What's going on in region?

As the Golden Plains digs out from the gloriously wet mid-winter snowstorm, let's take a tour through the pages of the area's weekly newspapers. So what's happening as 2004 rolls into the second month?

Chris Cagle coming to Chase Fair

Let's start with Chase County, which has announced that the headline performer for the 2004 Chase County Fair will be Chris Cagle. He will be appearing Friday night, Aug. 20, in front of the large grandstand at the fairgrounds in Imperial.

For country music fans, Cagle's appearance in this area is great news. He burst on to the music scene in a big way when a single from his first album soared to the Number One spot on the country music charts. The song, "I Breathe In. I Breathe Out," topped both the Billboard and Radio and Recordings song ratings.

And his success is continuing. Just a couple on months ago, in December, his music video, "Chicks Dig It," held the Number One slot for several weeks on Country Music Television (CMT).

It appears the Chase County Fair has scored another coup. They have a long record of success in bringing top acts to Southwest Nebraska, and it seems to be a cinch that they have done it again. Thanks to the Imperial Republican, the Wauneta Breeze, the Hayes Center Times-Republican, and other area newspapers for bringing the news about Cagle to our attention.

Dundy County restoring track

People throughout the area know how much pride Dundy County High School of Benkelman takes in its track and field program. Going all the way back to Danis Richards, who electrified the state with her blazing times in the middle distances, Benkelman has had a series of outstanding track athletes, including Kathy Janicke and Lisa Pursley in more recent times.

Along the way, Benkelman and Dundy County have supported their athletes with a series of track improvements.

Now, they're at it again. In a front page article, the Benkelman Post & News-Chronicle announced that the community is beginning a fund-raising project to restore and renovate the running track at the high school in Benkelman.

In addition to support from the Board of Education and School Foundation, the school will be seeking a minimum of $25,000 in contributions from local efforts.

As with past campaigns, the fund drive will pay dividends. Up to 11 meets a year have been held at the track in recent times, and the Nebraska School Activities Association is encouraging Dundy County to continue to host meets in the future.

Jim Foster makes Gatling gun

In less than five months' time, Jim Foster of Bartley has created a Gatling gun. We learned of this through a well-displayed story on the front page of the Cambridge Clarion.

According to the article in the Clarion, an original Gatling gun still costs $50,000, which is why Jim decided to make his own. Not counting his time, Foster estimates he spent only $700 to create his version of the gun.

Richard J. Gatling made the first Gatling gun in April of 1861, shortly after the outbreak of the Civil War. Like the original, Foster's creation is a hand-crank model which features six barrels revolving around a central shaft.

Foster hasn't yet decided what he will do with the gun, but for an investment of $700 for a gun valued at $50,000, it might pay him to put the guns on the market. At prices of up to $50,000 each, Gatling guns could be a very profitable sideline.