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Stafford County makes plan for joint extension district with Edwards County

info2019-12-30T17:55:07-06:00December 30th, 2019|

Combined resources is a necessary change for rural Kansas counties, according to leadership in Stafford County. Declining budgets and difficulty hiring agents has led to many counties in Kansas consolidating into larger Extension districts under the umbrella of K-State Research and Extension services. Stafford County and Edwards County agents see advantages to a combination between the two counties that would enable them to provide better services to their constituents. “It’s true, as they say, that most of us are better together or two of something is better than one,” said K-State Research and Extension Agent Stafford County Amy Collins. “The same [...]

Liberal’s DMV office completes renovations to enhance services

info2019-12-30T17:53:43-06:00December 30th, 2019|

The DMV office in Liberal has already undergone some changes in recent times, with the biggest change being a change in operating hours and recently, the office saw some renovations done. The renovation work started at the beginning of December, and according to David Harper, Director of Motor Vehicles, the work in the Liberal office was part of a statewide project that had been discussed last year. “It had started about a year ago, we'd been talking about our driver's license refresh project and started working with our regional managers so we could put together a list of offices that would [...]

Diamond Vista pays Marion County $269,325

info2019-12-30T20:58:18-06:00December 30th, 2019|

Marion County received its first payment in lieu of taxes check for $269,325 from Diamond Vista wind farm Dec. 16, county clerk Tina Spencer said. It appears that no money was withheld from the county for consulting fees of more than $686,000 despite a clause in the agreement with Enel Green Power that would have allowed it to deduct from its payments any amount that exceeded $250,000. “It appears to be the full PILOT payment, but I would have to verify by looking back at our agreement,” Spencer said. (Read more: Marion County RECORD)

Kansas Election Officials Say They’re On Guard For Hackers Messing With Your 2020 Vote

info2019-12-30T20:53:23-06:00December 30th, 2019|

Kansas and federal election officials say they know the 2020 election could come under attack from foreign governments or rogue hackers. They also insist they’re braced to guard against efforts to tamper with voting. In recent elections, Russian hackers tried to breach election systems in more than 20 states and successfully accessed voter registration data in Illinois. The top election official in Kansas assumes the state’s voting system could be next. “We got a U.S. Senate seat up for election, so that even makes it more of a target,” Republican Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab said. “We’re not going to [...]

‘He cares deeply about the city of Lenexa.’ Travis Vaughn new Fire Department chief

info2019-12-30T21:01:20-06:00December 30th, 2019|

Travis Vaughn is succeeding Lonny Owens as the chief of the Lenexa Fire Department, as of Dec. 21. The appointment follows Owens’ retirement. Vaughn has worked 25 years in the department, which has more than 90 employees. He began as a firefight and advanced to captain, battalion chief of operations, battalion chief of emergency medical services, division chief of administration and deputy chief. “I have great confidence that Travis will excel in this new role,” Lenexa City Manager Beccy Yocham said in a news release. “He cares deeply about the city of Lenexa and will do an exceptional job leading this [...]

Top leaders wrap up Reno County careers

info2019-12-30T21:00:35-06:00December 30th, 2019|

Reno County Commissioner Ron Hirst called Monday “a joyful and sad day” as the commission presented framed certificates to a trio of leaders who are leaving their posts after their last day of employment Friday: County Administrator Gary Meagher, Public Works director Dave McComb and Sheriff Randy Henderson. Hirst said he knows Meagher works long hours. “I see your pickup here early and late,” Hirst said. Commissioner Ron Sellers said he has never worked with someone as open, candid and helpful to a commissioner as Meager, who worked for the county for 10 years. His successor, Randy Partington, will start Feb. [...]

Emerald Ash Borer Confirmed in Jackson County

info2019-12-30T20:59:18-06:00December 30th, 2019|

The Kansas Department of Agriculture, along with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, has confirmed the presence of emerald ash borer (EAB) in Jackson County, Kansas. On November 13, 2019, EAB adults and larvae were recovered from a girdled tree trap near Denison by KDA in cooperation with local citizens, USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s Plant Protection and Quarantine (USDA-APHIS-PPQ), and the Kansas Forest Service. KDA sent the specimens to a laboratory with USDA-APHIS-PPQ which confirmed KDA’s findings on November 22. (Read more: Rural Messenger)

Shawnee tables Tobacco 21 ordinance, restricts future locations of e-cigarette shops in the city

info2019-12-29T18:41:13-06:00December 29th, 2019|

The Shawnee city council has tabled the discussion and adoption of a Tobacco 21 ordinance. The proposed ordinance would prohibit the sale of tobacco products to people ages 18 to 20 in the city of Shawnee. Councilmember Eric Jenkins on Monday had suggested tabling the vote on Tobacco 21 until the federal government had determined next steps on the legal purchasing age for tobacco products. Last Friday, President Donald Trump had signed a $1.4 trillion spending package that raises the federal legal age for purchasing tobacco from 18 to 21. (Read more: Prairie Village Post - Neighborhood news and events for [...]

JoCo commission OKs funding for portion of county-wide housing assessment

info2019-12-29T18:39:16-06:00December 29th, 2019|

The Johnson County Board of County Commissioners last week approved the expenditure of $50,000 toward the cost of a county-wide study to assess the area’s housing inventory and needs for the future. Housing affordability issues has gained prominence in Johnson County in recent years, as more and more residents have struggled to find jobs that pay enough for them to afford to live here. United Community Services of Johnson County, the non-profit organization that analyzes data on human services in the area and organizes efforts for collaboration between the county, city governments and other groups, has raised concerns about the growing [...]

Judge rejects permits for northwest Kansas hog operations

info2019-12-29T18:37:24-06:00December 29th, 2019|

A judge has invalidated two state permits allowing construction of large hog production operations in northwest Kansas that environmentalists deemed too close to surface water. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that Shawnee County District Court Judge Richard Anderson ruled earlier this month that the Kansas Department of Health and Environment violated state law. The permits were issued for four operations in Norton and Phillips counties in 2017 and 2018, under Republican Gov. Sam Brownback. The operations were under common management tied to prominent northwest Kansas hog farmer Terry Nelson but organized with as separate companies. KDHE allowed construction of each facility up [...]

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