Archive By Author - Susan Thacker
Ledesma receives Great Bend’s Local Hero Award
David Ledesma received Great Bend's Local Hero Award on Wednesday, for saving another man from being crushed under a semi-trailer on an icy day last January. Friends and family met at Marmie Motors, where Ledesma works as a wrecker driver, to see him receive the award. Among those able to stand and say thank you was the man he rescued, Tom Curran. Mark Bretches ...
GBRC releases annual report
The opening of the GBRC Activity Center last October tops the list of highlights for the Great Bend Recreation Commission, which released its 2009-10 annual report this week. The recreation commission is funded by user fees, grants and property taxes collected in its service area, which corresponds to Great Bend Unified School District 428. A total of 15,484 people enrolled in recreational activities. In this report, a person is counted ...
Parks and recreation offers economic benefits
BY SUSAN THACKER sthacker@gbtribune.com A new study shows money spent on parks and recreation program offers substantial economic benefits - $1.70 for every $1 invested. Diann Henderson, executive director of the Great Bend Recreation Commission, shared the highlights of the study conducted by Jayhawk Consulting, University of Kansas School of Business. Among other things, Henderson told her board of directors Monday, the study shows 73 percent of ...
Don't be SAD you missed Valentine's Day -- Thacker
Was yesterday a holiday or something? Many of my friends - even those in relationships - took some time out Monday to gripe about Valentine's Day.
And snow it goes
Tuesday could only be described as a Snow Day. School was canceled, but those who ventured outside encountered snow and blowing snow. Wind gusts up to 20 mph made the 3 degree temperature at noon feel like -18, and the Great Bend Police Department activated the Emergency Accident Reporting Plan, allowing motorists in non-injury accidents to exchange information and report the accident later, if no drugs or alcohol were involved and ...
DUI Victim Center seeks local input
One weekend last month, victims and survivors of drunk driving crashes met with 40 alcohol/drug offenders in Great Bend. Now the DUI Victim Center of Kansas is looking for more area people who are willing to share their stories with people who have been caught driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, said Paul Sidebottom, statewide coordinator of the program. For the past 13 years, the ...
Zoo news: Scouts choose Brit Spaugh Zoo for Eagle projects
Some animals at Great Bend's Brit Spaugh Zoo were able to bear this week's bitter cold spell in newly winterized quarters, thanks to two young men working on Eagle Scout projects. Bryce Divis and Nathan Brungardt, both Scouts in Troop 157, chose to build winter animals enclosures, Zoo Director Scott Gregory said. Both projects were completed in November. Divis built a winter tortoise house. He started with a partial donation from ...
Driver turns himself in after fatal accident
A 26-year-old woman died and a 30-year-old man was seriously injured Wednesday night, after a car went off the 100 block of NW 40 Ave. in Barton County and hit a tree. The driver, who is suspected of driving under the influence of a controlled substance, fled the scene but later turned himself in, the Barton County Sheriff's Office reports. Great Bend Fire Department ambulance was first on the ...
Fear of Facebook: Officer shares safety tips
Imagine a website where your friends could have instant access to your changes of mood, the picture of your newest big purchase or your thoughts on your job or school. Then imagine that access opening to friends of friends - and their friends, including people you've never heard of. That's how social networking sites on the Internet, like Facebook and MySpace can work, but it doesn't have to be that way, ...
Free tax help available
Once again, volunteers are available to help low- and moderate-income residents prepare their state and federal income tax returns, including the Kansas Homestead Claim for senior citizens who are homeowners. Kathy Ahlvers, who is volunteering as a trained AARP tax-aide, said she and three other volunteers will work in Room 101 of the Barton County Courthouse on Wednesdays through April 6, but appointments are required and the month of ...
Blizzard conditions hit statewide
They didn't exactly roll up the sidewalks, but even some of Great Bend's downtown stores closed Tuesday as snow whipped through the streets and temperatures plummeted. It's not as if no one saw this week's massive winter storm coming. Forecasters at the National Weather Service warned people last week, even as temperatures reached unprecedented highs, to expect highs in the teens and lows in single digits - along with ...
Rural community mourns Tanner Hlavaty
OTIS - Students and teachers at Otis-Bison Elementary School learned over the weekend that 7-year-old Tanner Hlavaty had died Saturday in a farm accident. Principal Mark Goodheart said Tanner will be remembered as a great kid who was always smiling. Families and staff received messages over the weekend, to make sure everyone was aware of the second-grade student's death. On Monday morning, the school district's service cooperative sent a crisis ...
Happy 150 Kansas: Residents celebrate state's sesquicentennial
Pioneers, cowgirls and basketball fans alike celebrated the 150th anniversary of Kansas becoming a state on Saturday, which was Kansas Day.
Miller returns to scene of the crime
Nearly 40 years after leading raids on gambling in Great Bend, former Kansas Attorney General Vern Miller was back in town Saturday. Miller, 82, spoke at the Great Bend Public Library, where he and author Mike Danford signed copies of the biography "Vern Miller: Legendary Kansas Lawman."
THE STUFF OF LEGENDS: Vern Miller returns to Great Bend
To some, Vern Miller was the "Super Cop," who, as Kansas Attorney General, raided night clubs - including the Great Bend Petroleum Club - and confiscated cases of liquor from Amtrak trains. Others had a less charitable view of Miller, and took to spray painting the name "Vern" under the word "Stop" on stop signs in the 1970s.
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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