BOOKED: Tyler Marvin of Great Bend on District warrant case for failure to register, bond is set at $40,000 C/S. Failure to appear with bond at $500 cash only. Failure to appear with bond at $300 cash or 48-hour OR.

BOOKED: Dontae Adams on GBMC case for DWS and defective tag light, bond is set in the amount of $500 C/S.

BOOKED: Courtney Bryant on Barton County District Court case for aggravated domestic battery and unlawful discharge of a fire arm, bond set in the amount of $20,000 C/S.

BOOKED: Emily P. Noblitt on Barton County District Court warrant for failure to appear and Reno County District Court warrant for failure to appear with a bond of $7,500 C/S.

BOOKED: Charles Bower on Barton County District Court warrant for burglary, theft, and criminal damage with a bond of $20,000 C/S.

BOOKED: Layton Brown of Great Bend on BTDC case for burglary, theft, and criminal damage to property, bond is set at $50,000 C/S.

RELEASED: Juana Perez of Great Bend on GBMC case after posting a $1,000 bond.

RELEASED: Dontae Adams on GBMC case for DWS and defective tail lamp after posting $500 surety bond.

RELEASED: Courtney Bryant on BCDC case for aggravated domestic battery and unlawful discharge of a firearm. Posted bond of $20,000 through Dyn-O-Mite Bail Bonding.

There is no question that traffic is the top concern for law enforcement and parents on Halloween. With hundreds of children out trick-or-treating tonight that brings hundreds of bodies that might be running across the streets without looking for oncoming traffic.

Barton County Sheriff Brian Bellendir recommends standing out for drivers to see you as it gets darker.

Brian Bellendir Audio

Bellendir says there will be officers patrolling all the towns in the county like usual, but urges motorists to drive slower than the posted speed limit in residential areas. Traffic is the biggest worry as vandalism on Halloween has not been much of a factor recently.

Brian Bellendir Audio

While Broadway and Twin Lakes will be popular trick-or-treat zones again this year, Bellendir reminds all motorists to not let your guard down in less traveled areas within city limits with children running around at unusual times.

The Golden Belt Community Concert Association will present the Sons of the Pioneers at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 8, at the Great Bend Municipal Auditorium, Lakin and Stone.

This GBCCA event is open to association members. Anyone wishing to purchase a season membership may do so at the door at this concert. Memberships are $50 per adult; $10 for any full-time enrolled student; $110 for a Family Membership; and $110 for a Grandparent Package. No single concert tickets are available. Full-time students will be admitted to the concert for a $5 donation at the door. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Formed in 1934, the Sons of the Pioneers are known as the original “singing cowboy” band, instrumental in creating the earliest sounds of western music. Founded by Roy Rogers (also known as Leonard Slye), Bob Nolan and Tim Spencer, the band has continued to perform since then, rotating a total of 46 members over the years.

This award-winning, legendary band continues to gain fans young and old, playing original favorites including “Cool Water” and “Tumbling Tumbleweeds,” and gems from the early days.

These five talented musicians, including Rogers’ son, continue to add a new level of energy to this classic genre, taking their audiences time-traveling into the Great American West. Their concert program has selections from approximately 100 songs including “Ghost Riders in the Sky” and “Happy Trails,” and the two titles previously mentioned.

Band members are Tommy Nallie, “trail boss” singing bass, official curator of the famous “pioneer sound”; Ken Lattimore, one of the best tenors in western music, who has been with the group for 20 years; Dusty Rogers, MC, vocals, harmony and yodeling, who says it’s not his job to stand in his father’s shadow, but it IS his job to lengthen it; John Fullerton, baritone, rhythm guitar player and historian; and Paul Elliott, fiddler, who grew up in a house filed with jazz, classical and folk music and started playing violin when he was 7 years old.

For more information about GBCCA, visit the association’s web site: www.goldenbeltcca.org, or call 620-793-2748.

Barton County Commissioners were updated Monday on the results of the 2018 tax sale that was held at the courthouse on October 23rd. The primary purpose of the annual tax sale is to collect delinquent taxes. Back taxes, penalties and interest due are recouped by forcing payment of property taxes by a current property owner via threat of sale, or by selling the property to the highest bidder which took place last week. Treasurer Jim Jordan had the numbers on what this years auction generated.

Jim Jordan Audio

All 26 tracts that were up for auction were sold with houses bringing as much as $11,000 and as little as $4,000. Empty lots went for as little as $5.

Over 30 bidders were in attendance for the sale that was conducted by Sheriff Brian Bellendir. Normally Commissioner Kenny Schremmer, an auctioneer by trade, handles the tax sale but he was unavailable last week due to illness.

BUSINESS NEWS

The Great Bend Recreation Commission will be hosting a free Stop ‘N Learn Session titled “Images Associated with Halloween” on Wednesday, October 31^st, from 12:00 – 1:00 pm at the Great Bend Activity Center (2715 18^th).

The images we associate with the traditions of Halloween, dancing skeletons, the leering Jack-O-Lantern face, the high-flying witch with her black cat, are both fascinating and repellant.  Join us and learn about the art historical sources of these and more images we associated with the celebration of Halloween.  David Barnes, Director of Shafer Memorial Gallery, will be the presenter for this program.   For more information about this program and other programs the Great Bend Rec offers, please go to our web site at www.greatbendrec.com or call the Recreation Commission office at 793-3755 ext. 110.

BOOKED: Ricky Bryant of Hoisington on Great Bend Municipal Court warrant for contempt of court with a bond set at $432.50 cash only or 28 days in jail. GBMC warrant for contempt of court with a bond set at $1,252.50 cash only or 88 days in jail.

BOOKED: Arthur Herren on a Great Bend Municipal Court warrant for contempt of court, no bond.

BOOKED: Cody Bradley on Barton County District Court case for aggravated domestic battery, endangering a child, and criminal restraint, in lieu of bond of $20,000 C/S.

BOOKED: Taylor Heinzman of Wichita on Barton County District Court warrant for possession of controlled substance with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, felony possession of paraphernalia, no drug tax stamp, and misd. possession of paraphernalia, bond set at $100,000 C/S.

BOOKED: Emily Noblitt on BTDC case for probation violation, no bond. BTDC case for probation violation with no bond. BTDC case for failure to appear, no bond. BTDC case for failure to appear, no bond. BTDC case for failure to appear, no bond. BTDC case for possession of controlled substance, possession of marijuana, possession of paraphernalia of $10,000 C/S bond.

BOOKED: Juana Perez of Great Bend on GBMC case for driving while revoked, no headlights, bond is set at $1,000 C/S or 48 hour.

RELEASED: Sabastian Gonzalez of Great Bend on GBMC case.

RELEASED: Laura Standlee on GBMC case for time served.

RELEASED: Alexander Anderson on BCDC case for time served.

RELEASED: Jacob Hoch of Great Bend on BCDC warrant for probation violation x2 after serving a 3-day sanction.

RELEASED: Adrienna Kennedy on BCDC case to treatment.

RELEASED: Jacquelin Rodriguez of Great Bend on GBMC warrant for failure to appear, released by court order.

RELEASED: Michael Grossman on Stafford County District Court case for DUI and no DL after he received a $1,000 OR bond.

RELEASED: Dustin Chambers of Hoisington on Barton County District Court warrant for failure to appear after he posted a $10,000 surety bond.

RELEASED: Alberto Espino of Great Bend on BCDC case for possession of marijuana,  possession of paraphernalia, DWS, and defective tail lamp to Saline County for their warrant after he was granted probation.

RELEASED: Kyle Kruckenberg of Great Bend on BCDC warrant for probation violation. BCDC case for possession of methamphetamine. BCDC warrant for unlawful possession of a controlled substance, driving while license concelled, suspended, or revoked, possession of drug paraphernalia, no proof of insurance, and failure to wear seat belt after posting a $15,000 surety bond.

The spinoff of “One District, One Book” in Great Bend is now known as “Great Bend Reads” but the goal is the same: get students excited about reading. Roughly 1,300 books of “The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane” will be handed out Friday, Nov. 2 with the program starting next week.

Jefferson Elementary School Principal Kip Wilson is organizing the program this year, but has a committee of teachers from each grade school helping.

Kip Wilson Audio

Great Bend Reads aims to get family members or guardians involved by having them read to their children at home. All the Great Bend grade schools will have activities, games, and trivia during the school day to keep the students involved with the reading.

Wilson says there is some thought that goes into selecting the book each year to make sure all ages are entertained.

Kip Wilson Audio

The 2006 novel of the life of a china rabbit won the 2006 Boston Globe-Horn Book Award in the fiction category.

Three debating duos from Great Bend posted a collective record of 8 wins and 7 losses to win the 3 rd place trophy last Saturday as they battled six other Western Kansas debate squads in the annual Boot Hill Classic hosted by the Red Demons of Dodge City.

Bayle Sandy and Patrick Heath continued their winning ways, beating teams from Hoxie, Hays, and Thomas More Prep. The duo faced two other teams from TMP and fell in very close contests. Their 3-2 record earned them a fourth place medal.

Despite being brand new to debate this year, novices Daniel Abbott and Isaiah Smith also posted a 3-2 record, beating teams from Hays, Hoxie and TMP. The two losses came against opponents from Hays and TMP. Abbot and Smith earned 5th place medals.

The lone Panther team in the novice division was C.J. Gibson and Tia Mitchell. They debate all five rounds against tough Garden City opponents. They pair defeated 2 of 3 teams, including the 2nd and 3 rd place finishers. Although they did not earn a medal for their efforts, the pair did win the award for best team costume as the Red Demons continued their tradition of allowing teams to dress up in Halloween costumes for the tournament.

“I was very proud of our debaters this weekend,” said Coach Kim Heath. “We continue to bring home trophies every time we compete.”

GBHS next debates in Garden City on November 3.