Archive By Author - Susan Thacker
Edwards County collisions send three to hospital
Two injury accidents that occurred Tuesday in Edwards County resulted in area men being flown to Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, according to Kansas Highway Patrol's online crash logs. The first accident occurred around 10:55 a.m. at the intersection of 110th Ave. and I Road, which is 1.7 miles north of the U.S. 56 junction with U.S. 183 in Kinsley. A Ford F-150 driven by Jeff Allen Cramer, 44, Kinsley, was ...
Visual aid: Support group helps sight impaired
Sometimes, Paul Berscheidt considers himself lucky. Dealing with visual impairment his entire life, the Great Bend man didn't have to be told that poor eyesight isn't an obstacle to a full life. Not everyone realizes that. Young people - and some adults - used to react when he worked in customer service and reached for his magnifying machine. ...
Walkers encouraged to make it personal
The eight-week Walk Kansas fitness challenge hit the mid-way point this week, leaving four weeks for teams to reach their goal. Some six-person teams are collectively walking 423 miles - the length of Kansas - while others are walking 1,200 miles - the perimeter of the state. In the Walk Kansas program, 15 minutes of exercise can be counted as one mile. Each team selects ...
Zoo to show ‘Oceans’ for Earth Day
Great Bend Brit Spaugh Zoo will celebrate Earth Day from 6-9 p.m. on Friday, April 22, with an after-hours event. Admission will be $3 person, with children under 4 years old admitted free. Space is limited to the first 50 paid admissions, said Carlie Brown, director of education at the zoo. No reservations are being taken. At 6:30 p.m., visitors will watch the DisneyNature production, "Oceans," in the ...
BEST FOOT FORWARD: Walkers take up causes
More than 40 people hit the walking trail at Veterans Memorial Park on Sunday for "Walk a Mile in My Shoes," promoting awareness of the more than 4,500 adults and children with developmental disabilities who are on waiting lists for services. Advocacy coordinator Mary Lou Warren with Sunflower Diversified Services said Sunday's walk was part of a statewide effort for people to collectively walk around the world - 24,902 ...
GBRC adjusts fees, approves insurance bid
The processing fee for dropping a Great Bend Recreation Commission program will increase from $3 to $5, effective May 1. The GBRC Board of Directors approved the fee change when it met Monday. Executive Director Diann Henderson said people can get refunds for activities - minus the $5 fee - if they make their request prior to the starting date. The $2 increase reflects the cost to the Recreation Commission. <p ...
‘First Peoples’ exhibit added to museum
Great Bend's Robert Button, a longtime supporter of the Barton County Historical Society Museum and Village, has loaned the museum a collection of 30 native American Indian artifacts for a new exhibit. Navaho, Apache, Sioux and Anasazi are just a few of the tribes featured. The exhibit is called "First Peoples," because that is what the American Indians called themselves, explains Beverly Komarek, executive director of the ...
Library taking food for fines during week-long celebration
Great Bend Public Library, 1409 Williams St., will be waiving fines and giving away prizes all week, to celebrate National Library Week. Reference Librarian Cara Negaard said the theme for the week is "Create Your Own Story @ the library." Visitors can do just that -- publishing a children's story online or preparing a resume and cover letter with help from the staff this week. "All week we ...
BCC seeks more industrial opportunities
Barton Community College staff hope to offer a certificate in natural gas measurement in the near future, college trustees learned Thursday. Mike Baugh, coordinator/instructor of Barton's Natural Gas Transmission and Distribution program, said the industry has identified a need for this advanced certificate, and they already have a curriculum approved. Pending final approval by the Kansas Board of Regents, Barton hopes to offer the course this fall, or no later ...
Habitat prepares for next project
Members of Habitat for Humanity of Barton County left their shovels inside when an April shower threatened to dampen a scheduled groundbreaking on Thursday. But Rachel Mawhirter, co-chairman on the nonprofit group's board of directors, said a new home will be built at 19th and Hubbard this year. The three-bedroom house will have two bathrooms and will be sold to someone who meets the Habitat for Humanity criteria, which ...
Zoo news: It takes a village to raise a successful zoo
This week, the Great Bend Tribune will publish its annual guide to animals of the zoo. Watch for that supplement in Sunday's paper. In it, Zoo Director Scott Gregory talks about the ongoing effort to earn AZA accreditation. His original letter listed many people deserving of thanks. Unfortunately, there wasn't enough space to list them all. So, here's a portion of Gregory's letter than didn't make the final cut: "I ...
Kids' creations: 'Watching Young Artists Grow' exhibition opens
Complex sculptures and impressionistic paintings have been moved from the spotlight at the Barton County Arts Center this month, replaced with the media of youth. Now, crayons and construction paper take their rightful place for the annual "Watching Young Artists Grow" exhibition. The Barton County Arts Center, located at 1401 Main in Great Bend, is open weekday afternoons. For the month of April, BCAC is showing the work of ...
Company questions wasp spray tip
Last week I reported on Randy Smith's neighborhood watch tips for crime prevention.
Stolen vehicle recovered; two sought for questioning
A GMC pickup reported stolen on Friday was found Saturday morning in the area behind Diane's Diner, 807 10th St. in Great Bend. It was discovered by a Great Bend police officer around 4 a.m. The GMC had plenty of gas and there was also a rifle inside it when it was taken while the owner of the vehicle was farming. The Barton County Sheriff's Office reports the gun was also recovered. ...
Suspicious fire reported in Dundee
Great Bend Fire Department and the Barton County Sheriff's Office, along with the State Fire Marshal's Office, spent Friday investigating an early morning structure fire in a machine shed located at 633 West U.S. 56 in Dundee, Fire Chief Mike Napolitano said. A blue Ford F-150 pickup that was stolen from a two-car garage at the same location was later recovered. Authorities were dispatched at 1:38 a.m. Friday after someone passing ...
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.
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