The May 10 storm had been forecasted a full week ahead. The forecast for severe weather remained fairly constant for Central Kansas and moved into northern Oklahoma. A few days before the storm, the National Weather Service had Sedgwick County under a very significant hazard assessment. I’ve heard that when the threat assessment gets to the highest level, Emergency Management is activated for an impending disaster. That Monday was the first time in my memory that a day of Riverfest had ever been cancelled.

While the “staycation” has gone out of vogue, the idea of an inexpensive getaway is always appealing. To this end, I bring you the float trip – a chance to escape from real life, unplug your electronic gadgets, and pretend you’re on a backwoods episode of “Man vs. Wild” for a weekend – only with booze and inner tubes. You know, really roughing it, American style! There are many places within a few hours’ driving distance of ICT that will take a very modest fee for plopping you …

Recently, my daughter’s preschool class took a field trip to Tanganyika Wildlife Park. I had heard about the interactive exhibits and unusual animals featured there, so I was pretty excited to join this group of teeny pre-K explorers.

Winter always seems to drag on. That first dip in temperature always takes the wind out of my sails. And the stir-craziness that days upon days of cold, gray weather turns me into a pasty white Hulk. I know I’m not the only one, too. By January, that 90-pound mess that I call Yellow Dog starts giving me a dejected look like, “Is it going to be like this forever?”
Now that spring has arrived, Wichitans of the two- and four-legged variety alike are ready to soak up the sunshine – …

I’m going to assume that you, like countless others, have a childhood regret. You were mean to your sister, gave up piano lessons, didn’t pay attention in algebra, quit baseball or fell out of touch with a dear friend. Aside from all of the above, I regret giving up the saddle.