Archive By Author - Susan Thacker
KU players coming to Great Bend
University of Kansas basketball players will meet the public and play a game with local all stars at the annual KU Barnstorming Tour, Sunday, April 17 in the gym of the Barton Community College Kirkman Center. Diann Henderson, executive director of the Great Bend Recreation Commission, discussed the upcoming fundraiser at Monday's GBRC Board of Directors meeting. Tickets for a suggested donation of $8 will go on sale soon, with proceeds ...
Three flown to Wichita after head-on collision
Three people were seriously injured in a head-on collision Friday night in Barton County. According to the Kansas Highway Patrol Online Crash Logs, Michael S. Grauer, 38, Great Bend, was driving east on K-156, 14 miles northeast of Great Bend, at 9:22 p.m. His Chevy Impala went across the center line for an unknown reason and hit an approaching Jeep head-on. Grauer was flown to Via Christi's St. Francis Hospital ...
CASTING A 'SPELL'
Allen County spelling champion Clara Wicoff correctly spelled "geriatrician" Saturday to win the Great Bend Tribune's 2011 Sunflower Spelling Bee. Wicoff, a seventh grader from Iola, won the spell-down in 2009, and this year she outlasted 2010 winner Matthew Wegner from Parsons and 79 other contestants. Wegner and Barton County's Allison Regehr made it to the final nine, but by Round 7 there were only four remaining contestants: Wicoff, ...
Crime Stoppers seeks info on home invasion
Crime Stoppers is seeking information about an altercation that occurred Feb. 28 at 1305 MacArthur Road. Although they arrested Travis Myers, the adult son of Great Bend City Councilman Randy Myers, on suspicion of domestic battery of his brother Nathan, authorities said Thursday that they'd like to hear from anyone who may have seen people entering the house early that morning. In a Crime Stoppers announcement released this week, Police Chief ...
One more day until Tribune's Sunflower Spelling Bee
Saturday's Sunflower Spelling Bee will be a battle of champions, with the winners receiving medals, scholarships and other prizes, including the grand prize of a trip to the week-long national bee in Washington, D.C. Two former champions of the Great Bend Tribune's Sunflower Spelling Bee will be back - 2010 winner Matthew Wegner from Parsons and 2009 winner Clara Wicoff from Iola - but all 80 of the contestants registered for ...
Fire departments respond to vehicle fires
Fire departments from Ellinwood and Great Bend responded to two separate vehicle fires on Tuesday and early Wednesday. Both caused major damage but no serious injuries. A hazardous materials crew was called to U.S. 56 at SE 150 Ave. after a 2006 Newmar truck caught on fire around 1 a.m. Wednesday. The Barton County Sheriff's Office reports Hazmat cleared burnt vehicle parts from the road. Driver David Craddock of Great ...
Prevention specialist comments on 'Skins'
A local community prevention specialist warns parents that MTV's new TV series "Skins" depicts teens who display unsafe behavior without consequences. Christina Hayes with the Northwest Kansas Regional Prevention Center said parents should be aware of the show and talk to their teenagers about real life vs. MTV. "Skins" is far from the realistic snapshot of American teens it portends to be, said Hayes, who has offices in Great Bend and ...
Zoo Society gets wild
Membership has its privileges, at least for those who join the Great Bend Zoological Society. Those who join not only support work going on at the Brit Spaugh Zoo, but they can take part in members-only programs and behind-the-scenes zoo tours, said Robin Fabricius, secretary of the zoo society's board of directors. "We're starting to plan more activities for members," she said. One goal is to schedule quarterly educational seminars. ...
Stiles to join self-defense, empowerment event for girls
Former professional basketball player and Claflin native Jackie Stiles will help present an afternoon and evening of empowering activities for young girls. Two programs for girls in grades 2-8 will take place from 3:30-8:30 p.m. Friday at the Barton Community College gym, said Sara Nettleingham, community development manager with Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland. The event starts with Fearless and Female, a workshop geared toward teaching age-appropriate self-defense. Then ...
Prevention specialist comments on ‘Skins’
A local community prevention specialist warns parents that MTV's new TV series "Skins" depicts teens who display unsafe behavior without consequences. Christina Hayes with the Northwest Kansas Regional Prevention Center said parents should be aware of the show and talk to their teenagers about real life vs. MTV. "Skins" is far from the realistic snapshot of American teens it portends to be, said Hayes, who has offices in Great ...
Zoo news: Animal physicals continue at Brit Spaugh Zoo
Toby, the 5-year-old spotted leopard at Great Bend's Brit Spaugh Zoo, had his annual physical Wednesday, and a visit from local dentist and mayor Dr. Mike Allison. The leopard weighed in at 100 pounds, or five pounds less than a year ago. Zoo Curator Marge Bowen and Dr. Jackie Corbett, DVM, agreed the weight loss was not a cause for concern. Dr. Mike Malone, ...
10th Walk Kansas forming teams
This marks the 10th year for Walk Kansas, a statewide fitness challenge coordinated by K-State Research and Extension. Teams are forming now for the eight-week challenge that starts March 13 and concludes on May 7, said Donna Krug at the Barton County Extension office. The goal of each six-person team is to get active, by walking or other exercise. Members log their minutes of exercise, which are converted to ...
Countdown begins for spelling bee
With the Great Bend Tribune's Sunflower Spelling Bee less than two weeks away, coordinators are working on final details. This year's bee will see as many as 76 contestants from 66 counties. Each county is allowed to send at least one champion, and some can send more, based on the number of schools registered to compete in the 2011 Scripps National Spelling Bee, to be held June 1-2 in Washington, D.C. ...
Library announces March activities
Great Bend Public Library, 1409 Williams St., will have several activities for children in March, starting with the birthday celebration of "Green Eggs and Ham" author Dr. Seuss. There will also be free movies, and four days of scheduled activities during spring break, said Eric Coulbourne, children's librarian. The birthday party for Theodor Seuss Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss, will be at 3:30 p.m. this Wednesday. Children are invited to ...
One killed, two injured in collision
A Great Bend man died and two people were injured on Saturday, after vehicles collided at the U.S. 281/K-19 junction, 11 miles north of St. John in Barton County.
Articles By Author - Susan Thacker
Apology accepted: US Air gets grinchy
US Airways didn't earn any goodwill recently when it removed a blind man and his service dog from a flight at the Philadelphia International Airport. As fellow passengers left as well, the flight was canceled and everyone was given the option of a bus ride to Islip, N.Y.
'Jungle Jack' Hanna coming to Brit Spaugh Zoo
Jack Hanna, the star of award winning animal television shows, is coming to Great Bend on Oct. 16, 2014, Brit Spaugh Zoo Director Scott Gregory announced Thursday.
