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Healy USD 468 drops to 44 students

info2019-09-26T19:15:47-05:00September 26th, 2019|

The kindergarten through 12th grade headcount this month for the entire Healy school district, based in Lane County, was 44. Superintendent Cheryl Cook said that represented a new low. She also said there are no first-graders in the school district. Fifteen of the 44 students live in other school districts, including in the Scott City, Dighton and Gove areas. A year ago the headcount for the district was 52, but by the end of the school year in May, enrollment had dropped to 46, Cook said. (Read more: Local - The Hutchinson News)

Dollar store food requirement rule tabled

info2019-09-26T19:14:00-05:00September 26th, 2019|

Some Hutchinson Planning Commission members showed no interest Tuesday in pursuing regulations that would require future dollar stores to dedicate a certain percentage of space for fresh foods, but they voted to return to the subject Oct. 8. City staff is recommending an amendment to zoning regulations that would require new small-box variety stores or dollar stores to obtain a conditional use permit and have a design standard of a minimum of 10% of retail floor area dedicated to the sale of fresh food and fresh frozen food. “What we are talking about is not a ban on these stores,” said [...]

Restaurants wanting to use Naftzger Park for patio seats strike deal with board

info2019-09-26T19:12:49-05:00September 26th, 2019|

Restaurants that want to use Naftzger Park land for outdoor dining and drinking have struck a deal with a Wichita board. The agreement unanimously approved by the Board of Park Commissioners on Wednesday reduces the space available to the restaurants and does not allow fencing to enclose the patio area. The use agreement now goes to the City Council for ratification. Jon Rolph’s Thrive Restaurant Group plans a HomeGrown restaurant and a new Peace Love & Pie concept in the downtown Spaghetti Works District. (Read more: Local News |)

Couple steps in to save Kansas cafe known for German buffet that closed after flood

info2019-09-26T19:10:09-05:00September 26th, 2019|

They’ve become pretty good bakers and meat smokers, and with 17 years of experience selling food on their resumes, Mark and Kris Wiebe think they’d be pretty good at running a restaurant. But that’s not their only reason for reopening the Main Street Cafe, the small-town Kansas restaurant that’s been closed since a Fourth of July flood. Mark grew up just two miles outside of Durham, where the cafe has operated for more than two decades. So he knows first-hand how important the presence of a restaurant can be for small communities. (Read more: Dining With Denise Neil |)

Newton follows teens’ lead in raising age limit

info2019-09-26T19:07:38-05:00September 26th, 2019|

On the heels of a second death attributed to vaping products in Kansas announced this week, the Newton City Commission took action on a request from high school students this summer to move the legal age of purchase for tobacco and e-cigarettes to 21. “When I first came here with three other students, we all understood that any change could be a good change,” said Eli Reddington, president of STAND at Newton High School. “We have been seeing this problem in Newton High School, and it is everywhere. We are social media. ... Any change that can help stop someone from [...]

Dodge City forms census committee

info2019-09-26T19:06:10-05:00September 26th, 2019|

In preparation for the 2020 census, the first Dodge City Complete Count Committee has been formed with community leaders and stakeholders to develop and implement a plan to get every Ford County resident counted in the decennial census. The committee’s goal will be to increase the accuracy of the census within the community, which is an area with historically low participation in the census. “A complete and accurate count of every resident in southwest Kansas is critical to ensuring all of our families and communities can thrive,” said Kansas Appleseed campaign director Blanca Soto. “Counting everyone ensures Dodge City and every [...]

County, wind farm representatives disagree on flood damage to roads

info2019-09-26T19:03:45-05:00September 26th, 2019|

A Friday county commission meeting to discuss road maintenance issues with Enel Green Power, the company developing Diamond Vista wind farm in the northern section of the county, and talk to Expedition Wind about future development of a wind farm in the southern portion of the county stayed civil despite a packed house. Commissioners first discussed road damage caused by July storms weeks ago and county engineer Brice Goebel said Enel Green Power did not consider it their responsibility to repair that damage. Commissioners disagreed, since damage caused by rain is to be expected in Kansas. (Read more: PEABODY Gazette-Bulletin)

Shawnee County adopts $8 million budget to develop Family Park

info2019-09-26T19:02:43-05:00September 26th, 2019|

A divided Shawnee County Commission adopted an $8 million budget Thursday for a project to develop a Family Park just south of S.W. 21st and Urish Road. Commissioners voted 2-1 to approve a proposal containing that figure, with Commissioners Bob Archer and Bill Riphahn voting in the majority. Commissioner Kevin Cook dissented, noting that Thursday’s meeting was Archer’s last on the commission. “A new commissioner, who will have to live with this decision, is coming on board,” Cook said. (Read more: Political - The Topeka Capital-Journal)

County officials, others bid farewell to Commissioner Archer

info2019-09-26T19:01:32-05:00September 26th, 2019|

Shawnee County Commission Chairman Bob Archer got a standing ovation from those present at the end of Thursday’s commission meeting, which was his last on that body. A standing-room-only crowd filled all 35 public seats in the commission chambers at Thursday’s meeting, where various speakers bid farewell to Archer while praising him for having helped make Shawnee County a better place to live, work and play. “You have been an integral part of this community’s forward momentum,” said Curtis Sneden, senior vice president for the Greater Topeka Partnership. (Read more: Political - The Topeka Capital-Journal)

Olathe school district poised to sue Juul amid vaping illness outbreak

info2019-09-26T18:51:43-05:00September 26th, 2019|

The Olathe school district is poised to sue a major electronic cigarette manufacturer as the number of deaths from a vaping-related lung disease continues to climb. The school board will hold a special meeting at 11:30 a.m. Friday to vote on filing a lawsuit against Juul, the largest U.S. seller of e-cigarettes. Vape users and parents have filed dozens of lawsuits targeting Juul, including a man in Johnson County, who alleged the company’s marketing has led to widespread substance abuse among young people. District officials declined to comment until after Friday’s meeting. (Read more: Local News |)

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