GBHS competes at District National Qualifying Speech Tournament

At the District National Qualifying Forensics Tournament held on April 15 and 16 at Hutchinson High School, the Great Bend High School Forensics Team took eight students and competed in 11 events. The Great Bend High School Forensics team had two members advance to semi-finals and another member advance to finals.

Going green

A friendly frog is one of several chalk art creations in front of the Shafer Gallery at Barton Community College. The annual sidewalk art contest concluded at 4 p.m. Thursday. Gallery Director Dave Barnes will judge the sidewalk art and announce the winners.

BCC drama and forensics to host ‘A Night in the Theatre’

Barton Community College Forensics and Theater departments will host "A Night in the Theatre," beginning at 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 6, and ending at 8 a.m. Saturday, May 7. "A Night in the Theatre" is open to all high school and college students interested in theater and forensics. This end-of-the-year event is an opportunity to have some fun after a year of hard work, sponsors said. Activities will include movies, theater ...

Button to speak at Historical Society

Robert E. "Bob" Button will present a program on an 1847 Colt "cap and ball" pistol that once belonged to James Chestnut Jr., during the Barton County Historical Society meeting at 7:30 p.m. Monday. "Chestnut's story is one fascinating account about the Civil War years," said Bev Komarek at the Barton County Historical Museum, where the meeting will be held. "Button will also discuss his "First Peoples" display at the museum, ...

Radiothan raises $36,000 for Kans for Kids

At least four Barton County children with cancer will be the beneficiaries of a recent Kans for Kids fundraiser. Approximately $36,000 was raised during the first Kans for Kids Fighting Cancer Foundation Radiothon.

Barton County 4H’ers compete in State 4H Air Rifle Match

On Saturday, April 16, eleven Barton County 4H'ers wrapped up the 2011 shooting season by competing in the 4-H State Air Rifle Match held in Great Bend.

Community Egg-Stravaganza takes place April 23

For the third year in a row, First Assembly of God is sponsoring its Easter egg hunt. At 1 p.m. Saturday, children through sixth grade are welcome to come to the Great Bend High School Football field to get in on over 35,000 Easter eggs that will be given away during the event. In addition to the candy-filled eggs, other prizes will be given away this year.

Healing Hearts Ranch to begin evening worship services

Healing Hearts Ranch to begin evening worship services Healing Hearts Ranch, 155 SE 1st Ave., will kick off the beginning of summer cowboy-style services. Professional cowboy style poet Nyle Henderson and preacher John Paul will begin speaking at 7 p.m. on Saturday. It is part of a fundraiser that will occur during the day. Prior to the service, hot dogs will be served. The cost is a free will offering. After ...

District addresses bullying

Bullies beware. That's the message USD 428 is serious about conveying. And to prove it, a three-day, anti-bulling workshop was held last week at the District Education Center for 35 school and other professionals. Using a train-the-trainer format, nationally acclaimed anti-bulling expert SuEllen Fried led the group in "empowerment sessions" that attendees will take back to their schools and businesses in order to continue spreading her anti-bulling message. "We want to empower the students to ...

Clara Barton Colloquium celebrates 20 years of health-care continuing education

"Nurses: Trusted to Care" is the theme for the 20th annual Clara Barton Colloquium offered by Barton Community College. The event is set from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, May 6, at the Highland Hotel and Convention Center, 3017 W. 10th Street.

Bus driver called ‘heroine’

NESS COUNTY - A Western Plains bus driver certified as a EMT is being hailed as a heroine following a bus accident in northern Ness County Friday morning.

First of five diabetes classes set for April 28

When someone in the family is diagnosed with diabetes, mealtime can either become a problem or an opportunity. Gloria Siefkes and Donna Krug suggest the latter and will be available to offer meal-planning advice at an upcoming free event.

North-country music to come to Great Bend

Yukoners Sarah Macdougall and Gordie Tentrees are hitting the highways around the world March 25-June 18, including a 7:30 p.m. stop Wednesday at Great Bend's Barton County Arts Council Back Room.

USD 112 Board OKs logo

HOLYROOD - The new Oilers logo, an oil derrick and the letter "O" in forrest green, was approved at Monday's meeting of the Central Plains USD 112 board of education.

Cross accepted into Teacher Hall of Fame

Great Bend High School English Teacher Crystal Cross has received a well-deserved place in the Kansas Teacher's Hall of Fame. She will be inducted in a ceremony on June 11 in Dodge City.

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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