Summer

Just because school is out, doesn't mean all students are on vacation.  A group of students from across the nation are spending part of their summer break working for free. They are taking part in the 5th annual Wichita Work Camp.  225 teens, college students and adult sponsors from all over the nation are in town.  They'll spend the week serving 14 families in need. The group will paint, remove debris and graffiti from different homes.  The volunteers pay a fee to participate which is why they can provide the services for free.

Getting into a car after it was sitting in the sun might be one of the most dreaded parts of the summer. We left a car sitting in the sun for twenty minutes to see how hot it would get. It was 93 degrees outside. The temperature inside the car got up to 109. We then tried doing the experiment again, this time with a sun visor across the windshield. This time, the temperature inside the car only got up to 105. But what about when you park in the shade? The entire car was in the shade, and the car still heated up, but not nearly as much.

83 days until kids go back to school. Today is the last day of class for Wichita Public Schools and that leaves some parents in a dilemma. “We try to keep a structured, organized schedule so that it's not just boredom and fighting and chaos around the house,” says Dawn Fair, a parent of three kids at Gammon Elementary. Dr. Jim Snyder, a professor of psychology at Wichita State University, says there are some things parents can do to ease the transition to having kids out of school during the summer.

A few snowstorms and a little rain have helped. But most of Kansas remains in extreme to exceptional drought, according to the latest figures from the National Weater Service and U.S. Department of Agriculture. At Cheney Reservoir, boating enthusiasts say the water level has risen about six inches, but that's not nearly enough to get most sailboats or jet skis on the water. "I've never seen it this bad," says Kent Carter. He's sailed at Cheney for more than 30 years. The sailing docks he's come to know so well have weeds growing out from the dry ground surrounding them.

How's your summer been? Pretty hot, right? The hottest ever?  Let's not get ahead of ourselves.  Do you remember 1980?  I sure do. Our Storm Team 12 meteorologists tell me that we typically have close to a dozen days a year over 100-degrees. This summer has already surpassed that, but back in 1980 the total reached 46 hundred degree days. Even older folks may bring up 1954, or even 1936, other extremely hot years. I have special reason to mention 1954.

They're called putting GREENS, but the recent triple-digit weather and lack of rain have them looking for like BROWNS. We talked with Ron Reese with Wichita's MacDonald Golf Course.  He says the courses buy city water just like everyone else.  But, he says, many courses use bermuda grass which tolerates heat better than other varieties.  Reese tells us golfers understand. "Most golfers understand with the heat we've had," Reese said, "they've got a yard at home, they know what its like trying to take care of their own yard and they understand we're doing the best we can to give them the best playing conditions we can through the summer" Reese says there is a difference between this summer and last summer.   The temperature is dipping lower overnight, which helps the grass recuperate.

By Dave Roberts (WICHITA, Kan.) Wichita's summer kick-off festival in downtown is ending. Riverfest was plagued by bad weather this year. Organizers were forced to cancel and reschedule many events. Although exact figures are not available yet, organizers say attendance is down this year because of the weather. Talks are underway among the board of directors about moving next year's Riverfest to a later date when the weather should be nicer. Attendees think that's a good idea.

Tourists from all over the country pass through Kansas every summer. "We are going to Salt Lake City," says Pam Cannon of Houston. "We're going to Upstate New York," adds Lyman Storm. It's the season for long distance travels, although this year those trips come at a premium. We talked to travelers at the I-135 rest area south of Newton. Travelers agree that the price of gas is real killer. "I hate to see it get that high, but you can't sit at home all the time," says Ron Ferry of Wichita.

Most of Kansas will see several days of triple digit heat this week, but forecasters say don't expect a repeat of last year. Wichita recorded 53 days of triple digit temperatures last year which broke the record. This year Wichita has recorded two days over 100 degrees.  Last year at this time there had been nine.  There have been parts of Kansas that have seen 110 degrees or more this year. “This summer doesn't look like it's going to be as hot as last summer.  We've already had more rain than we had last year and also La Nina is no longer in place so it doesn't look like we'll have the number of triple digits we did last summer.” says KWCH 12 Meteorologist Ross Janssen.

Gas prices in Wichita have dropped nearly $0.50 in the past month. The price unleaded now averages $3.34 a gallon in Wichita . Gas peaked at $3.79 a gallon in late September. A gallon of unleaded is now at its lowest level since early July. Price of gas on the Kansas Turnpike is even cheaper. It is $3.17 a gallon at the Belle Plaine rest stop. The price of gas typically drops in the fall as the summer driving season ends and companies start using cheaper seasonal blends.