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On Dec. 26, at approx. 1:30 p.m., Bentley Police Chief Tim Bryan was flagged down by an area resident, who related that there was an injured owl on his property. The man stated that the large owl could still fly a small distance and that hawks were beginning to attack it, sensing its ill health. The Bentley Police Department helped a resident with an injured owl and transported it to safety. The owl was located at the edge of a field near 16100 W 109th St. N. As the closest available game warden was in Sumner County, Bryan captured the bird, [...]

As the chapter closes on an installment of local politics, David Kauffman feels honored and blessed to have been involved in the city government of Hesston. After 16 years as mayor, Kauffman did not run for re-election for the next term, opening the door for Susan Swartzendruber to take up the mantle. The mayoral position in Hesston does not have voting power, unless a tie needs to be broken; rather, it’s a position that stresses the procedural aspects of the monthly meetings. Before being mayor, Kauffman was elected to the city council. Read more: Harvey County Now

This year marks the sesquicentennial-plus-four years birthday—or the 154th—of Newton. With that in mind, local organizations decided to celebrate the town’s birthday, possibly every year from now on—if this year’s event is successful. Those entities include the City of Newton and the Newton Convention and Visitors Bureau. Read more: Harvey County Now

The temporary closure of a small jail in north-central Kansas highlights problems facing counties across the state, officials say. Cloud County Sheriff Ken Davis blamed a lack of competitive pay and the sudden resignation of three employees for the closure. But officials in other, larger counties said those problems aren’t exclusive to Cloud County. Read more: KSN-TV

A new housing development will be built in Liberal. The City of Liberal is hosting a groundbreaking celebration in partnership with French Construction on Jan. 8 at 2 p.m. The new Doll Housing Addition will have 66 single-family homes. The homes will be built on East Hickory Street near Griffith Avenue. Read more: KSN-TV

The City of Newton said two water towers will be getting a new look next year. At a recent meeting, city commissioners approved new designs for the towers on Spencer Road and West 17 Street. One tower will feature the City of Newton’s logo, and the other will feature the flag. The City of Newton said the paint project will help protect the towers against rust and extend their life. Read more: KSN-TV

Sumner County has rejected a conditional use permit for a battery storage facility near Oxford. After hours of public comment on Tuesday, the Board of Commissioners voted 3-0 to deny the permit for an energy storage facility near Webb Road and Highway 160. Close to a hundred people were present to protest the project, and over two dozen people spoke in opposition, raising environmental concerns. Read more: KSN-TV

A Garden City veteran lost a leg and his will to live after an accident with a train last summer. Thanks to the town’s fire marshal, he is now embracing life and trying to get back home. It’s been a long half-year of recovery for 88-year-old Garden City veteran Raymond Stroup, who lost a leg last summer after his car was hit by a train. “I’ve had a lot of discouraging thoughts,” Stroup said. After experiencing such a traumatic injury in his late 80s, Stroup was ready to give up on life, but Garden City Fire Marshal Gene Robertson, who met [...]

A metal swarm of eyes in the sky could soon by crowding the air in Wichita’s Old Town and downtown. The city council approved a $600,000 donation from QuikTrip to allow the Wichita Police Department to host a ‘drone hive’ on the roof of its Washington and Douglas location. WPD says the location is a hub for street racing downtown. They aim to improve response time and deter crime in the area, as it is densely populated and a ‘no chase’ zone, making drones ideal for following suspects without the same risks. Read more: KSN-TV

The Kansas City Chiefs have informed administrative officials that they will announce their move to Kansas today, according to sources who asked not to be named because they were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter. Read more: KC Star