Construction on the new location for Sonic Drive-In at 8th and Chestnut streets in downtown Independence is fully underway as crews have nearly got the block and brick on the building as of Friday morning

Forget the Major League Baseball All-Star game, the Cherryvale Youth Fair Barnyard Olympics had everything a sports enthusiast would want to see. This year's fair opened Wednesday with the poultry show at 8 a.m. followed by the rabbit show at 5 p.m.

The Independence USD 446 School Board called for a special meeting, Monday at their regular meeting, to request an examination of the 2018- 2019 budget for the school district. Rusty Arnold USD 446 superintendent asked the board to consider meeting Monday, July 30 at 7 a.m. in the Independence High School Community Room to answer any questions the board has regarding the budget. 

Sonic Drive-In making is headway in establishing a new location downtown. Jeff Ports, co-owner of Sonic Independence and owner of KEP Holdings, LLC, Chanute, said, "We begin pouring the floors this week and hopefully the walls will go up the next week followed by rough-ins and roof." It is estimated in approximately four weeks the roof will be in place and equipment moved from the old facility. 

Independence was a shining star during the 2018 Astra Arts Festival as the streets were filled with those appreciating all the festival had to offer.

The festival kicked off Friday morning with many activities and exhibits offered such as "Let's Put on a Play" improv and stage presence workshop for youth, the Community Art Assemblage where all ages were invited to view a work in progress at Jim Hayward Fine Art, gallery art exhibits at Eclextic Art Gallery, Social Media Marketing for Authors workshop offered by Brandon West at the Independence Public Library, a candle-making workshop at Magnolia Scents by Design, Podcasting for writers presented by Nancy Kishpaugh at IPL, How to Make a Cartoon Fart, a discussion of animation with filmmaker Daniel Shepard, an art demo by Steve Greenwall at the Independence Museum and Art Center, and Friday evening, Pianist Barron Ryan gave a concert at the First Presbyterian Church. 

Saturday morning's Farmers Market shoppers and vendors harvested some locally sourced entertainment, thanks in part to the 2018 Astra Arts Festival. In a weekend that has already included several events related to theater, music, literary and visual arts, Saturday's festivities began with the weekly Farmers Market at 7:30 a.m. 

This has been a great summer in Indy and it is just going to get better according to what was announced at the July First Friday held at the Civic Center, which was sponsored by Hometown Healthcare. Chamber of Commerce president Lisa Wilson introduced Jon Reed, director of operations, who thanked the Chamber for allowing Hometown Healthcare to sponsor the July event. Reed told of the services available through Hometown Healthcare which was followed by Wilson guiding guests through upcoming community events.