Susan Thacker

The Wetlands at Great Bend Waterpark reopened Saturday for the annual Bark at the Waterpark. People were allowed to bring their dogs to the pool for a $5 donation to the Great Bend Dog Park. After the first hour, staff reported 60 dogs were signed in.

Editor’s note: Today, as I look forward to celebrating my mom’s 90th birthday, I am reposting a column originally published in June of 2025.

The Crest Theatre will receive a new sound and lighting system, thanks to private donations and City of Great Bend funding. The City Council approved the purchase on Monday, while tabling a second proposed upgrade.

Only one bid was received for a new municipal swimming pool, and its “just shy of $11 million” price tag exceeded the $8 million estimate, City Administrator Logan Burns said on Monday. The City will reject that bid and try to keep the existing pool operational for another year.

Kansas Travel (KansasTravel.org) recently featured the Great Bend Brit Spaugh Zoo. The reviewer noted that it is one of the largest free zoos in Kansas and is open daily. It praised the Raptor Center, which was added to protect and conserve birds of prey through rehabilitation, education, research, and habitat preservation.

Monday, Sept. 7, is Labor Day in the United States and Canada, honoring workers and recognizing their contributions to society.

Editor’s note: This is the first of two stories about a program that took place on Thursday, describing why people are being asked to vote for a three-quarter cent sales tax in Great Bend. Mayor Alan Moeder also plans to answer community questions about any aspect of city business in a new column that will appear in the Great Bend Tribune. Send questions to news@gbtribune with the subject line “Ask the Mayor.”

Tenants are expected to begin moving into Great Bend’s new $6.8 million Ignite Innovation Center by November, Jason Kuilan, executive director of Great Bend Economic Development, told the Great Bend City Council in his monthly report Monday.

Editor's note: This is the second of two stories about last week's Great Bend Chamber of Commerce Coffee, which was hosted by the City of Great Bend to promote a three-quarter cent sales tax. The first story, which ran in the Sept. 5 edition of the Great Bend Tribune, described how one-quarter cent would be used for rehabilitating the city's Wastewater Treatment Facility. In today's article, we look at how the remaining half-cent could be used.

Hoisington's annual Labor Day celebration wrapped up on Monday with the traditional parade, capping off a four-day weekend of music and entertainment.