Archive By Author - Susan Thacker
Community Bird Sanctuary dedication Thursday
An area created to attract songbirds to the courthouse square was added during construction of the Jack Kilby monument. Although birds have been using the habitat on the north side of the courthouse for several months, the "official opening" takes place Thursday. This small garden on the north of the courthouse will be dedicated with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 10 a.m., following the Great ...
Barton Community College Foundation names new members, elects officers
The Barton Community College Foundation Board of Directors recently welcomed five new board members and elected officers for the 2011-12 academic year. Elected for three-year terms, the new board members are Sylvan Bleeker, Harmony Kistler, Robert Peter and Tim Hammeke, all of Great Bend, and Lori Werth of La Crosse. Gary Burke of Great Bend was elected to serve as the board chairman for 2010-11. Other officers include ...
Track and soccer field dedication set for Aug. 27
This year's "Meet The Cougars" event for Barton Community College sports fans has been expanded to a full schedule of events, including the dedication of the new track and soccer field at noon Saturday, August. 27. Student athletes from all sports will interact with the public and will join Barton President Dr. Carl Heilman and representatives of the Barton Community College Foundation, the Board of Trustees and the Athletic ...
New equipment helps GBRC monitor heat
Great Bend Recreation Commission has purchased a portable device so it can check the heat index of any playing field, GBRC Director Diann Henderson told her board of directors Monday. The decision to cancel a game or practice is based on indexes that combine temperature and humidity. The Kansas State High School Activity Association has published charts for both hot and cold weather to show dangerous levels, Henderson said. Coaches ...
BCSO DARE car wins trophy
The Barton County Sheriff's Office patrol car driven by Sgt. David Smith took first place in the car show sponsored by the Kansas Juvenile Officers Association during its conference in Wichita. The conference was attended by Kansas DARE officers to gain training and teaching ideas for their Drug Abuse Resistance Education classes. Sheriff Greg Armstrong said one facet of the conference is to allow each agency to enter a car show ...
Rescued cougar may be coming to zoo
An 11-year-old cougar that was rescued from the exotic pet trade years ago is headed to a new life. But before "Phoenix" is released to an exotic animal lodge in Texas, the cougar could spend up to a year at the Great Bend Brit Spaugh Zoo. Pending final paperwork, the cougar will be sent to Great Bend next month, Zoo Director Scott Gregory said. It will need some "down time" away ...
Shafer Gallery embraces steampunk
The Old West has a new look in pop culture, which is why the director of Barton Community College's Shafer Gallery gave college trustees a crash course Thursday in steampunk. Steampunk is a sub-culture of science fiction in the tradition of author Jules Verne; stories are set in an era such as the late 19th Century where steam power is still widely used, but featuring futuristic technology such as ...
College approves budget, discusses personnel
Barton Community College trustees allowed 30 minutes Thursday for the public to comment on its proposed budget but, as usual, no one showed up. At the conclusion of the budget hearing, the board approved the budget that was published in the July 24 edition of the Great Bend Tribune as a legal notice. The budget calls for an estimated tax rate of 32.307 mills, which is exactly 0.5 ...
Zoo News: Zoo animals treated to misting stations
Animals at the Great Bend Brit Spaugh Zoo have a new way to beat the heat. This week the staff is adding misting systems to all of the exhibits.
BCC ready to welcome parents, students
Barton Community College staff are gearing up for the fall semester, starting with one last early enrollment session at 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Learning Resource Center. These programs, which were offered every Wednesday in July, provide a one-stop service that includes more than enrolling in classes, said Beth Keeley in the Admissions Office. "It's really for new students coming in," she said. They can meet with their advisers, take ...
Officers return to site of May drug bust
Officers returned to the site of a previous drug raid Saturday morning, and arrested two Great Bend residents for the second time in three months - this time on federal charges. Around 10:30 a.m., members of the Barton County Sheriff's Office, Great Bend Police Department and Kansas Bureau of Investigation executed warrants at 3119 25th St., the residence of Mark R. Wintholz, 45. Tiffinie D. Moore, 26, was also at the ...
King joins staff at Great Bend Public Library
Jennifer King may have found her dream job at the Great Bend Public Library. "I'm a bit of a book nerd," said King, who has a bachelor's degree in English and theater from McPherson College and a master's in English from Emporia State University. She had experience working at the Pottawatomie-Wabaunsee Regional Library, and she had some experience doing promotion work for the theater at ...
Fake grandsons didn’t fool savvy seniors
The sheriff's office and police depart each received reports Thursday from residents who said they were contacted by fake grandsons. In one case, a woman told the Barton County Sheriff's Office she had received a phone call from "Jason," who claimed to be her grandson and said he was in jail. She was told he needed $2,900 for bond. That is a common version of a scheme commonly ...
Watchdog group to attend burglar's sentencing
The Citizens Watchdog Association, created in response to a rash of burglaries in Great Bend, is urging its members to attend a burglar's sentencing in Barton County District Court - whenever it may be. Watchdog committee chairman Brock McPherson invited people on the group's e-mail list to mark their calendars for Aug. 26 because "the burglar who is responsible for a number of the burglaries is scheduled to appear ...
BCC trustees evaluate the ‘Barton experience’
The administrators of Barton Community College say that surveys show students have a positive rating of their "Barton Experience." Dean of Information Services Charles Perkins addressed the topic last week during his monthly monitoring report on Ends Statements. A board policy titled Barton Experience is defined by three Ends Statements: • Students will be positive about their Barton experience. <p ...
Articles By Author - Susan Thacker
Poppies to honor veterans available
The American Legion Auxiliary will be out this Memorial weekend asking for donations to help with its Poppy Program. Members will be in front of Great Bend businesses with poppies this evening and all day Saturday. They will also be out on Sunday if they still have some of the 3,000 poppies, said Marianne Krallman, cochair of this year's Poppy Program. Look for volunteers in front of Walmart, both Dillon's stores, Orscheln's and True Value ...
Ironic freedom
On Thursday, Gov. Sam Brownback signed a bill that establishes "Celebrate Freedom Week" during the week of Sept. 17 and requires schools to teach students about the Constitution, Bill of Rights and Declaration of Independence in grades K-8 each year during that week. (Sept. 17, 1787, is the date the U.S. Constitution was adopted in Philadelphia.)
Two Barton coaching contracts 'pending'
Nine head coaching contracts were renewed Wednesday when the Barton Community College Board of Trustees met, but the contracts of two head coaches are "pending final review." The board discussed personnel matters behind closed doors for nearly an hour before voting on head coach contracts, administrative contracts and contracts for managerial staff. Barton President Dr. Carl Heilman said there were no changes in head coaches, but the board did not approve a contract for a ...
Two flee; child left in truck
A minor child was left in a truck with a loaded gun Monday night as two suspects fled from Barton County deputies.
Our zoo is famous and other local news
Tying up a few loose ends on stories that didn't make the front page:
Higher gas prices not likely to drop by weekend
Gasoline prices have risen dramatically in the past two weeks throughout much of the Midwest. While the price increases may ease off by June, but don't expect relief at the pump this Memorial Weekend, industry experts say. The American Automobile Association's online daily fuel gauge report and GasBuddy.com both showed the average price for a gallon of regular gas Monday in Kansas was $3.92. Just one week ago, the average price was $3.64, and it ...
Cool/Not Cool
The Imagination Playground is coming to Great Bend and will make its public debut during June Jaunt. The portable playground is a set of oversized blocks, lightweight but sturdy enough to build with. They were designed by award-winning architect David Rockwell, who was inspired by watching his own children play.
These masterpieces have wheels
Barton County Historic Society is celebrating the 60th anniversary of organized drag racing in the Golden Belt with a new exhibit and a car show during its open house this Saturday.
GBRC shares Blue Ribbon Award to promote health
Several people working to make Barton County a healthier place received some recognition and financial assistance Monday during the Great Bend Recreation Commission Board meeting. Doug Vance, executive director of the Kansas Recreation & Park Association, visited the meeting along with representatives from BlueCross BlueShield of Kansas, to present a $2,500 facsimile check and a banner in honor of Great Bend winning the Blue Chip award.
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