Archive By Section - News
Ney to stand trial for murder, attempted murder
Shawn Ney will stand trial for the first degree murder of Steven Calderwood, and for attempted first degree murder of Sarah Ney, Shawn's wife, on July 10. After a preliminary hearing Friday in Barton County District Court, Senior Judge Barry Bennington found probable cause for both counts, and for a last-minute charge of aggravated burglary. Following the preliminary, Bennington presided over Nye's arraignment during which the charges were read ...
College trustees discuss ENDS
The conversation at Barton Community College's board study session Thursday centered on the ENDS. That's what college trustees call the keys to how they oversee Barton. "ENDS," as in goals, final outcomes and desires, are usually referred to in all capital letters and are presented in the form of six ENDS statements, such as ENDS Statement No. 1: "Students will have the essential skills to succeed in the workplace." ENDS ...
Auditions scheduled for 2nd annual Barton County's Got Talent dinner theater
The area Habitat for Humanity Board of Directors will hold auditions next week and the following Sunday, for the second annual Barton County's Got Talent dinner theater. The program, on Jan. 15, 2011, will be a fun, local spin-off on the TV show "America's Got Talent," sponsors said. Audition sessions will be held from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday and 4-6 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 14, at Grace Community Church, 210 ...
Two plead in drug ring that included Great Bend
TOPEKA - Two men who were part of a drug- trafficking operation that sold methamphetamine in Great Bend, Topeka and Kansas City, Kan., have pleaded guilty, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said Thursday.
EAA Chapter to give airplane rides to youth
Smoky Hill EAA Chapter #1127 will host a Young Aagle Day on Saturday at the Ellsworth Airport. Young people age 8 to 17 are welcome to experience a demonstration flight in an airplane. The flights are provided free of charge to any youth wishing to participate. Registration and flights will begin at 9 a.m. and continue until 1 p.m. Each youth must have a signed permission form from their parent/guardian. Forms are available from chapter members or can be filled out Saturday.
Interior home security begins with exterior work
(EDITOR'S NOTE: This is one in a series of articles about property crime in Great Bend and the steps that are being taken to address it.)
Rollover wreck
Repeat water tests find no bacteria
Tests performed on Great Bend water in September found e. coli and total coliform bacteria. However, a second set of "repeat" samples all tested negative, city Water Department officials said. They will continue the required routine testing.
K-96 project enjoys lots of support
(EDITOR'S NOTE: This is one in a series of articles about the continuing effort to promote the K-96 highway project.)
The old is new again
BUSHTON - Harkening back to the days of yesteryear prior to rural electrification in central Kansas, food was kept in the first half of the 20th century by home canning and smoking. Women would work through the night to ensure that food was safely preserved for their families.
Pursuit ends in standoff
HOISINGTON – A speeding car led to a pursuit that ended at a Hoisington service station with a standoff and the use of tear gas Wednesday night, Barton County Sheriff Greg Armstrong said.
Zoo gets bird DNA samples
Wednesday afternoon, Dr. Mike Malone found himself eyeball to eyeball with an eagle. Malone is veterinarian to Great Bend's Brit Spaugh Zoo. This week he completed collecting blood samples on 20 of the zoo's birds. Samples will be sent to a lab to determine the sex of the birds. The eagle has been at the zoo for several years, but its sex was never known for certain, Zoo Director ...
St. John Victorian Tea
This is a grand year for St. John's 14th annual Victorian Tea, on Nov. 7. The Tudor building where the tea is currently held is 100 years old this year.
National elections usher change in government
WASHINGTON (AP) - Republicans reaped a windfall from independent voters and tea party activists to seize control of the House in midterm elections, gained seats in the Senate and served notice Wednesday they will confront President Barack Obama with a conservative agenda to cut government and spur private-sector jobs.
Crime prevention begins with property security measures
(EDITOR'S NOTE: This is one in a series of articles about property crime in Great Bend and the steps that are being taken to address it.)
Articles by Section - News
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.
City Council: Dog laws need more teeth
Great Bend residents George and Zola Weber said they love living in this community. But now they live in fear of their neighbors' pit bulls and suggested to the City Council Monday night it ban such vicious dogs from inside the city limits.
Higher gas prices not likely to drop by weekend
Gasoline prices have risen dramatically in the past two weeks throughout much of the Midwest. While the price increases may ease off by June, but don't expect relief at the pump this Memorial Weekend, industry experts say. The American Automobile Association's online daily fuel gauge report and GasBuddy.com both showed the average price for a gallon of regular gas Monday in Kansas was $3.92. Just one week ago, the average price was $3.64, and it ...
These services are always needed
The last week in April may have been National Crime Victims Rights Week, but the needs of those impacted by crime continue even without any special recognition, Camila Komarek told the Barton County Commission Monday morning.
Although pricey, road sealing vital
When Dale Phillips first started working for Barton County, the oil used to seal the county's 380-plus miles of paved roads cost 15 cents per gallon. This year, it costs $2.50.
