Great Bend escapes Defense Department furloughs

The Great Bend Kansas National Guard armory should escape unscathed the round of federally mandated National Guard furloughs announced Tuesday by U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, said Sharon Watson with the KNG Public Affairs Office.

GBHS cookbook now available

The Panther Paw Restaurant staff and management at Great Bend High School have produced a cookbook containing recipes of dishes served throughout the school year.

It’s Harvest Time in Washington

Not even Barack Obama can defy the laws of physics.

The Batty Battalion

You do realize that Washington, D.C. is not the real world, don't you? It's a state of mind. An altered state of mind. Where you're damned if you do and damned if you don't. Slammed when you stand and rammed when you run. Berated if you lie and lambasted for the truth. Where even the slightest of breeze can carry the pollen of disaster. And the pack on top knows the best way to avoid ...

Gitmo Hunger Hype

DO YOU KNOW THE WAY?

Okay, you all know the tune to "Do You Know The Way To San Jose," so sing along with me. Do you know the way to Tallahassee? You can also substitute Lexington or Chapel Hill as the destination. A funny thing happened on the way to those places Tuesday. Andrew Wiggins took a left turn on the experts and declared his song would sing, "I Know The Way To Lawrence."

Ibanez's grand slam leads Mariners past Yankees

NEW YORK - Raul Ibanez again treated Yankee Stadium as his personal playground, hitting a grand slam and two-run homer Wednesday night to help the Seattle Mariners rout New York 12-2.

Ellinwood awards high school athletes

Indians close season with 10-2 loss to Pratt

HUGOTON - The Larned High School Indians had their season close in a Class 4A regional baseball tournament on Wednesday afternoon.

Lady Cardinals fall against Pratt

ULYSSES - Things just wouldn't go right at the plate for the Hoisington High School softball team on Wednesday afternoon.

Class 5A regional track meet set for Friday

It all comes down to one day in qualifying for the upcoming Class 6-1A state high school track and field meet, set for next weekend at Cessna Stadium on the Wichita State University campus.

GBHS qualifies seven swimmers for Topeka

Great Bend High School had seven swimmers qualify for the Class 5-1A state swim meet, which will start on today with the diving competition at Hummer Sports Complex in Topeka.

MIAMI CLOSEOUT

MIAMI (AP) - A fast start and faster finish were enough to send the Miami Heat back to the Eastern Conference finals.

Mathias 'Matt' Boor 1918-2013

ODIN - Mathias "Matt" Boor, 94, died May 15, 2013 at Great Bend Health and Rehabilitation Center.

Ralph Marion Winkelman 1919-2013

ROCKPORT, Texas - Ralph Marion Winkelman, 94, died on May 9. He was born on Feb. 27, 1919. In 1938, he graduated from Chase High School. He entered the United States Army during World War II and served with the 13th Airborne Division in France, Belgium, Ireland and Scotland. After the war he worked for Kaw Pipeline in Kansas and in 1963, transferred to Houston and worked for the pipeline division of Texaco.

James named as NBA MVP for fourth time

MIAMI - LeBron James is the overwhelming choice as the NBA's Most Valuable Player. The Miami Heat star took 120 of 121 first-place votes in this year's balloting, giving him the award for the fourth time. Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant finished second and the New York Knicks' Carmelo Anthony was third. James' selection was not unanimous, despite plenty of suggestions from people around the league in recent weeks that he was worthy of that honor. ...

FFA officers installed at banquet

April Marriage and Divorce Filings

Marriage Licenses Jason Wayne Green, Pawnee Rock and Brandie Jo Bunch, Pawnee Rock Christopher Don Wikoff, Hoisington and Haley Elizabeth Parker, Hoisington David Wayne Schofield, Ellinwood and Lacey Ellen Bryan, Ellinwood Jose Pablo Canales, Great Bend and Sandra Yessenia Hernandez, Great Bend John Joseph Keener, Hoisington and Honey Lee Hemken, Hoisington Austin Gerald Smith, Great Bend and Sarah Jerree Ritter, Great Bend Cody Dillon Kelly, Great Bend and Jessica Ann Schenk, Great Bend Eduardo Valles, ...

GBMS band concert

The Great Bend Middle School Band Department will be having their spring band concerts on Thursday at the Great Bend Middle School gym. The 7th Grade Band the GBMS Jazz Ensemble concert will begin at 6:45 p.m. The 8th Grade Band and the GBMS Jazz Ensemble concert will begin at 8:15 p.m. The concerts are free and open to the public. The bands are directed by Kurtis Koch and assisted by Mark DeWald.

Donate blood now

Dear Editor, Thank you all for all the support this year and all who have donated so far to the American Red Cross and our lifesaving mission of collecting blood. With your help, we are able to spread the word about the need for blood and help give patients another chance at life. Your support has made a significant impact on the community and the blood supply. We cannot thank you enough for helping patients ...

Great Bend City Band summer season

The Great Bend City Band will begin rehearsals for their season beginning at 7:30 p.m. on May 28th at the Crest Theatre. Any instrumentalist who loves to play is welcome to participate in the band. Summer concerts will be given at the courthouse band shell and will begin Thursday, May 30th and every Thursday in June. A special big band swing concert will also be given at the band shell on Friday, June 28th. All ...

Volunteers in Action News

The "Check Out Hunger" food drive for the Community Food Bank of Barton County was a huge success. RSVP volunteers partnered with 6th grade students from Holy Family School, a local Brownie troop, and Barton County Youth Care manned tables at Dillon's on 10th Street and Walmart on Saturday, April 6th. Persons entering the stores received a handout about the Community Food Bank with a grocery list of needed items. The volunteers collected 1,749 lbs ...

Soil Stewardship Week

In 1955, the National association of Conservation Districts began a national program to encourage Americans to focus on stewardship. Stewardship Week is officially celebrated from the last Sunday in April to the first Sunday in May. It is one of the world's largest conservation-related observances.

Desk and Derrick presents check

The Desk and Derrick Club of Barton County recently donated $100 to the Great Bend Military Moms, to help with the costs of sending care packages to deployed military personnel. The Great Bend Military Moms have sent more than 4,300 care packages, to those serving so far away from home, and are getting ready for the next shipment. If you know of anyone currently deployed, get their military address to Leslie Barrett, 620-792-2838, as soon ...

Local educator awarded statewide grant

Mr. Stan Ewy, a teacher at Otis-Bison Elementary School in USD 403, was recently awarded a classroom grant by the Kansas Association of American Educators (KANAAE), a non-union professional educators association serving Kansas teachers. Mr. Ewy will use the funds to purchase an educational nutrition program for his physical education classes.

Chlumsky Hall of Fame Inductee

On January 26, Nathan Chlumsky of Larned was inducted into Action Martial Arts Magazine's Hall of Honors 2013 as an "Ambassador of Goodwill to the Martial Arts" in the category of "Excellence in Teaching Martial Arts."

Keeley - Birt

Mike and Jan Keeley of Great Bend announce the engagement of their daughter, Christy Diane to Mitchell Birt, son of Randall and Christine Birt of Omaha, Neb. Grandparents of the bride-elect are Bill and Pat Schartz of Larned and the late Terry and Barbara Keeley.

Koelsch - Ramsey baby girl

Josh Koelsch and Meredith Ramsey announce the birth of their daughter, Lennon Ramsey Koelsch, on March 23. She weighed 8 lbs. 1 oz. and was 21 in. long.

Wetzel — Hafner

Bill and Joni Hafner of Prairie Village announce the engagement of their son, Joshua Hafner, to Heidi Wetzel, daughter of Mark and Rita Wetzel of Roeland Park.

CINCO DE MAYO

The weather did not exactly cooperate, but Joe Hernandez and his friends didn't let it interrupt their celebration.