December 14, 2016
Story and portrait by Brandon Steinert

Ovie Cade’s nontraditional career path stands in stark contrast to the current norms. While his fellow high school graduates went off to universities in the hopes of landing a job after four years of study and student loans, he began work as a shop-helper for a company in Houston.

The company offered him welding training opportunities if he did well. It only took 30 days and they made good on the promise. He began hands-on training in the evenings after work.

Great Bend Tribune
Published December 11, 2016

The area has finally experienced a blast of winter.  Lows well-below freezing and a day where temperatures never rose above freezing.  Livestock and other mammals can cope pretty well with adequate food and water.  Reptiles and certain mammals hibernate.  Birds migrate.  But how do plants such as our 2017 wheat and canola crop cope?  What about perennial plants like prairie grasses and alfalfa?  They usually cope better than we expect.

December 6, 2016
Story by Micah Oelze

Barton Community College’s Center for Adult Education will soon start its nine-week GED Preparation Class.

Barton will offer two sessions. Orientation options are 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Monday Jan. 9 and Thursday Jan. 12 or 3-7 p.m. Tuesday Jan. 10 and Thursday Jan. 12 at 1025 Main St. in Great Bend. Orientation classes are the first step to obtaining a GED and are required before official preparation courses can be taken. Those interested can call ahead or arrive on the first day of orientation.

Kevin Salzman poses for a photo on Barton Community College’s Campus.

December 6, 2016
Story and photo by Micah Oelze

As a lifelong learner, Kevin Salzman, newly elected county attorney for Ness and Ford counties, has history with education. Starting out as a Biblical Studies major in his undergraduate years. Then he attended law school. Most recently he has taken a more unconventional approach to his education and he is a proud Barton Community College student.

Great Bend Tribune
Published December 4, 2016

Great Bend Tribune
Published November 27, 2016

Here’s hoping everyone had a great Thanksgiving and helped our consumer economy, especially our local and locally owned businesses.  Rather than delve deeply into a topic today, let’s take a look at where our area is as of the end of November.

Students perform in the Fine Arts Auditorium at last year’s “Holiday Variety Show.”

November 22, 2016
Story by Micah Oelze

Barton to host holiday-themed events

Barton Community College invites the public to celebrate the holidays with a series of events from quilts to song and dance to Santa.

Shafer Gallery Holiday Open House - Featuring Santa!

A music student performs on trombone at the fall 2016 recital. 

November 22, 2016
Story by Micah Oelze                                            

Barton music students to present recital

Barton Community College will present a student recital of instrumental and vocal performances at 4 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 1 in the Dorothy Moses Morrison Chapel, located in the Fine Arts Building, F-157.  The recital is free.

November 22, 2016
Story by Micah Oelze

Barton Theatre Department to host Original Playwright Series

The Barton Theatre Department is calling for original plays from the community for its Original Playwright Series. Three of the submitted plays will be chosen to be performed on April 27, 2017 in the Fine Arts Auditorium. Playwrights have until Feb. 1, 2017 to submit their play.

Plays must be:

Great Bend Tribune
Published November 20, 2016

Thanksgiving is this Thursday. We have just finished up the elections. Commodity prices could be better. We all need a break. So today, instead of discussing deep issues in agriculture or the latest problem, let’s take a break and focus on something we can almost all agree on – Thanksgiving dinner. It is, outside of Independence Day, the most American of holidays. But, where did our feast really come from? With apologies for any family or regional traditions.