Fed’s Bernanke: This isn’t inflation

As of Tuesday morning, local motorists had their choices of prices to pay for unleaded fuel.

Gas prices are on the rise again

BY CHUCK SMITH csmith@gbtribune.com As of Tuesday morning, local motorists had their choices of prices to pay for unleaded fuel. They could pay $3.20, $3.23, or the newest price, $3.30 per gallon. The $3.13 of the day before was gone, however. Also gone, according to a statewide Internet site that follows fuel costs, is gas under $3 per gallon in Kansas. The low price recorded ...

County looks at future health CHANGE

BY CHUCK SMITH csmith@gbtribune.com Barton County Health Department officials are looking at needs for local CHANGE, however county officials are concerned that the health initiatives don't add to stresses already being felt by local businesses. The Barton County Commission was briefed by the health department Monday on the Community Health Assessment and Group Evaluation - a process that is required of communities that intend to continue receiving ...

A time to plant

10th Walk Kansas forming teams

This marks the 10th year for Walk Kansas, a statewide fitness challenge coordinated by K-State Research and Extension. Teams are forming now for the eight-week challenge that starts March 13 and concludes on May 7, said Donna Krug at the Barton County Extension office. The goal of each six-person team is to get active, by walking or other exercise. Members log their minutes of exercise, which are converted to ...

Barton County residents received $4.5 million in Earned Income Credits

BY STAFF REPORTS ST. LOUIS – More than 2,100 Barton County taxpayers received more than $4.5 million in Earned Income Tax Credits (EITC) last year. "The EITC can put an extra $457 to $5,666 into the pockets of low-income working individuals and families," said IRS spokesman Michael Devine. "If they qualify and claim the credit, they could pay less federal tax or even receive a refund beyond the amount of ...

New cemetery plots up for sale

Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy wrote in the 1880s the question, "How much land does a man need?"

Communications director starts work on a high point

It's not often that you get to wake up and give thanks that you are out of a job, but County Administrator Richard Boeckman got to do that Monday morning.

Schugarts lead BCC fund drive

Larry and Kathy Schugart have supported Barton Community College in many ways from its beginning. Continuing their support, they helped launch the Barton Foundation's 2011 Academic Enrichment Fund Campaign today as honorary co-chairs of the event. The month-long annual campaign raises money for academic scholarships for Barton students and programs. As they lead the campaign, the Schugarts talk about the benefits the college offers their community. They experienced ...

Red Barn had a red letter first year in Great Bend

The word that the Great Bend City Council received from Red Barn executives about the company's first year in Great Bend was welcome news, indeed, and it was the type of message any community would like to hear from any business.

Of mice and (other) mammals

Ayden Davis, Hoisington, gets an up-close view of Digger, a black-tailed prairie dog, during the "Mammals R Us" program at the Kansas Wetlands Education Center on Saturday. Participants also viewed a least shrew, grasshopper mice and big brown bat, made their own prairie dog, and played a mammal matching game.

Countdown begins for spelling bee

With the Great Bend Tribune's Sunflower Spelling Bee less than two weeks away, coordinators are working on final details. This year's bee will see as many as 76 contestants from 66 counties. Each county is allowed to send at least one champion, and some can send more, based on the number of schools registered to compete in the 2011 Scripps National Spelling Bee, to be held June 1-2 in Washington, D.C. ...

One killed, two injured in collision

A Great Bend man died and two people were injured on Saturday, after vehicles collided at the U.S. 281/K-19 junction, 11 miles north of St. John in Barton County.

Legislators discuss budget, redistricting

Sen. Ruth Teichman, R-Stafford, said western Kansas may have one less senator when voting districts are redrawn in 2013 to keep them relatively equal in population. "We're going to lose a vote out here," she told an audience in Great Bend on Saturday, noting the state's population is shifting to the east. The seat most vulnerable is for the 36th Senate District, held by Sen. Janis Lee, D-Kensington, until she resigned ...

Yowell to share life's adventures at KWEC

BARTON COUNTY - Skip Yowell, a man who has made it his life's goal to discover for himself and possibly climb all four corners of the earth, who chooses to motivate with kindness, respect and fun, will inspire nature lovers with his spectacular photographs and stories of his adventures at the Kansas Wetlands Education Center at 7 p.m. April 15. Snacks will be served at 6:30 p.m.

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 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.

Fire destroys farmstead

Updated: June 17, 2013

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.