Barton music department to host vocal masterclass forum

The public is invited to witness professional vocal tutoring when Barton Community College holds a masterclass forum, from 9 a.m. to noon and 1-3:30 p.m. Saturday, March 12, in the Dorothy Moses Morrison Chapel in the Fine Arts Building on the Barton campus.

Zoo news: Brit Spaugh Zoo gearing up for AZA application

The water level of the ponds in Great Bend's Brit Spaugh Zoo is down this month, and not by accident. Zoo Director Scott Gregory said the ponds are being dredged and cleaned, with new side walls built to stop erosion.

RSVP offers out-of-town transportation for Dr.'s appts.

he Retired and Senior Volunteer Program offers many services, and one of the services they offer is transportation for out-of-town medical appointments.

GBMS Band Concerts

The Great Bend Middle School Band Department announces three programs in February and March that the public may attend.

Spanish Brass to present Concert Association's sixth show of season

Spanish Brass with its offering of classical to contemporary music will perform for the Golden Belt Community Concert Association at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 1, in the Great Bend Municipal Auditorium, Lakin and Stone.

BCC enrollment increase ranked second in state

A news release recently published by the Kansas Board of Regents shows Barton Community College attracted the second largest number of new students compared to the other 18 community colleges in Kansas. In the fall semester of 2011, 257 students found their way to Barton's campus for the first time.

Registration continues for Kansans Optimizing Health Program

A workshop targeting people who have or are caring for someone with a chronic condition is set to begin Thursday, March 1st. The six week long workshop will meet from 6 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursdays through April 5th, at the Great Bend Activity Center, 2715 18th Street. Local class leaders, John and Donna Krug, have completed the training through a partnership with KDHE and K-State Research and Extension. If you are currently living with or caring for someone with arthritis, diabetes, heart or lung disease, asthma, the effects of a stroke, or any other chronic condition on ...

MADV Raises Money

River Bend Assisted Living Valentine King and Queen

River Bend Assisted Living crowned their Valentine King and Queen, Howard Soeken and Ruth White, on Feb. 14 at their Valentine Party.

Brungardt participates in national youth program in Washington, D.C.

Nathan Brungardt of Great Bend has been selected by the Foundation for Rural Education and Development (FRED) to attend the Leadership through Learning program from April 22-27 in Washington, D. C. Nathan is the son of Dan Brungardt and is a junior at Great Bend High School.

Barton and KDOC work together to improve public safety

Since 2002, Barton Community College has worked alongside the Kansas Department of Corrections to make the world a safer place through inmate education efforts and correction officer training programs.

Holy Family "Dress Down Day"

Legion helps veteran after fire

Fellow veterans have reached out to help Robert Jensen, whose Great Bend home sustained an estimated $50,000 in fire damage on Feb. 3. Firefighters were dispatched to 812 Stone St. at 10:15 p.m. that night. The first crew on the scene reported heavy fire and smoke from a window, Fire Chief Mike Napolitano said after the fire.

Call for artifacts: Essential Elements exhibit

In conjunction with the upcoming traveling Smithsonian exhibit, "The Way We Worked", the Coronado Quivira Museum is hosting an exhibit tentatively titled Essential Elements: Salt Mining in Rice County. They want to know if you have any artifacts you wish to submit for inclusion in the exhibit.

Sunflower lists some items donated for Gala auction

Sunflower Diversified Services has accumulated an impressive list of auction items for its annual gala but it can always use more, said Connie Oetken, director of development.

Sunflower Diversified accepting auction items for Charity Gala

Preparations for the 10thAnnual Charity Gala sponsored by Sunflower Diversified Services are in high gear with just a few weeks left before the event.

Prairie Land Food now available to order

Prairie Land Food is a program for families to stretch their food dollars. One pay $29 For a box of fresh food worth $35 to $40, plus two hours of volunteer time.

Sen. Moran now accepting applications for summer internships

Positions available in Washington, D.C., and Kansas offices

Chamber Coffee

This week's Chamber of Commerce Coffee will be hosted by Dress It Up at the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce Board Room, 1125 Williams, at 9:30 a.m., today. Host will be Julie Smith with greeters Melinda Kurth and Pete Schartz. Coffee, refreshments and door prizes will be available.

Dr. Watts impressed with health-care legacy at St. Rose

Larry Watts, M.D., has become a familiar face to the staff at St. Rose Health Center but in upcoming months he will be introduced to many others in the community.

Personnel on BCC agenda

The Barton Community College Board of Trustees will meet at 4 p.m. Thursday in room F-30 of the Fine Arts Building. Items on the agenda include an executive session for discussion of personnel, as well as reports on faculty accreditation and other topics.

BCC Library to host History Snapshot

Barton Community College will host "Kansas History Snapshot: E. Haldeman-Julius: Controversial Publisher and Free-Thinker," a presentation by Dean of Library Services and Curator of Special Collections at Pittsburg State University Randy Roberts, at 2 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 29 in the Library. Catered refreshments will be served.

Survey to begin on US-281 Highway in Barton County

Starting around Tuesday, Jan. 20, and continuing for three weeks, the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) will have a field survey team surveying a section of US-281 Highway in Barton County. The survey area will include the section of US-281 highway 600 feet north and 600 feet south of the US-281 bridge over a drainage tributary, located one mile north of the Great Bend city limits. The purpose of the survey is to gather information necessary to create detailed designs for future highway improvements.

Check It Out!

There are many exciting things planned for 2015 at Ellinwood School/Community Library. The Smithsonian Exhibit, "Hometown Teams" will begin January 30th with a Chamber Coffee. Be watching for the various activities scheduled with this event.

USD 428 Board of Education special meeting

USD 428 Board of Education will hold a special meeting at 5:30 p.m., on Monday at the District Education Center.

Citrus fruit arrives

The Indian River citrus fruit will be available from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday and Monday, Jan. 18-19, at the Great Bend Seventh-day Adventist School, 1 mile west of 10th St. and Patton Road. Extra navel oranges, pink grapefruit, tangelos, and Georgia pecans will be available. For information call 620-791-7314.

Central Plains students donate to food program

HOLYROOD - Keeping in mind the spirit of giving during the holiday season, Central Plains Elementary School students in Holyrood were asked to bring their loose change to donate to the Kansas Food Bank to help fund the Food 4 Kids backpack program.

Garden Club learns history and future of Great Bend’s Argonne Forest

At their January meeting, 15 members of Great Bend Garden Club received a wealth of information about the work of a small group of people working hard for the betterment of Great Bend. Garden Club member Toni Rice is also a member of the Great Bend Tree Board and during her recent program Toni enthusiastically told the history of the Tree Board and of Great Bend's status as a Tree City USA.

Ellinwood Soup Sampler to benefit scholarship fund

ELLINWOOD - Ellinwood Knights of Columbus will have a soup sampler from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 25, at the St. Joseph Parish Center, 110 W. 2nd St. Several varieties of soup will be available to sample. Meal includes dessert and drink.

Dannebohm takes the oath of office

It's been 33 years since an Ellinwood resident was a member of the Kansas House of Representatives. On Monday, J. Basil Dannebohm took the oath of office as the third Ellinwood resident to serve in the Kansas Legislature.