State tourism magazine features true crime exhibit at Finney County Historical Museum

6 Friday, October 6

State tourism magazine features true crime exhibit at Finney County Historical Museum

info2023-10-06T10:22:25-05:00October 6th, 2023|

The True Crime Exhibit at the Finney County Historical Museum in Garden City is featured in the latest edition of Kansas! Magazine. The magazine’s fifth edition of 2023, just released, includes a collection of articles under the topic of “Notorious, a chronicle of the state’s extraordinary criminals,” with three pages devoted to the exhibit. The display, which opened in 2018, focuses on the way local and area law enforcement agencies ended the crime spree of the Finney County-based Fleagle Gang in the 1920s; and brought justice after the 1959 murders of the Herb and Bonnie Clutter family in Holcomb, which led [...]

6 Friday, October 6

Great Bend Police Department and Barton team up for mutual benefit

info2023-10-06T10:26:11-05:00October 6th, 2023|

Christian Rivas wanted real-life experience in law enforcement before he sought to attain his long-time goal of teaching college-level criminal justice. He was able to get that experience at the Great Bend Police Department (GBPD) and now is the instructor/coordinator for the Criminal Justice Program at Barton Community College. “I am grateful to the police department for the opportunity to be part of the real world of law enforcement,” said Rivas, a long-time Great Bend resident. “I am so fortunate they were willing to invest in me even though everyone knew my ultimate goal was to teach. I know the value [...]

6 Friday, October 6

Important link between Sumner and Cowley Co. has reopened

info2023-10-06T10:29:18-05:00October 6th, 2023|

A bridge replacement project on Kansas Highway 55 between Belle Plaine and Udall is finally complete. The barricades and signs were brought down Thursday afternoon, and the road is now open for traffic. Construction to replace the bridge began in September of 2022. During the bridge replacement, traffic between the two communities was detoured at U.S. Highway 81 up to K-53, east on K-53 through Mulvane to K-15, and south on K-15 down to Udall. That is 23.6 miles, with an average drive time of 28 minutes, according to Google Maps. Now that the bridge has been replaced, the distance is [...]

6 Friday, October 6

With limited housing options, city-owned houses draw interest in Wichita

info2023-10-06T12:49:18-05:00October 6th, 2023|

At a time when affordable housing is scarce, the city of Wichita hopes that the sale of homes once used for public housing will provide more options for prospective homeowners. Over the past week, the city offered open houses for the first 13 homes it is selling after receiving permission from the federal government. The city announced in 2022 that it would split up its 352 single-family public housing units into several groups and sell them. The units come at a time when buyers face a tight market. A report by the Wichita State Center for Real Estate found that sales [...]

6 Friday, October 6

Prairie Village’s housing recommendations have split the city

info2023-10-06T12:49:27-05:00October 6th, 2023|

When it comes to housing in Johnson County, all eyes are currently on Prairie Village. The Kansas City suburb — one of the most affluent in the county — is at a crossroads about what role city government should play in addressing a lack of attainable housing stock in the city. Over a period of months, Prairie Village went from scratching the surface of what it could realistically accomplish to being caught in a fierce debate about who belongs and what types of housing make sense for the landlocked city with very little undeveloped land remaining. Last summer, after the county [...]

6 Friday, October 6

Overland Park sets $15 minimum wage for city workers. How does it compare in the metro?

info2023-10-06T10:44:56-05:00October 6th, 2023|

Last week, Overland Park raised its minimum wage for city employees to $15 per hour — a move that city officials touted as a way to remain competitive and retain city workers. The city government is currently hiring for 71 open positions, according to its jobs page. Most of the jobs impacted will be in the city’s parks department, although some other positions will see their pay increase as well. Overland Park is the latest city in the metro to adopt a minimum wage for its government employees that’s higher than the statewide minimum. Kansas City and Kansas City, Kansas, also [...]

6 Friday, October 6

Cato Days; a fall tradition

info2023-10-06T10:50:35-05:00October 6th, 2023|

The hint of fall in the air and clear, blue October skies are a reminder that it’s almost time for an area historical event that has become an annual autumn tradition in the area. The 2023 edition of Cato Days will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 21, in Cato, Kan. As always, admission is free. Presented by the Cato Historical Preservation Association, Cato Days is designed to preserve and promote the tiny community’s pioneer history. This year’s Cato Days program starts with registration at 9 a.m. followed at 9:30 by old-time hymns performed by Ralph [...]

6 Friday, October 6

Overland Park looks to change fair housing rules — What does that mean?

info2023-10-06T12:50:00-05:00October 6th, 2023|

Overland Park will repeal its current fair housing codes and take steps to reaffirm its ongoing commitment to supporting fair housing. On Wednesday, the Overland Park City Council Community Development Committee voted 5-0 to recommend approval of three measures attached to the fair housing affirmation. Taking these actions doesn’t mean the city has stopped supporting fair housing in Overland Park, but that it is putting all of the enforcement responsibilities back on the federal government, said Overland Park’s Grant Program Manager Ruanda McFerren. The action will also dissolve the Overland Park Fair Housing Committee, which hasn’t met in years. Source: Shawnee [...]

6 Friday, October 6

‘Gravel Kansas’ cycling group puts Marshall County on map

info2023-10-06T10:56:55-05:00October 6th, 2023|

Marshall County is now on the map of Gravel Kansas, a new cycling initiative dedicated to crafting unforgettable gravel cycling routes across picturesque Kansas landscapes. The map was the brainchild of LeLan Dains, Emporia tourism director, cycling enthusiast and founding chair of Gravel Kansas, who thought the public should have a guide to Kansas’ most scenic cycling routes. In Marshall County, so far three routes have been designated and posted to the map, which can be found online at gravelks.com. Source: Marysville Advocate

6 Friday, October 6

Riley County jail overpopulation leads to nursing needs

info2023-10-06T10:58:49-05:00October 6th, 2023|

The county clerk said Thursday Riley County Corrections needs another nurse because of overpopulation. During the Riley County Commission meeting, county clerk Rich Vargo said a corrections officer will soon come in to request money for a second nurse. As previously reported, the jail averaged 124 inmates in August, which is the highest it’s ever been. Vargo said the facility is now holding around 140 inmates. Kathryn Focke, county commission chair, asked if it was possible to partner with Kansas State University to have a student nurse work the second needed position. The commissioners discussed that the county would pay for [...]