Archive By Section - News
Spring Expo
People visit one of the 200+ booths at the Central Kansas Spring Expo "Discover Your Treasures," Saturday at the Expo Complex west of Great Bend. It continues from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. today.
More information released on pedestrian death
The Barton County Sheriff's Office has released more information about the death of an Olmitz man who was hit by a semi-trailer as he walked along U.S. 56 on Wednesday. Joshua Ratzlaff, 24, was hit by the semi around 11:48 p.m. He was just west of Dundee, about eight miles from Great Bend. Scene investigation has shown Ratzlaff was struck in the middle of the road as the driver was ...
Habitat for Humanity ready to break ground
Habitat for Humanity of Barton County will hold a groundbreaking ceremony on its latest project, at 19th and Hubbard, at 9:30 a.m. Thursday. This is being done in conjunction with Habitat's Chamber Coffee, and the public is invited, said Rachel Mawhirter, co-chairman of the nonprofit organization's board of directors. "We have been fundraising for nearly two years for this building project," Mawhirter said. "Our two most recent fundraisers, the ...
Suspicious fire reported in Dundee
Great Bend Fire Department and the Barton County Sheriff's Office, along with the State Fire Marshal's Office, spent Friday investigating an early morning structure fire in a machine shed located at 633 West U.S. 56 in Dundee, Fire Chief Mike Napolitano said. A blue Ford F-150 pickup that was stolen from a two-car garage at the same location was later recovered. Authorities were dispatched at 1:38 a.m. Friday after someone passing ...
Seeing the sights
BARTON, STAFFORD COUNTY - Community members from central Kansas and a few from even outside the state enjoyed seeing the sights, old and new unseen or seen in a new light in a whistle-stop tour of the National Wetlands and Wildlife Scenic Byway through Barton and Stafford County
USD 428 names teachers of the year
It's not every day that the superintendent of schools can walk into a classroom and make teachers cry, but that's just what happened earlier this week. Fortunately, they were tears of joy springing forth from Tandi Mai and Cody Lee as they were informed by Dr. Tom Vernon that they had been named teachers of the year for USD 428. Mai, a sixth-grade teacher at Riley School, and Lee, a business teacher at Great Bend ...
Family Crisis Center sets volunteer training dates
The Family Crisis Center will hold a Volunteer Training soon at the administrative office located at 2008 11th Street in Great Bend. Volunteer training consists of 24 classroom training hours, 12 on-the-job training hours, and four additional hours of training through videos, books and other sources. The Volunteer Training will cover information about domestic and sexual violence, systems that also work with survivors as well as all of the ...
USD 428 announces principal changes for three schools
The Great Bend USD 428 Board of Education announced several administrative changes following an executive session at Thursday's luncheon meeting.
Pedestrian killed after being hit by semi
An Olmitz man died after being hit by a semi-trailer Wednesday night, as he was walking on U.S. 56 near Dundee. The Barton County Sheriff's Office reports Joshua D. Ratzlaff, 24, was transported to Central Kansas Medical Center by Great Bend Ambulance and he was later pronounced dead. The accident occurred around 11:40 p.m. The vehicle was a Peterbilt driven by John Stuchlik of Scandia. Sheriff Gregg Armstrong said Ratzlaff ...
Recycling center will celebrate Earth Day
Sunflower Diversified Services will celebrate the Earth Day for an entire week, April 16-22, by collecting electronic waste and bicycles for recycling at its First Step Recycling location at 1010 Hubbard St. Community members are invited to bring computers, laptops, monitors, keyboards, mice, printers, fax machines, stereos, speakers, televisions and microwaves for the electronics collection, to ensure items are disposed of properly without impacting the landfill. Used bikes will ...
EAGLE TO FLY
No one remembers exactly when the neon "Eagle" stopped lighting Main Street at night, but it's been more than five years. Now the Fraternal Order of Eagles has contracted for the repairs, with hopes it will be relit when Great Bend hosts the state convention on June 1. Eagles President Jim Herrman said from what he's been able to learn, there is only one other sign like the one in Great ...
County opens doors for public involvement
For those still looking for a way to get involved in planning for their county, Barton County Environmental Manger Judy Goreham still has one opening to fill on the Barton County Planning Commission.
REMAKING AN IDENTITY
BY DALE HOGG dhogg@gbtribune.com Local group hopes to rebuild city park and their community GORHAM – This could be a story of a dying town, fading into the dusty pages of history. It could be a story of despair as aging residents watch while the community they call home dries up around them. It's not. It's about a youthful revival and an effort to remake a Russell County town of 360 residents, starting with the ...
Great Bend native returns to Jazz Festival
The building blocks for a successful musical career were laid in Great Bend, according to Linda Richter Brady with Kansas City Youth Jazz. Brady will return to her hometown this weekend for the 17th Great Bend Jazz Festival. The festival will feature the KCYJ's Reno Band, the Friends University Jazz Ensemble and the FU Vocal Jazz Ensemble. It all takes place at 7:30 p.m. at the Crest Theater, 1905 Lakin Ave. ...
Former KBI agent has neighborhood watch tips
A key ring and wasp spray are among common household items that can be used to deter crime, according to Randy Smith, instructor and coordinator of the Criminal Justice program at Barton Community College. Smith, who is also a former Kansas Bureau of Investigation agent, recently shared tips with the Citizens Watchdog Association and also spoke to the Great Bend Noon Kiwanis. Smith suggests keeping car keys next to ...
Articles by Section - News
31st-annual Camp Hope happening this Week
Children with cancer want to do all the fun things that healthy children do – exploring the outdoors, swimming, hiking, fishing, playing games, singing around the campfire, creating arts and crafts, playing ball, and more.
Wheat harvest gearing up throughout area
What a difference a year makes. This time last year, Barton County farmers were wrapping up the 2012 wheat harvest, and everyone, farmers and non-farmers alike, were praying for rain.
Be Well Barton County receives grant from KHI’s Healthy Communities Initiative
Be Well Barton County, a advisory group dedicated to promoting healthy lifestyles countywide, has been awarded an implementation grant through the Kansas Health Foundation's Healthy Communities Initiative worth up to $75,000 over the next three years. Be Well, one of 12 grantees in the state to receive this funding, will use the funds in support Complete streets and Safe Routes to school, nationally recognized programs that encourage local governments to consider bicycle and pedestrian traffic ...
June Jaunt ‘huge success’
Great Bend Community Coordinator Christina Hayes could hardly contain herself when she addressed the Great Bend City Council Monday night about the recent June Jaunt.
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.
