City of Emporia supports water workers amid ongoing main break challenges

18 Monday, September 18

City of Emporia supports water workers amid ongoing main break challenges

info2023-09-18T10:53:29-05:00September 18th, 2023|

As the City of Emporia continues to grapple with unprecedented water main issues, the well-being of city crews tasked with repairing and maintaining the city's water infrastructure remains a top priority. According to Communications Manager Christine Torrens, the city emphasized the importance of supporting workers as they dealt with upwards of 15 water main breaks throughout the week. "This week, the City of Emporia's Underground Utility crew has implemented shift rotations to prevent an increase in stress levels and emotional strain among their staff," she said. "We understand the toll this continuous work can have on them, so we are taking [...]

18 Monday, September 18

Johnson County thrift store sued city for blocking its move. It finally has a new home

info2023-09-18T10:52:13-05:00September 18th, 2023|

Goodwill is opening (or reopening, perhaps) in Olathe — but only after a two-year-long battle with the city. The thrift store has finally found a new home in a former Tractor Supply at 11934 S. Strang Line Road. It hopes to open by the end of the year, said Melody Herren, a spokeswoman for Goodwill of Western Missouri and Eastern Kansas. But Goodwill had hoped to have a store open long before that. After operating at 16630 W. 135th St. for roughly 17 years, Goodwill sought to move across the street, to 16175 W. 135th St., in 2020 to “upgrade its [...]

18 Monday, September 18

‘It’s an emergency.’ Midwest towns scramble as drought threatens drinking water.

info2023-09-18T14:14:43-05:00September 18th, 2023|

James Rainbolt typically can tackle most problems at his rural water plant with some extra time or money. But he can’t fix this. “I just can’t make it rain,” he said. Like others across southeast Kansas, Rainbolt remains helpless as he watches a persistent drought dry up the local water supply. He runs a public wholesale water supply district that provides the drinking water for several cities and rural water districts. The lack of rain has been so severe that it’s now threatening the water district’s intake pipe, which brings water from a local lake to the treatment plant. As lake [...]

18 Monday, September 18

Overland Park will start allowing native plants in home lawns and gardens

info2023-09-18T14:15:00-05:00September 18th, 2023|

Overland Park residents may soon be able to plant more native plants in their yards and gardens. The city is in the process of updating its codes to make space for planned native landscapes for their ecological and stormwater benefits. That could mean front yard gardens featuring milkweed, blue sage, native flowers and other species that once dominated the northeastern Kansas landscape. Native plants, according to Johnson County Extension, are “well-adapted to a local ecosystem” and tend to evolve in an area “without the influence of man.” Source: KCUR News

18 Monday, September 18

Weir homecoming celebration highlights town’s vibrant history

info2023-09-18T14:16:21-05:00September 18th, 2023|

This weekend, the City of Weir is joyously celebrating its homecoming. As part of the homecoming festivities, the town is taking a moment to reflect on its rich history. Presenter and host David Wallace invited community members to share their stories, memorabilia, and insights into the vibrant history of Weir. "I've had the involvement of the museums around town and throughout Southeast Kansas. I have involvement from the McCune Museum, The Galena Historical Museum, The Nature Center in Galena. Miners Hall Museum has really done a great job," said David Wallace. Source: KOAM News

18 Monday, September 18

City holding ribbon cutting for revitalized park in downtown Wichita

info2023-09-18T10:46:38-05:00September 18th, 2023|

On Saturday, the City of Wichita will be holding a ribbon cutting for the Chester I. Lewis Reflection Square Park, along with a continental breakfast. The event begins at 10 a.m. with speakers and entertainment. At 11:20 a.m., the artists and architect will provide a tour of the park. Those in attendance will be able to hear from artists Ellamonique Baccus and Matthew Mazzotta, members of the Lewis family and other community partners, donors and local performers. The park is located at 205 E. Douglas Ave. Parking is available along side streets and parking garages. To view parking locations, the City [...]

18 Monday, September 18

Baxter Springs to add 4 pickleball courts at Kiwanis Park

info2023-09-18T10:45:28-05:00September 18th, 2023|

There's something new coming to Baxter Springs, and it's something that has virtually taken over many communities across the country - pickleball. City workers began the construction of four asphalt pickleball courts this morning at Kiwanis Park. Mayor Sherry Brown tells us that after a pickleball pop-up event took place recently in town, the high interest prompted the city to provide a place for residents to enjoy the sport. "Just another opportunity for families to spend quality time outdoors, exercise, spend time together and you know, we just like to make it everything we can, better for the families," said Sherry [...]

18 Monday, September 18

‘Noisy conduct?’ Case could have implications for political protesters across Kansas

info2023-09-18T10:44:35-05:00September 18th, 2023|

Wichita finds itself at the heart of a precedent-setting court case with statewide implications for political protesters. It involves a city law that prohibits “engaging in noisy conduct tending to reasonably arouse alarm, anger or resentment in others.” But what is noisy conduct? Who defines it, and does it involve what protesters are saying, or how they say it? Kansas Supreme Court justices are grappling with difficult questions about disruptive political expression and whether the government’s efforts to limit confrontations between citizens have a chilling effect on free speech. The case grew from 2020 demonstrations where participants were arrested for disrupting [...]

18 Monday, September 18

Wichita police announce initiative to help officers interact with people with autism

info2023-09-18T10:43:34-05:00September 18th, 2023|

The oldest of Wichita police officer John Biagini’s three children — who are all autistic and non-verbal — had run away from home. Luckily, the officers who found him knew who he was and were able to comfort him. “It could have gone awful,” Biagini said about the event that happened about 10 years ago. The longtime school resource officer now serving on the department’s exploited and missing children unit is the department’s liaison for its new initiative — one that aims to help officers be better equipped to work with autism or communication problems. The initiative will include several things: [...]

18 Monday, September 18

JoCo judge final ruling reinstates initial decision on Prairie Village petitions

info2023-09-18T14:19:05-05:00September 18th, 2023|

A Johnson County judge reversed course once again on the three resident-led Prairie Village petitions. Judge Rhonda Mason of Division 4 at Johnson County District Court in Olathe issued a final ruling late Friday evening that reinstated her initial oral decision from Sept. 6 regarding the “rezoning,” “abandon” and “adoption” petitions. She ruled that only the “abandon” petition — which aims to limit what petitioners call a “strong mayor” form of government — is eligible to put before Prairie Village voters. In line with her oral decision from Sept. 6, Mason’s final ruling from Friday, Sept. 15, finds the “rezoning” and “adoption” petitions are [...]