Archive By Section - News
GB residents indicted on drug charges
WICHITA – A Federal Grand jury in Wichita Wednesday indicted Mark R. Wintholz, 44, and Tiffinie D. Moore, 26, both of Great Bend. They are charged with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Ringwald family instrumental in BCC Foundation success
The potency of the Ringwald family's hard work and dedication to Barton Community College and the BCC Foundation in recent years has not gone unnoticed. Michel and Linda Ringwald, along with their three sons and families, Chad and Angie, Chris and Cari, and Justin, were named honorary co-chairs of the BCC Foundation's upcoming 33rd Annual Big Benefit Auction, which takes place Saturday, Aug. 27, at the Highland Hotel ...
Wichita TSA visits Hoisington to see progress on 9/11 Memorials
HOISINGTON - Made out of stainless steel and the I-beam from the World Trade Center, the 9/11 Memorials by B & B Metalarts were on display in Hoisington on Thursday.
County’s bills take up tax dollars
Although the Barton County 2012 budget did not include an increase in the property tax mill levy, due to an increase in the county valuation - the amount that taxable property is worth - it will bring in more money next year.
SCHOOL ZONE AHEAD
Great Bend Street Department crews armed with rollers and large buckets of white paint have spent the past couple weeks preparing cross walks and parking places around school buildings for the start of public school classes today.
Item found not a pipe bomb
An object that looked like a pipe bomb and several other "suspicious looking items" were deemed to contain no explosives by an agent of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and members of the Wichita Police Department bomb squad late Monday night.
Transportation Security Administration to visit Bitter studio
HOISINGTON - The studio of Hoisington metal artists Bruce and Brent Bitter will be a busy place today when a representative from the Transportation Security Administration will be present to highlight the progress on the World Trade Center memorials that will be displayed at various Kansas airports.
SCHOOL ZONE AHEAD
Great Bend Street Department crews armed with rollers and large buckets of white paint have spent the past couple weeks preparing cross walks and parking places around school buildings for the start of public school classes today.
City council approves 2012 budget tax increase
A mill levy increase of approximately 1.5 mills was approved when the Great Bend City Council approved the 2012 city operating budget Monday night.
County adopts 2012 budget
The 2012 Barton County budget, approved by the majority of the Barton County Commission Monday, will raise more money than did the 2011 budget, though it does not increase the mill levy.
Women find possible pipe bomb
Local authorities called in Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agents from Wichita after a "suspicious-looking device" that resembled a pipe bomb was brought to the Great Bend Police Department by two concerned sisters Monday afternoon.
Ahoy! United Way hits high seas
Arrrrrg, mateys. It may not be the Spanish Main, but the 2011 United Way of Central Kansas campaign sets sail Saturday with its Buccaneer Bash. Organizers hope this touch of high seas adventure will help the drive bring in the loot. The bash starts at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Highland Hotel and Convention Center, 3017 10th, in Great Bend. "It's a preview to get people excited about the campaign," Julie Bugner-Smith, UWCK executive director. ...
Drought damage is deep
Rainfall that finally returned to central Kansas this past week was certainly welcomed, but state officials warn that, while it is a step in the right direction, it is far too little to have taken the state out of the drought that continues to impact its agriculture and many of its community water sources.
Kansas towns cut back on water use
Recent rains have certainly improved conditions around Kansas, but water experts warn that the drought is far from broken across Kansas.
City council considers 2012 budget Monday night
An increase in the annual property tax mill levy will be considered when the Great Bend City Council discusses the 2012 budget in its budget hearing, set for a half hour before its regular Monday night meeting.
Articles by Section - News
Vernon gives drop-out report
At the regular school board meeting in June, Superintendent Tom Vernon presented his annual report on drop-outs, something he's been doing since 2007. Back in 2008, 30 students dropped out, but the numbers went down in 2008 through 2010. In 2011, the numbers began to rise again, with 38 and 39 students dropping out in the 2011 and 2012 school years.
Oil well proposed inside Cheyenne Bottoms wetlands
An oil well could be drilled 870 feet inside the Cheyenne Bottoms wetlands if a permit requested by H&C Oil Operating Inc., of Plainville is granted.
County seeks gun ban extension
A lot of questions swirl around the recently passed revised state statute that would allow concealed weapons in public buildings. Those questions lead the Barton County Commission Monday morning to approve submitting a letter to Attorney General's Office requesting a six-month exemption from the law.
Grant to revamp scenic overlook
Barton County was selected for a Kansas Department of Transportation grant to enhance the Wetlands and Wildlife National Scenic Byway scenic overlook on K-4 east of Hoisington, the County Commission learned Monday morning.
Commission honors county youth
The Barton County Commission Monday morning approved a proclamation honoring Ellinwood and Great Bend high school students in the Future Business Leaders of America Career and Technical Education Student Organization.
$80,000 loss, hay bales burn
At around 2:30 p.m., the Great Bend Fire Department was called away from the Pawnee Rock fire to a hay bale fire at 251 NW 10th Ave. adjacent to Mid America Feeders. Five hundred large-sized hay bales with an estimated value of $80,000 were on fire, according to Great Bend Fire Chief Mike Napolitano. They were continuing to burn Saturday morning. "It's nearly impossible to put the fire out because the bales burn so deep within," he said.
Overrun with Color
If the turnout at the Great Bend Regional Hospital race pavilion Saturday morning is any indicator, color makes running more fun. Excitement over being doused with paint brought out more than 500 participants for the first ever Color Run. The event happened in conjunction with the third annual Human eMotion Charitable Run, Walk and Ride event sponsored by GBRH, with all proceeds going to support the Family Crisis Center in Great Bend.
Dannebohm apprehended Friday in Great Bend
At approximately 11 a.m. Friday morning, Great Bend Police apprehended Brandon Dannebohm. The fugitive was found sleeping in a vehicle within the city limits of Great Bend, according to Barton County Undersheriff Bruce Green He was arrested and is being held on a no-bond warrant from Stafford County. Barton County charges are pending for aggravated endangerment of a child, abandonment of a child, possession of narcotics, and other charges.
Toxic blue-green algae bloom affecting Veterans Lake
OPEKA– The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has issued Public Health Warnings for Marion Reservoir, Marion County; and Memorial Park Lake (a.k.a. Veterans Lake), Great Bend due to toxic blue-green algae populations above minimum public safety levels. Logan City Lake in Phillips County remains on the warning list, bringing the total to three so far in 2013.
FROM TUMULT TO SUCCESS
As Bob Feldt took his seat at the Barton Community College Board of Trustees table for the last time Thursday afternoon, fellow trustee Don Learned came over to him and shook his hand.
From bridges to weeds, county crews stay busy
A number of county road and bridge issues came to the attention of the Barton County Commission Monday morning as County Administrator Richard Boeckman gave his bi-weekly update on the activities of county departments.
Senior nutrition program adds local farmers market as site
The Kansas Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program has added Great Bend's Summer Street Stroll Farmers Market as a site for the 2013 market season said Janel Rose, chronic disease risk reduction coordinator, Barton County Health Department. "Our community was fortunate to be selected to participate in this valuable resource."
OF DOGS AND OWNERS
Great Bend resident George Weber stood Wednesday morning before the newly minted committee formed to study banning pit bulls within the city limits and apologized.
Hot cars quickly become deadly for children, pets
It doesn't take triple-digit temperatures outside for unattended vehicles to reach oven temperatures inside. But as summer weather returns to the Golden Belt, safety experts remind people to never leave a child or pet alone in a vehicle. Lt. Bill Browne at the Great Bend Police Department said it isn't unusual for people to call 911 when they see an unattended vehicle with a child or pet inside. More often than not, the vehicle is ...
