Tornado wipes away historic schoolhouse in northwest Kansas

Kansas communities are recovering after multiple thunderstorms and tornado warnings from Wednesday. One tornado did a lot of damage in Rawlins County, and it destroyed a historic schoolhouse. “That structure was actually built in 1898,” said Gary Kasten while talking about the historic schoolhouse. Kasten and his family own the land the Walsh schoolhouse sat on. His sister, June Hesterman, said it was one of two one-room schoolhouses that were left standing in the county. Back in 2014, the family refurbished the schoolhouse, but Wednesday’s tornado wiped away their countless hours of work. “That building is gone, it was removed from the foundation, and we hauled the remnants (Thursday),” Kastens said. “It’s pretty devastating, the power of a tornado is just unbelievable to me.”
Source: KSNT News

2021-05-28T07:15:11-05:00May 28, 2021|News|

Kansas is considering a lottery for people who are vaccinated against COVID-19

A chance to win a $1 million prize has helped boost Ohio’s COVID-19 vaccination rate by 45%, Gov. Mike DeWine said Wednesday. An now, Kansas is considering a similar incentive for residents to get the shot. Dr. Lee Norman with the KDHE said Thursday that Kansas is looking at some type of lottery open to vaccinated people. People who are already vaccinated would be eligible.He also warned that while the state legislature is looking to terminate the emergency declaration, it doesn’t mean the emergency is done.
Source: KAKE – News

2021-05-28T07:00:58-05:00May 27, 2021|News|

Larned’s water tower light project in full swing

Since the Larned Water Tower lost its Christmas lights some years back, due to painting and restoring of the tank, the citizenry has not been happy. Alumni returning home for Christmas have missed the crown on the nostalgic Christmas tower. And ever since, there has been a move to restore the lights. Earlier this month the Larned City Council recommended proceeding with lighting plans for the water tower to replicate the crown as in the past. The attitude has been, “We will have Christmas lights on the tower again,” and the word spread quickly.
Source: Great Bend Tribune

2021-05-28T07:01:37-05:00May 27, 2021|News|

Lenexa considers what to do with 55 acres of land near Black Hoof Park — here are some options

Some city-owned woodland in Lenexa is back on the radar as city leaders and staff think of expanding Black Hoof Park. Back in 2007, the city bought roughly 55 acres just north of the 135-acre park and Lake Lenexa, which sits northeast of the junction between Kansas Highways 7 and 10. On Tuesday, the Lenexa City Council briefly discussed with city staff the options for uses for that property, including an option to dedicate the site as additional parkland and an expansion of Black Hoof Park.
Source: Shawnee Mission Post

2021-05-28T07:02:13-05:00May 27, 2021|News|

Topgolf will build $25.8M facility at K-96, Greenwich in joint venture with BigShots

After it was initially expected to build its first Wichita location at 13th and Greenwich, Topgolf is now headed to K-96 and Greenwich, city staff says, and it will be a joint venture with BigShots, the similar but smaller golf driving range concept it was originally going to compete against in the Wichita market. “For us, we’re just pleased to have a good golf amenity,” Scot Rigby, assistant city manager, told the WBJ on Thursday. According to city documents, the new project headed to the southeast corner of 29th and Greenwich — just north of Greenwich Place Shopping Center — will be a two-story, $25.8-million Topgolf facility with 50 interactive golf bays that will be open by March 2023.
Source: Wichita Business Journal

2021-05-28T07:03:05-05:00May 27, 2021|News|

Committee will consider allowing e-bikes on Shawnee County trails, but e-scooters may have a tougher road ahead

Terri Bond used to be an avid biker, but now she finds herself using electric bikes more often. Bond even calls her e-bike her “magic carpet ride.” “It made us get out and enjoy the fresh air, take on the trails,” she said. Bond and multiple other e-bike users spoke in support of the bikes and their ability to expand access to less able-bodied riders. The bike’s potential for increased accessibility to the park system was supported by some members of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. “Our trails are intended to make parts of our community and nature in our community accessible to the widest audience possible,” said advisory board member Laura Burton at Tuesday evening’s meeting. “Anything that makes it more accessible for people to get on our trails and enjoy our trail system, I think we really need to consider.”
Source: CJonline.com.

2021-05-27T07:06:42-05:00May 27, 2021|News|

Reno County Commission agrees to discuss expansion

The Reno County Commission agreed Tuesday to begin discussions on whether to put a question on the November ballot about expanding the county commission from three members to five. Commissioner Daniel Friesen, frustrated by his inability to discuss issues outside of county commission meeting with another member, suggested “engaging in a conversation” about such an expansion. Under Kansas Open Meeting laws, a majority of a quorum of a public body cannot discuss business outside of a meeting. With only three members on the commission, two members make up a majority of a quorum, which means no outside discussions. With a five-member commission, it would allow discussions between two members outside a meeting, although, noted Commission Chairman Ron Hirst, a commissioner could not have the same discussion with more than one member, even if at a separate time, because that would violate the law.
Source: Hutch News.

2021-05-27T07:03:12-05:00May 27, 2021|News|

Proposal would provide identification cards to homeless persons in KCK

A program that would provide identification cards to homeless persons in the community was discussed Monday by Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department officials. Deputy Chief Pam Waldeck with several police officials described the program, which is modeled on one currently in operation in Topeka, Kansas. The police outreach team, in coordination with Cross-Lines Community outreach, identified a need, the difficulty that unsheltered people here have in getting identification cards, according to police officials. Under the proposed program, identification cards would be issued by the Police Department and would be valid for one year. Police would verify the identity of persons applying for the cards.
Source: Wyandotte Daily

2021-05-27T07:00:09-05:00May 27, 2021|News|
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