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, ...

Landmark Bergthal Mennonite Church closing its doors

PAWNEE ROCK - Bergthal Mennonite Church was built to last forever, or at least until the Lord returned. Settlers had first outgrown a little stone church near Dundee, and then a wooden church northeast of Pawnee Rock. A massive brick building, complete with a bell tower, replaced the wooden building in 1915.

Sheriff steps up patrols with new program

Sheriff Brian Bellendir said a new traffic safety program aims to reduce accidents, especially at problem areas. The first effort will take place between 7:30 and 9 a.m. Wednesday, May 8, on U.S. 281 from the Great Bend city limits to milepost 108. "As spring and summer approaches, there will be more traffic on central Kansas roads and highways," Bellendir noted. The Barton County Sheriff's Office is initiating this traffic safety program to help ensure ...

Cinco de Mayo Saturday

For Jose Hernandez, helping organize the 2013 Cinco dey Mayo celebration Saturday is about much more than throwing a party.

No injuries reported at rollover crash

Great Bend police responded to a rollover accident at the intersection of Morphy and 16th Street in Great Bend Thursday afternoon at about 3 p.m. A Pontiac Firebird was travelling southbound on Morphy street when it was struck by a Mercury Mountaineer heading westbound on 16th Street. According to Great Bend Police Lt. Bill Browne, the driver of the Mountaineer failed to yield right of way at the uncontrolled intersection. No injuries were reported ...

Rick Bealer donates Cougar statue in son’s name

Emotions eventually fizzle and memories gradually fade. In an effort to maintain some potency and longevity with these fleeting elements of human nature, Barton psychology instructor Rick Bealer has donated a cougar statue to the college "In loving memory of his son, Ryan J. Bealer," who passed away in 2011.

May 1 is prevent Teen Pregnancy Day

There is good news and bad news regarding teen pregnancy rates over the last two decades, and the good news is that the teen pregnancy rate in the U.S., which is the highest in the industrialized world has dropped over the last two decades.

Child's letter prompts Kansan's journey

A child's letter to the editor seeking information about Kansas prompted a Great Bend resident's upcoming visit to Conway School in Mt. Vernon, Wash. Vicki Keffer, who works at CPI Qualified Plan Consultants, was reading the Great Bend Tribune on March 22 when she saw this letter from Bo Owens: Dear Editor, Hello! My name is Bo Owens. I am a fifth grader at Conway School in Mount Vernon, Wash. In fifth grade we do ...

Cruise Night postponed until May 31

Great Bend residents are invited to take part in the first ever Cruise Night in downtown Great Bend. More than 70 cars from the SRCA & Vintage Wheels clubs will line up at Jack Kilby Square to parade through the City of Great Bend on Friday, May 31st. (The Cruise Night was originally scheduled for Wednesday, May 1st as part of KANSAS SPEEDWEEK but cold weather caused the event to be postponed.) The cars will ...

Runners turn out for Wild Goose Chase

Saturday morning, April 27, 160 runners congregated at Cheyenne Bottoms for the first ever Wild Goose Chase.

Transitioning era: Students thinking of jobs, resumes

ELLINWOOD - Graduation from high school is major transition for students and signals the beginning of a new era of independence, increasing freedom, jobs and careers.

Foreign tourism developing in Barton County

Travel writer Matt Bates of Scotland and Lisa Weigt, International Program director for Kansas/ Oklahoma Travel and Tourism recently toured Barton County.

Game on

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.