Popular home improvement network HGTV recently released its picks for the 40 most charming small downtowns in the U.S., and one city in Kansas made the list. “In creating this list of the best small downtowns in America (and it was tough to narrow this list to 40), we looked for vibrant towns that invite you in and encourage you to stay and explore,” the Sept. 17 article reads. Abilene — a Kansas city with a population just over 6,400 and located about an hour and a half from Wichita — gained a spot on HGTV’s list. The city is most known as the hometown of former President Dwight Eisenhower, and also attracts visitors to the historic Seelye Mansion and the Abilene & Smokey Mountain Railroad.
Read more: Wichita Eagle

The city of Wichita is considering a city license for hotels and motels that would also prohibit them from charging by the hour. It’s the city’s latest effort to crack down on what it deems are nuisance properties, especially along South Broadway. “Not only do we have questions or complaints about issues of violence at some of the hotel/motels, or crimes or prostitution, we also have complaints about trash,” Assistant City Attorney Jan Jarman said. Hotel and motel owners would have to pay a $200 fee for the city license.
Read more: Wichita Eagle

After several meetings that included revisions and input, the Girard City Council approved changes to its burn ordinance. Monday’s regular meeting featured a lengthy discussion on which burn ordinance to pursue and what needed to be included. Following several killed motions, the council approved allowing recreational burning from one hour after sunrise to midnight along with allowing open burning from one hour after sunrise to one hour before sunset.
Read more: – Morning Sun

In an update to the Manhattan city commission on Tuesday, Riley County Police Department director Brian Peete said the jail population remains above recommended capacity. Peete said while the facility has 143 beds, not all of those spots should be filled.
Read more: News Radio KMAN

The city of Haysville, in partnership with the Red Cross and local agencies, will offer free smoke alarm installation from noon to 4 p.m on Oct. 4. The event is part of the Sound the Alarm: Save a Life initiative put on by the Red Cross. Smoke alarms are provided by the Red Cross, with installation by volunteers and event partners, which include the city of Haysville, USD 261, Haysville Chamber of Commerce, Sedgwick County Fire District 1 and Wichita Fire Department.
Read more: www.derbyinformer.com

No smoking in public parks. That’s the message that Halstead City Council approved Monday night after a presentation from STAND of Harvey County. Senior Piper Morgan of Halstead High School said they want to introduce tobacco-free parks in Halstead to make sure the youth don’t see that tobacco is something that is normalized and that a lot of people use. “And it makes sure that it’s setting a clear standard that smoking and using tobacco products is not OK,” Morgan said.
Read more: Harvey County Now

Shawnee is looking at ways to eliminate or reduce noise from passing trains near a subdivision in the northern part of the city after residents complained. In a committee meeting Monday, the Shawnee City Council discussed options to control noises created by trains at a crossing in the 4400 block of Lakecrest Drive. Residents in the nearby Riverview subdivision requested the city look into creating a quiet zone at the crossing because noises from the train and crossing bells are negatively affecting them.
Read more: Johnson County Post

The city of Merriam is turning 75 years old next month. Like other northeast Johnson County cities that have reached 75 years of incorporation, Merriam is making a big to do of it. The city plans to celebrate its 75th anniversary with a four-hour party on Oct. 23 at the Merriam Marketplace, 5740 Merriam Drive.
Read more: Johnson County Post

Spring Hill’s new police chief, James “Jim” Sutterby, wants to build on the legacy of the last chief — and long-term, he’s looking to add a new accreditation, bring on new officers and update the department’s technology. Sutterby began his tenure as chief on June 23, after 34 years with the Overland Park Police Department. He took over for former chief Cindy Henson, who became the first woman to serve as undersheriff in Johnson County.
Read more: Johnson County Post

With nearly 40 years of local government experience, Mike Scanlon has spent much of his career working to connect people in the Kansas City metro area via trail systems. Scanlon, who was the city administrator in Mission for nearly 10 years and a chief financial officer in Merriam for another seven, helped connect Johnson Countians with his work on the Streamway Park trail systems. He went on to connect communities in Colorado before coming back and continuing that work in Osawatomie, Kansas. He’s now an executive director for Kansas Trails Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to connecting trails across the state. Less than a year after retiring from local government, in March 2024, Scanlon was diagnosed with Stage IV non-small cell lung cancer. Scanlon is a lifetime non-smoker, and he is currently taking a cancer therapy drug called Tagrisso — though he knows his cancer will eventually mutate. Now, through a month-long journey to bike 700 miles of trails across Kansas, Scanlon is showcasing what he believes is a commonality between trails and cancer: Resilience.
Read more: Johnson County Post