Great Bend native Kortney Traylor loved playing softball in high school, and thanks to Barton Community College, she was able to play for another two years while getting a start on her college education, a path that would lead her back to her local area to work as an occupational therapist (OT) at Clara Barton Medical Center in Hoisington.

Whether you want to explore welding as a career or are a DIYer wishing to add a valuable skill to your toolbox for projects, Barton Community College is offering night classes this spring to help aspiring pros or hobbyists meet their goals by providing comprehensive courses that cover MIG and TIG welding.

The Barton Community College Theatre Department in conjunction with the Great Bend Community Theatre will hold auditions for a production of the classic tale “A Christmas Story” at 3 p.m. Oct. 29 at the Crest Theater, 1905 Lakin Ave., Great Bend, and at 6 p.m. Oct. 30 in the Fine Arts Building, Room F-164.

Barton Community College will host student recitals at 5 p.m. Nov. 2 and Nov. 30 in the Dorothy Moses Morrison Chapel in the Fine Arts Building. The recitals are free and open to the public.