Archive By Section - News
I-70 closed between Salina and Hays
At 11:30 a.m. the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) closed I-70, from Exit 159 in Hays to Exit 249 near Salina, in both directions.
County departments keep hopping
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:
Injury wreck occurs
At 9:02 p.m. on Feb. 20, a 2002 Ford pickup owned by Seth E. Alexander of Garden City was westbound on U.S. highway 156 at mile marker 132 when he lost control on icy roads and crossed the center line. Alexander entered the south ditch and rolled one time coming to rest on its wheels, according to the Kansas Highway Patrol crash log.
Snow no excuse for inactivity
Employees at the Great Bend Tribune are taking part in the "Give Your Heart a Break" initiative sponsored by the Great Bend Rotary, Great Bend Chamber of Commerce and USD 428 Great Bend Schools to encourage fitness. Teams compete in three challenges, including most weight lost by a team, most miles completed by a tem, and most hours of exercise completed by a team.
WINTER BLAST
Wednesday's predicted snow did not begin to fall in the Great Bend area until after 6 a.m., and the forecast for one to three inches of snow during the daylight hours did not cause Barton County schools to call off classes. But as classes started, snow began to accumulate, leading administrators to consider calling an early release day.
RAISING A STINK
Some call it the eastern spotted skunk and some call it the civit cat. Whatever one calls the small, black, furry critter, it calls a bridge southeast of Great Bend home.
Western Kansas under winter storm warning
The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for Stafford, Pawnee and Rush counties and other counties south and west of Barton County from 6 a.m. Wednesday to 6 p.m. Thursday.
Survey leaves volunteers with mixed feelings
Few people would feel comfortable stopping a complete stranger and asking them to answer a series of questions about their living arrangements. It's even more difficult when you are anticipating finding the person may be in a desperate situation for which you have no immediate answer. But that's exactly what a group of Great Bend volunteers committed to do the last week of January.
Barton enrollment continues to climb; trend shows shift to online education
On-campus enrollment is down, but Barton Community College appears to be maintaining steady growth for a sixth consecutive year, college officials reported.
Bill could kill K-96 project
The future of the proposed improvements of K-96 between Nickerson and Sterling may be uncertain, Great Bend City Administrator Howard Partington told the City Council Monday night.
A WASTE OF TIME
It's a matter of pride for Barton County Landfill Director Mark Witt that his facility north of Great Bend continues to be self sufficient, supported only by user fees.
Great Bend dentists speak out
Several Great Bend dentists,Larry Kutina, Ross Hildebrand, Marc Hueslig, Keith Ritter and Mike Allison, and Blake Herres of Hoisington, met Friday at the Tribune offices to discuss House Bill 2157, which seeks to create a mid-level dental provider called a Registered Dental Practitioner. RDPs would be allowed to perform some dental procedures, including surgery, under general rather than direct supervision of a licensed dentist.
Council OKs taxing district for theater
Following the adjournment of a public hearing, the Great Bend City Council Monday night approved the creation of a Community Improvement District for Golden Belt Cinema 6.
Family Crisis Center advocate recognized
TOPEKA - Laura Brown, from the Family Crisis Center in Great Bend, has been recognized by a statewide domestic and sexual violence advocacy organization.
Barton students honored in Topeka
Four students from Barton Community College in the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Honor Society were recognized Thursday for being selected as members of the PTK All-Kansas Academic Team at an award luncheon at the Ramada Inn in Topeka.
Articles by Section - News
Dannebohm eyeing resignation
TOPEKA – Although it remains unofficial, a heartbroken J. Basil Dannebohm said Monday he may resign his seat in the Kansas Legislature due to the debilitating ravages of his young onset Parkinson's disease.
Arson reported on Plum Street
The house at 207 Plum St. was heavily damaged by fire early Friday, for the second time in two years. After investigation by the Great Bend Fire Department and the Kansas Fire Marshal's Office, police were asked to take an arson case.
County honors FFA, future of agriculture
The world of agriculture is changing, and so is a long-standing youth program that promotes it.
Nels Lindberg honored as NextGen Leader of the Year
Nels Lindberg was recognized as the 2014 NextGen Leader of the Year for his continuous efforts to improve the Great Bend community.
Community pride earns Westfall 2014 Citizen of the Year award
There are countless people raised in Great Bend who are proud of their hometown. But none have exhibited more pride than Jan Westfall.
Great Bend Co-op Association earns Business of the Year honor
Fifty five years ago, when Great Bend's landscape looked a lot different than it does now, the Great Bend Co-op Association was just getting started with first-year sales of under $1 million.
Fort Zarah Club celebrates 86 years
Pauline Schneider considers herself a life-time member of the The Fort Zarah Club. The former Home Demonstration Unit was organized on Feb. 11, 1929, at the home of Hazel McDonald, Schneider's mother.
Becoming ‘Organ Wise’
First grade students at Eisenhower Elementary School ended the day Friday in a special assembly courtesy of Barton County Extension Agents Bernie Unruh and Donna Krug. Forty-five boys and girls crowded into the classroom where they met "Miguel," the Organ Wise Kid, and several organs in his body, including his heart, brain, lungs, intestines and many more.
From sports to space
The two 2014 inductees into the Great Bend High School Hall of Fame were recognized at a luncheon Friday afternoon.
