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Despite a weather precaution that moved Wild West Festival up an hour, Paramount kicked things off Wednesday morning, warming the crowd up for the night's headliner Nate Smith. Smith brought the crowd to their feet playing hits like "Whiskey On You" and "World On Fire". As the night came to a close, crowds filed out of the concert grounds, with a fireworks show prepared for the Fourth of July. Friday night, Jake Dunworth, Savanna Chestnut and Sawyer Brown took to the stage. This morning, guests can close out WWF 2024 with the Main Street Parade starting at 10. Gates will open for the final night at 5:30, RoxSLYDE opening the show followed by Sunset Sinners and Quiet Riot.

Summer may be only half over, but the folks at First Call for Help of Ellis County are busily collecting supplies for Backpacks for Kids.

Few things made Fort Hays State University alumnus Mike Morgison happier than getting his hands dirty. From a messy, rough-and-tumble boy to a skilled man who could reassemble almost anything he pulled apart, Mike exemplified the value of hard work. Before he passed away in 2022, Mike put a gift in place to help FHSU students with similar interests. His sister, Patty Brandenburg, and her husband, Eldon, returned to Hays in April for an emotional and intimate reception on campus. During the event, the couple announced Mike’s legacy, a gift of $502,000 in support of construction management scholarships within FHSU’s Department of Applied Technology.

The Kansas 4-H Youth Development program has recognized more than two dozen youth as state project award winners. Sarah Maass, state leader for the Kansas 4-H program, said “being a state project winner indicates prior excellence and points to (youth’s) future potential.” “Youth must display leadership skills and hearts for service by organizing events like community service projects, project meetings to share their expertise with younger 4-H members, and other unique efforts,” Maass said. One state winner is selected yearly from the senior division (ages 14-18) in 27 project categories. Kansas 4-H youth submit a project report form, a summary of their work in a certain project. Maass notes that in addition to learning new project skills, these youth must also demonstrate growth and strength in leadership, organization, civic engagement, and communication within the project. This year’s project winners are: Beef – Lyle Perrier, Greenwood County.Civic Engagement – Ariana Baltazor, Central Kansas District – Saline County.Clothing and Textiles – Vanessa Jones, Pottawatomie County.Communications – Grace Oard, Sedgwick County.Dairy – Alexander Young, Chisholm Trail District – Marion County.Dog Care and Training – Lydia Walker, Phillips-Rooks District – Phillips County.Entomology – Renatta Heintz, Chisholm Trail District - Dickinson County.Fiber Arts – Allison Rose, Chisholm Trail District - Dickinson County.Foods and Nutrition – Kierra Eck, Midway District – Russell County.Geology – Knox Crouch, Sedgwick County.Horse – Faith Beesley, Wild West District – Stevens County.Leadership – Elizabeth ‘Ellie’ Seeger, McPherson County. Meat Goats – Kayla George, West Plains District – Finney County.Performing Arts – Tobias Grubbs, Wild West District – Stevens County.Photography – Norman Jurgensen, Marshall County.Plant Science – Isaiah Manus, Leavenworth County.Poultry – Dalton Peters, Meadowlark District – Jackson County.Rabbits – Alena Wiebers, Riley County.Reading – Lexi Wright, Wild West District – Haskell County.Self-Determined – Jarrett Abel, Meadowlark District – Jackson County.Sheep – Brady Hoffman, Sedgwick County.Shooting Sports – Elisha Staggers, Wild West District – Stevens County.STEM – Maggie Brummett, Riley County.STEM: Energy Management – Jarrett Birk, Southwind District – Woodson County.Swine – Jacob DeRouchey, Pottawatomie County.Visual Arts – Brynna Anderson, Central Kansas District – Saline County.Wildlife – Jonas Kern, Cottonwood District – Barton County.Wood Science – Karson Kahler, Meadowlark District – Jefferson County. Award winners were recognized during the Emerald Circle celebration, hosted each year by the Kansas 4-H Foundation. Officials say project report forms progress through county, regional and statewide evaluations before the state winner in each project area is named. State 4-H project award winners are also eligible to attend the National 4-H Congress in Atlanta, Georgia, in November. Numerous donors provide support for project winner’s trip to the National 4-H Congress, through the Kansas 4-H Foundation. More information about opportunities available through the Kansas 4-H Youth Development program is available online.

Sunflower Electric Power Corporation announced the promotion of Len Couture to manager of substation operations.

The Kansas Supreme Court affirmed Friday the fundamental constitutional right of women to terminate a pregnancy and struck down a state law banning a second-trimester abortion method.