Olathe tops in keeping waste out of landfalls
Olathe says its residents raised their recycling rate last year, diverting 42.41% of waste from landfills. That figure was up from 40.03% in 2018.
By comparison, the city said, the waste diversion rate was 38% for Johnson County as a whole, 27% in Kansas City and 34% nationally. The diversion rate is based on residential recycled material and yard waste kept out of the landfill.
“The focus of our recycling this year has been to cut down on contamination,” Public Works Director Mary Jaeger said in a news release. “Our residents have responded by ensuring the correct waste items are in the correct collection carts.”
SM South band director receives statewide honor
Steve Adams, who has been band director at Shawnee Mission South High School for 34 years, is the Kansas Music Educator of the Year.
The award, given by the Kansas Music Educators Association, was revealed at a surprise event in the school auditorium. Making the announcement was Associate Principal Nicholas Platko, a former band student of Adams, who inspired Patko to pursue a career in teaching and administration.
The award recognized Adams for mentoring teachers and students and fostering a love of music. One band parent wrote about being in awe of Adams’ positive attitude and added: “Our children have learned essential life skills including teamwork, leadership and accountability.”
Celebrating women’s right to vote
Former U.S. Treasurer Rosie Rios will be the keynote speaker Feb. 29 at an event marking the 100th anniversary of both the 19th Amendment and the League of Women Voters.
Rios, who was nominated for the post in 2009 by President Barack Obama, led efforts to put a woman’s portrait on the front of U.S. currency for the first time. Concepts for the democracy-themed bills will be unveiled later this year, according to Wikipedia. Rios now leads Empowerment 2020, which advocates for women in senior leadership positions and investment programs for women and girls.
The celebration begins at 2 p.m. in Yardley Hall at Johnson County Community College, Quivira Road and College Boulevard. Tickets cost $20 or $29 with a $5 special price for students in high school or earlier grades. Buy tickets at the JCCC box office.
Spring Hill couple gives $100,000 to Veterans Park
Longtime Spring Hill residents Al and Pam Knaebel have donated $100,000 to jump-start donations for a veterans’ monument and other amenities in the city’s new Veterans Park.
“We chose this opportunity to support the veterans monument because we wanted to be a part of something truly special, something that will stand in our community for a very long time and to do our part in the community,” said Al Knaebel, a longtime Spring Hill resident.
“Our family members span World War II, Vietnam and the Iraq war without going deeper into our history.”
The park, funded by a sales tax that voters approved in 2008, is expected to open this summer on the west side of Spring Hill City Lake.
Bike/hike path envisioned for 75th Street in Shawnee
Shawnee has wrapped up a study on how to enhance the mile-long stretch of 75th Street between Quivira and Switzer roads.
Among the recommendations is a bicycle and pedestrian trail on the south side of 75th. The city could accommodate the path by reducing the width of the center turn lane.
Also proposed are safety improvements, more pedestrian connections, enhanced bus stops to encourage transit and beautification along the corridor.
The report will guide the city as it undertakes a $3 million project to improve the thoroughfare.
Leawood second safest city in state
A recent safety ranking by alarms.org rates Leawood as the second-safest city in Kansas, behind the east-central community of McPherson.
“The Kansas City suburb of 35,000 earned the state’s lowest rate of violent crime, a remarkable 0.77 per 1,000,” the organization said. “While Leawood’s property crime rate is not quite as low, it is nevertheless below state and nationwide levels.”
Other cities in Johnson County also ranked high: Lenexa at No. 3; Gardner at No. 5; Olathe and Shawnee at No. 7 and 8, respectively; and Overland Park at No. 12.
Teens honored for saving dad’s life
Two Overland Park teenagers were recognized at a national event this month for using the 911 emergency system to save the life of their father.
Claire and Seth Johnson received the NG911 Institute’s Citizen in Action award during the 17th annual 911 Honor Awards held Feb. 12 in Washington D.C.
According to news releases from Johnson County, Claire placed a 911 call in the winter of 2019 after her father, Mark Johnson, went into cardiac arrest. Directed by a telecommunicator from the Johnson County Emergency Management & Communications Center, Seth and Claire took turns performing CPR until paramedics arrived.
Seth had learned CPR at school less than two weeks earlier. Claire had been trained both in school and as a lifeguard.
The teenagers were nominated by the Mid-America Regional Council, the Johnson County Emergency Management & Communications Center and GeoComm, a national company that provides communities with turnkey emergency 911 development services.
Lenexa seeks nominees for Volunteer Hall of Fame
Lenexa is taking nominations through March 6 for the city’s Volunteer Hall of Fame.
Nominees must live or volunteer in Lenexa and have given more than five years of service at a level beyond the normal scope of their employment, service organization or parental involvement. Current elected officials or city employees are not eligible.
Nominations should include the name and phone number of the nominator and the volunteer, the address of the volunteer and a detailed description of the nominee’s work and its impact.
Nominations should be submitted in writing to cityclerk@lenexa.com or to the city clerk at 17101 W. 87th St. Parkway, Lenexa, KS 66219.
Olathe Health to open Gardner clinic
On March 2, Olathe Health will open its new clinic at 109 E. Main St. in Gardner. A ribbon-cutting is scheduled for 11 a.m. March 10.
The facility, which is the first phase of a campus in Gardner, includes family medicine, urgent care and expanded imaging and lab services.
Free orchestra concert in Olathe
The Olathe Community Orchestra will present a free concert at 3 p.m. Feb. 23 at Grace United Methodist Church, 11485 S. Ridgeview Road in Olathe.
The lineup includes pieces by Bloch, Schumann, Salieri and Shostakovich, as well as original works by orchestra musicians Gavin Lendt and Reni Karanevich. A reception will take place at intermission.
Federal judge to speak
Federal Judge Julie A. Robinson, the first African-American named to the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas, will speak March 7 at a League of Women Voters event.
“Empowering Women to Lead” will begin at 9:15 a.m. at the Meadowbrook Park Clubhouse, 9101 Nall Ave. in Prairie Village. The judge, who was appointed to the bench in 2001 by President George W. Bush, will share insights from her groundbreaking career.
Robinson’s talk is free and open to the public, but reservations are due by Feb. 28 for a $5 continental breakfast at 8:30 a.m. Find the link at lwvjoco.org.
This story was originally published February 19, 2020 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Olathe tops in keeping waste out of landfalls."