Archive By Author - Susan Thacker
Grieving family fights to prevent suicides
Those who loved Chad Roberson remember him as a fun-loving, generous man who would do anything for family - and would always help an underdog. He was a leader, protective, hard working. In the summer of 2010 he was baptized. When he died on Dec. 13, 2010, he was 22 years old. The cause of his death was suicide. Chad's mother, Faith Jacobs, and sister Melaine VanderMeer, are ...
Kansas Court of Appeals hears cases at Great Bend
Justices from the Kansas Court of Appeals brought their work to Great Bend Tuesday. At Barton Community College and the courthouse, justices heard arguments on cases dealing with child custody, a driving under the influence arrest, and the post-release supervision of a man convicted of a sexual offense. The hearings were held here as part of the county's Constitution Day observance. Although none of the cases originated in Barton County, several ...
Plane knocks out power line at Ness City
Fire trucks and law enforcement officers were standing by Sunday evening at airports in Ness and Barton counties, but the pilot of a damaged two-passenger airplane landed at the Larned/Pawnee County Municipal Airport. Steve Gross, airport manager at Larned, said the pilot had landed and left by the time he arrived at the airport. Gross had been advised of a possible landing gear problem sometime after 8:30 p.m. Pilots can activate ...
Police investigate kidnapping report
Great Bend Police are investigating a report of an aggravated kidnapping. A man contacted the police late Sunday morning, saying that three white males came to his residence in the 2900 block of Lakin Ave. around 4 p.m. on Saturday and forced him into a vehicle. He said he was taken into the country, west of Great Bend, where the alleged kidnappers battered him and threatened to hurt his family. According ...
BCC trustees change policy manual
Barton Community College's Board of Trustees may talk less about Policy Governance and more about Barton Governance in the future, after amending its board policy manual last Thursday. As noted in the update manual, BCC trustees adopted the Carver Policy Governance™® model on Nov. 21, 1996. "It serves as the foundation for all board practices/policies." However, BCC President Dr. Carl Heilman noted at the meeting, the college's board ...
GBPL adds online e-books for kids
Great Bend Public Library has replaced its Dial-A-Story services with an online storyteller, Children's Librarian Eric Coulbourne said. The new service, called TumbleBooks, is an audio/visual reading experience. Children can view an e-book and listen as the books read to them. "Dial-A-Story was where you called and heard a story over the phone," Coulbourne said. The company provided classic stories on cassettes, which were recorded onto a digital playback system. ...
BCC has goal to improve online education
Goals for Barton Community College for the 2011-12 year are outlined in the Barton Yearly College Plan, which was approved Thursday by the BCC Board of Trustees. Goals are listed for six departments: Athletics; Business Services; Grants; Institutional Advancement; Information Services; and Student Services & Instruction. Student Services & Instruction is divided into seven more categories: academics; distance learning; Fort Riley learning services & military operations; learning resources; student ...
Rec Commission starts fall programs
The Great Bend Recreation Commission has begun its fall programming season with the theme "Come Outside and Play." Director Diann Henderson and staff reported on August activities and what's coming up this month when the GBRC Board of Directors met Monday. Fall brochures will be mailed today. "We've transitioned from summer into fall," Henderson said. Upcoming activities for special needs include bowling, craft programs, Lite & Lively ...
CPI wears red to remember 9/11
One of the biggest private employers in Barton County made its 9/11 commemoration visible on Friday, when employees at CPI Qualified Plan Consultants wore red T-shirts to work. Not just any red shirt. The company's Military Family Support Group sold out of shirts with the message "Remember 9-11-01" on the front and a tribute to the U.S. armed forces on the back. Lavada Kraft, who heads the committee, said she wanted ...
Crime Stoppers seeks information on home burglary
Crime Stoppers is seeking information about a burglary that occurred sometime between 3:30 p.m. on Aug. 23 and 12:45 p.m. on Aug. 24, at 5715 Aspen Drive, Apartment 6, in Great Bend. Someone entered the residence and took a white X-box 360 game system and a 32-inch Panasonic television, serial number LY91180511. Estimated loss was $800. Anyone with information about this crime or any other crime is asked to call Crime Stoppers, ...
FARM KIDS
When the classroom moves to the farm, kids have a lot of questions. "Does it hurt a horse when you nail a shoe to its hoof?" No "How many eggs does a queen bee lay in a day?" 2,000-3,000. "Can I hold a chicken?" Of course! Barton County's 18th annual Kids Ag Day was held Wednesday ...
They should know they are Satan's spawn
Dear Editor, It is unfortunate that we, as a public have given so much power to other government agencies that they can single handedly wreck the lives of innocent children. I am speaking of a recent incident regarding childcare and foster care. These people conducted an inspection while the daycare was closed. I was under the impression these were to take place when the business was in operation. Do they go to restaurants and conduct ...
GBHS student Jun Rui Chen has art exhibit
A trip to his native China provided Great Bend art student Jun Rui Chen with new material for his second exhibit at the Great Bend Public Library. Chen, 15, is a sophomore at Great Bend High School, but his friends were raving about his artistic ability back when he attended Riley Elementary School. Last Friday, he and his parents joined local artist Bev ...
Great Bend residents recall 9.11.01
The Great Bend Fire and EMS Department is planning a short remembrance ceremony next Sunday on the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon. The ceremony at 8:30 a.m. at Fire Station No. One, 1205 Williams St., is in honor of all the public safety and military personnel who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001, GBFD Fire Chief Mike ...
BCC opens high-tech portal
Cutting edge technology at Barton Community College includes a portal to the website, and electronic money systems. The president's staff described the innovations last week at the BCC Board of Trustees Study Session. The MyBarton Portal is in the late test stages, and will evolve based on student feedback, said Charles Perkins, Dean of Information Services. A portal is by definition an entrance or point of access; on a ...
Articles By Author - Susan Thacker
Representation: 3-mile zone creates issues
A while back the League of Women Voters asked Great Bend City Attorney Robert Suelter to discuss the three-mile zone around the city limits, which has been overseen by the city since 2000. The area has a mix of agricultural, industrial and residential uses.
Zoo News: Brit Spaugh Zoo continues search for new animals
One of the new animals at Great Bend's Brit Spaugh Zoo is a 6-month-old African serval cat named Akida. This male cat was shipped to the zoo from New Zealand and Zoo Director Scott Gregory said he will try to find a female from another zoo so they can attempt to breed the pair. Although the zoo already has a female serval, she dates to an earlier time when zoo record keeping was not as ...
Historical Society announces ‘Ghosts of Christmas Past’ open house
Nostalgia, entertainment and music are on the agenda for the Barton County Historical Society's holiday open house, "Ghosts of Christmas Past." It will take place 1-4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8, at the museum. Admission is free for the day. The Barton County Historical Museum & Village is located just south of the Arkansas River bridge on U.S. 281 in Great Bend. Regular winter hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. Executive Director ...
Every Christmas Story
Last year, Great Bend Community Theatre's holiday gift to the community was "It's A Wonderful Life, a Radio Show." This year director Sally O'Connor will deck the halls with "Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some)." The play opens Thursday, Dec. 5, with nightly shows at 8 p.m. through Dec. 7, and ends with a 2 p.m. matinee on Sunday, Dec. 8, at the Crest Theater, 1905 Lakin Ave. The box office will be ...
'Trick or Tree' contest pleases tree lovers
As the fall colors began to turn, Great Bend's Tree Board announced its first Trick or Tree photography contest. Contest coordinator Toni Rice announced the winners this past week. "We had so many wonderful entries," Rice said. Although six were named winners – and will be awarded gift certificates – Rice had many "favorites" among the submissions – which brought out the variety in species as well as the history of trees in Barton County. ...
Wholistic center celebrates quarter century of healing hands
The "Heartland" ministries of Great Bend's Dominican Sisters of Peace have always been intended to address body, mind and spirit. One of those ministries, the Heartland Center for Wholistic Health at 1005 Williams St., is celebrating 25 years.
Acres for birds
You'd think people would be happy with the rise of ethanol, a renewable energy source, taking the place of some oil, which is non-renewable. By creating another market for corn farmers, it should be a win-win.
Santa's Workshop opens Monday
After Thanksgiving, the elves at the north pole get busy. A winter tradition, Santa's Workshop will be open from 6-8 p.m. Monday, Dec. 2, at the City Auditorium. Garet Fitzpatrick at the Great Bend Recreation Commission notes that a number of volunteers will help to transform the City Auditorium into the 17th annual Santa's Workshop, a free event "designed for preschool through sixth graders and their families and those young at heart." Enter through the ...
Mayor to throw switch on 'Trail of Lights'
The newest holiday display in Great Bend is located on the north side of the courthouse square. Christina Hayes, Great Bend Community Coordinator, described the interactive light display. "We are very excited about this new feature," she said. "It's set to music where you can park your car and tune in your radio, and the lights will dance with the music." Parks Director Terry Hoff described the synchronized light show as a major addition to ...
2nd Grade Civics
Second graders from Park Elementary School took a trip to the Golden Belt Humane Society on Monday for story time. After Kennel Technician Aaron Pike read a story, there was time for cookies and juice. Children also got to pet some puppies and kittens while learning important lessons about animals from the shelter's staff. Heather Acheson, director of the humane society, compared lessons on approaching injured or stray animals to what kids learn about "stranger ...
Library announces Food for Fines and other events
The Great Bend Public Library is once again holding Food for Fines to support the local food bank. From Dec. 2 until Jan. 4, bring in one non-perishable food item for every $1 in late fines on library materials. Food may be dropped off inside the library anytime during library hours.
Home for the Holidays events listed
Great Bend's holiday events calendar explodes this week as Thanksgiving and the annual Home for the Holidays celebration approaches.
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