City of Lawrence launches online form for reporting new homeless camps around the city

20 Friday, October 20

City of Lawrence launches online form for reporting new homeless camps around the city

info2023-10-20T08:06:50-05:00October 20th, 2023|

The City of Lawrence has launched an online form to report new homeless campsites around the city, which was first announced at Tuesday’s Lawrence City Commission meeting. According to a release from the city, the form is intended to be used by community members who are “aware of a person who is currently camping and may need shelter.” The form asks respondents to provide the closest available address to the location, the date they first noticed the campsite and a description of the campsite and its occupants. The release says city staff will then go to the area indicated on the form to [...]

20 Friday, October 20

Committee crafting Lawrence’s land development rules wants more public input on parking space requirements

info2023-10-20T08:05:20-05:00October 20th, 2023|

As a steering committee works to develop new rules for how Lawrence should grow, one of the big questions the group has for the public is how much parking space new developments should have to provide. More specifically, the Land Development Code Steering Committee decided at its meeting on Thursday that it wants to see what members of the public think about eliminating minimum and maximum parking requirements for new residential development entirely, and mandating only a maximum amount of parking space for commercial and industrial development. Source: LJWorld

20 Friday, October 20

Farm to table: Participants at workshop in Olathe learn how to process their backyard chickens

info2023-10-20T07:56:46-05:00October 20th, 2023|

If your backyard chicken is destined to become a chicken dinner, the Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop & Farm in Olathe can help you learn the skills to make that happen. The farm recently held a chicken processing workshop where participants learned how to slaughter, pluck and extract the chicken’s internal organs. Grace Fritz, stagecoach operations supervisor at Mahaffie, noticed that while there are a lot of classes around Johnson County about how to raise backyard chickens, there aren’t so many on going from the backyard to the kitchen table. Source: Joco 913 News

20 Friday, October 20

New terminal brings excitement, concern for Topeka airport

info2023-10-20T07:55:47-05:00October 20th, 2023|

The Metropolitan Topeka Airport Authority (MTAA) held a town hall meeting to address its upcoming changes at the Philip Billard Airport. Construction on the new terminal is set to be completed in November. The airport will have a new restaurant, improved office spaces and other amenities. It previously housed the popular Tammy's Billard Airport Restaurant, but now, that could change. Source: KSNT 27 News

20 Friday, October 20

Falling water levels at Lake Perry prompt action from Valley Falls leaders

info2023-10-20T07:55:25-05:00October 20th, 2023|

City leaders in Valley Falls have initiated an emergency water plan in reaction to falling water levels at nearby Lake Perry due to drought conditions. Valley Falls' City Council voted unanimously in approval to begin the first stage of the city's emergency water plan at the Oct. 18 city council meeting, according to a press release. The plan goes into effect Thursday, Oct. 19. ... Over the past 30 days, the lake's water level has fallen 1.71 feet in elevation, according to the City of Valley Falls. As of Oct. 19 at 3:30 p.m. the lake's elevation was at 890.27 feet [...]

20 Friday, October 20

Topeka councilwoman talks city’s revised homeless camping ordinance

info2023-10-20T07:54:56-05:00October 20th, 2023|

Topeka's homeless concerns are growing, but one city leader ensures city staff are actively working to come up with a solution for cleaning up homeless camps on city property. Tuesday night, Topeka fire responded to a small fire at a homeless camp just north of the Kansas River. No injuries were reported, and by the time firefighters arrived, everyone had left. Though the fire was small, it is sparking further questions about the city's camping concerns. Topeka city councilwoman Karen Hiller told 27 News the city's revised camping ordinance, which will go into effect on Nov. 17, is expected to address [...]

20 Friday, October 20

Allen County dips toe in recycling pool

info2023-10-20T07:42:43-05:00October 20th, 2023|

Allen County will start small with a recycling effort, with commissioners offering to set up a cardboard collection spot at the landfill. Commissioners directed Mark Griffith, road and bridge director, to find some sort of container to hold the cardboard. Then, it will be taken to Coffey County’s recycling center. Commissioners still need to verify their plan with Coffey County and work through the details, so it is not yet known when the new program might begin. Still, it will be a significant step toward recycling for the county after two volunteer-led efforts ended. Source: The Iola Register

20 Friday, October 20

Mildred looks to the future

info2023-10-20T07:43:02-05:00October 20th, 2023|

It’s been a century since Mildred’s halcyon days. At one time, the little burg at the northeast corner of Allen County had a population of more than 2,000, with a cement plant that employed more than 300. Alas, demand for cement declined at the end of World War I, and the Great Depression shuttered the Mildred industry for good. The town’s population slowly but surely evaporated over the ensuing generations. The high school graduated its last class in 1944; the post office closed in 1973. Source: The Iola Register

20 Friday, October 20

Kansas Attorney General Opinion 2023-10

info2023-10-20T07:44:10-05:00October 20th, 2023|

Synopsis: Members of a public body may exclude other members of the body who have threatened litigation against the body from an executive session held to consult with the body’s attorney about the potential litigation. Read the full opinion: Kansas Attorney General Opinions

20 Friday, October 20

Community celebrates Gardner’s first inclusive playground

info2023-10-20T07:39:32-05:00October 20th, 2023|

A year after local residents voiced their desire to the Gardner City Council to have an inclusive playground for disabled and special-needs children, a large crowd gathered at Veterans Park Friday morning to celebrate the city’s first play area of its kind.Community advocate Jennifer Smith said she wanted to thank her children for teaching her how to advocate and be their voice when they did not have one.“And for also teaching me how to be a better human towards others,” she said. Source: Gardner News