By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Park School students learn with walking classroom
new slt walking-main.gif
Park School fourth- and fifth-grade summer school students walk with instructor Eric Dowson at Brit Spaugh Park during Walking Classroom time. - photo by Courtesy photos

Park School’s fourth- and fifth-grade Summer School and After School classes are now getting fresh air and exercise while they learn. Thanks to a Masonic Lodge Literacy Grant, the class received “WalkKit” audio players for each student preloaded with over 100 podcasts on topics including science, social studies and language arts.


Dara Touslee is the After School-Summer/School coordinator at Park School. “I learned about the program at an After School Conference and was eager to use it with our students. The Masonic Lodge Literacy Grant made it possible for us to purchase the materials,” she said.
The Walking Classroom is simple. Students take brisk 20-minute walks as a class, while listening to the same kid-friendly podcast. The program gets kids out of their seats and walking without sacrificing instructional time. Students return to the classroom in better moods, more focused, and more likely to engage in post-walk discussions, Touslee said.


Park School teacher Eric Dowson is using the Walking Classroom with the Summer School students.
“The Walking Classroom is a very effective program. It works because many students learn when they are being active,” he said. “The program also works because not all cultures share their information in written form. For a student who comes from a culture that shares its history orally, the students are used to learning while listening to stories or music. The podcasts do the same thing, they teach by listening. Then, once the student acquires background knowledge of a topic, similar information in written form begins to have more meaning to them, becomes less tedious, and ultimately makes reading more enjoyable.”

Police busy with Meth arrests
police_drug_bust.jpg

Great Bend Chief of Police Steve Haulmark issued a press release Thursday morning pertaining to the arrest of three individuals on drug and weapons charges.

At approximately 2:25 p.m., Monday, March 10, an officer with the Great Bend Police Department stopped a white in color Chevrolet Tahoe in the 800 block of Morphy Street in Great Bend, driven by Mitchell Anspaugh, W/M 63. Anspaugh was placed under arrest for driving with a suspended driver’s license. Great Bend Police K9 Niko responded to the stop to assist. A free air sniff of the vehicle was performed during which K9 Niko alerted to the presence of illegal narcotics in the vehicle. Officers searched the vehicle and located methamphetamine, evidence of distribution, and drug paraphernalia. 

Anspaugh was transported the Barton County Jail on requested charges of Distribution of Methamphetamine (3.5-100 grams), Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, No Drug Tax Stamp, and Driving While Suspended. Anspaugh was booked in lieu of $100,000 cash surety bond. Anspaugh was also booked on an outstanding Great Bend Municipal Court warrant for Failure To Appear. Anspaugh was booked on $1,000 cash surety bond for the warrant.

Later that same day, at approximately 5:47 p.m., officers from the Great Bend Police Department responded to United Parcel Services located at 2316 9th Street in Great Bend in reference to a suspicious package. Upon arrival, officers were notified that a package had been intercepted by staff and flagged as suspicious. Inside of the suspicious package, officers discovered 7.6 grams of crystal methamphetamine hidden within the contents of the package. Shortly thereafter, the investigating officers were able to identify the suspect attempting to mail the package.

On Tuesday, March 11, officers from the Great Bend Police Department responded to a residence located at 2087 NW 60th Street, in Stafford County, in reference to the execution of a Narcotics Search Warrant. Upon arrival, officers apprehended the suspect from the UPS incident identified as Chandler Wieland, W/M 57. Officers also apprehended Lisa Rugan, W/F 56, at the residence. During a search of the residence, officers located over 100 grams of Methamphetamine, Marijuana, other controlled substances, evidence of drug distribution, as well as illegal and stolen firearms. 

Wieland was arrested and transported to the Barton County Jail. Wieland was booked on two (2) counts of Distribution of Methamphetamine, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Controlled Substances, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Criminal Use of Weapons, Possession of a Stolen Firearm, and No Drug Tax Stamp. Rugan was also arrested and transported to the Barton County Jail. Rugan was booked on one (1) count of Distribution of Methamphetamine, Felony Interference with Law Enforcement, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Controlled Substances, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Criminal Use of a Weapon, and No Drug Tax Stamp.  

These investigations are still ongoing. Anyone with further information regarding these or any other crimes is encouraged to contact the Great Bend Police Department at 620-793-4120 or Crimestoppers at 620-792-1300 or online at p3tips.com.