It was the “mane” event Thursday afternoon at Lincoln Elementary School.
The second-grade Lincoln Lions were visited by representatives of the Great Bend Noon Lions and Scott Gregory, director of the Brit Spaugh Zoo. Club members shared how the youngsters could win a stuffed lion by competing in a story-writing contest to choose names for the new lion cubs coming to the Brit Spaugh Zoo next week.
No “lyin’.”
The club is helping promote the zoo’s much anticipated new additions, two nine-month old lion cubs, that will arrive from Pennsylvania next week.  
“We thought it would be neat for the Great Bend Lions to meet with the Lincoln Lions to talk about lions today,” Koelsch said.  
The cubs will need new names, he explained, and elementary school students throughout Great Bend will have the opportunity to help pick one of the names. The Lions Club is sponsoring a story writing contest for students, and the winner will not only choose the name, he or she will also become the proud owner of a 44-inch plush lion.  Lions Club members offered students a sneak peek at the lion, and Gregory talked briefly about the new additions coming to the zoo.  
The second lion will also need a name and the public will be given a chance to submit their best lion name. The Great Bend Noon Lions began selling 50 chances this week. Each chance costs $25, with all proceeds going to the Great Bend Zoological Society. Participants also receive a smaller stuffed lion and a one year new or renewal membership to the zoo. The overall winner will receive bragging rights. Zoo members will have the opportunity to view the new zoo additions before the public at a special members-only event on Monday, Nov. 11. The public will be able to view them on Tuesday, Nov. 12, and on Wednesday, Nov. 13, all Great Bend elementary school students are invited to attend a behind-the-scenes look at the lion cubs and their new home, Gregory said.
In addition to lion cubs, Gregory will also be transporting two grizzly bear cubs from the same zoo next week. The lion cubs are siblings, a brother and a sister. It is unknown what genders the bear cubs will be. He hopes other area groups will sponsor naming contests for the other new animals, he said. Saturday, before Gregory leaves, the zoo will receive a second Arctic fox too. The zoo is also making final arrangements for transportation of an African Serval, a medium-sized African wild cat, which will arrive from Australia at a later date.  
“After the depressing time we’ve had recently with animals dying from old age and cancer, it feels great to finally be bringing in some new animals,” he said.  
All the new animals will be in quarantine for several days before the public will be able to view them.
Students asked Gregory how he would catch the lions. He explained that they will pass through doors that will not require people to come in contact with them as they enter the kennels they will travel in during the 16-hour drive back to Great Bend. Gregory will be accompanied by zoo board members who will trade off driving responsibilities.