By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Wheatland Electric donates over $14,000 in unused funds from former Underground Overhead Metering School
biz_lgp_wheatlandpic
Matt Scheeter (left), purchasing manager at Wheatland Electric, presents a check for $4,784 to Patti Thummel, director of Meals on Wheels, at the Senior Center of Finney County.
Published: Jan 5, 2021, 9:00 PM
biz_lgp_wheatlandpic
Matt Scheeter (left), purchasing manager at Wheatland Electric, presents a check for $4,784 to Reynaldo Mesa, board member of Real Men, Real Leaders, in Finney County.
biz_lgp_wheatlandpic
Matt Scheeter (left), purchasing manager at Wheatland Electric, presents a check for $4,784 to Deanna Berry, executive director of Russell Child Development Center, in Finney County.

FINNEY COUNTY – Wheatland Electric Cooperative Inc. has donated $14,352 in unused funds from a former metering school to three area non-profit organizations. 

Donations in the amount of $4,784.17 each were made to Russell Child Development Center, Meals on Wheels, and Real Men, Real Leaders, all located in Finney County, in December. 

The donated funds were left over from the Underground Overhead Metering School, an annual training program coordinated previously by Wheatland Electric, the City of Garden City, Pioneer Electric Co-Op Inc., and Kansas Electric Cooperatives Inc. 

The regional training program was held in Finney County for 46 years until 2020. Wheatland representatives who sit on a committee that oversaw the metering school prior to its closure chose to donate Wheatland’s share of unused funds to these local organizations. 

Matt Scheeter, Wheatland Electric’s purchasing manager, chaired the committee that oversaw the program. He said the decision to close the metering school was one made with heavy hearts. 

“We would like to take this time to thank every one of you that helped make this school a great success,” Scheeter said. “We wish you all nothing but the best in your future endeavors.” 

Other Wheatland representatives on the metering school’s committee include Jana Harkness, a journeyman meter technician, and Rick Klaus, director of operations. 
The Center hosts May 1 Chamber of Commerce Coffee, Open House
biz_lgp_tecenterchambercoffeepic
Kelli Legleiter, human resources director at The Center for Counseling & Consultation, helps with the move into a new downtown building.
Published: Apr 9, 2025, 6:47 PM

The Center for Counseling & Consultation has scheduled back-to-back events to share information about expanded services, while introducing the community to the non-profit agency’s new downtown Great Bend location, 2015 16th.

The Center will host the Thursday, May 1 Great Bend Chamber of Commerce Coffee and an open house at the former BMI building. The Coffee begins at 9 a.m. and The Center’s presentation starts 30 minutes later.

The open house will last until noon; tours and refreshments will be available. Those who attend will have the chance to ask questions.

“We want to take this wonderful opportunity to inform everyone about our expanded services and outreach efforts,” said Wendy Lockwood, executive director. “It will be a great time to explain who we are and what we do for clients and their families.

“As we offer more services and programs, the community can be assured that we focus on quality care and are good stewards of local, state and federal tax dollars,” she added. “We take quality and fiscal responsibilities very seriously.”

The main reason for The Center’s growth is that it is now a licensed Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic. A CCBHC is a multi-disciplinary program that offers a holistic approach to serving clients.

“We continue to provide a variety of therapies but we also support people with their housing and employment issues,” Lockwood explained. “In addition, we offer medication-assisted treatment and have specialized services for veterans of the armed forces. It is all about caring for the whole person.

“This holistic approach requires more staff and we are actively recruiting new personnel. A larger staff and the expansion to the new building allows us to deliver the full array of behavioral-health care to meet the community’s needs.”

The downtown building will be home to the administrative staff, human resources, information technology, training and onboarding.

Approximately 20 people will work there. The remaining space is for specialized staff training in crisis intervention, evidenced-based practices, CPR and first aid. There also is room for additional continuing-education programs.

The other former BMI building at 19th and Washington allows an expansion of psychosocial-group services.

“Since one priority is to keep our clinical teams integrated as much as possible, we decided to move the administrative functions to a different location,” Lockwood summarized. “This makes space for enhanced clinical teams that offer comprehensive, coordinated care at our 5815 Broadway location.”

The Center retains locations at 5501 10th, home of Community Support Services, and 1225 Patton where staff provides case-management services for children. It also has offices in Lyons, Larned and Stafford.

The Center for Counseling & Consultation, a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic, 5815 Broadway in Great Bend, serves Barton, Pawnee, Rice and Stafford counties. Professionally trained personnel offer: individual and group therapy; marriage and family counseling; community-support services; community-based services; psychosocial rehabilitation; peer support; and medication management. The confidential 24/7 crisis hotline number is 800-875-2544.