activities from County Administrator Richard Boeckman.
In what was an emotional meeting Monday following the death of Commissioner Don Cates last week, The Barton County Commission found solace in passing proclamations honoring several Barton County youth for their academic and athletic accomplishments.
They recognized Ellinwood High School and Great Bend High School Students who qualified for the national Future Business Leaders of America competition and members of the Central Plains High School girls basketball team that won the 2A state championship. Monday was named both EHS\GBHS FBLA National Awards Program Day and Central Plains High School Girls 2A State Basketball Champions Day.
“We have run the whole gamut of emotions this morning,” Commissioner Jennifer Schartz said. At first, they had to mourn the lost of Cates, but they also got to honor young people who have excelled.
“This is a shining example of what we produce in Barton County,” she said. “The future is bright.”
Great Bend FBLA member Sarah Niedree said FBLA is the largest business career student organization in the world. The FBLA’s five-day National Awards Conference to take place in Nashville, Tenn., June 29–July 2 recognizes and rewards excellence in a broad range of business and career-related areas.
Through state competitions, students test their business knowledge and skills, Niedree said. Those students excelling are then invited to attend the National Leadership Conference.
County students attending the national conference are Hannah Billinger, directed by EHS teacher Lorie Betts, and Grant Harris, Jami McVay, Sarah Niederee, and Zachary Reynolds, directed by GBHS teacher Cody Lee.
The 2013/2014 Central Plains High School girls basketball team went undefeated under head coach Pat Stiles and assistant coach Kim Rolfs, despite being made up of predominately underclassmen.
Team members included Breanna Holmes, Karli Beck, Julee McAtee, Breanna Schartz, Abby Stueder, Reagan Phelan, Taylor Rolfs, Kendi Maxwell, Kaycee Steiner, Janae Ryan, Cassidy Crites, Kylie Kasselman, Kylie Holmes and Jamie Liebl.
Also recognized were administrators James Runge and Toby Holmes.
The all are “to be congratulated for the honor they have brought to their team, their school and this County,” the proclamation noted.
