With snow on the ground, Garet Fitzpatrick, leisure coordinator at the Great Bend Recreation Commission, reminds residents of the annual GBRC snow sculpture contest. Program coordinators reported on this and other events when the GBRC Board of Directors met Monday.

Groups and individuals are invited to make a snow sculpture this winter and send a photo of it, along with information about the people who worked on it. Mail photos to GBRC, P.O. Box 353, Great Bend, KS 67530, or e-mail gfitzpatrick@gbrc.kscoxmail.cox.

The recreation commission is also taking entries from pheasant hunters for the Longest Tail Feather Contest. The contest began with the opening of pheasant season, which ends Jan. 31. Hunters have until 5 p.m. on Feb. 2 to bring their entries to the Great Bend Recreation Commission office, 1214 Stone St. All entries will become property of GBRC.

The longest entry so far is "around 22 3/4 inches," Fitzpatrick said.

Prizes are offered in both contests.

Linda Marqueling, in charge of programs for senior citizens and special populations, reported that the Christmas dance for special needs patrons was attended by 131 people, plus parents and staff.

The board approved a change in soccer rules, explained by Chris Umphres, sports coordinator. "We’re going to make it so you can’t play in adult and high school soccer at the same time," he said. High school students should play in high school leagues.

Umphres said the issue arose during basketball season, and a similar rule will be added for next year’s basketball leagues.

The board also held a brief executive session to discuss the annual evaluation of GBRC Director Diann Henderson, and voted to keep the same slate of officers this year as in 2010: Dr. Marc Husling, chairman; Leonard Kaiser, vice chairman; and Bruce Hoeffling, secretary.