On July 20, the first-ever Emergency Services Preparedness Day was held in the parking lot of Waters True Value Hardware.
 As part of the event, Waters, which sponsored the day, donated a portion of the day’s take to the Barton County Emergency Aid Association. Thursday afternoon, various first responders and representatives of the BCEAA met at the store where Waters staff presented the organization with a $1,000 check.
Agencies recognized during the event included the Great Bend Fire Department and Emergency Medical Services, the Great Bend Police Department, the Barton County Sheriff’s Office, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism, and the Barton Community College criminal justice department.
Activities featured: Tours of the BCSO’s “Beast” crime-scene investigation truck; a K-9 demonstration; a jaws of life demonstration; the fire department’s trailer used for search and rescue, and building collapse response; fire truck and other vehicle displays; BCC students offering Ident-a-Kid to have children finger printed and DNA samples taken; a mock crime scene set up by the KBI using its CSI truck; a jaws of life demo; and the Drug Abuse Resistance Education car and truck from the BCSO and GBPD.