240 volunteers served for Love Sterling 2013

On Saturday, April 27, approximately 240 Sterling College students, faculty, staff and community members of all ages joined together to serve the town of Sterling, by participating in the fourth annual Love Sterling event, a town-wide day of service. Overall, Love Sterling was a community effort with an estimated 1,500 man hours being given over the course of the day.

Small raised garden

Do you have a small backyard? Do you wish you had the space for a garden, but don't want to sacrifice your entire yard to be able to grow your favorite vegetables? Well, an option for you is to garden is a small raised bed. When you garden in a raised bed system, one of the most important things to consider is the soil that you are going to use. One of the major reasons ...

Club Calendar

Monday Great Bend Optimist - noon at the Highland Hotel Heritage Room Great Bend Rotary Club - noon at the Highland Hotel South Heritage Room Order of Eastern Star Great Bend #226 - 7:30 p.m. at the Masonic Lodge in Hoisington American Legion Auxiliary - 7 p.m. at the Post Home, 1011 Kansas Great Bend Evening Lions Club - 6:30 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church, 24th and Washington Progress Club - 11:30 a.m. at ...

USD 428, Holy Family, Central Kansas Christian Academy and HeadStart Schools

The following meals will be served May 6 through May 10. The secondary schools also have available daily: Main dish second choices, chef's salad, combo lunches and choice of vegetables and dessert. The breakfast menu is offered only to students in USD 428. Menus are subject to change without notice. Milk served with all meals. All meals as offered meet USDA nutritional guidelines.

Beta Sigma Phi Chapters celebrate Founder’s Day

The four Great Bend chapters of Beta Sigma Phi celebrated Founder's Day April 25 with an evening dinner program in the Cavanaugh Room located at Barton Community College's Learning Resource Center.

Senior Menu

The following well-balanced and nutritious Friendship Meals will be served for lunch at the Great Bend Senior Center, 2005 Kansas Ave. Meals are served with milk; donations for coffee and tea are accepted.

Senior Activities

Monday Birthdays and Anniversaries - noon, Senior Center Tuesday Coffee and Doughnuts - 8:30 a.m., Senior Center Wednesday Canasta - 1 p.m., Senior Center Pitch - 7 p.m., Senior Center Thursday Dominoes - 1 p.m., Senior Center Legal Aid - 1:30 p.m., Senior Center Friday Container and Small Space Gardening - 1 p.m., Senior Center Bridge - 1 p.m., Recreation Center

Special Needs Calendar

Special Needs Calendar Monday REACH - 6:15 p.m., Picnic at Brit Spaugh Shelter House Tuesday Bowling - 4 p.m., Walnut Bowl Thursday Easy Cooking Ball Park Favorites - 7:30 p.m., Recreation Center Friday Picnic in the Park - 6 p.m., Veterans Park

Will George W. Bush and A.J. Clemente Get Mulligans?

When should you give someone a mulligan? Should you give a former President a mulligan for a good chunk of his 8 years in office? Should you give a young broadcaster a mulligan when he doesn't realize his mike is on and he says words more suitable for a Chris Rock routine?

Out of the Closet and into Identity Politics

I've never sought the spotlight. Though I'm coming out to the world, I intend to guard my privacy. I'm making this blanket statement in part to keep rumors and misunderstandings at bay. I'm not just a white, Catholic Republican. I'm not just a Reagan conservative. I'm a heterosexual. Like Jason Collins of the Washington Wizards, I just want everyone in America to know my sexual orientation. And like Collins -- the veteran NBA center who ...

Congressional Health Care

Wisconsin cheese in another form ... where have you been?

When our son Connor moved to Madison two years ago I was prepared for an introduction to all things Wisconsin. This was not entirely a blank slate - I was schooled on Fez and Red Forman from "That '70s Show," heard a little bit about their governor and some yelling that went on up there. But I didn't appreciate a food delicacy that has awakened taste buds left for dead long ago.

Is Planting a Garden in Your Future?

With temperatures dipping down into the 20's and snow and sleet falling from the sky less than two weeks ago, it is hard to believe the date on the calendar. For those who like to play in the dirt and plant a garden, you know that it is time to be planting certain vegetables or the heat of the summer will create another problem. Many peoples' past includes spending time working in the family garden. ...

Flood insurance rates to increase

Kansans evaluating their flood insurance needs should be aware of upcoming rate increases for new and renewal policies, according to Sandy Praeger, Commissioner of Insurance.

Mustangs ride early surge to win over Great Bend, 11-4

HAYS - Salina Central scored seven runs in the first two innings and coasted to an 11-4 victory over Great Bend on Saturday afternoon at Hays High School.

“Celebrate Wheat” Quilt Block Challenge announced

The theme for the 2013 Barton County Fair quilt block challenge is "Celebrate Wheat." Coordinated by members of the Central Kansas Thread Benders quilt guild, the contest is open to anyone who sews. Kits are available for pick up for $3 at the Barton County Extension Office, 1800 12th Street in Great Bend. Each kit contains two fat eighths of fabric. Each of these fabrics must be used in the final block as well as ...

Pacers put down Knicks for 2-1 series lead

INDIANAPOLIS - Roy Hibbert had 24 points and 12 rebounds and Paul George had 14 points, eight rebounds and eight assist to lead the Pacers past New York 82-71 Saturday night in Game of the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Pirates topple Mets

NEW YORK - Francisco Liriano struck out nine and pitched into the sixth inning to win his debut with Pittsburgh and help the Pirates beat the New York Mets 11-2.

Pettitte, Yankees edge Royals 3-2

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Andy Pettitte finally stopped beating himself up long enough to look at video of his past couple of outings, subpar efforts by any stretch and certainly his own lofty standards.

Lady Panthers to play Hays

The Great Bend High School girls' soccer team travels to Hays on Tuesday to play an opening-round game of a Class 5A regional tournament

Oilers capture third place at state tourney

HILLSBORO - Central Plains High School brought a young team, but the Oilers came through for a third-place finish at the Class 3-1A state tennis tournament on Saturday to take home some hardware.

Eagles lead area teams at Mid-Central Activities Association meet

HAYS - It was Thomas More Prep Marian that ruled Thursday's Mid-Central Activities Association track and field meet.

Cubs chase Strasburg in fifth en route to 8-2 win over Nationals

WASHINGTON - Stephen Strasburg fell apart after one of third baseman Ryan Zimmerman's two errors and wound up dropping his fifth consecutive decision as the Chicago Cubs beat the Washington Nationals 8-2 Saturday.

S.R.C.A. Drag Strip draws national eye

In its 60th year, the drag strip at Great Bend honors not only it's anniversary but also its national publicity.

Lingmerth leads at Players Championship

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. - Tiger Woods was surrounded by four rows of fans who stood shoulder-to-shoulder, curious to see how he was going to escape from the trees on the second hole at The Players Championship. Cheers erupted when he pulled out a 5-wood, a risky shot off the pine straw through a 15-foot gap of pines.

Lady Oilers win league title

ST. JOHN - The Central Plains High School girls' track and field team won a Central Prairie League title on Thursday.

Blue Jays take lead in ninth to beat Red Sox

BOSTON - Adam Lind hit a tiebreaking homer off Boston closer Junichi Tazawa leading off the ninth inning to lift the Toronto Blue Jays to a 3-2 win over the Boston Red Sox on Saturday.

Grizzlies take 2-1 series lead over Thunder

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The Memphis Grizzlies call it grit and grind, and it got them through another ugly game.

School recognized for Character Education

TOPEKA-Kansas schools and school districts were honored Thursday for their support of character education as part of the Kansas Schools of Character Recognition Program, sponsored by the Kansas State Department of Education, the Kansas Character Education Initiative and the Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site.

Ellinwood Rotary announces theme for AHF Parade

ELLINWOOD - The Ellinwood Rotary Club announces the 2013 theme for the After Harvest Festival Parade to be held at 10 a.m. July 2. This year's theme is "Home Is Where Our Story Begins." They are hoping registrants for the parade will incorporate this year's theme into their parade float.