Dear Editor,
Crime Stoppers of Great Bend and Barton County hosted their memorial softball coed tournament in Ellinwood, Oct. 2 and 3.
The purpose of the event was to make the public aware that Barton County has five people who lost their lives to foul play and these cases are currently still unsolved.
Also, in the past 30 years 32 people were killed in our county.
We wanted the public to remember them.
The tournament was a fund raiser to raise reward money to help solve crimes in Barton County. We appreciate the 12 teams who participated in this successful event.
A special thanks to the three umpires for donating their time to this cause.
Thanks also to the concession stand volunteers, those who suggested the event, partners and sponsors.
Our board of directors and all law enforcement are determined to solve these cases and they review them daily.
A special thanks to the families of the victims of these horrible crimes. Many showed up to support this event and share their pain. I personally got to visit with many of them and feel the need more than ever to solve these cases. We also can’t forget the Kansas Bureau of Investigation who spent Saturday with the crowd, searching for any possible leads and assuring these families that these unsolved crimes are still being investigated.
Thanks to our community who showed up to support the families and our cause, and to the city of Ellinwood for the use of their ball fields. They are a nice new facility and accommodated the event very well.  If I have forgotten anyone, we apologize in advance.
J.P. Postlethwaite,
secretary/treasurer,
Crime Stoppers,
Great Bend and Barton County