Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Barnard 2012...A Year in Summary

Wow…2012 was quite a year for Barnard.  I really don’t know where to start…and where to stop.  It has been a political rollercoaster this year.

I still believe in Barnard.  Barnard is capable of being a stable and vibrant community. The last year saw the Barnard Jam maturing into a staple event twice a month, a summer movie (Joyful Noise) being shown on the lot where the former Kansan Theater was located, the beginning of a library that will eventually be available to all in the area, and some much needed street repair.  The Barnard United Methodist Church celebrated 130 years of service in the Barnard community.  The little town, with a 2010 census population of 70, seems to be continuing. An eatery also opened its doors.

Also in 2012, the city government embarked on a project to put a new standpipe up and demolish the WPA built water tower.  That project is approximately a quarter of a million dollars.  The city’s part of the project came to about $108,000 and was met by selling general obligation bonds.  Construction is estimated to begin around the end of February or the beginning of March.  Three houses were demolished…the former Wolting residence, Corrine Matyas’s former house, and the former railroad section house.  The former section house was tied with Mrs. Coover’s house in the position of the second oldest remaining building in Barnard.

There have been arrivals in the community.  New people have moved into town, others were born into the community (the Biggs family added two new members on December 11th), and some long time residents have moved elsewhere with family while others are transitioning to homes away from the Barnard community. 

There have been weddings (the Wallace family legally added a new member on December 12th).  Funerals have also taken place.  The Banter has grown to over 14,000 readers in 46 countries across six continents.  Readership includes nearly a quarter of the countries around the globe.  The Banter also had a booth this year at the Lincoln County Fair with many people stopping by to share memories about Barnard and learn about Barnard for the first time.  Life seems to go on in our little town…mostly peaceful, sometimes serene, occasionally scandalous, but never boring.



Travis Wallace
January 1, 2013

A letter of friendship published in the Lincoln Sentinel on July 12, 2012.

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