Spellbound students ready for bees

Students across the state are studying word lists as they prepare for the Great Bend Tribune's Sunflower Spelling Bee on March 12. But in order to compete in that regional qualifier for the Scripps National Spelling Bee, student must first win county championships. Barton County students will get that chance this Saturday, said Paul Snapp, with the Great Bend Noon Kiwanis. The Kiwanis will host the Donald H Humphreys Barton County ...

Voter registration is open until Feb. 14

There are still a few days left for those who want to vote in the coming local election to register to vote, according to information from County Clerk Donna Zimmerman.

A CAUSE FOR ALARM

State health and safety officials want fire alarms and carbon monoxide detectors in every home in Kansas and a grant recently received by the Great Bend Fire Department will help local firefighters do their part.

DUI Victim Center seeks local input

One weekend last month, victims and survivors of drunk driving crashes met with 40 alcohol/drug offenders in Great Bend. Now the DUI Victim Center of Kansas is looking for more area people who are willing to share their stories with people who have been caught driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, said Paul Sidebottom, statewide coordinator of the program. For the past 13 years, the ...

HIV/AIDS numbers released by KDHE

Monday is HIV Awareness Day, and the Barton County Health Department would like everyone to know their HIV status.

Blizzards strike at nation’s blood supply

Barton County may be headed back into the balmy spring-like weather, but for much of the nation, conditions are not nearly so nice. And the deep freeze and unprecedented snow fall are combining to cause a variety of challenges, some of which end up being life threatening.

Hypothermia risk is present, even after the blizzard

After his amazing rescue out of a wrecked car in a frozen creek near Topeka this week, Ken Fergel, 80, was whisked to the hospital - not because he was injured in the wreck, but because he'd been covered in the freezing water, according to an Associated Press report.

Choir members working to raise funds for trip

SPECIAL TO THE TRIBUNE If you can't get your own teenager to help around the house, here's an idea: Hire one. Susan Stambaugh, Great Bend High School vocal music instructor, said nearly all of her A Cappella Choir students are up for grabs in the rent-a-student fund raiser. The students have less than eight weeks left to raise funds for their trip to Washington, D.C. "Some kids have 100 percent of their funding in place; ...

Driver turns himself in after fatal accident

A 26-year-old woman died and a 30-year-old man was seriously injured Wednesday night, after a car went off the 100 block of NW 40 Ave. in Barton County and hit a tree. The driver, who is suspected of driving under the influence of a controlled substance, fled the scene but later turned himself in, the Barton County Sheriff's Office reports. Great Bend Fire Department ambulance was first on the ...

Fear of Facebook: Officer shares safety tips

Imagine a website where your friends could have instant access to your changes of mood, the picture of your newest big purchase or your thoughts on your job or school. Then imagine that access opening to friends of friends - and their friends, including people you've never heard of. That's how social networking sites on the Internet, like Facebook and MySpace can work, but it doesn't have to be that way, ...

County record spun 3,899 times in 2010

Keeping up with paperwork is a major challenge for almost every business in today's world, and for the business that is Barton County government, it's no exception, as a recent report form the Barton County Records Management Department indicates.

Folk honored for service and attitude

Seventeen years of county service and good will were honored by the Barton County Commission this week when it named Bob Folk as the Employee of the Quarter.

CONTINUING A LEGACY

Freshman Congressman Tim Huelskamp is billing it as the "Continuing the Tradition" tour.

Free tax help available

Once again, volunteers are available to help low- and moderate-income residents prepare their state and federal income tax returns, including the Kansas Homestead Claim for senior citizens who are homeowners. Kathy Ahlvers, who is volunteering as a trained AARP tax-aide, said she and three other volunteers will work in Room 101 of the Barton County Courthouse on Wednesdays through April 6, but appointments are required and the month of ...

Blizzard conditions hit statewide

They didn't exactly roll up the sidewalks, but even some of Great Bend's downtown stores closed Tuesday as snow whipped through the streets and temperatures plummeted. It's not as if no one saw this week's massive winter storm coming. Forecasters at the National Weather Service warned people last week, even as temperatures reached unprecedented highs, to expect highs in the teens and lows in single digits - along with ...

Out of the Morgue

Each week we'll take a step back into the history of Great Bend through the eyes of reporters past. We'll reacquaint you with what went into creating the Great Bend of today, and do our best to update you on what "the rest of the story" turned out to be.

Lyons man sentenced to 17½ years for rape, indecent liberties

LYONS – A Lyons man was sentenced Wednesday to 17½ years in prison after pleading no contest to charges of rape and aggravated indecent liberties, Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt said.

Summer road work begins

Barton County Administrator Richard Boeckman offered his biweekly update on the activities of various county departments during the County Commission meeting Monday morning. Highlights included:

These masterpieces have wheels

Barton County Historic Society is celebrating the 60th anniversary of organized drag racing in the Golden Belt with a new exhibit and a car show during its open house this Saturday.

Living a "Glass half-Full' Life

In the early 2000s, like so many up and coming children of the prairie, Ellinwood native J. Basil Dannebohm, had the bright lights of the city shining in his eyes.

Wanted: Several good homes

At an adoption event this past Saturday, Ebert warmed the hearts of many. But, he still needs a home.

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.

Kansas 150 years 1861-1900

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