Merriam Police Officer Receives Life Saving Award

2019-09-10T19:47:57-05:00September 10th, 2019|

A 61-year-old Merriam woman’s heart stopped beating on a warm, afternoon last month. When Merriam police arrived at her home, Master Police Officer Matthew Hirsch sprang into action and performed CPR for several minutes. The woman survived thanks to his efforts and those of the Overland Park Fire Department and Johnson County Med-Act, who arrived shortly after to help during the medical call. She has since made a full recovery. For his quick actions, MPO Hirsch received a Life Saving Award during the City Council meeting on Sept. 10. (Read more: Merriam, KS news)

Inadvertently mixed chemicals lead to minor haz-mat situation at Mission wastewater facility

2019-09-10T19:46:57-05:00September 10th, 2019|

Firefighters from Consolidated Fire District No. 2 and the Overland Park Fire Department were called in to assist Johnson County Wastewater after chemicals were accidentally mixed inside a wastewater treatment substation. Johnson County Wastewater called for the fire department to respond to the substation, located at 5395 MartwayStreet in Mission, about 10:30 Monday morning and were on scene until about 4 p.m. The facility is directly behind the fire-damaged Mission Bowl building. (Read more: Prairie Village Post - Neighborhood news and events for Prairie Village, Fairway, Mission Hills)

Overland Park officials sour on plans for Metcalf site once touted as textbook case for tax incentives

2019-09-10T19:44:30-05:00September 10th, 2019|

The Metcalf Crossing project that was once touted by Overland Park leaders as a textbook example of how tax incentives can be used to remove blight was delayed again Monday, after the city council balked at plans to replace retail pad sites with a car wash. Instead of approving a revised plan and special use permit, council members said they’d take up the matter at their Oct. 7 meeting. Delaying action would give them a chance to take a second look the tax incentive package they approved for the project. (Read more: Prairie Village Post - Neighborhood news and events for Prairie Village, [...]

Great Bend school district seeking feedback following failed bond issue

2019-09-10T19:41:22-05:00September 10th, 2019|

USD 428 Superintendent Khris Thexton says he would like to put together information to present to the Board of Education to see what the next plan is following a failed bond issue. Thexton addressed the board Monday night following last week’s results from a mail-in ballot that rejected a $44.87 million school bond issue. Part of that information will include how other districts across the state have responded once a bond issue election failed. “We understand the sensitivity of taxes and some have more ‘skin in the game’ and we get that too,” said Thexton. “We want to make something that [...]

Earthquake, two aftershocks reported in Rooks County

2019-09-10T19:34:36-05:00September 10th, 2019|

The Kansas Geological Survey has reported an earthquake and two aftershocks in Rooks County during the weekend. The organization says a 3.7 magnitude quake was recorded Sunday morning about 9 miles west of Plainville. That was followed Sunday night be aftershocks of 2.4 and 2.2 magnitude. Geological Survey data shows 49 earthquakes have been reported this year in the northwest Kansas county. The strongest was a 4.8 magnitude on June 22. The Kansas Corporation Commission currently is investigating about a dozen earthquakes near Hutchinson in Reno County, including several in mid-August. Two quakes with a magnitude of 4.2 were recorded three days [...]

Scammers impersonating United Way staff offer cash grants for personal information

2019-09-10T19:26:45-05:00September 10th, 2019|

The United Way warns Kansans to be on guard after a pair of reports in the eastern U.S. about scammers claiming to represent the organization to get personal information. "Recently two United Ways, one in Pennsylvania and another in Alabama, reported similar occurrences where individuals were duped by scammers claiming to be associated with United Way," the organization says. These calls were different, but included similarities the United Way says are "striking." (Read more: KWCH News)

Wichita in top third for public transportation, says WalletHub

2019-09-10T19:25:49-05:00September 10th, 2019|

The personal finance website Wallethub released its 2019’s Cities with the Best & Worst Public Transportation survey Tuesday. “Wichita ranked 29th overall,” said analyst Jill Gonzalez. “We did look at 100 cities here in terms of their public transportation. That’s in the top third, definitely something to be proud of. It did particularly well when it comes to its safety and reliability of public transportation.” Wichita was 7th in that ranking. “We looked at three things there,” said Gonzalez. “We looked at the public transit safety and security events per miles traveled. That would be things like collisions, derailment, fires, security. [...]

Goessel museum features ‘Russian Mennonite Clocks and More’

2019-09-10T19:24:41-05:00September 10th, 2019|

 Examples of timepieces spanning two centuries of design and craftsmanship are now on display at the Mennonite Heritage and Agricultural Museum. “Time to Celebrate: Russian Mennonite Clocks and More” is on exhibit through the month of September. The oldest clocks in the museum are Russian Mennonite wall clocks with metal faces that are about 18 inches tall. A pendulum and chains hang down behind the clock’s face, making its total length about four feet. “The museum has three of these antique Russian Mennonite wall clocks; the oldest is dated 1822,” said Fern Bartel, director of the Mennonite Heritage and Agricultural Museum. [...]

How many lazy rivers does Johnson County need? New community centers controversial

2019-09-09T22:31:07-05:00September 9th, 2019|

Inside Lenexa’s new, resplendent recreation center, couples play pickleball, kids zoom through water slides and parents float down the lazy river. The $35.5 million Lenexa Rec Center opened two years ago, and so far, center manager John Forbis said, it’s exceeded expectations. More members are signing up to swim, take classes and sweat through workouts. And the center is hosting more events, Forbis said, including around 20 birthday parties each weekend. Now other cities throughout Johnson County are looking to build their own shiny, new fun palaces. But with taxpayers often footing a large chunk of the bill, the projects have [...]

First hearing scheduled in Pretty Prairie Wind lawsuit

2019-09-09T22:30:39-05:00September 9th, 2019|

A Reno County judge has finally scheduled a hearing in the lawsuit filed in July by NextEra Energy and some 69 landowners challenging the denial of a conditional-use permit for a proposed wind farm in the southeast quadrant of Reno County.The hearing, set for 10:30 a.m. Sept. 30 before District Judge Tim Chambers, however, is just to determine whether 18 landowners who filed protest petitions against the Pretty Prairie Wind permit can join the lawsuit as defendants. (Read more: Local - The Hutchinson News)

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