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
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.
GBFD roundup: Fire marshal investigates basement fire
An investigator from the Kansas State Fire Marshal's office was in Great Bend Monday to determine the cause of a fire Sunday afternoon at 2011 Jackson St. It was one of several fire calls over the weekend, Great Bend Fire Chief Mike Napolitano said. Firefighters received the report of a basement fire at 4:37 p.m., at the house owned by James and Krissy Jackson. The first truck arrived to find heavy smoke and fire coming ...
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