Archive By Section - News
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 ...
County approves funding for First Step Recycling
Sunflower Diversified's First Step Recycling Project received approval for all $11,400 in county funding, the Barton County Commission decided this week.
A ZOO FOR THE AGES
Brit Ibbotson had never been to Kansas prior to enrolling at Seward County Community College to play baseball last August. He certainly had never visited the Brit Spaugh Zoo in Great Bend. It may not sound significant that this Maumelle, Ark., college student had not been to the zoo. But, Ibbotson is the great-grandson and namesake of the facility's founder Brit Spaugh and grew up hearing stories about it. That changed this past Saturday ...
Red Cross names CPI ‘Business of the Year’
In one room of the CPI Qualified Plan Consultants annex building Tuesday afternoon, employees were giving blood as part of a company-wide blood drive.
Chamber Coffee
This week's Chamber of Commerce Coffee will be hosted by Grove Chiropractic & Sports Injury P.A., 1309 Williams, at 9:30 a.m., Thursday. Ambassador in charge will be Scott Donovan with greeters Randy Bahe and Erin Powers. Coffee, doughnuts and door prizes will be available.
Cleaning up Claflin
Claflin will get 10 days to clean up its act next month. The Barton County Commission learned Monday that Landfill Manager Mark Witt is working with Claflin, and hopefully with other Barton County communities, too, to encourage community clean ups again this year by cutting landfill rates. Witt told the commission that the Claflin Clean-up is scheduled for April 1-10. With Witt's help, the clean-up will gather all sorts of items for disposal, but it ...
Mitchell eligible for parole hearing
A man serving prison sentences for robbery in Barton and Pawnee counties, and additional crimes in other counties, is eligible for a parole hearing in May. The Kansas Parole Board has announced public comment sessions that will take place in April. Kevin L. Mitchell, 48, is in a high to medium level of custody at the El Dorado Correctional facility. His active convictions start with theft in ...
Walk ‘around the world’ raises awareness for people with developmental disabilities
sthacker@gbtribune.com While another group has teams walking the length of the state, Sunflower Diversified Services is joining a group effort that could circumnavigate the globe. The public is invited to help people with developmental disabilities by joining "Walk a Mile in My Shoes." Advocacy coordinator Mary Lou Warren said the statewide effort is bringing awareness for the more than 4,500 adults and children with developmental disabilities who are on the ...
Storm spotter school is open to everyone
Local storm spotters, public safety officials and the public will gather this week to learn more about how to keep the community safe during severe storm season.
Gridding the grade just about done
Eight acres of ground, dug down to the appropriate grade and depth for a new phase of the Barton County Landfill involved moving an incredible amount of dirt, but between the landfill staff and contractors, the work was accomplished and now the finishing work is underway to prepare to open the third phase of the landfill.
Articles by Section - News
Spring and music in the air
The Panther Jazz Band pumped up the audience at the GBHS Panther Bands Spring Contest Concert Monday night with their opening rendition of Watermelon Man by Herbie Hancock. It was a night to celebrate the accomplishments of the high school music program and a select group of accomplished musicians who competed at the state level earlier this spring. Senior band members also recognized and thanked their parents for the support offered through the years of ...
More sleep time? USD 428 gives a nod
High schoolers may get a few extra zs next year thanks to a proposal approved at the USD 428 board meeting Monday night. But not for teachers. Board members approved a series of late starts for the high school during the 2013-2014 school year that would give teachers the time they need to collaborate, but take away two hours of student contact time a month
GBRC shares Blue Ribbon Award to promote health
Several people working to make Barton County a healthier place received some recognition and financial assistance Monday during the Great Bend Recreation Commission Board meeting. Doug Vance, executive director of the Kansas Recreation & Park Association, visited the meeting along with representatives from BlueCross BlueShield of Kansas, to present a $2,500 facsimile check and a banner in honor of Great Bend winning the Blue Chip award.
Residents fear stray gunfire near river
It's only a matter of time before someone is hit by a stray bullet while enjoying the Arkansas River bed south of Ellinwood, local resident Tom Komarek told the Barton County Commission Monday morning.
County hopes to spark Vet Memorial donations
The Memorial Parks Advisory Committee was given the go-ahead by the Barton County Commission Monday morning to hold two much-needed fundraisers to build the Veterans Memorial at Golden Belt Memorial Park north of Great Bend.
Soaring with Eagles
America's Promise and DARE contest essay winners soared to the highest height on Saturday when members of the Experimental Aircraft Club in Great Bend took them on a 15-20 minutes airplane ride over Great Bend.
‘To parents, be the adults’
With high school and college graduations fast approaching, the Central Kansas Partnership is urging parents to keep the community safe by prohibiting underage drinking and not providing alcohol to underage youth at graduation celebrations.
BCC may opt out of conceal carry law
Barton Community College trustees may request an exemption to a new gun law taking effect July 1.
Salad days
With high hopes that the area has seen the end of frost for the year, a full-house turned out to learn the how-tos of container gardening at the Great Bend Rec activity center Thursday.
BCSO almost ready for digital fingerprinting
The new digital finger printing machine has arrived and it will soon be in use by the Barton County Sheriff's Office. Activation is pending approval from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, Barton County Administrator Richard Boeckman said during the County Commission meeting Monday morning.
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