Latest news with #BartonCounty
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Top Tech Success: Barton's Ag Mechanics program off to a good start
Jun. 13—The Top Tech ag mechanics program at Barton Community College is off to a good start and will continue to grow, according to Mary Foley, executive director of Workforce Training and Economic Development. Foley shared an overview of the first year at Tuesday's BCC Board of Trustees meeting. "There's a lot of excitement and word of mouth," Foley said. Dealerships from Nebraska, Oklahoma and Kansas are visiting with potential students, she added. The college's new Agriculture and Transportation Complex on the east side of the campus was dedicated on July 17, 2024. Barton has a longstanding relationship training mechanics for Case New Holland. The Top Tech program created with CNH support is open to anyone. Six of the first 11 students enrolled completed the certificate program and one student needs to complete his general education courses to receive the certificate. Some students opted to accept employment without finishing the program, she said. Five students are from Barton County, two from Kansas and three from out-of-state, Foley said, adding she wasn't able to track where the 11th student is from. One of the students is a female. Two students are working at KanEquip, one is at Titan Machinery and one is at GTG Peterbilt, all in Great Bend. Another student is at RMAC in Ellinwood and one is at Foley Equipment in Dodge City. One student enjoyed the precision ag class so much he has shifted from ag mechanics to networking and continues studies in that field. Foley mentioned several business partnerships that have enhanced the program. Case New Holland donated an EST scan tool, training transmission and engines, air conditioning components and an older Farmall tractor. Foley said the tractor is a great addition because agriculture mechanics won't always be working on the newest equipment. Central Plains Ag donated a hydraulic cylinder. KanEquip's contributions led to the Top Tech portion of the new complex being named the KanEquip Learning Center. Foley said it continues to support the program by providing student tool kits at a discounted rate. KanEquip also provided technical expertise to Dustin Thompson, the instructor/coordinator. The college also depends on an advisory board for expertise on the industry and workforce needs. Foley said that the board has helped the college bring in guest speakers from KanEquip, GTG Peterbilt, Titan Machinery and the Kansas Department of Transportation.
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Hazard Mitigation Plan updated
Jun. 2—Last week, the Barton Community College Board of Trustees approved the 2025 Kansas Homeland Security Region E Hazard Mitigation Plan and Resolution. This was also on the agenda for Monday's Great Bend City Council meeting. Other entities in Kansas Region E will also be required to adopt similar resolutions. Kansas Region E includes Barton, Pawnee and Stafford counties, along with Barber, Comanche, Edwards, Kiowa and Pratt counties. Mark Dean, Barton's vice president of administration, provided a copy of the plan — a document with 290 pages plus appendixes, and a resolution adopting it. "We didn't write this, but we were involved in it," Dean said. "All cities, counties and colleges are required to approve the resolution. That allows us to be eligible for FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) dollars." Other entities in Kansas Region E will also be required to adopt similar resolutions. Other adopting jurisdictions in Barton County are the City of Albert, City of Claflin, City of Ellinwood, City of Hoisington, City of Pawnee Rock, City of Susank, USD 112 Claflin, USD 355 Ellinwood, USD 428 Great Bend, USD 431 Hoisington, Ark Valley Rural Electric Cooperative (REC), Midwest Energy, Rolling Hills REC, Sunflower Electric, Western Electric, Wheatland Electric, Post Rock Rural Water District and Rural Water District #3. The introduction to the plan explains its purpose: Hazard mitigation is commonly defined as sustained action taken to reduce or eliminate long-term risk to people and their property from hazards and their effects. Hazard mitigation planning provides communities with a roadmap to aid in the creation and revision of policies and procedures, and the use of available resources, to provide long-term, tangible benefits to the community. A well-designed hazard mitigation plan provides communities with realistic actions that can be taken to reduce potential vulnerability and exposure to identified hazards. This multi-jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP) was prepared to provide sustained actions to eliminate or reduce risk to people and property from the effects of natural and man-made hazards. This plan documents the Kansas Region E and its participating jurisdictions planning process and identifies applicable hazards, vulnerabilities, and hazard mitigation strategies. This plan will serve to direct available community and regional resources towards creating policies and actions that provide long-term benefits to the community. Local and regional officials can refer to the plan when making decisions regarding regulations and ordinances, granting permits, and in funding capital improvements and other community initiatives. According to FEMA, all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and five territories including American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands have approved mitigation plans. A total of over 21,227 local governments and 196 tribal governments have approved or approvable-pending-adoption mitigation plans. The nation's population who live in communities with current mitigation plans is nearly 80.9%. States, tribes, territories, and local governments benefit from all hazard planning because it helps them understand natural hazards and develop mitigation strategies. It also provides eligibility for certain non-emergency FEMA grants.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
BCC trustees set to renew contracts for 2025-2026
May 26—The Barton Community College Board of Trustees has reviewed 2025-2026 contract renwals for administrators, management staff and head coaches and is expected to approve them when board members meet at 4 p.m. Tuesday, May 27, in Room F-30 of the Fine Arts Building on campus or via Zoom at In addition to renewing these contracts, a new administrative contract will be approved for Stephanie Joiner, who will advance from management staff to the position of Dean of Academics. There are two open positions for management staff. These are the executive director of Foundational Education, a post previously held by Joiner, and executive director of Health, Humanities, and Science, a post previously held by Jennifer Bernatis. The position for a head coach for volleyball also remains open. 2025-2026 Administration contract renewals —Mark Dean — Vice President of Administration —Renee Demel — Chief Information Officer —Kathleen Kottas — Dean of Workforce Training and Community Education —Angela Maddy — Vice President of Student Services —Elaine Simmons — Vice President of Instruction —Kurtis Teal — Dean of Military Academics, Technical Education and Outreach Programs Management staff renewals —Chris Baker — Executive Director of Healthcare and Public Service Education —Krystall Barnes — Director of Grants —Terry Barrow — Comptroller and Budget Manager —Lindsey Bogner — Executive Director of Institutional Advancement —Mary Foley — Executive Director of Agriculture and Industry Education —Maggie Harris — Chief Communications Officer —Jenna Hoffman — Director of Human Resources —Lindsay Holmes — Director of Hazardous Materials and Emergency Management Programs —Darren Ivey — Director of Library and College Archives —Claudia Mather — Associate Dean of Instruction —Todd Moore — Assistant Director of Athletics and Sports Information Director —Amy Oelke — Director of Systems Integration and DBA —Heather Panning — Assistant Athletic Director and Senior Women's Administrator —Myrna Perkins — Director of Financial Aid —Trevor Rolfs — Director of Athletics —Renae Skelton — Director of Nursing Education —Laura Stutzman — Business Manager —Joshua Winkler — Executive Director of Business, Technology & Workforce Development New Contracts —Narren Brown — Director of Institutional Effectiveness —Michael Noer — Director of OSHA Training Institute Education Center and Occupational Safety and Health Program —Joshua Nuss — Director of Military Programs Head Coaches —Brent Biggs — Baseball —Sabrina Boyd — Dance —Nathan Broekelman — Wrestling —Jerold Clark — Women's Basketball —Jeremy Coombs — Men's Basketball —Carson DuBose — Softball —Skylar Franklin — eSports —Douglas Kaiser — Men's and Women's Golf —Michael Perry — Men's and Women's Bowling —David Schenek — Track and Cross Country —Amanda Schnoebelen — Cheer —Rafael Simmons — Men's and Women's Soccer —Reagan Smyth — Men's and Women's Swimming —Lyle Stickney — Tennis Other personnel The following individuals are on the agenda for approval as new personnel: Adelaide Warhurst — Student Services Specialist (Ft. Leavenworth Campus) Tina Stout — Accounts Payable Clerk (Barton Campus) Gwendolyn Schroeter — Enrollment Specialist (part-time) (MATEOP — Military Programs) (Ft. Riley Campus) Joshua Nuss — Director of Military Programs (Ft. Riley Campus); contract Haven Crawford — Administrative Assistant (MATEOP) (Ft. Riley Campus)
