Growing up, Brittni Israel’s home in Westphalia seemed to be a dumping ground for unwanted dogs. A nonstop parade seemed to make their way to her. Maybe it was a coincidence. Or maybe desperate pet owners knew Israel and her family would find the dogs a good home. And they did. Israel’s love for animals has shaped her career. She recently was named director of the Allen County Animal Rescue Facility in LaHarpe.
Source: The Iola Register
The COVID-19 vaccine is in such short supply in the Wichita area that the county health department plans to initially limit its second phase of vaccinations to those aged 90 or older, Sedgwick County officials said Tuesday. Gov. Laura Kelly is expected to announce a move into the second phase of the state’s vaccination program later this week, expanding eligibility to anyone 65 or older. But it could be weeks or months before the youngest in that age group are vaccinated in the Wichita area.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
As Derby has continued to transition to a city of the first class following a proclamation last November, staff and the city council have continued to update charter ordinances to maintain operations as they were prior to that designation. Changes so far have not been substantive, but the ordinance brought before the council at its Jan. 12 meeting had at least one significant change proposed. Addressing the selection of mayor and city council election policies in Derby, the regularity of redistricting was brought into question with the new charter ordinance. From a legal standpoint, and with the city’s continued growth (leading it to become a city of the first class), City Attorney Jacque Butler recommended reviewing the boundaries of Derby’s four wards on a more regular basis instead of every 10 years.
Source: Derby Informer | News
In an effort to stop drugs from making it into the jail, the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office will no longer allow personal mail to be sent to inmates. The jail contracts with Securus Technologies for a lot of services, and they will handle this too. Starting immediately, mail to an inmate should be addressed as shown below. Letters and photos will be scanned and delivered to inmates electronically.
Source: Country 101.3 KFDI
Neosho County Commissioners heard from two property owners in the Neosho Ridge Wind project area and got an update on the electric generation project’s construction…. Property owner Stan Basler met with commissioners about a proposal that the 139 windmills, which have flashing aircraft warning lights, use a system where the lights would be activated by radar when aircraft are present. “Everybody here knows the wind farm’s here to stay,” Basler said, adding that he feels as if he is in an industrial park instead of living in the country. “Compromise is always out there,” Commission Chair Nic Galemore said.
Source: www.chanute.com
A former southwest Kansas county court clerk who kept more than $8,000 in voided traffic court payments for herself will serve a year of probation, pay $2,962 in restitution and a $2,500 fine, a judge ruled Tuesday. Sonia B. Johnson, 57, an ex-clerk for Seward County District Court, pleaded no contest to one count of misuse of public funds in August. Retired Ellis County Judge Edward Bouker handed down her sentence during a court hearing held via videoconference, U.S. Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt’s office announced in a news release Wednesday. Prosecutors say she returned most of the money she stole while working as a public employee but fell a few thousand dollars short, resulting in the restitution order.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
The new technology upgrades will automatically cause Lenexa officers’ body-worn cameras to start recording when an officer draws his or her firearm from the holster. It will also begin recording on all body-worn cameras that are within 30 feet of an officer who has drawn their weapon. Chief Dawn Layman said the body-worn cameras also go back 30 seconds prior to an officer’s firearm being drawn when recording an incident to ensure an incident is more fully captured.
Source: Shawnee Mission Post
The Kansas State High School Activities Association on Wednesday voted to allow up to four spectators at student events. The change will take effect starting Jan. 29 until the end of winter activities regular season. School districts may choose to have stricter limitations based on seating and guidelines from local health departments.
Source: KAKE – News
Dodge City commissioners have voted 3-1 to rescind the city’s mask ordinance. A news release from the city said commissioners cited the decrease in the daily average of COVID-19 cases in Ford County. “…it will be up to businesses and individuals to continue the downward trend by choosing to keep wearing a mask,” the release said. City Manager Nick Hernandez reported that according to the information reported through the Kansas Department of Health and Environment’s COVID-19 metrics website, the 14-day rolling average of cases in Ford county had decreased by 81% since the ordinance was put in effect. The seven-day rolling average fell by 90% during the two months the ordinance was in place.
Source: KAKE – News
Dana Walden, assistant city administrator for Park City, says the downtown development “Needs to be Park City. What does Park City want here? Who do we want to be? We’re reaching out to our citizens and saying what would you like to see.” With the new Amazon distribution center just down the road, the new district is also an opportunity to boost quality of life for potential new residents. “What is something that we want to keep that money here and we want to provide those amenities that people want to have when they’re here” said Walden.
Source: KAKE – News
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