Reporter Cristina Janney speaks with Doug Williams of Grow Hays about the Bob and Pat Schmidt Community Center, which will be opening soon in Hays, on this episode of the Hays Post Podcast.

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

The Bob and Pat Schmidt Community Center is set to open this month.

Grow Hays received its occupancy permit last week.&nbsp;

Bright Minds will be opening its child care facility on the north side of the building, and the senior center will be moving into south side of the building before the end of the month.

The center area of the building is a community room that will be available to rent through Grow Hays. Call 785-628-3102&nbsp;for more information.

Grow Hays will host an official ribbon cutting at 9 a.m. Friday,&nbsp; Aug 29.

Please submit your questions for Doug Williams for future interviews to&nbsp;hayspost@eaglemedia.com.

🎙 Schmidt Community Center complete, ribbon cutting set for Aug. 29

HOXIE – The Main Street Arts Council is excited to announce the final performances of the 2025 Main Street Summer Theater Festival, which will take place in Oakley on August 8 and 9. 

These performances of Disney’s Dare to Dream Jr. will bring the festival’s incredible run to a close after an amazing summer of inspiring youth theater across northwest Kansas.

The Main Street Summer Theater Festival has been a celebration of local talent, with performances in six different towns, all showcasing the creativity and hard work of young performers. Oakley will host the last two performances, giving attendees one final chance to experience this magical production of Disney’s Dare to Dream Jr., featuring beloved songs from Encanto, Frozen II, Coco, and more.

Friday, Aug. 8 at 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 9 at 3 p.m. Oakley High School Auditorium, 118 W 7th St., Oakley

In addition to the festival’s final performances, we are also thrilled to announce a special Broadway guest performance by Desi Oakley, a Wichita native and renowned Broadway performer. Desi will be performing live in Hoxie on Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025, as part of the festival’s 10th-anniversary celebration.

Desi Oakley has an extensive Broadway career, having starred in productions such as Wicked, Waitress, and Chicago. Her concert will offer a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to witness the talent of this Broadway star in a local, intimate setting.

Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025 at 7:30 p.m. Hoxie High School Auditorium, 1625 Queen Ave., Hoxie

We invite everyone to attend both the final festival performances in Oakley and Desi Oakley’s Broadway concert to celebrate the culmination of this incredible summer of youth theater and professional talent.

For more information about the festival, tickets for the remaining performances, or to reserve your seat for Desi Oakley’s concert, visit <a href="https://www.mainstreetartscouncil.com/msstf2025">www.mainstreetartscouncil.com/msstf2025</a>.

Final summer theater performances in Oakley, Broadway guest Desi Oakley in Hoxie

TREGO COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just before 9p.m. Sunday in Trego County.

&nbsp;The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2004 Chevy Suburban driven by&nbsp; Julio C.&nbsp;Villarreal-Gomez, 36, WaKeeney, was westbound on AA Road seven&nbsp; miles north and two miles east of Ransom. The driver lost control of the SUV and it rolled into the south ditch

EMS transported Villarreal-Gomez to Grisell Memorial Hospital. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

NW Kansas man hospitalized after SUV rollover accident

HILL CITY — The Hill City High School Alumni Scholarship Program (HCHSASP) has announced that this year’s winner of the annual&nbsp;Edna Dean Harrell Family Scholarship&nbsp;is&nbsp;Hannah Lee. 

She is a 2025 graduate of Hill City High and was awarded $5,000 to support her continuing education. She received the initial award this summer and will receive additional money in the following semesters. Under the rules of the Alumni Association, Lee must maintain a 3.0 grade point average to receive continuing assistance.

The scholarship winner is chosen annually by the HCHSASP and Mrs. Harrell’s son, Dan Harrell. The scholarship was established in 2009, just weeks after the passing of Mrs. Harrell, making Lee the 17th winner so far.

Originally established as a yearly $1,000 scholarship for a deserving Hill City High graduate to continue their education, the amount has increased steadily to its current award of $5,000 annually. In total, the scholarship has provided the 17 winners with more than $60,000 in educational assistance so far.

Lee commuted more than 25 miles round-trip to Hill City for school from Morland, her hometown. She also worked as an aide at Dawson Place (a retirement community in Hill City) and was a lifeguard at the local pool for several years.

Lee was exuberantly thankful to learn she had won the scholarship.&nbsp;“I am extremely&nbsp;grateful for the opportunity&nbsp;to receive this scholarship,” she said. “I am planning to attend Fort Hays State University in the fall, where I will study Human Health and Performance and get my bachelor’s degree. After I get my bachelor’s degree, I plan on pursuing&nbsp;physical therapy.”

Announcing the award, Harrell said, “In the end, Hannah emerged as the clear winner. She exemplifies the values and purpose that the Harrell Scholarship stands for – love of education, constant striving to be and know more, giving back to the community, and wanting to follow a career path that serves others. Her pursuit of a healthcare career gave her an added advantage as that path most honors my mother’s lifelong work.”

Hannah is the daughter of Barnaby and Melissa Lee.&nbsp;

Hill City High School alumni scholarship program announces winner

By ALICIA BOOR Cottonwood Extension District

It may be mid-summer, but veteran gardeners know it’s time to start planning the fall vegetable garden.&nbsp;

“Fall gardens may face additional pressures of pests and heat, but the flavor that comes from these late season crops are often better (than summer crops),” said Kansas State University horticulture expert Cynthia Domenghini.&nbsp;She notes that gardeners should count the number of days to harvest, as well as the crops’ tolerance to frost, before deciding when to plant fall crops.

 Crops may be seeded directly, or transplanted into the garden.&nbsp;“Growing transplants is a good choice when the temperature is too warm for starting seeds in the ground, assuming you have grow lights and space available for starting them indoors,” Domenghini said.

&nbsp;She provides some tips for successful fall crops:

&nbsp;· When seeding crops directly into the garden, plant slightly deeper than recommended in the spring to take advantage of the cooler soil temperatures and moisture available

· Water more frequently to prevent the seeds from drying out.

&nbsp;· Overhead watering often causes soil to crust, making it more difficult for young, tender plants to emerge. Prevent this by applying a light sprinkling of vermiculite or compost over the row after seeding, or use a soak hose or drip irrigation right next to the row to allow water to slowly seep into the ground.&nbsp;

Domenghini also suggests a timeline for planting fall crops:

Mid-July Plant potatoes if you can find seed stock or have saved seed potatoes. Do not use freshly dug potatoes as they have built-in dormancy that will prevent growth. Also, grocery store potatoes are often treated, so they don’t sprout.&nbsp;Cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower can be started from seed at this time. Choose a protected place where the soil can be kept moist and rabbits will not bother them. This will not be where they will grow the entire season; these crops will be transplanted in August.

Late July Seed beets, carrots and beans.

Late July to early August Seed spinach and long-season maturing lettuce. Leaf lettuce will be seeded later.&nbsp;

Second week of August Transplant cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower to their final location.

Mid to late August Seed radishes and leaf lettuce. There is no need to fertilize these crops before planting. Side-dress two weeks after transplanting, or four weeks after sowing seed, by applying two tablespoons of a 16-0-0 or one tablespoon of 27-3-3, 30-3-4 fertilizer (or something similar) per plant.&nbsp;

More information about fall gardening is&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/download/kansas-garden-guide_S51">available in the Kansas Garden Guide</a>, available online from the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/">K-State Research and Extension bookstore</a>.&nbsp;

Alicia Boor is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact her by e-mail at aboor@ksu.edu or calling 620-793-1910.

BOOR: Planning time for fall vegetable gardens

<a href="https://hayspost.com/pages/state-farm-weather-window">For a full look at the weather forecast, click here.</a>

Three-day weather outlook

Hays, KS — Nex-Tech Wireless is working to bring even better wireless service to communities across Kansas. The company has announced an agreement with US Cellular to acquire additional spectrum in the 700 MHz band. This agreement is about boosting network capacity. It does not involve any changes to customer accounts, phone numbers, or services and there is no action required by current Nex-Tech Wireless or US Cellular customers. This move means stronger signal, faster data speeds, and improved coverage across central Kansas.

“We’re proud to keep investing in the communities we call home,” said Jon Lightle, President and CEO of Nex-Tech Wireless. “This new spectrum is like adding more lanes to the highway. It helps us handle more traffic with quality connections, right were customers need it most.”

· Improved connectivity even in rural areas and inside buildings

· Faster connections for streaming, gaming, and video calls

· Room to grow as more devices and new tech hit the market

About Nex-Tech Wireless Nex-Tech Wireless, a subsidiary of Nex-Tech Inc./Rural Telephone, Golden Belt Telephone and Tri-County Telephone, is a premiere wireless carrier serving over 40 Kansas counties with a mission to provide an unrivaled customer experience by bringing trusted technology and superior service to their hometowns. To learn more about Nex-Tech Wireless, please visit <a href="http://www.nex-techwireless.com">www.nex-techwireless.com</a> or call 1-800-621-2600.

NW Kansas man dies after motorcycle, car accident

Police responded to the Habitat for Humanity of Ellis County ReStore, 2707 Broadway in Hays at about 3:30 p.m. Sunday.

The glass front door was broken. Officers cleared the building and found nothing immediately missing.

Habitat for Humanity rents the building. The nonprofit's landlord is checking with insurance to see if the vandalism will be covered.

The group is part of a global, nonprofit organization operated on Christian principles that works to eliminate substandard housing through construction, rehabilitation and advocacy for fair policies.

Habitat is fundraising to invest in another home for an Ellis County resident. The nonprofit earns money through the ReStore thrift store, which is open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays.

Donations can also be made to the local chapter by writing checks payable to Habitat for Humanity of Ellis County and sending them to P.O. Box 444​, Hays, KS 67601.

<a href="https://www.facebook.com/HFHEC">Follow the ReStore on Facebook</a>.&nbsp;

Habitat for Humanity building in Hays vandalized during weekend

Become an instant finalist in the Miller Lite UTV Giveaway from A&amp;A Coors-Miller and Briney Motorsports of Hays.

Sign up from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday at Ol' 40 Express, 2020 E. Eighth St., Hays

Register for a 4-seat CF-Moto U-Force 1000 valued at $20,000.&nbsp;

Ol 40 will have free ice cream sandwiches, limit one per customer while supplies last. Stop by for breakfast or homemade lunch.

Additional thanks to Advantage Glass Plus and Commercial Sign of Hays.

Keep listening to Eagle Radio and reading the Hays Post all summer long for your chance to become a finalist.

The UTV will be given away at a Fort Hays State University football game on Saturday, Sept. 13.

Become Miller Lite UTV giveaway finalist Monday at Ol' 40 Express in Hays!

I remember several years ago clamoring up over the dike of one pond in the McPherson Valley Wetlands to be greeted by what looked like something from an exotic Chinese water garden. I’ve always called them water lilies, but the public lands manager for the Kansas Dept of Wildlife and Parks who manages the McPherson Valley Wetlands system tells me their proper name is American Lotus, and says they are in fact native to Kansas.

 That reminded me of PePe Le Pew the skunk from cartoons of my generation. PePe fancied himself a ladies’ man, and his famous pickup line was “Ah, my little lotus flower.”

The year I first discovered them was a wet year, and they filled the shallow waters in the corners of the pond like a mat of immense green leaves dotted with bold, pale, yellowish-white flowers the size of cereal bowls. Most of the time these plants are shown with their enormous leaves floating on the water, but here where the water was shallow, they actually rise above the water’s surface. 

Most of the leaves on these plants were about a foot wide, give or take, and the flowers that were fully opened measured 6 inches across. Leaves on older American Lotus plants can reach 24 inches in diameter. An interesting phenomenon is that American Lotus leaves never get wet; water forms a droplet on them and just runs off.

Each flower has a bright, yellow, round center resembling a little double-layer cake. When the flower dies, that center swells into a seed pod 3 or 4 inches wide resembling a wasp nest with several individual seed compartments that each contain a single marble-sized seed. As it further dries the seed pod droops toward the water and the seeds eventually spill out and lay on the bottom of the pond. The seeds can lay dormant in the mud for several years before germinating, which occurs when the hard outer shell softens. 

The plants grow from tuberous roots called rhizomes which can become up to 50 feet long and can have dozens of plants growing from them. American Lotus plants will grow in the still water of any pond, lake or stream that is shallower than 3 feet.

Waterfowl and other wildlife will eat the seeds and tubers if they can get to them. Native Americans peeled and cooked the tubers to eat as vegetables or dried and stored them for winter food. They ate the seeds in soups and other dishes or roasted them like chestnuts. 

Many Great Plains tribes attributed mystic powers to the American Lotus plants. A poultice made from the pulp of the root was thought to relieve the pain of inflammatory ailments such as arthritis, and a mash made from the blossoms and leaves was said to have anti-fungal properties. Although little sound research exists concerning the medicinal properties of the American Lotus, a close cousin, the Indian or Sacred Lotus which is native to Asia and Australia, has been used medicinally for generations. It is known to relieve asthma, inflammation, headache and fatigue, and is said to promote good digestion.

When I first visited Kansas over 30 years ago, I either bought or was given a decorative seed pod of some sort that was brown and hard with numerous round compartments in it, each containing a round hard seed of some sort. I was told they were called “lake nuts.” That decorative object has long since disappeared, but at the time I remember no one seemed to know what the heck it really was. Guess what; after writing this column I now know it was an American Lotus seed pod! I never cease to be amazed at the wildlife and plants which flourish here in Kansas that common sense tells me shouldn’t be&nbsp;here in our prairie state at all.

Of the American Lotus someone has said, “Whenever you doubt your self-worth, remember the lotus flower. Even though it plunges to life beneath the mud, it does not allow the dirt that surrounds it to affect its growth or beauty.” Boy howdy, can we use a heapin’ portion of that today!

Steve can be contacted by email at stevenrgilliland@gmail.com.

Explore Kansas Outdoors: Ah, my little lotus flower!

Aug. 9-10 Shady Bend 2-Day Golf Tournament;&nbsp;Shady Bend Golf Course, Osborne;&nbsp;9:00 a.m. 4-Man Scramble. To enter call or text Eric Mans at 785-346-4654

Aug. 12 Mommy &amp; Me Tea;&nbsp;Second Street Café, 715 N. 2nd St, Natoma; 6:00 p.m.; Come on in for an elegant, fun and fanciful tea party; Call 785-346-4772

Aug. 16 See You at the Library;&nbsp;Osborne Public Library, 325 W. Main St., Osborne; BRAVE Books See You at the Library Story Hour 11:00 a.m.

Families will gather in libraries across the country for this nationwide event to celebrate faith, freedom, and the power of storytelling. Together, we’ll rediscover what libraries are meant to be: places that spark imagination, shape character, and speak truth to the next generation. We’ll read books that inspire faith and conviction Spark meaningful conversations And build community with families who care about what really matters Bring your kids. Invite your friends. Let’s fill the library with stories and values that matter.

Aug. 20 Dinner Club at the Second Street Café;&nbsp;Second Street Café, 715 N. 2nd St., Natoma;&nbsp;Enjoy a 7-course meal every third Wednesday at 7:00 at the Second Street Cafe Dinner Club; For more information call 785-346-4772

A super fun day for the whole family in Alton. Starting at 7:00 a.m. at the Front Porch Event Center for coffee and rolls followed by a full day – car and bike shows, cake and pie contests, parade, free watermelon, money dig, food stands, Bull City Olympics, water balloon volleyball, bouncy houses, jam sessions, drawings, Jamie Campbell, comedian, Bull City Newlywed Game, cornhole tournament…it all ends with a free street dance featuring Kill Creek Rising! For more information, check out the Alton Jubilee Facebook page.

Aug. 24 Community Church Service in the Park;&nbsp;10:30 a.m. at the Alton City Park; Sponsored by Mt. Ayr Friends Church and Alton United Methodist Church

Aug. 24 2-Person Golf Tournament;&nbsp;Downs Golf Course, KS-181, Downs;&nbsp;9:00 a.m.; Hosted by Knights of Columbus; Contact Brady Cline at 785-545-6183

Aug. 30 Natoma City Wide Garage Sale, Natoma

August events for Osborne County

2025 Alton Jubilee set for Aug. 23-24

COLBY — The Colby Community College men's basketball team will host their 27th annual Golf Tournament and Sponsor Appreciation event on Friday, August 29 at Meadow Lake Golf Course. All proceeds will be used to support the program.

Registration for the four-person scramble begins at 8 a.m., with a tee time of 9 a.m. Participants are asked to make their own cart arrangements. The entry fee is $300 per team and includes a sack lunch on the course. After golfing, participants and season sponsors will have dinner and an opportunity to meet the 2025-26 men's basketball team.

For more information on being a season sponsor or to register for the golf tournament, scan the QR code or contact Coach Jerrod Stanford at 620-385-0273.

Colby Community College men's basketball team hosts golf tourney Aug. 29

&nbsp;Submit events to&nbsp;<a href="mailto:admin@hayspost.com">admin@hayspost.com</a>. Cover photo courtesy Pixabay

Special thanks to <a href="https://www.visithays.com/183/Events">The Hays Convention and Visitors Bureau</a> and<a href="https://www.fhsu.edu/"> Fort Hays State University</a> for their contributions to the community calendar.

Community Calendar

 3rd-annual women's self-defense workshop set in Hays

The Kansas Wetlands Education Center (KWEC) invites the public to join its staff for a free, family-friendly meteor shower watch party on Tuesday, Aug. 12, from 8:30 to 10:30 p.m.

This annual event celebrates the end of summer as the Earth passes through the dust and debris of the Swift-Tuttle comet, creating a spectacular display of meteors or “shooting stars” in the night sky. This year, our event will coincide with peak viewing dates, and stargazers may be able to spot 60-100 meteors per hour.

Located northeast of Great Bend on K-156 Highway, the KWEC offers an ideal location for comfortable sky-watching. Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets to relax on the KWEC lawn while enjoying the celestial show.

In addition to meteor watching, the evening will feature s’mores making and eating, and several space-themed learning stations inside the KWEC. Activities include a magnetic meteor hunt, spectroscope building, a space lander challenge, an asteroid belt art project, and using a blender bike to make galaxy smoothies. Planetarium shows will be offered in the inflatable planetarium, and we will have real meteorites on loan from the Sternberg Museum of Natural History.

The event will proceed rain or shine, but clear skies are necessary for optimal meteor shower viewing.

The Kansas Wetlands Education Center, affiliated with FHSU’s Werth College of Science, Technology and Mathematics, is located 10 miles northeast of Great Bend along Kansas Highway 156 at Cheyenne Bottoms, 592 NE K-156 Hwy., Great Bend.

For more information, visit&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=u001.7LNxDHQVpzCjONIZ4OYIqiohrCVEzT-2Bu22yVklcaqOvmZGt05-2BeOL3r-2Flc3NH2OV__SK_1ix3pnygukYWZfKiCJpm8BsHsayWXlw0ucteiDEo46fRc0p9DVWJmv2prlqkbHR6S2dsrJiXPEopagJAn55fgrGOya21Ubchf288oY8AFP4iYaBJwhylwdd5l9F7UOfO9ovZePPueXoOYjqeKnABTqUprH1DWoHlNK6oTYNLIL3frrCD5Zg5SitaprItwmilgdkg5kTH2cnJHgTyIuGyaV55gXhnyd-2FCFT3UrSdSD-2FcMxcM2kdsRqnH-2BkYbAmtZFiEJ6vonVmM14WEb2q9YBjTV4-2F7BYHmfKaFspyhE1VKi04Pm3qE62wIGxnR71QrpNrNgwI0flpx9OW6CuX7sLAbSEkWvVzUzZLE1VJ8uFAGyAGE-2FgTubSuTlgLxMGVnTr">wetlandscenter.fhsu.edu</a>&nbsp;or call 1-877-243-9268.

Kansas Wetlands Education Center hosts Perseid meteor shower watch party

Kansas Interscholastic Cycling League mountain bike racing team forming in Hays

Become an instant finalist in the Miller Lite UTV Giveaway from A&amp;A Coors-Miller and Briney Motorsports of Hays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. today at Discount Smokes,&nbsp;2504 Vine St., Hays.

Register for a 4-seat CF-Moto U-Force 1000 valued at $20,000.&nbsp;

Keep listening and reading the Hays Post all summer long for your chance to become a finalist.

Become Miller Lite UTV giveaway finalist today at Discount Smokes in Hays!

WILSON&nbsp;STATE PARK — Lovegrass Music Festival FAQ and festival information. Please read!

Every motorized vehicle that enters Wilson State Park needs a daily vehicle permit ($5 per day). That can be obtained at the Park office, at the entrance of the park. The office closes at 6:00 p.m. -&nbsp; if you arrive later, please purchase a day pass at the self-pay station. You can pick up the pass in advance at any state park, or online.&nbsp;

Parking is extremely limited near the festival grounds so please carpool, walk, or bike to the festival area!&nbsp; Parking areas will be marked and staff will assist you to Day Parking. It is essential you do not obstruct the flow of traffic and be COMPLETELY pulled off of the pavement if you do park.&nbsp; Parking is permitted on any areas of grass that have been mowed.&nbsp; Please plan to walk a distance, as there is no parking directly on the festival grounds, except handicapped parking.&nbsp; Please have your handicap placard displayed for parking attendants to recognize and direct you accordingly.

Day Parking will not be allowed in the Buffalograss or Big Bluestem areas, as these are reserved for those who are camping in these areas.&nbsp; You will not be allowed in these areas without a Campground Vehicle Permit.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Everyone must enter and exit through the designated gate.&nbsp; Please stay out of areas fenced off in orange.&nbsp; We will have an increased presence of staff and security placed throughout the festival grounds, in CREW shirts to assist if you have questions or concerns.&nbsp;&nbsp;

If you are planning on bringing a new canopy, grill, or other apparatus, please leave the box at home or pack it back in the box to return home. The park dumpsters fill quickly, so please try to keep litter to a minimum.&nbsp; Kans for Kids, a fundraiser for childhood cancer, will have aluminum can recycling containers around the festival grounds.&nbsp; Please no glass or breakable containers in the festival grounds or near the water.&nbsp; Let’s all do our part to keep the park beautiful.&nbsp;

You may bring food and beverages into the festival area.&nbsp; Please no large coolers, as space is limited. We ask that you refrain from single-use plastic water bottles to minimize trash and promote sustainability.&nbsp; A filtered water station will be available to refill water bottles near the activity tent.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Food vendors will be available on the festival grounds on Friday and Saturday.&nbsp; The nearby marina offers snacks, beverages, and grocery items as does Knothead’s Baitshop, located just outside the park.&nbsp; Dining and grocery options can also be found in the nearby towns of Lucas, Wilson, and Dorrance.

Limited Lovegrass Festival merchandise will be available on-site for sale each evening from 5-11 p.m. (We accept Cash, Venmo and PayPal.&nbsp; We can also accept GooglePay, ApplePay, and Credit Cards ONLY if you have a smartphone to scan a QR code for checkout). &nbsp; We will also be hosting a 50/50 raffle which is CASH ONLY, so please plan accordingly, and GOOD LUCK!

Pets are NOT allowed in the festival area.&nbsp; Unless your animal meets the ADA definition of a SERVICE ANIMAL, do not bring them onto the festival grounds.&nbsp; Under Title II and Title III of the ADA, a service animal means any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Pets are allowed in the other areas of Wilson State Park, but must be restrained by a camper, kennel, hand-held leash, or tether, no more than 10 feet in length.&nbsp;

Thank you in advance for reviewing all of the Wilson State Park and Lovegrass Music Festival Association rules and regulations on our website at <a target="_blank" href="https://lovegrassmusicfestival.com/so/4ePXDgVK7/c?w=PCAGl9XBnKQfWUr97REj0YeND1_GTkZ_uSq9LguzdvE.eyJ1IjoiaHR0cDovL3d3dy5sb3ZlZ3Jhc3NtdXNpY2Zlc3RpdmFsLmNvbSIsInIiOiIxMzM2N2I4NS0yNTQ2LTRkOTAtODM2NS05OWEyMzEzMWY5ODMiLCJtIjoibWFpbCIsImMiOiIwYjg3MTdiNC1kNWZlLTQzZjQtOWI4Ni1hODQzMDBiNDNlNGUifQ">www.lovegrassmusicfestival.com</a>/experience before attending. Be sure and follow us on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/lovegrassmusicfestival">Facebook</a> for updates as the festival nears.

<a href="https://www.lovegrassmusicfestival.com/register?utm_campaign=ed61931f-08e9-4fd0-8ff4-79d4c445824e&amp;utm_source=so&amp;utm_medium=mail&amp;cid=0b8717b4-d5fe-43f4-9b86-a84300b43e4e">Register here for tickets</a>.&nbsp;

Information for Lovegrass Music Festival Aug. 7-9 at Wilson State Park

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement investigating another homicide in Kansas City have identified the victim as 30-year-old&nbsp;Rahmalle Ceasar, according to KCPD Captain Jake Becchina.

Just before 7p.m. Saturday, patrol officers were dispatched to 53rd and Prospect in Kansas City, Missouri, on a reported shooting with a victim down in a parking lot, according to KCPD Sergeant Phil DiMartino.

As officers arrived they were directed to a convenience store on Prospect. There officers located Ceasar in the parking lot suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. 

Police officers began performing lifesaving measures and summoned medical personnel to the scene. KCFD medics pronounced him deceased at the scene. This is being investigated as a homicide. There is no one in custody.&nbsp;

Homicide: Police found shooting victim in KC store parking lot

WASHINGTON&nbsp;- U.S. Senator Jerry Moran — the chairman of the Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation, Space, and Innovation&nbsp; released the following statement after the conclusion of the National Transportation Safety Board’s three-day investigative hearing into the January 29 midair collision between American Airlines flight 5342 and an Army Blackhawk helicopter.

“Six months after the tragic crash near DCA, the NTSB laid out a series of failures it has uncovered so far in its investigation of the tragedy that claimed 67 lives, including Kansans. While there is no single factor that led to the crash on January 29, it is alarming that FAA failed to act on years of data and near misses indicating serious problems with the design of the mixed airspace around DCA. The FAA blamed their inaction on bureaucracy but did not take action to try and alleviate the bureaucratic roadblocks within the agency. That is no excuse.&nbsp;

“The NTSB uncovered long-term staffing issues at the control tower that were compounded by a culture of distrust among DCA air traffic controllers and a toleration for unacceptable risks; found inaccurate altitude readings on the helicopter; and discovered the ADS-B Out technology was not transmitting on the Blackhawk likely due to faulty equipment that the Army failed to identify and has now been found to be an issue on numerous other Army helicopters as well.

“I commend Chair Homendy on her thorough investigation into this crash and her dedication in bringing to light the failures in our airspace. Despite numerous warnings signs of serious problems over the last several years, little was done to try and correct them, and these failures by the FAA, the Army and air traffic control cost 67 lives. I know the last few days have been painful for the families of the victims, and I assure them that Congress will not let these failures go unanswered. We cannot undo the tragic loss of life, but we can work to make certain it never happens again.”

Congressional Action since January 29:

Kan. U.S. Senator's statement on NTSB hearing on fatal DCA midair collision 

Installation of the paid parking signage and equipment for phase 2 will begin on August 4, 2025. Phase 2 will focus on public parking lots throughout downtown and&nbsp;includes adding two payment kiosks at Century II.

Download the ParkMobile or PayByPhone apps to get ready! Learn more at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.wichita.gov/1559/Park-Wichita">ParkWichita.com.</a>

<a target="_blank" href="https://parkmobile.io/">Download the app</a>

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.paybyphone.com/">PayByPhone.com</a>

Buy one Hour, Get one Hour Free Parking when you purchase on an app

Download the Park Mobile or Pay by Phone app and get one-hour free parking each day with the purchase of one hour of parking on public streets and public parking lots. The free hour is part of the purchase of the first hour. That means you get a total of two consecutive hours when you pay for one hour. The free hour is not transferable to a different time. This promotion can be redeemed from July 1, 2025, through August 1, 2025. This promotion is only available on the Park Mobile and Pay by Phone apps within the downtown paid parking boundaries. Public garages are not eligible for the buy one hour get one-hour free parking promotion.

The city council paused the implementation of the paid parking program in downtown in August of 2024 to gather more community feedback. Extensive public engagement occurred over the next several months and the city council voted to move forward with a modified paid parking program on December 17, 2024.

Phase 2 of paid parking in downtown Wichita begins 

NEW YORK (AP) — Boeing workers who build fighter jets went on strike Monday at midnight Central Daylight Time.

About 3,200 workers at Boeing facilities in St. Louis; St. Charles, Missouri; and Mascoutah, Illinois, voted to reject a modified four-year labor agreement with Boeing, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers union said Sunday.

In a post on X, the union said: “3,200 highly-skilled IAM Union members at Boeing went on strike at midnight because enough is enough.”

The vote followed members’&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boeing-defense-machinists-union-contract-strike-60670fdfd1bbed54eb3e91ed682cc2c8">rejection last week of an earlier proposal</a>&nbsp;from the troubled aerospace giant, which had included a 20% wage increase over four years.

“IAM District 837 members build the aircraft and defense systems that keep our country safe,” said Sam Cicinelli, Midwest territory general vice president for the union, in a statement. “They deserve nothing less than a contract that keeps their families secure and recognizes their unmatched expertise.”

At the time of the earlier vote, union leaders had recommended approving the offer, calling it a “landmark agreement” and saying it would improve medical, pension and overtime benefits.

The union members rejected the latest proposal after a weeklong cooling-off period.

“We’re disappointed our employees rejected an offer that featured 40% average wage growth and resolved their primary issue on alternative work schedules," said Dan Gillian, Boeing Air Dominance vice president and general manager, and senior St. Louis site executive. "We are prepared for a strike and have fully implemented our contingency plan to ensure our non-striking workforce can continue supporting our customers.”

Boeing has been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boeing-aviation-aircraft-air-india-crash-f12b20e65dc57ae655a1e0759b58938f">struggling</a>&nbsp;after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boeing-plea-737-max-crashes-b34daa014406657e720bec4a990dccf6">two of its Boeing 737 Max airplanes crashed</a>, one in Indonesia in 2018 and the other in Ethiopia in 2019, killing 346 people. In June, one of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/air-india-plane-crash-ahmedabad-1da81c28862041317f29f547d3f00348">Boeing's Dreamliner planes, operated by Air India, crashed</a>, killing at least 260 people.

Last week, Boeing reported that its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boeing-ntsb-max-faa-a5d9b4a7fc3d26906fee65130cd43234">second-quarter revenue</a>&nbsp;had improved and losses had narrowed. The company lost $611 million in the second quarter, compared to a loss of $1.44 billion during the same period last year.

Boeing workers who build fighter jets go on strike

SALINE COUNTY — Small earthquakes shook central Kansas on over the weekend.

Just before 4:30p.m. Saturday, a quake measuring a magnitude 3.4 rattled portions of rural Saline County approximately 4.3 miles east of Assaria, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.&nbsp; A 2.7 magnitude quake shook the same area a short time later.

Just after 5:35p.m. Sunday the USGS reported a 3.3 magnitude quake approximately 4 miles southeast of Assaria.

There are no reports of damage and no calls about the quakes, according to the Saline County Sheriff's office.

USGS reports more earthquakes in central Kansas

&nbsp;JACKSON COUNTY – Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after a traffic stop. 

Just after 10:30p.. on July 27, a Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle on U.S. Highway 75, near 134th Road for a traffic infraction, acording to Sheriff Tim Morse.

The traffic stop led to the arrest of the driver, 48-year-old Carl Thomas Ramsey, of Topeka.  Ramsey was booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of&nbsp; possession of methampehtamine, criminal possession of a weapon by felon, possession of drug paraphernalia, distribute cocaine, criminal use of weapons; possession of firearm by person addicted/use controlled substance and no drug tax stamp.

Sheriff: Kansas felon accused of selling cocaine

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Loni Anderson, who played a struggling radio station’s empowered receptionist on the hit TV comedy “WKRP in Cincinnati,” died Sunday, just days before her 80th birthday.

Anderson died at a Los Angeles hospital following a “prolonged” illness, said her longtime publicist, Cheryl J. Kagan.

“We are heartbroken to announce the passing of our dear wife, mother and grandmother,” Anderson’s family said in a statement.

“WKRP in Cincinnati” aired from 1978-1982 and was set in a flagging Ohio radio station trying to reinvent itself with rock music. The cast included Gary Sandy, Tim Reid, Howard Hesseman, Frank Bonner and Jan Smithers, alongside Anderson as the sexy and smart Jennifer Marlowe.

As the station’s receptionist, the blonde and high-heeled Jennifer used her sex appeal to deflect unwanted business calls for her boss, Mr. Carlson. Her efficiency often kept the station running in the face of others’ incompetence.

The role earned Anderson two Emmy Award nominations and three Golden Globe nominations.

Anderson starred on the big screen alongside Burt Reynolds in the 1983 comedy “Stroker Ace” and the two later married and became tabloid fixtures before divorcing in 1994.

Anderson wrote a 1995 autobiography, “My Life in High Heels,” which she said was about “the growth of a woman, a woman who survives. It’s about my childhood, the death of my parents, my career, my divorces, and my children. Then of course, the trauma of my marriage to Burt.”

“I think if you’re going to write about yourself, you have to do it warts and all,” Anderson told The Associated Press. “You may not even tell the nicest things about yourself, because you’re telling the truth.”

Anderson is survived by her husband Bob Flick, daughter Deidra and son-in law Charlie Hoffman, son Quinton Anderson Reynolds, grandchildren McKenzie and Megan Hoffman, stepson Adam Flick and wife Helene, step-grandchildren Felix and Maximilian.

Loni Anderson, ‘WKRP in Cincinnati’ star, has died

KANSAS CITY — A Kansas City woman has been found a guilty of embezzlement, according to&nbsp;Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson.

“We are proud of last week’s conviction, which is exactly the kind of justice our community deserves,”&nbsp;said Prosecutor Johnson. “In this case, the defendant abused their position of trust to steal from their employer. We will never tolerate these kinds of crimes and pursuing anyone who preys on businesses, whether from the outside or within, remains one of our top priorities.”

During a jury trial,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2690/JUDGMENT---State-v-Kristen-Cannon_FINAL">Kristen Cannon was convicted</a>&nbsp;of one count of Stealing - $750 or more. Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 23. Cannon faces up to seven years in prison.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2689/Kristen-Cannon-PC-Statement_Redacted">According to court records</a>, Cannon was employed at a business between the dates of May 1, 2022, and July 31, 2023, and had access to business finances. The business owner told detectives that the defendant had used the business card for more than $18,000 in personal expenses not related to the business.&nbsp;

Embezzlement: KC woman paid her taxes with company credit card

While the crypto machines can be used for legitimate reasons, they’ve become favored by scammers.

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://stateline.org/author/khardy/">Kevin Hardy</a>

They may resemble other ATMs, but officials are increasingly warning about the potential for fraud with the expanding fleet of cryptocurrency ATMs popping up across the country.

The National Consumers League says the largely unregulated machines have become&nbsp;<a href="https://nclnet.org/ncl-supports-new-legislation-to-combat-crypto-atm-fraud/" target="_blank">favored by scammers</a>&nbsp;for their anonymity and irreversibility — once a user transfers or deposits funds, that money is essentially gone.

While officials say the machines can be used for legitimate purposes, red and blue states are increasingly imposing new regulations to protect consumers: AARP says 11 states have recently passed new laws or regulations of the machines.

“In state after state, AARP found lawmakers on both sides of the aisle and local law enforcement eager to work on commonsense rules that balance innovation and consumer safety,” Nancy LeaMond, AARP’s executive vice president and chief advocacy and engagement officer, said in a news release.

Last year, the FBI reported nearly&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ic3.gov/AnnualReport/Reports/2024_IC3Report.pdf" target="_blank">11,000 complaints</a>&nbsp;of cryptocurrency ATM fraud. Those cases disproportionately affected older Americans and cost victims $246.7 million.

<a href="https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/investing/cryptocurrency" target="_blank">Cryptocurrencies</a>&nbsp;are digital assets, including bitcoin, that offer an alternative payment or method without control of a central bank or government like other currencies.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thomsonreuters.com/en-us/posts/investigation-fraud-and-risk/cryptocurrency-atms/" target="_blank">Crypto ATMs</a>, sometimes called crypto kiosks, allow users to insert cash or use debit cards to convert currencies such as U.S. dollars into cryptocurrencies.

The Federal Trade Commission says crypto ATM scams&nbsp;<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2024/09/scammers-use-bitcoin-atms-steal-your-money" target="_blank">often start&nbsp;</a>with a call or text message warning of a supposed problem, such as unauthorized bank charges or suspicious activity on an Amazon account.

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