Firefighters battle blazes, CO

Great Bend firefighters extinguished two fires and made a timely carbon monoxide check this past weekend, Fire Chief Mike Napolitano reported.

VORP disbands

In March of 1996, Larry Hesed along with a board of eight people formed a 501c3 organization called the Victim Offender Reconciliation Program of Central Kansas. The organizations funding was initially started with a grant from the Showalter Foundation and the Dominican Sisters. Until 2010, the VORP program has been bringing victims and offenders together in a safe mediation setting to permit the offender to take responsibility for his or her actions, to make things as right as possible with the victim, and to be clear about future intentions. Cases were received from the Barton County Attorney's Office and ...

Musician Scott Ibex coming to Great Bend

Singer-songwriter Scott Ibex will bring an eclectic variety of music, from what he dubs psychedelic bluegrass to acoustic tapping/fingerstyle guitar to his unique blend of reggae-infused acoustic rock, to Great Bend on Saturday, Feb. 18. The Barton County Arts Center, 1401 Main Street, will host Ibex in concert, beginning at 7:30 p.m. Seats are $10 and may be purchased at the door or tickets will be available in advance at A440 Musical Instruments, 2008 Forest Ave., Great Bend.

Guy Penrod to present Community Concert on Friday

After many albums and awards with the Gaither Vocal Band, Guy Penrod has returned to country music, but is still delivering one moving message after another. He will perform for the Golden Belt Community Concert Association at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 17, in the Great Bend Municipal Auditorium, Lakin and Stone.

Advancements in technology help Sunflower clients communicate

When Eric Zamora received his iPad last year, his ability to communicate was enhanced many fold. But in the near future, it could get even better.

Rosewood featured on national television series

Rosewood Ranch has attracted the attention of a nationally syndicated television show that focuses on telling positive stories about rural life. The Ranch, along with Rosewood Services Inc.'s Greenhouse, will appear in episode 722 of America's Heartland, the final episode of season seven for the show.

Tickets for GBHS Hall of Fame luncheon on sale

Tickets for the Great Bend High School Hall of Fame luncheon are on sale in the Activities Office at Great Bend High School. The luncheon is scheduled for 11:45 a.m. Friday, Feb. 24, at Heritage Room of the Highland Convention Center.

USD 428 Board of Education meeting

USD 428 Board of Education will beet at 5 p.m. on Monday at the District Education Office, 201 South Patton Road.

Take a virtual tour of monarch butterfly migration

Every November, monarch butterflies arrive in Central Mexico by the hundreds of millions, clustering so thickly in fir forests they sometimes break the tree branches. Learn more about this amazing annual migration, as founder and director of Monarch Watch, Orley R. "Chip" Taylor, Professor Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, presents "Monarchs Wintering in Mexico: The big gamble" at 2 p.m. on Feb. 26 at the Kansas Wetlands Education Center. The program is free and open to adults and children.

Locks of Love donation

Rachel Keenan, 14, daughter of Tim and Alicia Keenan, cut 13" off hair to dontate to the locks of love foundation.

BCC to host Senior Day; $1,000 in scholarships up for grabs

A prize drawing for two $500 Barton Foundation scholarships, as well as other prizes, will be just one part of a day full of festivities available for area high school seniors as part of the Barton Community College Admissions Department's Senior Day, with registration starting at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25 in the Kirkman Visitor Center on the Barton campus.

20th Judicial District Teen Court receives Mini-Grant for Youth-Led Tobacco Use Prevention

20th Judicial District Teen Court Program recently received a grant of $1,000 from the Tobacco Free Kansas Coalition to implement youth activities targeted for tobacco use prevention in 20th Judicial District. Teen Court is part of a statewide youth movement against tobacco.

Public invited to St. Rose cardio exercise class

Anyone who made a new year's resolution to exercise regularly but has fallen short may attend an upcoming cardio class in an effort to kick-start a program.

Woman injured in Albert collision

Janice K. Showalter, 41, was injured last Friday in a two-vehicle collision in Albert, the Barton County Sheriff's Office reports. She was driving west on K-96 at 2:50 p.m. when Alex Roth, 20, of Ellinwood, pulled in front of the car from a stop sign at Main Street. Showalter was unable to stop in time and the Chrysler she was driving struck the right side of the Dodge pickup that Roth was driving.

Friedlander & Hall coming to Barton Arts Center on Friday

Folk musicians Jeff Friedlander and Ed Hall will perform at the Barton County Arts Center, Forest and Main, Great Bend at 7:30 p.m., Friday, Feb. 10.

“The Glass Menagerie” opens tonight at Sterling College

"The Glass Menagerie" opens tonight at Sterling College

Great Bend Health and Rehabilitation Valentine party

At Great Bend Health and Rehabilitation's Valentine party on Feb. 14, all residents were noted as kings and queens, however with a draw of names of residents attending event, LaVane Rohr and Claudine Ringwald represented them as king and queen. They were crowned as Walt Pennington entertained with music. All residents were presented a red rose compliments of Dillons and their customers and cookies and punch were provided by Epsilon Sigma Alpha (Zeta Gamma Chapter).

State Piano Festival

On Feb. 22, four students from Barton County participated in the Kansas State High School Activities Association State Piano Festival held at Wichita State University. These students include Kaylyn Oberle, Claflin "Central Plains", Hannah Wilborn, Hoisington, Melanie Maneth, Great Bend, and Katy Jerke, Great Bend. At the KSHSAA Piano Festival students must perform Classical Repertoire by memory. However, participants must first compete and receive "I" ratings at the Regional Contest held on Feb. 8. Adjudicators listen to the students and write a critique of their musical performance and assign a rating with "I" rating the highest possible score. Students receiving ...

GBHS Speech competes in Nickerson

The Great Bend High School Speech team placed in 11 events at the Nickerson Speech Tournament. Those placing were Makinna Dykes, Kris Gieck and Ashtin Heath. Ashtin placed in both of her events. Those placing in all of their events and qualifying for the State Speech Championship Tournament in May are Malia Clark, Jesus Sandoval and Carter Sheffield. Carter Sheffield also won the Triathlon Award by placing the highest in all three of his events. He placed 1st in Extemporaneous Speaking, 1st in Serious Solo Acting and 3rd in Impromptu Speaking. The team placed 3rd overall.

KDOT requesting comments on STIP amendment

The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) requests comments on the amendment of the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) FY 14-17.

River Bend Assisted Living King and Queen

Husband and wife Carl and Teresa Jilg were named the King and Queen at the River Bend Assisted Living Valentine's Day Party on Feb. 14th.

Kansas 150 1901-1925