Archive By Author - Susan Thacker
GBFD to hold annual 5K-10K Run/Walk
The temperature may top 90 degrees this Saturday, but during the cool morning hours people will be running for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. The Great Bend Fire Department's ninth annual 5K and 10K runs for MDA will start at 8 a.m. Saturday in front of Fire Station No. 1, at 1205 Williams St. A 1.8-mile "fun walk" starts at 8:15 a.m., according to Fire Inspector Mark Orth. Registration ...
Study: BCC's Camp Aldrich lacks focus
Editor's note: This is the second story in a series about the Camp Aldrich Feasibility Study commissioned by Barton Community College, which owns the facility.
Officers to carry Special Olympics torch
Area law enforcement officers will carry the "Flame of Hope" from Pawnee County to Great Bend today, as the torch makes its way to the Special Olympics Summer Games in Wichita on Friday. Detective Heather Smith with the Great Bend Police Department invites the public to cheer for local athletes and officers, or come walk with them, around noon today. The first leg of the 28-county torch run began Monday, and ...
Camp Aldrich study shows issues, options
Editor's note: Barton Community College has hired an outside agency to evaluate the issues and potential future uses for its Camp Aldrich camp/conference center, located between Claflin and Cheyenne Bottoms. This three-part series will look at some of the suggested upgrades and their costs, as well as possible solutions and recommendations of the consultant, and the reaction of college trustees.
District Court shortens public hours due to hiring freeze
Barton County District Court will be closing to the public one hour early, at 4 p.m. daily, starting Monday, June 6. Most people won't notice the change, unless they try to pay a traffic ticket at 4:15 p.m., District Court Administrator John Isern said. The early daily closing is in response to staff shortages. Normally there would be 10 clerks in the office, but it is down to ...
Seat belt crackdown leads to other arrests
The annual crackdown on motorists not wearing their seat belts can sometimes lead to other things, Barton County Sheriff Greg Armstrong said. This week, one of his deputies stopped an unbuckled motorist and wound up arresting that person for driving with a suspended license. Lieutenant Brian Bellendir said Barton County patrol officers are in the midst of the two-week "Click It or Ticket" campaign, which continues through June 5. ...
State questions value of program
In recent years, Kansas Board of Regents has been working on a process called "alignment," to standardize vocational and technical education courses across the state to fit the needs of employers. The Technical Education Authority makes recommendations on this statewide coordination. Barton Community College administrators don't always agree with TEA recommendations, and the Criminal Justice program is a case in point. Barton President Dr. Carl Heilman said officials at ...
Officers praise BCC training
After a body was discovered in rural Barton County last year, Sheriff Greg Armstrong's staff had a large area to search for evidence and needed to do it quickly. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation was there to help, and so were students from Barton Community College's Criminal Justice program. "(The students) came out and located some very good evidence for us," Armstrong said. Thanks to ...
Seniors get last word at GBHS commencement
Great Bend High School seniors celebrated their graduation Sunday at the 2011 commencement ceremony at Memorial Stadium. Speakers were Alby Harris, class valedictorian, and MaKenzie Sauder, salutatorian. Harris began her remarks with a word of advice: "Wear sunscreen." She had several words of advice for her classmates, actually. "Try to do one thing every day that scares you." "Whatever you do, don't congratulate yourself too much, or berate ...
Painter, storyteller join forces for exhibit
The printed word and painted canvas complement each other in the latest featured exhibit at the Barton County Arts Center. Ellinwood writer George Martin penned the short story "Raspberries," which inspired a series of accompanying oil paintings by St. John artist Rebecca Drach. The pages of the story hang beside the paintings, so as Martin describes a cook's helper doing mundane chores on a farm, the reader can see images of ...
Barton extends president’s contract
Dr. Carl Heilman's contract as president of Barton Community College was extended by one year, to June of 2014, at Thursday's BCC Board of Trustees meeting. The board discussed personnel in executive session for 25 minutes, before approving motions on several contracts - for faculty, head coaches, management staff and the vice president and deans. The faculty contract renewals included 56 tenured instructors, 11 who are now on ...
RSVP, Shafer Gallery, apply for grants
The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program has applied for a grant that could help with its transportation costs, and the Shafer Gallery is seeking its annual funding for the Kansas Arts Commission. Since both RSVP and Shafer Gallery are overseen by Barton Community College, it falls to the college president to approve their grant applications. The Beverly Foundation "STAR Awards" of $15,000 to $18,000 are offered ...
SPRING FASHION: Tropical colors return with warmer weather
Great Bend clothing stores brought their spring styles to the Senior Center on Monday, for the annual fashion show. Ladies modeled ensembles from Beautiful Beginnings, The Gallery, Main Street Boutique, Maurice's and Walmart. There were also some children to model outfits from Completely Kids. The Great Bend Recreation Commission organizes this annual show at the Senior Center. "We have ...
THANKING OUR VETS
Students of Great Bend High School English instructor Crystal Cross rallied residents to support U.S. troops, by organizing a bicycle/walking fundraiser Saturday at Veterans Memorial Park. With donations from the patriotic event and by selling T-shirts, students said they've already raised $1,800 that will be split between two organizations: Great Bend's Military Moms and the Freedom Dogs in San Diego, Calif. Area veterans groups were invited Saturday, and veterans received a ...
TURNING THE TASSEL
Graduates of Barton Community College know as well as anyone, many of life's lessons aren't learned in a classroom. As they attended Barton's commencement ceremonies Thursday in the BCC Gymnasium, students were reminded to use what they've learned and to remain lifelong learners. Andy Tompkins, the president and chief executive officers of the Kansas Board ...
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.
Trash talk
The senior class president of Heights High School in Wichita was suspended for the rest of the school year after posting a bit of trash talk about the school football team on Twitter.
BCC may opt out of conceal carry law
Barton Community College trustees may request an exemption to a new gun law taking effect July 1.
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