Nineteen state-bound

Check out the state qualifiers link on the Kansas State High School Activities Association website for the upcoming Class 6-1A state track and field championships, which is set for Friday and Saturday at Cessna Stadium on the Wichita State University campus.

COLOR ME PURPLE

Old Frank was probably watching when Kansas State last won a conference title in baseball. It was 1933, and Franklin D. Roosevelt was only two months into his first term as President. Now, in 2013, the Wildcats finally got around to making it happen again.

Astros take series with 3-1 victory over Royals

HOUSTON - J.D. Martinez hit a two-run homer off James Shields, Jordan Lyles pitched six effective innings and the Houston Astros beat the Kansas City Royals 3-1 on Wednesday night.

LOFTY EXPECTATIONS

Ellinwood High School will be sending 21 athletes to the Class 6-1A state track and field championships, which starts on Friday at Wichita State University's Cessna Stadium.

Urlacher retires after 13 seasons in NFL

CHICAGO - Brian Urlacher wasn't sure how dominant he could be any longer, so he's calling it a career after 13 seasons with the Chicago Bears.

​BCC to close for Memorial Day observance

The Barton Community College campus and Center for Adult Education will be closed Monday in observance of Memorial Day. The college will resume regular summer hours on Tuesday, May 28.

Historical Village will be open Monday

The Barton County Historical Society Museum and Village will be open from 1-5 p.m. on Monday for Memorial Day. Executive Director Beverly Komarek noted the museum is usually closed on Mondays. "This special opening is to accommodate families and visitors here for the holiday." Regular admission will be charged. The historical society is located just south of the Arkansas River bridge in Great Bend on U.S. 281.

BCSO participating in 'Click It or Ticket'

Barton County Sheriff's officers are emphasizing seat belt laws by participating in the Click It or Ticket program. For the week prior to Memorial Day, and continuing until June 2, drivers can expect to see more BCSO deputies on the highways, aggressively enforcing "Kansas Occupant Restraint" laws and other traffic statutes. Click It or Ticket is sponsored by the Kansas Department of Transportation and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Sheriff Brian Bellendir said his ...

Two Barton coaching contracts 'pending'

Nine head coaching contracts were renewed Wednesday when the Barton Community College Board of Trustees met, but the contracts of two head coaches are "pending final review." The board discussed personnel matters behind closed doors for nearly an hour before voting on head coach contracts, administrative contracts and contracts for managerial staff. Barton President Dr. Carl Heilman said there were no changes in head coaches, but the board did not approve a contract for a ...

OTR for May 23, 2013

Great Bend Fire/EMS

LaVon Sessler

ELLINWOOD - LaVon Sessler died May 22, 2013 at Ellinwood District Hospital. Services are pending with Kimple Funeral Home in Ellinwood.

Pawnee County Sheriff's Report

Tuesday, May 21

Larned Police Report

Tuesday, May 21

Opal R. West Andrews 1923-2013

LACROSSE - Opal R. West Andrews, 89, died May 21, 2013 at Blue Valley Lutheran Homes in Hebron, Neb. Born June 10, 1923, in Rozel, she was the daughter of John and Louise (Josefiak) Seba. She attended school in Rozel and graduated from Rozel High School in May of 1941. On July 31, 1941, she married Marven Harry West in La Crosse. Mrs. West Andrews was a member of the Hope Lutheran Church of Rush ...

Paul Joseph Linenberger 1923-2013

GREAT BEND – Paul Joseph Linenberger, 90, died May 21, 2013 at Great Bend Regional Hospital. He was born May 19, 1923 at Liebenthal, Kansas, the son of Alexander and Elizabeth (Randa) Linenberger. He married Bernadine Schneider May 12, 1948 at Olmitz. Mr. Linenberger was a Great Bend resident since 1946 who worked as an auto mechanic for Spruill's and retired from Marmie's in 1975. He was a United States Army veteran of World War ...

GBRH is Boston strong

With the recent events that occurred in Boston during the marathon and the fertilizer plant explosion in West, Texas, Great Bend Regional Hospital wanted to show its support for the individuals who may have been impacted by these events. Chief Human Resources Officer Robert Bilak joined the organization six months ago from JetBlue Airways in New York, N.Y. Boston, Logan International Airport is one of their main bases with an employee population that is one ...

“Poppa D Clown” brings slapstick to Great Bend children ahead of Carson & Barnes Circus

With the Carson & Barnes Circus coming to Great Bend in just a few weeks, Poppa D Clown rode into Great Bend on Wednesday with his magic box full of humorous tricks and a comedy routine that kept area children bursting with anticipation and laughter. Wednesday's entertainment provided children a glimpse of what they will see under the Big Top when the Carson & Barnes Circus comes to town on May 16 at the Great ...

Great Bend competes at Salina Central

SALINA - Both the Great Bend High School girls' and boys' track and field teams finished fifth at the Salina Central Invitational on Friday evening.

HEADED TO STATE

SALINA - In sports, it's always good to have goals. Now that five of the six varsity players from the Great Bend High School boys' tennis team have qualified for the Class 5A state tournament, they have set their eyes on their next goal - be the best in school history. Panthers singles player Nick Moyers and doubles team Austin Jacobs and Chase Buntain finished fourth in their respective competitions on Friday evening ...

Job Olympics celebrates abilities

Students from 13 schools demonstrated their life skills and vocational abilities Friday during the Job Olympics at Great Bend High School's Panther Activity Center. This competition, open to any special education student in Kansas, is sponsored by the Barton County Transition Council and the Special Services Cooperative. Events at tables throughout the arena mimicked real job situations and life skills, such as food preparation, office work or automotive checking. There was event a contest for ...

Beautiful Dreamer

Editor's Note: A 1967 Corvette once owned by singer Roy Orbison is now part of the collection at Hendrick Motorsports, owned Rick Hendrick of NASCAR fame. For a time, that storied automobile was owned by Robert "Bob" Martin of Great Bend, the former owner of Christmas Fantasy Village. Martin died on April 9. The story of his Corvette was recently reported by The BLOCK.com. An abridged version of that story appears below.

OTR for May 5, 2013

Great Bend Fire Department Firefighters made nine ambulance runs Wednesday and eight Thursday. There were no fires. Great Bend Police A man in an older white Cadillac reportedly left 1001 Main without paying for $50.04 in fuel at 1:20 p.m. Thursday. A Great Bend resident reported someone using his Social Security number. A Pontiac Firebird driven by Lakyn Dalton was southbound on Morphy St. at 3:04 p.m. Thursday and struck a Mercury Mountaineer driven by ...

Come on guys, keep those doors open

Sunshine Week, the national initiative by journalists to assure that sunshine illuminates every crevasse in the halls of officialdom, runs March 10-16. During that week, newspapers traditionally run editorials and columns extolling the importance of open government as it relates to our freedoms as Americans.

CBH celebrates nurses week

HOISINGTON- Clara Barton Hospital joins hospitals across the country in celebration of National Nurses and National Hospital Weeks, May 6-12 and May 12-18, respectively.

Bike safety

Ellinwood sports scene

USD 431 receives grant

HOISINGTON - Hoisington Middle School was notified that they have received a grant for $4,500 to promote and educate students about composting, and they plan to use waste from the lunchroom for that. Students will be trained in waste management with real life and career applications.

Thanks for new skate center

Dear Editor, I would like to publicly thank Jack and Sara Love for opening the "Up N Rollin Skate Center". I would also like to thank Karmi Green with the Prairie Enterprise Project for all the help of making this a reality for their new business. I know it took alot of family, friends and volunteers to open this fun place for our children and it takes alot of the same people to help run ...

Five students qualify to Sems at District National Qualifying Tournament

The Great Bend High School Forensics Team competed at the District National Qualifying NFL Tournament on Friday and Saturday April 19th and 20th. Twelve students competed which consisted of: Nathaniel Cheney, Kenna Dirks, Michael Gieck, Clara Kachanes, Sarah Keller, Mallorie McNett, Jordan Otten, Chase Pumford, Jesus Sandoval, Kane Schumacher, Kameko Schultz and Paige VanSteenburgh. Five students qualified to semi-finals in their events. Cheney and Schumacher placed 12th and Gieck and Schultz placed 10th in Duo ...

Syrian Swamp