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Dighton grocery store burns down

info2024-01-08T11:28:28-06:00January 8th, 2024|

A grocery store in Dighton burned down Saturday night. According to the Lane County Sheriff's Office, they received a call at 9:27 p.m. for the report of a fire at K&J Foods. Upon arrival, crews were met with a large amount of smoke. It took crews a couple of hours to get it extinguished. No injuries were reported. The building is considered a total loss. According to the LCSO, the owner was out of town. The City of Dighton said while crews were battling the fire, the northeast side of town was filled with dangerous smoke. To help residents avoid breathing in the smoke, the Catholic Hall [...]

Fire department wins ‘Battle of the Badges’

info2024-01-08T11:26:50-06:00January 8th, 2024|

The Wichita Fire Department came out on top again. It's the fifth consecutive win for the fire department in the annual "Battle of the Badges." The annual friendly competition is held annually over the holidays to encourage blood donations to the American Red Cross at a time when donations are typically low. "We didn't think that we were gonna win this year we thought that the Red Cross would give law the win so that they'd keep coming back and playing with us but we won," says Wichita Fire Captain Chriss Flemming. "We know as first responders that the need for blood [...]

Pretty in Pink: Liberal business forced to stop painting building pink, mayor pushes for change

info2024-01-08T11:24:46-06:00January 8th, 2024|

A Hispanic-owned business in Liberal is at the center of a controversy over the color they chose for their new building. Erika Marino purchased a building on 210 S. Kansas Ave. in 2023 to expand her business, Chikas Fresas, located in the Kansas Avenue Overlay District. The owners got approval for interior renovations. They say the city inspector told them they didn't need any permits for the exterior. "When they started the process of the painting, midway, they gave her a correction notice to stop immediately with the color, with any of the renovations for the outside of the building," said Citlaly Reyes, the [...]

Parsons Land Bank sees success

info2024-01-08T11:22:39-06:00January 8th, 2024|

A house that was in the city’s land bank is being renovated, city commissioners heard this week. Jim Zaleski, city economic development director, told city commissioners the house at 1621 Chess has been a test case for the land bank. The house was acquired by the land bank and the board took proposals early this year from those interested in rehabbing the house. Zaleski said drywall is being installed inside and a new heat pump has been added outside. The land bank offers property owners the chance to donate lots, with or without buildings on them, so the land or buildings [...]

County approves purchase of 5 license plate reader cameras for main highways

info2024-01-08T11:21:12-06:00January 8th, 2024|

Neosho County commissioners Tuesday heard from Neosho County Sheriff Greg Taylor regarding traffic cameras and the commission approved the purchase of five for the county. Taylor said the Chanute Police Department asked him to come to a meeting to discuss license plate reader cameras created by Flock Safety. “These are cameras that they put out throughout the city,” Taylor said. “End up being five of them. Essentially a vehicle goes by that’s got a NCIC, you know, it’s wanted for stolen vehicle or an Amber Alert as it’s coming into their jurisdiction. Those cameras would read the plate, send their jurisdiction [...]

State, local leaders debate tax program

info2024-01-08T11:19:42-06:00January 8th, 2024|

County leaders want the state to reinstate the Local Ad Valorem Tax Reduction. The program was introduced to help local governments during difficult times, but the state has withheld funding for the past 20 years. Kansas, grappling with economic challenges, introduced the Local Ad Valorem Tax Reduction (LAVTR) in 1937 to alleviate the burdens on local governments during the Great Depression. For the last 20 years, the state has withheld that funding. Today, a measure to reinstate the funding is gaining traction. During the economic turmoil of the 1930s, the state faced a dire situation, with Kansas being hit especially hard by [...]

A look inside the Village, Lawrence’s community to help people recover from homelessness

info2024-01-08T11:18:22-06:00January 8th, 2024|

Fifty small cabins will soon be available to help Lawrence community members experiencing homelessness recover and secure housing. The City of Lawrence has raised the Village of Pallet emergency shelters at 256 N. Michigan St., the former location of Veritas Christian School. Lawrence Community Shelter staff members will run the site. Misty Bosch-Hastings, homeless programs coordinator for the City of Lawrence, said she thinks a lot of people will probably compare the village to the city-sanctioned camp in North Lawrence. But “I want them to know that this is a very well thought out plan. The operational plans are to help individuals end their [...]

Clerk tabbed as 1st county administrator

info2024-01-08T11:16:15-06:00January 8th, 2024|

Longtime county clerk Tina Spencer will become Marion County administrator Feb. 1. The first to hold the position, she already is a familiar face, having been county clerk since 2013 and was deputy county clerk from 2005 to 2013. County commissioners voted Friday to hire Spencer on a three-year contract. Her salary for 2024 will be $100,000. It will be reviewed each following year. Her duties will include effectively administrating the affairs of the county; coordinating and enforcing resolutions, policies, and rules; overseeing appointed department heads and human resources; attending all commission meetings; presenting proposed policies; preparing estimates of revenues and [...]

Miller retires from county position

info2024-01-08T11:07:55-06:00January 8th, 2024|

After helping guide Barton County through the 2001 Hoisington tornado and the COVID-19 pandemic, longtime Barton County Emergency Management Director Amy Miller will retire retiring at the end of the year after 37 years with the county. Miller was recognized by the Barton County Commission Thursday morning. But, while sorry to see her leave, commissioners also met Sean Kelly, a county engineering tech and assistant emergency manager, who was promoted to fill the post. “Amy Miller was hired on Jan. 10 1986, and is currently the county second-longest working county employee,” said County Administrator Matt Patzner. She announced her retirement earlier this year [...]

Six fast-charging EV locations coming across Kansas

info2024-01-08T11:02:48-06:00January 8th, 2024|

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly announced on Wednesday that more than $4.6 million in federal funds will be directed to the first six locations selected for the state’s National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula program. With existing fast-charging stations spread across the I-70 and I-135 corridors, these selected locations will fill gaps in EV charging stations along the state’s major highways and interstate system. “As more electric cars and trucks make their way onto Kansas roadways, they will need access to adequate charging facilities,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “With these awards, we’ll ensure electric vehicle charging stations are accessible to all Kansans for [...]

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