Archive By Author - Susan Thacker
New K-9 officer learning the ropes
Members of the Great Bend Noon Kiwanis got to see K-9 officer Rocco in action Wednesday, during a demonstration presented by the Barto County Sheriff's Office. Rocco, like his predecessor Donna, is a Belgian malinois, a shepherd dog imported from Holland. Donna still ranks as one of the best law enforcement dogs of all time, in Sheriff Greg Armstrong's opinion, but at 11 ...
Community colleges support new funding model
Kansas community colleges are supporting a proposed cost model for technical education, but advising legislators not to fund vocational schools at their expense. Staff from the Kansas Association of Community College Trustees and four community college presidents met with freshman legislators in Topeka on Jan. 11. Barton Community College President Dr. Heilman shared the talking points and 2011 legislative agenda, which includes those issues, along with reinstituting a program ...
Longoria attorneys seek to strike death penalty
Attorneys for Adam Joseph Longoria have filed a motion seeking to have the Kansas death penalty declared unconstitutional. Longoria, 36, is awaiting trial on a capital murder charge for allegedly killing 14-year-old Alicia DeBolt of Great Bend last year. The motion filed earlier this month in Barton County District Court acknowledges that the constitutionality of the Kansas death penalty has already been upheld by the Kansas Supreme ...
ROLLING OUT THE DOUGH
Members of Boy Scout Troop and Pack 184 were up to their elbows in dough Saturday, making noodles for the upcoming fundraising dinner. Twelve-year-old Tristan Mitchell, a Scout First Class, fed pieces of rolled out dough into a cutter, as his younger sister Tori caught the emerging strips. Several Scouts were performing similar tasks at other tables, while older ...
Arts Commission state case against proposed cuts
Members of the Kansas Arts Commission say Gov. Sam Brownback's proposal to eliminate the agency will hurt the state's economy and cost people jobs. Brownback has promised to eliminate eight state agencies in all. He says eliminating the KAC would save the state $574,000 in the next fiscal year. He proposes giving the commission $200,000 in the next fiscal year as it transitions to a private, nonprofit corporation. Arts commission ...
Joiner named new head cheerleading coach at Barton
The Board of Trustees at Barton Community College on Thursday approved hiring Stephanie Joiner as the new head cheerleading coach, quickly replacing Debbie Warren. Trustee Don Learned praised the choice, commenting, "Her background's fantastic." Learned noted there have been several letters to the editor of the Great Bend Tribune protesting the decision to fire long-time coach Warren last month. "Some have said the program is dead in ...
BLACK ICE: Weather packs a punch
It didn't always look slick, but for anyone who tried to move around Wednesday there was no mistaking the treacherous winter conditions that hit the Golden Belt. Freezing drizzle and temperatures in the low 20s persisted throughout the day, causing vehicles to slide around corners and into ditches. One Great Bend man who was directing a semi-trailer in the alley behind Office Products Inc. in downtown Great Bend lost his footing ...
Monks Feast serves Twain with a twist
The writings of Mark Twain, with a twist, will be served with venison stew and coarse bread at the 2011 Monks Feast, Sunday at the Barton County Arts Center in Great Bend. A vegetarian stew will be available as an alternative to the venison, said George Martin. The event starts at 6:30 p.m. This fundraiser turns the Arts Center at 1401 Main into the refectory of ...
Stitches in time
Throughout the years, Kansas settlers marked their weddings or the birth of a child with one of the most functional works of art known - the quilt. Some are fabric masterpieces; others were made with scraps, flour sacks or whatever fabric was available, for the sole purpose of providing warmth.
Opportunity quilt
Central Kansas Thread-Benders Quit Guild members Ronnie Drees, left, Iva Behrens and Susan Gray show the Opportunity Quilt, which was won by Behrens in a drawing in December. Each year members raffle one quilt, using the money donated for tickets to buy materials to make TLC quilts, which are provided to people after a fire, serious illness or other disaster. Drees and Behrens were co-chairwomen for the 2010 Opportunity Quilt promotion, and Gray ...
DOUBLE LOCKS OF LOVE
Melissa Hittle and her 5-year-old daughter Bailey started the new year by donating a combined 26 inches of hair to Locks of Love. The nonprofit organization will use their hair to make wigs for financially disadvantaged children in the United States or Canada who have lost their own hair. According to information from Locks of Love, most of the children it helps have lost their hair due ...
Search is on for best snow sculpture
With snow on the ground, Garet Fitzpatrick, leisure coordinator at the Great Bend Recreation Commission, reminds residents of the annual GBRC snow sculpture contest. Program coordinators reported on this and other events when the GBRC Board of Directors met Monday. Groups and individuals are invited to make a snow sculpture this winter and send a photo of it, along with information about the people who worked on it. Mail ...
Second burglary suspect arrested
Great Bend Police arrested a second suspect Thursday in connection with last month's burglary at P&S Security, where a number of guns were stolen. Lt. Bill Browne said the 16-year-old suspect was arrested at approximately 4:19 p.m. Thursday in the 5900 block of Eisenhower. His name was not released. He is being held in a juvenile detention center near Reno County. The burglary at P&S Security, 1705 K-96, occurred Dec. ...
Gun show draws crowd at Expo
Gun dealers from across the state brought their wares to Great Bend this weekend, for a gun show at the Great Bend Expo Complex west of town. The show continues today, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., but Saturday's turnout was enough to convince Anthony Lutz with R.K. Shows - sponsor of the gun show - that his first Great Bend show won't be his last. ...
City supports zoo's AZA goal
For several years, the goal at Great Bend's Brit Spaugh Zoo has been to gain accreditation from the American Zoos and Aquariums Association. Now Zoo Director Scott Gregory says he's ready to apply for the coveted AZA stamp of approval - one year ahead of schedule. The application deadline for this year is March 1, Gregory said. Once the application is processed, the accreditation organization will probably schedule a summer inspection. ...
Articles By Author - Susan Thacker
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 ...
Job Olympics celebrates abilities
Students from 13 schools demonstrated their life skills and vocational abilities Friday during the Job Olympics at Great Bend High School's Panther Activity Center. This competition, open to any special education student in Kansas, is sponsored by the Barton County Transition Council and the Special Services Cooperative. Events at tables throughout the arena mimicked real job situations and life skills, such as food preparation, office work or automotive checking. There was event a contest for ...
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