Small Kansas airports fighting to get SkyWest Charter

2023-06-16T09:41:26-05:00June 16th, 2023|

SkyWest submitted an application to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) almost a year ago requesting commuter authority. “We are pleading with the DOT to take action and allow SWC to serve the airports in our region,” Corey Keller, the director of public works for Dodge City. The Department of Transportation has not approved that application yet. Small Kansas airports such as Dodge City, Salina, Hays and Liberal say getting this application approved is crucial to their airports and communities. Keller says without SkyWest Charter (SWC), the next steps are unclear. “If SkyWest charter is not approved, there’s the possibility of, [...]

Ozawkie celebrates its unusual heritage

2023-06-16T10:46:04-05:00June 16th, 2023|

Ozawkie, Kansas, celebrated its heritage this weekend. The small town put on its third annual festival that recognizes the original town of Ozawkie. The town was moved to its current spot after Kansas decided to make the Perry Lake dam in 1965. The festival included food vendors, face painting, games, old memorabilia from the original town and a special performance by Topeka High School’s marching band. The festival also gave local businesses a chance to sell their products. Source: KSNT 27 News

Washunga Days set for this weekend in Council Grove

2023-06-16T09:34:52-05:00June 16th, 2023|

Council Grove will be the center stage for Washunga Days Friday and Saturday. The event will take place along the Neosho Riverwalk. Even with activities going into full force on Friday, there’s a free community event that’ll kick things off Thursday according to event organizer Jesse Knight. Source: KVOE Emporia Radio

Split Shawnee council agrees to put parks and pipes sales tax up for renewal vote

2023-06-16T09:32:42-05:00June 16th, 2023|

Shawnee voters will be asked to renew the city’s special sales taxes during the upcoming general election this November. After a prolonged back and forth Monday night, the Shawnee City Council voted 4-3 to renew the 1/8-cent sales sales tax, often referred to as the “parks and pipes” tax. Previously, the council seemed poised to pursue a new tax in lieu of a renewal. Such a step — had the council opted to take it — would have allowed the city to use revenue from the sales tax for some parks operations in some situations. Source: Prairie Village Post

Marshall County to get updated 911 system

2023-06-16T10:47:15-05:00June 16th, 2023|

Marshall County is preparing to switch to the Kansas 911 Coordinating Council’s New Generation Call Handling System. Michelle Reinhart, a terminal access coordinator for the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department, led the discussion about the new system at Monday’s county commissioners’ meeting. ... Marshall County is the one of the last two counties in the state to join the system. “We are excited,” Reinhart said. “It’s $18,000 a year. It will come out of 911 monies. We will never replace another piece of equipment. We will never update mapping again.” An automatically updated statewide map will enable dispatchers to locate 911 callers [...]

Sedgwick County firefighters take additional steps to protect both themselves and drivers

2023-06-16T09:27:52-05:00June 16th, 2023|

A new digital alert system is protecting firefighters and drivers alike. Sedgwick County firefighters have begun using HAAS Alert Service's Safety Cloud to not only protect themselves but also to protect drivers. The digital alert system lets drivers know 30 seconds ahead of time when there is an emergency situation ahead. "Digital alerts are found to be 90 percent effective in reducing collisions compared to just lights and sirens," said Vice President of Communications for HAAS Alert Brock Aun. According to Aun, most firefighters said they would rather go into a burning building than stop on the side of the road. [...]

Local businesses in Pittsburg brace for economic impact as students leave for summer

2023-06-16T09:25:43-05:00June 16th, 2023|

Perla Garcia, owner of a local business by Pittsburg State, would have felt the impacts of students not being in town if it wasn't for one thing – she sells ice cream. While the students are her main clients, the frozen goods keep her busy when the warmer temperatures come around. But summer doesn't work in every business's favor. With only 20% of the 5,600 Pittsburg State students being local, businesses in the city need to find strategies for when the non-local students leave. The Kelce Business and Economic Research Center estimates that there's a decline of more than 22.8 million [...]

Pittsburg commission asked to rescind support of US-69

2023-06-16T09:24:19-05:00June 16th, 2023|

During the public comments segment at the beginning of Tuesday evening’s city commission meeting in Pittsburg, a half-dozen residents came forward to plead their case and ask the commission to rescind its 2001 support of a new US-69 bypass along the route proposed by the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT). The proposed new route, known as the West Alignment, has been a heated topic in Crawford County in recent weeks. Beginning a few miles north of Arma, the new bypass would run roughly parallel to 200th Street to US-400. Access to this bypass would be limited. The current kerfuffle was sparked [...]

Chanutes 150th anniversary event planned

2023-06-16T09:19:30-05:00June 16th, 2023|

Chanute's 150th celebration and downtown block party is coming up. The downtown block party to celebrate Chanute’s founding is planned for 2-8 p.m. Saturday, July 1. The city of Chanute was established in 1873. “It’s an afternoon of free, family-friendly activity,” said Mayor Jacob LaRue on Monday. “So it’s awesome what’s going to happen.” Inspyral Circus will perform and kids can participate in rock painting and a kids dash for cash. There also will be food trucks at the event. SEK Princesses will appear 4:30-6 p.m. Source: The Chanute Tribune

0.25% sales tax question will be on November ballot in Chanute

2023-06-16T09:18:04-05:00June 16th, 2023|

Voters in November will decide the fate of renewing a 0.25% sales tax question that would benefit economic development and infrastructure efforts in Chanute. On Monday, the Chanute City Commission unanimously approved a resolution in order to place the question on the upcoming November ballot. “I think it hits all the points we’ve been discussing,” said Mayor Jacob LaRue. “I think it’s nice to have a consensus on the question.” If the sales tax question is approved, it will help the city maintain municipal buildings and further economic development initiatives in Chanute. Source: The Chanute Tribune

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