Archive By Author - Chuck Smith

County passes on state agency membership

It is admittedly not a huge savings - less than $700 for the year - so it's not like Barton County will have some great windfall in its budget.

If you hear thunder, lightning is a threat

BY CHUCK SMITH csmith@gbtribune.com (EDITOR'S NOTE: This is one in a series of articles about severe weather awareness.) Most Kansans who have met someone from another part of the country, or from another nation, have had to answer the question: "Have you ever seen a tornado?" And for many of us, despite a lifetime of Kansas experience, is most likely that we think we've seen a funnel far off, or that we've seen plenty on ...

It's such a pretty lie

Americans are, unfortunately, used to being lied to by people running for office. Too often, we make excuses for them, or we just accept the lies when they are convenient, or when they are spouted by a popular celebrity. When someone we like lies to us, we wink at each other and smile, because "our candidate" is above the picky standards we set for those others we don't like. And when the candidate we like ...

It's still treason

This is what we've been talking about all these months. It doesn't matter what the reasoning is behind the traitorous acts of Bradley Manning, what matters is the act and the lack of accountability. This week, the Associated Press reported that "Pfc. Bradley Manning had been charged with aiding the enemy among a total of 22 counts, but on Thursday the military publicly identified the enemy Manning's actions aided. "Manning and his attorneys are appearing ...

Spread the burden

Local programs are dependent on all sorts of non-local funding, and this week county officials gave the nod for applications that, if successful, will bring state and federal funding into the county.

Do we even care any more?

Do we even care any more? Or have we just come to expect that the economic news in this country will be bad? Have we surrendered to the suggestion that the economic advances experienced in past decades, that were enjoyed by past generations, were just historic flukes? It seems so. Or could it be that our own family resources are so over-stretched that we can't find the inclination to hold our national officials responsible for ...

Kansas severe weather is now on the air

(EDITOR'S NOTE: This is one in a series of articles about Severe Weather Awareness Week.)

Radium Road opens Friday

Work is concluding on one bridge project in Barton County this week and will begin on another, it was announced.

It's our own fault

Deadlines are approaching for April election

Time is growing short to get ready for the next local election, according to County Clerk Donna Zimmerman.

Commission recognizes severe weather week

Barton County officials joined with state agencies to bring attention to the threats from weather in the coming spring season.

Don’t play with your food (stamps)

A deadly heritage

(EDITOR'S NOTE: This is one in a series of articles about Severe Weather Awareness Week.)

We have the answer

KWEC numbers jumped by 36 percent in 2011