Kansas documented the state’s lowest-ever recorded birth rate for the 2022 year, according to a preliminary report. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment’s annual report shows the number of births in the state dropped slightly from 2021. Last year’s report documented 34,697 births in 2021, with a birth rate of 11.8 per 1,000 people. The preliminary 2022 report recorded 34,376 births across the state, with a birth rate of 11.7 per 1,000 people. Seven counties accounted for about 60% of the state’s births for the year: Douglas, Geary, Johnson, Leavenworth, Sedgwick, Shawnee and Wyandotte. Unmarried mothers made up 36% of all births with [...]

Buying a new ambulance isn’t going to be a simple process, Allen County commissioners learned this week. That’s because supply chain issues have made for a lengthy wait to receive the units, Terry Call told them. He retired as the county’s EMS and zoning director, but returned part-time to handle zoning issues. Call researched ambulance options after Michael Burnett, Iola’s EMS director, gave a report about equipment needs a couple of weeks ago. Under the terms of a new contract between the city and county, commissioners agreed to provide ambulances and associated equipment. It likely will be more than a year — maybe even [...]

A company that recycles used tires has been dumping more than 200,000 tires at the Allen County Landfill over the past six months, prompting county leaders to consider changes to the way it handles or charges for tire collection. Shane Lamb with FMS/United Tire told commissioners he needs to dump shredded tires at the landfill until he’s able to build a facility that can convert the material into fine, crumb rubber that is a highly desirable recycled product used by many industries. Lamb operates out of a facility at the former Lehigh Portland Cement plant. Since February, Lamb’s company has dumped 1,980.57 tons of [...]

At 152 years old, the Iola Municipal Band is the longest continuing municipal band in the state, and remains one of the oldest in the nation. A PBS producer is working on a documentary about the band’s legacy. The Iola Municipal Band, which has been a part of Iola’s summers for the past 152 years, ended its summer session Thursday with a celebration of Christmas. The band, with musicians ranging from middle school to players in their 80s, performed a medley of holiday classics to bid adieu to 2023. Source: The Iola Register

By the end of the week, Iola’s crews may be close to doing their first full sweep through town to haul off piles of brush, limbs and downed trees toppled in the July 14 storm that roared through Iola and Allen County. Workers in Iola’s street and alley department, as well as helpers from other departments, continue to clear up brush piles across town. By Thursday, they had reached the final quadrant of town, the northeast section, Iola Assistant City Administrator Corey Schinstock said. “We’d like to be done Friday, but it may roll over into next week,” Schinstock said. “There’s [...]

The Allen County Landfill will get another tool to try to control wayward trash. Commissioners approved the purchase of a new hydroseeder, a machine that sprays water and chemicals on the refuse pile to keep it from blowing into neighboring properties. The machine also helps landfill crews minimize the amount of dirt they have to use to cover the pile. “It’s very important we wet trash down during the day to keep it from blowing, and every day we spray a fire retardant chemical,” Mitch Garner, Public Works director, told commissioners. Source: The Iola Register

In just one hour after Friday’s storm passed, Allen County’s dispatchers handled nearly twice as many calls compared to the total of an average day. Between 6 and 7 p.m. on Friday, the dispatch center handled 235 calls, not including responding to radio traffic for law enforcement, fire and ambulance crews. An average day in June brought a total of 134 calls. To illustrate just how many calls that is, 911 Director Chelsie Angleton compiled a list of statistics about calls in June, the day of the storm and the days preceding and following. She presented the information to commissioners on Tuesday as part [...]

Most county departments are facing increased costs, primarily due to more pay to attract and retain personnel. ... Chairman David Lee said most of the requests were due to wages and benefits. Department heads requested 5% wage increases. Commissioners may ask them to reduce that number to 3% or 4%. “We’re going to have to see how finances are looking and if we can support those requests,” Lee said. “The resounding theme from department heads is that the cost of doing business has gone up over the past two or three years.” Lee said his priority is to attract and retain [...]

The ordinance to restrict semi-trailers from parking along city streets has been on the books for decades, Humboldt Council members learned Monday night, but never enforced. That willingness to turn a blind eye caught up with them when “just one guy,” turned into several parking their rigs in front of people’s homes, causing a problem for fellow residents. Last month, Council members ordered City Attorney Fred Works to draft an ordinance banning the parking of large vehicles along city streets. Source: The Iola Register

Hutchinson residents can bring more chickens home to roost. The Hutchinson City Council voted Tuesday to increase the number of chickens a resident can own, changing it from three to eight chickens on most city properties, the Hutchinson News reported. Jim Sietnater, interim planning director, told the newspaper that keeping chickens is a growing trend. If someone wants a larger flock of chickens and has the area to do that, they can add an additional chicken for every 250 square feet. That maxes out at 20 chickens. All chickens must be fenced in, with coops being kept neat in appearance. However, [...]