OVERLAND PARK, Kan. — Starting Friday, visitors to the Museum at Prairiefire in Overland Park will have the opportunity to see an amazing piece of space history when the Mercury spacecraft Liberty Bell 7 is unveiled in a new exhibit called: “Liberty Bell 7: The Peril and Promise of Space Exploration.”

Opening to the public at 10 a.m., this new traveling exhibit produced by the Cosmosphere features the spacecraft that was recovered from the ocean floor in 1999 after spending more than 40 years submerged at a depth of more than 15,000 feet.

The Cosmosphere SpaceWorks helped retrieve and conserve the Liberty Bell 7 capsule. In addition to Liberty Bell 7, museum-goers can take advantage of another unique exhibit produced by the Cosmosphere with the “Apollo Redux” interactive exhibit. This hands-on experience allows visitors to sit at an authentic historic back room mission control console — the same ones that helped man get to the moon — while learning about the different roles of both historic and modern-day mission control personnel.

Both exhibits will be available to the public through January 2020. For more information on Museum at Prairiefire, visit www.visitthemap.org.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The City of Hutchinson, Hutchinson City Council, and the U.S. Census Bureau are looking for organizations to participate in the city’s Complete Count Committee for the 2020 Census.

The purpose of this committee is to gather community stakeholders and leaders from government, education, social agencies, business, faith-based, and media partners, to share information about the Census, coordinate efforts to ensure everyone in the community is counted once, only once, and in the right place.

The city also wants to develop and implement census outreach strategies to make sure the information on the census gets out. A kickoff meeting for the census count committee is Wednesday, Sept. 11, from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. in the Hutchinson city council conference room.

A representative from the Census Bureau will be in attendance to provide information on the 2020 Census, its importance, and what role a Complete Count Committee can have in ensuring an effective and accurate Census.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Anyone who has adopted a pet from the Hutchinson Animal Shelter can help them out by submitting a story on your pet and what it means to have adopted one.

It’s part of the annual Petco Foundation Holiday Wishes program which provides grants to various shelters during the holiday season.

“We’re asking anyone who has adopted a pet from the Hutchinson Animal Shelter to help us earn a grant this holiday season from the Petco Foundation by sharing their story,” Animal Services Manager Ronald Schlabs said. “You can help our holiday wishes come true by simply sharing how your pet brightens your life each and every day.”

From now through Sept. 23rd, adopters can submit a story. Stories should highlight how pets brighten their adopter’s lives in big and small ways, and should celebrate the love of their pets. Submissions must include photos to illustrate the story and can include video as well.

The foundation will give away more than $750-thousand worth of grants including a $100-thousand grand prize.

Adopters should contact the Hutchinson Animal Shelter for the organization’s point of contact, email and phone number to include in their submission. Adopters are also encouraged to visit the Petco Foundation Holiday Wishes webpage petcofoundation.org/holidaywishes for more information, to read stories from previous winners and to complete their submission.

SOUTH HUTCHINSON, Kan. — An informational meeting on the next farm bill is coming to South Hutchinson next Thursday.

The meeting is scheduled for Sept. 5th at 1:00 p.m. at the South Hutchinson community building at 101 West Avenue C.

The farm bill is a package of legislation passed roughly once every five years, which has an impact on farming livelihoods, how food is grown and what kinds of foods are grown.

The bill covers programs such as crop insurance for farmers, healthy food access for low-income families, beginning farmer training and support for sustainable farming practices.

The meeting is sponsored by the Reno County Farm Service Agency.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Siemens Gamesa announced Wednesday it has been selected by MidAmerican Energy Company for the Southern Hills Expansion wind power project, which will feature 21 SG 4.5-145 wind turbines, operating at 4.8 MW, and will be located in Iowa. This project also features the company’s premier service and maintenance agreement for 3 ½ years.

This turbine model, a benchmark solution for sites with medium winds, has been designed to offer a flexible rating ranging from 4.2 to 4.8 MW, increasing its adaptability to be configured for optimal performance in each individual project, achieving maximum returns.

“We are once again proud to have been awarded a project by MidAmerican Energy Company, strengthening our long-standing relationship with them,” José Antonio Miranda, CEO of Onshore Americas at Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy, said  “We have had great success with the SG 4.5-145 wind turbine, with over 1.4 GW sold in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, and are excited to continue growing that number.”

Siemens Gamesa has installed more than 10,000 wind turbines in the U.S. totaling about 20 GW of installed capacity. In Iowa, Siemens Gamesa has installed nearly 1,400 wind turbines for a total of almost 3.5 GW. Of that, 1,164 units for a total capacity of nearly 3 GW are with MidAmerican Energy Company, highlighting the strong collaboration of both companies.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Food is always a popular hit with the Kansas State Fair.

Visitors to this year’s fair will have some new items to try out including a new twist to Krispy Kreme pastries: the Krispy Kreme hotdog.

Just when you thought Carousel Cafe’s Krispy Kreme hamburger was quirky now comes the Krispy Kreme hot dog. The treat features a fresh jelly stuffed Krispy Kreme donut as the bun. It’s filled with an Angus beef hot dog topped with more jelly and finished off with thick Applewood smoked bacon.

Another food item with a local twist is the honey bun burger. It’s a beef patty from Yoder Meats which is sandwiched between two warm Honey Buns, then topped with fresh veggies, often served with a slice of melted cheese. To top it off, you can add Applewood smoked bacon or chocolate-covered bacon, which serves as the perfect complement to this sweet and salty burger. The Carousel cafe will also be serving this treat.

If you have a sweet tooth, a deep-fried bite-sized cheesecake may be your thing. The nuggets are then topped with powdered sugar and cherry drizzle. Brackett Concession’s cookie dough stand will be selling those.

Directions to any of these food items or other treats will be on the free state fair app.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Jim Martinez trail remains closed between 1st Avenue and
Avenue A.

BNSF is preparing to replace the aging bridge over the Cow Creek channel. According to Andy Williams with BNSF, work has already started. Plans are to remove the old structure and replace it Oct. 1.

Williams says weather and train schedules could change the date the actual work is done. Once it starts, work crews won’t mess around as they plan to have the bridge replaced in just 18 hours.

Until then, the trail will remain closed. Signs are posted alerting bikers and walkers of the change.