Each week we’ll take a step back into the history of Great Bend through the eyes of reporters past. We’ll reacquaint you with what went into creating the Great Bend of today, and do our best to update you on what “the rest of the story” turned out to be.

On June 5, 1987, the first Friday, the television news program “Nightline” presented its first ever “town meeting,” addressing the subject of a new and mysterious disease, acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). The interest and concern prompted the network to continue airing the show until 3:47 a.m.
It should be noted, back then, “Nightline” came on after the late news, around 11 p.m. or midnight, depending on where you lived. The topic hit a nerve with viewers, and the producers and anchorman Ted Koppel made a nearly unprecedented decision to continue the conversation for more than four hours.
That week, every edition of the Great Bend Tribune carried a story about AIDS, and looking back from 30 years later, it’s clear we’ve learned a lot, and attitudes have changed. Drug therapy was developed and implemented in 1996, changing what was once a fatal diagnosis to a “chronically managed disease.” Using a combination of medications, physicians can now “control viral load, delaying or preventing the onset of symptoms or progression of AIDS, thereby prolonging survival in people infected with HIV.”
First appearing in Los Angeles, Calif., in 1981, it was unclear at first what was causing young gay men to contract unusual diseases and die. At that time, there was no easy sharing of information through the internet as today. It was first thought the disease was exclusive to gay men. By 1982, it had affected other groups. It would be 1983 before doctors identified the cause of AIDS as the retrovirus HTLV-III.
With so little known, and so many worries, it is no wonder people from all over the country were seeking answers and a chance to ask their questions. The “Nightline” town meeting provided that outlet.
By 2011, about 1 percent of Americans between the ages of 18 and 49 were infected with the AIDS virus. Rather than a death sentence, now an HIV diagnosis generally calls for drug therapy and results in a life expectancy of 13 years less than those not infected. Unfortunately, this has lulled most of the population into complacency when observing safe sex or sticking strictly to patient therapy requirements. Scientists continue to search for a cure.

Heating up
The Monday, June 1, 1987, edition of the Tribune carried the story “Reagan draws boos during AIDS talk.” He was speaking at a private research foundation’s fundraising dinner, where he was first applauded for his call for wider testing and more education to stem the disease’s spread. “However, his support for what he called “routine” testing for the AIDS virus drew hisses and boos on several occasions.” He called for mandatory testing of AIDS in federal prisons, and added it as a disease for which immigrants can be denied permanent resident status.
The testing and ban for immigrants was implemented from 1993 to 2010. Federal prisons require it under certain circumstances, but we could not determine from the available information what those circumstances were. There is some voluntary testing available also.
Tuesday, a report on a French doctor’s testing of a possible AIDS vaccination ran. Dr. Daniel Zagury reported injecting himself with a vaccine he had worked on with his team. Later it would come out that in addition to himself, he had also injected up to 18 African children with the vaccine, but he could not or would not produce information about his work.
Wednesday’s paper reported on the stigma and silence those recently diagnosed with AIDS faced.
“It’s hard for people to admit to themselves they have AIDS. It’s a tremendous stress on them to go tell their friends and family that there’s a chance they won’t be alive in two weeks.”

Cooling off
While school was out for summer, projects at USD 428 buildings were finally getting underway. Air conditioning had yet to become common everywhere, but when students returned in the fall, at least the air in classrooms wouldn’t feel quite so hot and still, inducing that hazy, napping state that is so not conducive to learning. According to a report by Susan Thacker, the Board of Education had approved the purchase and installation of 188 Dynasty ceiling fans. The fans were only a stopgap measure, it turns out. Today, all the schools have either central air or room air conditioners. Kids have it so easy today.

Taking a long walk
Summer, in newsrooms across the country, is finally here the public alerts editors to the annual parade of unusual trekkers taking to the blue-line highways. Sometimes, they want to raise awareness for a cause. Sometimes, it’s just for the experience of taking a long walk across a vast country. In 1987, Les Vilda traveled the Santa Fe Trail in his covered wagon as he attempted to recapture a bit of the romance of a bygone era. Dale Hogg interviewed him.
Vilda described himself as a history buff, and was on his way from New Franklin, Mo., to Trinidad, Colo., and then on to Santa Fe, N.M., where he hoped to arrive by Aug. 25. He would take the mountain branch of the trail when he returned.
He had intended to walk the trail with a pack mule, but when the mule became lame, he had to find a different way. “He got a miniature wagon built by a friend, and a horse trained to pull it.”
We looked him up on facebook. Les Vilda is still going strong. Most recently, he has participated in a number of history reenactments, and is listed as “owner of Have Donkey Will Travel.” He now lives in Wilber, Neb. In 2016, he was a B.E.E.R. party write-in candidate for the office of President of the United States of America. His slogan, “Vote early, vote often, vote more for Les.”
We sent him a message, letting him know we are happy he is still going strong, and hasn’t lost his sense of adventure, nor his sense of humor.

Taking a short ride
Summer was also custom made for car shows. The Central Kansas Street Rods and Midway USA Classic Chevy Club’s Lakeside Rod Run and Pig Feed was planned for the weekend, and the Gary McArthur family was ready. They would bring their customized ‘57 Chevy, along with a 1955 model driven by daughter Robin. An annual lakeside run would happen Saturday at Lake Barton, and then the fun moved down to Lafayette Park, a.k.a. Courthouse Square or Jack Kilby Square, for newbies who don’t know Lafayette Park. A poker run was planned for that afternoon.
Great Bend certainly loves its cars. This weekend, June Jaunt will feature the Main Street Cruise and Car Show. Registration for the car show begins Friday evening, but it’s a come and go event because no one should miss out on the fun of cruising Main. Anyone who wants to get in on the fun is invited to “drag Main” Friday night starting at 7 p.m. and then stick around when the sun goes down for a free movie in the park, courtesy of the City of Great Bend.