Stafford USD 349 school board elected

STAFFORD - Four candidates emerged from a nine-person ballot for the Stafford USD 349 board board election Tuesday. Earning spots on the board were Jay M. Minnis (280 votes); Keith McNickle (192); Lucas Newell (148) and Rodney Roush (148).

BCC art students, instructor show work at Sterling College

Barton Community College art students and their instructor, Steve Dudek, had their work accepted in Sterling College's 37th Annual Prairie Art Exhibition. The exhibit is continuing through mid April. Dudek received a first-place award for his watercolor painting of Japanese koi fish titled "Gridded Koi." Barton art student Diane Engle, Great Bend, earned a Merit Award for her watercolor painting, "Faith ...

BCC Foundation targets April 17 Clay Shoot to offer mini grants for education

The Barton Community College Foundation anticipates another growth spurt for its Fourth Annual Sporting Clay Shoot, which has attracted more and more participants each year since the first event in 2008. The clay shoot is a fund-raiser to provide mini grants for Barton faculty to enhance student learning, said Darnell Holopirek, Barton's Executive Director of Institutional Advancement. This year's event is set for 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, April 17, ...

Kansas amphibians reptiles and turtles program, book signing planned at KWEC

Many people have a strong fear of snakes. However, some people get excited every time they encounter one of these misunderstood critters. One such person is herpetologist Joseph Collins of the Center for North American Herpetology. Collins has many stories about encountering snakes in the wild. He also has recently co-authored a revised edition of the "Amphibians, Reptiles, and Turtles of Kansas."

Wade Babcock seeking election

Wade Babcock is seeking election to the school board this coming Tuesday. Babcock a western Kansas native moved to Great Bend in 2001. He and his family came to Great Bend when he began employment with Central Kansas Orthopedic Group as a practicing Physician Assistant. Wade and his wife Lisa have three children Kaleb, Jacob, and Sophia. Kaleb and Jacob currently attend school at Jefferson Elementary. Babcock has served on the 428 school board since ...

BMI Relay for Life Dream Team fundraiser

The BMI Relay for Life Dream Team will hold a Quarter Mania Fundraiser from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Thursday at the Best Western, 2920 10th Street. Tickets are $5. Over $1,000 in products will be auctioned for 25 cents to $1. To see a complete catalog visit www.celebratinghome.com. Get a free second paddle when you order $35 from the catalog. For more information call Michelle at 620-804-1777.

Castro’s daughter to share Cuban insight during talk at FHSU

An appearance at Fort Hays State University by Alina Fernandez, daughter of Cuban dictator Fidel Castro, has been scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 5, in the Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center in Sheridan Hall on the Fort Hays State University campus.

Cheryl (Dunlap)Rugan candidate for USD 428 School Board

Cheryl (Dunlap) Rugan has announced her candidacy for USD 428 board of education. She considers herself a concerned mother of children in the public school system, far from a politician. However, after consideration of the importance of sound leadership and the impact that the USD 428 school board has on our children and the community, she has a vested interest to get involved. "I would approach the school board position with no hidden agenda, but ...

KU Barnstorming Tour coming to BCC

University of Kansas basketball players will be here April 17 for the Kansas Barnstorming Tour, coming to the Barton Community College Gym in the Kirkman Center. This is a benefit basketball game highlighting the talents of area high school seniors against former Kansas Basketball senior players of Brady Morningstar, Tyrel Reed and Mario Little. There will also be time for autographs and meeting the public, starting at 2 p.m. ...

Barton County Historical Society to hold volunteer orientation

The Barton County Historical Museum and Village will conduct an orientation meeting at 1 p.m. Thursday at the village, located south of the river bridge on U.S. 281. The meeting is for anyone in Barton County who seeks information about volunteer service at the museum, said Karen Naylor, volunteer coordinator. Volunteers, new or returning, will become acquainted with life at the Village, including events and new displays at the museum. There ...

Eagle Project benefits hospice patients

Sam Phillips of Great Bend was keeping his eyes, mind and heart open for a way to meet the requirements of his Boy Scout Eagle Project. After considering a number of ways to lend a helping hand, the 17-year-old decided that hospice patients might enjoy a little bird-watching and set out to make it happen. Phillips now has 25 bird feeders to show for his ...

'Tenacious' 6-year-old reaches milestones

Cathy Soeken and Connor Robl have developed such a good rapport and reached so many milestones that they are sharing the Focus on Abilities recognition at Sunflower Diversified Services. Soeken, Sunflower children's case manager, has been collaborating with the Robl family of Ellinwood for two years to help young Connor use his abilities to the fullest. Sunflower is a non-profit agency that serves people with developmental disabilities in ...

GBHS Class of '71 announces 2011 memorial scholarship

Each year, the Great Bend High School Class of 1971 offers a $1,000 scholarship in memory of a deceased classmate. The GBHS Class of 1971 Memorial Scholarship is being presented this year in memory of Mona Lynn Youtsey.

Shafer Gallery shows Kansas landscapes; planetarium presents starscapes

Barton Community College's Shafer Gallery will feature Kansas landscapes in a photography exhibit starting Sunday, with an opening reception from 1-3 p.m. That same afternoon, Barton's Planetarium will present "Kansas Starscapes" with 30-minute showings at 12:45 p.m., and 2:30 p.m. "Here in rural Kansas, we are blessed with dark skies, broad horizons and amazing views of the heavens," said Planetarium Director Dr. Timothy Folkerts. He ...

Young Seeks Position on USD 428 Board of Education

Dwight Young formally announces his candidacy for the USD 428 School Board. Young's first involvement with the Board of Education started when he Co-chaired the Building Excellent Schools Together (B.E.S.T.) Committee and was appointed to the Board for the 1996-97 school year. That process demonstrated the importance of maintaining the districts structures for future use. Young pledges to care for the infrastructure of the district as well as the students, staff and patrons that utilize ...

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.

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