Archive By Author - Susan Thacker
Spring programs continue at GBRC
The number of programs offered by the Great Bend Recreation Commission has remained steady or slightly ahead of last year, Director Diann Henderson reports. But with no American Red Cross office in town, the commission hasn't been able to offer a spring course for baby-sitter training. The Red Cross Office in Great Bend closed Sept. 2, 2011, along with other offices across the nation, as part of a cost-saving measure. Program coordinators reported on recent ...
Rec mulls rules for Sox, Midget leagues
Girls in Sox league softball games may be allowed to steal bases this summer. Rule changes were discussed Monday at the Great Bend Recreation Commission Board meeting, but won't be adopted until the April meeting. GBRC Sports Director Chris Umphres talked about possible rule changes, based on issues that came up last summer. Several issues applied to the Sox league, for girls in third and fourth grade, and the Midget baseball league for boys in ...
God leads youth group to Great Bend
Members of a church youth group from Amarillo, Texas, spent the first day of their spring break in Great Bend, cleaning up a house that was heavily damaged by fire last month. Paramount Baptist Church members had never heard of Leesa Maupin before last week, but Paramount's 626 Youth Ministry came to Great Bend on a "faith walk," according to Monty and Stephanie Williams, the adults sponsoring a team of six teenage volunteers. Two similar ...
Holmes votes for innovative schools coalition
Rep. John Edmonds shared his analysis of the governor's plan to reduce state income taxes, and Sen. Mitch Holmes discussed the Coalition of Innovative School Districts bill when they returned to Great Bend for a legislative coffee, Saturday at the Kansas Oil & Gas Museum.
Great Bend Zoo's white tiger, 'Spirit,' dies
The white Bengal tiger at Great Bend's Brit Spaugh Zoo has died. Zoo Director Scott Gregory said the tiger named Spirit died in its sleep Thursday night. A necropsy was performed Friday to determine cause of death, and results should be available from Kansas State University's College of Veterinary Medicine in a week or two. Staff at the zoo were saddened by the loss, and Gregory said he expects the community will also miss Spirit. ...
Kansas Prisoner Review Board taking comments
A man convicted of second degree murder and attempted voluntary manslaughter in 1987 in Russell County, and a man convicted of sex crimes in Pawnee and Barton County, are eligible for parole hearings in April. A total of 18 Kansas inmates are scheduled for possible parole in May. Prior to their parole hearings, the Prisoner Review Board will take public comments.
Preliminary hearing of former Honor Flights director continued
The preliminary hearing for the woman charged with stealing more than $100,000 from Central Prairie Honor Flights got under way this week, but has been continued to April 10. LaVeta Miller, former director of Central Prairie RC&D, once based in Great Bend, is charged with two counts of theft by deception. The state alleges that money was stolen from the program intended to give World War II veterans expense-paid trips to Washington, D.C. Barton County ...
Good Politics: Two sides come together
The oil industry and environmentalists – two groups seen as political opposites – managed to sit down together in recent months and form regulations that may become a model for the rest of the nation, the Associated Press reports. The issue is the drilling method known as hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking." In Illinois, members of the oil and gas industry wanted to use the method with a minimum of red tape, while some environmentalists wanted ...
ZOO NEWS: Education coordinator is amateur paleontologist
Few people turned out for Danielle Ricklefs' recent program on being an amateur paleontologist, coming as it did after a series of snow days. But Ricklefs, the new education coordinator at Great Bend's Brit Spaugh Zoo, promised she'll be repeating the program this spring. She also introduces paleontology, the study of fossils and the science of prehistoric life, to teach kids about extinction events, past and future.
TEXT LESSONS: Students attend Farm Safety Awareness Day
Area high school students were all over the road Wednesday as they attempted to send text messages while driving – and there was no way they'd avoid the occasional pedestrian in the cross walk or deer crossing their paths.
Pursuit ends in rollover
A pursuit of an Ellis County escapee that began Sunday morning in Hoisington ended when the suspect lost control of a stolen car at 31st and Washington Ave. in Great Bend. He was not injured and is back in custody.
Educators, farmers share concerns with lawmakers
Editor's note: This is the second of two articles about last Saturday's Legislative Coffee at Hoisington. HOISINGTON -- Members of the Hoisington USD 431 Board of Education and Great Bend Farm Bureau were among those with questions or comments for Sen. Mitch Holmes and Rep. John Edmonds, Saturday at the Legislative Coffee in Hoisington. The Rev. Steven Little, president of the Hoisington School Board, voiced concerns about several bills: • HB 2003 amends the school ...
Edmonds concerned with tax increases
Editor's note: This is the first of two stories about Saturday's Legislative coffee in Hoisington. Today's article looks at the remarks of Sen. Mitch Holmes and Rep. John Edmonds. Part II will cover the question and answer period.
Local firm wins BCC auditing contract
Adams, Brown, Beran & Ball has won the bid to handle Barton Community College's next three audits. At Thursday's BCC Board of Trustees meeting, the Great Bend firm won the contract because it submitted the low bid: $116,870 for three years. BKD, whose closest office is in Wichita, submitted a bid that was comparable at $114,450 plus travel and lodging, which it estimated at $3,000. The only other bid, also the highest, came from D. ...
Warm bodies
During the recent snow storms, some employees stayed home and baked cookies, some braved the elements and slid into work, and some stayed home but worked nonetheless. In the midst of all that, word got out that Marissa Mayer, the new chief executive officer of Yahoo!, plans to put an end to telecommuting at that company later this year.
Articles By Author - Susan Thacker
It's not persecution
The Military District of Washington issued a statement concerning Master Sgt. Nathan Sommers, a 25-year veteran of the U.S. Army Band.
Hot cars quickly become deadly for children, pets
It doesn't take triple-digit temperatures outside for unattended vehicles to reach oven temperatures inside. But as summer weather returns to the Golden Belt, safety experts remind people to never leave a child or pet alone in a vehicle. Lt. Bill Browne at the Great Bend Police Department said it isn't unusual for people to call 911 when they see an unattended vehicle with a child or pet inside. More often than not, the vehicle is ...
Summer reading off to magical start
The yellow hard hats seen Monday at Great Bend Public Library weren't for construction work. Staff wore the hats to celebrate the theme for this year's summer reading program: "Dig Into Reading."
SDS axes contract with Rec Commission
Last month the Great Bend Recreation Commission's board of directors approved a new contract to provide day services to Sunflower Diversified Services, but on Monday GBRC's Executive Director Diann Henderson said Sunflower won't approve a contract for the coming year.
Inmate in custody after walking away from Barton County Jail
This story has been updated. An inmate who walked away from the Barton County Jail sometime Sunday night was back in custody by 11:40 a.m. Monday. Lee W. Dean, 23, who was being held for probation violation, was located in the southeast part of Great Bend and 201 Plum St., Sheriff Brian Bellendir announced in a news release. "(Dean) was taken into custody without incident," Bellendir said. "A second subject at the location was taken ...
Summer reading programs start Monday
The Great Bend Public Library has a new look going into the summer reading programs. The front desk has moved and the Children's Department has been refurnished.
Tax Troubles: Deep Cuts Hurt Most of Us
Enjoy your tax cut, Kansans.
Cale sculpture going up at Historical Society
The history of Barton County, from unbroken grassland to modern wind turbines, is the latest subject for Great Bend artist Chet Cale. A series of bas relief panels by the sculptor is going up at the Barton County Historical Society. Bev Komarek, executive director of the historical society, said the artwork – 8 feet wide and 6 feet high – will be the focal point of the museum's new recognition wall. Names of significant donors ...
Nex-Tech Zoo Fest is Saturday
The annual Nex-Tech Zoo Fest runs from 1-4 p.m. Saturday, June 8, at the Great Bend Brit Spaugh Zoo. There will be free food and live entertainment for the whole family.
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