Archive By Author - Susan Thacker
Happy 150 Kansas: Residents celebrate state's sesquicentennial
Pioneers, cowgirls and basketball fans alike celebrated the 150th anniversary of Kansas becoming a state on Saturday, which was Kansas Day.
Miller returns to scene of the crime
Nearly 40 years after leading raids on gambling in Great Bend, former Kansas Attorney General Vern Miller was back in town Saturday. Miller, 82, spoke at the Great Bend Public Library, where he and author Mike Danford signed copies of the biography "Vern Miller: Legendary Kansas Lawman."
THE STUFF OF LEGENDS: Vern Miller returns to Great Bend
To some, Vern Miller was the "Super Cop," who, as Kansas Attorney General, raided night clubs - including the Great Bend Petroleum Club - and confiscated cases of liquor from Amtrak trains. Others had a less charitable view of Miller, and took to spray painting the name "Vern" under the word "Stop" on stop signs in the 1970s.
New K-9 officer learning the ropes
Members of the Great Bend Noon Kiwanis got to see K-9 officer Rocco in action Wednesday, during a demonstration presented by the Barto County Sheriff's Office.
Community colleges support new funding model
Kansas community colleges are supporting a proposed cost model for technical education, but advising legislators not to fund vocational schools at their expense.
Longoria attorneys seek to strike death penalty
Attorneys for Adam Joseph Longoria have filed a motion seeking to have the Kansas death penalty declared unconstitutional. Longoria, 36, is awaiting trial on a capital murder charge for allegedly killing 14-year-old Alicia DeBolt of Great Bend last year.
ROLLING OUT THE DOUGH
Members of Boy Scout Troop and Pack 184 were up to their elbows in dough Saturday, making noodles for the upcoming fundraising dinner.
Arts Commission state case against proposed cuts
Members of the Kansas Arts Commission say Gov. Sam Brownback's proposal to eliminate the agency will hurt the state's economy and cost people jobs.
Joiner named new head cheerleading coach at Barton
The Board of Trustees at Barton Community College on Thursday approved hiring Stephanie Joiner as the new head cheerleading coach, quickly replacing Debbie Warren.
BLACK ICE: Weather packs a punch
It didn't always look slick, but for anyone who tried to move around Wednesday there was no mistaking the treacherous winter conditions that hit the Golden Belt.
Stitches in time
Throughout the years, Kansas settlers marked their weddings or the birth of a child with one of the most functional works of art known - the quilt. Some are fabric masterpieces; others were made with scraps, flour sacks or whatever fabric was available, for the sole purpose of providing warmth.
Opportunity quilt
Central Kansas Thread-Benders Quit Guild members Ronnie Drees, left, Iva Behrens and Susan Gray show the Opportunity Quilt, which was won by Behrens in a drawing in December. Each year members raffle one quilt, using the money donated for tickets to buy materials to make TLC quilts, which are provided to people after a fire, serious illness or other disaster. Drees and Behrens were co-chairwomen for the 2010 Opportunity Quilt promotion, and Gray is president of the quilt guild, based in Great Bend.
DOUBLE LOCKS OF LOVE
Melissa Hittle and her 5-year-old daughter Bailey started the new year by donating a combined 26 inches of hair to Locks of Love. The nonprofit organization will use their hair to make wigs for financially disadvantaged children in the United States or Canada who have lost their own hair.
Search is on for best snow sculpture
With snow on the ground, Garet Fitzpatrick, leisure coordinator at the Great Bend Recreation Commission, reminds residents of the annual GBRC snow sculpture contest. Program coordinators reported on this and other events when the GBRC Board of Directors met Monday.
Articles By Author - Susan Thacker
Rec Commission sees health-care costs increase
The cost of employee health insurance at the Great Bend Recreation Commission is expected to increase 11 percent overall this year, Executive Director Diann Henderson told the GBRC Board of Directors on Monday. The board voted to renew the major health coverage for the next fiscal year, which starts July 1.
Camp Aldrich fire ruled accidental; cause unknown
The cause of Saturday's fire at the Camp Aldrich Conference Center Dining Hall hasn't been determined, Claflin Fire Chief Doug Hubbard said Monday.
KHP works injury accidents
On Monday morning, Kansas Highway Patrol responded to at least three injury accidents caused by icy roads. KHP also responded to accidents Friday and Saturday, in which central Kansas residents were injured.
Farm & Ranch Show wraps up
The final sprayer demonstration of the 2014 Great Bend Farm & Ranch Expo never got off the ground.
Huelskamp holds Town Hall at farm show
Congressman Tim Huelskamp talked about America's regulation frustration, Washington's broken spending process and his commitment to Kansas farmers, energy producers and veterans during an hour-long Town Hall, Friday at the Great Bend Farm & Ranch Show.
Church bulletin
• "Increase the Reach Summit" presented by Rev. Scott Hinkle will be held at Faith Community Church on Saturday, April 12th from 9 a.m. until noon. The church is located 1 mile west of 10th and Patton Road in Grea Bend. The Rev. Hinkle will also be speaking in the Sunday Morning Worship Service, April 13 at Faith Community Church at 10:30 a.m. Both services are open to the public. Scott Hinkle, an evangelist now headquartered in the Dallas /Forth Worth Metroplex once lived a life that pointed to only one direction…prison and ultimately an early grave.
Cinema 6 showing 'God's Not Dead' at a discount
How far would you go to defend your belief in God?
BCC dorm should be ready for fall semester
After reportedly falling behind schedule for an August completion date, construction of a new residence hall at Barton Community College is back on schedule, college trustees learned this week.
For kids' sake
Requests for help – from people needing food, or cash to pay their rent or utilities – are on the rise in our community, and Great Bend is not alone. Locally, we know that our Barton County Emergency Aid Association and Food Bank, Catholic Social Service and others have seen an increase in requests.
Reboot adds up for BCC math department
A new approach to how developmental mathematics are taught at Barton Community College has raised success rates from mediocre to above average, Barton math instructor Brian Howe told college trustees Wednesday.
Farm & Ranch Expo draws crowd to Great Bend
One of the largest farm shows in the United States got underway Wednesday, with the 2014 Great Bend Farm & Ranch Expo. The show is taking place April 9-11 at the Expo Complex west of Great Bend.
