For March 13, 2011

Barton County Sheriff A Chevy Blazer driven by Garrett Hayes was northbound on SE 110 Ave. at 7:40 a.m. Thursday when he reportedly ran the stop sign, hitting a van driven by Cassandre Batchman, who was westbound on SE 30 Road. No ambulance was dispatched, but Batchman sustained a small cut to her thumb and the van went in the ditch. A BCSO patrol car struck a deer in the 1300 block ...

Kelly Jean Phelps 1964 - 2011

CENTRALIA, WASH. - Centralia resident Kelly Jean Phelps died at Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia, Wash., on March 9, after a long battle with breast cancer.

Christopher Louis Divis 1984 - 2011

SIOUX CITY, Iowa - Christopher Louis Divis was born July 31, 1984, at Sioux City, Iowa. He was confirmed April 26, 1998, at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Mapleton, Iowa. Chris attended Maple Valley Anthon-Oto High School and graduated in the class of 2002. While in high school, he worked as a Certified Nurse's Aide, and most recently was training to become a Licensed Practical Nurse at Western Iowa Technical Community College. Employed at ...

Randall Eugene Oliver 1921 - 2011

WICHITA - Randall Eugene Oliver, 89, passed away March 11 at Lakewood Senior Living Center in Wichita. He was born Sept. 15, 1921, in Madison, the son of Willis Monroe and Amy Freelove Holland Oliver. He graduated from Madison High School in 1939. He retired from the U. S. Navy and had served during World War II in the Pacific.

Soroptimist Club awards $1,000 in scholarships to local women

The Soroptimist Club of Great Bend recently awarded two local women with $500 scholarships in recognition of their efforts to better their lives and give back to the community. "There are two different types of scholarships that Soroptimists award each year," said club President Jennie Gordy. "In addition to the many charitable activities our club takes part in each year, this is one of the ways we support local women."

Randy Myers announces candidacy for mayor of Great Bend

Myers ran his first campaign for mayor on the platform that streets were in the deplorable condition, a problem he said has since been remedied. He said he also pushed for additional safety features at Brit Spaugh Zoo, features that are now in place.

EHS Pink Out

ELLINWOOD -During Homecoming Week this year at Ellinwood High School, the student council decided to change things up. Instead of the typical red and blue adorning the hallways, things looked a bit pink. Pink for Breast Cancer, that is.

Check It Out!

ELLINWOOD - The Ellinwood School/Community Library has some new books. They are:

Ellinwood Court Docket

Ellinwood Municipal Court Docket - Feb. 22 Joshua Fellers, speeding 43/30, fine $48, court costs $55.50 Lauren Feist, duty upon striking unattended vehicle, pled not guilty Shadai Harris, improper passing of school bus, fine $300, court costs $55.50 Lauren Feist, driving in violation of restrictions, pled not guilty Michelle Moore, speeding 44/30, fine $54, court costs, $55.50 Logan Farber, speeding 44/30, failed to appear Jessica Williams, speeding ...

Hoisington students have heart

Ag appreciation

Great Bend was great to this visitor

Dear Editor, I was in town for work and tried to get on the Internet with my lap top and ran into a problem with the wireless connection. After contacting my company IT people, I needed a cable connection so they could restore my computer. The hotel was wireless. So I called the Great Bend Library and spoke with Cara Negaard. She helped me to get set up with an ethernet line so I could ...

Study determines college value

Dear Editor, American economist and scholar Milton Friedman accurately stated, "One of the great mistakes is to judge policies and programs by their intentions rather than their results." Those are important distinctions when attempting to measure the true value of Barton Community College to its students, stake holders and our community as a whole. Forty-six years ago, the college was founded on good intentions with the grass roots effort and desire of our community to ...

Who has authority over your life?

Dear Editor, Have you ever thought much about authority? We are all under some form of authority. Who have you allowed to have authority over your life? When you stand to declare your thoughts and opinions, what is the authority from which you established your foundation? In the world we live in people justify their opinions and thoughts by that which they know. Where did you acquire your knowledge to base your opinion? Many of ...

No wonder tickets cost so much

Among the Major League Baseball players - average salary: about $3.3 million - who spent time on the disabled list in 2010: Kendry Morales (Angels), who broke his leg jumping on home plate after hitting a home run; Brian Roberts (Orioles), who was out a week with a concussion when he smacked himself in the head with his bat after striking out; Chris Coghlan (Marlins), who needed knee surgery after giving a teammate a playful ...

Why Does It Matter?

This is finals week at Barton and many of the other colleges around the state. For instructors it's time to evaluate what students learned over the last semester. For students it's time for that one last push to maintain or raise their grades. While faculty see testing as a method to evaluate learning and adjust accordingly, students often see testing as a way to be tortured. Students focus on the grade while faculty focus on ...

Play safe on the farm

The dream of many young farm boys and girls is to ride on a tractor. For a youngster, the mammoth tractor epitomizes raw power, responsibility and coming of age.

“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.