Curtain time: Community concerts bring entertainment excellence to Golden Belt

The Golden Belt Community Concert Association brings a long-standing tradition of entertainment excellence to its 2013-2014 season with six concerts ranging in genre from country to classical, Broadway to bluegrass, and The Diamonds' own classic rock 'n' roll. The association has launched its new membership campaign, which will continue through May 11. Opening in September, the season will feature six concerts selected to entertain members with a variety of musical tastes. Concerts are performed at ...

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 ...

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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