Wounded Warrior Project helps ease way back to civilian life

This is part two of our series about the Wounded Warrior Project coming to Great Bend. Last weekend, a group of five soldiers attended a Wounded Warrior hunt sponsored in part by the WWP and Pheasants Forever Rooster Booster Chapter 504. The Tribune spotlighted each of the soldiers and how they became part of the project. Today, we'll take a closer look at how the Wounded Warrior Project is working to help soldiers transition back ...

Wounded Warrior Project comes to Barton County

On Friday night, five soldiers converged on the Great Bend area on a mission. The following morning, they would take part in a European style pheasant hunt, part of a two day event jointly sponsored by a local Pheasants Forever chapter and the national organization, Wounded Warrior Project.

GIVING BACK

This is part of a two part series spotlighting the joint work of a local Pheasants Forever chapter and the Wounded Warrior Project to give back to a group of soldiers who have served post 9-11, sacrificing for their country. Today, a brief overview and an introduction to the soldiers taking part. Tuesday, we'll take a closer look at how the Wounded Warrior Project is helping soldiers transition back into the civilian world, and how ...

Snow no excuse for inactivity

Employees at the Great Bend Tribune are taking part in the "Give Your Heart a Break" initiative sponsored by the Great Bend Rotary, Great Bend Chamber of Commerce and USD 428 Great Bend Schools to encourage fitness. Teams compete in three challenges, including most weight lost by a team, most miles completed by a tem, and most hours of exercise completed by a team.

Survey leaves volunteers with mixed feelings

Few people would feel comfortable stopping a complete stranger and asking them to answer a series of questions about their living arrangements. It's even more difficult when you are anticipating finding the person may be in a desperate situation for which you have no immediate answer. But that's exactly what a group of Great Bend volunteers committed to do the last week of January.

Great Bend dentists speak out

Several Great Bend dentists,Larry Kutina, Ross Hildebrand, Marc Hueslig, Keith Ritter and Mike Allison, and Blake Herres of Hoisington, met Friday at the Tribune offices to discuss House Bill 2157, which seeks to create a mid-level dental provider called a Registered Dental Practitioner. RDPs would be allowed to perform some dental procedures, including surgery, under general rather than direct supervision of a licensed dentist.

Pink Out returns

Pilot Club spreads word about car seat safety

In the past month, the Great Bend Pilot Club has donated cash for car seat detector kits and car seats to the Great Bend High School Family and Consumer Science Class, as well as a load of free booster seats to TLC Discoveries after school program. It's part of an effort to help reduce the number of brain injuries to children through proper use of car seats.

Kansas works on filling the dental gap

Thursday, Senators on the Committee on Health and Human Services heard testimony from both sides of House Bill 2157 in Topeka. The bill allows for the creation of a mid-level dental provider called a Registered Dental Practitioner. It was introduced last week following a dental briefing for the committee. Passage of this bill would increase access to dental care by allowing mid-level dental providers to work in dental practices and clinics, proponents say. It could ...

Out of the Morgue

Each week we'll take a step back into the history of Great Bend through the eyes of reporters past. We'll reacquaint you with what went into creating the Great Bend of today, and do our best to update you on what "the rest of the story" turned out to be.

Teachers scramble as Senate hears bill

Soon, it may be illegal for USD 428 to continue to make payroll deductions of Kansas National Education Association dues and political action support by teachers in Great Bend. That's if House Bill 2023 is enacted into law. The bill was passed by the State House of Representatives in a 68 to 56 vote on Thursday, Jan. 31. This week, it is being heard by the Senate, and if passed there, will go on to ...

Protecting a birthright

Recently, I was moving photos and pictures around on my walls. My favorites are two shadow boxes, one with a photo of my great grandmother and great grandfather, their daughters and a photo of their house on the farm. The farm is in Kackley, a tiny almost-ghost town in North Central Kansas. In the other box is a set of hand painted knobs my mother created 20 years ago, which adorned her kitchen cabinets for ...

Long time Scout leader receives Silver Beaver Award

On Saturday, Jan. 26, a long time Scout leader from Great Bend, Kenton Abbott, was awarded the Silver Beaver Award at the 2013 Council Recognition Dinner and Annual Meeting in Wichita. The award is the highest designation a registered adult leader can receive. Abbott began serving in 1999 and in 2013, became the Kanza District Commissioner of the Quivira Council. All three of Abbott's sons have been active in scouting. Both Michael and Luke acheived ...

20 years with CASA, Staab keeps coming back

Editor's note: This is the second two stories about Central Kansas CASA. While part one cast a spotlight on the organization, the people it helps, and the upcoming CASA Chocolate Auction, today we look at one longtime volunteer. Donna Staab has served CASA for more than two decades.

Chocolate anyone?

Saturday evening, the chocolate fountain will be flowing at Central Kansas CASA's 8th Annual Chocolate Auction which starts at 6:30 p.m. at the Great Bend Knights of Columbus.

Wheat harvest gearing up throughout area

What a difference a year makes. This time last year, Barton County farmers were wrapping up the 2012 wheat harvest, and everyone, farmers and non-farmers alike, were praying for rain.

Vernon gives drop-out report

At the regular school board meeting in June, Superintendent Tom Vernon presented his annual report on drop-outs, something he's been doing since 2007. Back in 2008, 30 students dropped out, but the numbers went down in 2008 through 2010. In 2011, the numbers began to rise again, with 38 and 39 students dropping out in the 2011 and 2012 school years.

Oil well proposed inside Cheyenne Bottoms wetlands

An oil well could be drilled 870 feet inside the Cheyenne Bottoms wetlands if a permit requested by H&C Oil Operating Inc., of Plainville is granted.

$80,000 loss, hay bales burn

At around 2:30 p.m., the Great Bend Fire Department was called away from the Pawnee Rock fire to a hay bale fire at 251 NW 10th Ave. adjacent to Mid America Feeders. Five hundred large-sized hay bales with an estimated value of $80,000 were on fire, according to Great Bend Fire Chief Mike Napolitano. They were continuing to burn Saturday morning. "It's nearly impossible to put the fire out because the bales burn so deep within," he said.

Overrun with Color

If the turnout at the Great Bend Regional Hospital race pavilion Saturday morning is any indicator, color makes running more fun. Excitement over being doused with paint brought out more than 500 participants for the first ever Color Run. The event happened in conjunction with the third annual Human eMotion Charitable Run, Walk and Ride event sponsored by GBRH, with all proceeds going to support the Family Crisis Center in Great Bend.

Dannebohm apprehended Friday in Great Bend

At approximately 11 a.m. Friday morning, Great Bend Police apprehended Brandon Dannebohm. The fugitive was found sleeping in a vehicle within the city limits of Great Bend, according to Barton County Undersheriff Bruce Green He was arrested and is being held on a no-bond warrant from Stafford County. Barton County charges are pending for aggravated endangerment of a child, abandonment of a child, possession of narcotics, and other charges.

Sports, activities and mentoring spotlighted at USD 428 June BOE meeting

The USD 428 Board of Education welcomed Delores Baker and her family and friends Monday evening at the district office. Board president Dwight Young awarded her the R.O.S.E. (Recognizing Outstanding Support of Education ) certificate, recognizing her for her years of commitment to a Riley student through her 12 years of education in the district through the Youth Friends program.

USD 428 recognizes mentor with a R.O.S.E.

For six years, Delores Baker, Great Bend, volunteered as a Youth Friends mentor for a Riley Elementary School student. For six more years, they nurtured their friendship through letters and lunch visits. This year, Baker had the great joy of seeing her friend graduate from Great Bend High School. And on Monday night, the USD 428 Board of Education will honor her with a R.O.S.E. (Recognizing Outstanding Support of Education) award at their regular June meeting.

Volleyball tournament honors Klug

Sixteen teams participated in the Rhonda Klug Memorial Volleyball Tournament held Sunday afternoon at Vets Park. It was only one of the activities planned for that day for the final day of the second June Jaunt festival in Great Bend that got residents out and about enjoying the attractions the city has to offer.

June Jaunt lives up to hype in Great Bend

Overwhelming success!

A SPECIAL RIDE

The American Legion Riders will once again lead the way in the opening ceremony as they have for several years. This year, the ride will have special meaning for J.P. Postlethwaite, who has been the lead rider. This year he will be the featured speaker for the opening ceremony.