Wilson Lake or Wilson Reservoir is a lake in the U.S. state of Kansas, on the border of Russell County and Lincoln County. It is a reservoir formed by the 130 ft (40 m) high Wilson Dam on Saline River. The dam was built in 1964 for flood control. The lake’s maximum capacity is 736,000 acre-feet (908 million m³).

There are 5 recreational parks at Wilson Lake.  Most include boat ramps, showers, overnight camping sites, playgrouds, volleyball courts, swimming beaches, and picnic areas.

If you are into mountain biking, there is a bike trail that was recently opened and wraps a four-mile path over hilly areas and rocks. This trail is rated at an intermediate level and has some technical sections for bikers. The surrounding hills provide good climbs and exciting descents. For those looking for more of a relaxing time you may want to check out the Bur Oak Nature Trail located below the dam at Lake Wilson. It is a short, but an enjoyable nature trail that is 3/4 of a mile and has information about the surrounding community?s ecosystem.

• Augusta - A-Town.
• Beattie - Milo Capital of the World (milo is grain sorghum)
• Cassoday - Prairie Chicken Capital of the World
• Cawker City - Home of the World's Largest Ball of Twine
• Dodge City - Queen of the Cowtowns
• Ellis - Buckle on the Wheat Belt, Antique City of the High Plains
• Garden City - Cutting Horse Capital
• Girard - Printing Capital of the Nation
• Haysville - Peach Capital of Kansas
• Hutchinson - The Salt City
• Jennings - Czech Us Out
• Kansas City
  • KCK
  • Heart of America 
• Kirwin - Goose Capital.
• La Crosse - Barbed Wire Capital of the World
• Lansing - City With a Future
• Lawrence
  • River City
• Lenexa - Spinach Capital
• Leoti - Pinto Bean Capital
• Manhattan - The Little Apple
• Marysville - Black Squirrel Capital
• Norton - Pheasant Capital of Kansas
• Olathe - Cowboy Boot Capital
• Parsons - Purple Martin Capital
• Pittsburg - Fried Chicken Capital
• Pleasanton - P-Town
• Quinter - Half Mile High City
• Russell Springs - Cow Chip Capital of Kansas
• Wellington - Wheat Capital of the World
• Wichita
  • Air Capital of the World
  • ICT
  • Doo-dah
  • the Witches titty
• Windom - Covered Dish Capital of the World

courtesy of http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_city_nicknames_in_the_United_States

Suggestions for December Home Improvement (winter maintenance):

Cleaning the gutters is a good idea in December. The majority of the leaves have fallen from the trees. Gutters should be cleaned to ensure proper drainage.

Changing the direction of the blades on the ceiling fans will force warm air downward, thus warming the room. You could possibly be able to turn down the heater a few notches and save a few pennies on your utility bill. You will want to keep the fan at a slow speed so it does not create a cool breeze.

Check roof vents for debris and insulation. If they are blocked, clear them to allow wet air to escape so it does not create condensation and mildew.

Interior valves for outside water faucets should be closed. All hoses should be disconnected. Outside faucets should be should be ran to wash out remaining water, then shut them off again. All water pipes should be wrapped with insulation to avoid bursting in cold weather, especially those near exterior walls in unheated basements and crawl spaces.

In November, while temperatures during the day are still mild, take a close look at the driveway, patio, sidewalk and steps. Any small holes or cracks should be patched with a filler or sealer. The cycle of water freezing and thawing can create more damage if left unrepaired.

Trim tree limbs back from the house or roof at least twelve inches. This decreases the chance of damage from wind and storms brushing the limbs against these surfaces.

November 4th is daylight savings time. Don't forget to turn your clocks back one hour. This is a good time to replace batteries in household carbon monoxide and smoke detectors. During the cooler months, typically windows stay closed and decorations such as holiday lights increase the risk of fire. This simple maintenance can save lives!

Clean and protect outdoor furniture and protect it from the harsh winter weather.

Basement window wells should be cleared of leaves to make sure they are draining properly. The wells can then be covered with plastic domes.

Porches and decks should be raked under to keep pests away.

The federal government is encouraging homeowners to purchase components for their homes with higher energy-efficiency. To do so, the government is offering a reduced cost of certain upgrades by tax crediting those components that qualify. However, there is a time limit that expires at the year's end.

A list of examples include:

Windows, Skylights and storm doors (credit 10 percent of the cost of materials up to $200)

Roofing (10 percent of the cost to install an Energy Star certified metal roof)

Insulation (10 percent of the cost of materials up to $500, must meet the 2004 IECC)

Water Heaters (credit $300 for certain high efficiency models)

Solar Power (credit $2,000 up to 30 percent to install a photovoltaic system)

Heating and Cooling Systems (credit $300 for qualified AC and heating units)

for more information visit, www.energystar.org

America Recycles Day is officially recognized on November, 15th. Across the country, 10,000 Americans are expected to participate in hundreds of events all over the nation to raise awareness about the importance of recycling and to encourage Americans to sign personal pledges to recycle and buy recycled products.

Since the campaign's beginning in 1995, every year, millions more people become better educated about the importance of recycling in their homes and in the workplace as a result of this awareness day. The President of the United States declared November 15^th America Recycles Day and many state and local governments issued proclamations and resolutions to show support for the national recycling day.

The campaign slogan, It All Comes Back To You, presents multiple messages: a recycled product can return to consumers as another new product; recycling comes back to consumers as an improved environment, preservation of resources and economic well-being of the country. The most important meaning of all is that it's everyone's responsibility to recycle!

America Recycles Day is the only nationally recognized day dedicated to encouraging Americans to recycle and buy recycled products. Since its inception in 1997, the campaign, which is led by grassroots organizers in communities nationwide, has grown substantially with residents in every state pledging to recycle.  

for more information, visit www.americarecyclesday.org

Trick-or-Treat at Sunset Zoo's candy and treasure trails during the SPOOKtacular Halloween event 2007 in Manhattan, Kansas.  Pirate themed attractions include the plank o' conservation, the pirates' brig, scary pirate tales storytelling, pirate challenges, Kansas State University's Yosakoi dance troupe, marooned magician illusions, a Wizard of Oz and arts and crafts such as creating animal enrichments in the ship's galley and an opportunity to take your picture with the Pirate King to contribute to the coral reef conservation and much more. 

Ticket prices are $3 per trick o' treater, $2 for Friends of Sunset Zoo members.  Free admission for two adults with each trick o' treater ticket purchase.

Date: Saturday, October 27, and Sunday, October 28

Time: gates open at noon, gates close at 5:00 p.m.

Booth registration was closed October 19 at 5:00 p.m.

Log on to http://www.sunsetzoo/ for more information.

Sunset Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and is home to 338 individual animals representing 105 species.