Groundwater salt levels are high in Andover, Experts say this could be a big problem

10 Thursday, August 10

Groundwater salt levels are high in Andover, Experts say this could be a big problem

info2023-08-10T23:17:45-05:00August 10th, 2023|

Throughout the summer, people in Andover have been raising questions on Facebook wondering why they can't use their well water. Some of them posted that after testing the level of salt in the water exceeded 400 parts per million. K-State Extension Agent Matthew McKernan said that this can be damaging to plants. "Sodium is going to be very detrimental to our soils, it's going to break down our soil quality and actually take the place of organic matter and clay particles in the soil," McKernan said. "And so as that, when high sodium water is applied to the soil, the sodium [...]

10 Thursday, August 10

How Johnson County will spend $1.6M in COVID relief funds

info2023-08-10T23:14:34-05:00August 10th, 2023|

Johnson County is spending roughly $1.6 million in COVID-19 relief funds on several initiatives, including one to help pay rent and utilities as well as providing for the housing needs of people with certain disabilities. Johnson County Commissioners on Aug. 3 convened to consider how the county will spend remaining federal COVID-19 relief funds. The county agreed to pay for accessibility upgrades at the Theatre in the Park, an outdoor theater at Shawnee Mission Park. Source: Prairie Village Post

10 Thursday, August 10

Garden City wins award from ‘The Great Race’ organization

info2023-08-10T23:13:03-05:00August 10th, 2023|

The group that organizes the annual "Great Race" has named Garden City the 2023 Best Overnight City. Garden City was the Day 8 stop from the race that also made a stop in Wichita. Participants raced from St. Augustine, Florida, to Colorado Springs, Colorado, over nine days from June 24 to July 2. The race stopped in Garden City on June 30, its first stop there since 2006. Race participants voted the stop as the best overnight stop along the race route. Source: KSN-TV

10 Thursday, August 10

Topeka could lose Country Stampede

info2023-08-10T23:11:48-05:00August 10th, 2023|

The Country Stampede, a longtime staple of summer celebration in the Capital City, could find a new home in the near future. The Country Stampede announced via social media Thursday that due to rising property taxes, it may have to find a new location. The country music festival attributes this to its landlord and property owner, Shelby Development, which claims that taxes on the stampede's facility have risen almost $1,500 per day. Source: KSN-TV

10 Thursday, August 10

City of Topeka provides update on Hotel Topeka purchase

info2023-08-10T23:10:28-05:00August 10th, 2023|

All parties involved have agreed to a tentative closing date on the city's purchase of Hotel Topeka. The hotel is in receivership because the purchase needs to be approved by the court, according to a press release from the City of Topeka. After a hearing on July 25, the court is reviewing the sale and order and is expected to approve the sale soon. Once the court's order is entered, all parties can proceed with closing. A tentative closing date is scheduled for Oct. 31, according to the press release. Source: KSNT 27 News

10 Thursday, August 10

Fallen Fairway officer remembered for dedication to job, family

info2023-08-10T23:09:18-05:00August 10th, 2023|

People who knew fallen Fairway Office Jonah Oswald are mourning and remembering the man, husband and father he was. The 29-year-old died Monday after he was injured in a shootout Sunday with two suspects at a Mission QuikTrip. "He was the epitome of what a true law enforcement officer would be – devoted, a devoted father and husband willing to help his community," said Robert Paul, a friend of Oswald's. "(He) stepped into church, willing to be there on Sundays just to lend a hand. I think he was bigger than life itself." This is now the Fairway Police Department’s first [...]

10 Thursday, August 10

Olpe fitness park secures over $115,000 in tax credits

info2023-08-10T23:08:15-05:00August 10th, 2023|

Olpe’s fitness park project has approval for over $100,000 in tax credits. The project, organized by Olpe Community Improvement, was granted $115,400 in tax credits from the Kansas Department of Commerce. Project spokesman Tyler Schmidt tells KVOE News donors to the Community Health and Wellness Campaign have a chance to offset or defer 70 percent of their related tax obligations as part of the credits. Using $1,000 as an example, Schmidt says $700 would either be used as a full credit or a partial credit for the donor, depending on that person’s tax liability. The total value to the fitness park [...]

10 Thursday, August 10

In rural Kansas, seniors are stranded by a lack of transit options — and it’s getting worse

info2023-08-10T11:45:29-05:00August 10th, 2023|

A white Dodge Caravan pulls up in front of the Dillons grocery store in Liberal, Kansas, and Floyd Coleman steps out to help his next passenger into the minivan. Coleman, a 63-year-old retired truck driver, shuttles people around town for Liberal’s senior center. He has a few pickups and drop-offs throughout the day and can drive senior center patrons anywhere within the city limits for free. City Bus, the public transit system in Liberal, runs from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays. And although seniors qualify for reduced fares, the stops are sometimes few and far between. ... Because of [...]

10 Thursday, August 10

Finney County approves disaster declarations, employee leave policy changes

info2023-08-10T11:43:37-05:00August 10th, 2023|

Two emergency declarations were declared at the Finney County Commission’s regular meeting Monday. One of the emergency declarations was due to the storm damage and flooding from the two July 20 storms. Paul Resley, Finney County Emergency Management director, said the storms greatly impacted the area around Friend and tracked southeast towards Kansas Highway 156. “It suffered extensive damage; I believe we lost about 104 distribution power poles and three 115 A-Frame poles for Sunflower transmission lines, not counting the number of crops and buildings that got destroyed,” he said. “Then later in the evening we had a massive amount of [...]

10 Thursday, August 10

Shawnee County is using drones to fight a duckweed problem

info2023-08-10T11:38:56-05:00August 10th, 2023|

Shawnee County has a duckweed problem. The small leafy plant is often confused with algae as it covers the surfaces of ponds, lagoons and other still bodies of water. Some say it isn't a problem but instead a misunderstanding of a natural resource. For Shawnee County, however, it's seen as an infestation — and they’re using drones to deal with it. “There's about six lagoons throughout the area that are infested with duckweed,” said Shawnee County weed department director John Landon last week. “We're going to spray those with Sonar and try to get that under control.” Source: CJonline