Builder advances large ‘attainable housing’ efforts in Wichita area
Liberty Communities' projects include single-family homes within the $210,000 to $270,000 range. Source: Wichita Business Journal
Lawrence approves moratorium on downtown liquor sales rule
Lawrence city commissioners approved a resolution Tuesday that will allow some downtown establishments to derive up to 90% of their sales from liquor for the next couple of years. The resolution stems from a request from John Brown’s Underground designed to skirt a long-standing city rule that requires many downtown establishments with liquor licenses to derive no more than 45% of their sales from liquor — the rest must come from food. The ordinance was originally passed to prevent downtown from becoming a problematic bar district. But during the COVID-19 pandemic, many smaller downtown businesses “struggled and continue to struggle to comply with the 45% cap,” [...]
Emporia Municipal Band celebrates Christmas with 80th annual concert
The Emporia Granada Theatre was filled with the joyful sounds of Christmas as the Emporia Municipal Band concluded its 80th season with a new director and old musical favorites Sunday afternoon. ... Nancy Riecker took up the conductor’s baton for the band at the end of the summer season this past August. She’s played flute with the Emporia Municipal Band since 2002. She was unaware, when she applied for the position, that she would become the band’s first female director in its 80-year history. “This Christmas concert is always our gift back to the city,” Riecker said. “We are so glad [...]
Lakin and Deerfield form special bond, sharing city personnel (as reported by local high schoolers)
https://youtu.be/rh-TGNPwtlg?t=587
A little bit of old-time Hutchinson is now on display at the Reno County Courthouse
Oftentimes, pictures are more powerful than words, and that's the case with the new photographic exhibit at the Reno County Courthouse. More than 20 photographs from the Harmon/Conard collection were blown up and framed by Framagraphic on Main Street and placed on the walls of the courthouse. The pictures, which were chosen by a committee, represent a wholistic view of Hutchinson, beginning in the late 1800s. "It enriches a life to know more about the history of the place where we are living," said District Judge Trish Rose, one of the judges who works at the courthouse. "The remodel of the [...]
Lack of growth cited as being a key reason Topeka has trouble affording utilities projects
A lack of population growth is a key reason Topeka's city government struggles to afford to make needed improvements to its underground infrastructure, City Councilman Neil Dobler said Tuesday evening. "The real issue is we're not bringing new customers to the table," Dobler said. Mayor Mike Padilla agreed, saying Dobler had interjected into the council's discussion about a proposed utility rate increase a topic that, to his knowledge, "has not been considered as part of the underlying reason we are here." When the city works to address those types of problems, Padilla said, "We really need to look at how — [...]
Contract approved for drivers license restoration program in Wichita
Wichita City Council members voted unanimously Tuesday to approve a contract for the operation of a new driver’s license restoration program. The Wichita Area Restoration Program (WARP) was developed this year to deal with a growing number of suspended licenses. There are more than 200,000 suspended licenses in Kansas, and the number has doubled since 2007. About 25 percent of the state suspensions are in the Wichita area, and 70 percent of the suspensions in Sedgwick County are for failing to meet financial obligations. Source: 101.3 KFDI
WPD officer shot in 2021 returns to the streets
A Wichita police officer shot several times last year has finally recovered enough to return to the streets. Officer Kyle Mellard was one of three Wichita Police Department employees honored during a ceremony at Wichita City Hall on Monday. The WPD presented him with a plaque naming him the 2022 Officer of the Year. But police say it was only partly because of Mellard being shot in the line of duty on June 19, 2021. It was also because of his courage and resilience after the shooting. Source: KSN-TV
Shawnee County to add solar panels to 10 warning sirens
Shawnee County is saving some money with its new environmentally friendly proposal. This week, the county proposed to add solar panels to the outdoor warning sirens. After approval from commissioners, they are planning a test run. Ten solar panels will be placed on various outdoor warning sirens across the county. While these sirens are a great way to notify the public of severe weather, the county still advises residents about having multiple methods. Source: KSNT 27 News
Local fire departments prepare for colder temperatures, tips for keeping homes safe
Local fire departments are busy this time of year responding to many calls from frozen pipes bursting, fires at boarded-up structures being used for shelter, but also electrical fires from furnaces and space heaters. With the colder temps on the way, it can be a challenge for firefighters to respond. The icy roads can slow response, but the cold temps can make it harder to get water. Many departments, like Sedgwick County, bring in extra trucks with about 2,000 to 2,500 gallons of water just in case fire hydrants are frozen. Source: KSN-TV