The Barton County Health Department, Barton County Sheriff’s Office, Great Bend Police Department and the Barton County Landfill have teamed up to provide their annual Bike Safety Rodeo for children ages 5 to 14 on Friday at the Britt Spaugh Park northeast baseball field near 22nd and Morton streets.
The safety rodeo will begin with check-in at 8:30 am on June 7 and conclude with snacks and children being picked up at 10:30 am. Parents should bring their children with their bikes and helmets if they have them, and are invited to stay with their children for the event, said Janel Rose, health educator with the Health Department.
All children who wish to participate must be registered at the Barton County Sheriff’s Office by their parents by Wednesday. 
Following check-in, participants will have safety presentations on how to prevent brain injuries, safe bike riding and rules of the road, and complete a bike safety training obstacle course on the field, Rose said. “With more children and families riding bikes on roadways, it is extremely important that children be taught the rules of the road and how to ride safely.”
Free reconditioned bikes from Ellsworth Correctional Facility and new helmets from the health department will be given only to children who need them.  Parents who want to request a bike and/or helmet for their child who do not have one should do so when they register. A limited number of bikes and helmets of various sizes will be available for youth, and the helmets will be fitted by health department staff.
For more information contact Barton County Health Department at 793-1902, or the Barton County Sheriff’s Office at 793-1876.