Archive By Author - Dale Hogg
County re-ups with state insurance plan
Up until three years ago, Barton County was self insured. Then, at the recommendation of Blue Cross and Blue Shield, the county signed up for the state health care plan.
County opens streets in Villa South
The Barton County Commission Monday morning took steps to make legal the maintenance of the streets in a small, northwestern Great Bend subdivision. Now the ball is in the Great Bend City Council's court.
Council sets Convention Center time line
The Great Bend City Council had a simple agenda when it held a special meeting Saturday morning to discuss the city-owned convention center – decide how it wanted to run the facility, when it wanted to take it over and when to close it for much-needed renovations.
Team getting a handle on health
What do you want the future to look like, more importantly what do you want it to feel like?
Convention Center topic of special meeting
The future of the Great Bend Convention Center will be the topic of a special City Council meeting at 10 a.m. Saturday in the council chambers, 1209 Williams.
Man faces charges for assaulting city worker
A Crime Stoppers tip led to the arrest of a Great Bend man who now faces charges in the July assault of a Great Bend city employee working on the flood control levy.
SCHOOL ZONE AHEAD
Motorists, beware. As of Tuesday, some of the lighted school zone warning signals started flashing as many of the schools in Great Bend opened their 2012-2013 academic year.
Split commission OKs county budget
Divided over the need for the first property tax increase in nearly a decade, a split Barton County Commission Monday morning approved the county's 2013 budget.
Do what you can
The United Way of Central Kansas will launch its 2013 campaign Saturday with a goal of $235,000 to be reached by Dec. 31. Each year, Executive Director Julie Bugner-Smith comes up with a catchy theme to make the kick-off an entertaining and enjoyable evening. This year it's "Peace, Love and United Way," a 60s theme to coincide with the 50th anniversary of United Way in Barton County.
An exciting year
Looking at the energetic group of co-chairs and volunteers lined up for this year's campaign, United Way of Central Kansas Executive Director Julie Bugner-Smith said she is excited about the 2013 effort. It opens Saturday night.
Razing a bank, raising a curtain
Nelson Stone and his massive excavator began nibbling away at the old Bank of the West building at Lakin and Kansas Thursday as if it were a box of Junior Mints. The razing is in preparation for the new, six-screen movie theater that will eventually occupy that corner.
Some weather we’re having
Go anywhere and strike up a conversation.
THE RESULTS ARE IN
The Tuesday's primary election is over. The polls closed at 7 p.m. and the Barton County Clerk's office started continually updating posted results throughout the evening.
Davis ready for commission challenge
Don Davis may be new to political office, but he is not new to the Barton County Commission. Davis won the Republican primary for the commission's Third District against Buck Causey Tuesday by 450 votes to 213.
Johnson hopes to continue judicial tradition
For Great Bend attorney Steve Johnson, being a district judge was a natural evolution in the legal profession. Johnson defeated fellow Republican Robert Anderson of Ellinwood in Tuesday's 20th Judicial District judge primary.
Articles By Author - Dale Hogg
Replacing Cates on Commission explained
The death of Barton County Commissioner Don Cates in a spray plane crash Tuesday afternoon left some questions as to how to fill his seat on the governing body, questions that occupied much of the day Wednesday for Barton County Clerk Donna Zimmerman.
Fate of old opera house likely sealed
At its March 17 meeting, the Great Bend City Council gave the owners of the old, crumbling opera house at 2103 Forest until April 21 to hire a contractor to fix the historic structure or raze it.
Council OKs EMS fee increases
The last time ambulance fees for Great Bend Emergency Medical Services were adjusted was in 2009. Much has happened since then and Fire Chief Mike Napolitano told the City Council Monday night a change was in order.
Take time to celebrate the planet
Today marks the official Earth Day 2014. It is a chance for us to step back and look at the natural world around us and examine how we can make it a better place for future generations.
Commission OKs agreement with Hoisington
In an effort to help to continue to spur growth in Hoisington, the Barton County Commission Monday morning approved an interlocal agreement with that city.
Appraiser reminds residents of tax deadlines
Property valuation notices were mailed to the Barton County taxpayers on March 17 and County Appraiser Barbara Konrade reminds residents they have 30 days to appeal their valuation from that mailing date.
County expands new software system
It's been about a year since Barton County offices switched to a unified bookkeeping software. Although the conversion was at times rocky, officials are now comfortable with the new system and ready to expand it.
Joint effort
They are words one doesn't often hear in the same sentence – local government, federal government, state government and cooperation. However, they were strung together during the Barton County Commission meeting Monday morning.
FEMA money to flow into county
Last August, some areas of Barton County experienced severe flooding. The cost of dealing with those storms was high, prompting county officials to apply for a federal disaster declaration to help clean up the soggy aftermath.
A big ‘atta boy’
The third-annual Great Bend Farm and Ranch Expo closed Friday after another successful three-day run. The hundreds of exhibitors and thousands of attendees have gone and the Expo Complex is empty.
Polling place changes explained
One more election in the books, said County Clerk Donna Zimmerman. The April 1 results were canvassed by the Barton County Commission Monday morning and are now finalized.
OUT TO THE BALL GAME
The boys and girls of summer have already returned to the Great Bend Sports Complex, the Great Bend City Council learned Monday night. Ballfield preparations have been made and high school games have started at the new facility.
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