Butler County News Archives

Laymon Oil II LLC, No. 3-96 Curry, 2815 feet from south line and 2980 feet from east line, sec of 24-23s-19e; ½bopd from Cherokee at 704-741. Triple B Crude LLC, No. via Kansas.com

“I think we've been lucky so far”

Danger level high; officials urge caution

Wind doesn't cause fires, but it sure does fuel them. Fire officials are urging people to be extra cautious because of a mix of strong winds, low relative humidity and dry grass and brush.

The risk for dangerous fires was extreme Monday in central Kansas and very high in south-central and southeast Kansas, according to the Rangeland Fire Danger Index.

Fire Marshal Tim Millspaugh of the Sedgwick County Fire Department said crews fought a few grass fires Monday, two of which started because residents hadn't completely put out previous burn piles. Read more

“It kind of makes me a little more nervous having the kids out here playing in the yard. You know, I always make sure I can see them from the window or whatever, but it just...It's sad that the big city is moving into the small town”

A crime common to big cities is now hitting small towns, like Benton and other areas in Butler County. via Kansas' CW

“It's not a problem unique to Elk County at all”

Two Elk county residents who are facing animal cruelty charges had nearly 60 animals removed from their property last week. via WIBW-TV Topeka

“It's been kind of frustrating, because if you have a four-wheeler or something, and you leave it parked there, you can get a ticket for it”

Two Kansas landowners have sued for compensation after the government took old railroad rights of way on their properties -- but unless Congress intervenes, only one is likely to get paid.

The aim was to turn the old tracks into recreational trails. But the cases illustrate how federal rails-to-trails programs can lead to decades of legal conflict.

The controversy over rail-trail conversions has been brewing since Congress passed the federal Trails Act 25 years ago. It allowed the U.S. Surface Transportation Board to give unused railroad lines back to states to use as recreational trails. But adjoining landowners began asking why that property wasn't returned to them. Read more

Crews from three departments are fighting a grassfire along Hwy 54 in Butler County. via Kansas' CW

Crews from three departments are fighting a grassfire along Hwy 54 in Butler County. via KWCH

“We're not looking at it as a competition”

All is not quiet on the Western front. Butler County officials and the new owners of the Prairie Rose Chuckwagon Supper have contacted the city of Wichita to express displeasure at the City Council's approval ... via Kansas.com

“The Wranglers I think are ambassadors for the state of Kansas. They put Western music on the map for this state”

It's two horses and two towns, but Western Entertainment hot spots Cowtown and the Prairie Rose are barely a county apart. via WIBW-TV Topeka