July closes out with nearly five and a half inches of rain, green hills, and sunflowers waving their sunny little faces. Most of the summer has been mild - not exceeding 100 degrees - but close, and cool overnight lows reaching the low 50s.

The annual 4-H Special Food competition was held July 20, 2023. This learning experience incorporates a variety of life skills including design, planning, time management, nutrition, public speaking, etiquette and more. The Cupcake War class is based on the popular TV show and requires youth to bake and decorate cupcakes and put their party-planning skills to the test with unique and creative displays.

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With the International Dark Sky designation, there’s a lot to look forward to at Merritt Reservoir. Organizers said there were nearly 400 registrants at this year’s 30th anniversary of dark skies.

It was a cold and snowy - extra snowy at that - December 16, 2022 when Officer Jasmine Hoefs responded to a medical emergency call, which did not end as expected. With over 19 surgeries to date, Jasmine is still on her road to recovery.