Travis DeSair, a dedicated engineer in the realm of aerospace at Blue Origin, reflects on his remarkable journey in the Orion program—a mission poised to return humans to the lunar surface. Since starting at Lockheed Martin in 2007, DeSair has played a vital role in shaping the future of space exploration, garnering firsthand insights into the technology and teamwork that enables such monumental endeavors.

The Rooks County Health Center has earned national recognition after being named one of the Top 20 Critical Access Hospitals in the United States for 2026 by the National Rural Health Association (NRHA) and the Chartis Center for Rural Health.

A check for over $20,000 was presented to Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas by Dancing Together for the DSNWK event held on Sunday, March 1st, at Beach Schmidt Performing Arts Center in Hays. All the dancers from Styles Dance Centre, along with Styles owner, Alyssa Dechant, presented the check on Monday, April 27th.

Smoky Hills PBS (SHPBS) is thrilled to unveil one of the talented winners of the 2026 PBS KIDS Writers Contest. This year’s contest received an inspiring number of entries from students in grades 1 through 5, each one showcasing imagination, heart, and unique voices from our local communities in Central and Western Kansas. Students submitted original stories, each paired with their own illustrations, presenting a diverse array of ideas and adventures.

Over the past two weeks, local fire departments have responded to a series of incidents across the county. The first occurred on Tuesday, April 21st, when the Stockton Fire Department was called at approximately 4:40 p.m. to the Dale Niblock property, where a routine check on cattle led to a grass fire. Thanks to the quick response, the blaze was contained to about half an acre after an hour of effort. The following day, Wednesday, April 22nd, Stockton sent a tanker to the Rooks County Airport to assist with refueling an airplane battling a fire in a neighboring county.

Rooks County Health Center was recognized with multiple honors at the 2026 Kansas Association of Health Care Communicators Emerald Awards, including an Emerald Award in the Total Campaign category and Best of Show for the Relocate to Rooks campaign.

Child Care Aware of Kansas has named the Plainville Wellness Coalition a Child Care Community Champion for their exceptional efforts to strengthen local child care. This honor is part of the Child Care Friendly Communities initiative, which supports community- led solutions for families and providers across Kansas.

With camping season just around the corner, it's time to dust off your fishing gear, boat, and camper, and settle into your favorite spot at Webster Reservoir. Should you forget any essentials, the new owners of Webster Bait & Tackle are ready to help make your summer seamless and fun!

Honoring Plainville’s School Lunch Hero: Melea McCrae’s 20 Years of Heartfelt Service Plainville was filled with laughter and joy as the community celebrated National School Lunch Hero Day, paying special tribute to Melea McCrae for her remarkable 20 years of devoted service to Plainville 270.