Archive By Author - Susan Thacker
Family remembers an ‘Alicia-fied Experience’
Family members of Alicia DeBolt were allowed to speak out Tuesday, as the 14-year-old girl's murderer received a life sentence.
​Longoria waives right to attend sentencing
Adam Joseph Longoria told Barton County District Judge Hannelore Kitts on Monday that he didn't want to attend his sentencing the following morning, since he already knew what the outcome would be. His chair in court remained empty on Tuesday.
Rec Commission budget may include raises, software upgrades
Next year's budget for the Great Bend Recreation Commission could include 2.5 percent cost-of-living wage increases for full-time employees, upgrades to the software and an early payoff on the debt for the new Great Bend Activity Center, Director Diann Henderson told commissioners Monday.
Two weekend fires reported
HEIZER - A cutting torch caused a grass fire Saturday afternoon near the Mullergren Plant, about a mile from Heizer, that would take several hours to extinguish, Great Bend Fire Chief Mike Napolitano said. A small fire earlier in the day at a Great Bend residence caused little damage.
GBFD holds run for MDA
More than 50 people stood outside Station 1 of the Great Bend Fire Department Saturday morning, waiting for the start of the annual Great Bend Firefighters Run for MDA. They would run in 5K or 10K races, or participate in a 1.8-mile "fun walk" at their own pace, with their entry fees donated to the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
City Band adds second concert for big band lovers
The Great Bend City Band doesn't usually take requests, but this week it will offer an extra performance for fans of big band jazz music.
Attorney says Obama administration's 'Dreamer Initiative' is good for Great Bend
Last week, as President Barack Obama announced he would halt the deportation of certain young immigrants, Great Bend Attorney Robert Feldt and about 2,000 other immigration attorneys watched the announcement on TV. The June 15 announcement coincided with the American Immigration Lawyers Association's annual convention, held in Nashville, Tenn.
BCC nets big savings on eCollege contract
A new agreement with the company that makes online courses available at Barton Community College could save BCC $1.25 million over the next five years, college trustees learned Thursday.
It's not Dallas
The revival of prime time TV soap opera "Dallas" brings to mind a local oilman, the late Danny Biggs.
Humane Society director takes water to horse
A cruelty to animals case was taken after a Barton County Sheriff's Office deputy went with Golden Belt Humane Society Director Gayle Broberg to check on a horse without water, Tuesday afternoon in the 300 block of South U.S. 281.
Barton County Fair to feature country band The McClymonts
The Barton County Fair will feature nightly concerts July 12-14, including The McClymonts, an Australian group named Global Country Artist of the Year by the Country Music Association in 2011.
Library summer fun continues
Eight-year-old Emily Cortez-Rocha and her sister Genesis, 3, took a break from using the computers at Great Bend Public Library on Friday to check out the readers' "campsite" in the children's area. They joined 2-year-old Sofia Stewart, who was looking at a picture book. Folding chairs were arranged between a tent and a campfire. A fan in the fire ring blew streams of paper "flames," and a light from below gave it the appearance of glowing embers.
Local vs. lowest
This week, a local firm lost a sale to Great Bend USD 428 when the school district went with a lower bidder.
Proposed law would allow dental practitioners
A proposed law that would have allowed Kansas to have Registered Dental Practitioners - much like Nurse Practitioners but serving under the supervision of licensed dentists -- languished is committee this year as the Legislature wrangled over redistricting, said Suzanne Wikle, with the advocacy group Kansas Action for Children.
Zoo inspectors arrive
Three animals experts arrived Tuesday afternoon to began a comprehensive inspection of Great Bend's Brit Spaugh Zoo. The inspection is the next step in the city's efforts to have Brit Spaugh Zoo accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
Articles By Author - Susan Thacker
KBI agent testifies Miller deposited checks for fictitious invoices
Kansas Bureau of Investigation Agent Clint Hawkins said checks that Central Prairie Honor Flights members thought were written to businesses wound up instead in the banking account of the nonprofit organization's director, LaVeta Miller. Hawkins testified Wednesday in Barton County District Court, where Miller is on trial for two counts of theft by deception, each greater than $25,000 but less than $100,000.
Former Honor Flight secretary reviews checks
The former treasurer of Central Prairie Honor Flights spent nearly four hours on the witness stand Tuesday, reviewing dozens of checks - including some deposited into the personal checking account of LaVeta Miller.
Jury selected for LaVeta Miller trial
A jury was selected Monday for LaVeta D. Miller's trial in Barton County District Court. Miller has entered a plea of not guilty to two counts of theft by deception.
Colleges facing new Title IX responsibilities
Most people who have heard of Title IX associate the term with gender equality in school athletics, but the federal act is much more than that. Angie Maddy, dean of Student Services at Barton Community College, recently provided college trustees with a status report on BCC compliance.
Mars One candidate misses final cut
A local man won't be one of the first colonists on Mars. Grady Bolding, 27, of Great Bend, was one of more than 200,000 people who applied to become an astronaut with Mars One, a Netherlands-based company that intends to begin sending people to Mars by 2024. All of those applicants knew it would be a one-way trip.
Page Turner
News that the Great Bend Public Library was spending more than $762,012.92 on a geothermal heating and air conditioning system shocked the city council members, who wrote the check earlier this month. It was probably out of frustration that city councilman Dana Dawson asked whether the library will even be needed in the future.
Thank A Farmer
When Jerry Esfeld prepared for an agricultural program at Riley School, ice cream was part of her lesson plan.
Arson reported on Plum Street
The house at 207 Plum St. was heavily damaged by fire early Friday, for the second time in two years. After investigation by the Great Bend Fire Department and the Kansas Fire Marshal's Office, police were asked to take an arson case.
Fort Zarah Club celebrates 86 years
Pauline Schneider considers herself a life-time member of the The Fort Zarah Club. The former Home Demonstration Unit was organized on Feb. 11, 1929, at the home of Hazel McDonald, Schneider's mother.
Evening Lions offer vision screening at Ham & Bean Supper
The Great Bend Evening Lions Club will be serving more than a hearty meal at this year's Ham & Bean Supper next Thursday, Feb. 26.
Presumed innocent
Recently, during Jeffrey Chapman's two-week trial on first-degree murder charges, the Great Bend Tribune showed photos of Chapman walking to the Barton County Courthouse in the presence of Barton County Sheriff's Officers. Because he was wearing modern constraints not visible to the naked eye, some people assumed he posed a flight risk and wondered what law enforcement officers were thinking.
Page 1 of 1
