BCC string bassist to join Kansas Intercollegiate Orchestra

Greg Pohl's nimble fingers effortlessly maneuver from one combination of strings on his bass guitar to another, hitting every note as he keeps pace with the rest of the Barton Jazz Band. With a confident smirk, he leans into his guitar for a few notes as the song's speed increases.

GBHS Debate competes at Olathe Northwest High School

The Great Bend High School Debate Team qualified and brought the maximum number of four teams to the 2 Speaker State Debate Tournament on Jan. 13th and 14th at Olathe Northwest High School. Almost all of the teams finished with a 3-3 win loss record and barely missed qualifying to the elimination rounds by only one win. There was 58 teams from 19 schools and Great Bend finished in the top eight teams after preliminary rounds. The team will start competing in Forensic Tournaments on Jan. 28th.

Winter square and round dance lessons start Friday

Square and round dance lessons start at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 27, in the Burnside Room the Great Bend Recreation Center, 1214 Stone St.

Kansas Heritage Exhibit

The Coronado Quivira Museum/Rice County Historical Society is celebrating Kansas Day 2012 with the creation of a special exhibit with a local tie to the bright lights of Hollywood. From Jan. 25-March 10, the special exhibition area at the museum will feature the exhibit "From Rice County to Hollywood: Mary Astor and Shirley Knight".

GBHS FBLA fundraiser

Great Bend High School students are used to taking tests, but this is one test they are so eager to take that they are willing to pay for it.

Native Witness reception a hit

The latest efforts from Shafer Art Gallery Director Dave Barnes are drawing attention from diverse interests.

KWEC offers winter kids programs

KWEC has the cure for boredom – winter nature programs! Kids will turn the birdhouse gourds grown in KWEC's garden into homes for our feathered friends, make a feather bookmark, play games and of course learn more about the world around them and the creatures living there. So don't delay, sign-up soon, as the maximum for each class is 20 children.

Barton County Sheriff Greg Armstrong files for re-election

Barton County Sheriff Greg Armstrong announces he has filed for reelection in the upcoming 2012 election as a Republican candidate for Barton County Sheriff.

Native American wisdom

Platinum Award winning musician John Two-Hawks will present a lecture and American Indian flute concert this Friday, Jan. 27, at the Crest Theater.

Sunflower director voices concern with budget plan

When Jim Johnson hears state officials talking about reducing Medicaid spending by $853 million, with no reduction in services, he admits it makes him apprehensive. As executive director of Sunflower Diversified Services, Johnson fears what will happen to people with disabilities if Gov. Sam Brownback's proposal is approved.

GBHS DanceLine winter dance clinic

It's time to sign up for the winter dance clinic hosted by the Great Bend High School DanceLine.

Free access to selected Kansas archives on Ancestry.com

The Kansas Historical Society today announced a partnership with Ancestry.com that will allow individuals with a valid Kansas driver's license free access to more than 8 million Kansas records on the popular family history website. Users can access Kansas State Census Records from 1865-1925 (years ending in "5"), Civil War Enlistment Papers of Kansas Volunteer Regiments (1862, 1863, 1868), Russell County Vital and Probate Records, selected World War I manuscripts, and the United Spanish-American War Veterans certificates collections.

Tribune readers invited to share favorite recipes

Friendship Bread is a baking tradition that works best when shared - an edible chain letter of sorts. Someone prepares a cup of Friendship Bread Starter, places it a one-gallon resealable "zipper" bag and delivers it to a neighbor. If the neighbor follows the instructions, in 10 days he or she will have four cups of batter - one to bake and three to give away.

Bellendir announces candidacy for Sheriff of Barton County

Great Bend resident Brian J. Bellendir announced today his intention to file for the Republican nomination for Sheriff of Barton County. A veteran law enforcement officer and administrator, Bellendir said he promises to bring competence, cooperation, experience and accountability to the office.

Native Experience: Shafer Gallery announces new exhibit, lectures

The Shafer Gallery will host an opening reception for its next exhibit, "Native Witness: Indians in the Shafer," from 1-4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 22. Refreshments will be served.

Great Bend’s Winder helps with ESPN’s “From Harlem With Love”

Great Bend's Allen Winder coordinated Meadowlark Lemon's interviews for the ESPN 30-for-30 Short (about 12 minutes) that premiered Thursday entitled "From Harlem with Love."

Birthday service project

Thelma Northcutt hits the trifecta with Sunflower Diversified’s help

It is not at all uncommon for a Sunflower Diversified Services client to reach a new milestone. But Thelma Northcutt has hit the trifecta in recent weeks, taking personal growth to the next level.

A check from the chili cookoff

Danny Riggs presents a $700 check to Donita Wolf, director of St. Rose's Golden Belt Home Health & Hospice, while Lori Grauer, left, and Annette Schremmer look on. The three joining Wolf represent the Bikers of Central Kansas, who raised money for GBHH&H at their recent Chili Challenge.

​New grief support series starting soon

Golden Belt Home Health & Hospice (GBHH&H) will sponsor a Monday evening grief support group in Great Bend from May 5 through June 30. It will meet each Monday (except Memorial Day) from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in Conference Room 103 of the Medical Building at 3520 Lakin. Entrance is on Lincoln Ave.

Local cattlewoman Beran elected to national board

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The National Hereford Women Board of Directors recently elected Hereford enthusiast Michelle Beran of Great Bend to its board representing the northwest quadrant of the United State. The quadrant includes Washington, Oregon, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho and Montana.

Thunderstorm watch issued along with red flag warning

WICHITA - The National Weather Service in Wichita issued a thunderstorm watch for Barton County and north central and western Kansas at 3:05 p.m. Wednesday. The watch includes the following counties until 11 p.m. Wednesday - Barton, Cloud, Decatur, Ellis, Gove, Graham, Jewell, Lane, Lincoln, Logan, Mitchell, Ness, Norton, Osborne, Phillips, Republic, Rooks, Rush, Russell, Scott, Sheridan, Smith, Thomas, Trego and Wichita.

Weather spotters can submit information

WICHITA - The National Weather Service in Wichita has launched a new online storm report form for storm spotters and the general public to use.

Music teacher to give Kansas travel program

Steve Elmore, early childhood music teacher from Wichita Collegiate School, will offer a presentation about his travels through Kansas. The presentation, "Kansas Like You've Never Seen It," conveys information about interesting or unusual Kansas sites. The sites are little known to most tourists.

Barton opera standout Jessica Perez to present recital

Barton Community College music student and opera specialist Jessica Perez will present a special recital at 7 p.m. Friday, May 2 in the Dorothy Moses Morrison Chapel in the Fine Arts Building.

Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan Meeting to be held April 25

The Kansas Division of Emergency Management will be hosting a Regional Mitigation Plan Kickoff Meeting at 1 p.m. on April 25, in the Stafford County Annex Building, 201 E. 3rd St., St. John. Entities, including school districts, municipalities, special districts, and certain non-profits, within Barton County have been invited to attend the meeting. Interested individuals are also invited to attend the meeting to learn more about the plan and the planning process.

CPI Barton County Endowment accepting ideas for projects

The CPI Barton County Endowment was established in 2009 through the Golden Belt Community Foundation when CUNA Mutual Group acquired CPI Qualified Plan Consultants, Inc. (CPI) and made a generous donation establishing the corporate grantmaking fund. Since then the fund has grown and CPI employees have begun reviewing projects that will benefit Barton County. Earlier this year CUNA Mutual Group announced the rebranding and newly targeted focus for CPI, which included a new name: CPI is now known as CUNA Mutual Retirement Solutions.

Easter Bunny visits

Children at Tiffany's Day Care in the 900 block of Williams enjoy an early Easter visit from the Eastern Bunny. The business is operated by Tiffany Nily.

Roger Berger 5K raises money for Pancreatic Cancer network

Several runners and walkers came out for the first Roger Berger Memorial 5K, April 12 at the Barton Lake Trails.

Sunflower Diversified Services announces bowling tournament

Sunflower Diversified Services will hold its first bowling tournament at 6:30 p.m. on May 13 at Walnut Bowl.