Community Corner
🌱 How prepared are Great Bend schools for a serious emergency?
Be sure to catch Unlock Your Chamber Benefits: Member Info Center & Marketing Opportunities Lunch & Learn on the Great Bend Patch calendar
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!)
- 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
Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!
🗓 Upcoming Events in Great Bend
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
★ Featured events ★
- Unlock Your Chamber Benefits: Member Info Center & Marketing Opportunities Lunch & Learn →
Great Bend Chamber of Commerce, 1125 Williams St, Great Bend
12:00 pm
Tuesday October 20
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
- J-2:30 Early Dismissal
Jefferson Elem Great Bend, KS 67530
2:30 pm - West Regional Bowling →
Walnut Bowl, 3101 Washington St., Great Bend
10:00 am
Friday October 9
Saturday October 24
📣 Great Bend Shout Outs!
Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!
🗓 Events Nearby
- 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
Thursday October 1
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.
💬 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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