Mulvane

The hot and dry weather has two communities asking residents to consider water usage.  The City of Augusta gets its water from El Dorado Lake, Augusta City Lake and Santa Fe Lake.  But because of the current conditions, lake levels at Augusta City Lake and Santa Fe Lake are low.  "One of the things playing against us is the hot, windy days," said Augusta City Manager Bill Keefer.  "People don't realize the magnitude of water that evaporates each...

The Kansas Jayhawks will be looking for a new linebacker this year after Huldon Tharp announced he would forgo his final year of eligability due to injuries. Tharp, who graduated from Mulvane in 2009, already used his redshirt in 2010 because of injury. He also sat out his senior year of high school (2008) due to injury. “Physically my body just can't hold up anymore,” said Tharp, who has battled injuries throughout his Jayhawk career. “I love KU and have enjoyed my time being a part of the football program.

A Mulvane homeowner shoots an intruder in his garage around 3:30 Wednesday morning. That was on the 1000 block of E. 149th Avenue N, which is just south of the Sedgwick County line. Investigators say the man woke up to sounds coming from his garage. When he went to his garage he found an intruder inside. The homeowner held the intruder at gunpoint while his wife called 911. That's when the thief attacked the homeowner. The gun was fired once, hitting the thief in the upper chest.

Two people are dead and a third is in critical condition after a head-on collision involving two pick-ups south of Mulvane. The Kansas Highway Patrol blocked off a large area Monday morning on K-15 near Webb Road as investigators worked to piece together the accident. "At this point, it looks like one vehicle did leave their lane and cross into the other lane, causing the crash to occur," Trooper Sean Hankins said. Hankins said it's still unclear what caused one pick-up to leave its lane.  The driver of the pickup that crossed the center line is identified as 30-year-old Kyle Staab of Arkansas City.  Also killed was 33-eyar-old Kristy Roszel of Wichita.  A 27-year-old passenger in the first vehicle was thrown from the pickup and found lying on the ground by EMS crews.  He is hospitalized in critical condition.

Update: Police in Mulvane have released several surveillance images of the man who robbed the Carson Bank Tuesday morning.  Police say he got away in an 80's model Chevy S10 extended cab, long bed pickup truck.  The truck is faded red and white. See More Surveillance Pictures Police believe he is also responsible for a bank robbery in Haysville back in November. Anyone with information on where he is is asked to contact police. The suspect got away with cash and caused a gas leak.  The robbery happened around 10:45 Tuesday morning at Carson Bank at 122 S. Main.

Confusion may be the best way to explain it.     Last year Mulvane passed a $12.5 million bond issue to focus on safety and security. The concern started after a post on Facebook that said money for a FEMA approved storm shelter was taken out of the budget. “I did see it on Facebook,” says parent Samatha Saville. “I heard the rumor about storm shelters on Facebook yesterday,” says parent Tina Faught. The post raised concerns about the district possibly scrapping plans to build a FEMA approved storm shelter.  Now the district is explaining exactly what students at Munson Primary School in Mulvane will have by the time they return next fall.

Just like Randy Nelson could use a break from the heat, he'd take a drop in taxes too.  He'll at least catch some slack in his property tax.  The Mulvane city council agreed to reduce property taxes by 10-percent. "Anything will help.  10, 15, 5... anything will help yes,” Nelson said. Nelson, like other residents, will notice the change on his December 2013 statement.  City Administrator Kent Hixson says a home assessed at 120-thousand-dollars will save about 69-dollars a year in city taxes.  And that's not all. “We're able to shift the cost traditionally borne by some of the electrical to the property tax and we're able to reduce the expenses for the utilities,” Hixson said.

Whether hard core gamblers, penny slot players or mere curiousity seekers, people flocked to the Kansas Star Casino in Mulvane on its first day open to the public. More than 600 people were waiting in line outside when the doors opened at 8 a.m. on December 26th.  The crowd grew into the thousands as they day went on.  At times there was a thirty minute wait to get in as the building continued to operate at capacity throughout the day. The Kansas Star was initially slated to open in February but construction finished early.  The gaming takes place in a temporary location the first year.  When the permanent gaming area is opened a year from now, the area being used now will become the events and equestrian center.  At that time, the number of slot machines will increase from 1311 to 1700, meanwhile the number of table games will double.  The third phase, which includes a hotel, is slated to be finished two years from now. The majority of casino profits go the gaming company, however about a quarter of the money is shared by state and local government.

The Kansas Star Casino has meant lower taxes, money for students and teachers, and even lower electric bills. In just one year, the casino has had an impact on Mulvane and Sumner County. “The majority of it is good,” says Luciano Mottola, owner of Luciano's restaurant in Mulvane. He enjoying lower taxes and more customers since the casino opened. Others in Mulvane are also enjoying the benefits. “Honestly I was against it when they first opened up, but it has had a positive effect on the community,” says Donetta Summers who lives in Mulvane and works at the restaurant.

Word spread quickly across Sumner County when the the Lottery Review Board voted to put the casino in Mulvane instead of Wellington. "My daughter called and said that the casino was accepted for Mulvane," said Cathy McKerracher. She said she's happy her home town was chosen. "We're so glad that it's over with. " That sense of relief was felt across Mulvane. About 30 minutes away in Wellington, while people were disappointed, they were happier that a decision was made.