People might not be able to gauge a book by its cover. But Osawatomie Public Library Director Elizabeth Trigg is eager for people to offer an opinion about the library’s renovated interior space. “We wanted to create a space where people feel comfortable – where they can sit down and read,” she said of the renovations to the 1980-era-building. The facelift was made possible by a $32,000 gift from Franchelle Maxine Cliff, an Osawatomie native who died two years ago in Colorado. One of her favorite activities was returning to Osawatomie for the annual high school alumni meeting on Memorial Day [...]

Osawatomie city leaders have decided not to change trash service providers, and they are hopeful that a revised contract and new city software will lead to fewer issues for residents. The city’s contract with Waste Management is set to expire at year’s end, and Harrisonville-based WCA was vying to pick up the contract for Osawatomie’s solid waste and recycling collection program. City Manager Don Cawby told Osawatomie City Council members, during their Sept. 13 meeting, that WCA officials stopped negotiating with the city after the public hearing because they felt like their collection style was not a good fit for Osawatomie. [...]

For the first time in a decade, the city of Paola has a noise ordinance. Paola City Council members approved the ordinance during their Sept. 11 meeting after discussing the details during a work session earlier in the month. Paola City Manager Jay Wieland said the ordinance includes the criteria city officials were wanting, without being too cumbersome for law enforcement officers to enforce. The ordinance uses the “person of reasonable sensibility” standard instead of listing detailed criteria based on zoning districts and decibel measurements. City Attorney Lee Tetwiler said the ordinance is based on language from a Wichita ordinance that [...]

The city of Osawatomie is sweetening the deal in an attempt to attract a grocery operator to take over the vacant Ron’s Country Market location. The grocery store at 701 6th St. closed in 2017 less than a year after opening its doors. Much of the equipment, valued at $400,000, was almost brand new, and in an attempt to keep it from being sold off, the city purchased the equipment through a lease-purchase agreement with First Option Bank for a reduced cost of $150,000. The latest plan, which Osawatomie City Council members gave their support during their Sept. 13 meeting, is [...]