Archive By Section - News
Highland Hotel sells
The Highland Hotel is now under new ownership. The hotel portion of the Highland Hotel and Convention Center was sold to Ambika Enterprises in a deal that was finalized Tuesday, according to a letter from the property's management company.
OFF TO A GOOD START
A young girl walked up to the table at the Great Bend Salvation Army store Friday morning, slung her new backpack over her shoulder and left with her face beaming.
Woman arrested after drug raid
A Great Bend woman remains in the Barton County jail following her arrest during a drug raid at a home Friday morning.
Clyde trades bright lights of Calif. for a home on the prairie
With a barnyard full of animals, retired couple Billie and Robert Bonomo enjoy the quiet life in northern Barton County after having lived in many areas around the country.
Commission approves large tax refund
The tax refund amount that was presented to the Barton County Commission this week seemed large, and it was, but it represented a reality about the oil industry, the commissioners were told.
‘Meet and greet’ meets in Great Bend
The Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism Commission met Thursday in Barton County, and area dignitaries joined with them in a "meet and greet" session over the noon hour.
Drive-by shooting car found
A tip from a motorist who had just heard a description of the car involved in Sunday's drive shooting lead to the location of the vehicle Thursday morning. Authorities spent the afternoon pouring over it in hopes of finding clues in the case.
Teachers learn to better engage students
Teachers took a running start on getting ready for school to start in just a week by attending a highly motivational, week-long class offered by USD 428.
Even in a drought
Typical of Kansas, where the weather is often either "feast or famine," conditions have gone from drought to flood warnings almost over night.
One vehicle wreck occurs
A one vehicle wreck occurred in the 300 block of north Washington, Great Bend, at 1 p.m. Wednesday afternoon. The vehicle was south bound on Washington when it lost control, entered the east ditch backwards, striking the culvert and then rolling onto its top, according to a news release by the Barton County Sheriff's office.
GBPD hope to ID passenger in drive-by
Authorities are seeking the public's help to locate the suspect in a Sunday drive-by shooting, as well as the identity of a passenger in the car involved in the incident.
Storm whips Barton, surrounding counties
A severe late-summer thunder storm rolled through portions of northern Barton County, and Russell and Ellsworth counties Tuesday night, bringing large hail, heavy rains and straight-line wind gusts up to 80 miles per hour.
A TOTAL EXPERIENCE
When a community looks at marketing itself as tourism destination, there is often a disconnect between what local folks think tourists want and what tourists really want.
Despite the rain
There's been rain, but not enough rain to make county officials comfortable with allowing open burning, unless local fire chiefs believe the conditions are right.
TAKING FLIGHT
Bill Mead spent Tuesday afternoon in the pilot's seat. He wasn't flying, yet, but was performing a "taxi check" on his newly completed kit-built experimental aircraft. "We were just going up and down the runway," he said. The plane is a 6ES Coyote, produced by the Rans Corporation in Hays. The two-seater has a maximum speed of about 120 miles per hour and can fly as high as 14,000 feet. "It's classified as a light ...
Articles by Section - News
Mom, son walk across Kansas for a cause
A mother and son walking across Kansas find plenty of ways to pass the time between towns. There are friendly people to meet and historic markers to read, amazing sunrises/sunsets, and an occasional game of "tumbleweed toss" – where walking sticks are used like hockey sticks to pass tumbleweeds back and forth.
Wetlands Aquatic Center opens for summer
Great Bend's Wetland's Aquatic Center opened Saturday, making a splash as usual. "Everything is up and working," said Aquatic Director Paige Achatz. Weather permitting, the pool is open from 12:30-5:30 p.m. daily. Starting next week, on June 4, the pool will also be open for family nights from 7-9 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Achatz noted there will be no family nights this week because it is still a little too cold, and because she ...
Sequester resulting in preliminary Title 1 cuts for area schools
BARTON COUNTY - Congressional gridlock over the U.S. budget is trickling down to Barton County with the automatic spending cuts that went into effect March 1, called the sequester.
Wetlands Aquatic Center at Great Bend photos
Great Bend's Wetlands Aquatic Center opened for the summer on Saturday. Here are some photos taken in the afternoon.
Garden tour replanted
After a one-year hiatus, the once annual Gardens Galore garden tour will return Sunday, June 2. Only now, it is a project of the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce Beautification Committee. It had been sponsored by the local Soroptimist International, but it has since disbanded.
Great Bend prepares to honor vets
The Great Bend Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 3111 is organizing the Great Bend Memorial Day service this year. It is set for 10 a.m. Monday at the Veterans Circle, Great Bend Municipal Cemetery
Perfect attendance pays off
Perfect attendance is a rare accomplishment for most students. It takes planning and preparation, with illnesses and bad weather to contend with from time to time, to make it in to school every day on time. But for those who achieve it, it's nice to be recognized for the effort. Dale Shaner wanted to do that for USD 428 students. He had an idea, and after sharing it with his wife, Karen, and some friends, the group put the idea into action.
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 ...
Bridge work to cause traffic delays
Orange cones and construction crews are already in place on the U.S. 281 bridge just north of the Great Bend city limits as the Kansas Department of Transportation begins to replace the span, a project that could take until next spring.
Two flee; child left in truck
A minor child was left in a truck with a loaded gun Monday night as two suspects fled from Barton County deputies.
Tornado-safe room building starts
Workers began pouring the foundation of the new Great Bend Middle School tornado safe room Tuesday morning, less than a day after the devastating F4 tornado that struck Moore, Okla., tore the roofs off two elementary schools, injuring many and killing nine confirmed at the time of this writing.
Bridge work completed
Work on the bridge north of the Club at StoneRidge has been completed and the road is open, according to the Barton County Engineers Office.
Claflin set to open Community/Fitness Center
CLAFLIN - Numerous volunteers have put their hands together and established a new Community/Fitness Center for the Claflin area. The project involved refurbishing the old Claflin Elementary School for the new purpose.
