BCC Jazz Band, Prairie Winds Band and Jazz Ensemble present Winter Concert

Barton Community College instrumental music groups will present a Winter Concert at 7:30 p.m. on Monday in the Fine Arts Auditorium. The concert will feature the BCC Jazz Band, Prairie Winds Community Concert Band and Prairie Winds Jazz Ensemble. Steven Lueth, Barton's director of instrumental activities, is the conductor of these ensembles. The public is invited and admission is free.

New Shafer Gallery director embraces traditions

Dave Barnes was as surprised as most people when he stepped into Barton Community College's Shafer Gallery for the first time and saw a gallery of such beauty, spaciousness and versatility in the midst of its rural central Kansas setting. "The gallery is really a remarkable institution," Barnes said, four weeks later as he talked about his plans as the new Shafer Gallery director. "It's ...

County will raise rail issue at KAC meeting

Barton County Commissioners won't be in office Monday, as usual, but they will be at work for the county as they travel to Topeka for the annual Kansas Associations of Counties meeting. While they are there, state legislative issues will be discussed, including issues that could affect Barton County taxpayers, according to information from County Administrator Richard Boeckman.

Vets made this the ‘land of hope and dreams’

"Every man thinks meanly of himself for not having been a soldier, or not having been at sea." - Dr. Samuel Johnson, 1709-1784, British essayist, poet and author.

Trail of Lights holiday greeters return

Great Bend continues to invite visitors to follow the Trail of Lights from one end of town to the other this holiday season. Folks at home can get involved as greeters on select evenings, said Sarah Krom with the holiday committee. The Trail of Lights includes the Barton County Historical Society Museum and Village on south U.S. 281, "Wild Lights" at Brit Spaugh Park, a Christmas Nativity scene at 10th ...

GBHS pays tribute to vets

Jake Radke looked out over the gymnasium filled with Great Bend High School students mingled with a handful of veterans Thursday morning and got a lump in his throat.

‘Woman of the Year’ helps cancer victims

Jean Harrison came to Great Bend to retire from a long and active service career - one that brought her the acclaim of being named Woman of the Year by the National Association of Professional Women this year - but moving to Great Bend, and retiring and receiving national honors weren't the only events that made this year stand out.

Federal projects could help local business

It's not like Richard Boeckman has a huge bag full of money in his office to fund local business project, but he is trying to get business project developers to check in to funding that is still available from the federal government, while there is still time.

Lighting the way

Drivers beware: Deer on the move

Motorists are reminded to be on the lookout for deer, especially at this time of year. The Kansas Department of Transportation, Kansas Highway Patrol and Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks report that November is historically the month when the highest number of deer-vehicle crashes occur. The Barton County Sheriff's Office has received several reports of collisions with deer in recent days. On Tuesday, a car hit a deer ...

Ellinwood student collects WW II memorabilia

ELLINWOOD - Forrest Williams has an unusual hobby for a middle school student. While most kids his age spend their spare time playing video games, Williams collects World War II memorabilia, researching and reading books from cover to cover of that era as well as watching historical movies such as "Saving Private Ryan" and "Band of Brothers."

It’s a busy time for crooks, too

(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.)

Young at Heart: Sterling House residents join Operation Christmas Child

Centuries of gift wrapping experience didn't go to waste, Monday at Sterling House in Great Bend. Nearly 30 residents at the assisted living center spent part of the afternoon filling more than 40 shoeboxes with gifts for children in Third World countries, and decorating the boxes with Christmas wrapping paper. The shoeboxes were filled with school supplies, toiletries and toys for children 5-9 years old, said Tia Blehm, executive director ...

Craft fair offers gift ideas, raises funds

For a student interested in business, it is the perfect hands-on project. For a business club, it is the perfect fund raiser.

Activities to honor veterans

There are numerous events planned today and Thursday in Great Bend in commemoration of Veterans Day.

Cooking up great soil

Gardeners may finally catch a break after unexpectedly cool weather last week. It's finally time to start digging and planting, and that means its the perfect time to think about soil health. For gardeners in Great Bend, the city provides plenty of rich dark compost free for the taking.

Kansas 150 years 1861-1900

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