Tired of tires

The City of Great Bend Monday will launch a two-week campaign to rid the community of old tires. The city-wide tire clean-up rolls to a conclusion on Oct. 28.

Healthy endeavor

There was a conference in Wichita last week. It was a gathering sponsored by the Kansas Health Foundation for communities across the state that have qualified for $25,000 grants aimed at promoting healthy lifestyles. Barton County is one of the recipients.

News beyond battery life

Your newspaper will be there for you. A simple statement, but let's break it down a bit. Your newspaper … That's right, all yours, assembled just for you, tailored to where you live, emphasizing the things that affect you, keeping track of the people and players in your community. Your newspaper is put together by people in a newsroom that was built for you, where people work to supply information that matters to you, from ...

Time for action

Third time's a charm. The Great Bend City Council Monday night will take up a recommendation by its Convention Center Architectural Selection Committee, the group charged with pouring over applications and suggesting a firm to tackle the controversial project.

Taking the right action

The Barton County Commission Monday morning took action in the best interest of the county, despite an emotional appeal to the contrary. The commission should be commended.

From big box to online

During the Dust Bowl days, jalopies leaving the drought-ravaged plains would often carry a sign saying "California or Bust" as promises greener pastures out west lured dirt-poor farmers.

What is wrong with this picture?

The newspaper business-both small and large papers-has sounded full-throated opposition this past month about a plan by the U.S. Postal Service to purposely entice advertising out of the newspaper so ads can be placed instead with USPS favored stakeholder Valassis Inc., which bought direct mail company ADVO in 2006.

The season is a changing

As of Friday afternoon, anyway, the temperature had dipped to 59 degrees, a far cry from the 90-plus-degrees the day before. A drive down Broadway brings to mind the changing of the leaves from green to gold.

Not so marvelous

This month members of the American Federation of Musicians picketed the Screen Gem studios in Wilmington, N.C., where Marvel (a Walt Disney Co. subsidiary) is shooting "Iron Man 3." AFL-CIO, the federation of labor unions, reports AFM musicians are upset because Marvel Entertainment "takes millions of taxpayer film production incentive dollars and then offshores the musical scores in foreign countries under sub-standard conditions. Their latest blockbuster, The Avengers, was filmed stateside with $30 million ...

It’s all about teamwork

It was an issue brought to light by the concerns of some Villa South residents over the maintenance of their streets. Villa South is a housing development in the northwest part of Great Bend that actually falls outside of the city limits.

Do what you can

The United Way of Central Kansas will launch its 2013 campaign Saturday with a goal of $235,000 to be reached by Dec. 31. Each year, Executive Director Julie Bugner-Smith comes up with a catchy theme to make the kick-off an entertaining and enjoyable evening. This year it's "Peace, Love and United Way," a 60s theme to coincide with the 50th anniversary of United Way in Barton County.

Still, no fireworks

It may seem unpatriotic, especially as area residents cast their ballots in today's primary, that the Barton County Commission voted Monday to continue the ban of fireworks in unincorporated areas of the county. In the resolution, commissioners declined to set a deadline for them to reconsider the action. Instead, the prohibition is in place indefinitely.

Get off that couch!

"A citizen of America will cross the ocean to fight for democracy, but won't cross the street to vote in a national election." – Bill Vaughan, columnist

A commission divided

The Barton County Commission carries a heavy yoke into the Aug. 13 budget presentation and public hearing.

Featured cartoon

Don’t trash it

June Jaunt is just over a week away. This event, which showcases communities from Tribune to Great Bend along K-96, is a chance for these towns to shine.

It’s your turn

The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet. – Aristotle

Walthy moms circumvent rules at Disney World

Wow. Talk about a cheap trick.

Share the river

We are fortunate to live in a region with abundant opportunities for outdoor recreation. One of the most diverse of these opportunities is the Arkansas River.

Lessons learned?

A lot of dirty laundry has been aired publicly of late.