Good morning, Kokomo.

At the Howard County 4H Fair, local drivers raced in a drag race that thrilled crowds as families cheered and engines roared + the trackside report captured all the high-speed moments of this beloved fair tradition.

The Howard County 4-H Fair is underway as part of Fair Week and will offer many activities for local visitors in the coming days—The Lantern’s April Chaplin explains the schedule and outlines additional details available through new episodes of The Lamp on the Kokomo Lantern Podcast Network.

A Kokomo man was seriously injured in a motorcycle crash on the north side Friday evening—police said 54-year-old John Wright lost control at about 6 p.m. when he unexpectedly activated the rear brake on his 1997 Harley Davidson while riding east on Morgan Street.

At the Howard County 4‑H Fair today, young contestants in the Little Miss, Miss Howard County Queen, and Miss Howard County Junior pageants filled the stage with charm and pride as they competed for crowns — organizers captured key stage walks, interviews, and crowning moments that honored local leadership.

Gross assessed values for commercial, industrial and residential properties in Indiana increased by 12% from 2024 to 2025—as ratio studies by 92 county assessors show—affecting property taxes due in 2026.

The Greater Kokomo Economic Development Alliance has received a $40,000 grant from the Indiana Economic Development Corporation’s Community Collaboration Fund to launch a new 12-month Level Up Business Branding program for small businesses in Howard County.

The program will select one to two local businesses each month and kick off with a Business Ideation Panel and Grant Announcement on Tuesday, July 22 at Inventrek on 700 E. Firmin St. in Kokomo—providing essential marketing support and mentorship to boost local growth.

Indiana University Kokomo now offers an accelerated three‑year business bachelor’s degree — a program that lets students finish a year early in one of its largest departments.

Enrollment is open immediately for those seeking a faster route to a business degree.

LSI Metal Fabrication and Logansport Stamping (precision metal producers) received tax abatements from the city council on Monday.

LSI recently invested $2,253,799 in new equipment to expand its production capacity.

The Kokomo Post 6 Sixers lost 17-5 to the Plymouth Post 27 Diamond Spyders on Tuesday at CFD Investments Stadium at Highland Park — pitching struggles and defensive miscues hurt the team.

The Sixers will play a road doubleheader Saturday in Napoleon.

Max Gomez & Austin Plaine Live Concert

9 PM — The Coterie — $10 Tickets — Enjoy live performances by Max Gomez and Austin Plaine at this vibrant venue.

Comic & Toy Show

10 AM – 4 PM — Markland Mall — Free entry — Celebrate pop culture with vendors offering anime, toys, and comics.

Back To School Sneaker Ball

3-6 p.m. — Kemper Center — Free entry — Celebrate back to school with music, food, games, and a sneaker-themed dance party.