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Lyon County Commission debates longevity pay increases

info2023-03-31T11:01:42-05:00March 31st, 2023|

The Lyon County Commission discussed longevity pay increases for full-time, hourly county employees at its meeting Thursday morning. Director of Human Resources Janice Huffman presented commissioners with the idea of the increase as part of three first-quarter employee task force policies. Huffman said the longevity pay increase is currently 29 cents every five years and has been set at that figure for many years. Huffman proposed a new rate of 40 cents for five years, 60 cents for 10 years, 80 cents for 15 years and so on. Commissioners said they were in favor of the increase but would like to [...]

Lenexa unveils new disc golf courses at Black Hoof Park

info2023-03-31T11:00:21-05:00March 31st, 2023|

Lenexa’s new disc golf courses at Black Hoof Park are officially open for play ahead of a full-slate of community activities planned for Saturday. The courses have been nearly 20 years in the making, city parks and recreation director Logan Wagler said. Plans for a course were first called for in the 2004 parks master plan. Source: Prairie Village Post

Upcoming survey to ask Lawrence residents how their neighborhood can accommodate new homes, businesses

info2023-03-31T10:53:53-05:00March 31st, 2023|

How can Lawrence neighborhoods accommodate more homes and businesses and also maintain the characteristics that make people want to live there? That’s the question that those working to update Lawrence’s land development code — which determines where and how the city grows — will soon be asking neighborhood groups and residents. As part of its meeting Thursday, the Land Development Code Update Steering Committee and city-hired consultants with Clarion Associates went over a draft of a survey that aims to get at that and other questions. The draft survey can be filled out by neighborhood associations, other community groups, or individuals [...]

More chickens might soon be allowed in Hutch city limits

info2023-03-31T10:52:25-05:00March 31st, 2023|

Soon Hutchinson residents might be able to go from owning three chickens to raising eight. However, the amount of roosters allowed in the backyard garden will not change − it will remain at zero. On Wednesday, the Hutchinson Planning Commission approved sending their recommendations on the amount of chickens a household may own to the Hutchinson City Council. The recommendations will go before the council for approval on May 16. “A maximum of eight chickens, as we discussed in our last discussion, may be kept in the side or rear yard,” said David Inskeep, a commission member. When the property is [...]

When it comes to emergency communications, this Johnson County center wins top honor

info2023-03-31T10:51:29-05:00March 31st, 2023|

Johnson County Emergency Communications Center has been recognized as an Accredited Center of Excellence for emergency medical dispatching by the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch. The accreditation is the highest distinction given to emergency communication centers, certifying that the center is performing at or above the established industry standards. Centers that earn this status are examples of dispatch done right, and have demonstrated strong local oversight, rigorous quality processes and a commitment to data-driven improvement. The Johnson County center initially achieved this accreditation in 2020. This is its first re-accreditation. The center serves an area of approximately 1,070 square miles in [...]

Newton schools to be back in session

info2023-03-31T01:45:45-05:00March 31st, 2023|

Officials with the Newton school district will have classes back in session Friday, as an investigation continues into a breach of the district’s computer network. Classes were canceled for Wednesday and Thursday and most computers were taken offline as a precaution. The district said there is no evidence that any personal information of students was accessed, but the investigation is continuing. Classes will be back on a full schedule for Friday. Source: 101.3 KFDI

Design team unveils plans for new Hesston school building

info2023-03-30T20:03:03-05:00March 30th, 2023|

Security is a big part of the design of the new high/middle school plans, which were unveiled Wednesday night to a group of about 50 people at the Hesston High School auditorium. Some of the discussion referred to mass shootings like the one earlier this week at a school in Nashville. In response to the first question posed, Superintendent Kevin Logan said the new high/middle school would not have metal detectors. “We will also have a lot more camera coverage through the building than we do now,” he said. “We’re way under covered right now.” Source: Harvey County Now

Bill looking to ease process for out-of-state teachers to come to Kansas

info2023-03-31T10:59:53-05:00March 30th, 2023|

Kansas may soon be adding a new tool in the fight against the teacher shortage. According to the State's Department of Education, in the Fall of 2022, there were more than 1,600 vacancies across Kansas. "It's just going to continue to get worse if we don't do some things," said Tyson Eslinger, Deerfield USD 216 Superintendent. "It's getting to the point where there's things we want to be able to do for kids, and we want to be able to offer kids, but we don't have the bodies to do that." Lawmakers are looking at Senate Bill 66, which would provide [...]

Draft strategic plan sets goals for Douglas County to reach functional zero homelessness

info2023-03-30T19:58:24-05:00March 30th, 2023|

A draft strategic plan sets a goal of 2028 for Lawrence and Douglas County to achieve functional zero homelessness. The plan emphasizes equity, inclusion, and correcting imbalances of power. Douglas County commissioners heard a presentation on the draft Housing and Homelessness 5-Year Strategic Plan Wednesday afternoon during a work session. The commission doesn’t take action during work sessions, but staff aim to bring a final plan back to the commission in June. The roughly 30-page draft breaks the issues into five focus areas: Equity and Inclusion; Affordable Housing; Supportive Housing; Systems; and Emergency Shelter. Source: The Lawrence Times

Kansas fire departments, agencies prepare for critical fire conditions

info2023-03-30T07:20:55-05:00March 30th, 2023|

Rodney Redinger has worked for the Kansas Forest Service for 20 years. He says amid critical fire danger concerns over the next few days, his office is working with the Office of the State Marshal and the Kansas Division of Emergency Management. He says given the severity of the conditions, much of the state is currently a tinderbox. "Anything that's, that's gonna cause a spark, right, is going to have devastating effects," Redinger said. Redinger says in addition to keeping firefighting aircraft on standby, 20 Kansas Forest Service coordinators are currently working with hundreds of fire departments on high alert. Source: [...]

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