Although June Jaunt was well over a month ago, it lived on as a display of photos that featured different aspects of Great Bend. Community Coordinator Christina Hayes said the June Jaunt photo contest was created for an art display but also as a promotional tool for both the City of Great Bend and the Great Bend Public Library, where the photos have been shown. Judges forms have been tabulated and on Friday officials announced the winners of the four categories.
The photos will be hung for this year in the city building at 1209 Williams St. Judges for the competition were Randy Goering, Megan Cates and Maribeth Turner.
The first category was City Life, and the first place photo was titled “City Band Concert,” taken by Wendell D. Hinkson. Second place was a photo titled “Booth at June Jaunt” also taken by Hinkson. The third place photo was “Chartel,” by Mike Coursen.
In the Recreation/People at Play category, Hinkson’s “Sports Complex” won first place. Teresa Cass took second with her photo “Brothers.” No other photos were entered in this category.
Nature and Landscapes was the third category and first place was titled, “Night Lights” taken by Courson. The title “Cinema Old & New” took second place by Hinkson. Third place was “Windmill in Sunset” by Cass.
The last category, with the highest scoring entries, was Animals. There was a tie for first place between Amanda Wright’s photo titled “Peaceful Lemur” and Penny Jones’ photo titled “Swan Lake.” Second place in this category was “Bee Nice” by Coursen and third place was “Winter Bunny” by Cass.
All photo winners are residents of Great Bend. Each first place category winner received a $20 Chamber Gift Certificate.
Library spokesman Jennifer King said the display was popular while it was featured there, and she looks forward to another contest at next year’s June Juant.
“This first time collaboration was a learning process, but overall it was very exciting to see the beautiful photos that featured Great Bend,” King said. “Congratulations to this year’s winners, and we hope you keep taking pictures of Great Bend for all of us to share!"