USDA Invests Nearly $79,000 in Renewable Energy Infrastructure to Help Rural Kansas Communities, Businesses and Ag Producers

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Acting State Director for Kansas Dan Fischer today announced that the USDA is investing $78,757 to build or improve renewable energy infrastructure and to help rural communities, agricultural producers and businesses lower energy costs in five Kansas communities. … USDA is financing these investments through the Rural Energy for America Program. This program provides funding to help agricultural producers and rural small businesses purchase and install renewable energy systems and make energy efficiency improvements. These climate-smart investments will conserve and generate more than 280,048 kilowatt-hours (kWh) in rural Kansas, which equates to enough electricity to power 26 homes per year.  … The investments in Kansas communities are:

  • Kansas Maid, Inc. of Madison, will use a $20,000 grant to help purchase and install solar equipment. The project is estimated to replace 124,747 kilowatt hours per year. This equates to 74.41 percent of their energy usage and is enough energy to power 11 homes.
  • Merle Schmidt, of Copeland, will use an $11,497 grant to help purchase and install a 15 kilowatt Wind Turbine. This project will save $4,037 per year and replace 47,158 kilowatt hours per year, 100 percent of Schmidt consumption and enough electricity to power four homes.
  • R & E Goering Farms LLC will use an $18,944 grant to help complete irrigation pump upgrades in Moundridge. The project is estimated to save 42,851 kilowatt hours per year, reducing energy consumption by 40.53 percent, which is enough to power three homes.
  • Caldwell Pharmacy, Inc. of Caldwell, will use an $8,316 grant to help purchase and install solar equipment. The project is estimated to replace the 20,532kWh per year. This is enough energy to power one home for a year and equates to 80.62 percent of its energy usage. Caldwell Pharmacy currently has four employees.
  • Swisher Properties LC, of Minneapolis, will use a $20,000 grant to help purchase and install a 30.78 kilowatt rooftop solar array. The project is estimated to replace 44,760 kilowatt hours per year. This equates to 89.93 percent of its energy usage and is enough energy to power four homes.
2021-09-10T06:46:49-05:00September 10, 2021|News|

New proposal would eliminate breeds from ‘dangerous dog’ definition

A new proposal would change the definition of “dangerous dogs” in Riley County. County commissioners on Thursday considered a measure that would remove dog breeds in its definition of “dangerous dogs” and focus on each dog’s behavior. Deputy County Counselor Craig Cox proposed two changes to the current policy. Some of the policy updates would align with the Manhattan city government’s policy. Cox said the county and city governments have similar definitions for dangerous dogs that include 12 dog breeds on a “suspect breed” regulation list. The owners of these dogs are held to a high standard of care for those animals, he said. The county is seeking to change that policy and use a behavioral approach.
Source: themercury.com

2021-09-10T06:40:15-05:00September 10, 2021|News|

Lenexa adjusts alcohol rules around civic campus and Public Market

The Lenexa Public Market has adjusted its rules regulating alcohol that can be consumed in the market and the surrounding area around the civi campus off 87th Street Parkway. Since the food hall and incubator of small businesses launched in 2017, the Lenexa Public Market, 8750 Penrose Lane, has prohibited the possession and consumption of liquor that’s purchased outside of the common consumption area surrounding the market … the Lenexa City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved several revisions that govern that common consumption area of the Lenexa Public Market in an attempt to give the city more flexibility at events.
Source: Shawnee Mission Post

2021-09-09T10:33:36-05:00September 10, 2021|News|

Kansas boosts contact tracing efforts amid Delta surge, hires 150 ‘case investigators’

Some states cut back on contact tracing efforts after new cases declined earlier this year. Now, a push to hire more is underway. A spokesperson for the state’s health department told Kansas Capitol Bureau the state is onboarding an additional 53 contact monitors and 150 case investigators this month. This comes as Kansas and states across the U.S. experienced a wave of Delta variant cases that could soon reach its peak. Contact tracing plays a critical role in stopping the spread of coronavirus. The Kansas Department of Health has split the role of what some consider “contact tracers” into two roles. Case investigators interview people who have tested positive for coronavirus and determine who their close contacts were. The contact monitors call them and continue to check on them during their quarantine period.
Source: KSNT News

2021-09-09T19:54:58-05:00September 9, 2021|News|

Douglas County Commission approves new health order, funding for homelessness assessment

The Douglas County Commission on Wednesday approved a new emergency health order for people experiencing homelessness, aimed at minimizing COVID-19 exposure. Effective as of 12:01 a.m. Thursday, the order allows clients from community agencies who are experiencing homelessness to be temporarily housed in hotels. The intent of the order is to leave more space for people who have tested positive for COVID-19 to be sufficiently isolated. Under this order, the county would reimburse the agencies through FEMA disaster relief funding. Assistant County Administrator Jill Jolicouer explained that a previous agreement between the Lawrence Community Shelter and the county worked well before, and this new agreement is restricted to the use of hotels and motels — it does not currently include University of Kansas residence halls.
Source: The Lawrence Times

2021-09-09T19:52:35-05:00September 9, 2021|News|

Downtown Winfield streets set to close for music crawl

The Winfield Main Street Committee of the Winfield Area Chamber of Commerce has been working on plans to improve the Sept. 14 downtown Pre-Festival Music Crawl. In cooperation with the City of Winfield and the Kansas Department of Transportation, Winfield Main Street will close down a portion of the downtown streets for this event. The hope is to provide a safer and more enjoyable environment in which the public can experience the September music crawl. The closure is from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Tuesday. The area closed is Main Street from Seventh to 11th avenues, and Ninth Avenue from Millington to Manning streets.
Source: The Arkansas City Traveler

2021-09-09T19:50:00-05:00September 9, 2021|News|

Wichita forms environmental concerns board

After months of advocacy by activists, the Wichita City council has voted to establish a board to advise the council and city staff on environmental concerns, climate change and economic vitality. The council voted unanimously Tuesday to support Wichita’s Sustainability Integration Board, which will advise in such areas as reducing emissions and finding economic growth that is environmentally friendly. The council had listened to 27 Wichita citizens during the past six months who spoke about climate change concerns, The Wichita Eagle reported. As currently planned, the board will have 14 members and meet quarterly. Some of the advocates and some council members said the board was too big and should meet more often. The board will be able to create its own bylaws and procedures, including determining how often members meet.
Source: The Iola Register

2021-09-09T19:44:13-05:00September 9, 2021|News|

New library opens in Olathe, and here’s what is coming to Prairie Village

Olathe will begin construction this month on a new four-story library building — with an exterior of stone, masonry, glass and custom brick — that’s viewed as a catalyst for the revitalization of the city’s downtown. The new library also will complement the Indian Creek Library that opened only two years ago on the east side of town. “We are excited and anxious to see the downtown library come to fruition,” Mayor John Bacon said in a news release. “This project encompasses so many of the objectives we have set forth in our growth strategy. Much time and energy has been put in thus far, and the result is a genuine and meaningful piece of Olathe that will stand the test of time; an Olathe icon in the making.”
Source: Joco 913 News

2021-09-09T19:41:57-05:00September 9, 2021|News|

Moundridge Library offers in-person programming this fall

Moundridge Library has stated up their fall activities, and for now at least, they will take place in person. Librarian Betsy Davis said that masks are optional for patrons, but staff will be wearing them during the programs. Storytime for preschool-aged children is on Wednesday mornings at 10 a.m. Baby/Toddler Wee Reads with songs, rhymes, fingerplays, movements, stories and fun will take place on Friday mornings at 10 a.m. Both programs started last week. “It’s a good time again to get back into the library,” Davis said. “We had such a great summer reading program that we’re really excited to interact with our with our patrons again in the same way that we had prior to the COVID-19 pandemic rather than having stuff online.”
Source: McPherson Weekly News » Feed

2021-09-09T19:38:58-05:00September 9, 2021|News|
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