By Jim Misunasjmisunas@gbtribune.comWork by Wheatland Electric Co-op employees fixed a power outage in Great Bend Wednesday afternoon. Power was disrupted for 39 minutes.Chris Huber, Wheatland superintendent, said a power pole near Riley Elementary School was struck by lightning at 2:20 p.m., disrupting power to a downtown area west to U.S. 281 bypass. More than 800 customers were without power in the south central section of Great Bend.Chris said eight employees worked to survey the area and spliced the power line together and tested the line before power was restored at 2:59 p.m.Huber said when lightning strikes a line, a sub-station breaker opens to protect the system.No thunderstorm warning was issued for Barton County, but nearby Stafford and Pawnee counties were under a thunderstorm warning.The National Weather Service reported 1/2-inch hail in Russell County at 2:33 p.m. on I-70 mile marker 187, which resulted in an overturned vehicle and several slide-offs due to icy road conditions.