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 ...

Flu shots urged as season peaks

With the number of influenza cases increasing nationwide and the flu season beginning to peak, local, state and national health officials urge those who haven't had their flu shots to get vaccinated.

Congressman Huelskamp beginning 69-county tour

Freshman Republican Congressman Tim Huelskamp will host 14 town hall meetings across the First District of Kansas the first week of February. He will be in Great Bend from 1:30-2:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Front Door, 1615 10th St.

Veteran county fire official will lead 911

The lengthy search to fill an important county position concluded Monday when the Barton County Commission voted to appoint veteran county fire official Doug Hubbard as the new county communications director.

Preparedness depends on prior planning

(EDITOR'S NOTE: This is one in a series of articles on the development of an emergency plan for the county.) Being prepared for a community emergency isn't cheap, and it's not the sort of thing that can be thrown together at the last minute, so in this time of tight, and tighter, government budgets, keeping up with emergency planning continues to be a challenge, according to information from Emergency Risk Manager Amy Miller, who recently ...

Rural community mourns Tanner Hlavaty

OTIS - Students and teachers at Otis-Bison Elementary School learned over the weekend that 7-year-old Tanner Hlavaty had died Saturday in a farm accident. Principal Mark Goodheart said Tanner will be remembered as a great kid who was always smiling. Families and staff received messages over the weekend, to make sure everyone was aware of the second-grade student's death. On Monday morning, the school district's service cooperative sent a crisis ...

Cancellations announced

The Hoisington community meeting scheduled for 7 p.m. tonight (Monday) at the Activity Center has been postponed. Organizers will announce the rescheduled time at a later date.

Barton reports record enrollment

By Tribune staff Barton Community College's enrollment figures show an overall 8 percent increase for summer and fall 2010, college officials announced Friday. Barton President Dr. Carl Heilman said the growth proves Barton's continued success, especially coming on the heels of a 10 percent enrollment growth in the preceding year. The credit hours generated by in-state students increased by 7 percent for the fall 2010 semester and 6 percent ...

Happy 150 Kansas: Residents celebrate state's sesquicentennial

Pioneers, cowgirls and basketball fans alike celebrated the 150th anniversary of Kansas becoming a state on Saturday, which was Kansas Day.

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