Fed’s Bernanke: This isn’t inflation

As of Tuesday morning, local motorists had their choices of prices to pay for unleaded fuel.

Gas prices are on the rise again

BY CHUCK SMITH csmith@gbtribune.com As of Tuesday morning, local motorists had their choices of prices to pay for unleaded fuel. They could pay $3.20, $3.23, or the newest price, $3.30 per gallon. The $3.13 of the day before was gone, however. Also gone, according to a statewide Internet site that follows fuel costs, is gas under $3 per gallon in Kansas. The low price recorded ...

County looks at future health CHANGE

BY CHUCK SMITH csmith@gbtribune.com Barton County Health Department officials are looking at needs for local CHANGE, however county officials are concerned that the health initiatives don't add to stresses already being felt by local businesses. The Barton County Commission was briefed by the health department Monday on the Community Health Assessment and Group Evaluation - a process that is required of communities that intend to continue receiving ...

A time to plant

10th Walk Kansas forming teams

This marks the 10th year for Walk Kansas, a statewide fitness challenge coordinated by K-State Research and Extension. Teams are forming now for the eight-week challenge that starts March 13 and concludes on May 7, said Donna Krug at the Barton County Extension office. The goal of each six-person team is to get active, by walking or other exercise. Members log their minutes of exercise, which are converted to ...

Barton County residents received $4.5 million in Earned Income Credits

BY STAFF REPORTS ST. LOUIS – More than 2,100 Barton County taxpayers received more than $4.5 million in Earned Income Tax Credits (EITC) last year. "The EITC can put an extra $457 to $5,666 into the pockets of low-income working individuals and families," said IRS spokesman Michael Devine. "If they qualify and claim the credit, they could pay less federal tax or even receive a refund beyond the amount of ...

New cemetery plots up for sale

Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy wrote in the 1880s the question, "How much land does a man need?"

Communications director starts work on a high point

It's not often that you get to wake up and give thanks that you are out of a job, but County Administrator Richard Boeckman got to do that Monday morning.

Schugarts lead BCC fund drive

Larry and Kathy Schugart have supported Barton Community College in many ways from its beginning. Continuing their support, they helped launch the Barton Foundation's 2011 Academic Enrichment Fund Campaign today as honorary co-chairs of the event. The month-long annual campaign raises money for academic scholarships for Barton students and programs. As they lead the campaign, the Schugarts talk about the benefits the college offers their community. They experienced ...

Red Barn had a red letter first year in Great Bend

The word that the Great Bend City Council received from Red Barn executives about the company's first year in Great Bend was welcome news, indeed, and it was the type of message any community would like to hear from any business.

Of mice and (other) mammals

Ayden Davis, Hoisington, gets an up-close view of Digger, a black-tailed prairie dog, during the "Mammals R Us" program at the Kansas Wetlands Education Center on Saturday. Participants also viewed a least shrew, grasshopper mice and big brown bat, made their own prairie dog, and played a mammal matching game.

Countdown begins for spelling bee

With the Great Bend Tribune's Sunflower Spelling Bee less than two weeks away, coordinators are working on final details. This year's bee will see as many as 76 contestants from 66 counties. Each county is allowed to send at least one champion, and some can send more, based on the number of schools registered to compete in the 2011 Scripps National Spelling Bee, to be held June 1-2 in Washington, D.C. ...

One killed, two injured in collision

A Great Bend man died and two people were injured on Saturday, after vehicles collided at the U.S. 281/K-19 junction, 11 miles north of St. John in Barton County.

Legislators discuss budget, redistricting

Sen. Ruth Teichman, R-Stafford, said western Kansas may have one less senator when voting districts are redrawn in 2013 to keep them relatively equal in population. "We're going to lose a vote out here," she told an audience in Great Bend on Saturday, noting the state's population is shifting to the east. The seat most vulnerable is for the 36th Senate District, held by Sen. Janis Lee, D-Kensington, until she resigned ...

Yowell to share life's adventures at KWEC

BARTON COUNTY - Skip Yowell, a man who has made it his life's goal to discover for himself and possibly climb all four corners of the earth, who chooses to motivate with kindness, respect and fun, will inspire nature lovers with his spectacular photographs and stories of his adventures at the Kansas Wetlands Education Center at 7 p.m. April 15. Snacks will be served at 6:30 p.m.

Local artist intermingles art with life

ELLINWOOD - Staying busy and loving life, Rhea Grandon finds fulfillment in her art, hobbies, family and friends.

Youth Academy set for Friday

If you see local youth being hauled around this Friday and Friday June 28, in police cars or in the back of ambulances it is not because they are in trouble with the law or injured in an accident.

Summer reading off to magical start

The yellow hard hats seen Monday at Great Bend Public Library weren't for construction work. Staff wore the hats to celebrate the theme for this year's summer reading program: "Dig Into Reading."

Sports, activities and mentoring spotlighted at USD 428 June BOE meeting

The USD 428 Board of Education welcomed Delores Baker and her family and friends Monday evening at the district office. Board president Dwight Young awarded her the R.O.S.E. (Recognizing Outstanding Support of Education ) certificate, recognizing her for her years of commitment to a Riley student through her 12 years of education in the district through the Youth Friends program.

​SDS axes contract with Rec Commission

Last month the Great Bend Recreation Commission's board of directors approved a new contract to provide day services to Sunflower Diversified Services, but on Monday GBRC's Executive Director Diann Henderson said Sunflower won't approve a contract for the coming year.

Agreement a sign of improvement

An engineering agreement approved by the Barton County Commission Monday mornings helps pave the way to better signs on major rural county blacktops.

Inmate in custody after walking away from Barton County Jail

This story has been updated. An inmate who walked away from the Barton County Jail sometime Sunday night was back in custody by 11:40 a.m. Monday. Lee W. Dean, 23, who was being held for probation violation, was located in the southeast part of Great Bend and 201 Plum St., Sheriff Brian Bellendir announced in a news release. "(Dean) was taken into custody without incident," Bellendir said. "A second subject at the location was taken ...

USD 428 recognizes mentor with a R.O.S.E.

For six years, Delores Baker, Great Bend, volunteered as a Youth Friends mentor for a Riley Elementary School student. For six more years, they nurtured their friendship through letters and lunch visits. This year, Baker had the great joy of seeing her friend graduate from Great Bend High School. And on Monday night, the USD 428 Board of Education will honor her with a R.O.S.E. (Recognizing Outstanding Support of Education) award at their regular June meeting.

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 ...