Library announces summer reading programs

So many books, so little time.

Schinstock eligible for parole hearing

Terrill L. Schinstock, 47, will be eligible for a parole hearing in July, the Kansas Parole Board announced.

Tourists naturally drawn to Great Bend

When Linda DiMario set to work on a marketing plan for Great Bend, her best ideas came naturally.

BCSO uncovers lab, stolen property

The Barton County Sheriff's Office discovered a suspected methamphetamine lab on Wednesday afternoon, in a large shop building at 395 North U.S. 281. Property that was previously reported stolen was also recovered, Detective David Paden said.

ON THE JOB

It was show-and-tell time for city employees on Wednesday.

HOME ON THE RANGE

The bison were removed from Great Bend's Brit Spaugh Zoo on Tuesday, and shipped to a 30,000-acre preserve in Nebraska.

Parents warned about new tobacco products

Kansas health officials are warning the public that a new product known as tobacco sticks poses some of the same health risks as other tobacco products. Parents especially need to be aware of the products, according to Janel Rose at the Barton County Health Department.

Zoo Fest

Mark Bitter receives Great Bend Greater Award

Local businessman Mark Bitter thought he'd been invited to the Noon Kiwanis meeting last Wednesday to talk about the MyTown Project. Actually, the invitation was also extended so the club could surprise Bitter, the recipient of the Great Bend Greater Award.

College trustees ask for Camp Aldrich committee

Editor's note: This is the final story in a series about the Camp Aldrich Feasibility Study commissioned by Barton Community College.

Dean: BCC wages falling behind

Barton Community College's top number cruncher is recommending raises for college employees in the next fiscal year.

Nex-Tech Zoo Fest set for Saturday

The seventh annual Nex-Tech Zoo Fest will take place Saturday afternoon at the Great Bend Brit Spaugh Zoo.

GBFD to hold annual 5K-10K Run/Walk

The temperature may top 90 degrees this Saturday, but during the cool morning hours people will be running for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

Study: BCC's Camp Aldrich lacks focus

Editor's note: This is the second story in a series about the Camp Aldrich Feasibility Study commissioned by Barton Community College, which owns the facility.

Officers to carry Special Olympics torch

Area law enforcement officers will carry the "Flame of Hope" from Pawnee County to Great Bend today, as the torch makes its way to the Special Olympics Summer Games in Wichita on Friday. Detective Heather Smith with the Great Bend Police Department invites the public to cheer for local athletes and officers, or come walk with them, around noon today.

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.