County lowers speed limit on McKinley

With a school zone, baseball complex and growing array of health providers, city and county officials have become concerned about the speed that traffic follows on McKinley, south of 10th Street.

Taking a 'bough': New Mayor's Christmas Tree planted

Great Bend's schedule of holiday events will move into Official Christmas Mode at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, with a parade down Main Street. A 13-foot Serbian spruce was planted in the courthouse square last week, so that the annual lighting of the Mayor's Christmas Tree can take place at 6:45 p.m., said Scott Keeler, superintendent of the city's parks.

Gas prices? So what?

With Thanksgiving triggering the start of the holiday travel season, gas prices across Kansas have risen over six cents in the past week. However, an average cost of $2.77 per gallon won't likely keep Kansans from going over the river and through woods. Average retail gasoline prices in Kansas have risen 6.4 cents per gallon as of last Sunday. This compares with the national average that has increased 3.1 cents ...

Talking Turkey: Kids learn more about Thanksgiving's top bird

With Thanksgiving just days away, children flocked to the Kansas Wetlands Education Center on Saturday to talk turkey. Pam Martin and other staff explained the peculiarities of our favorite holiday bird, from head to toe - or snood to spur.

A year changes what Kansans really think

HAYS – Most Kansans think their state is a good place to live, though not as many as in 2009, and, by a significant margin, more think the economy is "poor" or "very poor."

Coming through

Four pick-up trucks piled with canned and boxed food formed a convoy from Great Bend High School to the Barton County Food Bank Friday afternoon.

BCC looks at career pathways

Soon high schools will be required to help students plan their education based on career interests, and Barton Community College can help with that, college administrators told the BCC Board of Trustees on Thursday.

Library to host living history photo exhibit

ELLINWOOD - Horses pulling a vehicle out of the mud, Main Street in Ellinwood in 1938, Wolf Pond in 1934 and an 1887 settlers reunion parade - remnants of the fabric of life in an earlier, simpler time in Barton County.

Longoria to stand trial for capital murder, sodomy

Adam Joseph Longoria, the 36-year-old Great Bend man charged in the Aug. 21 slaying of 14-year-old Alicia DeBolt will stand trial for capital murder and criminal sodomy in connection to the killing, Barton County District Judge Hannelore Kitts ruled Thursday afternoon.

Citizens, angered by break-ins, consider forming a Neighborhood Watch

"I'm mad as hell about it," Brock McPherson said he told the Great Bend City Council recently, about burglaries in his neighborhood. He was the mediator for a meeting Wednesday night about establishing a Neighborhood Watch Program, roughly in the area of the 2600 to 2900 blocks of Forest, Broadway and 16th.

Churches accept Food Bank challenge

Thanksgiving was still weeks away when area churches initiated a united effort to alleviate world hunger, starting at home. This month, participants announced that a month of potluck dinners with a philanthropic twist has resulted in more staples at area food pantries. Another group is wrapping up a nine-week effort that combines fitness with a donation to the Food Bank in Great Bend. <p ...

Furry physical: Tiger, grizzly pass physical exams

Sunny, the yellow tiger at Brit Spaugh Zoo, received a clean bill of health during its annual physical on Wednesday, Great Bend Zoo Director Scott Gregory said. Dr. Mike Malone, the zoo's veterinarian, and his associate, Dr. Jackie Corbett, conducted the physical, cleaned the tiger's teeth and trimmed its claws. Last week they performed a similar procedure on Max, the male grizzly bear. The animals slept through their physicals, anesthetized ...

First snow comes and goes

Huge snowflakes, a few as big in diameter as softballs, fell on Great Bend late Wednesday morning.

Algae warning lifted at Vets Lake

The toxic algae threat that closed Veterans Memorial Lake in Great Bend to all recreational activities has been down graded from a warning to an advisory, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment reported Wednesday afternoon.

Council paves the way for a new sandpit

Great Bend city officials have approved conditional use permits for three new projects near the city, including one that provides for the development of a new sandpit, just south of town.

Myers walks out of meeting

After an often heated exchange between Great Bend City Council Member Randy Myers and several fellow council members over his alleged ethics violations, Myers stood up and walked out of the governing body's Monday night meeting.

GBFD roundup: Fire marshal investigates basement fire

An investigator from the Kansas State Fire Marshal's office was in Great Bend Monday to determine the cause of a fire Sunday afternoon at 2011 Jackson St. It was one of several fire calls over the weekend, Great Bend Fire Chief Mike Napolitano said. Firefighters received the report of a basement fire at 4:37 p.m., at the house owned by James and Krissy Jackson. The first truck arrived to find heavy smoke and fire coming ...

TOUTING TOURISM

It is fitting that Barton County celebrate Kansas Tourism Week this week, Great Bend Convention and Visitors Bureau Director Cris Collier told the County Commission Monday morning.

OF RISK AND REWARD

Three weeks ago, a fertilizer storage facility in West, Texas, not all that different from plants in many, small, rural communities, exploded. It killed 14 people, leveled much of the tiny town and rocked the nation.

CINCO DE MAYO

The weather did not exactly cooperate, but Joe Hernandez and his friends didn't let it interrupt their celebration.

Cooking up great soil

Gardeners may finally catch a break after unexpectedly cool weather last week. It's finally time to start digging and planting, and that means its the perfect time to think about soil health. For gardeners in Great Bend, the city provides plenty of rich dark compost free for the taking.

City of Great Bend cooking up great soil for local gardeners

Gardeners may finally catch a break after unexpectedly cool weather last week. It's finally time to start digging and planting, and that means its the perfect time to think about soil health. For gardeners in Great Bend, the city provides plenty of rich dark compost free for the taking.

Job Olympics celebrates abilities

Students from 13 schools demonstrated their life skills and vocational abilities Friday during the Job Olympics at Great Bend High School's Panther Activity Center. This competition, open to any special education student in Kansas, is sponsored by the Barton County Transition Council and the Special Services Cooperative. Events at tables throughout the arena mimicked real job situations and life skills, such as food preparation, office work or automotive checking. There was event a contest for ...

Refresher on health care highlights Chamber luncheon

Mike Minton with Benefit Management Inc. was the keynote speaker at the Great Bend Area Chamber of Commerce roundtable for human resources professionals Tuesday noon at The Page. He provided a refresher on the Health Care Reform and Affordable Care Act. While there were tips and updates for owners of large companies, only general advice could be offered for small business owners, as the federal government continues to grapple with a lot of unanswered questions, ...

Kansas 150 years 1861-1900

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