The Barton Community College Theatre Department students in collaboration with the Great Bend Community Theatre will hold open auditions for all ages for their holiday play “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,” from 5-9 p.m. Oct. 11-13 in the Fine Arts Auditorium. Those interested can go to auditions.bartontheatre.com to sign up. All roles and technical positions will be cast. The show will run December 10 – 12.

September 23, 2021
Story by Brandon Steinert
Portrait by Joe Vinduska

The Barton Community College Foundation has been raising money and managing endowments for scholarships and enhancements to the college for more than five decades. Lindsey Bogner, the next Executive Director of the Foundation, is hard at work absorbing as much knowledge as she can from the current director, Coleen Cape, who will retire in January.

WHO DONE IT?! No piece of pop-culture asks and answers this question better than the classic board game “Clue” and Barton Theatre will bring all the nostalgia to life with its production of “Clue, On Stage,” featuring multiple showings over two weekends in October. Ticket information can be found at shows.bartonccc.edu. The shows are being sponsored by MindSculpt Games and free Clue-related games will be given out at each show.

As of September the areas of abnormally dry and moderate drought are were reduced significantly, especially in our area.  Except for the northeast corner Barton county is out of even abnormally dry conditions.  All of Stafford county is out of any abnormally dry conditions.  In fact, some parts of the area received over three inches and now waiting to dry out to get back in the field.  Corn harvest is starting and milo is turning color rapidly. The six to ten-day outlook (September 15 to 19) indicates well above normal temperatures and below normal precipitation.  The eight to fourteen-day outlook (September 17 to 23) indicates more of the same and not just hot for us but almost the entire Corn Belt.  This will rapidly deplete soil moisture and speed up drydown for corn and milo.  It will also rush soybean maturity.  Wheat planting time is almost upon us.  You will see K-State Research & Extension and local extension agents put out various releases on not planting early and the disadvantages.  While these are certainly correct, are there any reasons to plant early?

Do you ever watch over a young child? Would you be able to provide emergency care if needed? Barton’s Early Childhood and Emergency Medical Services Programs want to make sure people can provide emergency care if required and are offering an Infant and Toddler CPR & First Aid Course from 1-5 p.m. Sept. 15 in the Technical Building, Room T-147. Adult CPR will also be taught. 

Barton at Fort Leavenworth Music Instructor Colvin Hooser spends most of his days educating his students on everything from fundamental principles to the history of rock and roll, but in his spare time this summer he was able to volunteer as a member of the pit orchestra for the “Theater in the Park” organization as a bassist and guitarist.