Archive By Author - Susan Thacker
Historical Society celebrates Ghosts of Christmas Past
The prototype for the Charlie Brown Christmas tree could have come from the Great Plains. Sometimes the "tree" was little more than a decorated branch, but it wouldn't do to let the holiday go by unobserved. Like the forlorn tree in the animated classic, "A Charlie Brown Christmas," some of the trees used by settlers in the nineteenth century were a bit sparse, but the intention was there, says Beverly Komarek, executive director of the Barton County Historical Village and Museum. Barton County Historical Society will celebrate "Ghosts of Christmas Past" with a free open house from 1-4 p ...
Holy Family School to present Christmas musical Tuesday
They're baa-ck. The sheep get some of the best lines in "The Tale of the Drowsy Shepherd," this year's musical production by the fifth and sixth graders of Holy Family School.
Area ministries unite for Christmas projects
Three ministries based in Barton County and one in Sabetha are working on two projects this Christmas. "Footprints of Faith" will provide shoes for families in Africa and Cambodia, when "Christmas for Families" will help people closer to home, said Dean Nuss from Pay it Forward with Christ Ministry.
Spirit of Christmas in Two-Hawks
With his handmade flutes, John Two-Hawks has played the role of teacher and spiritual healer in previous visits to Great Bend. When he returns to the Crest Theater next Friday, the concert performer of Oglala Lakota Sioux lineage hopes to be an enchanter, taking his audience "into the space where the spirit of Christmas lives."
Papers, please
Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach said Thursday there were no problems with the state's photo ID requirement to vote during the Nov. 6 general election.
​Fatal crash leads to arrest
A Great Bend man may face criminal charges for the vehicular death of a Prosser, Neb., man last April.
Community invited to help soldiers, vets
The Great Bend American Legion Auxiliary is asking people to adopt a Fort Dodge soldier for Christmas. Meanwhile, the local Military Moms group is requesting donations for care packages that will be sent overseas to active military personnel.
Injury accidents reported
Area law enforcement agencies responded to the following one-vehicle injury accidents in recent days:
Bat involved in Walmart sale melee
The 10 p.m. Thanksgiving sale at Great Bend's Walmart got out of hand, with people being "knocked down and trampled," according to police reports. No one was sent to the hospital, but a woman did complain that her arm hurt after the scuffle, according to Sgt. James Buchar at the Great Bend Police Department.
Black Friday: Don't forget Thanksgiving
It's Black Friday, the official opening of Shopping Season, perhaps the biggest day of the year for retail sales. The countdown to Christmas begins today, and for many people the spending scoreboard has begun to tick off the days while adding up the gifts.
​BCC listens to career advisors
Finding people who want jobs is easy. Finding people who are ready to work and have a basic knowledge of the business they come to is not. That's what business and industry leaders told the Barton Community College trustees this week.
Light bulb starts attic fire
A 250 watt light bulb in a recessed fixture meant for a 75 watt bulb was the cause of a fire Tuesday night at 5210 10th St., Great Bend Fire Chief Mike Napolitano said.
KHP works injury accidents
A Great Bend man was among several people injured Tuesday in a three-vehicle accident in Wichita.
Sandy volunteers have new reasons to be thankful
A week of helping victims of Hurricane Sandy has left three local women more appreciative than ever of their own blessings this Thanksgiving.
​BCC tuition going up in 2013, but not for locals
The Barton Community College Board of Trustees have approved an increase in tuition and fees for all students, starting in the fall of 2013. However, they also increased the discount to Barton County students, so there will be no change in what they pay, said BCC President Dr. Carl Heilman.
Articles By Author - Susan Thacker
Home Run: Smithsonian exhibit open in Ellinwood
The Smithsonian Institution traveling exhibit, "Hometown Teams: How Sports Shaped America," and a local exhibit on hometown "Heros on the Sideline" opened Saturday at the Ellinwood School/Community Library, located at 210 N. Schiller Ave.
Great Bend Public Library lists February events
The Great Bend Public Library will reopen at the its temporary location on Monday, Feb. 2, at 11 a.m. The temporary address is 3407 10th Street, next to AT&T.
CASA Chocolate Auction helps children in need
Central Kansas CASA will reach a milestone this year, celebrating its 30th year of helping area children. On Saturday, Feb. 7, the nonprofit organization will reach another milestone, holding its 10th annual Chocolate Auction.
Chapman jury selection starts Monday
Jury selection starts Monday for the trial of Jeffrey Wade Chapman, who is charged with the first-degree murder of 25-year-old Damon Galyardt. District Judge Ron Svaty said 220 potential jurors have been summoned.
Small fires reported
The Great Bend Fire Department responded two small structure fires, one Wednesday and one Thursday, each resulting in about $500 damage.
Julie Zeck joins Hearts Aflame lineup
Julie Zeck is one of the featured speakers scheduled to minister at the 2015 Hearts Aflame Women's Conference in Great Bend.
Playing Chicken: Moran pushes for common sense
Sen. Jerry Moran often talks about his "common sense" solutions, but they aren't always an easy sell in Congress. On Wednesday, the Senate rejected an amendment sponsored by Moran that would have removed the lesser prairie chicken from the federal government's threatened species list.
Barton administration supports Fort Riley
The future of Fort Riley will be the subject of a town hall meeting Feb. 9 in Junction City. Barton Community College representatives plan to attend and be heard as officials from the Department of the Army listen to community members' input on how possible personnel reductions on the base could affect them.
Temporary library outpost opens Monday
With renovation at the Great Bend Public Library underway, staff are busy moving books and other essentials to the temporary outpost at 3407 10th St.
HOMETOWN TEAMS
ELLINWOOD - Twenty-one crates from the Smithsonian Institution arrived at the Ellinwood School/Community Library on Monday. Inside those crates was an American story: the story of athletes, coaches and the fans who cheer them on. The traveling exhibit, "Hometown Teams: How Sports Shaped America," will open officially at 10 a.m. Saturday at the library, located at 210 N. Schiller Ave., but those who attend the Chamber of Commerce Coffee at 10 a.m. on Friday can get a sneak peek at the artifacts and over 200 photographs from the Smithsonian's collection highlighting Americans and their love for sports.
Barton showcases campus on Senior Day
In colloquial terms, "senioritis" is defined as an ebbing of motivation and effort by school seniors as they move closer to graduation. The opposite might be dubbed "senior excite-is," a condition in evidence Saturday at Senior Day on the Barton Community College campus.
Emotional recharge
Who doesn't like to see Kansas ranking near the top of a positive poll? This week we learned that Kansas is ranked the No. 4 Most Emotionally Recharged state for 2015, according to the Lantern Emotional Balance Index.
BCC sets new teacher credential standards
Barton Community College will change its polices on faculty credentials to comply with changes in Kansas Board of Regents regulations, BCC Vice President Dr. Penny Quinn told the college's board of trustees on Thursday. Now, off-campus instructors will need to have the same minimum credentials as full-time faculty.
The Amazing Spidey
Most spider monkeys live to be about 25 years old, so the 50th birthday of Great Bend's Spidey is amazing. In fact, the staff at Brit Spaugh Zoo believe he's the second oldest spider monkey in the world.
Spidey's birthday photos
Photos taken Saturday, Jan. 17, 2015, in celebration of Spidey's 50th birthday. Spidey, at the Great Bend Brit Spaugh Zoo, is believed to be the second-oldest living spider monkey in the world.
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