Celebrating then and now

At the Kansas State Fair in September, then Kansas Gov. Mark Parkinson unveiled the artwork for a new postage stamp that celebrates the Kansas' sesquicentennial. The stamp features an traditional windmill in the foreground and a row of modern wind turbines in the background.

A CAUSE FOR ALARM

State health and safety officials want fire alarms and carbon monoxide detectors in every home in Kansas and a grant recently received by the Great Bend Fire Department will help local firefighters do their part.

CONTINUING A LEGACY

Freshman Congressman Tim Huelskamp is billing it as the "Continuing the Tradition" tour.

Flu shots urged as season peaks

With the number of influenza cases increasing nationwide and the flu season beginning to peak, local, state and national health officials urge those who haven't had their flu shots to get vaccinated.

Two BOE members say no to another term

When the new Unified School District 428 School Board takes over July 1, there will be two familiar faces absent.

NO PLACE LIKE HOPE

Relay for Life of Barton County volunteers started down that yellow-brick road Saturday morning as they held their annual kick-off event.

Wolf set to start third term

As he sat back and relaxed late Thursday morning, state Rep. Bill Wolf realized it may be the last time in over three months he would have the chance to take it easy.

Boeckman part of historic judicial panel

TOPEKA – In light of reduced judicial resources statewide, a new "Blue Ribbon" commission has been named to take a thorough and critical look at the Kansas court system to find ways to improve it and make it more efficient, it was announced Wednesday.

INCREASED AWARENESS

The Great Bend Senior Center is one of 21 from across southwest Kansas designated as 2010 Focal Point facilities by the Dodge City-based Southwest Kansas Area Agency On Aging, said Dave Geist, SWKAAA executive director.

LOOK OUT JAWS

Jay Holloway loves to fish.

CKMC to cease in-patient services

In response to changes in the health care landscape, in the near future, Central Kansas Medical Center will cease providing in-patient care to focus solely on out-patient services, hospital officials said Monday.

Let it snow, let it snow

Relay already

Relay for Life of Barton County organizers want folks to click their heels together three times and say "there's no place like hope, there's no place like hope."

MAKING THE GRADE

TOPEKA – Four area schools are among the 42 Kansas elementary, 12 middle/junior high schools and 20 high schools recently recognized as part of the fourth annual Governor's Achievement Awards, honoring top performing schools in the state.

Sex predator remains on the lam

LARNED - Local and state authorities Thursday continued their hunt for a man convicted of child sex crimes who remained on the lam after escaping from the Larned State Hospital Wednesday.

No easy answers

On Friday, the Kansas Supreme Court upheld the Kansas Constitution by ordering the state to pay about $129 million dollars to the schools by July 1. The balance of funding requested by schools will be determined after a lower court redefines the meaning of "adequate" education.

Intersection improvements underway

Weather permitting, work on the intersection of 24th and Main in Great Bend should begin this week, City Engineer Rob Winiecke said.

National Guard plans open house Saturday

Great Bend Mayor Mike Allison and City Administrator Howard Partington met earlier this week with Capt. Brian Webb and Sgt. 1st Class Kevin Hammeke of the Kansas National Guard about the Guard's upcoming open house.

City: Vets Lake restoration will take time

Great Bend city officials understand how important Veterans Memorial Lake is to the community and they want residents to understand what is happing with the popular recreational area.

Counties battling state over mortgage fee

The counties of Kansas are again finding themselves at odds with state lawmakers in Topeka as a bill that would eliminate the mortgage registration fee is winding its way through the Senate.

IMPROVEMENTS IN STORE

The venerable Moses Band Shell, a center piece of the Barton County Courthouse Square and the focus of civic celebrations year-round for nearly 90 years, may be in for face lift, the City Council decided Monday night.

Residents warned of coming weather

Even with a fresh dusting of snow on the ground Monday morning, spring and the threat of turbulent lies weather ahead, said Barton County Emergency Management Director Amy Miller. So, the Barton County Commission approved a proclamation marking this as Severe Weather Awareness Week in the county.

Stormy weather

With all of our minds still thawing out after the recent winter storms, it may be tough to ponder the upcoming severe weather season. But, it will soon be upon us.

First Kansas to acquire Bank of America branches

First Kansas Bank of Great Bend has agreed to acquire Bank of America branches in Great Bend and Hays, local bank officials announced Wednesday.

Taking stock of what we have

It was the Great Bend business community's opportunity to shine Saturday night. The forum was the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce's annual banquet.

Commission honors vet memorial donors

In the past couple of weeks, Barton County has received a pair of $10,000 anonymous donations to help build the Golden Belt Memorial Park Veterans Memorial. The County Commission took time Monday morning to publicly thank those who stepped up to propel the project forward.

City getting goosed

Blame it on the geese choking the lake, lawn-care chemical run-off from nearby homes or shear age, but Veterans Memorial Lake has a serious problem with toxic blue-green algae. This has made the popular recreational area murky for years, and the solution to the issue remains just as clouded.

Law enforcement message to teens: Buckle up

Beginning next week, the law enforcement and safety agencies in Kansas will join forces to stop what has been an epidemic for the past several years – young drivers and passengers dying in car crashes after not using seat belts.