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Special day at the Motherhouse
Sr. Alvina Miller marks 106th with prayer, special German meal and a little exercise
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COURTESY PHOTO Sr. Alvina Miller, OP celebrates her 106th birthday at the Great Bend,Motherhouse on Feb. 17.
Published: Feb 23, 2024, 8:07 PM

The Dominican Sisters of Peace announce the 106th birthday of one of their beloved sisters, Sr. Alvina Miller, OP, on Feb. 17. Sr. Alvina lives at the Congregation’s Great Bend Motherhouse.

A special highlight of the day for Sr. Alvina was a delicious meal, reminiscent of what her mother (of German descent) made her as a little girl - short ribs, mashed potatoes, sauerkraut, and chocolate pudding, served to her at the Great Bend Motherhouse. Also on the agenda during the birthday week is a Tai Chai class to stay active and social, listening to books on tape, attending Mass and saying prayers.

Sr. Barbara Kane, OP, Mission Group Coordinator at the Great Bend Motherhouse says, “Sr. Alvina is one of the best students in our Tai Chi class! Even though she is in a wheelchair she stays active with Tai Chi and other things that are important to her such as attending Mass. Sr. Alvina lives at the Motherhouse’s infirmary which has a balcony that enables her to join with other Sisters at the Motherhouse for the Eucharist and morning and evening prayers.

Sr. Alvina has been praying from an early age. She spent her life on her family’s farm until she left at age 14 to begin the journey towards Sisterhood. She recalls her father’s tears about her decision but also the pride her parents felt because of her vocation. She had one sister and two brothers, now deceased, but still has two sisters-in-law living. Sr. Alvina remembers the first step towards the Rite of Perpetual Vows when she promised to live by religious vows for one year (part of the ritual towards sisterhood in 1935), “This was a highlight of my life as a Sister. Even though it was a promise to keep the vows for only one year, when I was kneeling at the altar, I was making my vows for a lifetime.”

Sister Alvina has demonstrated her faith as well as her love of helping people countless times during her years as a Dominican Sister of Peace. A few of her many accomplishments include her ministry as a librarian and establishing a library within the Great Bend Motherhouse, her 35 year-long ministry as an educator - instructing first through sixth graders. She adds, “Teaching was not easy, many children didn’t know much coming in to school, but it was gratifying to watch them learn.”

Right now, the most satisfying thing in Sr. Alvina’s life is the time she spends in her prayer ministry. Sr. Alvina says, “I am grateful for all these years in religious life and so enjoy helping and praying for others. I remain appreciative of the permission to spend time in prayer, which is what I was given as a Dominican Sister of Peace.”

Sr. Pat Twohill, Prioress of the Dominican Sisters of Peace, describes Sr. Alvina as inspirational, “Sr. Alvina has truly spread Christ’s Gospel through her actions. This is what we are called to do as Dominican Sisters of Peace. She has lived her vows all throughout her life and continues to do so daily as she offers prayers as part of her Prayer Ministry.”

Sr. Alvina is the oldest living Dominican Sister of Peace. Sr. Francis Dominici Piscatella of the Sisters of St. Dominic of Amityville, N.Y. turned 110 on April 20, 2023, and is considered to be the oldest living nun in the country, according to the Gerontology Research Group.

The Dominican Sisters of Peace currently have seven women in formation for consecrated religious life. Women who are interested in pursuing a vocation to religious life can learn more on the Dominican Sisters of Peace website at www.oppeace.org. The Congregation will hold a Come and See retreat in March 2024.

About the Dominican Sisters of Peace: Dominican Sisters of Peace, members of the Order of Preachers, are vowed Catholic women who preach the Gospel of Christ through lives of service and peace-making. The Dominican Sisters of Peace are present in 22 states and Nigeria. The Sisters serve God’s people in many ways, including education, health care, spirituality, pastoral care, prison ministry, the arts, and care of creation. There are more than 300 Sisters and more than 200 lay women and men associated with the congregation.


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Courtesy photo A note written about Sr. Alvina by her parents.
Police busy with Meth arrests
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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.