Kansas
Kansas town names dog park in memory of beloved service animal
PRATT, Kan. (KCTV) – People and the four-legged members of their families have a new place to run and play this Memorial Day.
It’s partially due to Marco, a golden retriever and guide dog, that showed unconditional love and total dedication to its owner, Randy Teske, of Pratt, for years while helping him navigate the transition of losing his sight.
The Marco Teske Dog Park opened in Pratt, Kan., a month ago. It honors the life of the guide dog while also providing other pups a safe place to run and play.
Marco had more than 250 hours of training before being assigned to Teske. The guide dog then went through additional training after moving into a Pratt home to live with Teske and his wife, according to the South Central Community Foundation.
ALSO READ: Memorial Day events planned around the KC metro in 2024
Just as Marco worked for years to help Teske, opening the new dog park took a lot of dedication from dozens of business owners and residents who supported the effort.
“It was exciting to see the collaborative effort of nearly 40 families and businesses make this community benefit a reality,” Holly Launchbaugh, Marco Teske Dog Park Chairwoman, said.
After getting approval from city leaders, members of a committee spent months raising money to pay for fencing, trash cans, and benches at the park.
“The city is very excited to see the Marco Teske Dog Park come into fruition and provide an opportunity for our furry citizens to run free and enjoy companionship with other dogs,” Kyle Farmer, City Commissioner, said.
ALSO READ: Legacy of service: Kansas City man remembers father who paid ultimate sacrifice in WWII
Marco assisted Teske for nearly 7 years before passing away from cancer. During their partnership the duo worked together to raise awareness about the crucial service guide dogs perform and educated the public about the correct way to interact with service animals.
Following Marco’s passing, Teske received another guide dog named Yeti. Teske and Yeti have worked as a team since 2021.
Copyright 2024 KCTV. All rights reserved.
Kansas
LET’S TALK | KSHB coming to Northeast Kansas City, Missouri, on Jan. 20
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The KSHB 41 News team will be landing in Northeast Kansas City, Missouri, for our latest Let’s Talk event.
We’ll be hanging out from 5 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 20, at Peachtree Cafeteria, 2128 E. 12th Street, in Kansas City, Missouri, 64127.
Join KSHB 41’s Kevin Holmes, Wes Peery, Alyssa Jackson, Ryan Gamboa and others in person to let us know what we need to learn about the Historic Northeast, its residents, what’s going well and what opportunities are possible.
If you can’t make it in person, send us a question using the form below.
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Kansas
Kansas ag officials take comment on proposed water rules
Posted:
Updated:
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — The Kansas Department of Agriculture held a meeting on Thursday to discuss proposed rules regarding the Kansas Water Appropriation Act.
The Division of Water Resources is proposing new regulations and changes to current regulations under the law.
The division is looking at amending or revoking regulations related to flowmeters tracking water usage.
It is also proposing changes to groundwater usage rules on how far you can move a well from its original location to prevent harming the water rights of other landowners.
Another regulation would create voluntary Water Conservation Areas, where landowners work with the division to establish water conservation plans on their properties.
Some of the concerns raised at Thursday’s meeting dealt with property rights and the transfer of land to new owners. Some expressed concern about the sale of water rights to other landowners in the area.
There is no listed timeline for when the changes could be made.
For more Kansas news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news by downloading our mobile app and signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track 3 Weather app by clicking here. To watch our shows live on our website, click here.
Kansas
Rural Kansas fire department reports record number of calls in 2025
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — A rural Kansas fire department says it saw yet another increase in calls in 2025.
On Tuesday, Butler County Fire District #3 posted data about last year on social media.
It responded to 782 alarms in 2025, which is a new record.
The majority of the calls were for rescue and emergency medical services, followed by service calls.
The department’s data show the number of calls has been trending upward over the last 20 years.
From 2006 to 2010, the department handled an an average of 550 calls a year. From 2021 through 2025, that average was 720, a 31% increase.
Officials said continued growth in the community has increased the demand for emergency services.
“These numbers reinforce the importance of ongoing training, staffing, equipment planning, and community support to ensure we can continue to provide timely and effective service,” the department said on Facebook.
For more Kansas news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news by downloading our mobile app and signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track 3 Weather app by clicking here. To watch our shows live on our website, click here.
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