Kansas Municipal News
Sedgwick County Hires New President For Exploration Place
Sedgwick County hired a new president and CEO for Exploration Place Wednesday.
Adam Smith starts his job at the nonprofit Wichita science center Nov. 11.
Smith has worked in the museum field for more than 20 years and most recently served as executive director for Comic-Con Museum in San Diego.
Deputy County Manager Tim Kaufman says Smith’s museum leadership experience put him at the top of more than 70 applicants.
(Read more: RSS Feed)
Corinth, Clear Creek elementaries among 6 in Kansas named Blue Ribbon Schools
Three elementary schools in Johnson County were named Blue Ribbon Schools this year as part of the U.S. Department of Education’s recognition of school excellence.
Clear Creek Elementary in USD 232, Corinth Elementary in the Shawnee Mission School District and Lakewood Elementary in the Blue Valley School District were recognized as Exemplary High Performing Schools. Exemplary High Performing Schools have their state’s highest high school graduation rates and the highest achieving students — the top 15% — in English and mathematics, measured by state assessments. The three elementary schools are among six schools in Kansas to receive the Blue Ribbon recognition this year.
Located in Shawnee, Clear Creek Elementary serves about 570 students from kindergarten through fifth grade.
(Read more: Shawnee Mission Post – Community news and events for northeast Johnson County)
History Guy: ‘Birdman’ made Kansas aviation history in Shawnee County
As he built a biplane from scratch in 1911 in Topeka, Albin K. Longren kept the project secret in case it failed.
Longren, his brother, E.J. Longren, and their mechanic, William Janicke, waited until nearly dark on Sept. 2, 1911, before revving up the engine of that plane, which Alvin Longren then piloted as it stayed airborne — 2 feet above the ground — for about 200 feet in southeast Shawnee County.
This week’s History Guy video at CJOnline tells of how Longren accomplished a milestone in Kansas aviation history that day by making the first successful flight of a plane built in this state. Clyde Cessna in May 1911 had become the first Kansan to build and fly a plane, but he did that in Oklahoma.
(Read more: Local – The Topeka Capital-Journal)
Transfer station director retires after 32 1/2 years with county
Bud Druse, the county noxious weed, household hazardous waste, transfer station, and recycling director, will retire Nov. 20 after a total of 32½ years with the county.
Druse has worked for the county twice. He spent 22½ years in the road and bridge department, from 1973 to 1995. He returned to work for the county in 2010, starting in the road and bridge department before being promoted to director of the transfer station in 2015.
(Read more: PEABODY Gazette-Bulletin)
From driverless trolleys to free hot spots, Wichita looks to technology to help residents
Fans who take a trolley from a downtown parking garage to Wichita’s new baseball stadium next season may notice something unique about their journey.
There’s no driver.
City officials want to use autonomous trolleys downtown next year as part of a concerted effort to increase the use of machine-learning, or “smart,” technology across Wichita.
(Read more: Wichita Eagle)
Wichita City Council approves funding to help speed up drivers’ commutes
he Wichita City Council Tuesday approved funding to help speed up drivers’ commutes across town.
The council voted to approve $250,000 that will lead to synchronizing stoplights. The technology is already in use along Maple from Maize Road to McLean.
With the tech upgrade, drivers along Maple may have noticed a recent change.
“Ultimately we’re looking to save time. We’re looking to minimize stops, to minimize delays, Wichita City Engineer Gary Janzen says.
(Read more: KWCH News)
100% of Kansas schools now meet FCC minimum Wi-Fi guideline
Every school in the state of Kansas now meets the FCC’s minimum recommendation for Wi-Fi bandwidth.
Across the United States, 99% of schools use some form of digital learning during the school day. Around 70% use computers all day.
With so many schools using online courses, the more devices need to use the internet, the more powerful the bandwidth must be.
Education Super Highway is a non-profit organization that focuses on getting students connected to the internet.
(Read more: KWCH News)
KDOT’s new Cost Share Program in high demand
With nearly 100 applications in the first round, the new Cost Share Program from the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) is off to a strong start.
In total, KDOT received 92 applications with more than $92 million in local investment. In return, the applications requested nearly $242 million from KDOT funds.
“While we knew there’s pent up demand for transportation investment, we’re overwhelmed with the level of interest this new program is garnering,” said Lindsey Douglas, Deputy Secretary of Policy and Fiscal Affairs.
(Read more: Kansas Transportation)
New bus-tracking app gaining popularity in USD 437
A new bus-tracking app debuts Tuesday for parents and students in the Auburn-Washburn district, transportation supervisor Mike Lopez told the USD 437 Board of Education at Monday night’s meeting.
The app, Lopez explained, will allow parents and guardians to track district buses in real time to minimize waiting, reduce kids’ exposure to cold temperatures and inclement weather, and head off parents’ questions and concerns.
“The number one question we get is, ‘When is the bus going to be here?’ ” Lopez said.
(Read more: Local – The Topeka Capital-Journal)
Sedgwick County to pay more than $450,000 to woman hurt in crash with dump truck
Sedgwick County will pay more than $450,000 to a woman who suffered serious injuries when her car was hit by a county dump truck, officials said Tuesday.
County government won’t appeal the damages awarded by a federal jury earlier this month to Karrie Oxford.
Her lawsuit, filed in June 2018, stemmed from a March 14, 2016, wreck on West Street south of I-235 where a county dump truck driven by Jacob Riddle crashed into Oxford’s vehicle.
(Read more: Local News |)
County fire chief named interim Ellis County administrator
Ellis County Director of Fire and Emergency Management Darin Myers was named interim county administrator Monday evening by the Ellis County Commission at their regular weekly meeting.
The appointment is effective Thursday, Nov. 28, but Myers will work with departing county administrator Phillip Smith-Hanes to assure a smooth transition.
“We will miss Phil, but as he pointed out in his letter to us, we have excellent department heads,” said County Commission Chair Dean Haselhorst. “I know Darin will do a great job for us during this transition and getting him to work with Phil on knowledge transfer is a huge benefit.”
(Read more: News – The Hays Daily News)
European firm looks to develop wind farm in Labette County
A European energy company is looking to develop a wind farm in Labette County.
The county, and a Labette County commissioner, received letters on RWE letterhead dated Oct. 11 from Brandon Hernandez, wind development manager for E.ON and RWE, Essen, Germany-based companies that recently merged operations.
In the letter, Hernandez, who works in Austin, Texas, writes that RWE is in the early stages of evaluating “an opportunity for a wind energy project in Labette County.”
(Read more: Parsons Sun)
New Reno County EMS Chief applauds local emergency response
The Reno County Commission met the county’s new EMS Chief on Tuesday as he sought to have a non-operating ambulance declared as surplus. After introducing himself as the new chief to replace retired chief Terry David, Dave Johnston said he was impressed by the professionalism of both EMS and area firefighters. He cited an incident last week in South Hutchinson to emphasize it, noting the victim allowed sharing his story. …
(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)
Douglas County Commission to discuss plans to stop graffiti on underpasses
Underpasses in southern Lawrence have recently been marked with graffiti, which may lead to action from the Douglas County Commission.
During their Wednesday meeting, commissioners will discuss ways to hinder future graffiti, possibly by adding murals to the underpasses.
In a memo to the commissioners, County Administrator Sarah Plinsky said underpasses carrying 31st Street and Kansas Highway 10 over shared-use paths were marked with graffiti in September. County staff cleaned off the graffiti from one of the underpasses at a cost of $1,300 but couldn’t clean the other two underpasses because water on the path made it difficult to access.
Read more: LJWorld.com.
Garden City Community College Esports Team Starts off Strong in Inaugural Season
Garden City Community College has joined the ranks of 29 other two-years schools across the country to host its very own esports team.
Broncbuster esports – led by GCCC’s David Larsen from the Information Technology Department – has already boasted a handful of wins in its first week of competition, which began at the start of October.
With four official team members and an opportunity to continue growing the team in the spring season, Larsen said interest in the now National Junior College Athletic Association-sanctioned program is spreading across campus.
(Read more: Greater Garden City » Feed)
Possible water regulations cause concern for some in Stafford County
Some in Stafford County express concern about possible water regulations by the Kansas Department of Agriculture.
This would involve getting additional water to the Quivira National Wildlife Refuge which, officials say, isn’t getting enough water down its creeks. The department of agriculture says regulating water for people around the county would help Quivira get the water it needs, but proposed restrictions would reduce water usage to irrigatators, businesses and communities elsewhere in the county.
(Read more: KWCH News)
Local emergency manager participates in test program
The director of Leavenworth County Emergency Management recently had the opportunity to see the possible future of severe weather warning technology.
Chuck Magaha was one of four emergency managers from across the country to participate in a weeklong testbed program at the National Weather Center in Norman, Oklahoma.
Magaha said he was invited to the testbed to help with research for National Weather Service technological tools that are under development.
(Read more: Leavenworth Times)
Large crowds attend junior water rights meeting in St. John
The fate of junior water rights in a five county area covering the Quivira National Wildlife Refuge Impairment Administration Zones has been delayed so more work can be done to solve the issue of agriculture water usage and water needs for Quivira.
Area producers and other interested parties packed the Stafford County Annex in St. John to overflowing at 3 p.m. on Oct 21 as representatives from the Kansas Department of Agriculture and the KDA Division of Water Resources came together to present information and answer questions.
(Read more: Kiowa County Signal)
Chanute schools not immune to vaping crisis
The national trend of teenager vaping hasn’t left Chanute untouched, with both Royster Middle School Principal Don Epps and Chanute High School Principal Brian Campbell reporting that it is an issue in their respective schools. Epps has confiscated one vaping device so far this year, but Campbell said he has had about 12 at CHS.
Guidelines and rules for USD 413 are catching up with the times, as the school board just reviewed its tobacco policy that now includes a more precise statement regarding vape pens. Superintendent Dr. Kellen Adams said that 413 is one of several districts updating the language of their policies.
(Read more: www.chanute.com – RSS Results in news,news/* of type article)
New road funding program draws lots of interest
State transportation officials advised Monday that a new cost-share program that Reno County officials hope will pay for half the cost of replacing the 43rd Avenue bridge has drawn close to 100 competing applications. In total, the Kansas Department of Transportation received 92 applications, seeking nearly $242 million in KDOT funds. KDOT, however, has allocated only $50 million in funding for the first year of the program.
(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)