County considers its equipment needs

As this weekend's temperature dip has demonstrated, winter can come to the Great Plains just about any time it wants to, from here on out.

Heavenly host

Barton Community College cheerleading coach Warren fired

Debbie Warren, longtime head coach of Barton Community College's cheerleading program, said she was fired Friday by Barton President Dr. Carl Heilman. Dr. Penny Quinn, vice president of instruction and student services, confirmed that as of Friday afternoon Warren was no longer an employee of the college. Warren did not elaborate on the reason or reasons given for her sudden termination, saying she had been advised by an attorney not ...

Finals wrap up BCC fall

The fall semester of 2010 wrapped up this past week, with students taking final exams at Barton Community College. On Thursday and Friday, the campus bookstore called in extra help as students sold back textbooks, typically pocketing $100-300 for Christmas. But before they could collect, students presented their ID numbers so staff could check their accounts, and any money still owed on tuition went toward that. Some students who got money ...

BCC cheerleading coach Warren fired

Debbie Warren, longtime head coach of Barton Community College's cheerleading program, said she was fired Friday by Barton President Dr. Carl Heilman. The college's board of trustees is scheduled to meet at 4 p.m. Thursday in the Seminar Room, F-30, of the Fine Arts Building. Supporters of Warren say they plan to attend.

Pot use rising faster than tobacco

A federal study released this week indicates more high school seniors nationwide have used marijuana in the past month than have smoked a cigarette, as pot use slid up slightly as tobacco use stagnated. In addition, it showed daily marijuana use up in all grades surveyed.

Job program funding to be discussed by commission

County officials will consider spending $10,000 in tax dollars for a local effort to find workers for local jobs.

SWEET, SEASONAL SOUNDS

The sounds of the season will be carried by Great Bend High School A Cappella Choir members as they present the 74th-annual Vespers Concert at 2 p.m. Sunday at the high school auditorium.

Electrical short causes fire

Investigators from the Kansas State Fire Marshal's Office and the Great Bend Fire Department determined the blaze that destroyed a house southeast of Great Bend Thursday afternoon was likely caused by an electrical problem, Fire Chief Mike Napolitano said Friday morning.

Dogs find drugs at GBHS

Drug sniffing dogs from the Great Bend Police Department and Barton County Sheriff's Office made two positive "hits" on possible narcotics during a surprise, random search at Great Bend High School Thursday morning, Unified School District Superintendent Tom Vernon said.

Birding heritage expressed in bronze

Great Bend City Council members gave their approval this week to a plan to use public property to help advance a design plan that ties in downtown Great Bend with the region's birding attractions. The council approved using the lawn around the Great Bend Library for bronze statues that will include a bird design, according to Beautification Committee Chairwoman Linda Dougherty. She told the council that the bronzes, if the fund raising is successful, ...

FIRE DESTROYS RURAL HOME

There were times all Great Bend Fire Department personnel could do Thursday afternoon was stand back and watch as a house southeast of Great Bend burned. Although everyone had gotten out safely, authorities said the house was a total loss. A lack of water once halted the battle to save the home of Shawn Crane Jr., 144 SE 20 Ave. Pumper trucks from the Ellinwood, Hoisington and Stafford fire departments were called ...

Christmas Past

"I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year." - Charles Dickens The Ghost of Christmas Past is a cheerful spirit, at least in Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol." At the Barton County Historical Village and Museum, staff and volunteers celebrate the season with the "Ghosts of Christmas Past" open house. The annual event will take ...

Child abuse prevention group changes name, hires director

Ourselves and Our Families Coalition to Prevent Child Abuse has changed its name to the Child Abuse Prevention Education and the board of directors has hired Dana Murphy as the executive director.

Gas heads closer to the $4 mark

Speculation has it that $4 gas is just around the corner, and a 20 cent per gallon hike in local prices in recent days certainly seems to point in that direction.

Summer reading programs start Monday

The Great Bend Public Library has a new look going into the summer reading programs. The front desk has moved and the Children's Department has been refurnished.

June events at Great Bend Public Library

Great Bend Public Library, 1409 Williams St., will offer the following programs in June: • Summer Reading activities begin Monday, June 10. Registration for all ages will open that day. The children's department will have its kick-off party at 3:30 p.m. Dan Dan the Magic man will perform a magic show that fits in with the Dig Into Reading! Summer Reading Club theme. Students in grades 7-12 can register for the Beneath the Surface Teen ...

Historic Wolf Hotel reincarnated

ELLINWOOD - The historic Ellinwood Wolf Hotel has a new owner, and great plans are in place to renovate and reinvent the hotel. Christopher McCord, 26, of Ellinwood plans to return the building to its roots as a hotel.

Larned native Gene Keady present at street renaming

Gene Keady, born in Larned in 1936, was honored Saturday at Moffett Stadium on Third Street, where Keady was raised by his parents, Mary Helen and Lloyd Gibson Keady.

PEDAL POWER

In July 2011, Rhiannon Becker's 13-year-old cousin Mikal Bond was severely injured when a vehicle collided with her bicycle near Lawrence.

Butterflies

Monarch butterflies alight on wire mesh at the Great Bend Brit Spaugh Zoo Butterfly Garden. Various species of butterflies in all stages of live can be found in the garden.

Cale sculpture going up at Historical Society

The history of Barton County, from unbroken grassland to modern wind turbines, is the latest subject for Great Bend artist Chet Cale. A series of bas relief panels by the sculptor is going up at the Barton County Historical Society. Bev Komarek, executive director of the historical society, said the artwork – 8 feet wide and 6 feet high – will be the focal point of the museum's new recognition wall. Names of significant donors ...

Study: Drought impacting fish populations

MANHATTAN – The Plains-parching drought gripping North American has caused dramatic changes in native fish communities, including those that call Arkansas River home, a Kansas State University researcher said. These changes could have a damaging impact on the health of the Ark as it trickles around Great Bend. "A couple of key species that we have been studying have virtually disappeared where they historically were abundant," said Keith Gido, a KSU biology professor who studies ...

Barton County doing well, for now

Three local lessons can be gleaned from a new Kansas State University report outlining the fiscal health of the 105 counties in the Sunflower State.

Great Bend sends two to Miss Kansas

PRATT - The next Miss America could come from Barton County. The next step toward the title is the Miss Kansas Pageant, which starts today at Pratt and concludes Saturday. Twenty-five women will compete, including two from Great Bend.

Keeping memories alive

The Memorial Parks Advisory Committee is on a mission.

Kansas 150 years 1861-1900

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