Adopt and Rescue finds new options for pound pups

The odds are against animals at the Golden Belt Humane Society. Found dumped in ditches our brought in by people who don't want them, the animals are kept as long as possible in hopes that someone will adopt them.

'Duck Hunter Shoots Angel' caps off GBCT season

Great Bend Community Theatre wraps up its 2012-13 season this month with "Duck Hunter Shoots Angel," opening Thursday. Curtain time is 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, with a 2 p.m. matinee on Sunday, April 21.

Reverse transfers could mean more BCC graduates

Students who transfer from Barton Community College to Wichita State University before completing their associate degrees may still be able to graduate from BCC, Barton President Dr. Carl Heilman said Thursday. Heilman told BCC trustees he signed a memorandum of understanding with WSU for a "reverse transfer agreement" that allows students to transfer credits from WSU back to BCC to complete their associate degree while working toward their bachelor's degree. Barton is looking at a ...

Blank verse

Poetry and news aren't a good combination, in most cases. The classic example is a verse composed by fictional reporter Roy Bensinger of The Tribune in Ben Hect's play "The Front Page," which became a movie that was later remade as "His Girl Friday":

Former Honor Flight program director to stand trial

A jury will try LaVeta Miller, the Great Bend woman charged with stealing more than $100,000 from the area Honor Flights program. As Miller stood beside him, her attorney entered a plea of not guilty on her behalf Thursday on two counts of theft by deception. Ellinwood attorney Richard Anderson waived the reading of the charges during Miller's arraignment, which followed the conclusion of her preliminary hearing. District Magistrate Don Alvord ruled that the state, ...

Recreation Commission purchases Imagination Playground

The Great Bend Recreation is buying an Imagination Playground. Director Diann Henderson got approval Monday from the GBRC Board to purchase more than 300 of the large blue building blocks and storage containers, at a cost of $19,219. By placing the order immediately, Henderson hopes Great Bend's Imagination Playground can arrive in time for the June Jaunt and other community events. "We could set it up for people to enjoy," she said. Manufacturers of Imagination ...

New attorney appointed to Chapman

The jury trial for Jeffrey Wade Chapman that was scheduled to get under way on Monday has been rescheduled for August in Barton County District Court. Chapman is charged with first degree murder in the death of Damon Leslie Galyardt, who was killed Nov. 11, 2011.

Library Week will be one for the books

Local children's authors Gina Cook and Tami Dykes will visit Great Bend Public Library during National Library Week, April 14-20. Other events include the semiannual food-for-fines drive, a computer class and three free movie events for the public, said Jennifer King, Young Adult/marketing librarian. In addition, the Friends of the Great Bend Public Library will hold a half-price sale on all bookstore items from 1-8 p.m. on Monday, April 15. Friends will also be giving ...

Play Ball!

Dozens of Great Bend Panther baseball and softball players were on hand Thursday to see the outline of a 5-foot baseball rising above the entrance to the Great Bend Sports Complex. Before the teams faced off against the Hoisington Cardinals, they participated in the unveiling of a metal sculpture created by Bruce Bitter of B&B Metal Arts in Hoisington.

Grand Slam

The boys and girls of summer may now be found year-round at the Great Bend Sports Complex, where a metal sculpture was unveiled Thursday.

Zoo news: Enjoying snakes and dragons

About half of the visitors to Great Bend's Brit-Spaugh Zoo really like looking at snakes, Director Scott Gregory said.

Great Bend woman’s life changed by accident

Brenda Guerra remembers very little of the accident that dramatically changed her life, and the lives of her family members. It was after 2 a.m. on Jan. 27 and she was driving home on a Barton County road when her car went into a skid. "Doctors told me it was a complete spinal cord injury," the 25-year-old Great Bend woman said. The car was traveling north on SE 60 Ave. when it went into the ...

More photos from Easter egg hunts

BUNNY RUN

The hunt for Easter eggs and candy started Saturday morning and continued into the afternoon, with three community events. The Great Bend Noon Kiwanis continued their long-standing tradition of offering a hunt at 9:30 a.m. at the Kiwanis Walking Track on the north side of Veterans Memorial Park. This year the club skipped the eggs but reportedly spent about $900 on candy, and all of it was gone about five minutes after kids got the ...

​E-cigarette explodes in office

A battery in an electronic cigarette exploded Thursday at 1300 Stone St., setting paperwork on a desk ablaze, Great Bend Firefighter Brad Dresher said.

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.

German Wedding Roast a family tradition

One way to keep Mom out of the kitchen this Mother's Day is by taking her to lunch. Jeannie Munsch will be cooking German Wedding Roast to serve this Sunday at the Great Bend American Legion Post 180, 1011 Kansas Ave., from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.