By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Cozy up with winter reading
Larabee Library News
new_lgp_larabeelibrarynewspic
Courtesy photo Several new families attended Story Hour this past week, learning to play together.
Published: Jan 27, 2025, 7:50 PM

STAFFORD —  Monday’s snow pleasantly surprised us with four families arriving for Story Hour. We enjoyed watching the young ones learn to play together, listening to Ezra Jack Keats’ “A Snowy Day” and having a snowball fight.

Recently Read Book Club, what a fun night! We discussed the books we are currently reading or just finished. Many authors were mentioned:

Fiona Davis - The Magnolia Palace

Ken Folliett - Century Trilogy series 

Peng Shepherd - Cartographers

C. J. Archer - The Librarian of Crooked Lane

Yeonmi Park- In Order To Live - a memoir

Diana Gabaldon - Outlander series was encouraged as a epic read

The Joy was the variety of Authors and Stories shared!

Story-graph & Fable were talked about as free apps to keep track of your books read or wish list. We are open to other times and days to meet in order to accommodate more readers. Call the library with suggestions.

Flyers and Facebook are out to invite you to the Feb. 5 craft and cookie craft night from 5:30-7 p.m. Craft Valentine gift bags, watch cookie/pretzel decorating or buy decorated sugar cookies made by Nita Keenan. If you want to make craft bags, call ahead to reserve a space. A fun night with many possibilities!

Ninety-eight different programs and events were given at Nora’s Place in 2024. We know this because we had to document all that we are doing at the library for the State Library Report. We will be offering as much and more in 2025, so come join us this year and enjoy what the library works to provide for you. Watch Facebook, pay attention to flyers, and read our articles in the Great Bend Tribune on Tuesdays or online, then plan to attend and invite others. Help us keep Nora’s Place relevant for the Stafford community.

Patrons were GIDDY! 360 new books have arrived from the South Central Kansas Library System. Rotating books shared with us through SCKLS is a great way to increase our collection, introduce new authors and genres, and provide new titles from favorite authors. We are glad to be able to partner with SCKLS to offer this service. 

Tax Time is upon us and I am working on getting tax help for you through the Southwest Center on Aging. Also keep in mind as you are preparing your paperwork that we have a shredder box to get rid of old documents in a secure way. 


Events in the future:

• Story Hour Monday Mornings 10-11 a.m.

• New Year - New Books, Book Challenge

• Watch for Tax Prep date in the near future.

• Feb. 5, 5:30-7 p.m. Save the Date for Valentine Art with Nancy Hildebrand. Nancy will help you design unique gift bags, Nancy has invited Jennifer Gleason to give a demonstration on pretzel and cookie decoration. Nita Keenan will also have decorated sugar cookies available for purchase. Sign up to enjoy the fun. Ten people can take the class but everyone is welcome to watch the demonstration or buy cookies. Nancy is also going to have “Make your own gift bag” packets to take home and craft.

• Feb. 18 or possibly the 25th, Recently Reading book club 5:30-7 p.m.. We’re open to suggestions on dates.

• Look forward to an event in March with Jennifer Gleason. She is planning on an evening combining sour-dough bread making with tools to help your jobs throughout the day become easier.

• The First Friday committee is busy lining up great evenings for our community to enjoy.  At this time, the months are April, May, June & August on the first Friday of each month.  Plan to attend fun evenings at Nora’s Place and enjoy events with your community. Save the dates!


Gerry Hildebrand is the head librarian for the Nora Larabee Memorial Library. Phone 620-234-5762, email larabeelibrary@gmail.com or visit Facebook at Nora Larabee Memorial Library.
Police busy with Meth arrests
police_drug_bust.jpg
Published: Mar 13, 2025, 7:40 PM

Great Bend Chief of Police Steve Haulmark issued a press release Thursday morning pertaining to the arrest of three individuals on drug and weapons charges.

At approximately 2:25 p.m., Monday, March 10, an officer with the Great Bend Police Department stopped a white in color Chevrolet Tahoe in the 800 block of Morphy Street in Great Bend, driven by Mitchell Anspaugh, W/M 63. Anspaugh was placed under arrest for driving with a suspended driver’s license. Great Bend Police K9 Niko responded to the stop to assist. A free air sniff of the vehicle was performed during which K9 Niko alerted to the presence of illegal narcotics in the vehicle. Officers searched the vehicle and located methamphetamine, evidence of distribution, and drug paraphernalia. 

Anspaugh was transported the Barton County Jail on requested charges of Distribution of Methamphetamine (3.5-100 grams), Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, No Drug Tax Stamp, and Driving While Suspended. Anspaugh was booked in lieu of $100,000 cash surety bond. Anspaugh was also booked on an outstanding Great Bend Municipal Court warrant for Failure To Appear. Anspaugh was booked on $1,000 cash surety bond for the warrant.

Later that same day, at approximately 5:47 p.m., officers from the Great Bend Police Department responded to United Parcel Services located at 2316 9th Street in Great Bend in reference to a suspicious package. Upon arrival, officers were notified that a package had been intercepted by staff and flagged as suspicious. Inside of the suspicious package, officers discovered 7.6 grams of crystal methamphetamine hidden within the contents of the package. Shortly thereafter, the investigating officers were able to identify the suspect attempting to mail the package.

On Tuesday, March 11, officers from the Great Bend Police Department responded to a residence located at 2087 NW 60th Street, in Stafford County, in reference to the execution of a Narcotics Search Warrant. Upon arrival, officers apprehended the suspect from the UPS incident identified as Chandler Wieland, W/M 57. Officers also apprehended Lisa Rugan, W/F 56, at the residence. During a search of the residence, officers located over 100 grams of Methamphetamine, Marijuana, other controlled substances, evidence of drug distribution, as well as illegal and stolen firearms. 

Wieland was arrested and transported to the Barton County Jail. Wieland was booked on two (2) counts of Distribution of Methamphetamine, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Controlled Substances, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Criminal Use of Weapons, Possession of a Stolen Firearm, and No Drug Tax Stamp. Rugan was also arrested and transported to the Barton County Jail. Rugan was booked on one (1) count of Distribution of Methamphetamine, Felony Interference with Law Enforcement, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Controlled Substances, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Criminal Use of a Weapon, and No Drug Tax Stamp.  

These investigations are still ongoing. Anyone with further information regarding these or any other crimes is encouraged to contact the Great Bend Police Department at 620-793-4120 or Crimestoppers at 620-792-1300 or online at p3tips.com.