Archive By Author - Susan Thacker
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 ...
EAGLE TO FLY
No one remembers exactly when the neon "Eagle" stopped lighting Main Street at night, but it's been more than five years. Now the Fraternal Order of Eagles has contracted for the repairs, with hopes it will be relit when Great Bend hosts the state convention on June 1. Eagles President Jim Herrman said from what he's been able to learn, there is only one other sign like the one in Great ...
Articles By Author - Susan Thacker
Wetlands Aquatic Center at Great Bend photos
Great Bend's Wetlands Aquatic Center opened for the summer on Saturday. Here are some photos taken in the afternoon.
Poppies to honor veterans available
The American Legion Auxiliary will be out this Memorial weekend asking for donations to help with its Poppy Program. Members will be in front of Great Bend businesses with poppies this evening and all day Saturday. They will also be out on Sunday if they still have some of the 3,000 poppies, said Marianne Krallman, cochair of this year's Poppy Program. Look for volunteers in front of Walmart, both Dillon's stores, Orscheln's and True Value ...
Ironic freedom
On Thursday, Gov. Sam Brownback signed a bill that establishes "Celebrate Freedom Week" during the week of Sept. 17 and requires schools to teach students about the Constitution, Bill of Rights and Declaration of Independence in grades K-8 each year during that week. (Sept. 17, 1787, is the date the U.S. Constitution was adopted in Philadelphia.)
Two Barton coaching contracts 'pending'
Nine head coaching contracts were renewed Wednesday when the Barton Community College Board of Trustees met, but the contracts of two head coaches are "pending final review." The board discussed personnel matters behind closed doors for nearly an hour before voting on head coach contracts, administrative contracts and contracts for managerial staff. Barton President Dr. Carl Heilman said there were no changes in head coaches, but the board did not approve a contract for a ...
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.
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