THOMAS COUNTY—According to the Thomas County Sheriff’s Office, on Thursday, December 14th, sheriff’s deputies and state troopers responded to a report of a semi full of cattle that overturned on Interstate 70 just east of the K184 Brewster exit. Community members volunteered to get the cattle safely off the trailer and rounded up, as some had escaped during the accident.

SEDGWICK COUNTY—A Harlan Red-Tailed Hawk used for educational programming escaped his enclosure on Monday, December 11th, according to a social media report from the Midwest Avian Foundation. The hawk, known as Harley, is a non-released bird with limited ability to fly.

SALINA—Kansas Wesleyan has received a $700,000.00 gift from the estate of Gretchen Morgenstern, a former KWU Board of Trustees member, according to a media release from the school. The gift is believed to be one of the ten largest single gifts from an individual in school history.

LINN COUNTY—On Sunday evening, November 26th, Game Warden Falls responded to the Marais des Cygnes Wildlife Area to rescue a duck hunter who was suffering from hypothermia and going into shock, according to a social media report from the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks. EMS transported the hunter to an area hospital for further treatment.

HILL CITY—A sign posted in a bar in Hill City sparked vandalism at the business, resulting in the local chamber of commerce moving its annual banquet. Someone took a picture of the sign the Cowboy Junction owner posted, which went viral on Facebook .

LYONS—Fire crews and other city employees helped with traffic control following a building collapse Sunday morning, November 12th, in downtown Lyons. According to a release from the City, at 10:00 a.m.

NORTON COUNTY—Twenty-seven-year-old Kansas farmer Conor Cox lost his arm working on farming equipment that happened to turn on while his arm was in the way. After unsuccessful attempts to reattach his arm, Conor was discharged home five days before Christmas last year having to rediscover life as an amputee.

MITCHELL COUNTY — On Saturday, Oct. 23, the Mitchell County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call from a 78-year-old male who reported that he was forcibly taken at gunpoint and held for around 26 hours by his 59-year-old acquaintance, John Roudybush, of Glen Elder.

HAYS—The lights of the Brass Rail flickered off for the last time on Saturday, October 21st, after more than 70 years in business. Although the number of patrons frequenting the bar had waned recently, the bar was packed on that night, with many customers wanting to say one last goodbye to their old haunt.

MINNEAPOLIS—A man charged in the museum heist of a pair of ruby slippers that Judy Garland wore in “The Wizard of Oz” pleaded guilty on Friday, October 13th, in a deal that could keep him out of prison due to his failing health, but only cleared up some of the mystery that dates back 18 years. Terry Jon Martin, 76, pleaded guilty to a single count of theft of a significant artwork.