The Salina Post

The Kansas Department of Transportation will begin a mill and overlay project on Interstate 135 in McPherson County. The project is scheduled to begin Monday one mile south of the Kansas Highway 61 junction and continuing north to the Saline County line for approximately 19 miles. Traffic will be reduced to one lane with a 14-foot width restriction at the location the contractor is actively working. APAC Inc. of Hutchinson is the prime contractor and have scheduled this project to be completed by Sept. 9, weather permitting, at a cost of $5.8 million. (Read more: The Salina Post)

The Kansas Attorney General’s office has charged the former Marshall County Clerk with felony misuse of public funds, according to Attorney General Derek Schmidt. The charges were filed against Sonya L. Stohs, 44, of Marysville, late Tuesday in Marshall County District Court, Attorney General Derek Schmidt said. The complaint alleges from May 2013 to April 2019, Stohs used funds belonging to Marshall County to pay for various personal items, in excess of $100,000. Stohs surrendered to law enforcement this morning at the Marshall County Jail and entered her first appearance this afternoon in Marshall County District Court. The investigation in this [...]

Following an executive session at their meeting today, Salina USD 305 board members unanimously voted to offer Linn Exline a superintendent contract, dropping ‘interim’ from her superintendent title. “As educators our responsibility to the students in our care is immense,” said Exline. “We have one chance to get K-12 education right for each student. Part of our job is to open as many doors as possible for our graduates. As a leader I take that responsibility seriously, and I’m proud to be able to lead and work beside a top-notch staff to that end.” Four board seats will be determined at the [...]

As Saline County faces the potential for record flooding along Mulberry Creek near Salina and the Smoky Hill River near New Cambria, Bob Vidricksen, Saline County Commission chair, has signed a disaster declaration in anticipation of the flooding. Cresting of the river at 27.8 feet is expected to occur Tuesday around noon. (Read more: The Salina Post)

Law enforcement personnel who died in the line of duty were remembered Wednesday morning during the annual Peace Officer Memorial Ceremony. Appropriately, the ceremony was conducted in the park named after the last Salina officer to die in the line of duty, Salina’s Jerry Ivey Park. “Your presence here speaks volumes for your support of law enforcement,” Salina Police Chief Brad Nelson told the more than 100 persons in attendance. “It means the world to my officers that you took the time out of your day to be here with us.” (Read more: The Salina Post)

Reno County Commissioners have signed an emergency declaration and emergency management officials urged residents in the usual flood-prone areas around Cow Creek to evacuate their property if they haven’t done so. Emergency Mangement Director Adam Weishar says the evacuation is not mandatory, but an Everbridge alert was sent out to residents in that area asking they leave before all roads become impassable. (Read more: The Salina Post)

Registration is still open for this year’s Kansas Rural Opportunities Conference in Dodge City. The Kansas Department of Commerce hosts this conference annually to provide useful information about rural Kansas living, as well as to engage in a dialogue with rural Kansans to determine how the Department can bolster its efforts to improve the well-being of rural communities in the state. The Conference will take place at the Boot Hill Casino & Conference Center in Dodge City on April 2-3. (Read more: The Salina Post)

The City of Abilene is seeking public input concerning the future of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Municipal Building. In a post on its Facebook page, the city is asking citizens for feedback. According to Abilene’s website, the city is “undertaking a review of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Municipal Building to determine a plan for the future of the public facilities located in the current facility.” “Many aspects of the building are no longer adequate to meet the public service needs of the departments that use the building. The gymnasium/auditorium is deteriorating and would require extensive rehabilitation to return it to a [...]

Residents of Nicodemus are trying to repopulate the historical African American community with the construction of tiny homes. JohnElla Holmes, a Nicodemus resident and township trustee, is spearheading the effort. Holmes’ ancestors lived in Nicodemus, and she moved back to the community in 2015 after her retirement. Nicodemus was founded in 1877 by African Americans moving west during the Reconstruction. It is the only remaining African American settlement west of the Mississippi and is registered as a National Historic Site. Holmes remembers as a child coming home to Nicodemus during the summer for festivals and seeing aunts, uncles and cousins. She [...]

The city and county appear to be close to an agreement on a road impact fee and annexation and maintenance of roads. According to a news release from the city, the Salina City Commission is scheduled to conduct a special meeting at 2:35 p.m. Monday (or as soon thereafter as possible following the special meeting of the Saline County Commission) to consider approving an agreement with Saline County providing for a road impact fee and annexation and maintenance of certain roads, and to execute a joint motion of the city and county to vacate injunction. (Read more: The Salina Post)