BCC trustees change policy manual

Barton Community College's Board of Trustees may talk less about Policy Governance and more about Barton Governance in the future, after amending its board policy manual last Thursday.

GBPL adds online e-books for kids

Great Bend Public Library has replaced its Dial-A-Story services with an online storyteller, Children's Librarian Eric Coulbourne said.

BCC has goal to improve online education

Goals for Barton Community College for the 2011-12 year are outlined in the Barton Yearly College Plan, which was approved Thursday by the BCC Board of Trustees.

Rec Commission starts fall programs

The Great Bend Recreation Commission has begun its fall programming season with the theme "Come Outside and Play."

CPI wears red to remember 9/11

One of the biggest private employers in Barton County made its 9/11 commemoration visible on Friday, when employees at CPI Qualified Plan Consultants wore red T-shirts to work.

Crime Stoppers seeks information on home burglary

Crime Stoppers is seeking information about a burglary that occurred sometime between 3:30 p.m. on Aug. 23 and 12:45 p.m. on Aug. 24, at 5715 Aspen Drive, Apartment 6, in Great Bend. Someone entered the residence and took a white X-box 360 game system and a 32-inch Panasonic television, serial number LY91180511. Estimated loss was $800.

FARM KIDS

When the classroom moves to the farm, kids have a lot of questions.

They should know they are Satan's spawn

Dear Editor,

GBHS student Jun Rui Chen has art exhibit

A trip to his native China provided Great Bend art student Jun Rui Chen with new material for his second exhibit at the Great Bend Public Library.

Great Bend residents recall 9.11.01

The Great Bend Fire and EMS Department is planning a short remembrance ceremony next Sunday on the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon. The ceremony at 8:30 a.m. at Fire Station No. One, 1205 Williams St., is in honor of all the public safety and military personnel who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001, GBFD Fire Chief Mike Napolitano said.

BCC opens high-tech portal

Cutting edge technology at Barton Community College includes a portal to the website, and electronic money systems. The president's staff described the innovations last week at the BCC Board of Trustees Study Session.

BCC to train area firefighters

Administrators at Barton Community College shared plans Thursday for a program to train firefighters. Barton will partner with the Great Bend Fire Department to offer a fire science certificate.

Zoo News: New perimeter fence going up at Brit Spaugh Zoo

Good Question: What's Great Bend's record for 100-degree days?

It's been some time since readers have submitted questions to this column, but lately we've received several, all weather-related.

Woman who abetted sale of stolen guns convicted

A Great Bend woman who helped burglars sell guns stolen from a local business last December was convicted last week in Barton County District Court.

Real estate

The City of Great Bend continues to take positive steps to encourage housing development.

Zoo News: Zoo hoping for spring babies

The animal population at Great Bend's Brit Spaugh Zoo has sometimes been described as "geriatric," but Zoo Director Scott Gregory is working to change that.

Zoo director gives update on lions, bears

Three grizzly bears at Great Bend's Brit Spaugh Zoo turned 1 year old in January, and have been good companions to Max, the older bear in the grizzly exhibit, Zoo Director Scott Gregory said Monday.

Fire does extensive damage to home, garage

A fire at the Karl and Virgina Harmony home, 3106 26th St., did extensive damage Tuesday afternoon, Great Bend Fire Chief Mike Napolitano said. Virginia Harmony was the only one home at the time and got out safely.

Storm watcher recommends ‘situational awareness’

Dramatic videos of flying cameras, storms chasers, and a family emerging from a demolished home after a tornado were among the highlights of "Storm Fury on the Plains," a severe weather awareness program presented Tuesday at the Crest Theater. But Warning Coordination Meteorologist Chance Hayes didn't come to Great Bend just to entertain; his presentations provided potentially life-saving information for anyone with a desire to chase after tornados, or anyone who wants to stay safe in case of severe storms.

GREEN EGGS AND HAM

Great Bend Public Library staff celebrated the 110th birthday of Dr. Seuss on Monday with a party for children. "Miss Amanda," as children's librarian Amanda Moran-Jones is known, read the Seuss book "Green Eggs and Ham," and then The Cat in the Hat invited the children to sample the same dish - scrambled eggs with green food coloring.

Education issues highlight Legislative Coffee

HOISINGTON - Joining Senator Mitch Holmes (R-St. John) and Rep. John Edmonds (R-Great Bend) at Saturday's Legislative Coffee in Hoisington was Kansas Board of Education member Sally Cauble (R-Dodge City).

Know the drill

Tornado sirens will be tested throughout the state, including Barton County, next Tuesday at 1:30 p.m.

Christian groups defend House Bill's intent

Last week, I reported about churches speaking out against House Bill 2433.

BCC trustees hear from PTK advisers

The Barton Community College Board of Trustees took another opportunity Thursday to discuss the recent selection of four students from the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Honor Society, who were recognized Feb. 13 at Topeka. They were BCC's 2014 choice for the PTK All-Kansas Academic Team.

Barton County ready for state tornado drill

Tornado sirens will be tested across the state on Tuesday, as Kansans prepare for severe weather season.

Branson eligible for parole hearing

Robin Lee Branson, the man serving two life sentences for Great Bend liquor store robberies that ended in murder in 1982, may be eligible for parole on June 1.

Reality TV?

Watching for the latest bills in the Kansas Legislature is as entertaining as a reality TV show – think "Duck Dynasty." You just never know what will happen next.

Churches speak out against 'relgious freedom' act

Last week the Kansas House of Representatives passed HB 2453, described as an act "protecting religious freedom regarding marriage." Nationally, it was described as an "anti-gay marriage proposal." By Tuesday, the chairman of a state Senate committee assigned to review the bill pronounced it dead.

Rising country star sought for Party in the Park

The job of city administrator isn't all about pot holes and snow removal. On Monday, Great Bend City Administrator Howard Partington joined Community Coordinator Christina Hayes as she talked to the city council about plans for Party in the Park on Aug. 16.