Local authorities are looking for whoever meddled with the HorseThief Reservoir spillway controls last week, releasing about 135 million gallons of water.
    The incident apparently occurred around midnight Thursday, when U.S. Geological Survey monitoring equipment recorded a marked increase in downstream water flow.

A Kansas soldier known for his shooting expertise has been killed during an attack in Afghanistan during his second tour of duty.
    The Department of Defense announced Monday that 23-year-old Sgt. Tyler Juden was killed Saturday when enemy forces attacked his unit with rocket-propelled grenades and small-arms fire near Turan, Afghanistan.

The HorseThief reservoir project marked two important milestones last week.
    The completed dam passed its final state inspection and, on the same day, an unexpected rainfall filled the lake to about 35 percent capacity.

An advocacy group wants Kansas to ban smoking at its new casinos, arguing the state will violate the federal Americans with Disabilities Act if it allows customers to light up inside.

When Dodge City's casino and events center open, they will both need water lines, sewer service and roads.
    Because the two buildings are part of the same complex, Dodge City and Ford County are splitting the cost of making those improvements with the casino developer, BHC Development.
    The list of improvements needed for the complex includes:
    • Providing water and sewer service.
    • Widening U.S. Highway 50 at the entrance to the complex and putting up signs.

When Bud Maxfield arrived at Wright Park Friday evening, he saw three familiar icons in Liberty Garden.
     A chunk of limestone from the Pentagon. A piece of twisted steel from the World Trade Center. Another piece of limestone, this from the Flight 93 crash site near Shanksville, Pa.

After years of effort, both Dodge City High School and Dodge City Middle School have met the federal standards required by the No Child Left Behind Act in both reading and math. The 2009 scores mark the first time either school has made the crucial AYP, or adequate yearly progress, required by Congress since the controversial act was voted in under the George W. Bush administration.

A Dodge City man who allegedly shot two other men earlier this week was charged Friday with second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder.
    Bonilla is accused of shooting Dodge City resident Steven Holt and Minneola resident Tanner Brunson Monday evening in the Arkansas River bed. Bonilla was apparently jogging in the riverbed when he encountered the two men, who had been driving a short-bed truck in the riverbed.

The Kansas Cowboy Hall of Fame will honor five legendary Kansas cowboys for their contributions to western heritage this weekend.
    The Cowboy Hall of Fame was developed by Boot Hill Museum to preserve and honor the life of the Kansas cowboy. Each year since 2003, Boot Hill Museum has celebrated the Hall of Fame with a new class of inductees.

About 30 miles north of Dodge City sits the little town of Jetmore, county seat of Hodgeman County. Arriving from the south, you go down Cemetery Hill, which is pretty sizable as hills go in this part of the plains. Then you cross Buckner Creek and go up another sizable hill.
    Like many towns in the area, the highway becomes Main Street, anchored by the courthouse square in the center of town.