Archive By Author - Susan Thacker
SPRING FASHION: Tropical colors return with warmer weather
Great Bend clothing stores brought their spring styles to the Senior Center on Monday, for the annual fashion show. Ladies modeled ensembles from Beautiful Beginnings, The Gallery, Main Street Boutique, Maurice's and Walmart. There were also some children to model outfits from Completely Kids. The Great Bend Recreation Commission organizes this annual show at the Senior Center. "We have ...
THANKING OUR VETS
Students of Great Bend High School English instructor Crystal Cross rallied residents to support U.S. troops, by organizing a bicycle/walking fundraiser Saturday at Veterans Memorial Park. With donations from the patriotic event and by selling T-shirts, students said they've already raised $1,800 that will be split between two organizations: Great Bend's Military Moms and the Freedom Dogs in San Diego, Calif. Area veterans groups were invited Saturday, and veterans received a ...
TURNING THE TASSEL
Graduates of Barton Community College know as well as anyone, many of life's lessons aren't learned in a classroom. As they attended Barton's commencement ceremonies Thursday in the BCC Gymnasium, students were reminded to use what they've learned and to remain lifelong learners. Andy Tompkins, the president and chief executive officers of the Kansas Board ...
College fights for 100 percent of $0
Barton Community College fell short of meeting goals set with the Kansas Board of Regents last year, which means the college will only receive 80 percent of new funding, instead of 100 percent. Since no new funding is anticipated, the amount received will be $0 either way, according to Dr. Penny Quinn, Barton's vice president of instruction student services. However, college administrators plan to plead their case to KBOR, ...
Butterfly garden: Brit Spaugh adds conservation features
The spring migration of Monarch butterflies is under way, and soon their colorful wings will be a common sight at the Great Bend Brit Spaugh Zoo. A new conservation garden is expected to attract native butterflies and hummingbirds, as well as people, Zookeeper John Zimmerman said. Last week, Zimmerman was installing 6,000 feet of drip-line irrigation west of the butterfly aviary, located near the entrance to the North American section of ...
Rec Commission improving social media
Just in time for baseball and softball season, the Great Bend Recreation Commission plans to improve its presence on Facebook. GBRC is already on the Internet's most popular social networking site. However, Executive Director Diann Henderson told her board of directors Monday that staff is working on creating a more active Facebook page. The improvements should be made shortly after Memorial Day, and then people will be able to ...
Driver in fair condition following Saturday’s tanker rollover
The man injured when a tanker trailer hauling 8,000 gallons of gasoline went off a Barton County road Saturday morning was in fair condition Monday afternoon, a spokesman at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita said. The Freightliner driven by Michael S. Manning, 60, of Great Bend, went off U.S. 281, 3.5 miles north of Great Bend, at 11:39 a.m., when he swerved to avoid a vehicle that was stopped ...
Vandalism to signs costs thousands
An upturn in the amount of vandalism to road signs is costly and potentially dangerous, local law enforcement officers report. From Jan. 1 through April 30, 165 road signs belonging to the county have been stolen, spray painted, shot with guns or broken off with vehicles. Great Bend Police Chief Dean Akings, speaking for Crime Stoppers of Barton County and Great Bend, said it will cost more than $7,100 to replace ...
Longoria attorneys want sodomy charge dropped
Attorneys for the man accused of murdering a 14-year-old Great Bend girl have asked the court to dismiss a charge of criminal sodomy, saying it creates double jeopardy. Adam Joseph Longoria, 36, is charged with capital murder, in the August 2010 slaying of Alicia Debolt. It is based on a claim of premeditated murder done in commission of or subsequent to the crime of criminal sodomy. He ...
BCC to conduct emergency drills
Anyone who drives past Barton Community College this Saturday may see several police cars and a couple of ambulances on campus. But they shouldn't reach for a cell phone to call 911, college officials said, because it's all part of a planned learning event. The annual Barton Field Operations Day will start at 9 a.m., said Karyl White, director of the college's Emergency Medical Services program. The college ...
Yessenia Bustamante chosen as Cinco de Mayo Queen
Knowing something about her Mexican heritage helped Yessenia Bustamante in her quest to become this year's Cinco de Mayo Queen for Great Bend's annual celebration. But a desire to help others is what cinched the decision for the judges.
GBPL adds TV; changes web address
Check this out: There's a television in the library. This sound is turned off most of the time, as the flat-screen TV flashes notices of upcoming events at the library, and community events such as Relay for Life. Cara Negaard, who is in charge of the reference and acquisitions departments at the Great Bend Public Library, said it was installed a couple of weeks ago. "I think it's eye-catching," Negaard ...
Zoo news: New animals serve as zoo ambassadors
The newest animals at the Great Bend Brit Spaugh Zoo include hissing cockroaches and a Kenyan sand boa. These can't be found among the regular exhibits, but are used as education animals that can be taken to remote programs. Zoo Curator Marge Bowen said the 6-inch long Kenyan sand boa, found in sandy areas of east Africa, may grow to be 1 or 2 feet long. Several children got to ...
Three generation art show featured at GBPL
Art appreciation began at an early age for Bev Simonson of Great Bend, and has been passed down to her daughter Kim Wiens and granddaughter Amy Wright. Now the three generations have their own works of art on display in a combined exhibit at the Great Bend Public Library, 1409 Williams St. The paintings, drawings and photographs will be in the Fine Arts Room of ...
Cinco de Mayo festival set for Saturday
The Cinco de Mayo Committee of Great Bend will hold its 18th annual celebration on Saturday in Jack Kilby Square. The public can enjoy authentic south-of-the-border cuisine and soak in Latino culture, according to committee members Roberto Hernandez and Mercedes Helms. Activities will start at 9 a.m., with entertainment for children and booths with a variety of ethnic foods - including tamales and sea food - and other merchandise ...
Articles By Author - Susan Thacker
It's not persecution
The Military District of Washington issued a statement concerning Master Sgt. Nathan Sommers, a 25-year veteran of the U.S. Army Band.
Hot cars quickly become deadly for children, pets
It doesn't take triple-digit temperatures outside for unattended vehicles to reach oven temperatures inside. But as summer weather returns to the Golden Belt, safety experts remind people to never leave a child or pet alone in a vehicle. Lt. Bill Browne at the Great Bend Police Department said it isn't unusual for people to call 911 when they see an unattended vehicle with a child or pet inside. More often than not, the vehicle is ...
Summer reading off to magical start
The yellow hard hats seen Monday at Great Bend Public Library weren't for construction work. Staff wore the hats to celebrate the theme for this year's summer reading program: "Dig Into Reading."
SDS axes contract with Rec Commission
Last month the Great Bend Recreation Commission's board of directors approved a new contract to provide day services to Sunflower Diversified Services, but on Monday GBRC's Executive Director Diann Henderson said Sunflower won't approve a contract for the coming year.
Inmate in custody after walking away from Barton County Jail
This story has been updated. An inmate who walked away from the Barton County Jail sometime Sunday night was back in custody by 11:40 a.m. Monday. Lee W. Dean, 23, who was being held for probation violation, was located in the southeast part of Great Bend and 201 Plum St., Sheriff Brian Bellendir announced in a news release. "(Dean) was taken into custody without incident," Bellendir said. "A second subject at the location was taken ...
Summer reading programs start Monday
The Great Bend Public Library has a new look going into the summer reading programs. The front desk has moved and the Children's Department has been refurnished.
Tax Troubles: Deep Cuts Hurt Most of Us
Enjoy your tax cut, Kansans.
Cale sculpture going up at Historical Society
The history of Barton County, from unbroken grassland to modern wind turbines, is the latest subject for Great Bend artist Chet Cale. A series of bas relief panels by the sculptor is going up at the Barton County Historical Society. Bev Komarek, executive director of the historical society, said the artwork – 8 feet wide and 6 feet high – will be the focal point of the museum's new recognition wall. Names of significant donors ...
Nex-Tech Zoo Fest is Saturday
The annual Nex-Tech Zoo Fest runs from 1-4 p.m. Saturday, June 8, at the Great Bend Brit Spaugh Zoo. There will be free food and live entertainment for the whole family.
Page 1 of 1
