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Museum program will highlight 19th century railroads

info2024-04-19T11:19:24-05:00April 19th, 2024|

Community members can learn how railroads built Kansas and the crucial role Osawatomie played in the effort during a program Saturday, April 20, at the Miami County Historical Museum. Speaker Leo Oliva will lead a free presentation called “Railroads of 19th Century Kansas: Progress and Pain” that is set to begin at 1 p.m. Saturday at the museum, which is located at 12 E. Peoria St. in Paola. Few industries dominated the economy of the nation in the 19th century more than the railroad, according to a museum news release about the program. “Railroads brought immigrant settlers, created jobs, and fed [...]

Andover hosts grand opening for new fire station

info2024-04-19T11:15:49-05:00April 19th, 2024|

The City of Andover held a grand opening for its new fire station on Thursday. The new station is located south of U.S. Highway 400, and South Andover Road and was paid for by a sales tax initiative over the last two years. It's the second fire station in Andover. "We broke ground on it in October 2022, so they've been working on this and building it for the last year," Megan Schapaugh, public information officer for the city of Andover, said. "Firefighters started moving in a couple of months ago, but we are finally having our big grand opening." The grand opening [...]

Norton County to vote on sales tax to support hospital and EMS

info2024-04-19T11:14:49-05:00April 19th, 2024|

Voters in Norton County are deciding the value of health care in their community. On May 7, they will vote on whether to approve a one-percent sales tax hike to help fund Norton County Hospital and EMS. If voters approve it, the extra penny of tax on each dollar of purchases would begin on Oct. 1. Three-quarters of the money raised would go to the hospital. The other one-quarter would go to EMS. The sales tax would end after 10 years. Norton County Hospital is dealing with financial issues, including inflation and lower insurance reimbursement rates. Officials say the hospital's average operating margin [...]

More than 1,000 false 911 calls in Ford County

info2024-04-19T11:11:16-05:00April 19th, 2024|

Ford County dispatchers have a problem. Too many people are calling 911 accidentally. They say they have taken 1,061 accidental 911 calls since the start of the year. That is about 300 a month. Ford County Emergency Communications wants people to know how easily it happens and not hang up if it does happen. "This is a more common occurrence than you might think. Pressing buttons on the side of your phone, watch, and in some car systems - certain buttons will dial 911. Please stay on the line and let the dispatcher know that it was an accident," officials said on social media. People [...]

New Topeka flag license plates available to public

info2024-04-19T11:09:43-05:00April 19th, 2024|

The City of Topeka alongside the Greater Topeka Partnership (GTP) revealed the new Topeka license plate that's now available to the public. Executive Director for Young Talent Rhett Flood spoke on his efforts to make the new license plate a reality. Mayor Mike Padilla was also in attendance to share a few words. Last year the GTP and Forge Young Talent collaborated to design a Topeka flag license plate. “We are so proud to see this new license plate become available,” said Rhett Flood, Forge executive director. “Forge Young Talent worked hard with community leaders to bring the new city flag to life five [...]

Emporia Main Street already noting interest in downtown investment before second-place finish in USA TODAY 10Best Main Street contest

info2024-04-19T11:07:31-05:00April 19th, 2024|

Emporia may have come up just short of the top slot in a national contest, but Main Street Director Casey Woods still anticipates a range of benefits to come for the city. This is Emporia Main Street’s second time as a finalist in this contest. Emporia finished first in its other time in 2016, and Woods says there was a notable increase in investment interest. Emporia was among the 20 finalists for the USA TODAY 10 Best Main Streets in America and finished second to the Detroit suburb of Howell, Michigan. Woods thanked residents for voting. USA TODAY highlighted Commercial Street’s events [...]

Planning Commission discusses possible zoning tweaks, potential return of metropolitan area planning concept

info2024-04-19T11:06:37-05:00April 19th, 2024|

Zoning tweaks and a possible revival of a longstanding planning area were part of the Emporia-Lyon County Metropolitan Area Planning Commission’s monthly meeting Tuesday. Board members discussed the potential revival of metropolitan area zoning, or a zone outside the Emporia city limits where the city has some say in zoning matters. The metropolitan area disappeared when the city and Lyon County separately changed their zoning procedures several years ago, and Planning Commission Board Chair Ray Rogers says that model should be at least revisited. Also, board members looked at possibly adding conditional use permit options in several different residential zoning categories as well [...]

Wichita KS city worker finds loaded gun while doing maintenance in storm drain

info2024-04-19T11:05:48-05:00April 19th, 2024|

A Wichita city worker found a loaded handgun while doing maintenance on a storm water drain in west Wichita, according to a report and police. The black, Taurus Spectrum .380 was found in the drain in front of a home in the 3300 block of West St. Louis, which is close to Sheridan and Central. The gun was found around 9:41 a.m. Wednesday. “The gun will be processed as evidence to determine if it has been involved in any crimes,” Wichita police Lt. Aaron Moses said, adding he didn’t know how long that would take. The gun has not been reported [...]

‘A huge year’: Sedgwick County Zoo could welcome a U.S. record number of baby elephants

info2024-04-19T11:05:01-05:00April 19th, 2024|

The Sedgwick County Zoo now expects to welcome five baby African elephants in 2025. “You may be aware that our elephant herd at the zoo has four pregnancies right now. And we are so excited to tell you today that our fifth and final female is also pregnant, which means our entire breeding herd is now expecting,” zoo CEO Scott Newland told the County Commission on Wednesday morning. If all five pregnancies are a success, Sedgwick County would become the first accredited zoo in the U.S. to have five elephant births in a year,” Newland said. Elephant pregnancies last 22 to [...]

Symphony to perform in Peabody

info2024-04-19T11:03:25-05:00April 19th, 2024|

“Peter and the Wolf” and “Appalachian Spring” will be performed Sunday in the final installment of Sunflower Theatre’s 2023-2024 concert series. The Wichita Symphony performance will be 3 p.m. at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 213 E Division Ave., Peabody. “Peter and the Wolf” is a musical story for orchestra and narrator that introduces individual instruments in the orchestra while the narrator tells the story. The symphony also will perform "Appalachian Spring," an American ballet by choreographer Martha Graham and composer Aaron Copland. Collaborating for the concert are Sunflower Theatre, Wichita State University, and Barlett Arboretum. Light refreshments will be served after [...]

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