Progress Pawnee County 2019

GREAT BEND (KAN.) TRIBUNE • SUNDAY, JANUARY 27, 2019 •

Special to the Great Bend Tribune Sunday, January 27, 2019

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• GREAT BEND (KAN.) TRIBUNE • SUNDAY, JANUARY 27, 2019

A VISION TO THE FUTURE Branding efforts are beginning to reshape city, county perceptions

BY VERONICA COONS vcoons@gbtribune.com

PAWNEE COUNTY — In 2018, the city of Larned, Pawnee County and the Larned Chamber of Commerce partnered to support a branding and marketing campaign with the objective of putting their communities on the map so to speak, Larned Mayor William Nusser said.

They hired a Topeka marketing firm, Bajillion Agency to develop branding materials and a strategic marketing plan which was presented to the community in December at the Larned State Theater, which included an detailed look at new brand icons, professional videos focusing on the area’s largest employer Larned State Hospital, as well as the Larned community and the Pawnee County lifestyle.

Now, armed with a specific 27-point marketing plan, a community-led group will determine how it will be implemented over the next 1824 months, Nusser said.

New bold look A common color theme of navy blue, harvest gold, and bold red is shared by both the city and the county. A variety of squares representing townships, filled with fields of the three colors in shapes resembling fields of various grains, some straight and some curved to represent pivots, make up background for the brand.

A set of four icons represent aspects of the City of Larned, and one icon represents the county, which together represent the diverse lifestyle to be found throughout Pawnee County, Nusser said. The primary icon adopted by the City of Larned, and the first to be introduced to the community resembles an arrowhead. Others will be rolled out during the implementation

COURTESY PHOTO OF LARNEDCARES.COM

Aerial view of Larned Kansas.

period. One, a heart with zigzag, with the tag line “Larned Cares,� and has been associated with Larned State Hospital.

Both are red outlined with blue. The county’s icon, a shield with a rising sun over waves

building a partnership with the Larned State Hospital.

Early in 2018, a committee of community leaders travelled to Topeka to visit with state officials and voice their concerns that the state was considering pulling some services out of Larned. The result of those discussions was renewed vigor towards partnering with administrators at the hospital to recruit applicants to fill open positions and relieve an overworked staff there. It also resulted in the formalization of the city and county’s partnership, and a search ensued for a top

representing fields of grain, is in gold and blue.

Partnering to shape perceptions One important piece of the branding campaign has been

marketing firm to help guide their efforts. Bajillion Agency was hired, and the scope of their marketing plan was outlined.

Work began right away with information gathering, and in September, film crews visited Larned and the surrounding community to gather footage from all over the county, inside industry and commerce, and at the Larned High School homecoming parade and football game.

See BRANDING, 5

THE CITY OF LARNED

“Be A Part of the Progress�

Fort Larned Elementary School 2104 Broadway 620-285-2141 www.usd495.net New state of the art learning center.

Pre-Kindergarten through 5th grade.

Prairie Vista Apartments A Residential Community West 16th Street (K-156 & Morris) 620-285-8519 prairievista@cityoarned.com 3 bedroom rental duplexes, 2 full baths, safe room, single car garage, 1200 sq. ft. per unit.

The University of Kansas Health System Pawnee Valley Campus 923 Carroll Ave. 620-285-3161 www.pawneevalleyhospital.com Includes 24 Hour Emergency Care, Laboratory, Imaging Services, Cardiac Rehab, Swing Bed, Colonoscopies, Cataract and Dental Surgery

Larned Golf Course 681 E. 14th Street 620-285-4955 Well maintained course features small & sloped Bentgrass greens with bluegrass & perennnial rye fairways. Includes sloping, dog legged fairways & tree-lined water hazards. 9 hole, par 35 course, course rating is 35.9 and it has a slope rating of 106.

Amy Wetzel, APRN Family Nurse Practitioner ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS

Providing top quality Health Care for every member of the family!

522 Broadway, Larned 620-804-6100 Accepting Medicare, Medicaid & All Major Insurance.

Sliding Scale Available.

Left to Right Rita O'Gwen, LSCSW, Amy Wetzel, APRN, Cindy Walker, 2IÂżFH 0DQDJHU Kathy Nokes, RN

GREAT BEND (KAN.) TRIBUNE • SUNDAY, JANUARY 27, 2019 •

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Eakin reputation set in concrete

BY TRIBUNE STAFF news@gbtribune.com

Eakin Enterprises in Larned is a local provider for ready-mix concrete, sand, gravel, and dirt for both commercial and residential projects. It has three locations across central Kansas: Hays Ready-Mix in Hays, Eakin Ready-Mix in Great Bend, and Larned Ready-Mix in Larned.

But, the company has a rich history in the area.

Eakin Enterprises Inc., has been a family owned business for over 60 years. Currently owned and operated by Chad Eakin, the business was founded in 1950 by Chad’s grandparents, Wanda and Willis Eakin.

Prior to moving to Larned, the Eakins leased a sandpit in Dodge City.

In 1957 they purchased a concrete plant in Larned which was set up east of the train depot. They later moved the plant to the current location one-half mile west of Larned on U.S. 56.

The business was run

by Willis and Wanda with the help of their two sons, Wendell (Chad’s father) and Nolan. Chad started helping the business as a young boy and opened his own construction business while still in high school.

Another concrete plant was put into operation in Great Bend in 2001, and in 2004 the Hays Ready-Mix location was added to the growing business. Chad purchased the remainder of the original Larned business from other family members in 2006.

The three locations currently employ more than 50 people. The main business office is located in Larned with Chad

COURTESY PHOTO

Pictured is the staff of Eakin Enterprises.

overseeing the day to day services and projects of the work crews.

Eakin covers a very large area with a variety of services including sand and gravel, dirt work, concrete construction, ready-mixed concrete, and construction rental equipment. According to Chad “customer service is very important to us and going that extra mile for our customers makes a huge difference.”

Services: • Ready Mix - sand and gravel For over 60 years the Eakin family has been providing quality ready-mix concrete, sand, and gravel.

Sand and gravel delivery is available by semi or tandem load. No job too big or too small. Free estimates are available upon request.

• Telebelt and pump The Telebelt is a truckmounted telescopic conveyor that will reach

lengths up to 110 feet.

Perfect for moving concrete, sand, and other materials into hard to reach areas.

The Alliance 37Z Concrete Pump has a horizontal reach of 106 feet and a vertical reach of 119 feet.

• Concrete construction Commercial or residential concrete construction crews offer professional, turnkey project completion for home or business.

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Sidewalks, parking lots, driveways, foundations, basements, excavation and dirt work.

• Decorative stamped concrete Add polish and class to your patio or porch with our decorative stamped concrete. Hundreds of design and color combinations are available to make your patio or porch one of a kind.

• Equipment rental Bobcats

Skid Steers Excavators Loaders Trenchers Power Trowels Electric Jackhammers Concrete Saws • Demolition Demolition and debris removal services, crushing and recycling.

The company is located at 111 Main St. in Larned.

It can be contacted at 620-285-2097 or www. eakinenterprises.com.

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G EAKIN READY MIX LARNED READY MIX EAKIN SAND & GRAVEL HAYS Y READY Y MIX

Delivered to your jobsite Ready Mix Concrete Sand Kansas Rock Aggregate Producers’ Fill Dirt Association Inc. T Soil Top Crushed Concrete Decorative Rock

Basements Foundations Parking Lots Driveways Patios Sidewalks DEC E OR ORATIVE & STAMPE M ED CON NCR RETE

olden n Val Valley, Inc. is a farm farmer owned grain ain and supply uppl cooperative oper e formed for Dece Decemberr 1, 1 2001 by th 2 the consolidation nsol ion o of Golden den P Plains Cooperative pera of Ro Rozel and S Sanford, ord, Farmers F ers Co Coop Grain n and an Supply pply of Burdett urdet and d TriTri-Ag Coop oop o of Sanford. nfor Located ated in Pawnee awnee County, unty, Kansas as, Golden den Valley han handles whea wheat, corn, rn, m milo and d soybeans eans at three ee locations lo ns wi with approximately proxi y 5.2 millio million bushels hels of combined mbine grain in sto storage.

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Ma ai ain a n of offic ce c e locat lo oca cat ate a tte ed e da att 1 10 02 0 2S So o outh utth ut hM Main, Ma ain, n, R Rozel, oze zel, el, el el, l, K KS S

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Main Office 620-285-2097 LARNED: 620-285-3726

GREAT A BEND: 620-792-7733

www.eakinenterprises.com

HAYS A : 785-650-0000

For more information contact us at 620-527-4216

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• GREAT BEND (KAN.) TRIBUNE • SUNDAY, JANUARY 27, 2019

Community Conversations provide forum for public health information PVCH Foundation program sparks life-changing discussions

BY VERONICA COONS vcoons@gbtribune.com

Pawnee Valley Community Hospital Foundation in 2018 began what it intends to be an ongoing community participation event when it held its first Community Conversation in September.

The topic, distracted driving, attracted a great deal of interest from area high school students and the community at large.

PVCH Foundation Director Julie BugnerSmith invited three local speakers who have undergone tragedies connected directly with distracted driving, as well as a pastor of a Larned church who has officiated at a number of funerals of local people who lost their lives as the result of distracted driving.

Ryan Webster, pastor at Larned Assembly of God, emceed the evening. He talked of the toughest job he has as a pastor-- making death notifications to families who have lost a family member. He asked attendees to turn their phones off and focus their whole attention on the message the women had to offer.

Amy Schmitt, Larned, lost her 17-year-old daughter, Amber Rose Schmitt, in 2009 when she was killed after losing control of her truck. She spoke about the incident which happened late one summer night, as Amber was sending a text while driving, Schmitt said.

Schmitt pointed out parents need to do as good a job at preaching to their children to put their phones away when they are driving as they are about preaching of the dangers of drinking and driving.

Jacque Tierce, Larned, lost her daughter, Danielle Garcia, in May of 2018. The 22 year old mother of one died of injuries sustained when she rear-ended a semi-truck while travelling an estimated 70 mph in her car. She was sending a photo via Snapchat to a friend.

Tierce’s heartfelt description of events

VERONICA COONS Great Bend Tribune

Amy Schmitt, Larned, lost her 17-year-old daughter Amber Rose in 2009. She spoke to raise awareness of the tragedy that distracted driving visited on her family at a community forum Thursday night hosted by the Pawnee Valley Community Hospital Foundation at the Larned Community Center.

VERONICA COONS Great Bend Tribune

Jacque Tierce talked about her daughter’s May 2018 accident and how her death has left a hole in their family. She encouraged the room to consider the consequences of distracted driving and to take action to stop.

was emotional at times, punctuated with several photos of her daughter throughout high school and early motherhood.

Shiane Wondra, Mead, in June, 2018, wrecked her parent’s brand new car and ended up being life-flighted to Wichita with serious injuries sustained when she was Snapchatting a friend while she was driving to

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meet family members at Horsethief Reservoir one Saturday afternoon. She rear-ended a semi-truck travelling nearly 70 mph, and lived to tell her story.

Pawnee Valley Community Hospital Foundation Director Julie Bugner-Smith shared why PVCH chose this topic for a Community Conversation. She and

Schmitt have worked together for the past year. She was not aware of Schmitt’s story, until Garcia’s death in June.

Garcia was an employee at PVCH, Smith said. Two deaths within the hospital family, plus Wondra’s near-death experience shook the staff of this small community rural hospital.

She hoped bringing the

COURTESY PHOTO Janet Fleske

Larned High School student Alea Makings created a “I Love You More� box

community’s attention to just how many people have been affected by distracted driving would help people to take the threat seriously.

Webster asked friends and family to adjust the settings on their phones to automatically respond to phone calls and texts with the “do not disturb� message while they are driving.

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The presentation and the conversations it evoked in the days and weeks following the event drove home the need for additional conversations, and Smith is currently working on the next. The foundation will present the “Many Faces of Mental Health� March 19, sponsoring the widely known speaker Jeff Yalden.

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620-285-3195

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Specialty Care in Larned We offer a range of specialties

For more information 855-429-7633 HaysMed complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex.

ATTENTION: If you speak a language other than English, language assistance services are available to you free of charge. Call 1–855-429-7633 (TTY: 1–800-766-3777). ATENCIÓN: si habla espaùol, tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingßística. Llame al 1–855-429-7633 (TTY: 1–800-766-3777). CHÚ �: NÊu ban nói Tieng Viêt, có cåc dich vu ho tro ngôn ngu mien phí dà nh cho ban. Goi so 1–855-429-7633 (TTY: 1–800-766-3777).

GREAT BEND (KAN.) TRIBUNE • SUNDAY, JANUARY 27, 2019 •

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BRANDING, FROM PAGE 2

City and county partnered to invest in shaping the narrative of their community Early roll out Autumn 2018, the city created a website, Larnedcares.com, to make it easy for potential workers to apply by funneling information directly to the hospital’s human resources department, and avoiding the more cumbersome process of interpreting the state website. In the two months that the page has been up and running, over 700 applicants have visited the website, and an application is received about every other day, Nusser reports.

On December 13, 2018, the community held a premier night featuring the Bajillion marketing videos, the first spotlighting Larned State Hospital from the employees point of view.

The remaining three videos included a wide variety of images including people of all ages taking part in community-wide events, active footage of the Larned Homecoming Parade, a high school football game, various residents at their places of business, and people taking part in activities including hunting and agriculture.

Following the videos, attendees were encouraged to sign up to become brand champions, and pledge to share positive posts from the community and encourage people to support the community

both in and outside of Pawnee County.

Stability, welcoming nature will attract In the coming year, expect to see the city’s new brand popping up on all city related equipment, stationary, signage and official gear. The implementation will made in phases, and are very specific, Nusser said.

Two years from now, he anticipates morale will be high throughout the entire Larned and Pawnee County communities, as the vision of what it means to be from Larned and Pawnee County is realized. “We have a welcoming nature,�

Nusser said. “For several years, we’ve had a very stable population, and people understand that this is a living area, not a dying area. We are excited about where we are, and we are going to attract people here.�

Not only has the residential population remained about the same for many years, the same can be said for the commercial concerns in the area. “Some businesses have come and gone, but in general it feels the same,� Nusser said. “Our brand will promote the fact that Larned is consistent, that the going concerns are going to be here for a long time.

People will see there is life to this community.�

COURTESY PHOTO OF LARNEDCARES.COM

Larned State Hospital

Committed to caring for the community.

Quality healthcare at Pawnee Valley Campus.

Pawnee Valley Medical Associates specializes in total healthcare for the individual and for the family. Our physicians and advanced practice providers treat a variety of health conditions ranging from sports medicine to pediatrics to geriatrics. Our American Board of Family Medicine-certiďŹ ed physicians are proud to offer a range of services including: 1 ") $ wellness checks 1 ##*$ / ) %$( $ , %'$ ' ' *# ( %$( well-baby and child exams 1 DO employee and sports physicals 1 %"%$ $ ' ( ' $ $ ( 1 otox and JuvedermÂŽ treatments 1 Workers’ compensation 1 # "" $ %*( &'% *' (

Pawnee Valley Medical Associates 713 w. 11th St. | Larned, KS 67550 Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-5 p.m. | Saturday 8 a.m.-noon 620-804-6007 pawneevalleyhospital.com

A D V A N C I N G

T H E

P O W E R

O F

Pawnee Valley Campus’ mission statement is to be the best critical access hospital in rural America. We are committed to providing excellent healthcare for our community, including these services: 1 % ) & 0 ) 1 Acute and skilled nursing 1 " ! '%($exity laboratory 1

$"& * 1 $ ( & " &'*+" &+ ) 1 ) " &, $ ) + *+"& &

1 Pain clinic 1 Wound care clinic 1 ) "' & (,$%'& )y rehabilitation 1 " "tal mammography, ultrasound, bone density, 64-slice low-dose CT scanner " &'*+" &, $ ) % " "& & ) y 1 !ysical, occupational, speech, lymphedema and dry needling therapy

Pawnee Valley Campus 923 Carroll Ave. | Larned, KS 67550 620-285-3161 pawneevalleyhospital.com

M E D I C I N EŽ Š The University of Kansas Health System

A D V A N C I N G

T H E

P O W E R

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M E D I C I N EŽ Š The University of Kansas Health System

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• GREAT BEND (KAN.) TRIBUNE • SUNDAY, JANUARY 27, 2019

Progressive Therapy to mark 11th anniversary in 2019 LARNED — A decision made nearly 11 years ago has made a difference in the day to day lives of many in Pawnee County who have benefitted from the local services provided by Progressive Therapy of Larned.

Kevyn Soupiset, PT and co-owner, was actually the director of rehab at the former St. Joseph hospital and in 2008, when the foreseeable closures of Central Kansas Medical Center and St. Joseph were impending, Kevyn was worried that Pawnee County was going to lose access to the physical therapy services that had so strongly grown the previous several years.

While looking for options to keep access to services, and very near this same timeframe, Advanced Therapy & Sports Medicine, which had been open for several years in the Great Bend area approached Kevyn regarding partnering to open a clinic in Larned. This turned out to be a great fit. The previous year, in 2007, they had opened a clinic in Hays, Progressive Physical Therapy Center.

All three clinics continue to have a strong presence in the area.

Progressive Therapy & Sports Medicine opened their doors in April of 2008. Initially they were a staff of one and a half.

They employed a Physical Therapist, Kevyn Soupiset, and shared a front office assistant, Vickie Wilson, with Central Kansas Respiratory Services (CKRS). By July of 2008, Shawn Jecha, Physical Therapy Assistant joined on full time. They quickly grew adding an additional physical therapist, Carrie Hildebrand a year later, followed by Ashely Peintner, Physical Therapist, in 2012. In 2013, both CKRS and PTSM were growing, and both found themselves in need of more space for expansion in order to provide more services for their Soupiset patients. At that time, CKRS relocated to their current location on Broadway and Progressive Therapy expanded into the space and remodeled their building.

Progressive & Sports Medicine were blessed with the Small Business of the Year Award in 2015 by the Larned Area Chamber of Commerce. Over the

COURTESY PHOTO

Pictured is the staff at Progressive Therapy of Larned. The business is celebrating 11 years of service this year.

past several years, staff has advanced there education including Kevyn obtaining his Doctorate in Physical Therapy, as well as an advanced board certification in Sports Physical Therapy, a Manual Therapy Certification, and an additional Sports Therapy Certification through the North American Sports Medicine Institute. Additionally, Ashley, a doctorate level physical therapist herself, has advanced her education and training and is now a Certified Exercise Expert for the Aging Adult.

Progressive Therapy has been around to see many changes in the industry, and are looking forward to developments they see on the horizon.

One of the best changes in the industry was Direct Access being fully implemented in 2013.

This has made it possible for patient’s now to have “direct access” to their services without the need for a physician referral.

This greatly increased a patient’s ability to obtain physical therapy services in a quicker and less costly manner. They are

COURTESY PHOTO

Physical therapist Carrie Hildebrand works with a patient.

now able to call and set up an appointment the moment they are having a physical issue, whether it is pain, an injury, mobility limitation, etc.

They are able to gain the services of physical therapy almost immediately, rather than

having the time delay that often occurs when waiting to see their primary care provider.

It has also proven to be significantly less costly as early access lessens the overall cost of health care and many times are able to avoid prescription pain

medications and unnecessary advanced imaging testing. Incidentally, Kevyn was a part of the Kansas Physical Therapy Associations Board that lobbied in Topeka in order for Direct Access to become a reality.

Progressive Therapy and Sports Medicine are very grateful to the community support they have received

the past 10 + years. They are orthopedic and mobility experts geared to treat any and all musculoskeletal conditions as well as balance impairments, sports rehabilitation, and pain. Their staff prides themselves with a caring atmosphere and an eagerness to treat all patients in order for them to “get their life back.”

Celebrating Our 11th Year Anniversary in April!

117 W. 6th Street Larned 620-285-6011

Vertigo, g Balance & Neurological Rehabilitation Orthopedic & Sports Rehabilitation O Exercise & Wellness Programs Specialists Neck & Back Pain Shoulder Pain ASTYM Therapy Manual & Manipulative Therapy

Dr. Kevyn Soupiset, PT, DPT

Dr. Ashley Peintner, PT, DPT

Carrie Hildebrand, PT

Shawn Jecha, PTA

Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-5 p.m. www.ptkansas.com

“Like” us on facebook

GREAT BEND (KAN.) TRIBUNE • SUNDAY, JANUARY 27, 2019 •

7

Furniture, and so much more

My Favorite Furnishings offers up-to-date selections, services

BY DALE HOGG dhogg@gbtribune.com

My Favorite Furnishings is about more than furniture.

When long-time local business owners Jim and Suzan Haynes opened My Favorite Furnishings at 401 Main in Larned last year, they had a goal in mind – revitalize what had been a long-time fixture with new ideas. “We have a lot going on over here,� Suzan said.

Today, they have seven full showrooms of furniture. “We have over 100 pieces of La-Z-Boy in stock to choose from, as well as Best, Lacrosse, Ashley and many others,� Suzan noted. “LaZ-Boy sets a very aggressive goal by requiring a large number of seats to be sold each year, and we exceeded it our first year.�

In addition, they carry a full line of GE appliances, Speed Queen washers and dryers, and Restonic mattresses made in Haven, Kansas.

Interior designer Kari Moreton is now joined

by Mary Stude, forming a two-person design team.

Moreton and Stude provide free in-store or in-home design services.

Furthermore, the store now host groups, such as the Red Hat Ladies or a gathering of friends who have ventured to town for dining and shopping. During the session, the design duo offers decorating tips, shows how to transform an area by adding a few special touches, and showcases how a grouping of furniture can

look different by incorporating different style methods.

There is more.

They offer carpet, wood floor, tile, and vinyl with four installers available, Jim explained. There is also a large selection of area rugs of various sizes, shapes and prices to meet any budget.

But, it goes beyond that.

With their venture, Suzan’s passion is to make this more than just a furniture store by creating a destination shopping experience. “We want to add a little pizzazz,� she said.

They have had the opportunity to travel and see items from around the world. Now, they want to bring some of these items to Larned. Highlights among these are the hand-painted Polish pottery and the Turkish lamps, both of which have been very popular.

The store offers an array of seasonal items, pictures, lanterns, candlesticks and a wide variety of gift items many that are priced under $20.

All about service They will deliver within an hour’s radius of Larned, but will work with customers beyond that, Suzan said.

They’ve made deliveries to Pratt, Hutchinson, Derby, Newton and even Manhattan.

Suzan encourages area residents to stop by, take a look and see what the store has to offer. “It’s all about customer service,� Suzan said. They will work with customers to find what they need and any ordering will be done in a timely manner.

They can even sell right off the showroom floor, which is not a common practice, she said.

This has already paid big dividends. “It’s gone well so far,� Suzan said.

Hours for the business are 8:30 to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Kari and Mary are available for consultation by appointment during business hours. They encourage people to follow their posts and like them on Facebook at facebook.com/myfavoritefurnishings/.

The store’s website, www. myfavoritefurnishings.com, offers a search feature that allows the customer, in the comfort of home, to browse through products offered by the store.

Jim and Suzan Haynes, Owners

401 Broadway, Larned 620-285-6944

FAMILY DENTISTRY Joe Rosenberg, D.D.S. THREE LOCATIONS IN CENTRAL KANSAS

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• GREAT BEND (KAN.) TRIBUNE • SUNDAY, JANUARY 27, 2019

Santa Fe Trail Center offers new exhibits, events in 2018

BY BECCA HILLER SFTC DIRECTOR

LARNED — Looking back at 2018, Santa Fe Trail Center Director Becca Hiller believes it was “both a year of progress and a year of difficulty.” The museum has been working on a multiyear project to renovate the East gallery exhibit space and a lot of change can be seen over the past 12 months. However, the organization has also been facing serious problems with the 40+ year old HVAC system in the main building. Despite the renovation work and infrastructure difficulties the museum maintained its level of quality of programming throughout the year and even added a VERY successful new event.

Renovation Monies for the East Gallery renovation started to be raised in 2010 and work slowly began.

In 2013 new LED track lighting and florescent fixtures were installed in the exhibit areas, lobby, and research library.

Additionally, staff and volunteers worked to remove the walls of the old Indian Gallery, which opened up the floor plan in the gallery.

The majority of the work in the exhibit area has occurred since 2016, when Richard Lartz II was hired to work on the project. Richard works with a team comprised of museum staff and volunteers, however he is the

only museum employee tasked to the renovation full-time.

The past year has seen a huge amount of visible work completed in the gallery. The Trapper, Wichita Grass Lodge, Mexican Trader, American Trader, and Military exhibits have all had major work completed on them and are either finished or are close to completion. Additionally, several other areas have been created. Currently, an exhibit on WHY settlers moved to Kansas is being created—something that has not been interpreted at the museum in the past. Interpretation will include the Kansas-Nebraska Act, land grants and the railroads, and the Homestead Act. The museum is also excited about the addition of an interactive kiosk where visitors can learn about various trade items and the foods consumed by the different cultures along the Santa Fe Trail.

It is hoped that all work will be completed

by June of this year.

Repairs The Trail Center has struggled for years to keep up with repairs to the antiquated heating and air conditioning system in the main museum building. Because of this the Fort Larned Historical Society, which owns and operates the museum, included plans to raise funds to replace the system in its Capital Improvement Campaign,

COURTESY PHOTO

A soldier exhibit at the Santa Fe Trail Center Museum.

launched in 2017. However, the HVAC, which has far exceeded its expected life already, must be

replaced this year — before the funds have been raised. The air conditioner does not work at all and

the boiler has to be manually turned on and off to control the temperature in the building. Work on

replacing the HVAC is planned to begin in May. See MUSEUM, 9

Edwards County Medical Center & The Midway Clinic Visit us for all of your healthcare needs, including Radiology, Physical Therapy, Laboratory Services, Wound Care, and more!

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COURTESY PHOTO

Pictured is a scene from the first annual Christmas on the Prairie event in 2018.

Edwards County Medical Center: 620-650-3621 The Midway Clinic: 620-659-2732

GREAT BEND (KAN.) TRIBUNE â&#x20AC;˘ SUNDAY, JANUARY 27, 2019 â&#x20AC;˘

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MUSEUM, FROM PAGE 8

Tired Iron Show, Rendezvouz just a few of many highlighted events If you are interested in contributing to the Capital Improvement Campaign, please contact the museum by calling 620-285-2054 or email director@santafetrailcenter.org.

Events The museum plans and holds many quality events throughout the year. The Special Events committee, along with the museum Director work to ensure that they are providing programming that appeals to people of different ages and interests. Many events are reoccurring; Kansas Day, Family Kite Fly, Juneteenth Celebration, Rendezvous History Seminar, Santa Fe Trail Tired Iron Show, and the Annual Membership Meeting.

Some of the annual highlights include: The 18th Rendezvous Biennial History Seminar, which was held in September.

The theme was Death on the Trail and attendees said it was one of the best Rendezvous they had attended. Another was the Santa Fe Trail Tired Iron Show. For the first time in its history the decision to postpone it a week was made because of heavy rains and anticipated freezing weather. Despite the delay, the show was a great success and exhibitors and attendees both stated they were glad for the change.

Throughout the year, the Trail Center tries to add extra programming that it thinks will be of interest to people near and far. In 2018 the museum added several book signings and

COURTESY PHOTO

Visistors can learn about the historic commerce route known as the Santa Fe Trail and the effect of westward expansion on what is now known as central Kansas.

speaking programs that were free and open to the public. Also, this past year the Santa Fe Trail Center added Christmas on the Prairie. Working with local businesses and organiza-

tions, the museum had a cookie crawl, carriage rides, refreshments, pictures with Santa, craft area, and more. The four-hour event held in mid-December was a HUGE success

and there are plans to hold it again.

The Santa Fe Trail Center Museum looks forward to all of the progress that will happen in 2019. Please stop by to see the renova-

tion work, visit the historic buildings on the grounds, and enjoy our many programs. The museum is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Tuesday through Saturday year round. Please visit

www.santafetrailcenter. org or call 620-285-2054 to learn more. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

It museum is located 2 miles west of Larned on K-156.

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A scene from the 2018 Santa Fe Trail Tired Iron Show.

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â&#x20AC;˘ GREAT BEND (KAN.) TRIBUNE â&#x20AC;˘ SUNDAY, JANUARY 27, 2019

Kans for Kids expanded service to Pawnee County Ayden Bronson sparks motivation for fundraiser offering to do that for us, as well. We couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be more grateful to him for his generosity and kindness.â&#x20AC;?

Hillarie Thacker, Larned, was the first person to provide a donation to the Ayden Bronson Fund in 2018 that was matched dollar for dollar by Kans for Kids. Hillarie had created and sold Aydenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Army T-shirts as a fundraiser for the young cancer fighter. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We were so grateful that Hilarie was already involved in a fundraiser that Kans for Kids could provide matching funds for, so that Aydenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s family could benefit from her generosity,â&#x20AC;? Reif said.

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Kans for Kids Fighting Cancer Foundation is now accepting aluminum cans at Comfort Pro, located at 301 West 14th St. in Larned. The organization, located in Hoisington, recently expanded to Pawnee County when 4-yearold Ayden Bronson, Larned, was diagnosed with stage 4 Adrenocortical Carcinoma with metasteses to liver and lungs. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re very grateful to Barry Stalcup, Comfort Pro, for contacting us and offering us the opportunity to park a Kans for Kids trailer at his business,â&#x20AC;? said Debbie Reif, co-director. â&#x20AC;&#x153;One of our concerns was finding someone to take the trailer to Great Bend to Acme Iron to recycle the cans once the trailer is full. Barry beat us to the punch by

from Pawnee County will go directly into a pool of funds earmarked for Pawnee County. All aluminum cans recycled at the drop-off in Larned will also be added to that pool of funds. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our goal is to â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;fillâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; that Pawnee County Pool so that we not only can continue to provide funding for Ayden while he undergoes treatment but, so future children in Pawnee County will have funds readily available when the need arises,â&#x20AC;? said Reif. Fundraisers as well as private donations can be matched up to the $2,000 limit per year.

Donations may be made to Kans for Kids at P.O. Box 178, Hoisington, KS 67544. Online donations will be accepted after Jan. 25 at www.kansforkids.org.

For more information contact Debbie Reif, 620-653-2210 (leave a message), or at kans4kids@ruraltel.net.

COURTESY PHOTO

Kans for Kids Fighting Cancer Foundation along with Hilarie Thacker presented Ayden Bronson and his family with a check that included funds from the sale of Aydenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Army T-shirts made by Thacker and matching funds from Kans for Kids.

Pictured is Ayden with his dad, Wayne.

COURTESY PHOTOS

The custom-built Kans for Kids trailer is ready to accept donations of aluminum cans on the lot west of Comfort Pro, 301 W 14th in Larned.

Comfort Pro owner Barry Stalcup graciously contacted the organization with an offer to park the trailer at his location and haul the cans to and from Acme for recycling in Great Bend.

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Larned hospital now a campus of University of Kansas Health System Facility under umbrella of state’s only academic medical center LARNED — At the start of 2018, positive changes were on the horizon for Pawnee Valley Community Hospital, starting with the naming of a new interim administrator, Kendra Barker, who would be named the new permanent administrator only a few months later. Barker served as the hospital’s director of nursing prior to her appointment, and would lead the hospital through the transition and rebranding as the University of Kansas Health System Pawnee Valley Campus in September.

Many gains followed the rebranding, while keeping close ties to the community it serves.

The county retained the assets and ownership of the hospital, and its relationship with Hays Medical Center, remained the same, but with access to additional resources.

Tying of the hospital to the state’s only academic medical center brought many positive results including expanded and local services to be provided through telemedicine, cutting down on the need for some patients to travel long distances.

In November, the addition of in house Digital Mammography to the imaging department was announced. The state of the art equipment will help to more accurately diagnose breast cancer in both women and men earlier, and allowing treatment to start sooner.

The Physical Therapy department was the addition of a Biodex SD Balance Assessment and Conditioning Machine.

The machine is yet another tool therapists can use to improve outcomes of wellness sports medicine, orthopedic, concussion management balance testing, training, and documentation. It can also be used as a screening tool to assess fall risk and

FILE PHOTO

Pictured is the inauguration of the Pawnee Valley Implementation rebrand and the reveal of the new design.

formulate conditioning programs and protocols according to American Geriatrics Guidelines.

A Vitalstim Therapy machine allows speech therapist Mary Vilaysing to help patients strengthen, restore function and to help the brain remap the swallowing function. Pawnee Valley Campus is the only hospital within a 50-mile radius to provide this service.

Patients at UKHSPVC now have access to PICC linePeripherally Inserted Central Catheter-used for long-term IV(intravenous) antibiotics, nutrition or medication and or blood draws.

Bariatric patients now have a

room dedicated to their needs, as do hospice care patients with the addition of a respite room.

A new outpatient service was also added. Dr. Brandon Cunningham has added endoscopy to his outpatient services performed at the hospital.

Association with University of Kansas has brought a consistency of care to the patient experience, and peace of mind that similar treatments delivered across the system would result in similar outcomes. Expect more to come in 2019, with more telemedicine, and special attention paid to the fields of oncology and mental health.

FILE PHOTO

Pawnee Valley Community Hospital rebrands and reflects connection to The University Of Kansas Health System.

Make an appointment at one of our locations Family Medicine 1309 Polk St. Great Bend, KS 67530 620-792-5341

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Great Bend Campus 514 Cleveland St. Great Bend, KS 67530 620-792-8833 Medical Pavilion 620-792-2151 HaysMed 2220 Canterbury Drive Hays, KS 67601 855-429-7633 Pawnee Valley Campus 923 Carroll Ave. Larned, KS 67550 620-285-3161 St. Rose Medical Pavilion 3515 Broadway Ave. Great Bend, KS 67530 620-792-2511

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• GREAT BEND (KAN.) TRIBUNE • SUNDAY, JANUARY 27, 2019

Welcome Inn makes a difference in the lives of Pawnee Co. seniors The Welcome Inn in 2018 took steps to perpetuate its place in the community when it established an endowment through the Golden Belt Community Foundation. Now those who wish to support the center with a lasting gift have yet another option to contribute now and into the future. They can rest assured the Welcome Inn will continue to pass on help and goodwill to Pawnee County seniors far into the future.

“We were very blessed this year,” the Welcome Inn Senior Center’s Director Marilyn Bell said. “In addition to the endowment, we were awarded a Christmas bonus from Farmers State Bank and we received several donations during the Golden Belt Community Foundation’s Giving Tuesday event.”

At the Farmers Bank event in December, the Welcome Inn received the top award of $500, plus an additional $200 for having the highest number of representatives in attendance at the event. Bell spoke briefly as she accepted the gift, noting that by the end of October, the center had served over 14,000 meals in 2018.

“Without your support, that would not have happened,” she said. The gifts would be put to good use.

Serving meals to an average of 70 seniors a day is a challenge that couldn’t be met without the help of volunteers, Bell said.

Nutritious, tasty, hot meals at reasonable prices are always a draw; there are favorites everyone looks forward to. Tops are tuna

TRIBUNE FILE PHOTO

Welcome Inn Leisure Center Inc. board member Lewis Young poses with Nikki Omenski, development director at Golden Belt Community Foundation. In September, the foundation announced the establishment of an endowed fund to benefit the senior center.

salad, taco salad, and liver and onions.

“It’s surprising, I know, but many look forward to the liver and onions,” Bell said.

For seniors who are homebound, meals are delivered by volunteers.

All the center’s drivers are volunteers. They not only deliver meals, they also provide car and bus transportation for Larned seniors so they can get to doctor appointments and run local errands like grocery shopping. Their

donation of time and resources are helping to keep Larned’s senior community vibrant and independent.

In addition to the meals, Welcome Inn has more to share. Health and wellness are a high priority, so Bell and staff have welcomed

Angel Care and the Pawnee County Health Department to visit monthly to provide blood pressure testing. They come on different days, so seniors have two opportunities a month to take advantage of monitoring.

There is an exercise room with equipment seniors can use free of charge. In 2018, a new treadmill was donated by a community member. For those who enjoy a group experience, Yoga classes are offered Mondays and Thursdays each week at 11 a.m., Bell said.

Peace of mind is also important to ongoing health. To that end, seniors can also visit with a legal professional on a quarterly basis at the center, Bell said.

The community has been very supportive of The Welcome Inn, Bell said, so fundraising efforts are minimal. Prior to Thanksgiving, the Welcome Inn held a bake sale fundraiser that was very successful, with fresh baked goods available the day before the holiday.

When the handicapped door at the center stopped working, a soup lunch helped to raise the funds needed to have it fixed.

Giving back to the community is important to the Welcome Inn, so each year the center participates in the community hospital’s Angel Tree and provides Christmas gifts for a child.

Volunteers at the Welcome Inn also partnered with EMS to provide blankets for shut-ins. EMS gathered the blankets, and the center’s cook and volunteer delivery drivers delivered them to housebound seniors when they delivered meals.

“We are pleased and fortunate to be a part of this community which is so supportive of us,” Bell said.

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ILS would like to thank all of our employees and their families for their hard work, dedication, and commitment in 2018.

We feel very grateful to be part of such a great community where so many local businesses support us every day in what we do. Many of these businesses are an extension of our family and we could not produce grain and healthy beef without them.

Our focus in 2019 is to empower our people and communities. Composting animal waste creates a better natural fertilizer for your gardens and our fields by promoting better weed control with less chemicals. As a part of this commitment, we are going to be putting on a “Free Compost Day” again this spring.

Another initiative we are working on in 2019 is disease traceability. We are proud members of the CattleTrace project (www.CattleTrace.org). The goals and objectives of CattleTrace and ILS align and support our top priority of producing quality, consistent, safe, and wholesome beef for our families and yours. CattleTrace is a multi-state disease traceability system that will allow quick and easy tracking of cattle during a disease outbreak. A successful disease traceability system will help us ensure animal health and maintain exports of beef.

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