News

Could the county build a new shop on the unused fairgrounds land?

The main shop of the Harvey County Road and Bridge Department, located near the intersection of Old Trail Road and Spencer in Newton, was constructed in 1935. It is a building that is showing its age, on a property that is showing how the needs of the county have changed over the course of the last 87 years. The mail building, constructed of masonry block, has sections that are literally crumbling away. Rectangular columns called Pilasters designed to hold up headers are falling apart - showing the rebar that is inside them.

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In Brief

Newton USD 373 contacted “stakeholder” by email Sept. 29 seeking responses to an “ESSER III survey.” According to the email, The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 requires school districts to engage in consultation with groups of stakeholders within the district and community.

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County sets date for wind energy rules vote

For members of the Harvey County Planning and Zoning Board there has been a lot of work to get to this week - the week that recommended rules for renewable energy projects were formally presented to the Harvey County Commission for initial review and questions. “We tried to make it as fair to everybody as we could,” said Justin Stucky, the chair of the Planning and Zoning Board. “It’s not only the neighbors, but people who own these properties as well. That was a tough one for us, that is for sure.” The Harvey County Commission gave first review to proposed zoning regulations by the Harvey County Planning and Zoning Board for Commercial Renewable Energy Projects on Sept. 27.

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Pandemic spending at Kansas hospitals could make insurance more expensive

WICHITA — Spending shot up at hospitals in the first year of the pandemic amid struggles to find workers and critical supplies. Kansas saw a particularly big jump — and residents may end up footing the bill. Hospitals in the state spent an average of $2,228 per patient per day in 2020, a 13% jump from the year before. That outpaced the national spending increase, according to an analysis of American Health Association data by LendingTree. “Hospitals have been facing longstanding financial issues even before the pandemic,” said Chad Austin, president and CEO of the Kansas Hospital Association. “And more recently, hospitals are not immune to the challenges created from the cost and the impact of the pandemic.”

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