Archive By Author - Susan Thacker
Tiede ready for a change of heart
This Thanksgiving season, Brent Tiede won't get to toss a football around with his kids, go hunting or even go to work, but he is counting his blessings - among them the promise of a new, healthy heart. The call could come any day from St. Luke's Hospital in Kansas City, Mo., where the former Great Bend man is at the top of the B waiting list - those needing ...
Taking a 'bough': New Mayor's Christmas Tree planted
Great Bend's schedule of holiday events will move into Official Christmas Mode at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, with a parade down Main Street. A 13-foot Serbian spruce was planted in the courthouse square last week, so that the annual lighting of the Mayor's Christmas Tree can take place at 6:45 p.m., said Scott Keeler, superintendent of the city's parks.
Talking Turkey: Kids learn more about Thanksgiving's top bird
With Thanksgiving just days away, children flocked to the Kansas Wetlands Education Center on Saturday to talk turkey. Pam Martin and other staff explained the peculiarities of our favorite holiday bird, from head to toe - or snood to spur.
BCC looks at career pathways
Soon high schools will be required to help students plan their education based on career interests, and Barton Community College can help with that, college administrators told the BCC Board of Trustees on Thursday.
Churches accept Food Bank challenge
Thanksgiving was still weeks away when area churches initiated a united effort to alleviate world hunger, starting at home. This month, participants announced that a month of potluck dinners with a philanthropic twist has resulted in more staples at area food pantries. Another group is wrapping up a nine-week effort that combines fitness with a donation to the Food Bank in Great Bend. <p ...
Furry physical: Tiger, grizzly pass physical exams
Sunny, the yellow tiger at Brit Spaugh Zoo, received a clean bill of health during its annual physical on Wednesday, Great Bend Zoo Director Scott Gregory said. Dr. Mike Malone, the zoo's veterinarian, and his associate, Dr. Jackie Corbett, conducted the physical, cleaned the tiger's teeth and trimmed its claws. Last week they performed a similar procedure on Max, the male grizzly bear. The animals slept through their physicals, anesthetized ...
First snow comes and goes
Huge snowflakes, a few as big in diameter as softballs, fell on Great Bend late Wednesday morning.
Russell man flown to hospital after Barton County rollover
Rescue workers were dispatched to northern Barton County around 4 p.m. Tuesday, after a truck that was pulling a cattle trailer went into a ditch on the Galatia-Susank blacktop (NW 190 Road). Barton County Undersheriff Larry Holliday said the small semi-trailer driven by Russell-area farmer Robert Yarmer went off the road half a mile west of the intersection of NW 190 Road and NW 140 Ave., or 3.5 miles west ...
Lightning stikes C Building at Barton
Barton Community College canceled Friday morning classes in its Classroom Building, due to a lightning strike to the building Thursday night. There was a small fire after the first attempt to restore power. Classes after noon were moved to another building if necessary, but the Classroom Building was fully operational by about 1 p.m., according to Michael Dawes in the college's communications department. "The direct lightening strike occurred to an outside ...
Trail of Lights holiday greeters return
Great Bend continues to invite visitors to follow the Trail of Lights from one end of town to the other this holiday season. Folks at home can get involved as greeters on select evenings, said Sarah Krom with the holiday committee. The Trail of Lights includes the Barton County Historical Society Museum and Village on south U.S. 281, "Wild Lights" at Brit Spaugh Park, a Christmas Nativity scene at 10th ...
Young at Heart: Sterling House residents join Operation Christmas Child
Centuries of gift wrapping experience didn't go to waste, Monday at Sterling House in Great Bend. Nearly 30 residents at the assisted living center spent part of the afternoon filling more than 40 shoeboxes with gifts for children in Third World countries, and decorating the boxes with Christmas wrapping paper. The shoeboxes were filled with school supplies, toiletries and toys for children 5-9 years old, said Tia Blehm, executive director ...
Contest seeks longest pheasant feather
The Great Bend Recreation Commission will again offer a contest to see who can bring in the longest tail feather from a pheasant once the hunting season starts Saturday. Program coordinator Garet Fitzpatrick announced the contest Monday during the GBRC Board of Directors meeting. Staring next week and continuing until the end of pheasant hunting season, hunters are invited to bring entries to the GBRC office, 1214 Stone St., during ...
Ney to stand trial for murder, attempted murder
Shawn Ney will stand trial for the first degree murder of Steven Calderwood, and for attempted first degree murder of Sarah Ney, Shawn's wife, on July 10. After a preliminary hearing Friday in Barton County District Court, Senior Judge Barry Bennington found probable cause for both counts, and for a last-minute charge of aggravated burglary. Following the preliminary, Bennington presided over Nye's arraignment during which the charges were read ...
College trustees discuss ENDS
The conversation at Barton Community College's board study session Thursday centered on the ENDS. That's what college trustees call the keys to how they oversee Barton. "ENDS," as in goals, final outcomes and desires, are usually referred to in all capital letters and are presented in the form of six ENDS statements, such as ENDS Statement No. 1: "Students will have the essential skills to succeed in the workplace." ENDS ...
Auditions scheduled for 2nd annual Barton County's Got Talent dinner theater
The area Habitat for Humanity Board of Directors will hold auditions next week and the following Sunday, for the second annual Barton County's Got Talent dinner theater. The program, on Jan. 15, 2011, will be a fun, local spin-off on the TV show "America's Got Talent," sponsors said. Audition sessions will be held from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday and 4-6 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 14, at Grace Community Church, 210 ...
Articles By Author - Susan Thacker
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.
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.
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