Southern Lyon County USD 252 Superintendent Michael Argabright submitted his retirement Wednesday evening during a meeting with the USD 252 Board of Education. Argabright, who has put in more than three decades in education, has led the USD 252 Southern Lyon County District for the last 16 years. He was recently named the Kansas Superintendent of the Year. He will fulfill the rest of his contract, which ends June 30, 2023. “After 35 - 40 years working with kids and education, I just thought it was time, maybe, for some new energy in our district,” Argabright told The Gazette Thursday morning. [...]

Emporia’s Police Chief says law enforcement “has been taking a beating” over the last few years, but he’s “proud” to see new officers willing to serve. Ed Owens gave the keynote speech Friday at a commencement ceremony for the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center in Lawrence. “The resilience of young people like we have today — it’s refreshing to me, my administration and everyone’s across the state and nation,“ Owens told a class of Basic Training graduates at the University of Kansas. Source: Emporia Gazette

Several area volunteer fire departments are receiving state grants to improve the protection of personnel. The Office of the State Fire Marshal awarded 2023 grant money to Chase County Fire District No. 1, Eureka Volunteer Fire Department, Lyon County Fire District No. 5 and Olpe Fire District No. 1. They will share in $1.3 million in funds, provided largely through the American Rescue Plan Act. A statement from the Fire Marshal’s office does not specify how much each department will receive. The equipment includes “bunker or wildland gear (coat, pants, helmet, gloves, hood and boots) and new masks for Self-Contained Breathing [...]

The Emporia City Commission continued discussions on potential updates to the Lorenzo Delgado Sports Complex skateboard park Wednesday afternoon. The skateboard park received an anonymous $250,000 donation last year to make improvements and updates. The donation came after Maddox Gutierrez, a local teenager, petitioned the city to do some work on the park. In March, the city reviewed renderings from American Ramp Company as well as pricing quotes for construction, with costs ranging from $250,000 - $500,000 for the work. Some hiccups to the plans emerged when it was discovered that the Santa Fe Railroad, which owns the property on which [...]

The city of Emporia has officially adopted a new logo. After months of searching and refining, the city of Emporia has adopted the latest redesign of the city’s logo, created by local graphic designers Lot & Ilk. The new logo has been a topic of heavy discussion for the city commission and Emporia residents since its initial proposal in July. The logo design was awarded to Lot & Ilk, run by local Emporians Justin Ogleby and Jamie Darcy, in August. The original design of the logo was sent back to Lot & Ilk with requested changes after the Oct. 19 city [...]

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development announced that the agency is awarding $4 million in cooperative agreements to 17 organizations under its Rural Placemaking Innovation Challenge program. RPIC provides planning support, technical assistance, and training to encourage placemaking activities in rural communities. Funds can be used to help build capacity for broadband access, preserve cultural and historic structures, and support the development of transportation, housing, and recreational spaces. Source: Emporia Gazette

Emporia residents have a new option to receive city notifications, according to city communications manager Christine Johnson. Johnson told the Emporia City Commission that the CodeRED Mass Notification System will allow the city of Emporia to send notifications by text, email, and automated phone call to any residents who sign up for the service via text message or the city website. She said the system was adopted to “create a way to get messages to residents,” about non-emergency issues like waterline breaks and street closures and just general information. Right now, the program will not be used for weather notifications or [...]

The Emporia City Commission approved an ordinance allowing residents to keep up to four chickens on their properties within city limits Wednesday morning. Chickens have not officially been permitted within city limits since 2012. City attorney Christina Montgomery said Ordinance 22-48 goes into effect Jan. 1, 2023 and allows a resident to keep up to four chickens in residential districts with a domestic farm animal permit. The permit includes a $50 per year application fee, mandatory annual inspections and requirements for size, location and maintenance standards when it comes to chicken enclosures. Source: Emporia Gazette

Emporia Main Street's annual downtown trick-or-treat event was held Saturday morning, following the Dia de los Muertos parade. Children of all ages could be seen walking along Commercial Street sidewalks picking up candy from area businesses and booths. A photo contest is still ongoing, and winners will receive Emporia Main Street gift certificates. Categories include babies ages 0 - 2, kids ages 3 and up and families. Source: Emporia Gazette

The Emporia Fire Department is going red to honor the U.S. Armed Forces. According to city communications manager Christine Johnson, EFD personnel will participate in R.E.D. Fridays beginning this week. “R.E.D. stands for ‘Remember Everyone Deployed,’ created to remind communities of our heroes overseas and to show support for those deployed and their families,” Johnson said in a written release. Firefighters will wear red shirts on Fridays as part of the campaign. Many Emporia firefighters have served or have family members who served in the military. “As an agency representing the founding city of Veteran’s Day, this campaign became even more [...]