General News in the 316

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WBJ - Park City equipment company expands in region with 30 jobs in next decade

Midwest Truck Equipment, a Park City-based truck equipment and body parts business, was approved Tuesday by the local City Council to expand its footprint at 61st Street North near Seneca St.

The truck equipment company is constructing a 35,000 square-foot building to add to its current building across the street at 200 W. 61st North, according to an agenda report.

Midwest Truck is a distributor for Knapheide, a national truck body and bed manufacturer with roots in Quincy, Illinois. It serves the Wichita area and southern Kansas with Knapheide truck bodies.

With 17 employees, the company plans to expand operations and add three full-time jobs for its first year, then add 30 over the next 10 years, the report said.

"It's so new," Midwest Truck owner Mike Hahnfeld said of the project. "We're just trying to get everything started and going and all that right now."

I like to see any local business grow. Sounds like this one will help more than double employment over the next decade.

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More Park City news.

WBJ - $150M project in Park City will construct 2 million square feet of warehousing

Wichita real estate developer Lou Robelli has been approved for a major project — again.

After recently receiving approval for a warehouse expansion project in Newton Industrial Park, Robelli is headed back near I-135 in Park City with a $150-million development project that involves the construction of 10 buildings over the next decade totaling 200,000 square feet each.

Park City's City Council this week unanimously approved a resolution of intent for the use of up to $150 million in industrial revenue bonds; a 10-year, 75% property tax exemption for each building; and a sales tax exemption on construction materials for the project. The effort is led by Robelli's Murdock Properties LLC and Air Capitol Investments LLC.

Robelli said he hopes to lease the potential buildings to tenants and create up to 325 jobs by the end of the project.

"This is very exciting," he said. "This project is going to bring so many jobs and house so many people and it will develop Park City even more."

I will give Park City credit for trying to grow their place in the metro.

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Audacy - KNSS - Wichita Indian Museum to mark 50th Anniversary of the Keeper

From 8 a.m. - 9 p.m. on Saturday, May 18, Mid-America All Indian Museum (MAAIM), 650 N Seneca, will host an event entitled Party for the People, which will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the dedication of the Keeper of the Plains. The event will be a free, family-friendly celebration that will include a re-dedication of the Keeper of the Plains sculpture, a park run, an indoor powwow, Native performances, art exhibits, food trucks, outdoor games and activities, exhibits from community partners, free museum admission, fireworks and more.

MAAIM’s Bosin Society is named for Blackbear Bosin, the Kiowa-Comanche artist who was the creator of Wichita’s iconic Keeper of the Plains as well as one of the original founders of the Indian Museum. Bosin was initially commissioned by Elmer Hall of Kansas Gas and Electric in 1968 to design a statue for the confluence of the Big and Little Arkansas rivers but due to funding issues, the project stalled. With help from the City, State and community fundraising efforts led by the Quivira Council of Boy Scouts of America and through the hard work and generosity of Architectural Metal Products, the Keeper was completed and installed on May 18, 1974.

Over the years, the Keeper has become one of the most iconic symbols of Wichita. In 2006, a City of Wichita built the Keeper Plaza and bridges, elevating the Keeper on a 30-foot-tall rock surrounded by a ring of fire pots. The sculpture is a local landmark and one of the most-visited attractions in Wichita.

For me, I think the Keeper is THE most iconic symbol of Wichita. Also seems to be the symbol that receives the most universal love from the people in the metro area.

I'm glad that they're having an event like this to honor and recognize the Keeper of the Plains and Blackbear Bosin.

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WBJ - Drone maker AgEagle remains in Wichita under new leadership

After a year of falling stock prices and a relocation announcement that didn't materialize, Wichita-based AgEagle Aerial Systems is changing leadership — again — while also consolidating offices and reverse splitting stock.

In recent weeks, the drone designer and manufacturer hired another president — its fifth in six years — and at the start of the year appointed longtime board member Grant Begley as interim CEO.

Although Begley said the future is "good" for AgEagle, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission recently warned that if the company cannot generate significant sales growth, it's at risk of default.

Recent deals of the company's new eBee Vision drone has helped AgEagle (NYSE: UAVS) expand into the defense market, and for now, it's remaining committed to Wichita.

"The reason we're in Wichita is because Wichita is the Air Capital of the World, and there's a great talent pool of individuals that have the technical skills and the manufacturing skills," Begley said.

This company has had a lot of trouble. Would love to see them find some stability and move forward.

"We did it because the 8,000 square-foot facility allowed us to process and build sensors more efficiently," he said. "We doubled our production capacity without having to increase the manpower and without having to buy new equipment."

There might be a possibility of expanding the company in Wichita, Begley said, adding he was pleased with the talent.

"It's been really great to see that team take to the new location and demonstrate the additional output," said Brent Pope, a recently hired vice president of operations.

Let's hope they've figured some things out.

AgEagle’s market is expanding with the recent introduction of the eBee Vision drone. The first to be certified by the Federal Aviation Administration as safe to fly over people, the drone, which weighs 3 1/2 pounds, provides defense and security capabilities that detect, track and geo-locate objects in collaboration with special forces.

On Feb. 8, AgEagle announced the sale of its eBee drone to Oak Ridge National Laboratory, a Department of Energy-affiliated operation. The drone holds National Defense Authorization Act compliance and are on the Blue UAS cleared list program for U.S. government procurement.

"The eBee vision ... is extremely capable and was made specifically for military users in mind," Begley said. "It was designed over the past two years in collaboration with Special Operation Forces."

Maybe there's hope for them yet.

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KSN - Kansas 50th Anniversary Tour coming to Wichita

The legendary rock band Kansas has added more dates to its 50th anniversary tour, and, this time, Wichita is included.

The Kansas “50th Anniversary Tour – Another Fork in the Road” will stop at Hartman Arena on Saturday, Oct. 5. The pre-sale starts this Thursday, March 21, at 10 a.m. Sign up for the pre-sale code by clicking here.

The rest of the tickets go on sale this Friday at 10 a.m. Tickets are available at Ticketmaster.com or the Hartman Arena box office. Tickets start at $49 and go up to $128.

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KSN - Wichita Wind Surge to change their name, at least for a weekend

The Wichita Wind Surge will change its name again, at least for a weekend.

On April 19 and 20, the Wind Surge will play as the “Wichita Chili Buns” as they face the Tulsa Drillers. The name change honors the staple of Midwest school cafeterias: Chili and Cinnamon Rolls.

It’s not the first time the team has temporarily changed its name. The team has temporarily adopted the names Turbo Tubs, Tumba Vacas, Monrovians, and even the Wranglers.

Players will wear a cream-colored hat with a crimson brim, adorned with the logo of a bowl of chili and a cinnamon roll. The same symbol will be on the left sleeve of the jersey, which will be crimson with cream-colored borders and “Wichita Chili Buns” scripted across the chest. The Wind Surge Logo will be featured on the right sleeve.

In addition, the concession stand will be selling cups of chili with a cinnamon roll on the side. The Wind Surge says there will also be several special promotions that weekend that pair with the food.

The Wichita Chili Buns hat and jersey will also be available at the team store. Tickets for the April 19 and 20 are on sale now.

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KSN - Exploration Place is getting an aviation playground

Wichita’s love of airplanes is about to play out on a playground in the heart of the city. Exploration Place says the Textron Aviation Flight Adventure should be ready for children in the fall of 2025.

The 6.5-acre playscape will have 10 individual playgrounds. Exploration Place says Textron Aviation is the naming sponsor of the central and largest one. The Textron playground will feature a Beechcraft Staggerwing biplane sculpture on a towering control tower and an explorable Cessna Citation business jet. The goal is not just for children to climb and play but for their imaginations to take flight.

Exploration Place believes the new destination playscape will attract thousands more visitors each year. Last year, the science and discovery center welcomed 403,543 visitors. With the addition of the play area, that number could soar to one million.

Officials say some of Exploration Place’s goals are to elevate the quality of life for residents and bolster STEM education resources.

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KAKE - Historic horse racing facility under construction at former Greyhound Park set to open next year

During a House committee meeting Wednesday, the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission shared a timeline update for construction on a historic horse racing facility in Park City.

Golden Circle, which will feature 1,000 horse racing machines and a simulcasting facility, is expected to open on the site of the former Wichita Greyhound Park in September 2025. In addition, they will have a restaurant, deli, smoothie bar, rooftop patio, and an entertainment amphitheater.Future construction includes a 96-room name brand hotel.

The facility is currently in the selection process for machine vendors.

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While Towne West continues to struggle to pay their electric and water bills, Towne East is adding tenants.

KAKE - Towne East Square set to open new store, restaurants this year

owne East Square announced Wednesday that it will be welcoming three new retailers later this year.

Towne East says it will be welcoming two new eateries: KPOT, a unique, hands-on, all-you-can-eat experience that merges traditional Asian hot pot with Korean BBQ flavors and bb.q chicken, a Korean fried chicken restaurant that operates thousands of stores across the globe.

Both KPOT and bb.q chicken are expected to open in late 2024.

Also coming in 2024 will be MINISO, a variety store chain that specializes in household and consumer goods including cosmetics, stationery, toys, and kitchenware. They are expected to open on the upper level, Dillard’s wing across from American Eagle in early summer of 2024.

In 2023, Towne East Square welcomed five new retailers, including SCHEELS.

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KSN - Wichita women's football team gets new name, new league

The women’s tackle football team that just started in Wichita has changed its name and is in a new league.

Kaitlyn Stout, the new owner and head coach, says the team that was the Wichita Knights is now Wichita Wisdom. The Knights were in the National Women’s Football League. Stout says she bought the team from the league, and the team qualified to get into the American Women’s Football League.

“Wichita Wisdom will be traveling to Houston, Detroit, and Kansas City this season,” she told KSN News. “We are guaranteed a play-offs spot in this league this year, so we will probably be traveling to a lot more bigger cities this season as well.”

For what it's worth.

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WBJ - Textron Aviation gives $3 million to major Exploration Place outdoor expansion

Monstrum, a global play manufacturer out of Denmark, is the designer of the playscape, and Dondlinger Construction is the general contractor. Schaefer Architecture and Kansas City-based Hoerr Schaudt Landscape Architects are additional firms on the project team.




Along with Textron Aviation Flight Adventure, the playscape is set to feature nine additional themed play areas:

• Junior League Water Play Cascade
• Cargill Agriculture Overlook
• Slide Hill/Slide Forest
• Bison Hill
• Sensory Garden
• Sunflower Meadow
• Prairie Play
• Spider Climber
• Foggy Hills

There will also be food and beverage concessions, a picnic grove and Star Lumber Programming Plaza.

The Wichita Foundation Amphitheater portion of the outdoor expansion project broke ground earlier this month and is expected to wrap construction this fall. Conco Construction is the general contractor on that effort.

Exploration Place said that, with the Textron Aviation contribution, it is 80% toward its fundraising goal for the overall $22-million project.

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KSN - Kansas 50th Anniversary Tour coming to Wichita

Pretty much a Kansas Tribute band at this point, given the current line-up (drummer Phil Ehart is out recovering from a heart attack). Saw them a couple of years ago. OK, but nothing like they were in the 70s and 80s.

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KWCH - Wichita already preparing for 2025 NCAA Tournament

The first round of the NCAA Tournament tips off Thursday, but Wichita State administrators are spending their week preparing for next week’s tournament.

Wichita was set to host the first two rounds of the 2021 men’s NCAA Tournament, but that got consolidated to Indiana due to the pandemic.

Intrust Bank Arena last hosted the men’s tournament in 2018, and it hosted the regional rounds of the women’s tournament in 2022.

12 News reporter Max Dutton spoke Thursday about how WSU is already getting ready for next year’s event.

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WBJ - Chase Koch-backed hangar headed for Wichita's Jabara Airport by 2025

The Wichita City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to approve a privately built hangar at the airport that will bring in an income of slightly more than $180,000 annually in leasing fees. Though privately built, the $7-million improvements to the airport, including the hangar, will be owned by the city.

Chase Koch, Koch Industries' executive vice president and son of Charles Koch, is privately funding construction through Hangar LLC, a spokesperson representing Chase Koch confirmed.

"Chase has a passion about building and investing in Wichita and in the community," the spokesperson said.

Wichita's director of airports Jesse Romo explained to the Council on Tuesday the advantages of a private hangar.

"There's always been challenges as relates to road access utilities and additional airfield infrastructure that's needed," Romo said during the meeting.

Hangar LLC project manager Doug Johns said there are no tax incentives or benefits associated with the deal.

"We are leasing the land. We will be spending the funds to make all of the improvements on airport property," Johns said. "We'll be using the facilities we've constructed, but Jabara will own all the improvements we make on their property."

The lease agreement allows for Hangar LLC to lease about 17.4 acres.

Private investment. Publicly owned.

This should be good for Jabara

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WBJ - Spirit AeroSystems selected for $13 million defense contract

A contracting agency for the U.S. Department of Defense has awarded a $13-million contract to Spirit AeroSystems in Wichita to lead work on high-speed wing research.

The cost-plus-fixed-fee contract is for the Caliente program.

“The Caliente program will design, build, instrument and test a representatively large high-speed wing and control surface test structure," a spokesperson for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency said. "This structure will be tested under combined thermal and mechanical loads to provide fundamental insight and model validation data for thermally driven structures.”