Municipal News & Jobs

Kansas Municipal News

‘He cares deeply about the city of Lenexa.’ Travis Vaughn new Fire Department chief

Travis Vaughn is succeeding Lonny Owens as the chief of the Lenexa Fire Department, as of Dec. 21. The appointment follows Owens’ retirement.

Vaughn has worked 25 years in the department, which has more than 90 employees. He began as a firefight and advanced to captain, battalion chief of operations, battalion chief of emergency medical services, division chief of administration and deputy chief.

“I have great confidence that Travis will excel in this new role,” Lenexa City Manager Beccy Yocham said in a news release. “He cares deeply about the city of Lenexa and will do an exceptional job leading this important department that provides vital services for our community.”

(Read more: Joco 913 News)

Top leaders wrap up Reno County careers

Reno County Commissioner Ron Hirst called Monday “a joyful and sad day” as the commission presented framed certificates to a trio of leaders who are leaving their posts after their last day of employment Friday: County Administrator Gary Meagher, Public Works director Dave McComb and Sheriff Randy Henderson.

Hirst said he knows Meagher works long hours.

“I see your pickup here early and late,” Hirst said.

Commissioner Ron Sellers said he has never worked with someone as open, candid and helpful to a commissioner as Meager, who worked for the county for 10 years. His successor, Randy Partington, will start Feb. 17.

(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)

Emerald Ash Borer Confirmed in Jackson County

The Kansas Department of Agriculture, along with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, has confirmed the presence of emerald ash borer (EAB) in Jackson County, Kansas.

On November 13, 2019, EAB adults and larvae were recovered from a girdled tree trap near Denison by KDA in cooperation with local citizens, USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s Plant Protection and Quarantine (USDA-APHIS-PPQ), and the Kansas Forest Service. KDA sent the specimens to a laboratory with USDA-APHIS-PPQ which confirmed KDA’s findings on November 22.

(Read more: Rural Messenger)

Shawnee tables Tobacco 21 ordinance, restricts future locations of e-cigarette shops in the city

The Shawnee city council has tabled the discussion and adoption of a Tobacco 21 ordinance.

The proposed ordinance would prohibit the sale of tobacco products to people ages 18 to 20 in the city of Shawnee.

Councilmember Eric Jenkins on Monday had suggested tabling the vote on Tobacco 21 until the federal government had determined next steps on the legal purchasing age for tobacco products. Last Friday, President Donald Trump had signed a $1.4 trillion spending package that raises the federal legal age for purchasing tobacco from 18 to 21.

JoCo commission OKs funding for portion of county-wide housing assessment

The Johnson County Board of County Commissioners last week approved the expenditure of $50,000 toward the cost of a county-wide study to assess the area’s housing inventory and needs for the future.

Housing affordability issues has gained prominence in Johnson County in recent years, as more and more residents have struggled to find jobs that pay enough for them to afford to live here. United Community Services of Johnson County, the non-profit organization that analyzes data on human services in the area and organizes efforts for collaboration between the county, city governments and other groups, has raised concerns about the growing issue of housing affordability in Johnson County, making it a key message at this year’s Human Services Summit.

UCS will oversee the study, which is forecast to cost about $110,000. Seventeen of Johnson County’s 19 cities have agreed to contribute to the remainder of the cost not covered by the county’s allocation. The organization is expected to deliver the report in October 2020.

Judge rejects permits for northwest Kansas hog operations

A judge has invalidated two state permits allowing construction of large hog production operations in northwest Kansas that environmentalists deemed too close to surface water.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that Shawnee County District Court Judge Richard Anderson ruled earlier this month that the Kansas Department of Health and Environment violated state law. The permits were issued for four operations in Norton and Phillips counties in 2017 and 2018, under Republican Gov. Sam Brownback.

The operations were under common management tied to prominent northwest Kansas hog farmer Terry Nelson but organized with as separate companies. KDHE allowed construction of each facility up to 250 feet from surface water. A single larger facility would have had to be 500 feet away.

Prairie Village gets grant from state for playground surfaces made of waste tire material

The Kansas State Department of Health and Environment has awarded the city of Prairie Village a grant that will help complete access loops at two local parks using recycled materials.

The state’s Waste Tire Grant program provides municipalities with matching funds for projects that incorporate waste tire material. Prairie Village will add paths made from the material that will connect sidewalks to ADA transfer stations at Franklin Park (83rd and Somerset) and Weltner Park (79th and State Line Road).

The city says these new installations will “provide a loop of connectivity for our residents with special mobility needs at the park.”

empirical to Open Ground Beef Facility in Kansas

Dakota Dunes, South Dakota. December 23, 2019 —The empirical family of companies announced today that it will soon begin the construction of a new ground beef facility in Garden City, Kansas. The new facility will supplement empirical’s existing production at its South Sioux City, Nebraska location and represent the largest single investment in the company’s 40-year history.

Craig Letch, president of empirical foods, inc., noted that, “Demand for empirical’s lean ground beef requires us to significantly increase our processing capacity to meet the growing needs of our customers. This presents an exciting opportunity for the future of our company and the communities that we call home.”

When fully operational, the Garden City facility will more than double empirical’s current ground beef capacity and employ about 300 employees in the Garden City region. Given the technologically advanced nature of the empirical ground beef operations, there will be a greater need for skilled staff which will entail on the job training at the state-of-the-art facility.

(Read more: Greater Garden City » Feed)

Reno County OKs cash incentive for GeoChemicals

GeoChemicals LLC, a Hutchinson-based corporation formed in March and employing 12 people as of this week, will receive up to $50,000 in cash from Reno County if it fulfills goals in an agreement approved Monday by the Reno County Commission.

“Every little bit helps,” said Jason West, chairman of the board for GeoChemicals LLC, especially when the company is in its infancy, he said.

GeoChemicals falls “into a very specific niche” in the oil and gas industry, West said. After wells are drilled and the pump jack is put in place, that is when GeoChemicals’ work begins. It will keep the pump jack running and in good repair, he said.

(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)

With need growing and resources dwindling, Shawnee Mission residents step up to boost Cares Fund

Shawnee Mission residents have come through in recent days to help shore up a fund critical to helping students and their families in need.

The Shawnee Mission Education Foundation’s Cares Fund was established to help provide financial assistance to district families facing financial stresses: unpaid rent after unexpected medical expenses, for example, or utility bills after a lost job.

Over the fall, the foundation saw more requests than ever before come in. With disbursements of more than $30,000 over the past 12 months, the fund balance had dipped into negative territory.

City approves increased spending for Economic Development Services

Annually, the City contracts with the Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce for economic development related services. On Tuesday, December 17, the City Commission authorized execution of the Chamber’s contract for 2020, with an increase of $350,000, bringing their total to $493,080.

Along with the Chamber’s regularly contracted services, the Chamber intends to use the additional funding for three primary focus areas: economic diversification, talent sustainability, and entrepreneurial dynamism. Specific uses of the additional funds include hiring a Director of Economic Development and a Workforce Officer, as well as fund additional economic research, business and industrial park planning, developing a recruitment and retention marketing plan, and contract with an organization to maintain an entrepreneurial ecosystem to enable and empower small startups to grow.

(Read more: Manhattan – News Flash)

County considers acquiring ‘floating playground’

Shawnee County commissioners plan Monday to consider spending more than $31,000 to dredge the Lake Shawnee Adventure Cove, plus $80,000 to acquire a “floating playground” and have it put in place there.

Proposals to make those moves are among items on the agenda when Commissioners Bill Riphahn, Kevin Cook and Aaron Mays meet at 9 a.m. in their chambers in Room B-11 of the County Courthouse, 200 S.E. 7th.

The Topeka City Council won’t meet Tuesday because it will be the fifth Tuesday of the month, and the council meets only on the first three.

College is free for kids in this tiny Kansas town. Will more people move there now?

Paula Wells and her husband were just getting serious about how to fund their fifth-grader’s college tuition.

Then a wealthy businessman instantly absolved them — and their entire town — of that particular obligation.

“It’s almost like I just got an $80,000 bonus into my retirement plan,” said Wells, who also has a kindergartner. “And that’s very attractive to a lot of people.”

This southeast Kansas town of about 2,300 has been buzzing since a former resident in November announced the Neodesha Promise program, which offers a simple yet extraordinary pledge: Anyone who lives here and graduates from the local high school can qualify for free col

Lawrence libraries dropping late fines amid national push

The Lawrence Public Library is joining a growing number that are dropping fines for overdue books.

The Lawrence Journal-World reports that the library’s board voted unanimously Tuesday to make the change. Library patrons would still be charged for lost or damaged items.

Patrons also would be blocked from checking out additional books and materials once an item became two weeks overdue. But, the return of the overdue item would immediately restore access.

Earlier this year, the American Library Association officially came out against charging fines, citing concerns that fines create barriers to library materials and services.

(Read more: KSN-TV)

Teleheath is changing healthcare in Kansas

For some Kansans, long drive times, physical disabilities or weakened immune systems can make a trip to the doctor’s office a struggle. Telehealth has changed that.

Telehealth gives patients the ability to see their doctors from the comfort of their home via video chat. This has made an impact on healthcare for some Kansans.

“The worst thing we do for people is make them travel hours and hours for their care,” said Dr. Susan Brian, Medical Director of Endocrinology at Stormont Vail, “We have patients that drive four or five hours to see us and some patients have to see us every three months.”

(Read more: KSN-TV)

Andover to close golf course temporarily

The Andover Municipal Golf course will be temporarily closed beginning January 1, 2020.

The City of Andover says the current operator will cease management at that time and no decision has been made regarding the future operation of the course.

The city says it has been working diligently to engage citizens regarding the future of the property.

City staff will continue to maintain the course and associated facilities, but no golf or other recreational activities will be permitted on the property until plans are finalized for the future operation of the property.

(Read more: KSN-TV)

Northeast Kansas city stops legal notices in local newspaper

A growing community near Kansas City has decided this week to stop publishing its legal notices in its hometown newspaper.

Some City Council members in Gardner, Kansas, describe the move as cost cutting, but the city is acting after several officials publicly criticized the coverage the city was receiving.

The council changed its newspaper of record following a staff report that the city would likely lower its costs 75% by going with another weekly publication. But critics see it as retaliation.

Longtime publisher Rhonda Humble says, “They’re trying to shut me up.” The newspaper stands to lose thousands of dollars a year.

(Read more: KFDI 101.3)

Downtown Overland Park is growing up: Retail, high-rises are ‘the way of the future’

After decades of trying to revitalize Overland Park’s historic downtown, community leaders say the area is finally in the midst of a modern renaissance.

A short walk from the first commercial building ever constructed in Overland Park and a 70-year-old independent theater, hundreds of luxury apartments and several modern office spaces are popping up. And now something completely new is opening in the quaint downtown: a coworking space for entrepreneurs to get start-up restaurants off the ground.

Strang Hall opened Friday at the new Edison District, at the corner of West 80th and Marty streets. In the style of Parlor KC in Kansas City or the Public Market in Lenexa, the food hall is the latest addition to the district’s five-story business incubator catering to young entrepreneurs.

(Read more: Joco 913 News)

Partington reflects on Finney County years

New challenges and new opportunities are on the horizon for former county administrator Randy Partington.

Partington, who was Finney County administrator for nine years, has accepted the county administrator position at Reno County starting in February 2020.

Partington said the most important accomplishment during his time as administrator was being able to empower and enable department directors to do their best and make their departments and organizations better.

“All the directors are doing great things,” Partington said. “That is what I feel is my accomplishment, assisting them to do great things for the community.”

During his years as county administrator, he has overseen numerous projects. Among the most important were a priority-based budget, employee clinic and wellness program, community services center and a soon-to-be-opened shelter at Wildwood Park.

(Read more: News – Salina Journal)

Mayor: Olathe has much to celebrate, look forward to, this holiday season

The holidays are here, and that means the hustle and bustle of big celebrations. As you decorate your home, bake your cookies and wrap all those presents, I encourage you to stop and remember that you’re doing much of it for your family.

Family can mean many things to many people, and in Olathe, we’re proud to celebrate them all.

We have the best neighborhoods in the region, with neighbors who are like family, watching out for one another as our kids grow up together.

(Read more: Joco 913 News)

‘Game-changer’: Choose Topeka incentive program garners national interest

Within 48 hours of Topeka and Shawnee County’s Joint Economic Development Organization approving funds for Choose Topeka, the capital city began showing up in publications across the country.

The New York Times, Fox Business, CNN, TIME — those were just a few of the news organizations that ran stories about Choose Topeka, a pilot economic incentive program announced Dec. 11 that is meant to help local businesses attract and retain talent.

Lenexa leans toward building new public safety complex in more centralized location

Location, cost and efficiencies within the Lenexa Police Department drove discussions this week, as city leaders consider whether to build a new public safety complex on the current site at 12500 W. 87th St. Parkway or relocate the facility to a more centralized location within the city, on city-owned property at Prairie Star Parkway and Britton Street.

Nothing official has been decided, but comments from city leaders indicate they show support for the more centralized location, which has more room for future expansion than the current site and will also be cheaper to build.

“Especially for safety issues, when you consider the number of miles and coverage, this department — and I’m only focusing right now on the police — would be much better served more central,” said Councilmember Tom Nolte. “I’m a little bit more open-minded.”

Atchison Hospital buys Horton care center

Since Horton lost its local medical center in March, the fate of its building and related properties has been uncertain, but it is now apparent that these assets will remain in local hands.

Atchison Hospital made the high bid of $275,000 at auction for the defunct Horton Community Hospital on Thursday in Charlotte, North Carolina, according to Horton City Administrator John Calhoon. The auction, conducted as part of bankruptcy proceedings, offered for sale the hospital building at 240 West 18th St. in Horton, a medical office building and associated real properties.

“The mayor, commissioners and myself worked extremely hard to … regain some level of medical services within our community,” Calhoon said. “We are fortunate that we have two other qualified health care organizations bidding on our property. We are happy that one of them did buy it. We’ll be hopeful that some level of health care will return to Horton.”

(Read more: Atchison Globe Now)

Roeland Park brightens holiday season for 24 families with first ever ‘Shop with a Cop’ event

A few Roeland Park Police officers added another item to their uniforms on Thursday: Santa hats.

Northeast Johnson County is no stranger to “Shop with a Cop” events, and now, neither is Roeland Park. The city hosted its first “Shop with a Cop” event on Thursday evening. The event allows children from the area to buy holiday gifts for themselves and their family members. Sgt. Clifford Chaffee, who spearheaded the event, said Roeland Park was ready to do its part.

“We don’t have a big department, we don’t have a big Walmart, but gosh dang it — we can still do the same thing,” Chaffee said.

Harvey County among most generous

Harvey County ranks among the top in the state for overall generosity.

That’s according to a Smartasset, a financial advising company, which used statewide tax returns to compile the percentage of county residents that gave to charity and the percentage of county income that was donated.

Harvey County ranked seventh in the state using those metrics out 105 counties.

(Read more: Harvey County Now)

Galesburg Fire Department asks county for funding

The Galesburg Fire Chief asked Neosho County Commissioners for assistance Thursday evening in light of the Neosho Ridge Wind project.

Moore said the department needs to update its equipment and that its trucks range from 1979 to 1997 models.

Stafford County makes plan for joint extension district with Edwards County

Declining budgets and difficulty hiring agents has led to many counties in Kansas consolidating into larger Extension districts under the umbrella of K-State Research and Extension services. Stafford County and Edwards County agents see advantages to a combination between the two counties that would enable them to provide better services to their constituents.

“It’s true, as they say, that most of us are better together or two of something is better than one,” said K-State Research and Extension Agent Stafford County Amy Collins. “The same holds true for rural areas trying to stay relevant, progressive and be resilient in an ever changing world.“

Collins said that K-State Research & Extension, which provides resources and information for many of the county’s 4-H and agricultural based programs, is an extension of Kansas State University.

Boot Hill Casino eager for 20 more years

The Boot Hill Casino and Resort celebrated its 10th anniversary last week with tables full of dinner, drinks and dice for the enjoyment of its longtime supporters and newfound fans.

The love child of an idea sprang from the “Why Not Dodge?” campaign and the sale of land to a man still very much involved in its growth and development, the casino has proven itself an overachiever of regional economic benefit.

The first state-owned casino opened Dec. 15, 2009. Since then, it has generated more than $12 million in city and county tax revenue and more than $89 million in state tax revenue, Dodge City Mayor Brian Delzeit said.

“There was a tremendous amount of courage shown by people 10 years ago who came out and weren’t always met with positivity,” Delzeit said.

Dunn receives surprise award for economic development

Stafford County Economic Development Director Carolyn Dunn was presented with a We Kan! award December 12 at White’s Foodliner in St. John where friends and family gathered for the surprise recognition.

The presentation was made by Marci Penner and WenDee Rowe of the Kansas Sampler Foundation. The Inman-based non-profit has been choosing ten recipients a year since 1993 to show appreciation for dedicated work in helping preserve and sustain rural culture.

Dunn’s award had the words “Ardent Achiever” engraved on a round plate made by Elk Falls Pottery. Foundation director Penner said, “When Carolyn sees a grant or an opportunity to go after, she is passionate in her pursuit. She would be the first to say that many others are involved but she is integral to the successes of Stafford County Economic Development, including the opening of White’s Foodliner. This award was to let Carolyn know that her efforts are noticed and respected.“

New travel plaza developments driving growth to Kansas

Major development projects are steering new opportunities and economic growth to Kansas. D&J Land and Development, of Hays, and Brown Stone 3 Development, of

Topeka, are building three multi-million dollar complexes in the state that include deluxe travel plazas, hotels, restaurants, retail, RV parks and truck washes.

The three sites are adjacent to high-traffic sections of Kansas interstate and highway routes.

(Read more: News – The Hays Daily News)

New air service provider approved for Dodge City

Federal officials have approved a new subsidized air carrier for the Dodge City airport.

The U.S. Department of Transportation agreed with a recommendation made by city officials in August to contract with SkyWest Airlines, operating as United Express, to be the next Essential Air Service provider for Dodge City Regional Airport, starting in February 2020.

SkyWest will operate 12 weekly flights from Dodge City to Denver International with a 50-seat capacity jet.

(Read more: News – The Hutchinson News)

In Topeka’s Potwin neighborhood, ‘by golly, you will decorate for Christmas’

The Potwin neighborhood Christmas lights are a long-standing tradition, one in which Crow has participated since she and her husband moved to the neighborhood in 1981.

The first year, the Crows got by with a little help from their neighbors.

During the first year in their house, the Crows’ finances were tight and they didn’t plan on having any Christmas decorations, Crow said.

“We went to the neighborhood Christmas party, and in the nicest possible way people came up to us all night long saying, ‘We noticed you don’t have your Christmas lights up. Can we help you get your Christmas lights up?’ So the next day — we got the hint — we took the day off work and went shopping.”

(Read more: Local – The Topeka Capital-Journal)

Mounted officers to patrol shopping areas ahead of Christmas

Don’t be surprised if you see mounted Wichita Police Department officers in the parking lots of popular shopping areas this weekend.

The Wichita Police Mounted Patrol has eight horses that will be patrolling Towne East Square, Towne West Square, New Market Square, and Bradley Fair through Christmas Eve.

The officers will be making sure the lots are safe and patrolling for thieves.

“The horses we can weave between cars,” said Sgt. Ed Brower, Wichita Police Department. “Plus, the elevated position gives us a good eye view if somebody calls something in or if we see somebody looking into cars and we can go investigate.”

(Read more: KSN-TV)

Developer asks Overland Park for extension on tax incentives after difficulty finding tenants for office project

Developers hoping to put up an office building next to the new Staybridge Suites hotel at Interstate 435 and Metcalf Avenue have asked for a two-year extension on their deadlines because of difficulty finding tenants.

The Overland Park City Council’s Finance, Administration and Economic Development committee gave its blessing to an extension twice as long as the developer requested after being told that one year would not likely be enough.

The Metcalf 108 project was green-lighted in 2017 as a replacement for the aging 435 Overland Park Place Hotel, which had been closed the year before. Developers proposed to raze it and put in a new hotel, office building and parking structure.

Funds approved to complete ongoing projects around Dodge City

The Dodge City Commission voted unanimously to approve funding for two renovation projects that include ongoing construction at Hennessey Hall and a house on Westlawn Avenue destined for moderate-income rental.

It also unanimously approved a bid to redesign the Dodge City Regional Airport Terminal.

Hutch to legislators: Tax lid not so onerous

The city of Hutchinson officially opposes the state’s property tax lid on local units of government.

But city manager John Deardoff does not expect the lid will go away, and Councilmember Jade Piros de Carvalho said there are enough exemptions — for example, law enforcement and fire protection are outside the lid — that it is impotent.

The City Council and state Sen. Ed Berger, R-Hutchinson, and state Reps. Joe Seiwert, R-Pretty Prairie, Jason Probst, D-Hutchinson, and Paul Waggoner, R-Hutchinson, discussed potential state legislation for about an hour and a half Thursday morning. Garth Strand, a Democrat running for Waggoner’s 104th District seat in 2020, attended, as did incoming City Councilmember Sara Bagwell. Absent were State Rep. Jack Thimesch, R-Spivey, and incoming City Councilmember Steve Garza.

(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)

Shawnee County to upgrade lectern, TV monitors in commission chambers

Shawnee County will upgrade the flat-screen TV monitors and the lectern in its commission chambers.

Those were among improvements County Commissioners Bill Riphahn, Kevin Cook and Aaron Mays voted 3-0 Thursday to finance using $30,000, which had initially been set aside for contingencies in the information technology department’s 2019 budget.

Leavenworth commits money for bridge study

Leavenworth County commissioners have committed $50,000 for a preliminary feasibility study for a proposal for a second bridge connecting Leavenworth County and Platte County, Missouri.

Commissioners committed the $50,000 so they can solicit bids for the study. Commissioners still plan to seek assistance in paying for the study from other stakeholders.

Commissioners have proposed building an additional bridge across the Missouri River that would link Eisenhower Road with Missouri 152 Highway.

(Read more: Leavenworth Times)

Hutch zoning board overrules staff

Two site variances sought for businesses in Hutchinson cleared a hurdle this week although city Planning and Development staff did not recommend approval.

The same board sitting as the Hutchinson Board of Zoning Appeals and Hutchinson Planning Commission heard the cases Tuesday night involving proposed construction of a small building at 930 E. 4th Ave. and a proposed electronic messaging sign at 3010 N. Plum St. In both cases, staff denial was overridden, with the board favoring the requests. The Board of Zoning Appeals’ decisions are final.

FedEx sought a variance for the rear yard setback and for the side street front yard setback to accommodate a 22-foot-by-16-foot building on property used for a warehouse and distribution at 920 E. 4th Ave. City staff supported the variance for the rear yard setback but recommended denial of the request for the other variance because of traffic safety concerns.

(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)

New air service provider approved for Dodge City

Federal officials have approved a new subsidized air carrier for the Dodge City airport.

SkyWest will operate 12 weekly flights from Dodge City to Denver International with a 50-seat capacity jet.

(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)

New Zealander’s photo art to be at Lindsborg gallery

The story of how Emerald McGlashan’s artwork ended up in an art gallery in Lindsborg is also the story of how she found a small college — Bethany — in a small town in the middle of Kansas about 8,000 miles from her home.

“It is a long plane ride,” McGlashan said. “I got here on a soccer scholarship. … I transferred here halfway through my freshman year. I went to a community college in Minnesota first.”

While there she found Bethany, and decided to transfer. The midfielder, who gets to run nonstop, is a junior for the Swedes. She hopes to be a photojournalist when she graduates college.

Marion’s City council OKs design of high-speed Internet

Marion city council Monday voted unanimously to approve a $7,492 high-speed broadband fiber network design and study to be paid in conjunction with TCT, the broadband division of Tri-County Telephone.

The city and TCT will each pay half the cost.

A plan to install Internet fiber capable of delivering 1 gigabyte speeds for both business and residential customers will be developed and a study will be done to determine how many businesses and residents would use high speed broadband Internet, and what speed would serve their needs.

(Read more: Marion County RECORD)

Hays resident becomes latest victim of Swatting

Swatting is a problem all too familiar to Kansas, this time happening in Hays, with an outcome that could have been much worse.

It all started just three houses away from Kelsey Konz, when the Hays police department received an unexpected call, claiming that a woman was shot, there were hostages, and even explosives.

“This is crazy! Who knew that in Hays America things like this could happen? I mean really, this is the real deal down the road”, said Konz.

Under the impression that there was a dangerous hostage situation unfolding, police rushed to the 1600 block of Elm Street. After arriving and securing the scene, they made contact with the resident and were able to quickly realize the information in call didn’t quite add up, and determined that it was a hoax.

(Read more: KAKE – News)

Christmas City of the High Plains still shines

For nearly 70 years, WaKeeney has been called the “Christmas City of the High Plains,” and this year’s tree lighting ceremony lived up to that reputation.

“Ladies and gentlemen, here comes Santa Claus,” roared an announcer to the crowd gathered downtown. “Children of all ages, St. Nicholas has arrived in WaKeeney, Kansas!”

People cheer and music plays, as a flatbed trailer decked out with lights brings Santa to town, as it always does, on the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

(Read more: KSN-TV)

Street crews work hard to protect citizens in recent snowstorm

Police and fire officials praised the Gardner Public Works Department for responding quickly and thoroughly to the winter storm this weekend.

“We got lucky here,” said Jake Hayes, Gardner police captain. “Public works was really on top of it. They do good work, and they got out there as soon as it started snowing. I’ve heard that our roads were better than many other areas. They do a good job for us.”

Twenty crew members in public works labored for 24 hours to get the roads clear in Gardner, according to Jody Demaline, public works superintendent.

(Read more: Gardner News)