College trustees discuss ENDS

The conversation at Barton Community College's board study session Thursday centered on the ENDS. That's what college trustees call the keys to how they oversee Barton. "ENDS," as in goals, final outcomes and desires, are usually referred to in all capital letters and are presented in the form of six ENDS statements, such as ENDS Statement No. 1: "Students will have the essential skills to succeed in the workplace." ENDS ...

Auditions scheduled for 2nd annual Barton County's Got Talent dinner theater

The area Habitat for Humanity Board of Directors will hold auditions next week and the following Sunday, for the second annual Barton County's Got Talent dinner theater. The program, on Jan. 15, 2011, will be a fun, local spin-off on the TV show "America's Got Talent," sponsors said. Audition sessions will be held from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday and 4-6 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 14, at Grace Community Church, 210 ...

Two plead in drug ring that included Great Bend

TOPEKA - Two men who were part of a drug- trafficking operation that sold methamphetamine in Great Bend, Topeka and Kansas City, Kan., have pleaded guilty, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said Thursday.

EAA Chapter to give airplane rides to youth

Smoky Hill EAA Chapter #1127 will host a Young Aagle Day on Saturday at the Ellsworth Airport. Young people age 8 to 17 are welcome to experience a demonstration flight in an airplane. The flights are provided free of charge to any youth wishing to participate. Registration and flights will begin at 9 a.m. and continue until 1 p.m. Each youth must have a signed permission form from their parent/guardian. Forms are available from chapter members or can be filled out Saturday.

Interior home security begins with exterior work

(EDITOR'S NOTE: This is one in a series of articles about property crime in Great Bend and the steps that are being taken to address it.)

Rollover wreck

Repeat water tests find no bacteria

Tests performed on Great Bend water in September found e. coli and total coliform bacteria. However, a second set of "repeat" samples all tested negative, city Water Department officials said. They will continue the required routine testing.

K-96 project enjoys lots of support

(EDITOR'S NOTE: This is one in a series of articles about the continuing effort to promote the K-96 highway project.)

The old is new again

BUSHTON - Harkening back to the days of yesteryear prior to rural electrification in central Kansas, food was kept in the first half of the 20th century by home canning and smoking. Women would work through the night to ensure that food was safely preserved for their families.

Pursuit ends in standoff

HOISINGTON – A speeding car led to a pursuit that ended at a Hoisington service station with a standoff and the use of tear gas Wednesday night, Barton County Sheriff Greg Armstrong said.

Zoo gets bird DNA samples

Wednesday afternoon, Dr. Mike Malone found himself eyeball to eyeball with an eagle. Malone is veterinarian to Great Bend's Brit Spaugh Zoo. This week he completed collecting blood samples on 20 of the zoo's birds. Samples will be sent to a lab to determine the sex of the birds. The eagle has been at the zoo for several years, but its sex was never known for certain, Zoo Director ...

St. John Victorian Tea

This is a grand year for St. John's 14th annual Victorian Tea, on Nov. 7. The Tudor building where the tea is currently held is 100 years old this year.

National elections usher change in government

WASHINGTON (AP) - Republicans reaped a windfall from independent voters and tea party activists to seize control of the House in midterm elections, gained seats in the Senate and served notice Wednesday they will confront President Barack Obama with a conservative agenda to cut government and spur private-sector jobs.

Crime prevention begins with property security measures

(EDITOR'S NOTE: This is one in a series of articles about property crime in Great Bend and the steps that are being taken to address it.)

Severe weather changes, doesn’t stop with cold

Unless you've been trapped in your basement, you probably have noticed that the seasons are changing, and that means there is going to be a change in what local officials anticipate in the way of severe weather - probably.

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.

BCC may opt out of conceal carry law

Barton Community College trustees may request an exemption to a new gun law taking effect July 1.

Salad days

With high hopes that the area has seen the end of frost for the year, a full-house turned out to learn the how-tos of container gardening at the Great Bend Rec activity center Thursday.