Jail overcrowding forces inmate relocation to neighboring counties

Commission approves provisional ballots from recent primary

Official election canvas finalizes primary results

Public works defends chip sealing operations amid heat

Jail overcrowding forces inmate relocation to neighboring counties

MCPHERSON COUNTY, Kan. — The McPherson County Jail is currently operating above its 54-bed capacity, holding 59 inmates and forcing the McPherson County Sheriff's Office to house overflow populations in neighboring facilities. McPherson County Sheriff Jerry Montagne reported that inmates have been temporarily sent to Rice and Marion counties to alleviate safety concerns, facility challenges, and staffing difficulties associated with the overcrowding. The county pays $15,000 a month to house inmates in Rice County while utilizing a trade agreement with Marion County to swap inmates without incurring additional housing fees.

Commission approves provisional ballots from recent primary

MCPHERSON COUNTY, Kan. — McPherson County Clerk Hollie Melroy presented 118 provisional ballots from the recent primary election, with the McPherson County Commission voting to accept 69 in full and 18 partially. Melroy explained that 31 ballots were denied for various reasons, including voters attempting to vote in person after requesting mail-in ballots, or failing to provide proper identification before the canvas. The clerk noted that incomplete contact information on provisional envelopes hindered the McPherson County Clerk's Office from reminding voters to provide missing identification, which could have allowed more votes to count.

Official election canvas finalizes primary results

MCPHERSON COUNTY, Kan. — The McPherson County Commission officially approved the final canvas of the Aug. 4 primary election, certifying the results of local and regional races following a successful transition to the election office's new location. McPherson County Clerk Hollie Melroy reported outcomes for several key districts, including Republican Keith Becker's victory for the District 1 McPherson County Commission seat and Republican Tom Kueser's win for the District 2 McPherson County Commission seat, alongside a successfully passed Smoky Valley USD 400 bond issue. The canvas also finalized several tightly contested township clerk write-in campaigns and precinct committee positions.

Public works defends chip sealing operations amid heat

MCPHERSON COUNTY, Kan. — The McPherson County Public Works Department updated the McPherson County Commission on current road projects, emphasizing that despite resident complaints about dust and loose rock, chip sealing remains the most cost-effective way to preserve local roads. McPherson County Public Works Director David Bohnenblust noted crews are actively chip sealing the east side of Fourth Avenue and the McPherson County parking lot to seal cracks, prevent water intrusion, and extend asphalt life by up to five years. Once the oil and rock settle, crews will sweep the loose materials and repaint the affected roadways before moving on to overlay work on Fifth Avenue.

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