Garden City has a new Chief of Police. Courtney Prewitt was sworn in as the Chief of Police for the Garden City Police Department on March 29.
Prior to becoming Chief Prewitt was a Captain and has been with the GCPD since 1999. A native of Garden City, Prewitt graduated from Garden City High School in 1993.
Source: GC Telegram.
The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of MBIS “investment grade” yields. Every issuer’s credit is different. For rates that may be applicable to your municipality, contact our Municipal Bond Advisors, Larry Kleeman and Beth Warren.
A refurbished entrance now welcomes visitors entering Shawnee Mission Park from Renner Road, along with a memorial plaza honoring the first superintendent of what’s now Johnson County Park and Recreation District. The John Barkley Plaza was designed not only to provide a meeting spot for park visitors but also to tell the story of Barkley and the evolution of the county park system. Other features include seat walls, a shade pavilion, a drinking fountain, a bike-share rack and a bike repair station, along with an existing flagpole near the park entrance. “John Barkley’s love for nature, combined with his vision and dedication to provide public park space for the community to enjoy outdoor recreation and nature, made him the perfect fit,” said Jeff Stewart, executive director of the park district.
Source: Joco 913 News
A presentation on the history of Arkansas City and the Walnut Valley is from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday in the Wright Room at Cowley College. The Etzanoa Conservancy, Anthropology Program at Cowley College, USD470, Visit Ark City and the Cherokee Strip Land Rush Museum will conduct the presentation. The event is free and open to the public. Spanish conquistador and explorer Juan de Oñate in 1601 encountered a great settlement called Etzanoa at the confluence of the Arkansas and Walnut rivers. Based on translations of the Spanish documents, it appears this town was home to 20,000 people, more than Ark City today, the release states. Ark City became a city of the second class 420 years later. The year 2021 represents the 150th anniversary of that designation.
Source: The Arkansas City Traveler
Kansas students would have to pass a civics test and a financial literacy course to graduate as soon as 2024 under a bill finalized Thursday by House and Senate legislators. House Bill 2039 would require students enrolled in an accredited state high school to pass a civics test composed of 60 total questions from the naturalization test administered by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. The test must be administered in the upcoming school year but will not be a graduation requirement until the 2022-23 school year. An amendment added in by the Senate and then further amended during negotiations between the education committees from both chambers requires a financial literacy course be taught to grades 10 through 12.
Source: Kansas Reflector
Campus High School (CHS) is offering free prom tickets to any student who shows proof of a coronavirus vaccination. The school said it’s part of an effort to make sure the “Secret Garden” event on May 8 is safe for all students who attend. Any student who brings their official coronavirus vaccination card with them when purchasing a ticket will not have to pay the $20 fee.
Source: KAKE – News
Home prices in Sedgwick County are on the rise. The high demand is making it difficult for some buyers to even look at a home before an offer is in. A couple from Omaha said it’s been nearly impossible to find where they are going to live in Wichita. The pair recently got jobs in the area and now finding a new place to call home is proving difficult. “Monday we came down to town, we had a list of 10-12 homes and nine of them were already contracted on by the time we got into town,” said Spencer Shearer, a potential home buyer from Omaha. It’s a constant search for Shearer who said with homes selling quickly he has to bid on homes he hasn’t even seen. “It’s who can get in first and make an offer,” said Shearer. Lisa Anderson is a realtor for Weigand realty she says she is trying to get her clients to homes before anyone else. “As soon as a house hits the market I want to get my buyers in there as soon as possible so have, you know the advantage of time and then just trying to submit strong offers,” said Anderson.
Source: KSN-TV
Where there’s smoke there’s barbecue – that is how it’s been in April at Osage City for about 18 years, except for last year. Postponed until Halloween last year due to COVID-19 conditions, the Smoke in the Spring State BBQ Championship is back on track for springtime barbecue competition in 2021. The competition gets underway for the outdoor chefs Friday night as many start warming up their cookers, but the fun also fires up at the community barbecue party, Taste of Osage City, starting at 5 p.m.
Source: Osage County Online
Officials with USD 383 say the district will contest its utility bill for February as it represents more than 90% of the entire district energy budget. During the board of education meeting Wednesday, Manhattan-Ogden superintendent Marvin Wade said he was expecting February’s utility rates to be higher, as record cold weather led to increased energy usage. However, he said seeing a final total bill of $128,363 was surprising.
Source: themercury.com
Community growth continues to hinge on two very familiar factors – jobs and housing. And while Scott City has made good progress on the latter over the past decade, it’s also acknowledged that much more needs to be done. According to Katie Eisenhour, director of the Scott County Development Committee, about 90 housing units have been built during the past 10 years. “When we did a housing study in about 2010, it was projected that we would add an average of six units annually,” notes Eisenhour. “So, we’re doing something right, but we also know that we have to do better,” she says. Quantity, however, is only one side of the housing situation. The problem that has been even more elusive is defining what is “affordable” housing.
Source: Scott County Record.
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