Areas parks get recycled tire grants
Two parks in Labette County and the Yates Center Reservoir will get new tables made from recycled tires, The Parsons Sun and The Yates Center News reported. The cities of Yates Center, Edna and Oswego received state health department grants. Yates Center will get $2,596 for eight picnic tables at the reservoir. Edna will receive $3,036 for eight picnic tables that comply with the Americans With Disabilities Act for Edna City Lake. Oswego will get $4,404 for 12 picnic tables, including two that comply with ADA, for Riverside Park. The grants are funded through a 25-cent tax paid on the purchase of new tires.
Boat company still searching for site
CHANUTE Management of a pontoon boat company turned down a counter proposal from the Chanute city commission and will re-open their search for a manufacturing plant, The Chanute Tribune reported last week. Coach Marine Group is looking to relocate manufacturing of its Excursion pontoon boat line to southeast Kansas from Iowa. The city offered to sell a building for $250,000 with incentives, which the company turned down. City leaders said they have not received requested financial information from the company.
Theater owner promises repairs
BURLINGTON The new owner of the former Plaza Theater building told city leaders an effort will be made to improve the safety and appearance of the building as soon as funds allow, The Coffey County Republican reported. The building was remodeled into a movie theater in 1940 and later was home to opry-style shows. The previous owner lives in Canada and the city had trouble getting repairs made. The deed to the property was transferred several weeks ago to a company formed by a retired Burlington woman who is president of the Coffey County Council for the Arts.
Man collapses as police respond to dog attack report
FREDONIA A Fredonia man was hospitalized for a serious medical condition after police officers responded to a report of a dog attack, according to The Wilson County Citizen. The mans condition did not seem to be associated with the dog attack, but he was a resident of the property and was found on the ground. The original report was for three dogs attacking another dog; the dog under attack died at the scene and the three attacking dogs were killed for acting aggressively toward officers. The condition of the resident was not known.
Big Hill road repairs
CHERRYVALE Construction began last week to resurface a six-mile stretch of 19000 Road known as Big Hill Lake Road near Cherryvale, The Parsons Sun reported. The project is expected to take about six weeks at a cost of $1.58 million, paid for by a $1.55 million federal grant because of the roads proximity to a federal reservoir, Big Hill. The road will receive additional base material, have drainage issues addressed and get a new chip and seal surface.
Hearing impaired can get free smoke alarms from state
PARSONS Hearing-impaired people can receive free smoke alarms that alert them of fires through strobe lights or a shaking bed, according to The Parsons Sun. A Parsons man whose son was born deaf said he wanted to raise awareness of the program, offered by the Kansas State Fire Marshals office. He learned about the Get Alarmed Kansas program from his sons school in Olathe.
McClendon visits Chanute
CHANUTE A man running for Kansas Secretary of State helped make Chanute the center of Google Earth, The Chanute Tribune reported. Brian McClendon, a Lawrence native, is unopposed in the Democratic primary for a seat currently held by Kris Kobach. Hell face one of five Republican opponents. McClendon, an electrical and software engineer who worked for 30 years in Silicon Valley, worked with Chanute-area native Dan Webb. When McClendon made Lawrence the default center of Google Earth for PC computers, Webb made Chanute the center of the universe for Macs.
