Hurley to retire from Great Bend Public Library

March 31 will be Terri Hurley's last day as public relations director at the Great Bend Public Library. After 34 years of service to the library and the community, she is retiring.

Grant applications for last round of Nutrition And Physical Activity Initiative now available

Grant applications for the final round of funding for the Golden Belt Community Foundation's Nutrition and Physical Activity Initiative are now available. This initiative is part of the Kansas Health Foundation's "change something" campaign and focuses on improving the health of residents of Barton, Pawnee, Rush, and Stafford counties through better nutrition and increased physical activity.

Inventor has local ties

Ever since Great Bend native Jeff Sallee played drums in the Argonne Rebels Bugle Corps more than 30 years ago, he's been captivated by the percussion sound.

Artists exhibit ceramics at BCC

Three artists who are ceramics students of Barton Community College art instructor Bill Forst are exhibiting their works in the display cases located outside the Shafer Gallery in the college's Fine Arts Building.

Three die in Ellsworth County collision

Kansas Highway Patrol reports three people died Wednesday following a head-on collision at 1:55 a.m., five miles east of Wilson on Interstate 70 in Ellsworth County. Joseph O. Pena, 27, of Corpus Christi, Texas, was driving a Ford F-150 pickup traveling west in the eastbound lanes. Kylie B. Jobe, 20, and Kyle D. Thornburg, 22, both of Wichita, were in the eastbound Chevrolet Equinox that collided with the pickup. Officers were ...

North Washington rollover

10th Street accident

Pinewood Derby winners

Boy Scout Pack 149, sponsored by the Trinity United Methodist Church in Great Bend, recently held its Pinewood Derby Race. The top three were, from left: Devin Brown, third place; Ross Phillips, first place; and Austin Moore, second place. Moore was also the Best of Show winner.

Going Green at TLC Preschool

TLC Preschool celebrates "Going Green!" in this photo taken on St. Patrick's Day. Cathy LaTourell, school director, and Ron Ensle, Trinity Lutheran Church custodian, are pictured with the children of TLC Preschool. "We are turning off lights, turning thermostats, and helping our friend Ron," LaTourell said. "We have a new green recycling trash container in our classroom." Kids are also selling Jack Links Beef Sticks as a fundraiser for the church's utilities. For information call ...

Chamber Coffee

This weeks Chamber of Commerce Coffee will be hosted by Murray Chiropractic, 2100 Kansas, at 9:30 a.m., Thursday. Ambassador in charge will be Nancy Sundahl with greeters Lana Dietz and Barry Bowers. Coffee, doughnuts and door prizes will be available.

Boy injured in go-cart accident

A 7-year-old boy from Kinsley was injured Sunday afternoon while driving a go-cart at Val Energy Inc., 250 SE 10 Ave., Great Bend. The Barton County Sheriff's Office reports the motorized go-cart, which was not equipped with a seat belt, struck a parked vehicle in the oilfield storage lot at 3:55 p.m. and the boy sustained a severe cut to his forehead. He was transported by private vehicle and met by ...

Early Ed Center/Incredible Years Preshcool to hold reunion

Organizers of the upcoming five-year reunion hope it will serve a dual purpose: Sunflower Diversified Services can learn about the progress made by children who attended its Early Education Center (EEC) and Incredible Years Preschool; and families can re-discover that both our children's services have an extended family for support, explained Cathy Estes, services coordinator. Families of youngsters that are currently enrolled and those who received ...

BCC's Dudek takes first at Garden Art exhibit

Steve Dudek was awarded the first-place Betty Sieler Award for his watercolor painting in the Wichita Garden Art Exhibit, which took place Feb. 23 through March 6. Dudek's painting was of roses from a photograph taken in the Great Bend Garden Club Memorial Rose Garden in the Great Bend Cemetery. He had two pieces accepted in the show.

Stafford County students donate to Heartland Cancer Center

Patients at the Heartland Cancer Center, Great Bend, will reap the benefits of a special fundraiser sponsored by the St. John High School Booster Club. The "Think Pink Night" raised approximately $3,300 for HCC. "We were all overwhelmed by this donation," said Jamie Hutchinson, R.N., HCC director. "It is gratifying to know there is this spirit of generosity in our central Kansas communities. We cannot thank the ...

Vehicles collide on county roads

Three people were taken to Great Bend hospitals on Friday after a driver ran the stop sign at NE 20 Ave. and NE 30 Road. According to the Barton County Sheriff's Office report, Brittney L. Smith, 16, of Ottawa was driving a Pontiac Grand Am south on NE 20 Ave. at 12:30 a.m. when she ran the stop sign. A Chevrolet Tracker driven by Kevin A. Davis, 19, of ...

Musical whodunit in store for Sterling Fourth

Equal parts murder, mystery, music, and comedy are in store as the Sterling Community Theatre Troupe presents the new Broadway musical "Curtains" as part of Sterling's Old Fashioned Fourth of July celebration. "Curtains" has a tuneful, toe-tapping musical score by the song writing team of John Kander and Fred Ebb famous for the musicals "Chicago" and "Cabaret." The show will be staged at 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, July 5 and 6 and at ...

Nex-Tech Zoo Fest is Saturday

The annual Nex-Tech Zoo Fest runs from 1-4 p.m. Saturday, June 8, at the Great Bend Brit Spaugh Zoo. There will be free food and live entertainment for the whole family.

Play time

Children at the Barton Community College Child Development Center (CDC) play with some new toys, Tuesday afternoon. The toys were acquired through a $500 grant awarded by Child Care Aware of Kansas. The grant requirements focus on increased efforts to practice healthy eating habits and to include physical activity both in and outside of the classroom. CDC Director Larissa Graham said the equipment is intended to help aid in fine muscle development and encourage "active ...

Help patients in need with blood donation

The American Red Cross encourages eligible donors to give blood this summer, helping to ensure a sufficient supply for patients in need. Blood donations tend to decline during the summer, when many regular donors are on vacation and schools are out of session. However, the need for blood is constant. All blood types are currently needed, especially O negative, which is the universal blood type and can potentially be transfused to any patient. Upcoming blood ...

Lee Turner Lectureship provides continuing education for law enforcement

Law enforcement professionals will have two opportunities to learn from Chicago area Police Chief Kent Williams about various forms of adversity law enforcement personnel routinely face, not only in the field, but how these events shape their personal lives after they leave the cruiser.

Waters True Value donates $4,000 with the help of social media

Waters True Value has donated $4,000 to the Oklahoma City Red Cross. The effort to contribute to the disaster relief efforts came after an EF5 tornado left a 17-mile path of destruction and damaged 4,000 homes and businesses in the Oklahoma City area on May 20.

Pit bull committee to hold first meeting

The City of Great Bend's newly formed committee to study the banning of pit bulls will hold an organizational meeting at 9 a.m. Wednesday, June 12, at the City Council chambers, 1209 Williams. The meeting is open to the public.

Kansas 150 1901-1925