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.

GBHS Student Council proposes all-school work day

The USD Board of Education heard a proposal by the GBHS student council Tuesday at the monthly noon meeting at Jefferson Elementary School. Representatives from the Great Bend High School student council asked for approval for an all-student community service project. The students hope to organize the student body to take on several cleaning and maintenance projects at the school and around town from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 24. "The aim ...

TOWN HALL TOPICS

The meeting room at Barton County College's Fine Arts building was filled to capacity by concerned constituents eager to interact with "Big First" U.S. House Representative Tim Huelskamp Tuesday morning. It was one of several town hall meetings organized by Huelskamp staffers taking place during a brief congressional break.

Barton County stalking report trend increases

"Stalking isn't just what you see on television, where some fan is obsessed with a celebrity," said Laura Patzner, director of the Family Crisis Center. " It's a very prevalent kind of crime."

Longing for Open Space

January is a heavy month. It's cold, you have to start working on taxes, people get colds and flu, and its dark. Luckily, its not as dark as it was in December. At least when I've left work, I've been able to spy bits of Kansas sunset through the branches of slumbering trees and around the rooftops of the houses on these city streets.

Riley teacher simulates discrimination with Red Ribbon day

"Now, the Star-Belly Sneetches had bellies with stars. The Plain-Belly Sneetches had none upon thars. Those stars weren't so big. They were really so small. You might think such a thing wouldn't matter at all." -- from The Sneetches, by Dr. Seuss This week, in honor of Martin Luther King day, Mary Rossman, a second grade teacher at Riley Elementary School in Great Bend, hopes to teach her students what he and others like him ...

Slipping it in

When I was growing up, my mom made a point of going to the grocery store by herself, rather than dragging us along. There were several reasons, but mostly because she didn't like listening to all the pleading to get snacks that weren't on the list.

First Steps: Aging out of foster care

This is part one of a three part series focusing on youth aging out of foster care.

Important new addition to museum collection

SRCA board member Butch Fry made an important donation to the Barton County Historical Society Museum Saturday afternoon. He presented his SRCA 1964 Record Holder jacket.

The day the sculptures rolled in

Whether it was dragsters, street rods, Mopars, or vintage cars that struck their fancy, visitors and exhibitors alike were drawn to the Second Annual Barton Historical Society Museum Rolling Sculpture car show Saturday afternoon, May 18.

Edna I. (Craig) Logan Francis, 1913-2013

Edna I. (Craig) Logan Francis, 99, formerly of Claflin, died Friday, May 17 at Woodhaven Care Center in Ellinwood. Born Nov. 5, 1913 near Caldwell, she was the daughter of Homer Francis and Katie Elmira (Siebenthaler) Craig.

TLC Twisters bring comfort to shelter dogs

The TLC Twisters 4-H club at TLC Discoveries built eight dog beds which they presented to the Golden Belt Humane Society last week. The beds, made of donated PVC pipe and nylon material, will provide a place for puppies and smaller dogs to relax off the cement floor. They are easily hosed off, and are quick drying, making them ideal for a kennel environment.

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.

Spring and music in the air

The Panther Jazz Band pumped up the audience at the GBHS Panther Bands Spring Contest Concert Monday night with their opening rendition of Watermelon Man by Herbie Hancock. It was a night to celebrate the accomplishments of the high school music program and a select group of accomplished musicians who competed at the state level earlier this spring. Senior band members also recognized and thanked their parents for the support offered through the years of ...

More sleep time? USD 428 gives a nod

High schoolers may get a few extra zs next year thanks to a proposal approved at the USD 428 board meeting Monday night. But not for teachers. Board members approved a series of late starts for the high school during the 2013-2014 school year that would give teachers the time they need to collaborate, but take away two hours of student contact time a month

Salad days

With high hopes that the area has seen the end of frost for the year, a full-house turned out to learn the how-tos of container gardening at the Great Bend Rec activity center Thursday.

Letting the dogs out

Saturday morning, leashes will be rattling and tails will be wagging all over the Great Bend area. Pooches will bound out the door and into the car as their owners make their way to Veterans Memorial Dog Park for the first ever Bark for Life Festival from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event, sponsored by local Relay for Life teams, precedes the annual event coming up on June 7.

Traveling through rain to get to Swan Lake

Living in the middle of Kansas doesn't mean we're devoid of culture. In fact, there's a lot more appreciation for the finer things in life out here than the mainstream media gives us credit for. We are more likely to travel long distances to seek culture than those who live in a large metropolitan area. It's easy, after all, to take in a play, a concert, or the ballet if you're a short subway or ...

Cooking up great soil

Gardeners may finally catch a break after unexpectedly cool weather last week. It's finally time to start digging and planting, and that means its the perfect time to think about soil health. For gardeners in Great Bend, the city provides plenty of rich dark compost free for the taking.

City of Great Bend cooking up great soil for local gardeners

Gardeners may finally catch a break after unexpectedly cool weather last week. It's finally time to start digging and planting, and that means its the perfect time to think about soil health. For gardeners in Great Bend, the city provides plenty of rich dark compost free for the taking.