Wichita Public Library now offering birdwatching kits

The Wichita Public Library continues to expand its unique offerings that can be checked out for free with a membership card. The latest is perfect for anyone interested in birds. The library has announced a new partnership with the Audubon of Kansas to offer birdwatching kits. The kits are packed with pamphlets and guides to birdwatching, other information, and maps of excellent viewing areas across Sedgwick County. They also include one pair of adult binoculars and two child binoculars. The kits can be checked out for 14 days, with two renewals available. Click here for more information or to reserve one for your family. The birdwatching kit is just the latest addition to the Library of Things offered by Wichita Public Library.
Source: KSN-TV

info2024-09-23T09:51:48-05:00September 23, 2024|News|

Paxico’s 20th annual blues festival draws in their largest crowd

Main street in Paxico was filled with people from all over for the 20th annual Paxico Blues Festival. Festivals have always been a big part of what Paxico does and a music festival was on that list. So, when one of the festival co-founders took a trip back to his hometown, following owning blues clubs of her own in Kansas City, Kansas, he knew they had a hit event in the making. “I’ve had people describe it as ‘well it’s kind of like being with your family,” Bud Hund, one of the co-founders said. “It’s like all your family, go to a family event and everybody is so friendly and nice and everybody enjoying’ that’s the kind of vibe it brings.” Despite the weather, the festival saw the largest crowd they’ve ever had and hopes to continue this tradition for many more years to come.
Source: KSNT 27 News

info2024-09-23T09:50:22-05:00September 23, 2024|News|

$100,000 in grants will revitalize barns for Kansas agritourism

Kansas Tourism has announced that $100,000 in grants will be distributed to businesses across the state to promote agritourism. The businesses are the first recipients of the new Barn Adaptation and Restoration Needs (BARN) grant program. The program was created to help restore and revitalize old barns across the state and further efforts to expand agritourism across Kansas. The state began promoting agritourism in 2004 after the passage of the Kansas Agritourism Promotion Act. The act provides free agritourism promotion through the Kansas Tourism office, a layer of limited liability for agritourism businesses and education and resource opportunities. “The BARN grant is vital to our efforts to foster and support innovation and sustainability in our agricultural communities,” said Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland. “These funds not only will help preserve the rich agricultural traditions of Kansas but also pave the way for new and creative agritourism ventures that will benefit local residents and visitors alike.” The BARN grants are matching-cost grants, meaning a total of $200,000 will be spent on the six projects across the state. “We are excited to see these projects come to reality and contribute to the future of Kansas agritourism,” said Kansas Tourism Director Bridgette Jobe. “By revitalizing these unique structures, we are not only preserving our past, but also creating new economic opportunities that will draw visitors to experience the heart and soul of Kansas.” Source: KSNT 27 News

info2024-09-23T09:49:04-05:00September 23, 2024|News|

Forums for Sedgwick County Commission candidates will focus on affordable housing

The Wichita Journalism Collaborative is organizing candidate forums for the Sedgwick County Commission races in Districts 2 and 3. The forums, which will be in the Alumni Auditorium at Friends University, will focus on housing issues within the commission’s purview. District 3 candidates Celeste Racette and Stephanie Wise will participate in the forum on Monday, Sept. 23, while District 2 candidates Sarah Lopez and Jeff Blubaugh are scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 24. Both forums start at 6 p.m. When the collaborative hosted a listening session on housing earlier this year, participants who completed a post-event survey highlighted affordability issues, such as why housing and rents have been increasing, as a concern that called for additional coverage.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle

info2024-09-23T09:47:36-05:00September 23, 2024|News|

An update from the Nemaha County Administrator, Part 1

To everybody who calls Nemaha County home, as I come to the close of my first year in my role, I appreciate your patience as I build relationships and gather the necessary information to execute the role of County Administrator. This includes diagnosing the situation, energizing others, managing myself, and intervening thoughtfully and skillfully. This first year has fully met my expectations with all the challenges and rewards that were promised. I was asked frequently during my first few weeks if I’m quitting or if I am disappointed coming here. I am not quitting, and I am not disappointed. I’ve met dozens of wonderful people including many leaders. Still, it is a challenge to balance the expectations of many of the people I work with who don’t want to change anything and the others who think I’m moving far too slowly. I am building relationships and growing fond of many teammates from the Nemaha County Government. My overall goal for the county government is to promote harmony, build confidence, regain faith and to create a sense of hope — even when there seems to be little cause for hope. This goal is connected to my life priorities and world view which is: There is a God of the universe, the same God Moses served, and I serve Him first — with my priorities being: God, Family, Job, Ministry, other things. Easy to write, but this is still my goal. I do mess it up occasionally.
Source: Sabetha Herald

info2024-09-23T09:46:27-05:00September 23, 2024|News|

Municipal Bond Trends for September 20, 2024

The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of AA rated bond trades reported to the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board’s EMMA® system. Every issuer’s credit is different, and other financing sources may be available. To obtain comprehensive Financial Advisory services for your local government, contact your Ranson Financial Municipal Advisor, Larry Kleeman, or Henry Schmidt.

Henry Schmidt2024-09-23T08:55:33-05:00September 23, 2024|News|

12 schools in NE Kansas have been targeted by school threats

Law enforcement agencies across Kansas have been on high alert after a series of school threats that have targeted at least 12 schools in the northeast Kansas area. Six northeast Kansas school districts have had threats made against them recently, prompting some law enforcement agencies to heighten enforcement efforts.
Source: 1350 KMAN

info2024-09-20T10:19:03-05:00September 20, 2024|News|

‘A breakdown’: Kansas missed signs dead ex-official worked both sides of $425k grant

A former Kansas Department of Commerce official suspected of embezzling public funds handled money for a community foundation that received a $425,000 grant while he oversaw the same grant at the state agency that awarded it, an apparent conflict of interest now coming under scrutiny. Two top Commerce officials — Lt. Gov. David Toland, who leads the agency, and Robert North, the agency’s general counsel — signed off on the grant amid warning signs that the official was working on both sides of the grant. The former official, Jonathan L. Clayton, died in August in a single-vehicle crash as he faced mounting suspicion of wrongdoing and as a past felony conviction in Pennsylvania became more widely known in Kansas. Until October 2023, Clayton had been the director of economic recovery at Commerce, where he oversaw more than $100 million in programs funded by federal pandemic dollars. The agency didn’t conduct a criminal background check before hiring him. Clayton’s death has attracted significant attention, coming after he went missing on Aug. 3 and before an apparently posthumous email from him made allegations of misconduct involving Commerce, which the agency denies. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation in late August said it had found no evidence of foul play, but the investigation was continuing.
Source: Wichita Eagle

info2024-09-20T10:09:52-05:00September 20, 2024|News|

Lawrence adds 11 new city services for residents to request in city’s app, including pothole repairs

The city of Lawrence’s app now allows residents to make 11 new types of service requests, including pothole and pavement repairs and stormwater issues. The city announced the expanded service requests offered by the web app, called SeeClickFix…
Source: LJWorld

info2024-09-20T10:07:41-05:00September 20, 2024|News|

Wichita to continue Stage 2 water restrictions, increase enforcement

The City of Wichita said it will increase enforcement as it continues Stage 2 water restrictions. … “During the last two months, efforts on education were prioritized over issuing fines,” said the city. “Going forward, staff plans to increase enforcement, including issuance of fines if warranted, while still continuing educational efforts on ways to cut back on water use.”
Source: KWCH

info2024-09-20T10:06:45-05:00September 20, 2024|News|