Archive By Author - Susan Thacker
Holmes votes for innovative schools coalition
Rep. John Edmonds shared his analysis of the governor's plan to reduce state income taxes, and Sen. Mitch Holmes discussed the Coalition of Innovative School Districts bill when they returned to Great Bend for a legislative coffee, Saturday at the Kansas Oil & Gas Museum.
Great Bend Zoo's white tiger, 'Spirit,' dies
The white Bengal tiger at Great Bend's Brit Spaugh Zoo has died. Zoo Director Scott Gregory said the tiger named Spirit died in its sleep Thursday night. A necropsy was performed Friday to determine cause of death, and results should be available from Kansas State University's College of Veterinary Medicine in a week or two. Staff at the zoo were saddened by the loss, and Gregory said he expects the community will also miss Spirit. ...
Kansas Prisoner Review Board taking comments
A man convicted of second degree murder and attempted voluntary manslaughter in 1987 in Russell County, and a man convicted of sex crimes in Pawnee and Barton County, are eligible for parole hearings in April. A total of 18 Kansas inmates are scheduled for possible parole in May. Prior to their parole hearings, the Prisoner Review Board will take public comments.
Preliminary hearing of former Honor Flights director continued
The preliminary hearing for the woman charged with stealing more than $100,000 from Central Prairie Honor Flights got under way this week, but has been continued to April 10. LaVeta Miller, former director of Central Prairie RC&D, once based in Great Bend, is charged with two counts of theft by deception. The state alleges that money was stolen from the program intended to give World War II veterans expense-paid trips to Washington, D.C. Barton County ...
Good Politics: Two sides come together
The oil industry and environmentalists – two groups seen as political opposites – managed to sit down together in recent months and form regulations that may become a model for the rest of the nation, the Associated Press reports. The issue is the drilling method known as hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking." In Illinois, members of the oil and gas industry wanted to use the method with a minimum of red tape, while some environmentalists wanted ...
ZOO NEWS: Education coordinator is amateur paleontologist
Few people turned out for Danielle Ricklefs' recent program on being an amateur paleontologist, coming as it did after a series of snow days. But Ricklefs, the new education coordinator at Great Bend's Brit Spaugh Zoo, promised she'll be repeating the program this spring. She also introduces paleontology, the study of fossils and the science of prehistoric life, to teach kids about extinction events, past and future.
TEXT LESSONS: Students attend Farm Safety Awareness Day
Area high school students were all over the road Wednesday as they attempted to send text messages while driving – and there was no way they'd avoid the occasional pedestrian in the cross walk or deer crossing their paths.
Pursuit ends in rollover
A pursuit of an Ellis County escapee that began Sunday morning in Hoisington ended when the suspect lost control of a stolen car at 31st and Washington Ave. in Great Bend. He was not injured and is back in custody.
Educators, farmers share concerns with lawmakers
Editor's note: This is the second of two articles about last Saturday's Legislative Coffee at Hoisington. HOISINGTON -- Members of the Hoisington USD 431 Board of Education and Great Bend Farm Bureau were among those with questions or comments for Sen. Mitch Holmes and Rep. John Edmonds, Saturday at the Legislative Coffee in Hoisington. The Rev. Steven Little, president of the Hoisington School Board, voiced concerns about several bills: • HB 2003 amends the school ...
Edmonds concerned with tax increases
Editor's note: This is the first of two stories about Saturday's Legislative coffee in Hoisington. Today's article looks at the remarks of Sen. Mitch Holmes and Rep. John Edmonds. Part II will cover the question and answer period.
Local firm wins BCC auditing contract
Adams, Brown, Beran & Ball has won the bid to handle Barton Community College's next three audits. At Thursday's BCC Board of Trustees meeting, the Great Bend firm won the contract because it submitted the low bid: $116,870 for three years. BKD, whose closest office is in Wichita, submitted a bid that was comparable at $114,450 plus travel and lodging, which it estimated at $3,000. The only other bid, also the highest, came from D. ...
Warm bodies
During the recent snow storms, some employees stayed home and baked cookies, some braved the elements and slid into work, and some stayed home but worked nonetheless. In the midst of all that, word got out that Marissa Mayer, the new chief executive officer of Yahoo!, plans to put an end to telecommuting at that company later this year.
OTR for March 1, 2013
Great Bend Fire Department Firefighters made four ambulance runs Wednesday. There were no fires. Kansas Highway Patrol A Garden City man was injured Wednesday morning in a one-vehicle accident on K-96, one mile northwest of Great Bend. Daniel Lerma, 48, was passing another vehicle at 6:57 a.m. when he lost control of the car. The 2005 Pontiac Grand Prix went into the ditch and overturned one time. The driver was taken to Great Bend Regional ...
KC jazz icon coming to Great Bend Jazz Festival
Local big band musicians will share the stage with a Kansas City jazz icon for the 19th annual Great Bend Jazz Festival on Saturday, March 2, at the Crest Theater. Singer David Basse, with the Joe Cartwright Trio, will be featured at the evening of jazz, along with area musicians in the Prairie Winds All Star Big Band. "I'm excited to come to Great Bend and play music," Basse said in a telephone interview. "It's ...
Fire deals heavy damage to Great Bend home
Leesa Maupin and her 16-year-old son Lucas stood barefoot in the snow Friday night as Great Bend firefighters attempted to save their home. The fire at 207 Plum St. caused more than $15,000 to a home Maupin said was uninsurable. Three dogs and two puppies also died. The fire was attributed to an electrical overload. Firefighters were called at 8:53 p.m. Friday, after Maupin went back into her smoky bedroom to retrieve her cell phone. ...
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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