Wichita pours millions of dollars into fixing Century II roof

If you look at the skyline of Wichita, it’s hard not to notice the round blue roof of Century II. However, in recent years that roof has fallen into disrepair. “We found flakes of the roof when we’ve been watering. So yes, the roof is deteriorating, the building looks rundown, it’s decrepit,” said Save Century II Chairperson Celeste Racette. The city is looking to fix that. On Tuesday the Wichita City Council will review a plan to spend just short of 10 million dollars on repairs to the historic building. Half of that will go to the roof. “Our goal is to just bring it up to the quality and a level that Wichitans should expect from any asset that they themselves actually own,” said Wichita Mayor Brandon Whipple.
Source: KAKE – News

2022-09-19T08:02:20-05:00September 19, 2022|News|

Explosive device found in Parsons

A homemade bomb was found in Parsons Thursday afternoon, forcing authorities to block an area. Around 2 p.m., Parsons police got a call for a suspicious object found in the 2700 block of Dirr. Officers arrived in the area and found the device tested positive for explosive material. Police called the Kansas Highway Patrol Hazardous Device Unit to collect and dispose of the device. Parsons Fire and Labette County Emergency Medical Services were staged in the area just in case the device detonated. According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), an Improvised Explosive Device is defined as a “homemade” bomb and/or destructive device to destroy, incapacitate, harass, or distract.
Source: KSN-TV

2022-09-19T08:02:38-05:00September 19, 2022|News|

Johnson County solar farm project is pitting neighbor against neighbor

Frank Gieringer rides a flatbed trailer toward rows of apple trees loaded with Galas, Crimson Crisps and other varieties, ready for the picking. His family owns this bucolic orchard and berry farm outside Edgerton, Kansas. Just beyond its borders lie 2,000 acres of land, a potential location for the state’s first utility-scale solar farm. Gieringer says he’d welcome the new neighbor. “To really look at ‘em, it’s not a heck of a lot of difference than looking at an orchard or a vineyard really. It’s just rows of panels,” Gieringer says. “They’re harvesting sun. Same thing I’m doin’. All of agriculture sells the sunshine.”
Source: Prairie Village Post

2022-09-19T08:22:57-05:00September 18, 2022|News|

Lawrence City Commission to consider 30-minute total limit and signups for general public comment

A revised draft of a city ordinance would limit general public comment during Lawrence City Commission meetings to 30 minutes total and require advance signup, and it suggests that comments won’t be livestreamed. It also adds more specific language regarding decorum and restricts the public’s ability to request that items be removed from the consent agenda. The proposed changes come after commissioners, following the end of an executive (closed-door) session and before their regular meeting began on Aug. 9, voted unanimously to “Direct staff to return with proposals regarding operations of the City Commission meetings to enable the Commission to be more efficient while complying with both the Kansas Open Meetings Act and the First amendment.”
Source: The Lawrence Times

2022-09-19T08:23:07-05:00September 18, 2022|News|

Salina parks, trails keep people active, connect the community

There are a lot of ways to stay entertained in the greater Salina area, and for those who enjoy exploring outdoors, the city certainly has a few places to offer. Salina has a robust trail system and several parks that are interconnected by paths throughout the city. … Salina has 21 total miles of completed trails to offer, both aggregate and concrete. The trail system serves a dual purpose; the town is essentially surrounded by 21 miles of levee to prevent flooding from the nearby Smoky Hill River, which used to run through the city. So, the levee doubles in as a path that makes the city more interconnected and accessible on foot.
Source: Salina Journal

2022-09-18T15:57:04-05:00September 18, 2022|News|

Johnson County commissioners vote to recommend increase in sheriff’s deputy salaries

The Johnson County Board of Commissioners voted Thursday to recommend a plan that would increase pay for incoming sheriff deputies. After a presentation on a loss of deputies at the sheriff’s office, commissioners voted 4-2, with one absent, to recommend the staff consider a proposal from human resources to increase the minimum and maximum potential salaries of sheriff’s deputies with an annual planned increase in pay. The sheriff’s office, which employs just over 500 deputies along with civilian employees, pushed for salary increases after experiencing a higher vacancy rate than normal. There are 69 deputy vacancies in the office, according to a presentation made to the board by human resources and sheriff’s office officials. They said the openings have led to reduced community policing and staffing in jails and court security.
Source: KC Star

2022-09-16T07:47:23-05:00September 16, 2022|News|

2-year Treasury note tops 3.9% as investors anticipate further Fed rate hikes

U.S Treasury yields rose further on Friday after major indices were down in premarket trading as investors anticipated further interest rate hikes to curb inflation. The Yield on the 2-year Treasury bond climbed above 3.9%, a level it had not seen since 2007. … The 2-year Treasury is highly sensitive to policy decisions as it is widely recognized as in indicator of how investors think central bank policy will develop in the near future. … robust economic data indicated to investors that the Fed could comfortably continue hiking interest rates without running the risk of putting too much pressure on the economy.
Source: CNBC – Bonds

2022-09-16T07:47:02-05:00September 16, 2022|News|

City of Ellis initiates TNR program

The City of Ellis initiated a Trap-Neuter (or spay)-Return (TNR) program on Thursday, Sept. 15. According to the Ellis Police Department (EPD), in the first round of trapping, near the intersection of Walnut St & E 11th St, a mama and her four kittens were caught. … “If these cats are not claimed in three days time, they will be spayed/neutered, vaccinated, and returned to the area in which they are caught.” The EPD says the program began in order to control the community cat population in the city.
Source: KSN-TV

2022-09-16T07:45:57-05:00September 16, 2022|News|

Sen. Moran stops by to congratulate Hiawatha PD on technology grant

U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran stopped by Hiawatha City Hall Thursday afternoon to visit with city officials and members of the police department about a grant he helped the city obtain. It was shortly after 2 p.m. when Sen. Moran stopped by City Hall. There he met with city officials including City Administrator Larry Paine, Mayor Bill Collins, Police Chief Mickey Gruber, among other police personnel. As the lead Republican on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science (CJS) and Related Agencies, Sen. Moran helped secure $30,000 in federal funds for the Hiawatha Police Department to replace outdated technology.
Source: hiawathaworldonline.com

2022-09-16T07:37:27-05:00September 16, 2022|News|
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