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Rural Kansas nurses say strain of new COVID-19 surge has taken a ‘significant toll’

info2021-09-17T06:37:13-05:00September 16th, 2021|

With limited resources, hospitals in rural areas of Kansas have struggled in recent weeks as COVID-19 cases have surged and hospitalizations are on the rise. In Great Bend, nurses say they’re struggling to keep up. One-third to half of the patients coming to the University of Kansas Health System’s Great Bend campus are there for COVID-related reasons, said Peter Mick, an emergency room nurse. “Working in the emergency room the past several weeks, we’ve seen a significant uptick in the number of patients that we see daily,” Mick told The Star in a video interview. Source: Wichita Eagle

Wichita unveils redesigned park honoring civil rights icon at entrance to med school

info2021-09-17T06:37:32-05:00September 16th, 2021|

City officials have begun showing off the planned design of a downtown park being rebuilt as the entryway to Wichita’s new osteopathic medical school, while continuing to honor the legacy of civil rights luminary Chester I. Lewis. The proposed redesign of Chester I. Lewis Reflection Square Park features a small stage, the floor of which will be a tinted concrete rendering of the “redline” map of Wichita. It shows the pattern of segregation in the city caused by overtly racist policies from the 1930s to the 1960s, which limited the places African Americans and immigrants could buy housing. Source: Wichita Eagle

EPA begins environmental cleanup project in Pittsburg

info2021-09-16T22:56:19-05:00September 16th, 2021|

The US Environmental Protection Agency began a cleanup project this week on the East 4th Street field across from the Mission Clay Products property in Pittsburg. Pittsburg Deputy City Manager Jay Byers says the EPA is working in conjunction with the city and the church that owns the property to remove lead and other contaminants found in the soil. “Given the history of the area and its proximity to old smelter sites, the city felt it was necessary to test for possible contamination,” says Byers. The site is also immediately adjacent to a city park and several businesses. “We conducted environmental [...]

Overland Park commission weighs concerns over height of proposed LUX Senior Living complex off Quivira

info2021-09-16T22:54:25-05:00September 16th, 2021|

Concern over a proposed senior living apartment complex brought concerned neighbors from the surrounding area to the Overland Park Planning Commission meeting this week. Developers of LUX Senior Living apartment, set to be built on the northwest corner of 137th Street and Quiviria Road, presented their request for the lot to be rezoned from RP-5, which allows up to four-story buildings, to RP-6. Under that new designation, the complex would be able to build three buildings, ranging from five to six stories based upon grading. The change would also allow developers to more than double the number of units on the [...]

Prairie Village’s new and improved Harmon Park skate park is now officially open

info2021-09-17T06:37:53-05:00September 16th, 2021|

The revamped skate park at Prairie Village’s Harmon Park, 7710 Mission Road, is officially open. After a summer of reconstruction, the new and improved park welcomed skaters from across the Kansas City metro on Wednesday, Sept. 15, to celebrate the opening. The concrete from the original 2005 park — which was created with the help of then-eighth graders Jake Shepard and Andy Peterson — had been deteriorating for years, and the city decided to work with Canadian firm Newline Skateparks to design a new one. Kanten Russell, former professional skater and Newline’s lead designer, flew in from San Diego to attend [...]

Johnson County school districts deal with ‘unprecedented’ classified staff shortages

info2021-09-16T22:49:13-05:00September 16th, 2021|

The school year is underway, but many classified staff positions remain unfilled within the four public school districts serving northern Johnson County. The shortage of classified workers is hindering some district operations at the start of a school year already plagued by the spread of the Delta variant, contentious disagreements over school mask requirements and the challenge of catching up on educational ground lost through online learning. Officials in Blue Valley, Olathe, Shawnee Mission and USD 232 in De Soto all reported experiencing a higher number of classified staff vacancies in their district compared to recent years. This includes shortages in [...]

City of Lawrence considering long-term expansion of parklet program

info2021-09-17T06:38:20-05:00September 16th, 2021|

Last summer, Lawrence city officials took measures to allow downtown businesses more room for safety against COVID-19 by allowing outdoor seating to occupy some downtown parking spaces — temporary “parklets.” Now the parklets may be here to stay for a while longer. The temporary right-of-way program is set to expire on Dec. 31, but the city is considering implementing a long-term parklet program after this one expires, according to a city news release Thursday. The long-term program would include several changes to the current regulations for parklets, including “fire code, safety regulations, right-of-way permits, historic design guidelines, equity among local businesses, parking [...]

Party in Park offers variety of services for Paola seniors

info2021-09-17T06:38:45-05:00September 16th, 2021|

Senior citizens got to find out more about services available to them while enjoying music and ice cream during Party in the Park. Live music was provided by Gale and Friend’s, including “Annie’s Song” by John Denver and “The Entertainer” by Scott Joplin. The folk style band featured four guitar players, a banjo player and a violin player. Ice cream was offered by Endless Mercy Baptist Church. Water was provided by Price Chopper. Party in the Park, sponsored by the Miami County Council on Aging and the Paola Senior Center, was Sunday, Sept. 12, on Paola’s Park Square. Source: The Miami [...]

Reno Commission approves moratorium on wind farms

info2021-09-16T07:12:40-05:00September 16th, 2021|

The Reno County Commission agreed in a surprise move Tuesday to issue a moratorium on the development of commercial wind farms in Reno County through the end of the year and look at banning them in the zoned areas of the county. In a pair of motions Commission Chairman Ron Hirst introduced, the board also directed the county planning commission and planning staff to draft regulations creating an overlay zone to regulate wind development in unzoned parts of the county. The motions required scheduling public hearings on both proposals, which the commission will take up on Dec. 27. Source: Hutch News

Grand opening of M.T. Liggett Visitors Center set for October in Mullinville

info2021-09-16T07:11:15-05:00September 16th, 2021|

Driving along Highway 54 in southwest Kansas, many residents and tourists come across an area of unique windmills and artwork as they approach the town of Mullinville. The artist M.T. Liggett was known in the area as an interesting and vocal individual in regards to all things southwest Kansas. Now the sculptor's legacy is being honored. Source: Dodge Globe

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