General News in the 316

[SubGod22]

How am I just now learning that Manning's is a Wichita company?

[SubGod22]

Another temporary detour for those traveling on 135 this weekend.

KSN - Southbound I-135 to close Saturday in north Wichita

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — Drivers heading south on Interstate 135 on Saturday will have to take a detour north of Wichita.

The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) is closing the southbound lanes at 45th Street North, just before the North Junction construction site, at 7 a.m. on Nov. 5. The goal is to reopen the lanes by 6 p.m. Saturday. However, KDOT says the closure may extend until 6 a.m. Sunday.

Southbound drivers on I-135 will be detoured onto southbound Interstate 235, then to Broadway Avenue.

This might be the last stretch of the new ramp from 135 N to 235 S that needs to be put up. Then they'll do whatever it is they do to make it ready for traffic. Once that ramp opens, it's already a major game changer for traffic at that junction as that tight ramp slows down and blocks a lot of traffic on both 135 and the 235/254 traffic heading west.

[SubGod22]

Interesting auction items up for grabs

KSN - Cosmosphere virtually auctioning off space memorabilia and collectibles autographed by astronauts

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — The Cosmosphere is hosting a virtual auction that will include space memorabilia and collectibles autographed by astronauts.

“Space lovers know the Cosmosphere’s auctions have unique finds that appeal to all
ages,” said Mimi Meredith, senior vice president of communication and chief development officer. “The ability to have the auction online means even a wider audience will participate, hopefully raising more critical funds for Cosmosphere’s programs and activities.”

The virtual auction opens to the public on Wednesday, Nov. 2, and goes through Friday, Dec. 2, at 7 p.m.
.....
Items up for auction include:

• An OMEGA Apollo 8 watch worth nearly $10,000
• An Apollo 11 capsule model at 1/25 scale signed by NASA Astronaut Michael Collins
• A copy of “The Mystery of Mars,” a book authored and autographed by Sally Ride
• An autographed beta cloth nametag signed by Alan Bean
• And a selection of other autographed photos and memorabilia, gift items and more

[Bluzrover]

Speaking of the new WSU/KU med school that will be located downtown, here's a Q&A from the economic side of things and how big this could be for downtown Wichita. I posted above about how I'd use some of the vacant buildings that are just waiting to be used, and with the increased demand for housing and the business opportunities it could bring for others in the area seem to make even more sense now. I'm hoping those with the money and vision start working towards that as there's going to be a need for housing and probably office space because of this joint project in the downtown area.

WBJ - Jason Gregory Q&A: New medical campus 'a big deal' for downtown ICT



He also mentioned that this could be the tipping point to getting a grocery store downtown. He mentioned that on paper he thinks it already makes sense, but nobody is jumping on it. However, adding so many more people to the core, which odds are this project will do, could help attract a national brand into doing something. I know a lot of people in the downtown area want one in a bad way. They may have to wait a few more years, but I wouldn't be surprised to see one by 2030 at the latest.

This project is expected to be done for fall of '26. No location has been specifically picked yet, but this is a big deal for the core.

My wife and I just got back from Houston after visiting the U of Texas Medical Center's MD Anderson Cancer Center. While the medical center isn't in the city center, it's location just outside of the center of Houston has created a huge medical complex that is shared by all of the major universities in the state and has developed into its own "city center" with the ancillary businesses, both service and medical support, that is impressive in size and scope. Of course they did, it's Texas and everything in Texas is huge. But in all seriousness, if done right, the proposed joint medical facilities in Wichita would be a tremendous asset for the citizens of Kansas and lead to advancement in the quality of medical care for the region. I can't imagine why you all are quibbling about KU being involved other than, oh yeah, it's ShockerNet and that's implied if not required.

[SubGod22]

Muma's inspiration for this is because of his experience in Houston. I can't see how this will be anything but a positive.

[SubGod22]

WBJ - Topgolf will open in Wichita earlier than expected

Initially anticipated to open in March, a Topgolf representative says the Wichita location at the southeast corner of 29th Street and Greenwich Road will now open before the end of this year.

"We are thrilled to be nearing completion and excited to hit the major milestone that is bringing Topgolf’s signature multi-level experience to Wichita," said Spencer Stewart, a spokesperson representing the company, in an email to the WBJ.

Stewart couldn't provide further details about a specific opening date, but said more details will be announced as they become available.

To staff its new Wichita location, Topgolf is looking to hire approximately 300 positions, including for servers, bartenders, cooks, dishwashers, porters and guest services, the WBJ reported last week. Job postings are available online at topgolf.com.

Big news for a lot of people. I know I have friends that are excited.

[SubGod22]

KULR 8 - 10 cities where bike commuting is growing fastest in the US - #7. Wichita, Kansas

- Increase in bike commuters: 21 more commuters per 10K people

- Bikers per 10K in 2020: 43

- Bikers per 10K in 2015: 21

Wichita has more than 100 miles of bicycle paths, of which the Arkansas River Path is the most popular. Although Wichitans still rely heavily on other forms of transportation for commuting purposes, the number of bike commuters per 10,000 people is rising, more than doubling since 2015. The city operates a bike-share program in partnership with Tandem Mobility.

The city launched its bike-sharing system in May 2017, which includes 200 bikes and 40 stations, with annual plan prices of $30, free rides under one hour, and a reduced student rate of $20.

Still not overly popular here, but that is a pretty good increase. I know some people aren't fans, and I myself would never trust people in cars enough to use a bike as a main form of transportation, but having more paths is a good thing. It does promote a healthier and more active lifestyle and that's good for some people.

[SubGod22]

Here's an upcoming decision by the US government that could have large ramifications for Wichita and a couple of its largest employers.

WBJ - Textron competitor likes its own chances in Army helicopter chase

Textron, of course, has been touting the capabilities of the V-280 — an offering some industry observers believe has the upper hand.

In a research note early last month that was detailed by investment website Seeking Alpha, analyst Douglas Harned of Bernstein called the V-280 the “strong favorite” to win in the view of investors.

That same note speculated that a loss by Textron in the competition could trim as much as 10% off its market value.

Defense fingers in Wichita will be crossed for a Textron win beyond just the sales influx to the parent company of locally based Textron Aviation — which became home to FLRAA-related office of Bell in 2020.

That’s because a Textron win would tie in production work done by Spirit AeroSystems Inc., which produces the helicopter’s fuselage and is the city’s largest employer.

This contract would be a huge win for Textron and Wichita, but Lockheed is no joke when it comes to competition. Hopefully we hear good news in the near future as the decision is supposed to come this month.

[SubGod22]

KSN - Oscar Mayer Wienermobile rolling through Wichita later this month

The Wiernermobile will be hauling buns to various locations from Tuesday, Nov. 8, through Monday, Nov. 14.

Locations include:

• Thursday, Nov. 10
  • Exploration Place – 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
• Friday, Nov. 11
  • Little Aviators – Kansas Aviation Museum – 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.
  • Exploration Place – 2:30 to 4 p.m.
• Saturday, Nov. 12
  • Diva Dash – 7:30 to 9:30 a.m.
  • Gravity Hill Shootout – 10 to 11:30 a.m.
  • Kansas Humane Society – 2 to 4 p.m.
• Sunday, Nov. 13
  • Roxy’s Downtown Drag Brunch – 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
  • Exploration Place – 12:45 to 2:15 p.m.
  • Wichita Thunder Sunday Funday – 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
  • Senior Citizen Bazaar – 1 to 3 p.m.

Don’t miss these events as Sauerkraut Kat and Cookout Christian plan to hand out Oscar Mayer’s iconic weenie whistles.

[SubGod22]

WBJ - Virginia cyber company chooses Wichita for center of excellence

Knowmadics, a Virginia-based cybersecurity and software company, will set up a Cyber Center of Excellence at Groover Labs in Wichita.

The company is expected to create jobs with the establishment of the center and says in a press release that it plans to recruit from local universities.

The center will also mean upgrades for Groover Labs in downtown Wichita via the expected buildout of its CyberLink space, where Knowmadics says it will partner with public and private entities to tackle cybersecurity challenges.

“Our passion for technology growth, and the ability to maximize the valuable human capital resources found in Kansas, align perfectly with Groover Labs’ location, capabilities, philosophy, passion and environment,” said Claire Ostrum, president of Knowmadics.

The cyber security footprint of ICT grows a bit more. Wichita really has the ability to work this field into something special I believe. We already have a few established companies that have moved in in some sort and we have programs at WSU, Friends and BCC as well as the military side of things stationed at MAFB. I'm not sure if the central location matters much, but with multiple programs training those that could be true assets to this field, I would hope someone, somewhere is working on recruiting such businesses to the area. But with each little step forward, we become that much more attractive to future business.

[SubGod22]

For our country music fans, I'm sure there's a few on here

KSN - Thomas Rhett coming to Wichita's Intrust Bank Arena

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) – Thomas Rhett will be coming to Wichita’s Intrust Bank Arena next year.

The concert was announced Thursday morning. Rhett will be at the arena performing on Friday, Aug. 18, 2023, as part of his Home Team Tour 23 produced by LiveNation. Rhett will be joined by Cole Swindell and Nate Smith.

[SubGod22]

Here's a longer article on Knowmadics and Wichita

Yahoo Finance - Knowmadics, Inc. and Groover Labs Launch Cyber Center of Excellence (CCoE) for Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Job Creation Initiatives in Wichita, Kan.

"Kansas has emerged as a national leader in industry innovation and workforce development, and I’m pleased the partnership between Knowmadics and Groover Labs will help build on this success," said Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan). "The new Cyber Center will not only advance technology growth, but will also create good jobs and utilize the talented students and experts in the Wichita area."

At the CCoE, Knowmadics’ public and private partners – with the support of academic institutions from across the country – will work together to solve some of the most difficult cybersecurity challenges facing the nation. Based out of a pending build-out of the Groover Labs CyberLink, the facility will include an industry-leading secure cyber lab; office and meeting spaces; prototyping capabilities; and resources and support for other advancements.

"With its commitment to creating infrastructure and developing local talent, we are proud to partner with Groover Labs’ leadership to take part in ‘Building a Stronger Economy’ in Kansas," said Claire Ostrum, President of Knowmadics. "Our passion for technology growth, and the ability to maximize the valuable human capital resources found in Kansas, align perfectly with Groover Labs’ location, capabilities, philosophy, passion and environment. We are looking forward to calling Kansas the ‘home’ of our Cyber Center of Excellence."
.....
Greater Wichita Partnership’s President Jeff Fluhr also noted "Technology innovation is a key industry sector in our Regional Growth Plan. The Brookings Institute has named the Greater Wichita Region number one in digital service job growth. Knowmadics’ investment in Wichita just further solidifies our region’s position in growing industries such as cybersecurity. We are proud to have Knowmadics in our region."

With the build-out of the Groover Labs CyberLink, Knowmadics will commit to the CCoE operations by becoming its anchor member/user. With this move, Knowmadics will extensively engage with local and national private sector companies, universities, military and Homeland Security communities.

[SubGod22]

Who knew?

KSN - Wichita is home to top pro pickleball players

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — The fastest-growing sport in America is pickleball. The court sport is played on a badminton-sized court with composite or wooden paddles and a perforated plastic ball. Simply put, it’s a mix of tennis and Ping-Pong.

Wichita has become a hotbed for the sport. The Parks & Recreation department is converting tennis courts to pickleball courts, and more and more pickleball places are popping up all over town. Some of the most popular are Riverside Tennis Center, Greater Wichita YMCA locations, the soon-to-open Sandbox in Derby, and Chicken & Pickle. The east side social and entertainment complex has 11 courts, six indoors and five outside.

Many of the best players in the sport reside in Wichita. Four of the top-10 ranked pickleball players in the world call Wichita home. Three of them will compete in next week’s Margaritaville USA Pickleball National Championships.

[SubGod22]

This actually sounds kind of cool. Mr. Smith was a great hire and I'm excited to see how Exploration Place grows in the coming years.

Eagle - Snowflakes and yetis: Exploration Place gets frosty with its newest temporary exhibit

The winter forecast for Exploration Place calls for snowfall and cool activities inside its newly renovated gallery space that normally houses traveling exhibits.

Arctic Adventure, which runs from Nov. 4-Jan. 8, is being billed as an indoor polar playground on the Plains.

It’s also the first time that an exhibition created exclusively in-house is being featured in the science center’s temporary exhibit gallery since Exploration Place opened in 2000. The gallery has showcased more than 60 traveling exhibitions — or about three a year — that have been created by others in the science museum industry, noted Adam Smith, Exploration Place’s president and CEO.

“It’s a big deal for Exploration Place that all our staff created this,” Smith said.

The gallery space recently underwent renovations to remove a double staircase that led to a mezzanine-level display area. That freed up an additional 1,200 square feet. It also freed up wall space to allow Exploration Place to offer more projection-based immersive experiences.

[SubGod22]

I've honestly been a little surprised that we hadn't seen more of this pop up the last couple of years. There's so much potential with hemp and hemp products. Everything from paper to plastics to building/construction materials. I honestly hoped we'd see more of it once Kansas allowed hemp farming to begin again.

Hemp grain and fiber processing facility opening in Augusta

In collaboration with local farmers and channel partners, Midwest Hemp Technology processes Kansas-grown hemp for industrial purposes.

Hemp grain is cleaned, sorted, dehulled and pressed to make food for humans and animals. Midwest Hemp Technology aims to create a regional supply chain. The company makes a variety of hemp based products from Kansas farms for use around the country.

“Hemp fiber and grain crops have the potential to supply food for humans and animals, textiles, plastic replacements, wood alternatives, bio-adsorbents and many other environmentally friendly products, managing partner Troy Palmer said. “The plant grows quickly with less water than corn or soybeans and it captures carbon in the atmosphere. There are quite literally thousands of reasons why hemp is important to American agriculture and industry. We are so proud to play a part in this crops’ reemergence.”