Great Bend man arrested for federal indictment

A Great Bend man has been charged in U.S. District Court with one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Michael L. Wintholz was booked into the Barton County Jail on Monday, to be held without bond for the federal indictment. Undersheriff Larry Holliday said local law enforcement received the warrant information around noon Monday. Not long after that, "a citizen reported he was at a business." He was arrested ...

Cool at the pool

Diving boards are out, slides are 10 minutes ago, and climbing walls are the next big thing at Great Bend's Wetlands Aquatic Facility. A climbing wall at the deep end of the big pool is the newest feature at the Wetlands, Aquatics Director Paige Achatz said. Kids can climb about 8 feet above the water. The wall is made ...

Relay goal reached, sort of

The 17th-annual Relay for Life of Barton County cleared its first hurdle when the weather cooperated to give organizers ideal conditions this past weekend for their over-night cancer-fighting event.

Seamstresses make blankets to keep babies safe

BARTON COUNTY - Sewing gifts of caring, area seamstresses have been making baby blankets on a volunteer basis for infants born in Great Bend.

Wheat harvest 2011

By Jim Misunas jmisunas@gbtribune.com STAFFORD COUNTY - "Better than expected." Early returns on the Stafford County wheat harvest have offered promising test weights and better than predicted harvests. "Test weights are good and yields are better than expected," said Jim Bob Lewton of Kanza Co-op. "Everyone seems pleased with what they're seeing as opposed to what they were thinking two weeks ago. We're off to a good start. Test weights were 60 plus and yields ...

Redbarn abatement approved despite allegations

RedBarn joins the list of a number of successful local businesses that have enjoyed property tax breaks over the years. The company's application for a tax abatement was approved by the Barton County Commission Monday, but not before some inflammatory allegations were made during an open hearing.

Time for a change?

In the 2010 season and, again, in the upcoming 2011 season, the Great Bend High School football team will only play eight games instead of the traditional nine.

Rec Commission upgrades its technology

BY SUSAN THACKER sthacker@gbtribune.com While summer activities get under way at the Great Bend Recreation Commission, the GBRC Board of Directors is looking ahead to next year's budget. At Monday's meeting, the board scheduled a budget work session for 4 p.m. on June 27. Executive Director Diann Henderson said she hopes to publish a budget by July 1 so the board can schedule the public budget hearing ...

Falcon Crest

By Jim Misunas jmisunas@gbtribune.com A three-ring circus would not be enough to house the activity at the Great Bend Renaissance Faire. Bright colorful costumes mix with sweet melodic sound from every corner of the Great Bend Expo Complex, three miles west of Great Bend off 10th Street. Where else can you see Topeka's Jim Moshier playing a harp next door to Krystina Ratzlaff, a flutist from Arkansas City? There's The Scallywags, The Laundry Lasses, Marko ...

Library announces summer reading programs

So many books, so little time. The Great Bend Public Library hopes to get people interested in books and reading at an early age, and keep them reading for the rest of their lives. This summer, a weekly story time session for infants has been added to the lineup of summer reading programs for all ages, which start this week. Things will kick off with a free magic show by ...

Schinstock eligible for parole hearing

Terrill L. Schinstock, 47, will be eligible for a parole hearing in July, the Kansas Parole Board announced. Schinstock was arrested in February of 1992, after hiring Gene Horyna to kill his wife Tammy Schinstock, who was 27 years old and eight months pregnant at the time. Horyna was also supposed to burn down the house to destroy evidence, so after beating the woman in multiple parts of the house, he ...

Tourists naturally drawn to Great Bend

When Linda DiMario set to work on a marketing plan for Great Bend, her best ideas came naturally. Nature and birding are dominant themes for Great Bend's top tourism attractions, DiMario said Friday as she presented her plan. "Underdeveloped opportunities exist in almost every corner." DiMario, with DiMario & Associates in Long Beach, Calif., is a specialist in destination marketing and economic development strategies. She has completed a 100-page plan ...

Seamstresses make blankets to keep babies safe

BARTON COUNTY - Sewing gifts of caring, area seamstresses have been making baby blankets on a volunteer basis for babies born in Great Bend.

Red Barn tries to fetch a tax break Monday

An arrangement that could realize tax savings of more than $200,000 for a local employer will be discussed when the Barton County Commission meets Monday.

County plan charts the course for future growth

"A good plan today is better than a perfect plan tomorrow." Whether the old adage is true or not, Barton County officials are pretty happy with the plan they are using today. Maybe it isn't perfect, but it certainly represents a lot of work by a lot of county people who have a great deal invested in securing the future of this community. This week the Barton County Commission approved the county's strategic plan for ...

Kaiser recognized for 17 years of service

Monday was Leonard Kaiser's final meeting as a board member of the Great Bend Recreation Commission, at least for now. The outgoing board member received a plaque for 17 years of service.

New display to offer more information

It should become easier to located offices in the Barton County Courthouse.

‘BUST LOOSE, CHARLIE’

"It's so nice just to go hear live music," said Vern Fryberger, director of the Barton County Hilltop Singers. "This is kind of fun because it's mostly big band music but there's also some 50s and 60s and other more modern pieces."

Pathways to Progress reading program results in early readers

ELLINWOOD - At one time, kindergarten was a place where students learned social skills, to sit still, and even to take a nap during their half day of school. No more.

A SEASON OF GIVING

Christmas came early for several local charities Wednesday morning as Farmers Bank and Trust held its 17th-annual Holiday Charity Coffee.

Tree tags lead givers to children in need

Christmas will be a little merrier for children who might not otherwise have a package to open this year, thanks to a local non-profit agency and a Great Bend business.

Great Bend novelist to visit Lyons Public Library

Author Tammy Pugh.

One swan a swimming

Ice causes injury rollover

David Nichols, 30, of Hoisington was seriously injured Wednesday in a rollover accident on West K-4 near NW 100 Ave. According to the Barton County Sheriff's Office, Nichols was driving a Ford F-250 truck that slid on a patch of ice around 6:26 a.m. The truck slid into the ditch and rolled, ejecting the driver.

FAA proposes fine against Great Lakes Aviation

Citing violations of wing deicing procedures in 19 flights originating Hays, the Federal Aviation Administration has proposed a $304,000 civil penalty against Cheyenne, Wyo.-based Great Lakes Aviation. The airline also operates out of Great Bend Municipal Airport, but this location was not mentioned in the FAA action.

Zoo News: Brit Spaugh Zoo continues search for new animals

One of the new animals at Great Bend's Brit Spaugh Zoo is a 6-month-old African serval cat named Akida. This male cat was shipped to the zoo from New Zealand and Zoo Director Scott Gregory said he will try to find a female from another zoo so they can attempt to breed the pair. Although the zoo already has a female serval, she dates to an earlier time when zoo record keeping was not as ...

Dream Center plans to open floor for former foster care kids

The Central Kansas Dream Center continues offering help and hope to those hurting people who have fallen through the cracks of the system. And with that thought in mind plans have begun for a unit for young adults aging out of foster care, called the Dream Center Living Youth.

RIDING TO WIN

TULSA, Okla. – This past weekend, Alex and Devin Randolph of Great Bend competed in both the 2013 USA BMX Grand Nationals and the Race of Champions Presidents Cup in Tulsa, Okla. These two races are the "big show" for BMX (bicycle motocross) racing, said their father Delbert Randolph.

‘IN GOD’S HANDS’

Montara Johanson is praying for a Christmas miracle.

TREE SKIRT STORIES

A year ago, on the morning of Dec. 14, the news of the tragic school shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Conn., shocked and saddened people all over the country, as well as the world. Twenty children and six educators were killed when a gunman entered the secure school, walked into a classroom and began shooting.