Kansas chocolates offered at Heart of Kansas

There is something new and sweet at the Heart of Kansas Mercantile, one of the MyTown stores. The shop, which specializes in products made in Kansas, is now featuring chocolates produced by the Sweet Granada, a candy shop in Emporia.

Play it again Santa

In the zone

Motorists be advised. The end of the winter recess brings the beginning of a new school zone.

A GIVING HEART

Tre' Stevenson knew first hand what it was like to go without at Christmas time, having watched family members who didn't have presents to unwrap.

A bunch of geese a sitting

Post office sees busiest day of the year

Shelly Lippert was ready for Monday.

Longoria hearing continued

The motion hearing for accused killer Adam Longoria has been continued due to a scheduling conflict, said Ron Keefover, chief information officer with the Kansas Office of Judicial Administration.

Big move

A large metal shed sits on a trailer in pasture northeast of Great Bend Thursday afternoon. The structure was owned by Dr. Ray Leidich of Great Bend and bought (and relocated) by Jason Causey. Causey said it will be used to house his camper and as "an indoor playground for my kids." The building (which is over 100 feet long and wide) was hauled for about a mile down dirt roads by Kuhn's House Movers out of Victoria.

KDHE issues Sunflower Electric air quality permit

TOPEKA – After years of controversy and months of public comments, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment Thursday announced it has issued the air quality permit for the proposed 895 megawatt coal-fired steam generating unit at the Sunflower Electric Power Corporation near Holcomb.

Local schools honored for achievement

Hard work has paid off for the schools in Unified School District 428, with all the buildings receiving some recognition by earning statewide academic awards.

Deal in works to solve special education dilemma

It was a topic on the agenda for two area school boards Monday night, a topic very close to the hearts of a handful of parents in both districts.

USD 428 eyeing 7th grade sports

Great Bend, some parents say, is losing its competitive edge with other school districts by not offering competitive sports at the seventh grade level. This was the message delivered by one of these parents who addressed the Unified School District 428 School Board Monday night.

Pot use rising faster than tobacco

A federal study released this week indicates more high school seniors nationwide have used marijuana in the past month than have smoked a cigarette, as pot use slid up slightly as tobacco use stagnated. In addition, it showed daily marijuana use up in all grades surveyed.

Electrical short causes fire

Investigators from the Kansas State Fire Marshal's Office and the Great Bend Fire Department determined the blaze that destroyed a house southeast of Great Bend Thursday afternoon was likely caused by an electrical problem, Fire Chief Mike Napolitano said Friday morning.

Dogs find drugs at GBHS

Drug sniffing dogs from the Great Bend Police Department and Barton County Sheriff's Office made two positive "hits" on possible narcotics during a surprise, random search at Great Bend High School Thursday morning, Unified School District Superintendent Tom Vernon said.

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.