West Emporia travel plaza poised for above-ground construction

Street repairs are underway on part of a northwest Emporia street. Repairs began Wednesday on part of Flint Road after a 20-inch water main failed near the intersection with Arrowhead Drive back in mid-November. The city has not said how long it will take to make the needed repairs. Separately,...

A special signage project is underway on several area highways. The Kansas Department of Transportation says signage is currently being replaced on Kansas Highway 99 in Lyon and Greenwood counties, as well as Kansas Highway 58 east of Madison, US Highway 54 and US Highway 400, both in Greenwood County. This involves so-called high-performance signs, which use lettering that’s highly reflective in headlines for better visibility than other kinds of signs. The new signs can also withstand harsh weather conditions without rusting or going dull.

No signs of natural gas were found after a reported gas leak at a west Emporia retailor Thursday night. The Emporia Fire Department responded to Ross Dress For Less inside of the Emporia Pavillions after workers reported a suspicious odor believed to be natural gas just after 5:40 pm. Once on scene, crews made entry and found no sign of a gas leak according to Battalion Chief Ryan Conley.

Details are pending and the paperwork hasn’t reached the Lyon County Register of Deeds Office, but both sides involved in the Emporia Country Club sale say the process has closed. Investor Jerid Thomas, part of Emporia Community Group LLC, says the sale closed Monday, slightly ahead of the targeted...

The Kansas Turnpike Authority has approved a contract for upcoming highway projects northeast of Emporia. The contract involves drainage improvements at mile marker 141.6. It also includes pavement repairs for northbound and southbound outside lanes between mile markers 140-143, or 13-16 miles northeast of the Emporia tollgate. Bettis Asphalt &...

Financially speaking, the City of Emporia is kicking off the 2023 calendar year on the right foot. According to the 2022 year-end summary presented by City Treasurer Janet Harouff Wednesday morning, the city’s general fund ended the year with a higher unencumbered cash total than 2021. The city ended with $4.7 million more than the original budget projections according to Harouff.

Newsmaker: Susan Atchison discusses preparations for area St. David’s Day activities. Newsmaker 2: Lyon County Sheriff Jeff Cope discusses the department’s recent Kansas Department of Transportation 2023 Traffic Safety Award. Newsmaker 3: Chase County Sheriff Jacob Welsh and new Undersheriff Aaron Hoffman.

The construction of a new skate park in the Emporia City Limits will be a phased effort with administration currently in phase one. The main focus of phase one is deciding the ideal location for the project after original plans to replace the current Santa Fe Skate Park fell through following lease negotiations with Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad. At this time, it appears the project will be located within Whittier Park following a review of all city parks last year according to City Manager Trey Cocking.

In general terms, Lyon County’s weekly COVID-19 traffic remains on par with past weeks. Public Health reported 42 new cases, down from the 63 cases reported Jan. 25 but in the range of 20-70 new weekly cases that has held firm since September. Deaths remained steady at 134. Lyon...

The Area Game of the Week returns Friday with Chase County traveling to Hartford. The Chase County girls are 10-5 on the season, while Hartford is 3-13. Chase County coach Amber Rausch says they have come out strong and ready to play. The Chase County boys are 12-3 while the...

Court hearings are ahead for two people who allegedly tried to steal books from the former Cedar Point school building late last month. Formal charges have been filed against 25-year-old Kathryn Laine Culbert of Eureka and 23-year-old Jacobsen Thomas Eells of Topeka. Both are charged with burglary of a non-dwelling, misdemeanor theft and possession of marijuana, methamphetamine and paraphernalia.

After 15 years at the helm, Lynn Smith has announced her upcoming retirement as executive director of Pioneer Bluffs. Smith became the facility’s first director and guided Pioneer Bluffs through renovation projects — including the signature white barn — as well as an expanding event schedule. Smith also guided a boom in fundraising through Pioneer Bluffs’ ongoing association with the Emporia Community Foundation’s Match Day process.

Equipment purchases, contracts and presentations are all set to come before Lyon County Commissioners during their regular action session Thursday morning. Commissioners may approve a low bid from D&L Trailers for a dual axle diamond C equipment trailer for the Road and Bridge Department at a cost of $34,494. A bid for a John Deere UTV from Prairieland Partners for a total of just over $27,000 for the Noxious Weed Department may also see approval.

A pretrial hearing is coming Friday for a woman accused in Lyon County District Court of offender registry violations. Latasha Ghramm is formally accused with three counts of aggravated violations and one count of a registration violation. She’s accused of failing to report her registration information to the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office between March and August 2021, September 2021 and this past February, March and August 2022 and September 2022. She was convicted in 2012 of possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute.

USD 386 Madison-Virgil needs a new superintendent. In a special meeting this week, the district board “regrettably” accepted the resignation of Steve Jowers effective at the end of the academic year in June. Board members also briefly discussed the next steps in a search. Jowers is becoming the...

The Emporia High boys swim and diving team is down to its final three regular-season meets. The Spartans travel to Topeka for the Topeka West Invitational Wednesday. Junior Ian Navarro will be swimming in the 200-yard and 500-yard freestyles, while also being a part of the 200 free and 400 free relays.

An investigation continues after the discovery of human remains in east Lyon County from over five years ago. The skull was found in late April 2017 in the 2000 block of Road 145, near the Neosho River and less than a mile west of Neosho Rapids after rainfall shortly before the discovery. Besides the skull, authorities found a black trash bag about 20 feet north of the skull. Other unspecified human remains were inside, but animals had torn into the bag to get to the remains despite the body being wrapped in a fitted bed sheet and comforter.

Five area nonprofit entities are receiving grant funds through the Emporia Community Foundation. The Community Foundation’s Grants Committee announced award amounts for the following groups Tuesday:. *$10,000 for COF Training Services to repair a building foundation and make housing repairs at its Burlington facility. COF Training Services offers housing...

Emporia State football Coach Garin Higgins has announced the addition of 39 players with this year’s recruiting class. There are 34 high school players and 5 transfers. Coach Higgins says he is excited by the quality and quantity of this year’s class. Coach Higgins says this class meets...

Chase County Law Enforcement now has its second in command and its a face very familiar with the department. It was recently announced that Aaron Hoffman had been appointed as Chase County’s new undersheriff serving under Sheriff Jacob Welsh. Hoffman came to Kansas back in 2006 and began his career in law enforcement as a part-time dispatcher in high school before becoming an officer in the field.