Municipal News & Jobs

Kansas Municipal News

Girard City Clerk achieves MMC designation

Girard City Clerk Karen Buck recently earned the prestigious Master Municipal Clerk (MMC) designation from IIMC, the International Institute of Municipal Clerks, Inc. At Monday’s regular meeting, Mayor Mickey Pyle presented a plaque to Buck for her hard work and dedication towards obtaining the designation. The council members also expressed their appreciation to Buck during council comments. Marking the 33rd-ever clerk in the state of Kansas to obtain the MMC, the designation is granted only to municipal clerks who complete demanding education requirements and have a record of significant contributions to their local government, their community, and state.
Source: Morning Sun

Westwood neighbors push back on tall, colorful Rainbow project

A redevelopment project along Rainbow Boulevard in Westwood remains in the discussion phase amid recent concept changes. The Westwood Planning Commission on Aug. 7 discussed a preliminary development plan — along with two rezoning requests and two replatting requests — for the mixed-use project Mission Woods-based developer Karbank Holdings LLC, wants to build. After about three hours of hearing from the developer and dozens of public commenters, the planning commission decided to revisit the item to the September meeting. The most recent conceptual designs show taller, colorful buildings on the site, which sparked pushback from several residents who spoke at the meeting.
Source: Shawnee Mission Post

Wichita to close tax financing district in Old Town

Wichita City Council members have approved the closing of a tax financing district in Old Town. The Old Town Cinema Redevelopment District was established in 1999 with a project for a parking garage, a plaza and street improvements. The project included improvements to Rock Island and Mosley streets between 2nd and 3rd Streets. The city issued close to $5 million in debt to finance the project costs, using the increases in property tax revenue from the district. Mark Manning with the city’s finance department told the council that the debts have been paid and the district has reimbursed the city’s debt service fund for all expenses from the project.
Source: 101.3 KFDI

Kansas sets $5.5 billion agricultural export record in 2022

Governor Kelly announced that agricultural exports reached $5.46 billion in 2022, the highest export total in decades. In a press release issued Tuesday, Kelly touted significant agriculture industry growth since she took office; citing $3.8 billion in exports in 2019. The top export for Kansas was red meat, which made up $2.1 billion (38.9%) of all agriculture exports. Second were cereals (including corn, wheat, and sorghum), and third was oil seed (primarily soybeans), making up 24.5% and 12.5% of total agricultural exports, respectively. Mexico was Kansas’ largest ag importer with $2.17 billion in 2022, Japan was the second largest with $781 million, and Canada was third with $594 million.
Source: 101.3 KFDI

Derby set to decide sales tax future in general election

Following efforts that started back in fall 2022, the city is nearing a tipping point on an important question: Do Derby citizens want to pay a 1% (one cent) sales tax to help fund the city’s budget? It’s a question that will be answered in the Nov. 7 general election. After discussion with focus groups, a community survey was put out at the start of 2023 to help shape the future of sales tax utilization in Derby. From input received, top priorities identified by local residents were public safety, parks maintenance and street maintenance – with all three outlined as areas sales tax funds will go to should the ballot question be approved.
Source: Derby Informer | News

Loose dogs a big concern for many residents after vicious attacks

Halstead’s city council was met Monday night by a room full of residents with one thing on their mind: dog attacks. In total, 13 people voiced their concerns about dangerous dogs roaming free and the threat to everyone’s safety that those dogs impose. Bud Bryant started by saying that he was attacked by two pit bulls recently, and they drew blood. He said for several towns it’s a one-time deal and then the dog is euthanized. He said he was told that a one-time attack means the dogs can’t be in the city.
Source: Harvey County Now

A new dog park is coming to west Wichita

The Wichita City Council voted unanimously on Tuesday to create a new dog park on the city’s west side. The 7-0 vote approves the design and construction of the dog park at Country Acres Park northwest of Central and Ridge Road. The 2023-2032 Capital Improvement Program contains $750,000 for design and construction and $50,000 for public art. The council proposal said the city has received many requests for a dog park on that side of town. The only other one on the west side is K-9 Rooster Dog Park at 21st Street North and Meridian.
Source: KAKE – News

New pickleball complex could be a noisy addition to southside Wichita

The Wichita City Council approved a sound study Tuesday to determine how loud the planned South Lakes Pickleball Complex will be and whether measures need to be taken to reduce noise. Neighbors and pickleball players seem excited about the building, which would be the biggest city-built pickleball complex in Wichita. Sound studies are standard procedure before breaking ground on big projects, according to the City. The sound of the plastic ball connecting with paddles is a welcome rhythm for lovers of the sport.
Source: KSN-TV

One Kansas school bans popular app over privacy concerns

Where do you draw the line with privacy? The Buhler school district has banned one app over privacy concerns for the new year. “As a district, we have blocked this app from all of our devices from our network,” said Buhler USD 313 superintendent Cindy Couchman. “And that is due to the privacy concerns that we noticed right away, and our technology director pointed out.” Concerns arose after the tech director for the school noticed some apps were sharing a lot of information and making it public. The latest app to get scrutiny is called Saturn – Time Together.
Source: KSN-TV

Argonia moves to four day school week, creating challenges for parents

As of Tuesday, there are no classes on Mondays for Argonia Public Schools. Many kids are happy about an extra day off, but some parents now need to find child care. The district’s superintendent believes they have taken steps to help with that issue. “One thing we did do, is we have day care available on Mondays for parents that have to work five days a week,” said Argonia Superintendent Rustin Clark. The cost of the daycare is $25 for the day, and they will provide a lunch for the children who are attending.
Source: KSN-TV

Hays Police Department says not to worry if you see these birds on the ground

The Hays Police Department says not to worry if you see a Mississippi kite on the ground. According to the HPD, many of their CSOs have been responding to multiple calls for young Mississippi kites on the ground. “Reporting parties believe the kites to be injured because they spread their wings to make themselves look bigger to anything that may harm them,” the HPD said. The HPD says while they appreciate people caring enough to call, it is the time of year when the youngsters are learning to fly.
Source: KSN-TV

Interim chief picked to permanently lead Hutchinson PD

The City of Hutchinson has named a familiar face to lead the police department. Interim Police Chief Brice Burlie has been chosen to permanently serve as chief of the department. Burlie had been serving in the role since June, taking over for a previous interim chief who had been serving in the role since the March firing of former chief Jeff Hooper. Burlie has been with the Hutchinson Police Department for 24 years, where he reached the level of Operations Captain before moving into the interim chief role. He is a graduate of Kansas State with a bachelor’s degree in criminology and sociology and has also completed extensive command-level training at Wichita State, KU, and Northwestern University.
Source: KSN-TV

Lawrence becomes first city in Kansas to pass CROWN Act ordinance banning race-based hair discrimination

The Lawrence City Commission on Tuesday soundly adopted a local ordinance protecting people from racial discrimination based on hair, making Lawrence the first city in Kansas to do so. “This is huge for our community,” Commissioner Amber Sellers said. “This is huge for our state. This is huge for individuals who live here who are trying to thrive and survive here — that they can balance and feel that they can take their nurtured self and bring it out into the community, unapologetically.” The CROWN Act, which stands for “Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair,” combats race-based hair discrimination in the workplace, schools or other sectors. It specifically targets protections for Black people who have textured hair or wear natural hairstyles, such as curls, locs, braids, twists, afros, bantu knots and more. It also aims to protect Indigenous people and people of color from discrimination based on hair that reflects culture or race.
Source: The Lawrence Times

Municipal Bond Trends for August 14, 2023

The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of MBIS “investment grade” yields. Every issuer’s credit is different, and other financing sources may be available. To obtain comprehensive Financial Advisory services for your local government, contact your Ranson Financial Municipal Advisor, Larry Kleeman, or Henry Schmidt.

Leonardville PRIDE proudly creates fun environment for rural Kansans at annual Hullabaloo celebration

Polished classic cars and vintage tractors lined North Erpelding Street on Saturday, attracting visitors from surrounding communities for the two-day Hullabaloo festival. Just beyond the entrance was another activity took place: the pedal tractor pull. Families stood by, yelling “Go!” and “Push!” in support of their young ones. A theme at the festival was pride. A boy dressed in a black shirt and shorts illustrated this pride as he sprung up off his bike after his pedal tractor pull ride and made his way toward his family. Rylan Hudson, 7, of Riley won first place and celebrated by giving his dad a high five.
Source: themercury.com

Hutchinson Zoo marks opening of new Nature Play expansion and Splash River

The Hutchinson Zoo made a big splash in late July when it officially celebrated the opening of Splash River with a symbolic ribbon-cutting ceremony. Splash River is part of the zoo’s new Nature Play exhibit, which is a no-cost, safe and welcome place for children and families. The zoo retrofitted the former parking lot into a natural-looking splash river, inclusive play elements and green space. The expansion is adjacent to the North American River Otter Exhibit that opened in the summer of 2020. Zoo officials said the purpose of Splash River is to give children under age 10 a chance to observe, explore and investigate a naturalistic creek bed safely.
Source: Hutch News

Kansans need safer roads. Here are some ideas for changing them.

Today’s pedestrian-unfriendly roadways consist largely of suburban streets that have been turned into straight, flat speedways where drivers race along at speeds approaching those on the freeway, often distracted by their phones. This mix of high speeds, heavier vehicles, and distracted driving terrorizes pedestrians and bicyclists. Proposed ideas include shorter blocks, pedestrian refuge areas, increased use of traffic circles, narrower roads, dedicated bicycle lanes and chicanes — those s-shaped curves also used on racetracks. Money from the bipartisan 2021 Infrastructure and Jobs Act is available to help fund these improvements.
Source: Hutch News

‘Huge scam’ in rural Kansas town fells fourth U.S. bank in 2023

Heartland Tri-State Bank of Elkhart on July 28 became the fourth U.S. bank to fail in 2023 and the second Kansas bank to fail in three years. David Herndon, Kansas banking commissioner, closed the southwest Kansas bank after it became insolvent because it was “apparently the victim of a huge scam,” he said. Herndon said he doesn’t know what the scam was, but he said other banks in the state were not affected. “Kansas banks are strong and healthy,” he said. “They are well-capitalized, have strong reserves, are profitable and maintain record levels of loan reserves.” Herndon named the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation as receiver, allowing the FDIC to take control of the bank’s affairs. The FDIC then brokered a deal for Dream First Bank, National Association of Syracuse, Kansas to take over customers of Heartland Tri-State Bank. On July 31, all four branches of Heartland Tri-State Bank were reopened as branches of Dream First Bank. Herndon said the transfer didn’t result in any disruptions to customers, who were protected from risk of loss.
Source: Kansas Reflector

Overland Park firefighters save truckload of 1,300 piglets

Overland Park firefighters saved the bacon Thursday. A tractor-trailer hauling more than 1,300 piglets to Iowa stalled out with a mechanical issue on northbound U.S. 69 Highway near 151st Street Thursday morning. The driver told police he worried that without air circulation or water, the piglets could die in the heat. The Overland Park Fire Department was called to the scene and spent about 30 minutes spraying water from a fire hose through vents in the trailer, cooling the piglets off. That was enough to preserve the payload until another truck came by to pick up the pigs.
Source: Prairie Village Post

Is Oaklawn Wichita’s forgotten neighborhood?

Andree Sisco’s entry into public service came about when she couldn’t find anyone willing to mow the grass. Sisco moved to Oaklawn, an unincorporated community sandwiched between Wichita and Derby, in 1981. Nestled between the Arkansas River and K-15, Oaklawn sits on 260 acres, a neighborhood hastily built as a quick solution to a wartime housing shortage in 1952. Once “one of the largest housing construction projects in the history of Kansas,” Oaklawn is not recognized as a municipality by the state of Kansas. It has also often lacked other clear markers of community recognition. At the time of her arrival, Sisco says residents were still assigned phone numbers associated with Haysville, a Wichita suburb nearly six miles to the west.
Source: KLC Journal

KBI director on Marion County newspaper raid: Media is not ‘above the law’

The top law enforcement officer in Kansas appeared to justify a Marion County search warrant that led to an unprecedented raid on a local newspaper and potentially contributed to the death of the paper’s co-owner. Kansas Bureau of Investigation Director Tony Mattivi released a statement Sunday following widespread outrage of Friday’s raid, in which local law enforcement seized computers, cellphones and other reporting materials from the Marion County Record office and publisher Eric Meyer’s home. The raid was part of an investigation into the alleged identity theft of a restaurant owner who had clashed with the paper.
Source: The Lawrence Times

Johnson County Library’s courier trucks get refresh with vibrant new artwork

Johnson County Library’s courier trucks transport materials between the branches and travel countless miles each year, serving as billboards on wheels, with images promoting Library services. The current vinyl wraps were installed on the trucks in 2018, so it’s time for a refresh. This year, three local artists are designing the wraps, bringing their uniquely creative visions to the task and giving each truck a bold and brilliant exterior. “We are asking local artists to interpret what the Library means to them, how the Library impacts the community, and translate that into art,” said marketing specialist Ben Oglesby. “I see it as a moving art installation, where we are showcasing our local Kansas City artists. It’s like a rolling exhibition.”
Source: Prairie Village Post

Great Bend Fire Department saves pets from burning home

The Great Bend Fire Department saved pets from a house fire last weekend. Great Bend Fire made a post on Facebook Friday saying on Aug. 5, around 5:30 a.m., units responded to a report of a structure fire in the 10 block of SE 20 Rd. Once on scene, units found a 1,500-square-foot house with smoke and flames showing from the two-car attached garage. Crews made an aggressive interior attack and were met with high heat, heavy fire and smoke. While searching the residence to make sure the occupants all got out, crews were able to safely remove several family pets from inside the house.
Source: KSN-TV

Dodge City Regional Airport Set for Major Expansion and Remodel

The City of Dodge City is thrilled to announce that the bid for the expansion and remodel of the Dodge City Regional Airport Terminal has been awarded to Icon Structures of Wichita. This expansion is a testament to the efforts and vision of our Commissioner’s leadership, coupled with significant federal support. In March of 2023, the Dodge City Regional Airport was awarded $7.3 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to go towards remodeling and expanding the existing terminal. This funding stems from Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and Airport Terminal Program (ATP) Grant.
Source: Western Kansas News

Municipal Bond Trends for August 11, 2023

Lawrence offers Meeting in a Box for Land Development Code

The City of Lawrence is now offering a Meeting in a Box tool as part of the community engagement process for the Land Development Code. The Meeting in a Box encourages individuals and community groups to share their thoughts on community character. The Land Development Code team is working to create the design standards that future development in Lawrence will follow, which includes elements such as landscaping, local architecture, infrastructure, historic context and more. These elements all help define our community character. The Meeting in a Box is a self-paced workshop that community members can complete by themselves or with the group of their choosing: community organizations, neighborhood groups, school classes, etc. … An online version is available at lawrenceks.org/ldc (under the documents tab). The Meeting in a Box tool will be available until Friday, Sept. 15.

Topeka has many who want to buy homes but too few houses on the market to choose from

The housing market in Topeka closely mirrored national real estate trends during the first half of 2023, with both plagued by low inventory, high home prices and rising interest rates. … Developers have been cautious since the housing crash of 2008, a problem that has contributed to the inventory issues plaguing the country today. Meanwhile, homeowners who bought before interest rates rose are staying put, making the shortage worse. Topeka Area Building Association CEO Katy Nelson said she’s seeing higher demand for new construction in Shawnee County and the surrounding areas. … Would-be homebuilders still face some challenges, including financing difficulties. “When COVID hit, we lost a lot of smaller companies and the sub-producers that came with that, or they raised their prices a lot,” said Nelson. “Clients are needing to get requalified through their banks more often than before, and this seems to be a challenge for some people that are on the edge of moving forward or holding off.” A lack of available lots in Topeka and Shawnee County has also deterred some people, who wouldn’t hesitate otherwise. “In Topeka city limits, lots are limited. There is more availability in the county for the desirable lots,” said Nelson. “There are many people that feel this plays a big part in all building decisions.”
Source: CJonline

Municipal Bond Trends for August 10, 2023

New Round of Funding Announced for Revitalization of Downtown Buildings

Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland announced today $1.5 million will be available for a fourth round of Historic Economic Asset Lifeline (HEAL) grants to revitalize dilapidated and underutilized downtown buildings in small communities across the state. HEAL grants help close financial gaps for communities striving to make their downtown districts more economically vibrant. Since the HEAL grant program was launched in 2021, more than $3.5 million has been awarded to fund 63 projects in 48 counties throughout Kansas.
Source: Kansas Department of Commerce

Groundwater salt levels are high in Andover, Experts say this could be a big problem

Throughout the summer, people in Andover have been raising questions on Facebook wondering why they can’t use their well water. Some of them posted that after testing the level of salt in the water exceeded 400 parts per million. K-State Extension Agent Matthew McKernan said that this can be damaging to plants. “Sodium is going to be very detrimental to our soils, it’s going to break down our soil quality and actually take the place of organic matter and clay particles in the soil,” McKernan said. “And so as that, when high sodium water is applied to the soil, the sodium is actually going to bind to the soil particles and destroy the soil structure.”
Source: KAKE – News

How Johnson County will spend $1.6M in COVID relief funds

Johnson County is spending roughly $1.6 million in COVID-19 relief funds on several initiatives, including one to help pay rent and utilities as well as providing for the housing needs of people with certain disabilities. Johnson County Commissioners on Aug. 3 convened to consider how the county will spend remaining federal COVID-19 relief funds. The county agreed to pay for accessibility upgrades at the Theatre in the Park, an outdoor theater at Shawnee Mission Park.
Source: Prairie Village Post

Garden City wins award from ‘The Great Race’ organization

The group that organizes the annual “Great Race” has named Garden City the 2023 Best Overnight City. Garden City was the Day 8 stop from the race that also made a stop in Wichita. Participants raced from St. Augustine, Florida, to Colorado Springs, Colorado, over nine days from June 24 to July 2. The race stopped in Garden City on June 30, its first stop there since 2006. Race participants voted the stop as the best overnight stop along the race route.
Source: KSN-TV

Topeka could lose Country Stampede

The Country Stampede, a longtime staple of summer celebration in the Capital City, could find a new home in the near future. The Country Stampede announced via social media Thursday that due to rising property taxes, it may have to find a new location. The country music festival attributes this to its landlord and property owner, Shelby Development, which claims that taxes on the stampede’s facility have risen almost $1,500 per day.
Source: KSN-TV

City of Topeka provides update on Hotel Topeka purchase

All parties involved have agreed to a tentative closing date on the city’s purchase of Hotel Topeka. The hotel is in receivership because the purchase needs to be approved by the court, according to a press release from the City of Topeka. After a hearing on July 25, the court is reviewing the sale and order and is expected to approve the sale soon. Once the court’s order is entered, all parties can proceed with closing. A tentative closing date is scheduled for Oct. 31, according to the press release.
Source: KSNT 27 News

Fallen Fairway officer remembered for dedication to job, family

People who knew fallen Fairway Office Jonah Oswald are mourning and remembering the man, husband and father he was. The 29-year-old died Monday after he was injured in a shootout Sunday with two suspects at a Mission QuikTrip. “He was the epitome of what a true law enforcement officer would be – devoted, a devoted father and husband willing to help his community,” said Robert Paul, a friend of Oswald’s. “(He) stepped into church, willing to be there on Sundays just to lend a hand. I think he was bigger than life itself.” This is now the Fairway Police Department’s first line-of-duty death in its more than 70-year history.
Source: KSNT 27 News

Olpe fitness park secures over $115,000 in tax credits

Olpe’s fitness park project has approval for over $100,000 in tax credits. The project, organized by Olpe Community Improvement, was granted $115,400 in tax credits from the Kansas Department of Commerce. Project spokesman Tyler Schmidt tells KVOE News donors to the Community Health and Wellness Campaign have a chance to offset or defer 70 percent of their related tax obligations as part of the credits. Using $1,000 as an example, Schmidt says $700 would either be used as a full credit or a partial credit for the donor, depending on that person’s tax liability. The total value to the fitness park is actually more than $165,000. The window to take advantage of these tax credits began July 1 and continues through 2024.
Source: KVOE Emporia Radio

In rural Kansas, seniors are stranded by a lack of transit options — and it’s getting worse

A white Dodge Caravan pulls up in front of the Dillons grocery store in Liberal, Kansas, and Floyd Coleman steps out to help his next passenger into the minivan. Coleman, a 63-year-old retired truck driver, shuttles people around town for Liberal’s senior center. He has a few pickups and drop-offs throughout the day and can drive senior center patrons anywhere within the city limits for free. City Bus, the public transit system in Liberal, runs from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays. And although seniors qualify for reduced fares, the stops are sometimes few and far between. … Because of the distance between his home and the closest bus stop, [many seniors with mobility issues] rely on Coleman and the services the center provides. … Liberal is in Seward County and more than 10% of its 20,000 residents are over the age of 65. Although some cities in southwest Kansas like Liberal have senior centers equipped to help clients get around, group transportation isn’t always available in smaller towns.
Source: KCUR News

Finney County approves disaster declarations, employee leave policy changes

Two emergency declarations were declared at the Finney County Commission’s regular meeting Monday. One of the emergency declarations was due to the storm damage and flooding from the two July 20 storms. Paul Resley, Finney County Emergency Management director, said the storms greatly impacted the area around Friend and tracked southeast towards Kansas Highway 156. “It suffered extensive damage; I believe we lost about 104 distribution power poles and three 115 A-Frame poles for Sunflower transmission lines, not counting the number of crops and buildings that got destroyed,” he said. “Then later in the evening we had a massive amount of flooding, which impacted … many basements throughout the area as well as a number of vehicles that got stalled. We were using our big trucks to get people out of the roads.” Commissioner Dave Jones said the emergency declaration allows the power company work extended hours beyond what the Kansas Corporation Commission holds them to. … Also at the meeting, the Commission approved changes to an updated employee leave policy. One change is to transition from sick and vacation to a Paid Time Off model. Kelly Munyan, Finney County Human Resources director, said currently sick and vacation time are used interchangeable, and she believes that moving to a PTO model will allow for ease of administration, creating one pool for employees to use as at their discretion.
Source: Garden City Telegram

Shawnee County is using drones to fight a duckweed problem

Shawnee County has a duckweed problem. The small leafy plant is often confused with algae as it covers the surfaces of ponds, lagoons and other still bodies of water. Some say it isn’t a problem but instead a misunderstanding of a natural resource. For Shawnee County, however, it’s seen as an infestation — and they’re using drones to deal with it. “There’s about six lagoons throughout the area that are infested with duckweed,” said Shawnee County weed department director John Landon last week. “We’re going to spray those with Sonar and try to get that under control.”
Source: CJonline

Commission hears concerns about homeless in Pittsburg

With only three commissioners present, Tuesday evening’s city commission meeting was short, but dominated by citizen comments about the growing homeless problem in Pittsburg. Pittsburg resident John Lair said that in the northeast section of town, trash bins are being rummaged through, bags cut open, and garbage left strewn across the property for the resident to clean up. Lair said he’s heard not to refer to the homeless as criminals, but said it is getting to be a real problem in his neighborhood. He said a neighbor had her car broken into three times. Source: Morning Sun

Municipal Bond Trends for August 9, 2023

More than 20 electric scooters recovered from Arkansas River

More than 20 electric scooters were recovered from the Arkansas River by the Keeper of the Plains Tuesday afternoon. Electric scooters came to Wichita in July 2019. One of the companies currently operating in Wichita is VeoRide. A KSN photojournalist spoke to a person at the scene working to recover the scooters who identified themself as a manager for VeoRide. He said the units may have been there for some time, only becoming visible because of lower water levels. KSN has reached out to the company for a formal statement but has not received a reply.
Source: KSN-TV

Electric scooters keep getting dumped into the Arkansas River

Twenty electric scooters were recovered from the Arkansas River near the Keeper of the Plains this week, but it comes as no surprise to residents and business owners in the area who have seen submerged scooters for years. Electric scooter rentals have been available in Wichita since the summer of 2019. City leaders celebrated their arrival, and the scooters were a hit with residents and visitors. However, the scooters have had a hard time staying above water. Calvin Cupp works at Boats and Bikes, a boat rental service just off the Arkansas River near the Keeper of the Plains. He spends most days coaching rowing teams and helping run the place.
Source: KSN-TV

More hotel rooms coming for future Kansas State Fairs

The 2023 Kansas State Fair is almost here. More hotels are planned for Hutchinson, but not in time for this year’s fair. The fair is planning for more than 300,000 visitors for the 2023 Kansas State Fair, but not all will be staying in Hutch. Currently, there are about 700 hotel rooms after the largest Hutchinson hotel closed in 2019. The Kansas State Fair brings in anywhere from $75-100 million each year. “For 10 days specifically, that period is a huge boost for the entire community,” said Visit Hutch Vice President LeAnn Cox.
Source: KSN-TV

The post-fire plan for Rawlins Co. Jr.-Sr. High School

After a fire heavily damaged the Rawlins County Junior-Senior High School in June, parents and students knew things would change. It has taken some time, but the district has a tentative plan for handling the new school year. Eric Stoddard, USD 105 superintendent, posted an update about the fire and the plans on the district’s Facebook page. “We’ve had a, really a tragedy in our community,” he said. … USD 105 has contracted with a Wichita company to provide modular classrooms for the junior-senior high school, but the classrooms will not be installed until mid-September at the earliest.
Source: KSN-TV