Morning and Noon Basketball players introduce Hall of Fame

The Great Bend version of the NBA - the Noon Basketball Association - started more than 35 years ago, when a few businessmen began to meet at the Great Bend Municipal Auditorium gym over the noon hour to play basketball.

Morning, noon basketball to get wall of fame

For more than 30 years, some Great Bend men have started their mornings or spent their noon hours at the Municipal Auditorium, enjoying a game of pickup basketball in the gym. Now participants from the Great Bend Recreation Commission's morning and noon basketball programs want to give something back – and establish a hall of fame, local attorney Chuck Pike said.

KBI: Cocaine seized in drug raid

Officers seized approximately half a pound of cocaine, with a street value around $14,000, during a drug raid Wednesday in Great Bend, according to a statement from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. Search warrants were issued as a result of a six-month joint investigation by the KBI, Great Bend Police Department, Barton County Sheriff's Office and Ellinwood Police Department.

Zoo News: Wednesdays are vet days at Brit Spaugh Zoo

People took advantage of this week's warmer weather by spending time at Great Bend's Brit Spaugh Zoo.

Zoo gets 2 parrots

Two Eclectus parrots arrived at the Great Bend-Brit Spaugh Zoo on Tuesday - a green male named Jazz and a red female named Ruby. The birds were a gift from Cameron Park Zoo in Waco, Texas.

Man hospitalized after New Year’s assault

Great Bend Police continue to investigate an aggravated battery that left a 22-year-old man in critical condition early on New Year's Day.

State responds to accusation of placing Longoria in danger

Assistant Attorney General Andrew Bauch's latest motion in the Adam Longoria case defends the State's earlier motions, including one that defense attorneys claim placed their client in danger.

Attorneys trade pretrial barbs in Longoria case

The end of 2011 saw attorneys on both sides of the capital murder case of Adam Joseph Longoria preparing for next year's jury trial, sometimes using colorful language from the Bible and Star Trek as they sparred in pretrial motions.

Life's incredible for Brent and Dan

This time last year, we wrote about Brent Tiede, a 1991 Great Bend High School graduate who had just received a new heart. The successful transplant was done at St. Luke's Hospital in Kansas City, Mo.

New Year's Taxi available

Those who ring in the new year with alcohol can catch a ride home with Great Bend Police Chief Dean Akings or Sgt. Gary Davis. Or they can drive and possibly catch a ride to jail with another officer.

Maintain a fire-safe home this winter

Whether using traditional home heating methods or cost-saving alternatives, it's a good idea to use caution and maintain a fire-safe home. Now that winter is upon us, Great Bend Fire Chief Mike Napolitano and Building Inspector Lee Schneider have some seasonal fire safety tips for wood stoves and fireplaces, fixed and portable space heaters, furnace heating, and heating with generators.

HOMETOWN COUNTRY: Country rocker Kory Brunson plans Great Bend homecoming

A Denver, Colo., band that is hitting the country music charts will put on a benefit concert in Great Bend next month for the Kans for Kids Fighting Cancer Foundation.

Woman who called 911 safe

Barton County Communications and responders were kept busy for more than two hours early Wednesday, after a 24-year-old woman called 911 from her cell phone and said something that sounded like "I am hurt."

Panther moved from quarantine at zoo

Otis woman dies, 2 others injured in collision

An Otis woman died Monday in a two-vehicle accident in Rush County.

New rules limit tournament pitching

Youth baseball and softball pitching limitations were adopted Monday by the Great Bend Recreation Commission. A pitcher may not pitch in more than five consecutive innings in one game, and no more than eight innings in any two consecutive games.

Real estate

The City of Great Bend continues to take positive steps to encourage housing development.

Zoo News: Zoo hoping for spring babies

The animal population at Great Bend's Brit Spaugh Zoo has sometimes been described as "geriatric," but Zoo Director Scott Gregory is working to change that.

Zoo director gives update on lions, bears

Three grizzly bears at Great Bend's Brit Spaugh Zoo turned 1 year old in January, and have been good companions to Max, the older bear in the grizzly exhibit, Zoo Director Scott Gregory said Monday.

Fire does extensive damage to home, garage

A fire at the Karl and Virgina Harmony home, 3106 26th St., did extensive damage Tuesday afternoon, Great Bend Fire Chief Mike Napolitano said. Virginia Harmony was the only one home at the time and got out safely.

Storm watcher recommends ‘situational awareness’

Dramatic videos of flying cameras, storms chasers, and a family emerging from a demolished home after a tornado were among the highlights of "Storm Fury on the Plains," a severe weather awareness program presented Tuesday at the Crest Theater. But Warning Coordination Meteorologist Chance Hayes didn't come to Great Bend just to entertain; his presentations provided potentially life-saving information for anyone with a desire to chase after tornados, or anyone who wants to stay safe in case of severe storms.

GREEN EGGS AND HAM

Great Bend Public Library staff celebrated the 110th birthday of Dr. Seuss on Monday with a party for children. "Miss Amanda," as children's librarian Amanda Moran-Jones is known, read the Seuss book "Green Eggs and Ham," and then The Cat in the Hat invited the children to sample the same dish - scrambled eggs with green food coloring.

Education issues highlight Legislative Coffee

HOISINGTON - Joining Senator Mitch Holmes (R-St. John) and Rep. John Edmonds (R-Great Bend) at Saturday's Legislative Coffee in Hoisington was Kansas Board of Education member Sally Cauble (R-Dodge City).

Know the drill

Tornado sirens will be tested throughout the state, including Barton County, next Tuesday at 1:30 p.m.

Christian groups defend House Bill's intent

Last week, I reported about churches speaking out against House Bill 2433.

BCC trustees hear from PTK advisers

The Barton Community College Board of Trustees took another opportunity Thursday to discuss the recent selection of four students from the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Honor Society, who were recognized Feb. 13 at Topeka. They were BCC's 2014 choice for the PTK All-Kansas Academic Team.

Barton County ready for state tornado drill

Tornado sirens will be tested across the state on Tuesday, as Kansans prepare for severe weather season.