Four injured in weekend incidents

Two males and a female were reportedly injured during a fight in the McDonald's parking lot this past weekend.

Biking for a Cure

Fire damages Great Bend home

A fire at 3400 Lakin Ave. caused an estimated $12,000 in damage, Great Bend Fire Chief Mike Napolitano said.

Barton County Fair turns 20

The Barton County Fair turns 20 this year and has chosen that milestone as its theme. Although the fair officially runs July 6-10 at the Expo Complex west of Great Bend, a few "pre-fair" events take place this week.

SAFETY FIRST

In a scene reminiscent of the Oklahoma Land Rush, dozens of children ran onto the south baseball field at Brit Spaugh Park on Thursday to claim a free bicycle.

Campers hit the links at StoneRidge

Everyone was a winner at Wednesday's Camp Hope golf tournament.

Mystery animal to replace bison

Brit Spaugh Zoo Director Scott Gregory said he's gotten approval for the next animal or animals at the zoo, but he isn't saying just what will take the place of the bison that were removed earlier this month.

Raptor rapture

The Great Bend Raptor Center at Brit Spaguh Zoo is about to get a major exhibit makeover that will tie in to the Scenic Byway and Cheyenne Bottoms, Zoo Director Scott Gregory said Tuesday.

EduKan reports growth in online college

Barton Community College will soon receive a $50,000 check, the latest dividend on a $125,000 investment made in 1999.

BCC to form Camp Aldrich advisory group

Trustees of Barton Community College have approved a "mission of purpose" statement for a future Camp Aldrich advisory committee that will have input on the future of the college-owned conference center/camp facility located near Cheyenne Bottoms.

Great Bend students band together to fight hunger

Today and Saturday, Great Bend students will fast so that hungry children may have food. The public is invited to help members of the Youth Workers Alliance break their fast Saturday evening with a meal and concert on the southeast lawn of the Heartland Center for Spirituality at 3600 Broadway Ave.

IRS lists non-profits losing tax-exempt status

The Internal Revenue Service has posted a list of organizations that have lost their tax-exempt nonprofit status, including Great Bend's Downtown Development Inc.

Vandalism reported at zoo

Criminal damage to property at the Great Bend Brit Spaugh Zoo was discovered Monday morning. Damage was estimated at $1,500.

Great Bend man arrested for federal indictment

A Great Bend man has been charged in U.S. District Court with one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

Cool at the pool

Diving boards are out, slides are 10 minutes ago, and climbing walls are the next big thing at Great Bend's Wetlands Aquatic Facility.

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.