Nationally known television journalist and Kansas native Bill Kurtis will be in Wichita Thursday for a book-signing of "Forever KANSAS!"

He'll also unveil the first of three large stained-glass panels he commissioned for his Art of the Prairie gallery in Sedan in eastern Kansas.

"The panels will tell the early story of the area," Kurtis said by phone from his Chicago office.

At yet untitled, the three panels created by Rayer's Bearden Stained Glass in Wichita will make up a triptych across the front of the gallery.

The first -- 40 inches by 90 inches -- shows the terrain around Sedan at the edge of the Flint Hills.

The middle panel will show an Indian observing buffalo in a valley. The third panel will portray the Europeans who settled in the area. Kurtis hopes all three will be ready to install by summer.

Kurtis said he'd like to commission other stained-glass views of Sedan's past oil and cattle industries for use in vintage storefronts adjacent to his gallery.

"We'll see how this one goes. They've worked on it quite some time. They are artists," he said.

The photo book that brings Kurtis to Wichita showcases spectacular views of the state as printed in KANSAS! magazine over the past 20 years. The book honors the late Andrea Glenn, longtime editor.

Publication was arranged by her widower, Grant Glenn, whose law firm Woner Glenn Reeder Girard & Riordan has offices in Topeka and Johnson County as well as Wichita.

Kurtis, who considers Glenn "a great lady" because she persuaded many of Kansas' best photographers to contribute to her magazine, wrote the introduction for the book.

The book-signing will be at Rayer's Bearden Stained Glass at 6205 W. Kellogg from 3:30 to 4:45 p.m. Thursday.

"It's a great product. Nobody is going to make money off it. Proceeds are going to student scholarships in Kansas," Kurtis said.

Besides Kurtis and Glenn, also at the book-signing will be Stan Herd, Kansas' famous crop artist and artist in residence for Kurtis' Sedan gallery.