Archive By Author - Dale Hogg
Project to make roads safer
In an effort to make rural roads safer, the Barton County Commission Monday approved entering into a three-way agreement to improve three blacktops in the north and west of the county. The deal joins Barton County, Kansas Department of Transportation and the consulting firm Transystems out of Kansas City, Mo., in a project to develop a plan to rework bridges and culverts between Galatia and Beaver, the Odin Road and Boyd Road as it ...
Council votes to publish ‘stable’ budget
When it comes to the City of Great Bend's proposed budget for 2012, no news is good news.
City awaits news on ag department move
Great Bend civic leaders want this community to be the Kansas Department of Agriculture's home on the range, and they should know sometime this month if their bid to house at least part of the departments's relocated headquarters was successful.
A commission divided
The Barton County Commission carries a heavy yoke into the Aug. 13 budget presentation and public hearing.
County budget calls for first tax hike since 2004
A Barton County Commission split on raising the mill levy for the first time since 2004 and concerns about slashing spending narrowly approved publishing the county's proposed 2012-2013 budget Monday morning.
Burn ban likely to continue
Sure, it rained Wednesday night. Sure, many yards, sidewalks and backyard decks were damp Thursday morning.
Now is the time to think of future
The Aug. 7 primary is just over a week away. Amid the clamor of the contentious presidential race, it is easy for this important local election to get lost in the shuffle.
Burn ban likely to continue
Sure, it rained Wednesday night. Sure, many yards, sidewalks and backyard decks were damp Thursday morning.
County departments stay busy
Barton County Departments 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 Monday morning.
Audit shows county in good health
The Barton County Commission heard the county's annual audit report Monday morning. There was good news and news that gave commissioners pause.
Advance voting is now available
After weeks of delays created by the statewide legislative redistricting, registered voters in Barton County can now apply for advanced ballots for the Aug. 7 primary election, said Barton County Election officer Donna Zimmerman Monday morning.
Dodging a bullet
With the start of school a matter of weeks away, Kansas educators are breathing a little easier now. The U.S. Department of Education Thursday approved state's request for a waiver from portions of the controversial federal No Child Left Behind law.
Local teen plans cystic fibrosis walk
Taylor Latham, who will start her junior year at Great Bend High School next month, has spent her summer vacation on a mission.
County loans funds to business for expansion
By a split vote Monday morning, the Barton County Commission voted to lend $43,300 of the county's Community Development Block Grant funds to Custom Re-Bath of Great Bend for an expansion/remodeling project. The approval came amid concerns from some commissioners about the what they called the riskiness of the loan.
City OKs revolving loan for local business
It took just a matter of minutes for the Great Bend City Council to unanimously approve Monday night a $43,300 loan to Custom Re-Bath from the city's Economic Development Revolving Loan fund.
Articles By Author - Dale Hogg
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.
TOUTING TOURISM
It is fitting that Barton County celebrate Kansas Tourism Week this week, Great Bend Convention and Visitors Bureau Director Cris Collier told the County Commission Monday morning.
OF RISK AND REWARD
Three weeks ago, a fertilizer storage facility in West, Texas, not all that different from plants in many, small, rural communities, exploded. It killed 14 people, leveled much of the tiny town and rocked the nation.
