eType Editor

Sumner County Emergency Management and meteorologists from the National Weather Service (NWS) office in Wichita have joined forces to host an informational presentation entitled “Storm, Fury on the Plains” to help better prepare storm spotters and weather enthusiasts for the upcoming storm season. The 2-hour program, providing information about different types of storms, individual storm features that help identify a storm’s potential severity, how to report hazardous weather, and how to safely respond to severe weather, will be held tonight at 6:30 PM in the WHS auditorium. No registration is required; the program is free, and everyone is welcome to attend.

Over the past year, members of the Sumner County Kansas Historical and Genealogical Society (SCHGS) have been actively gathering postcards and photographs with the aim of compiling them into a book. The idea arose when SCHGS President Jane Moore began organizing the existing collection of historic postcards by town.

Will Haynes, Director of Engagement and Learning at the Watkins Museum of History in Lawrence, delivered a captivating program on the significant role Kansans played during the Civil War to a full audience at the Cowley College Sumner Campus. Haynes, known for his dynamic and energetic storytelling, breathed life into this lesser-known part of Kansas history, sharing a wealth of information that was new to many in the audience. His presentation was rich with detailed first-person accounts sourced from extensive research, offering a vivid portrayal of a time marked by “danger and fear, pride and opportunity.” The narrative began with the establishment of Kansas as a state, highlighting how its youthful population played a pivotal role in preserving the United States and abolishing slavery. In 1861, the year Kansas was admitted to the Union, its population stood at 107,000, with 90% of residents under 40 years old.