Beautification Committee

The Beautification Committee's project of beautifying Main Street is once again in full swing. Thirteen large pots have been planted on the corners of Main and silk flowers have been placed in the arches at Jack Kilby Square. Smaller cement pots are currently being planted in front of downtown businesses. Donations to help with the costs of pots, soil and plants can be made to the Beautification Committee sent to June Hillman at 3216 Broadway in Great Bend.

Property valuation notices to be mailed

The Barton County Appraiser's Office will mail out the 2011 Personal Property Valuation Notices on Friday. Once a property owner receives their valuation notice, it is suggested that they review the notice for accuracy of property information.

Shafer Gallery presents awards at Central Prairie League Art Day

Barton Community College's Shafer Gallery hosted Central Prairie League Art Day April 27, featuring the works of student artists from nine area high schools. The students were honored with a reception and awards ceremony on the day of the exhibit.

Beautification efforts

GBHS qualifies full entry to State Speech Championship

The Great Bend Speed team qualified a full entry (which is 16 events) to the 5A Speech Championship held at Topeka Seaman High School, on Saturday, May 7th.

Helping out

Appraiser’s Office conducting residential & commercial re-inspections

Beginning mid-May and running through the summer months, Barton County Appraiser's Office personnel will conduct their annual re-inspection of real property, which includes residential, commercial and vacant properties.

Damon Family Foundation helps replace axed funding for children

When a local charitable foundation learned that Barton County funding for children with developmental delays had been eliminated, it not only wanted to donate but also encourage others to do so.

Barton's got talent

The Barton Community College Student Juried Art Exhibition opened May 1 featuring students' work. Juror for the exhibit, Micky Yalg, art professor at Fort Hays State University, judged the show and awarded ribbons recognizing the quality of the students' work.

Two taken to hospital after Saturday collision

Vehicles driven by Eric T. Thiessen, 27, Lyons, and Linda Gotsche, 50, Great Bend, collided at 6:22 p.m. Saturday on U.S. 56, east of Great Bend at mile marker 218. According to the Barton County Sheriff's Office, Gotsche was driving a 2011 Ford Edge when she slowed down to avoid a rear-end collision with Richard Friedeman of Great Bend, who was driving a 1922 Stanley. She slowed down and put on ...

Driver in fair condition following Saturday’s tanker rollover

The man injured when a tanker trailer hauling 8,000 gallons of gasoline went off a Barton County road Saturday morning was in fair condition Monday afternoon, a spokesman at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita said. The Freightliner driven by Michael S. Manning, 60, of Great Bend, went off U.S. 281, 3.5 miles north of Great Bend, at 11:39 a.m., when he swerved to avoid a vehicle that was stopped ...

GBPL adds TV; changes web address

Check this out: There's a television in the library. This sound is turned off most of the time, as the flat-screen TV flashes notices of upcoming events at the library, and community events such as Relay for Life. Cara Negaard, who is in charge of the reference and acquisitions departments at the Great Bend Public Library, said it was installed a couple of weeks ago. "I think it's eye-catching," Negaard ...

Quivira Wildlife Reguge runs control burn

QUIVIRA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE - The smoke rose gently over the horizon Tuesday as 13 firefighters managed a control burn over 1,800 acres Tuesday in the northeast section of the Quivira National Wildlife Refuge in Rice and Stafford counties. Winds ranged from 4 to 6 mph.

Zoo news: New animals serve as zoo ambassadors

The newest animals at the Great Bend Brit Spaugh Zoo include hissing cockroaches and a Kenyan sand boa. These can't be found among the regular exhibits, but are used as education animals that can be taken to remote programs. Zoo Curator Marge Bowen said the 6-inch long Kenyan sand boa, found in sandy areas of east Africa, may grow to be 1 or 2 feet long. Several children got to ...

Three generation art show featured at GBPL

Art appreciation began at an early age for Bev Simonson of Great Bend, and has been passed down to her daughter Kim Wiens and granddaughter Amy Wright. Now the three generations have their own works of art on display in a combined exhibit at the Great Bend Public Library, 1409 Williams St. The paintings, drawings and photographs will be in the Fine Arts Room of ...

Poppies to honor veterans available

The American Legion Auxiliary will be out this Memorial weekend asking for donations to help with its Poppy Program. Members will be in front of Great Bend businesses with poppies this evening and all day Saturday. They will also be out on Sunday if they still have some of the 3,000 poppies, said Marianne Krallman, cochair of this year's Poppy Program. Look for volunteers in front of Walmart, both Dillon's stores, Orscheln's and True Value ...

Investing in Kids

Darin Johnson presents Connie Oetken, Sunflower Diversified Services director of development, a check for $1,030 for the non-profit agency's Invest in Kids membership club. These proceeds, which will be directed to children with developmental disabilities and delays, represent a portion of a month's invoices at Darin's Auto Repair, Great Bend.

Art on the Hill

Barton Community College's Shafer Gallery will host an opening reception for their annual faculty and staff exhibit from 1-3 p.m. today, which will include additional artwork from an array of local artists and three featured artists.

City Council to discuss pit bull ban

The Great Bend City Council will meet at 7:30 p.m. Monday at the City Office, 1209 Williams. On the agenda are a request to ban pit bulls and other vicious dogs, a lease request at the airport industrial area from National Co Operative Refinery Association and a cereal-malt beverage request for June Jaunt.

Knoblich and Jamieson Recognized by ElderCare, Inc.

Julie Knoblich, Director of Human Resources, Barton Community College and Bernie Jamieson, accountant with Benefits Managements Inc. were recognized for serving six years on the Board of Directors of ElderCare, Inc. Knoblich served as Board chair and Jamieson served as Board Secretary–Treasurer. Janet Splitter, Executive Director of ElderCare, Inc. presented each with a plaque in appreciation of their leadership and counsel guiding the service to older adults. Current members of the Board include: Julie Knoblich, ...

911 computers on commission agenda

The Barton County Commission will meet at 9 a.m. Monday at the Barton County Courthouse, 1400 Main in Great Bend. The agenda includes new computers for the Communications Department (911), dispatcher training and an overview of criminal victims' services.

Applicant's briefing scheduled for Barton County

On April 26, Barton County was declared eligible for Public Assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) due to a snowstorm that occurred Feb. 20-23, 2013. An Applicants' Briefing for township officials, cities, county, school districts and certain non-profits organizations within Barton County has been scheduled for 3 p.m. on Tuesday, May 14 at the Barton County Courthouse, Room 101, Great Bend. This meeting is for public officials and officers from these agencies and ...

GBHS Variety Show tickets on sale

Great Bend High School Variety Show tickets are still available in the high school vocal music room. Please use the east front doors of the school.

Keep Children and Pets Safe by Teaching Any Dog May Bite

Each year, 4.5 million people in this country are bitten by dogs and 885,000 of those require medical attention, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Among children, the rate of dog bite–related injuries is highest for those ages 5 to 9 years, and children are more likely than adults to receive medical attention for dog bites than adults. Children, because of their inexperience and size, are particularly prone to serious injury from ...

Keep children and pets safe by teaching any dog may bite

TOPEKA - Each year, 4.5 million people in this country are bitten by dogs and 885,000 of those require medical attention, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Among children, the rate of dog bite–related injuries is highest for those ages 5 to 9 years, and children are more likely than adults to receive medical attention for dog bites than adults. Children, because of their inexperience and size, are particularly prone to serious ...

Full entry takes 8th at State

On Saturday May 4th the Great Bend Forensics squad traveled to Emporia High School for the 5A State Championship Speech Tournament. They competed in 16 events, which gave them a full entry. Placing 8th out of 25 schools, the team had five events break into semifinals.

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