Great Bend Mayor Mike Allison and City Administrator Howard Partington met earlier this week with Capt. Brian Webb and Sgt. 1st Class Kevin Hammeke of the Kansas National Guard about the Guard’s upcoming open house.
The event will take place from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday at the National Guard Armory, located at 9571 B-29 way at the Great Bend Expo Complex west of town. Webb and Hammeke said activities will include a climbing wall, jousting pit, obstacle course, and a display of military vehicles and equipment.
Soldiers from the 161st Field Artillery and 731st Transportation companies will be the hosts.
For more information, call Hammeke at 620-202-0463 or Webb at kevin.a.hammeke@us.army.mil.
The open house came up as part of Partington’s departmental update at Monday night’s City Council meeting. Other highlights from the report included:

 Public Works
• Annual Water Use Report and Tri-Annual Water System Assessment to Kansas Department of Health and Environment.
• Sanitarian: 214 year to date complaints, 36 new complaints (11 by citizens and 25 by staff), 54 complaints completed by citizens, 11 abatement notices sent and 28 cars into compliance.
Police
• America’s Promise event at Thompson Gymnastics.
• Park School and Riley School D.A.R.E. Bowling party.
• Officer Jefferson Davis attended the seminar presented by Prosecutor Karen Wittman from Kansas Traffic Safety Office held at the Front Door.
• Officers attended training at the Front Door on “Enforcement of Underage Drinking Violations.”
• I Make A Difference February party winner – Lincoln School.
• Officers attended training at the Front Door on “Sexual Offense Investigations.”
Administration
• The city is continuing to work with the Great Bend High School marketing class and instructor Chris Battin on planning and advertising for the 2014 Great Bend June Jaunt.
• Community Coordinator Christina Hayes agreed to be co-chair for the Hospitality Committee for the second year to support the Great Bend Farm & Ranch Show taking place in April.