Tuesday
• Head for the Hill’s! The new Hill’s Pet Nutrition plant will be on the agenda for the Area Planning Commission meeting at the city conference room in the civic auditorium, 521 Market St. Commissioners will be deciding whether to rezone 40 acres — about half the site — from agricultural to light industrial so that the plant can be built. The 40 acres in question is presently the home of Jim and Sharon Woods, who agreed to sell the land and move across the road. The meeting starts at 7 p.m.
Wednesday
• Regretfully, it’s time to say goodbye to the downtown concert season. At noon, the final “Brown Bag” concert at the Emporia Public Library will feature children’s favorite Bongo Barry. The 7:30 p.m. “Live in the Lot” concert will be performed by the local band The DeWayn Brothers and followed around 9 p.m. with “An Inconvenient Truth,” Al Gore’s documentary on global warming. “Live in the Lot” meets at the Seventh Avenue and Merchant Street parking lot.
• It’s time to choose priorities. At its 10 a.m. study session, the Emporia City Commission will discuss ways to balance the 2008 general fund, which currently has about $18.1 million of wants and needs but only $15.6 million of cash expected, according to the second draft of the budget. In addition, Larry Lewis will discuss a proposed shooting range and commissioners will talk about renewing the 911 telephone tax and whether to support shrinking the board of the Emporia Recreation Commission.
Thursday
• Anything can happen tonight with the Emporia Municipal Band. The theme tonight is “Cook’s Choice,” with a concert of favorites chosen by the band members themselves. Come see what’s on the menu for the final concert of the summer at 8 p.m. in Fremont Park at Fourth Avenue and Union Street.
• Forget the weather report — for the next several days, the forecast is nothing but Fair. The 2007 Lyon County Free Fair resumes with wristband night at the carnival. From 6 to 10 p.m., carnival-goers can ride every ride at the Lyon County Fairgrounds for the cost of one wristband.
Friday
• Sheep and goats and swine better scurry ... well, anyway, tonight is the weigh-in for all three at the Lyon County Fairgrounds. After check in from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., the sheep and meat goats will be weighed in at 7 p.m. and swine at 7:30 p.m. Meanwhile, this is also the night for rough-road racing fans: the ATV races get under way at 7 p.m. at the Grandstand.
• The East squad will wrap up practice today at Emporia State University for this year’s Kansas Shrine Bowl. The bowl will be played at 7 p.m. Saturday at Lewis Field in Hays. For tickets, call (800) 520-5524.
• There’s nothing like the green, green grass of home — unless it’s seeing it in a national magazine. The National Geographic photo exhibit on the Flint Hills formally kicks off tonight with a members-only viewing at the Council’s annual meeting and then will be open to the public starting Saturday at the Emporia Arts Center, 618 Mechanic St.