Archive By Section - News
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.
Miller returns to scene of the crime
Nearly 40 years after leading raids on gambling in Great Bend, former Kansas Attorney General Vern Miller was back in town Saturday. Miller, 82, spoke at the Great Bend Public Library, where he and author Mike Danford signed copies of the biography "Vern Miller: Legendary Kansas Lawman."
Boy dies in farm accident
A 7-year-old boy died after being run over by a tractor, Saturday afternoon northwest of Olmitz. Emergency vehicles were dispatched around 3:45 p.m. The Barton County Sheriff's Office reports the boy, whose name was not being released, died as a result of injuries from the farm accident. Emergency responders started cardiopulmonary resuscitation but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Emergency groups starts work for 2011
2010 was a busy year for emegency preparation work in Barton County, and this year will be as well, from early indications, according to Emergency Risk Manager Amy Miller.
Hazard plan got started in 2010
(EDITOR'S NOTE: This is one in a series of aritcles on the development of an emergency plan for the county.)
THE STUFF OF LEGENDS: Vern Miller returns to Great Bend
To some, Vern Miller was the "Super Cop," who, as Kansas Attorney General, raided night clubs - including the Great Bend Petroleum Club - and confiscated cases of liquor from Amtrak trains. Others had a less charitable view of Miller, and took to spray painting the name "Vern" under the word "Stop" on stop signs in the 1970s.
BOCK Chili Challenge benefits hospice patients
The location will be different but the menu will be the same at this year's 12th Annual Chili Challenge. The tasting-and-judging event is set for 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 19 at the American Legion, 1011 Kansas, Great Bend. It was formerly held at ...
New K-9 officer learning the ropes
Members of the Great Bend Noon Kiwanis got to see K-9 officer Rocco in action Wednesday, during a demonstration presented by the Barto County Sheriff's Office. Rocco, like his predecessor Donna, is a Belgian malinois, a shepherd dog imported from Holland. Donna still ranks as one of the best law enforcement dogs of all time, in Sheriff Greg Armstrong's opinion, but at 11 ...
