🌱 How prepared are Great Bend schools for a serious emergency?

Good morning Great Bend! We're back again in your inbox, keeping you updated with what's happening in and around town. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• How prepared are Great Bend schools for a serious emergency?
• What could IGNITE funding unlock for Claflin's unique Book Cellar?
• What we know so far about Wednesday's Barton County tornadoes

Also on today's calendar: West Regional Bowling.

Today's riddle: What do you call a belt that is made of watches? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Thursday: Showers around; not as warm, with a high of 69 and low of 50 degrees.
• Friday: Mostly sunny and less humid, temps: high: 68, low: 47.
• Saturday: Pleasant with plenty of sun, with a high of 74 and low of 53 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Great Bend Schools focus on preparedness during safety in-service (greatbendpost.com) — Great Bend Public Schools staff recently spent a full in-service day practicing how to respond and reunify students safely in an emergency, working closely with local law enforcement. A veteran school-safety leader shared lessons from a past school shooting, while district leaders walked employees through Standard Response Protocols and a hands-on reunification drill. The goal is to ensure Great Bend students are protected and families know what to expect.
   

• The Book Cellar aims to create curated and personalized experience for customers (gbtribune.com) — A Barton County bookstore-and-liquor shop, The Book Cellar in Claflin, is vying for up to $50,000 in Great Bend Economic Development's 2026 IGNITE competition, with the winner announced Oct. 8 at the Crest Theater. Owners Kelsey Hall and Rebecca Kratzer hope prize money will fund repairs, more inventory, and a new event space. They also share candid advice for locals considering starting their own business.
   

• Areas of northern Barton County hit by series of early-evening tornadoes (greatbendpost.com) — Northern Barton County, just north of Great Bend, was hit by several confirmed tornadoes Wednesday evening as remnants of Hurricane Polo pushed severe storms into central Kansas. Warnings covered communities like Albert, Olmitz, Susank and Galatia before the storms moved into Russell County. Authorities have not yet released details on damage, injuries, or tornado strength.
   

📸 Around Great Bend

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Great Bend

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★ Featured events ★

Tuesday October 20
• Unlock Your Chamber Benefits: Member Info Center & Marketing Opportunities Lunch & Learn →
  Great Bend Chamber of Commerce, 1125 Williams St, Great Bend
  12:00 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Friday October 9
• J-2:30 Early Dismissal
  Jefferson Elem Great Bend, KS 67530
  2:30 pm
Saturday October 24
• West Regional Bowling →
  Walnut Bowl, 3101 Washington St., Great Bend
  10:00 am

📣 Great Bend Shout Outs!

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🗓 Events Nearby

Thursday October 1
• HS Tennis @ Great Bend (CP Host)
  St John-Hudson USD 350 Saint John, KS 67576
  3:00 pm
• CC @ Liberty
  Hoisington USD 431, S Pine St, Pratt
  4:00 pm
• JH/HS Cross Country @ Pratt
  St John Jr.Sr High Saint John, KS 67576
  4:00 pm
• V/JV Volleyball Quad vs Ellinwood, Hill City & Hoisington →
  Larned Middle School, 904 Corse Ave, Larned
  4:00 pm
• HS VB @ Larned (vs Hill City, Hoisington & Larned)
  Ellinwood Middle\/ High Ellinwood, KS 67526
  4:00 pm
• VB @ Reno Valley
  Hoisington USD 431, 1616 Wilshire Dr, Hutchinson
  4:30 pm
• JH Volleyball @ Kinsley
  St John Jr.Sr High Saint John, KS 67576
  4:30 pm
• MS VB vs Kinsley
  Ellinwood Middle\/ High Ellinwood, KS 67526
  4:30 pm
• MS Football @ Reno Valley
  Hoisington USD 431, 305 S Nickerson St A, Nickerson
  5:00 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Our website is back online and functioning normally.
  Customers can now access online content and services as usual. Thank you for your patience while we worked to resolve the issue, and we apologize… (Nextdoor )
• We're currently experiencing issues with our website, and customers are unable to access online content and services.
  Our teams are actively working to restore service as quickly as possible. We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience while we… (Nextdoor )

• Tractor Supply posted a job opening for Team Member in Great Bend. Apply here.
• O'Reilly Automotive posted a job opening for Assistant Store Manager in Great Bend. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Great Bend here.

🗞 Nearby News

Russell

• Multiple Russell XC Runners Earn Medals at Lyons (krsl.com)
• Rumors about Russell: Students buzz with reactions (udreview.com)
• Paradise, Kansas Man Ethan Dickerson Dies in Two-Vehicle Crash With Semi on 180th Street in Russell County Monday Night (parktelegraph.com)

Hays

• James David 'Jim' Keller, 75 (hayspost.com)

Ok Great Bend! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: A waist of time. (Thank you Martin L. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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