Archive By Author - Susan Thacker
Taking notice: Advocate's awards richly deserved
Last week the Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence presented one of its highest awards to Laura Brown, an advocate from the Family Crisis Center in Great Bend.
New rules and fees planned for Kirkman Activity Center
The Kirkman Activity Center at Barton Community College has become an unofficial drop-in gym for the public, but all that will change after a $300,000 renovation is done.
A poor prayer
A Christian group's prayer list went out this month to the Kansas Legislature, with a prayer for the "dark spiritual areas" of the state, identified as Lawrence, Kansas City, northern Johnson County and southeast Kansas.
Enchanted April
Great Bend Community Theatre's valentine to audience members is a romantic comedy, "Enchanted April." On opening night, Valentine's Day, GBCT is also offering a candlelit Italian dinner, complete with flowers, wine and music, prior to the show, and preferred seating at the play. That will take place at Maggie's, 1318 Kansas Ave., just around the corner from the Crest Theater, 1905 Lakin, where the play runs Feb. 14 to 17. The dinner theater is a ...
​Pringle turns in longest tail feather
Steve Pringle was the winner of the Great Bend Recreation Commission's "Longest Tail Feather" contest, turning in a pheasant feather that is 24.5 inches long. The contest ran through pheasant season and Pringle will receive a $30 Great Bend Chamber of Commerce gift certificate donated by Goss Insurance, GBRC Director Diann Henderson said. At Monday's GBRC board meeting, Henderson and staff reported on recent and upcoming activities. Today at the Great Bend Senior Center, for ...
A Valentine for Darwin
On Feb. 14 we'll celebrate Valentine's Day, a holiday devoted to love. If we ever decide to create a holiday devoted to science and reason, Feb. 12 might be the date to commemorate. On Feb. 12, 1809, British scientist Charles Darwin was born. Darwin went on to lay the foundation for the theory of biological evolution through natural selection, which changed the way we think about the natural world.
Education coordinator battles 'Nature Deficit Disorder'
Visiting Great Bend's Brit Spaugh Zoo may be good for your health – physical and mental. Danielle Ricklefs, who joined the staff last December as the zoo's education coordinator, spoke at a recent Great Bend Noon Kiwanis meeting, where she described a condition, known as Nature Deficit Disorder. Although not officially recognized in medical manuals for mental disorders, the condition was described in the 2005 book "Last Child in the Woods," by Richard Louv. He ...
Hoisington plans to wear blue for autism
HOISINGTON - Hoisington Cardinals fans usually wear red, but a group hoping to raise awareness about autism has announced a "Blue Out" for Feb. 15. The Kanye Cross Autism Awareness Project and the Cardinals are selling blue T-shirts for people to wear that night at the home basketball game with Hutchinson Trinity. The Blue Out is modeled after the annual fall Pink Out events conducted at high school football games to benefit the Young Women's ...
Great Bend spelling champs named
Great Bend eighth grader Allison Regehr won the Barton County Spelling Bee for the fourth time Saturday, and is headed for the Sunflower Spelling Bee at Hays and a chance to advance to the national bee. Julio Herrera, a fifth grader at Jefferson Elementary, placed second Saturday at the bee, officially named the Donald H. Humphreys 2013 Barton County Spelling Bee, and he will also represent Barton County as one of two champions eligible for ...
BOLO alert issued after shooting
On Friday the Great Bend Police Department issued a BOLO (be on the lookout) alert for two suspects in a shooting that took place Thursday morning at 1407 Adams St. in Great Bend. Law enforcement officers are being advised to pick up and hold John Waylon Randall and Orlan L. Eurich on charges of attempted murder. The last known address for both men is Wichita. Randall is 30 years old, 6 feet 1 inch tall ...
Silver Cougars: BCC reaches out to senior citizens
Banks and travel agencies court customer loyalty with 55-plus clubs, so why not do the same thing with learning institutions? Barton Community College is finding one of its strongest bases of supporters among senior citizens in the Silver Cougar Club. The club for people 55 years of age and older has 527 members, says Coleen Cape, in the college's Foundation Office. For $15 a year, or $25 per couple, members are eligible to take many ...
Competitive spirit
Last fall the city of Ottawa and Franklin County were among 60 finalists in the "Prettiest Painted Places in America" competition. The winners were announced in November, and although it wasn't one of the 12 winners, Ottawa was one of nine places cited for "exceptional merit."
One arrested on attempted murder charge
A suspect was arrested on a possible attempted murder charge on Thursday, after a man who had been shot in the face walked into Great Bend Regional Hospital. Officers were dispatched to the 1400 block of Adams St. at 9:29 a.m. after receiving a report of shots fired in the area. They had talked to several witnesses and cleared the scene when a man walked into the hospital with "a minor gunshot wound to the ...
Broken window reports common
Note, this is an updated version on information that was previously posted online in On The Record for Jan. 27.
BCC trustees repave 3 lots
Trustees at Barton Community College approved new parking lot construction and a major software purchase when they met Monday. They gave tentative approval to a new lease agreement for an expanded facility at Grandview Plaza. Concrete Services submitted the low bid and was awarded the contract for parking lot replacements. The Great Bend firm will replace the Northwest Physical Education parking lot, the Science & Math parking lot and the Technical Building parking lot for ...
Articles By Author - Susan Thacker
Poppies to honor veterans available
The American Legion Auxiliary will be out this Memorial weekend asking for donations to help with its Poppy Program. Members will be in front of Great Bend businesses with poppies this evening and all day Saturday. They will also be out on Sunday if they still have some of the 3,000 poppies, said Marianne Krallman, cochair of this year's Poppy Program. Look for volunteers in front of Walmart, both Dillon's stores, Orscheln's and True Value ...
Ironic freedom
On Thursday, Gov. Sam Brownback signed a bill that establishes "Celebrate Freedom Week" during the week of Sept. 17 and requires schools to teach students about the Constitution, Bill of Rights and Declaration of Independence in grades K-8 each year during that week. (Sept. 17, 1787, is the date the U.S. Constitution was adopted in Philadelphia.)
Two Barton coaching contracts 'pending'
Nine head coaching contracts were renewed Wednesday when the Barton Community College Board of Trustees met, but the contracts of two head coaches are "pending final review." The board discussed personnel matters behind closed doors for nearly an hour before voting on head coach contracts, administrative contracts and contracts for managerial staff. Barton President Dr. Carl Heilman said there were no changes in head coaches, but the board did not approve a contract for a ...
Two flee; child left in truck
A minor child was left in a truck with a loaded gun Monday night as two suspects fled from Barton County deputies.
Our zoo is famous and other local news
Tying up a few loose ends on stories that didn't make the front page:
Higher gas prices not likely to drop by weekend
Gasoline prices have risen dramatically in the past two weeks throughout much of the Midwest. While the price increases may ease off by June, but don't expect relief at the pump this Memorial Weekend, industry experts say. The American Automobile Association's online daily fuel gauge report and GasBuddy.com both showed the average price for a gallon of regular gas Monday in Kansas was $3.92. Just one week ago, the average price was $3.64, and it ...
Cool/Not Cool
The Imagination Playground is coming to Great Bend and will make its public debut during June Jaunt. The portable playground is a set of oversized blocks, lightweight but sturdy enough to build with. They were designed by award-winning architect David Rockwell, who was inspired by watching his own children play.
These masterpieces have wheels
Barton County Historic Society is celebrating the 60th anniversary of organized drag racing in the Golden Belt with a new exhibit and a car show during its open house this Saturday.
GBRC shares Blue Ribbon Award to promote health
Several people working to make Barton County a healthier place received some recognition and financial assistance Monday during the Great Bend Recreation Commission Board meeting. Doug Vance, executive director of the Kansas Recreation & Park Association, visited the meeting along with representatives from BlueCross BlueShield of Kansas, to present a $2,500 facsimile check and a banner in honor of Great Bend winning the Blue Chip award.
Trash talk
The senior class president of Heights High School in Wichita was suspended for the rest of the school year after posting a bit of trash talk about the school football team on Twitter.
BCC may opt out of conceal carry law
Barton Community College trustees may request an exemption to a new gun law taking effect July 1.
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