Archive By Author - Dale Hogg
New captain raised to be firefighter
Great Bend Fire Department firefighter Travis Parmley has really climbed the ladder, so to speak. The eight-year GBFD veteran was promoted to captain in May.
School at home
Alicia Straub is thankful she overheard the conversation that day in Pizza Hut. "I thought 'What is she talking about?" said Straub. "I stopped her before she left." The woman, who Straub knew and who worked for a preschool, had been talking about a relatively new concept at that time – virtual public school. Straub's oldest daughter, Alexa, was a toddler – she's now 9 – and had caught the attention of her pediatrician. "She ...
Gas prices lower statewide than expected
Average retail gasoline prices in Kansas have fallen 3.9 cents per gallon in the past week, stunning analysts who expected prices to be higher with the arrival of the summer driving season.
City flush with art
LUCAS – The residents of this small, artsy Russell County community want you to flush your money down the toilet, specifically, their toilet.
Visit your hometown again, for the first time
This weekend marks the opening of a grand, five-year experiment. The first-ever June Jaunt opens Friday and runs through Sunday.
Busy weekend in store
There are many events planned in Barton County for the first-ever June Jaunt this weekend. Many events are free or require a small charge.
GET YOUR KICKS
In her office Wednesday, City of Great Bend Community Coordinator Christina Hayes continued to tweak the final details for this weekend's massive multi-city tourism initiative. She still gets questions.
County departments keep busy
Barton County Departments are asked to submit a bi-weekly activity report of statistical information or a summary of services. County Administrator Richard Boeckman presented highlights from the most recent reports to the County Commission Tuesday morning.
County burn ban in place
Hot gusts whipped a wheat field fire Saturday afternoon, requiring fire departments form Albert, Great Bend and Hoisington to remain at the scene for hours. Firefighters returned throughout the night to douse hot spots.
Vets memorial campaign advancing slowly
In February, the Barton County Commission approved plans for a fundraising effort by the Memorial Parks Advisory Committee to begin collecting money for a new veterans memorial at the Golden Belt Memorial Park north of Great Bend.
LEST WE FORGET
Like blurs of red, white and blue, American flags of all sizes popped as they whipped in the early summer breeze Monday morning at Great Bend Municipal Cemetery's Veterans Circle.
A complex issue
The Great Bend City Council Monday night discussed the convention center, which it now owns, and the center's relationship with the adjacent and privately owned Highland Hotel
A day to say thanks
For many, Memorial Day signals the unofficial start of Summer. Kids are out of school, swimming pools are open and grills across America are sizzling with burgers and hot dogs. Area lakes are choked with boaters and the shorelines are packed with folks ready to usher in the season and work on their tans.
WHOSE YARD IS THAT?
Great Bend City Sanitarian Gregg Vannoster challenges residents to take a quick drive around town.
A TIME TO SAY THANKS
Great Bend Military Moms has its own way of observing Memorial Day. The local group sends care packages to soldiers deployed in the war zones around the world. It continues to seek addresses of military personnel who could use a little piece of home in hostile settings. "We're preparing to ship out another bunch of boxes," said Leslie Barrett, Military Moms organizer. No date has been set she wants to get as many names as ...
Articles By Author - Dale Hogg
Great Bend escapes Defense Department furloughs
The Great Bend Kansas National Guard armory should escape unscathed the round of federally mandated National Guard furloughs announced Tuesday by U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, said Sharon Watson with the KNG Public Affairs Office.
Lyons man sentenced to 17½ years for rape, indecent liberties
LYONS – A Lyons man was sentenced Wednesday to 17½ years in prison after pleading no contest to charges of rape and aggravated indecent liberties, Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt said.
Summer road work begins
Barton County Administrator Richard Boeckman offered his biweekly update on the activities of various county departments during the County Commission meeting Monday morning. Highlights included:
Wanted: Several good homes
At an adoption event this past Saturday, Ebert warmed the hearts of many. But, he still needs a home.
Share the river
We are fortunate to live in a region with abundant opportunities for outdoor recreation. One of the most diverse of these opportunities is the Arkansas River.
Residents fear stray gunfire near river
It's only a matter of time before someone is hit by a stray bullet while enjoying the Arkansas River bed south of Ellinwood, local resident Tom Komarek told the Barton County Commission Monday morning.
County hopes to spark Vet Memorial donations
The Memorial Parks Advisory Committee was given the go-ahead by the Barton County Commission Monday morning to hold two much-needed fundraisers to build the Veterans Memorial at Golden Belt Memorial Park north of Great Bend.
Lessons learned?
A lot of dirty laundry has been aired publicly of late.
‘To parents, be the adults’
With high school and college graduations fast approaching, the Central Kansas Partnership is urging parents to keep the community safe by prohibiting underage drinking and not providing alcohol to underage youth at graduation celebrations.
BCSO almost ready for digital fingerprinting
The new digital finger printing machine has arrived and it will soon be in use by the Barton County Sheriff's Office. Activation is pending approval from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, Barton County Administrator Richard Boeckman said during the County Commission meeting Monday morning.
Kansas Ave. work complete
Paving work along Kansas Avenue is complete, according to Great Bend City Engineer Rob Winiecke. Joint sealing crews were done Monday, and it was open to traffic as of Tuesday.
PARTNERSHIP NIXED
For the City of Great Bend and its Convention Center, it's back to square one – sort of.
RSVP selling flowers for Memorial Day
This week marks the fourth-annual Senior Corps Week, an opportunity to thank Senior Corps volunteers for their service, said Donna Baugh, Volunteers in Action director. One way folks can become involved is by purchasing their Memorial Day flowers from the Retired Senior Volunteer Program this year. The flowers are on display at the RSVP office, 1025 Main, room D114 in Great Bend, and at the RSVP Thrift Store at 158 S. Main in Hoisington.
Myers walks out of meeting
After an often heated exchange between Great Bend City Council Member Randy Myers and several fellow council members over his alleged ethics violations, Myers stood up and walked out of the governing body's Monday night meeting.
