Archive By Author - Susan Thacker
Detective warns against dangers of youth sexting
Technology has brought us new ways to communicate, including electronically through texting, e-mail, chat rooms and social media such as Facebook. Photos and videos can be sent over a cell phone. While all of this technology can provide real benefits, Great Bend Police Detective Heather Smith said that young people need to be warned of the dangers of one form of electronic communication, a practice known as "sexting." The ...
Ellinwood man convicted of electronic solicitation
A 21-year-old man from Ellinwood could be looking at a 25-year prison sentence for soliciting young girls via text messages. Braeton Joshua Monk is scheduled to be sentenced next month on three counts of electronic solicitation of a minor. He was originally charged with seven felonies last year, after a woman discovered inappropriate text messages on her 12-year-old daughter's cell phone. As the Barton County Sheriff's ...
Four injured in weekend incidents
Two males and a female were reportedly injured during a fight in the McDonald's parking lot this past weekend. Great Bend Police were busy on another call - breaking up a loud party where underage drinking was reported - when 911 received the call of a fight in progress, at 2:50 a.m. Saturday. The caller estimated 10 people were involved. The Barton County Sheriff's Office responded to the call, along ...
Biking for a Cure
As the temperature shot up to 100 degrees Saturday, a group bicycling from Baltimore, Md., to San Franciso, Calif., pedaled toward Great Bend. Their first stop was the First Presbyterian Church, where they planned to spend the night. But they couldn't resist an offer to cool off at the Wetlands Aquatic Center. "It's fun trying to swim," said Zach Turner, a University of Florida graduate student who has raised ...
Fire damages Great Bend home
A fire at 3400 Lakin Ave. caused an estimated $12,000 in damage, Great Bend Fire Chief Mike Napolitano said. Fire trucks were dispatched at 6:10 p.m. Friday and found the main electrical line coming to the house had completely burned through and was arcing on the ground. The crew had to remove Sheetrock to gain access to the fire in the attic. No one was home at the time ...
Barton County Fair turns 20
The Barton County Fair turns 20 this year and has chosen that milestone as its theme. Although the fair officially runs July 6-10 at the Expo Complex west of Great Bend, a few "pre-fair" events take place this week. Judging for 4-H clothing, fiber arts and the fashion revue start at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday at Trinity Lutheran Church, and the fashion revue will be at 7 ...
SAFETY FIRST
In a scene reminiscent of the Oklahoma Land Rush, dozens of children ran onto the south baseball field at Brit Spaugh Park on Thursday to claim a free bicycle.
Campers hit the links at StoneRidge
Everyone was a winner at Wednesday's Camp Hope golf tournament. Camp Hope, sponsored by the American Cancer Society for kids who are fighting cancer, brought most of its young campers to the StoneRidge club for a few rounds of golf followed by lunch. Golfers Dade Cannon, 7, of Great Bend, and his 6 1/2-year-old friend Alec Barber from Kansas City, Mo., both reported making ...
Mystery animal to replace bison
Brit Spaugh Zoo Director Scott Gregory said he's gotten approval for the next animal or animals at the zoo, but he isn't saying just what will take the place of the bison that were removed earlier this month. "It's going to be a surprise," Gregory said Tuesday. "Here's the first clue: We're going to be building a barn." There will be four stalls in the barn, but that doesn't ...
Raptor rapture
The Great Bend Raptor Center at Brit Spaguh Zoo is about to get a major exhibit makeover that will tie in to the Scenic Byway and Cheyenne Bottoms, Zoo Director Scott Gregory said Tuesday. The Raptor Center opened in 2008 and serves as the main entrance to Brit Spaugh Zoo. It houses a meeting area, restrooms, vending machines and gift shop, as well as Gregory's office. But its mission is protect ...
EduKan reports growth in online college
Barton Community College will soon receive a $50,000 check, the latest dividend on a $125,000 investment made in 1999. While that may seem like a pretty good return, college officials hinted last week that Barton's arrangement with EduKan - the online education consortium paying the dividend -- may need to change in the future. However, trustees were mostly positive when they met with Dr. Mark Sarver, EduKan director. EduKan ...
BCC to form Camp Aldrich advisory group
Trustees of Barton Community College have approved a "mission of purpose" statement for a future Camp Aldrich advisory committee that will have input on the future of the college-owned conference center/camp facility located near Cheyenne Bottoms. The action taken at Thursday's board meeting is the first step in the creation of the committee. Barton President Dr. Carl Heilman will now begin looking for possible advisory board members. Board members ...
Great Bend students band together to fight hunger
Today and Saturday, Great Bend students will fast so that hungry children may have food. The public is invited to help members of the Youth Workers Alliance break their fast Saturday evening with a meal and concert on the southeast lawn of the Heartland Center for Spirituality at 3600 Broadway Ave. "We invite the community to join us," said Ashley Dowgwillo with Trinity ...
IRS lists non-profits losing tax-exempt status
The Internal Revenue Service has posted a list of organizations that have lost their tax-exempt nonprofit status, including Great Bend's Downtown Development Inc. Most of the organizations on the list had their status lapse last October, because they missed a tax filing deadline. Donors who contributed to at-risk organizations were protected until the final revocation list was published, according to information from the IRS. If an organization ...
Vandalism reported at zoo
Criminal damage to property at the Great Bend Brit Spaugh Zoo was discovered Monday morning. Damage was estimated at $1,500. Zoo Director Scott Gregory said someone broke in, trampled a number of flower beds and scratched an exhibit, causing minor damage. No animals were injured. "The big vandalism came to our Polaris, the vehicle the keepers use to drive around the zoo," he said. It was hot wired ...
Articles By Author - Susan Thacker
Representation: 3-mile zone creates issues
A while back the League of Women Voters asked Great Bend City Attorney Robert Suelter to discuss the three-mile zone around the city limits, which has been overseen by the city since 2000. The area has a mix of agricultural, industrial and residential uses.
Zoo News: Brit Spaugh Zoo continues search for new animals
One of the new animals at Great Bend's Brit Spaugh Zoo is a 6-month-old African serval cat named Akida. This male cat was shipped to the zoo from New Zealand and Zoo Director Scott Gregory said he will try to find a female from another zoo so they can attempt to breed the pair. Although the zoo already has a female serval, she dates to an earlier time when zoo record keeping was not as ...
Historical Society announces ‘Ghosts of Christmas Past’ open house
Nostalgia, entertainment and music are on the agenda for the Barton County Historical Society's holiday open house, "Ghosts of Christmas Past." It will take place 1-4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8, at the museum. Admission is free for the day. The Barton County Historical Museum & Village is located just south of the Arkansas River bridge on U.S. 281 in Great Bend. Regular winter hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. Executive Director ...
Every Christmas Story
Last year, Great Bend Community Theatre's holiday gift to the community was "It's A Wonderful Life, a Radio Show." This year director Sally O'Connor will deck the halls with "Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some)." The play opens Thursday, Dec. 5, with nightly shows at 8 p.m. through Dec. 7, and ends with a 2 p.m. matinee on Sunday, Dec. 8, at the Crest Theater, 1905 Lakin Ave. The box office will be ...
'Trick or Tree' contest pleases tree lovers
As the fall colors began to turn, Great Bend's Tree Board announced its first Trick or Tree photography contest. Contest coordinator Toni Rice announced the winners this past week. "We had so many wonderful entries," Rice said. Although six were named winners – and will be awarded gift certificates – Rice had many "favorites" among the submissions – which brought out the variety in species as well as the history of trees in Barton County. ...
Wholistic center celebrates quarter century of healing hands
The "Heartland" ministries of Great Bend's Dominican Sisters of Peace have always been intended to address body, mind and spirit. One of those ministries, the Heartland Center for Wholistic Health at 1005 Williams St., is celebrating 25 years.
Acres for birds
You'd think people would be happy with the rise of ethanol, a renewable energy source, taking the place of some oil, which is non-renewable. By creating another market for corn farmers, it should be a win-win.
Santa's Workshop opens Monday
After Thanksgiving, the elves at the north pole get busy. A winter tradition, Santa's Workshop will be open from 6-8 p.m. Monday, Dec. 2, at the City Auditorium. Garet Fitzpatrick at the Great Bend Recreation Commission notes that a number of volunteers will help to transform the City Auditorium into the 17th annual Santa's Workshop, a free event "designed for preschool through sixth graders and their families and those young at heart." Enter through the ...
Mayor to throw switch on 'Trail of Lights'
The newest holiday display in Great Bend is located on the north side of the courthouse square. Christina Hayes, Great Bend Community Coordinator, described the interactive light display. "We are very excited about this new feature," she said. "It's set to music where you can park your car and tune in your radio, and the lights will dance with the music." Parks Director Terry Hoff described the synchronized light show as a major addition to ...
2nd Grade Civics
Second graders from Park Elementary School took a trip to the Golden Belt Humane Society on Monday for story time. After Kennel Technician Aaron Pike read a story, there was time for cookies and juice. Children also got to pet some puppies and kittens while learning important lessons about animals from the shelter's staff. Heather Acheson, director of the humane society, compared lessons on approaching injured or stray animals to what kids learn about "stranger ...
Page 1 of 1
