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GBFD contracts to help protect rural areas
new ces city DARE pic
Mayor Mike Alison poses with the most recent group of DARE graduates to present their essays at the Great Bend City Council meeting this week. Pictured with the mayor, from left to right, are: Ragan Nickless and Payton Cannon, Eisenhower; Brittney Birzer and Dylan Schmidt, Park; Ethan Gevara and Lindsey Newman, Lincoln; and Logan Welcher and Parker Smith, Jefferson. They were the winners of the Harper Camperland and Cox Communication DARE Essay Contest. - photo by Chuck Smith

Great Bend Fire Department will provide fire protection to four townships in Barton County for 2011, according to contracts approved by the Great Bend City Council this week.
Fire Chief Mike Napolitano reported that agreements had been reached with the townships.
Under the agreement, according to information from the fire department, it will, “make all reasonable efforts to attend fires” in the townships, when it is possible.
Napolitano explained the annual costs include:
• Great Bend Township — $47,618
• Liberty Township — $14,329
• South Bend Township — $21,777
• Buffalo Township — $23,819
Also during this week’s city council meeting, as part of her report on economic development matters, Chamber of Commerce Director Jan Peters told the council that rumors about Hobby Lobby opening a Great Bend location were just that — rumors.
Peters explained that she was able to set the rumors to rest, via the company. “We do have confirmation that Hobby Lobby is not coming.”
There had been a listing on an Internet job source that seemed to suggest the company was looking for a manager for a new facility that would have been in Great Bend, but the company has stated it has no plans to locate here.
The council also received a report from City Administrator Howard Partington and heard portions of essays from recent DARE graduates.