By MIKE CORN

mcorn@dailynews.net

LA CROSSE -- Two northwest Kansas crown jewels are the focal point for two of 24 customs that are among the finalists in the 8 Wonders of Kansas Customs campaign.

The customs campaign has been perhaps the most difficult one so far, but was boiled down to 24 finalists Thursday when the Kansas Sampler Foundation made the announcement. Voting started Thursday, as well.

The two northwest Kansas customs nominated are:

* Recognizing those who came in second: Norton's They Also Ran Gallery features those who came in second in presidential races. Photographs of the not-so-successful candidates are on display at the First State Bank of Norton.

* Using natural material for fencing:   The Post Rock Museum in La Crosse highlights the full story of using post rock limestone for fencing. There's plenty of other uses for the natural material as well.

As the finalists were being announced, Emma Funk watched over the museum, ready to answer most any question visitors have about the use of limestone. She was quick to point out that the Post Rock Museum -- nestled among the collection of museums operated by the Rush County Historical Society -- was among the 8 Wonders of Rush County.

While not specific to northwest Kansas, two area sites were included among 37 in the custom of ordering a soda fountain treat.

Area locations are the Soda Shoppe in Hays at 800 Main inside Northwestern Office Supply Store. It has a seven-stool counter.

In WaKeeney, Gibson Health Mart has a nine-stool counter.

Quinter soon will have a soda fountain at Ray's Pharmacy. The fountain came from New York, but it has been converted into an energy-efficient model. The fountain is expected to be open later this month.

At the Post Rock Museum, a number of displays are on hand to show the variety of ways limestone has been used. There's even a fossil encased in limestone.

Outside, stone posts -- utility-, clothesline- and fence-post size -- adorn the exterior. There's also a couple of limestone headstones, and cattle troughs and bird baths of various sizes.

Nearly 100 visitors stop by the museum each month, although special events bring in more people. The Post Rock museum is surrounded by the Kansas Barbed Wire Museum, the Rush County Historical Museum and the Nekoma Bank Museum.

Just as the voting will start, the Post Rock Museum will close Sunday for the season. It will reopen in April, Funk said.

Voting on the final eight will continue until midnight Oct. 20. The eight will be announced in late October.

To vote, go to www.8wonders.org. Each e-mail address will allow three votes. Anyone without Internet access can call (620) 585-2374 for a paper ballot. Finalists also will have copies of the ballots.