Archive By Section - News
Post office sees busiest day of the year
Shelly Lippert was ready for Monday. With Christmas around the corner, the interim postmaster for Great Bend knew it marked the Postal Service's most hectic mailing day of the year with more than 800 million pieces of mail entering the system. This represents a 40 percent increase in the average daily volume of 559 million. "It's a busy day," she said. As of early Monday afternoon, one truck full of parcels ...
AVOID HOLIDAY HO-HUM
Editor's note: This is the first in a series of articles about things families can do over the winter break. The winter vacation from school starts this week, but that doesn't have to mean a break from learning and healthy living. Keep kids active for the next two weeks with a home mini-camp. Plan some fun, low-cost "camp" activities to cure winter boredom and ...
Role model
Great Bend Police Officer Brian Dougherty helps Cole, left, and Garret pick out toys, Friday afternoon at the Walmart Supercenter. Members of the Fraternal Order of Police shopped with 40 children in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program this week. Each child received a $30 gift card donated by Walmart and Great Bend Feeders. BBBS Director Stephanie Joiner said 48 children in Barton and Pawnee counties are on the waiting list for a Big ...
Drunk driving holiday crackdown announced
Across the nation, the annual "Drunk Driving. Over The Limit. Under Arrest" winter holiday crackdown has begun, and will continue through Jan. 3. The effort involves thousands of law enforcement agencies across the nation, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced. LaHood also highlighted the new "No Refusal" strategy that a number of states are employing to put a stop to drunk driving. Through the "No Refusal" strategy, law enforcement officers are ...
Rice County man sentenced for child porn charges
Editor's note: This story contains language that some may find unsettling. Reader discretion is advised.
Longoria hearing continued
The motion hearing for accused killer Adam Longoria has been continued due to a scheduling conflict, said Ron Keefover, chief information officer with the Kansas Office of Judicial Administration.
County tables talk on ACER support
County officials will continue to discuss their participation in an employee recruitment program that has sought $10,000 in county tax dollars.
Coach supporters speak out
More than 30 people walked out of the Barton Community College Board of Trustees meeting, minutes after the meeting began Thursday afternoon. They had come to the meeting for one purpose: to express their dismay with last week's firing of head cheerleading coach Debbie Warren, who had been at the college for 27 years. Board chairman Dr. Paul Maneth said student Luke O'Bryan had approached him about supporters speaking at the ...
KDHE issues Sunflower Electric air quality permit
TOPEKA – After years of controversy and months of public comments, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment Thursday announced it has issued the air quality permit for the proposed 895 megawatt coal-fired steam generating unit at the Sunflower Electric Power Corporation near Holcomb.
Distemper infestation led to dog deaths
Canine Distemper Virus is what led to some 1,200 dogs being euthanized earlier this month in northwest Kansas, according to information released Wednesday by the Kansas Animal Health Department.
Bison born at Brit Spaugh Zoo
When the bison at Great Bend's Brit Spaugh Zoo started giving birth Wednesday afternoon, Zoo Director Scott Gregory was apprehensive. The animal affectionately known as "Buffy" has had two miscarriages in recent years, only with one successful pregnancy. Dr. Mike Malone, veterinarian to the zoo, was called, and a healthy baby was born around 4:15 p.m. "Bison have the same gestation as a human, about nine months," Gregory said. "That ...
GIVING TREE
A local business is offering the opportunity to make the Christmas season a little brighter for some local and area youngsters. Great Bend Coffee Company, 2015 Lakin, is displaying a Giving Tree to benefit children under 5 who attend either Sunflower's Early Education Center or its Incredible Years Preschool. "This is so incredibly generous," said Cathy Estes, coordinator of both the EEC and the preschool. "The folks at Great Bend ...
Local schools honored for achievement
Hard work has paid off for the schools in Unified School District 428, with all the buildings receiving some recognition by earning statewide academic awards.
Tips will help you get a good puppy
According to the Humane Society of the United States, there are some issues that need to be addressed when getting a dog because, frankly, the decision involves years of commitment and cost.
1,200 dogs buried on farm near Oberlin
Some of the details became public Tuesday in canine tragedy in Decatur County that came close to involving Barton County this week.
Articles by Section - News
Great Bend lottery office to close
The Kansas Lottery is restructuring its field staff in order to provide better service to lottery players and retailers, and increase sales and transfers to the state. As part of the restructuring, the Lottery will close its Great Bend office. The last day the office is open to the public will be December 13, 2013.
Vandals striking again
Vandalized stop signs are once again been an issue in rural parts of Barton County, Road and Bridge Director Dale Phillips reported to the County Commission Monday morning. Four signs were damaged in this way with six other being reported as either vandalized or wind damaged.
KSBE gets 411 from USD 428
Monday, Dr. Max Heim and Gary Secrest from the Kansas State Board of Education arrived in Great Bend to meet with patrons, faculty and staff, administration and USD 428 board members to discuss the newly begun search for a superintendent.
2nd Grade Civics
Second graders from Park Elementary School took a trip to the Golden Belt Humane Society on Monday for story time. After Kennel Technician Aaron Pike read a story, there was time for cookies and juice. Children also got to pet some puppies and kittens while learning important lessons about animals from the shelter's staff. Heather Acheson, director of the humane society, compared lessons on approaching injured or stray animals to what kids learn about "stranger ...
County to observe Thanksgiving
Barton County Office Buildings will be closed on Thursday and Friday in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday. The Barton County Health Department and the Records Division of the Sheriff's Office will also be closed both days. The Barton County Landfill will be closed on Thursday. It will reopen on Friday between the hours of 8 and 11 a.m. On Saturday, it will return to normal operational hours. Emergency services will be in normal operation.
Scenic overlook project gets extra funding
When it comes to grants, it's not often more money is offered than originally requested. But, that is the case for a joint county/state project to improve the Cheyenne Bottoms Scenic Overlook between Hoisington and Claflin, County Administrator Richard Boeckman told the County Commission Monday morning.
TURKEY TROT
TOPEKA – There won't be an increase in Thanksgiving travel this year, but the roads and skies will still be plenty stuffed, according to AAA's annual travel forecast.
Cheyenne Bottoms attracts hunters from Norway
Birds have always known that Cheyenne Bottoms is an important stop on the central flyway for the hundreds of thousands of water fowl and shore birds that migrate south each winter and north each spring. Although it's not always recognized as such by humans, Cheyenne Bottoms was designated a wetlands of international importance in 1971.
Gubernatorial candidate stops in Great Bend
Democratic gubernatorial candidate for governor, Paul Davis, made a campaign stop in Great Bend on Saturday and spoke to a crowd of about 50 people. Davis expressed concerns about sales tax, property tax, college tuition and utility rates all rising.
Home for the Holidays events listed
Great Bend's holiday events calendar explodes this week as Thanksgiving and the annual Home for the Holidays celebration approaches.
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