Commission reverses course, limits fireworks sales and discharge to four days

Plans set for 'Rockets and Rails' Independence Day celebration

Downtown streets to close for annual car show

Economic Development Council reports $8.6 million in capital investment

Ordinance hiking code enforcement fines tabled due to cost concerns

Disagreement over committee assignments forces work session

Commissioners approve $16,000 wage study despite concerns

Appraiser's office to close temporarily for relocation

East Park boat ramp construction underway

Trappers Rendezvous attendance increases

Storm Fury on the Plains set for Feb. 12

New bridge opens on Southeast 36th Street

Commission reverses course, limits fireworks sales and discharge to four days

NEWTON, Kan. — In a reversal from previous discussions, the Newton City Commission voted unanimously to draft a permanent ordinance limiting the sale and discharge of fireworks to July 1 through July 4. While the commission had previously considered a nine-day window to increase sales tax revenue, staff presented cell phone tracking data from Placer AI indicating that customer traffic only spikes during the final days of the season. Commissioners noted they had received overwhelming feedback from residents requesting fewer days due to concerns regarding pets and post-traumatic stress disorder. Under the new motion, discharge hours will be 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on July 1–2, and 10 a.m. to midnight on July 3–4.

Plans set for 'Rockets and Rails' Independence Day celebration

NEWTON, Kan. — The city commission received an update on the "Rockets and Rails" Independence Day celebration, scheduled for July 3 in downtown Newton. The event, supported by $25,000 in Convention and Visitors Bureau funds approved last summer, will celebrate the nation's upcoming 250th anniversary. Activities will center around Military Park and include food trucks, family activities and a concert by the Stolen Winnebagos. The evening will conclude with a professional fireworks display launched from the roof of New Jerusalem Missions, managed by a licensed pyrotechnics contractor.

Downtown streets to close for annual car show

NEWTON, Kan. — Commissioners approved a request to close several downtown streets on May 2 for the annual Newton Car Show. The closures will affect Main Street from Fifth to Eighth, Sixth Street from Oak to Poplar, and portions of Broadway and Seventh Street. The Kansas Department of Transportation has approved the closure of the highway portions of Main Street. The city will also provide picnic tables, trash cans and welcome flags.

Economic Development Council reports $8.6 million in capital investment

NEWTON, Kan. — Beth Shelton, executive director of the Harvey County Economic Development Council, presented the organization's 2025 year-end report, highlighting $8.6 million in local capital investment. Shelton reported that the EDC responded to 39 requests for proposals in 2025—up from 14 a decade ago—with the majority focused on manufacturing. The report noted the recruitment of Olympus Filters to Newton and expansions by existing companies including Avcon, Midwest Transformer and Stinger, resulting in 75 new full-time jobs paying at or above the county's average wage.

Ordinance hiking code enforcement fines tabled due to cost concerns

NEWTON, Kan. — Commissioners voted to table an ordinance that would have amended fines and penalties for code enforcement violations after determining the changes would significantly increase costs for individual residents. The ordinance was intended to create consistency by applying the same fine structure to individual homeowners as business entities, which would have raised the minimum fine for a first offense to $250—more than double the current amount for some residential infractions. Commissioners requested staff return at a future meeting with a comparison of fines from surrounding communities and data on how many individual residents are typically fined versus those who comply after a warning.

Disagreement over committee assignments forces work session

NEWTON, Kan. — The commission failed to reach a consensus on 2026 committee assignments, leading the board to schedule a special work session for Feb. 4 at 9 a.m. One commissioner advocated for rotating committee seats to allow all commissioners to gain experience in different advisory roles, while other board members expressed a preference for maintaining current assignments to preserve established rapport with external boards. Motions to swap specific assignments or maintain the status quo both failed to gain traction, stalling the appointments until the February work session.

Commissioners approve $16,000 wage study despite concerns

NEWTON, Kan. — The Harvey County Board of Commissioners voted to approve a compensation scale update with McGrath Human Resources Group at a cost of $16,895. While the motion passed, the decision followed significant debate regarding the frequency and cost of such studies. One commissioner expressed hesitation, describing the process of keeping up with neighboring counties as a "hamster wheel" and suggesting the county explore alternative methods for staying competitive. County administration advocated for the study, citing significant market shifts and the complexity of comparing government benefits to private sector wages.

Appraiser's office to close temporarily for relocation

NEWTON, Kan. — The Harvey County Appraiser's Office will be closed to the public from Feb. 4 through Feb. 11 to facilitate a move to a new location. The office is relocating to the third floor of the building at 215 S. Pine St. Staff noted that the closure occurs during the beginning of the tax hearing season but assured the commission that phone lines and computers would be operational quickly to handle property valuation appeals.

East Park boat ramp construction underway

NEWTON, Kan. — The old boat ramp at Harvey County East Park has been completely removed and the first concrete slab for the new ramp has been poured. The project requires a 15- to 20-day cure time before the slab is pushed into the water, followed by the pouring of the remaining ramp sections. The project is estimated to be completed in approximately one month, well in time for the upcoming boating season.

Trappers Rendezvous attendance increases

NEWTON, Kan. — The annual Trappers Rendezvous event saw a significant increase in participation this year, with 3,120 registered attendees, up approximately 10 to 12 percent from the previous year. The event was successful and largely uneventful regarding safety issues. Planning has already begun for next year, which will mark the 50th anniversary of the event.

Storm Fury on the Plains set for Feb. 12

NEWTON, Kan. — The annual "Storm Fury on the Plains" presentation will take place on Thursday, Feb. 12, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the McKinley Administrative Center in Newton. The free event, hosted in partnership with the National Weather Service, teaches residents about storm science, storm spotting and severe weather safety. Harvey County Emergency Management Director Mike Anderson's department encourages public attendance, noting that recent weather patterns in Oklahoma suggest an active storm season.

New bridge opens on Southeast 36th Street

NEWTON, Kan. — The commission noted the completion and opening of the new bridge on Southeast 36th Street near the outlet mall. While the project was managed by the Kansas Department of Transportation rather than the county, commissioners highlighted the bridge's importance to local traffic. Construction on the project began in the summer of 2024.

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