ATCHISON, Kan. - Things are happening in this Kansas river town. You can find out on your computer or take a trip.

The Kansas Department of Transportation, in partnership with the Missouri Department of Transportation, recently launched a Webcam site that features construction photos of the new Amelia Earhart Memorial Bridge as it's being built.

The new bridge will be a four-lane span that will stretch nearly 2,500 feet, and be distinguished by its double steel arches on the main river span with special aesthetic lighting. Construction cost is $59.4 million, Kansas will contribute $30.6 million and the Missouri Department of Transportation will contribute $28.8 million.

The four lanes will accommodate the greater number of vehicles that pass daily over the bridge. The new bridge is scheduled to be completed in the fall of 2011.

It will replace the existing two-lane structure, which was completed in 1938 and is too narrow to handle some of today's larger truck loads and farm implements. Kansas plans to remove the existing bridge in 2012.

Camera images will refresh every 15 minutes and viewers will be able to view the time-lapsed images in sequential order for an extended period of time. A plus sign on the left side allows viewers to enhance the image and view close-ups of the construction.

Go to this Web address to view the photos: www.ksdot.org/aebridge.

A nice day out

ATCHISON, Kan. - For those looking for an enjoyable day trip, consider a Saturday or Sunday visit to Atchison's Muchnic Gallery.

A trio of talented Atchison artists - Aleda Haug, Judy Cochran Green and Diana Grosso - are sharing exhibition space at the gallery with selections from their diverse work. Visitor to the gallery, which has weekend hours from 1 to 5 p.m., will see bronze, clay, fabric, mixed media and oil in two and three-dimensional forms.

Aleda Haug, whose educational background is in the medical field, has spent the last 15 years exploring sculptural media - polymer clay, earthenware clay and bronze.

Judy Cochran Green received a bachelor of arts degree from Benedictine College in 1975. She is experienced in watercolor, oil painting, screen printing, fabric, weaving, pottery and teaching.

Diana Grosso studied visual arts at North Seattle Community College from 1984 to 1986 and oil painting at the University of Washington from 1986 to 1987. A full-time artist, her primary medium is water-soluble oil paint.

The show continues through Dec. 30 at the Muchnic Gallery, 704 N. Fourth St.

Grant money available

In Missouri, grant dollars have become available for local government, fire departments, road districts, school districts, some non-profits and state agencies through the Region H Homeland Security Oversight Committee.

A group must be in one of the following counties: Andrew, Atchison, Buchanan, Caldwell, Clinton, Daviess, DeKalb, Gentry, Grundy, Harrison, Holt, Livingston, Mercer, Nodaway or Worth. The committee announced it has $471,342 in federal homeland security grant funds, available to local jurisdictions. Eligible applicants can apply for funds to implement the strengthening of information sharing and other collaborative communication capabilities. For details, applicants can contact Jackie Spainhower at 233-3144.

Applications are due to the Mo-Kan Regional Council no later than 4 p.m. Dec. 4. Local requests will be evaluated by Region H subcommittees during December and recommended for funding at a January meeting. Recommendations will be submitted to the State Emergency Management Agency in February for technical review, and for final approval by the governor's state committee in May.

Marshall White can be contacted at marshall@npgco.com.