Role model

Great Bend Police Officer Brian Dougherty helps Cole, left, and Garret pick out toys, Friday afternoon at the Walmart Supercenter. Members of the Fraternal Order of Police shopped with 40 children in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program this week. Each child received a $30 gift card donated by Walmart and Great Bend Feeders. BBBS Director Stephanie Joiner said 48 children in Barton and Pawnee counties are on the waiting list for a Big ...

Drunk driving holiday crackdown announced

Across the nation, the annual "Drunk Driving. Over The Limit. Under Arrest" winter holiday crackdown has begun, and will continue through Jan. 3. The effort involves thousands of law enforcement agencies across the nation, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced. LaHood also highlighted the new "No Refusal" strategy that a number of states are employing to put a stop to drunk driving. Through the "No Refusal" strategy, law enforcement officers are ...

Rice County man sentenced for child porn charges

Editor's note: This story contains language that some may find unsettling. Reader discretion is advised.

Longoria hearing continued

The motion hearing for accused killer Adam Longoria has been continued due to a scheduling conflict, said Ron Keefover, chief information officer with the Kansas Office of Judicial Administration.

County tables talk on ACER support

County officials will continue to discuss their participation in an employee recruitment program that has sought $10,000 in county tax dollars.

Coach supporters speak out

More than 30 people walked out of the Barton Community College Board of Trustees meeting, minutes after the meeting began Thursday afternoon. They had come to the meeting for one purpose: to express their dismay with last week's firing of head cheerleading coach Debbie Warren, who had been at the college for 27 years. Board chairman Dr. Paul Maneth said student Luke O'Bryan had approached him about supporters speaking at the ...

KDHE issues Sunflower Electric air quality permit

TOPEKA – After years of controversy and months of public comments, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment Thursday announced it has issued the air quality permit for the proposed 895 megawatt coal-fired steam generating unit at the Sunflower Electric Power Corporation near Holcomb.

Distemper infestation led to dog deaths

Canine Distemper Virus is what led to some 1,200 dogs being euthanized earlier this month in northwest Kansas, according to information released Wednesday by the Kansas Animal Health Department.

Bison born at Brit Spaugh Zoo

When the bison at Great Bend's Brit Spaugh Zoo started giving birth Wednesday afternoon, Zoo Director Scott Gregory was apprehensive. The animal affectionately known as "Buffy" has had two miscarriages in recent years, only with one successful pregnancy. Dr. Mike Malone, veterinarian to the zoo, was called, and a healthy baby was born around 4:15 p.m. "Bison have the same gestation as a human, about nine months," Gregory said. "That ...

GIVING TREE

A local business is offering the opportunity to make the Christmas season a little brighter for some local and area youngsters. Great Bend Coffee Company, 2015 Lakin, is displaying a Giving Tree to benefit children under 5 who attend either Sunflower's Early Education Center or its Incredible Years Preschool. "This is so incredibly generous," said Cathy Estes, coordinator of both the EEC and the preschool. "The folks at Great Bend ...

Local schools honored for achievement

Hard work has paid off for the schools in Unified School District 428, with all the buildings receiving some recognition by earning statewide academic awards.

Tips will help you get a good puppy

According to the Humane Society of the United States, there are some issues that need to be addressed when getting a dog because, frankly, the decision involves years of commitment and cost.

1,200 dogs buried on farm near Oberlin

Some of the details became public Tuesday in canine tragedy in Decatur County that came close to involving Barton County this week.

BCCC students, teacher exhibit art at Hays gallery

Photography students of Barton Community College art instructor Steve Dudek had their work accepted in the 27th Annual Five-State Photography Competition Exhibition at the Hays Arts Center Gallery, 112 E. 11th, Hays.

PAGE TURNER

Can you believe it?! The student newspaper at Barton Community College has turned a page, dropping its familiar black-and-white tabloid look for a magazine format. Journalism Adviser Yvonda Acker hopes the new Interrobang can at least duplicate the success of its predecessor, which won one of 182 first-place awards in the American Scholastic Press Association's "Newspaper of the Year" contest for 2009-10. When Acker announced the award last May, college ...

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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