Archive By Section - News
CASTING A 'SPELL'
Allen County spelling champion Clara Wicoff correctly spelled "geriatrician" Saturday to win the Great Bend Tribune's 2011 Sunflower Spelling Bee. Wicoff, a seventh grader from Iola, won the spell-down in 2009, and this year she outlasted 2010 winner Matthew Wegner from Parsons and 79 other contestants. Wegner and Barton County's Allison Regehr made it to the final nine, but by Round 7 there were only four remaining contestants: Wicoff, ...
LWV to hold candidate forum
Great Bend and Barton County voters will have the opportunity to hear the views of local candidates prior to the April 5 general election during a forum sponsored by the Great Bend League of Women Voters Tuesday night.
County valuations on schedule to mail soon
Postal Presort, Inc. will be sending out about 18,000 pieces of county mail soon as the Wichita firm sends property valuations to county residents.
Crime Stoppers seeks info on home invasion
Crime Stoppers is seeking information about an altercation that occurred Feb. 28 at 1305 MacArthur Road. Although they arrested Travis Myers, the adult son of Great Bend City Councilman Randy Myers, on suspicion of domestic battery of his brother Nathan, authorities said Thursday that they'd like to hear from anyone who may have seen people entering the house early that morning. In a Crime Stoppers announcement released this week, Police Chief ...
Meals on Wheels changes vendors
The vendor for Meals on Wheels in Great Bend, Hoisington and Ellinwood will change on Monday, but coordinators said the recipients can still count on the same home-delivered service. Central Kansas Medical Center has been the only vendor since the program started locally in February 1972. But because CKMC will change to St. Rose Ambulatory and Surgery Center May 1, it will no longer staff a complete kitchen, which is necessary ...
One more day until Tribune's Sunflower Spelling Bee
Saturday's Sunflower Spelling Bee will be a battle of champions, with the winners receiving medals, scholarships and other prizes, including the grand prize of a trip to the week-long national bee in Washington, D.C. Two former champions of the Great Bend Tribune's Sunflower Spelling Bee will be back - 2010 winner Matthew Wegner from Parsons and 2009 winner Clara Wicoff from Iola - but all 80 of the contestants registered for ...
Fire departments respond to vehicle fires
Fire departments from Ellinwood and Great Bend responded to two separate vehicle fires on Tuesday and early Wednesday. Both caused major damage but no serious injuries. A hazardous materials crew was called to U.S. 56 at SE 150 Ave. after a 2006 Newmar truck caught on fire around 1 a.m. Wednesday. The Barton County Sheriff's Office reports Hazmat cleared burnt vehicle parts from the road. Driver David Craddock of Great ...
Severe weather history costly to Kansas
This year, severe weather testing had to be postponed - due to severe weather. It's not the first time. But this year, the severe weather was of the winter variety, not spring, so you just don't know what to expect in the Great Plains. That's part of the reason for Severe Weather Awareness Week, March 7 through March 11, to get people used to being ready to respond to weather threats. So today, at 1:30 ...
From Jeans to Scrubs
The United Way of Barton County opened the campaign with veteran participants JC Penney in Great Bend and a denim fund-raiser and ended with first-time presentation at Great Bend Regional Hospital. It also concluded with the new name – United Way of Central Kansas.
A ROYAL FLUSH
LUCAS – This may sound like a strange thing to say about a public restroom, but here it goes.
Light ‘em if you got ‘em
Not a moment too soon, Sunflower Rod & Custom G.B. (SRCGB) will have extra lighting at the local historic drag strip, located near the Great Bend Municipal Airport.
Prevention specialist comments on 'Skins'
A local community prevention specialist warns parents that MTV's new TV series "Skins" depicts teens who display unsafe behavior without consequences. Christina Hayes with the Northwest Kansas Regional Prevention Center said parents should be aware of the show and talk to their teenagers about real life vs. MTV. "Skins" is far from the realistic snapshot of American teens it portends to be, said Hayes, who has offices in Great Bend and ...
Zoo Society gets wild
Membership has its privileges, at least for those who join the Great Bend Zoological Society. Those who join not only support work going on at the Brit Spaugh Zoo, but they can take part in members-only programs and behind-the-scenes zoo tours, said Robin Fabricius, secretary of the zoo society's board of directors. "We're starting to plan more activities for members," she said. One goal is to schedule quarterly educational seminars. ...
Wanted: Homes for old yearbooks
There are a lot of stories in the dusty old Great Bend High School yearbooks stacked in the back of Rachel Basden's classroom, and Basden has heard many of them.
Historic plan isn’t cast in stone yet
County Engineer Clark Rusco is hoping that Kansas State Historical Society officials will consider reports on engineering plans quickly enough that at least a couple of the county's historic stone bridges will see improvements this fall.
Articles by Section - News
Important new addition to museum collection
SRCA board member Butch Fry made an important donation to the Barton County Historical Society Museum Saturday afternoon. He presented his SRCA 1964 Record Holder jacket.
The day the sculptures rolled in
Whether it was dragsters, street rods, Mopars, or vintage cars that struck their fancy, visitors and exhibitors alike were drawn to the Second Annual Barton Historical Society Museum Rolling Sculpture car show Saturday afternoon, May 18.
TLC Twisters bring comfort to shelter dogs
The TLC Twisters 4-H club at TLC Discoveries built eight dog beds which they presented to the Golden Belt Humane Society last week. The beds, made of donated PVC pipe and nylon material, will provide a place for puppies and smaller dogs to relax off the cement floor. They are easily hosed off, and are quick drying, making them ideal for a kennel environment.
Hoisington to host annual ‘Mud Run’
HOISINGTON - Engines will once again roar as drivers try to drive through the mud at the fourth annual Mud Run at 1 p.m. on June 1 in Hoisington, south of the railroad track on the east side of U.S. 281. It will be held in conjunction with the Kansas Mud Racing Organization.
Great Bend escapes Defense Department furloughs
The Great Bend Kansas National Guard armory should escape unscathed the round of federally mandated National Guard furloughs announced Tuesday by U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, said Sharon Watson with the KNG Public Affairs Office.
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 ...
