Kansas Municipal News
Jackie Robinson statue found burned and in pieces at Wichita park amid citywide manhunt
A Wichita youth-baseball league’s Jackie Robinson statue — which was cut at its feet and stolen from McAdams Park last week, leading to a citywide manhunt and national media attention — was found charred and in pieces Tuesday morning in Garvey Park. Garvey Park is in south Wichita, about seven miles from where it was stolen. “It’s not salvageable at this time,” Wichita police spokesperson Andrew Ford said. Ford said they are still investigating to find suspects. First responders were called to a trash can fire at the park around 8:38 a.m. and found the statue. When firefighters extinguished the flames, they found pieces of the statue. It’s unclear if the statue, valued at $75,000, was cut or fell apart while being burned. It appears a fire was lit in a dumpster behind a pavilion bathroom at the park. Police were searching the area for other clues. Wichita Police Department Lt. Aaron Moses said that he didn’t think anyone was in custody. Chief Joe Sullivan and other city leaders held a news conference at 10:30 a.m. at the park. On Monday, police announced that they found what they thought was the truck used in the crime unoccupied somewhere in the city. The truck wasn’t reported stolen and police have talked with the owner. He said police have conducted close to if not over 100 interviews since the statue was stolen early Thursday morning. Vandals cut the statue at the feet and then loaded it in a truck and took off, according to surveillance video from WPD.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Towns struggle as aquifer dwindles
Brownie Wilson pulls off a remote dirt road right through a steep ditch and onto a farmer’s field. He hops out of his white Silverado pickup, mud covering nearly all of it except the Kansas Geological Survey logo stuck on the side with electrical tape. Dry cornstalks crunch under his work boots as he makes his way to a decommissioned irrigation well. He unspools a steel highway tape measure a few feet at a time and feeds it into the well until gravity takes over. He keeps a thumb on it to control the speed. How much of the tape comes out wet lets him calculate how much water has been lost here. Wilson crisscrosses western Kansas every January to measure wells and track the rapid decline of the Ogallala Aquifer, which contains the nation’s largest underground store of fresh water. Last year, some wells had dropped 10 feet or more because of the severe 2022 drought. But this year, they stayed about the same or dropped a couple feet. Some of these wells have dropped more than 100 feet since Wilson started working for the agency in 2001, he said. “Some of our issues looking forward look gargantuan,” Wilson said. “But I do think we can peck away at it and make some headway.” The Ogallala Aquifer, the underground rock and sediment formation that spans eight states from South Dakota to the Texas panhandle, is the only reliable water source for some parts of the region. But for decades, states have allowed farmers to overpump groundwater to irrigate corn and other crops that would otherwise struggle on the arid High Plains. Now, the disappearing water is threatening more than just agriculture. Rural communities are facing dire futures where water is no longer a certainty.
Source: The Iola Register
How could Kansas’ new open enrollment law change Johnson County and KCK schools?
After this school year, Kansas students will be allowed to go to any public school district in the state, as long as it has the room. Previously, districts have had discretion over whether to admit students from outside of their attendance areas. But starting this summer, schools are required to do so, which has created a complicated situation for highly ranked districts in Johnson County, which are now scrambling to prepare for a potential influx of students. “Really since the legislation passed, certainly the number of people calling us has increased. We get a few calls every week from people either checking into the process or saying they want to enroll,” said Olathe Superintendent Brent Yeager. Johnson County school leaders say that as they ready to open their doors to out-of-district students, they’re concerned about maintaining appropriate class sizes, having adequate staffing levels and taking on unexpected costs. “There are districts where it won’t be a big deal because they have only one school or three schools. For those of us in larger districts, it’s a much bigger challenge,” Yeager said. Kansas lawmakers approved the open enrollment requirement in 2022, as part of a broad K-12 finance bill. The provision says each school must determine its capacity for the following year, and accept applications from non-resident students when open seats are available.
Source: Joco 913 News
Municipal Bond Trends for January 30, 2024
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.
Municipal Bond Trends for January 29, 2024
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.
USD 392 Osborne County Hires New Superintendent
USD 392 Board of Education announced the selection of Mr. Ron Orsak as the new Superintendent of Osborne County School District. Mr. Orsak will take the helm on July 1, 2024, from Mr. Langdon who officially resigned from his post in November of last year and will be the new Elementary Principal at Sacred Heart Schools in Colby this Fall. We thank Mr. Langdon for his efforts and wish him all the best in his future endeavors. Mr. Orsak emerged from a very thorough search process as the right candidate to lead the district. The initial step was to gather input utilizing focus groups, comprised of faculty and staff from within our district, and online community surveys. The board contracted the services of KASB to conduct extensive background and reference checks, including the review of applications and supporting documentation during the hiring process. The board selected two finalists, who were greeted by community members and staff and interviewed by the Board in January. With the decision to hire Mr. Orsak, the Board feels they found a strong match to the search criteria presented, making him the right selection to serve our students, staff, and our community.
Source: Sunflower State Radio
Sewer bills going up for Andover residents
Starting in February, Andover residents will see their sewer bills increase. The City says they are wrapping up the design phase for the expansion of the wastewater plant. This year Andover will begin the process of upgrading and expanding the facility to address increasing demand and replace and update equipment to meet upcoming regulatory requirements. The rate will increase by $5 to $40 a month for residential customers. Later this year, the Andover City Council will decide on a multi-year billing structure based on the projected costs of the expansion project. Andover’s wastewater facility was first constructed in 1977 and underwent upgrades, expansions, and improvements in 1996, 2011, and 2019.
Source: KSN Local News
City of Galena clarifies when school crossing light is supposed to run
The Mayor of Galena, KS, Ashely Qualls Groves, addresses the ongoing concern regarding a Galena school traffic lights and the timing of them. “I want to clarify that those are set automatically and although it seems like odd hours, the school has after school programs nightly throughout the school year. Many kids attend these programs and in working with the school personnel, our goal is to provide the utmost safety protocols for our students.” According to city officials, they receive a lot of complaints about reckless drivers in the school zones therefore they are working to make the existing protocols safer while any students are in the building.
Source: KOAM News
City of Fort Scott addresses foam seen on local river
The City of Fort Scott addresses complaints regarding foam accumulation being seen in the river at Gunn Park. The following is from the City of Fort Scott Facebook post: “The foam that is being seen in the river at Gunn Park is caused by the amount of phosphorus in the water and is not harmful to our water supply. It is caused by the change of weather we have had over the last week (thank God for the rain). The Dam in Gunn Park is before the City of Fort Scott’s River Intake system so the water will be treated with several layers of chemicals before going into our drinking water. Remember, there are a lot of things in our river water system that goes through our water intake system so we are equipped to treat these things. So again it is not harmful to anyone.”
Source: KOAM News
Agriculture built these High Plains towns. Now, it might run them dry
Brownie Wilson pulls off a remote dirt road right through a steep ditch and onto a farmer’s field. He hops out of his white Silverado pickup, mud covering nearly all of it except the Kansas Geological Survey logo stuck on the side with electrical tape. Dry cornstalks crunch under his work boots as he makes his way to a decommissioned irrigation well. He unspools a steel highway tape measure a few feet at a time and feeds it into the well until gravity takes over. He keeps a thumb on it to control the speed. How much of the tape comes out wet lets him calculate how much water has been lost here. Wilson crisscrosses western Kansas every January to measure wells and track the rapid decline of the Ogallala Aquifer, which contains the nation’s largest underground store of fresh water. Last year, some wells had dropped 10 feet or more because of the severe 2022 drought. But this year, they stayed about the same or dropped a couple feet. Some of these wells have dropped more than 100 feet since Wilson started working for the agency in 2001, he said. “Some of our issues looking forward look gargantuan,” Wilson said. “But I do think we can peck away at it and make some headway.” The Ogallala Aquifer, the underground rock and sediment formation that spans eight states from South Dakota to the Texas panhandle, is the only reliable water source for some parts of the region. But for decades, states have allowed farmers to overpump groundwater to irrigate corn and other crops that would otherwise struggle on the arid High Plains. Now, the disappearing water is threatening more than just agriculture.
Source: Kansas Reflector
Here’s where Sedgwick County plans to build a 50-bed psychiatric hospital
Construction of a 50-bed psychiatric hospital on the outskirts of southwest Wichita could be completed by 2026. The Sedgwick County Commission voted unanimously Friday to acquire 11 donated acres at the northwest corner of MacArthur and Meridian for the project. The land is being donated by real estate broker and investor Jeff Lange, who has been developing plans for a 70-acre behavioral health complex at the site for the last four years. Lange Realty is Sedgwick County’s on-call real estate agent. “I’m excited this day is here,” Commissioner David Dennis said. “A lot of people came together for this today so that we can finally say yes, we are going to have a regional mental health hospital in Sedgwick County.” Selection of the southwest Wichita site was made at the recommendation of a committee made up of Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services and Sedgwick County staff.
Source: The Wichita Eagle
‘Stealing from the kids’: Reward offered for recovery of Jackie Robinson statue
The hunt to find a bronze Jackie Robinson statue and the thieves who stole it from McAdams Park is ramping up. The Wichita Metro Crime Commission and League 42 are offering up to $2,500 for any tip that leads to an arrest, and an additional $5,000 if the statue is recovered. “Our city wants the statue returned. We also want the individuals who robbed our community of a treasure to be held accountable for their actions, and I assure you they will,” Police Chief Joe Sullivan said at a Friday afternoon press conference. One key element of the investigation has been contacting scrap metal businesses from around the region to notify them of the theft. Surveillance footage shows the vandals sawing off the statue at its feet and loading it into a dark-colored, short-bed pickup truck before making off with it early Thursday. “I’m hoping that they didn’t know what they were doing,” Parks Director Troy Houtman said. “If they would just bring it back, no questions asked. We’d move on and repair the statue. Hopefully, they’ll wisen up to do that.” But he said the statue, which is valued at $75,000, will be replaced “one way or another.” “We’re either going to do repairs or replace. We’ve already started investigating on what that’s going to take,” he said. District Attorney Marc Bennett said the window for leniency is rapidly closing.
Source: The Wichita Eagle
Newest Council Member Brings Grant Writing Experience, Passion To Bentley City Council
A few years ago, Jeff Witherspoon experienced a couple of shootings within a few blocks of their house, so after living in Wichita all his life, Witherspoon and his wife, Rhonda, moved to Bentley. They were already tired of the crime and traffic. So Witherspoon used UbuildIt to build his house and said he chose Bentley, because his biggest challenge in relocating was finding land, and Bentley offered him an affordable lot. Now retired, Witherspoon spent 25 years with Consumer Credit Counseling Service, a nonprofit company, helping people with financial issues. His degrees from Wichita State University include business management and financial planning. Witherspoon said his passion is helping people spend their money more wisely and help them get out of debt. He’s taught some classes at Bentley’s senior center and regularly teaches at nonprofits and schools in Wichita. “It bothers me to see people struggle, and sometimes they struggle for reasons they don’t understand,” Witherspoon said. “There’s people that spend money, and they just feel like that’s the way you’re supposed to do it. But I’m always looking for ways to still survive but to spend less money.” Witherspoon joined the Bentley City Council this month after being elected back in November.
Source: Harvey County Now
Friends on the Farm gives students a glimpse of agriculture
Area fourth graders attended the 25th annual Friends at the Farm event Thursday at the Finney County Fairgrounds. Carol Deaver, Finney County Farm Bureau Board president, said about 775 fourth grade students attended the event this year from Finney, Gray, Haskell and Kearny Counties. At their first event 25 years ago, they only had 250 students attend, Deaver said. It’s grown considerably since then. Deaver said the goal of the event is to inform students about what happens on farms and ranches in Finney County and southwestern Kansas and how many of the things they use daily originate on a farm or ranch. “Whether a seed or livestock or that kind of thing, people don’t realize all the byproducts that come from out of commodities and livestock raised on farms in addition to food, fiber and energy that we’re all pretty familiar with,” she said. Jennifer Gerber, Finney County Farm Bureau member and County Coordinator, said the event is about helping students make connections between food and where it comes from, it’s what she likes most about the event. She’s gone into classrooms and helped with after school programs and when kids are asked where chocolate milk comes from, unfortunately a lot of times they say brown cows, so she feels events like Friends at the Farm are needed to help people understand where the food comes from.
Source: Garden City Telegram
LCECC to bring 911derWoman Academy to Emporia next month
The Lyon County Emergency Communications Center will present the 911derWoman Academy: Finding Your Career in 911, from Feb. 6 – 7 at the Anderson Building. 911derWoman Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit started by Sara Weston after the death of her close friend that began as an online support group. The membership of 911derWoman across the world has grown from a group of 100, to over 15,000 women on social media. 911derWoman now not only has a large presence online, but has grown its mission to include educational offerings that are both virtual and in person. According to a written release, the two-day academy will focus on transforming the attendees’ 911 career into a journey of continuous growth and advancement. Attendees will focus on areas of improvement, promotion, and gain the tools, skills, and inspiration to take control, advance their careers and thrive in emergency dispatch.
Source: Emporia Gazette
Broadband Acceleration Grant makes $10M available
Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland today announced $10 million is available to enhance broadband infrastructure statewide through the Broadband Acceleration Grant program. Grants funded through this program are designed to offset the capital expenses needed to deploy in unserved areas. In its fourth year through the bipartisan Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Program (IKE), the Broadband Acceleration Grant program aims to provide high-quality, reliable broadband access throughout the state, prioritizing unserved areas, economically distressed communities, and areas of compelling need. “Empowering communities through broadband infrastructure buildout allows Kansas to lean into our innovative spirit as we grow businesses, keep talent here, and pursue new opportunities,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “The IKE program is a great example of how state agencies, local communities and the private sector provide high speed internet to all Kansans.” During the first three years of this program, high-speed internet has been delivered to 8,000 homes and businesses in 25 counties. The cumulative $15 million generated another $17.5 million in matching funds.
Source: Kansas Department of Commerce
County discusses possible zoning
At Friday’s county commission meeting, the possibility of zoning the entirety of Crawford County was discussed as a way to combat the building of solar and wind farms within the county. As of now, three-quarters of the county is not zoned, meaning any developer that wants to build such a farm can do so with little interference from the county. Commissioners discussed asking for a moratorium to delay construction of wind and solar farms. According to County Counselor Jim Emerson, a moratorium can only be used to create zoning ordinances, or at the very least, to pass regulations that address some issues. Several neighboring counties are considering the same. Passing zoning laws can allow the county to outright ban the construction of farms in the county. The issue is that zoning laws are very unpopular with Crawford County residents. When broached in the past, the issue was met with angry residents packing the courthouse.
Source: Morning Sun
Long time, no see
After nearly eight months of restoration, the two-story building known as “Gay Parita” has returned to the town of Carona, which is nestled at the north end of Cherokee County, just five minutes west of Scammon. Under building owner John Parsons’ leadership, the Gay Parita, which has been vacant for decades, is restored to its former state. From the mid-1930s to the mid-1970s, the Gay Parita served as a destination for dance and music lovers from across the Four-State area and beyond. Parsons said in restoring the iconic night spot, he is seeking to bring back its historical relevance. Carona was initially one of the many settlements that sprang up during the coal mining era in southeast Kansas, where immigrants came in the late 1800s, seeking employment in the mines. One of the many immigrants seeking a job included Pete Ferraro, who immigrated from Italy in 1901, according to James M. Green’s historical account from 1985 of the Gay Parita Ballroom. Ferraro soon opened a grocery store that burned down before building another during the prohibition years. In 1934, Ferraro entered a partnership with Frank (Chee Chee) Parise, building a huge ballroom for $11,000. The two inserted a local newspaper advertisement announcing a contest for the new ballroom’s name. The name “Gay Parita” was chosen and the opening night of the ever-popular event center was June 23, 1934.
Source: Morning Sun
Kansas communities receiving $1.4 million in rural economic development grants
21 projects across Kansas will receive almost $1.4 million in funding from the Historic Economic Asset Lifeline (HEAL) grant program. The program, which receives bipartisan support from Governor Kelly and the Kansas Legislature to provide annual allocations, aims to help rural communities revitalize downtown buildings and create safer downtowns with more job opportunities. Projects being funded in this round of awards include upper-story housing, child care facilities, retail businesses, and restaurants. In addition, the projects will receive more than $3.4 million in private local matching funds. “Vibrant, safe downtowns spur economic growth by attracting businesses and jobs and establishing community pride,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “Investments like this bring life back into these communities and are instrumental to their long-term success.” The Kansas Department of Commerce’s Office of Rural Prosperity, Community Development Division, and Kansas Main Street collaborate on HEAL to revitalize underutilized and dilapidated downtown structures where the cost to rehabilitate exceeds the limit that conventional financing can cover. Downtown landmarks that get new life breathed into them through HEAL are transformed into spaces that serve multiple purposes. Projects are to be completed within two years.
Source: KAKE News
New fire engine arrives in Holton
It’s been almost 25 years since Holton’s volunteer fire department welcomed a new fire engine with a high aerial ladder for fighting fires from above. But shortly after 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, a brand-new fire engine with a 109-foot aerial ladder — 44 feet longer than the aerial ladder on the fire department’s previous “first-out” fire truck — arrived in Holton, and members of the fire department were on hand to welcome it. “We’ve been wanting a new aerial for about 10 years,” Holton Fire Chief Scott Baum said on the arrival of the new fire engine, purchased through Hays Fire and Rescue Sales and Service of Hays and built by Rosenbauer Motors of Wyoming, Minn., where Baum and four other firefighters visited earlier in the week to give the new fire engine it’s final inspection. On Thursday, after a long and arduous two-day drive through snowpacked Minnesota, Iowa and Missouri, that “new aerial” was backed into a rear bay at Holton’s Public Safety Building by Greg Moody of Hays Fire. Baum said he plans to get Holton’s firefighters trained on all aspects of the new fire engine before making it the department’s “first-out” vehicle. In the meantime, the department’s current “first-out” truck, a vehicle with a 65-foot aerial ladder in service since 1999, will remain in service. “We’ve got some training coming up,” Baum said. “We’re going to go over the aerial operations and the general operations of it all, and then as a department, we’re going to train on it and make sure that we’re knowledgeable on all the parts.”
Source: Holton Recorder