Degner-Keenan retires from board, continues service to St. Rose

Patty Degner-Keenan is stepping away from some official duties at St. Rose Ambulatory & Surgery Center. But there is no way she is turning her back on the health-care facility she has served for decades.

New gluten-free, celiac support group off to good start

When Geneva Ost asked Mary Bieker for help starting a new support group in Great Bend, there was no arm-twisting involved. Bieker jumped at the chance.

Use-of-Force Simulator trains officers

The Barton Community College service area will be a safer place thanks to a new tool employed by the college's criminal justice program, a Use-of-Force Simulator. The simulator puts officers in extreme situations and forces them to make split-second decisions on what type of force to apply in a given situation.

Great Bend Fire Department donates to Kans for Kids

Barton to host Annual Sidewalk Art Contest with prizes worth $300

Barton Community College will host its sixth annual Sidewalk Art Contest May 1 and 2 on the sidewalk outside the Shafer Art Gallery.

Southwest Kansas artists present 'Human Tribe'

RUSSELL - Deines Cultural Center is featuring "Human Tribe," which opens with a reception from 2-4 p.m. on Sunday, April 28.

Gallery recognizes talent at opening reception

Awards for the art exhibit featuring works by Barton Community College students were presented Sunday at the Shafer Gallery.

USD 428 Board of Education meeting

USD 428 Board of Education will meet at noon on April 23 at Eisenhower Elementary School, 1212 Garfield. Items on the agenda include 2013-2014 School Calendar, approval of paper bids, approval of licensed personnel resignations and licensed personnel appointments; and act on resolution to nonrenew contract on a nontenured teacher. Eisenhower Elementary School Principal, Tina Reiser, and other staff members will share information regarding the academic programs and the school improvement efforts at the school.

GBHS instrumentalists compete at regional

Twenty-six band students from Great Bend High School competed in 20 events at the Regional Music Festival on April 13 at Barton Community College.

Barton Cougars pitcher Skylar Hill diagnosed with cancer

The past few weeks have been a period of transition for Skylar Hill. He will graduate from Barton Community College in May, and the young pitcher for the Cougars recently signed to play baseball for Missouri Southern State University. Though these developments might have seemed like big news at the time, they pale in comparison to the moment his doctor told him he had cancer about two weeks ago. "When you hear news like that ...

Planning Committee meeting moved

The Barton County Local Emergency Planning Committee will meet at 1:30 p.m. Monday, April 22, at the Barton County Health Department Conference Room, instead of at the Barton County Courthouse as was originally planned. The agenda will include discussion on Tier II Reporting Facilities in Barton County, a review of the Barton County Household Hazardous Waste program, an LEPC by-laws update and reports from members.

Student Showcase

The Shafer Gallery will host an opening reception 1-3 p.m. Sunday, April 21, featuring the work of Barton students in a juried exhibit and will include refreshments, a juror's talk and an awards ceremony. The judge for the exhibit will be Fort Hays State Art Professor and former Barton Art Instructor Linda Ganstrom. She has a master's of fine arts degree from Fort Hays State University and specializes in ceramics. "It's always fun to ...

Garden Club approves plans for cemetery rose garden

During a recent April meeting, Great Bend Garden Club members made several decisions which will honor memorials given to the Great Bend Cemetery Rose Garden, enhance its beauty and ready the garden for the spring and summer seasons.

Rosewood Services brings world-renowned circus to Great Bend

To commemorate its 15th anniversary next month and to help raise funds for its non-profit foundation, Rosewood Services is bringing the world's largest big-top circus to Great Bend on May 16. The Carson & Barnes Circus will host two shows – one at 4:30 p.m. and the other at 7:30 p.m., at the Great Bend Expo Complex. Advance ticket sales will be announced soon and ticket sales will go toward Rosewood's non-profit Roots & Wings ...

Christian Howes Jazz Trio coming to McPherson Opera House

McPHERSON - The Christian Howes Jazz Trio will appear at the McPherson Opera House at 7 p.m. Saturday, April 27. A portion of the program will include the McPherson High School Orchestra, with whom Howes will have worked in a two-day series of workshops.

BCC students prepare for real world with Field Ops Day

April Marriage and Divorce Filings

Marriage Licenses

Great Bend City Band summer season

The Great Bend City Band will begin rehearsals for their season beginning at 7:30 p.m. on May 28th at the Crest Theatre. Any instrumentalist who loves to play is welcome to participate in the band. Summer concerts will be given at the courthouse band shell and will begin Thursday, May 30th and every Thursday in June. A special big band swing concert will also be given at the band shell on Friday, June 28th. All ...

Beautiful Dreamer

Editor's Note: A 1967 Corvette once owned by singer Roy Orbison is now part of the collection at Hendrick Motorsports, owned Rick Hendrick of NASCAR fame. For a time, that storied automobile was owned by Robert "Bob" Martin of Great Bend, the former owner of Christmas Fantasy Village. Martin died on April 9. The story of his Corvette was recently reported by The BLOCK.com. An abridged version of that story appears below.

Kansas 150 1901-1925