Archive By Section - News
Flu shots urged as season peaks
With the number of influenza cases increasing nationwide and the flu season beginning to peak, local, state and national health officials urge those who haven't had their flu shots to get vaccinated.
Congressman Huelskamp beginning 69-county tour
Freshman Republican Congressman Tim Huelskamp will host 14 town hall meetings across the First District of Kansas the first week of February. He will be in Great Bend from 1:30-2:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Front Door, 1615 10th St.
Veteran county fire official will lead 911
The lengthy search to fill an important county position concluded Monday when the Barton County Commission voted to appoint veteran county fire official Doug Hubbard as the new county communications director.
Preparedness depends on prior planning
(EDITOR'S NOTE: This is one in a series of articles on the development of an emergency plan for the county.) Being prepared for a community emergency isn't cheap, and it's not the sort of thing that can be thrown together at the last minute, so in this time of tight, and tighter, government budgets, keeping up with emergency planning continues to be a challenge, according to information from Emergency Risk Manager Amy Miller, who recently ...
Rural community mourns Tanner Hlavaty
OTIS - Students and teachers at Otis-Bison Elementary School learned over the weekend that 7-year-old Tanner Hlavaty had died Saturday in a farm accident. Principal Mark Goodheart said Tanner will be remembered as a great kid who was always smiling. Families and staff received messages over the weekend, to make sure everyone was aware of the second-grade student's death. On Monday morning, the school district's service cooperative sent a crisis ...
Cancellations announced
The Hoisington community meeting scheduled for 7 p.m. tonight (Monday) at the Activity Center has been postponed. Organizers will announce the rescheduled time at a later date.
Barton reports record enrollment
By Tribune staff Barton Community College's enrollment figures show an overall 8 percent increase for summer and fall 2010, college officials announced Friday. Barton President Dr. Carl Heilman said the growth proves Barton's continued success, especially coming on the heels of a 10 percent enrollment growth in the preceding year. The credit hours generated by in-state students increased by 7 percent for the fall 2010 semester and 6 percent ...
Happy 150 Kansas: Residents celebrate state's sesquicentennial
Pioneers, cowgirls and basketball fans alike celebrated the 150th anniversary of Kansas becoming a state on Saturday, which was Kansas Day.
Miller returns to scene of the crime
Nearly 40 years after leading raids on gambling in Great Bend, former Kansas Attorney General Vern Miller was back in town Saturday. Miller, 82, spoke at the Great Bend Public Library, where he and author Mike Danford signed copies of the biography "Vern Miller: Legendary Kansas Lawman."
Boy dies in farm accident
A 7-year-old boy died after being run over by a tractor, Saturday afternoon northwest of Olmitz. Emergency vehicles were dispatched around 3:45 p.m. The Barton County Sheriff's Office reports the boy, whose name was not being released, died as a result of injuries from the farm accident. Emergency responders started cardiopulmonary resuscitation but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Emergency groups starts work for 2011
2010 was a busy year for emegency preparation work in Barton County, and this year will be as well, from early indications, according to Emergency Risk Manager Amy Miller.
Hazard plan got started in 2010
(EDITOR'S NOTE: This is one in a series of aritcles on the development of an emergency plan for the county.)
THE STUFF OF LEGENDS: Vern Miller returns to Great Bend
To some, Vern Miller was the "Super Cop," who, as Kansas Attorney General, raided night clubs - including the Great Bend Petroleum Club - and confiscated cases of liquor from Amtrak trains. Others had a less charitable view of Miller, and took to spray painting the name "Vern" under the word "Stop" on stop signs in the 1970s.
BOCK Chili Challenge benefits hospice patients
The location will be different but the menu will be the same at this year's 12th Annual Chili Challenge. The tasting-and-judging event is set for 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 19 at the American Legion, 1011 Kansas, Great Bend. It was formerly held at ...
New K-9 officer learning the ropes
Members of the Great Bend Noon Kiwanis got to see K-9 officer Rocco in action Wednesday, during a demonstration presented by the Barto County Sheriff's Office. Rocco, like his predecessor Donna, is a Belgian malinois, a shepherd dog imported from Holland. Donna still ranks as one of the best law enforcement dogs of all time, in Sheriff Greg Armstrong's opinion, but at 11 ...
Articles by Section - News
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 ...
Study: Drought impacting fish populations
MANHATTAN – The Plains-parching drought gripping North American has caused dramatic changes in native fish communities, including those that call Arkansas River home, a Kansas State University researcher said. These changes could have a damaging impact on the health of the Ark as it trickles around Great Bend. "A couple of key species that we have been studying have virtually disappeared where they historically were abundant," said Keith Gido, a KSU biology professor who studies ...
Barton County doing well, for now
Three local lessons can be gleaned from a new Kansas State University report outlining the fiscal health of the 105 counties in the Sunflower State.
Great Bend sends two to Miss Kansas
PRATT - The next Miss America could come from Barton County. The next step toward the title is the Miss Kansas Pageant, which starts today at Pratt and concludes Saturday. Twenty-five women will compete, including two from Great Bend.
Keeping memories alive
The Memorial Parks Advisory Committee is on a mission.
Volleyball tournament honors Klug
Sixteen teams participated in the Rhonda Klug Memorial Volleyball Tournament held Sunday afternoon at Vets Park. It was only one of the activities planned for that day for the final day of the second June Jaunt festival in Great Bend that got residents out and about enjoying the attractions the city has to offer.
June Jaunt lives up to hype in Great Bend
Overwhelming success!
A SPECIAL RIDE
The American Legion Riders will once again lead the way in the opening ceremony as they have for several years. This year, the ride will have special meaning for J.P. Postlethwaite, who has been the lead rider. This year he will be the featured speaker for the opening ceremony.
Vets Lake looking good
The Great Bend Water Department has begun testing for nutrients at Veterans Memorial Lake which has, in the past, been plagued by toxic blue-green algae.
Apartment project falls through
In January, the Great Bend City Council supported the use of federal low-income housing tax credits to help finance the building of a 32-unit apartment complex in Great Bend.
RAMP UP!
Imagine the damage a small piece of concrete an inch in diameter can do if it's picked up in the blast of a jet engine. It can rip a hole in aircraft body panels, damage propellers, crack windshields, and even injure airport personnel on the ground.
Youth Bike Safety Rodeo Friday
The Barton County Health Department, Barton County Sheriff's Office, Great Bend Police Department and the Barton County Landfill have teamed up to provide their annual Bike Safety Rodeo for children ages 5 to 14 on Friday at the Britt Spaugh Park northeast baseball field near 22nd and Morton streets.
The bridge is official
The bridge on West 10th Street spans the City of Great Bend's flood-control ditch and was built by the city in the late 1980s as part of that massive anti-flooding effort.
