By Tracy McCue, Sumner Newscow — The Wellington City Council unanimously approved the 2024 budget. City taxpayers should expect a small property tax increase for municipal services when they receive their bills this December.

•Residential property values for a $75,000 home property will see an annual increase of $17.25.

•Residential property values for a $100,000 home property will increase by $23.

•Residential property values for a $125,000 home property will increase by $28.75.

•Residential property values for a $175,000 home property will increase by $40.25.

During its regular session meeting a week ago, the council approved a $49.8 million budget. An estimated 60 people were in attendance. The budget approval was delayed two weeks in anticipation of the larger crowd and moved from the council chambers to the Memorial Auditorium.

“When you figure out the amount of taxes increased by the city for the whole meeting, it is about the cost of a steak dinner,” said Guy Leitch, Wellington City Council member.

Sumner Newscow report — It is a huge weekend for Wellington: Fall Festival, Homecoming, and Reunions galore. Here’s a cumulative schedule of all events ahead:

The Gold Corner entry in 2022. 

SCARECROW LIGHT POLE DECORATING CONTEST

Entries for the fourth annual scarecrow light pole decorating contest is this Friday at 5 p.m.  The entry form can be found here.

Duchess Candidate and their escorts. (Photos by Katie Ford)

WHS HOMECOMING

Thursday – Parade – 6 p.m.

Friday – Pep Rally – 2:30 p.m.

Football: El Dorado at Wellington, 7 p.m.

Coronation at halftime: Candidates – Kate Haines, Sheadyn Stewart, Blaire Vanquez, Olivia Smith, Lyric Cornejo.

Homecoming dance at WHS Commons.

FALL FESTIVAL

Playing at the Wellington Regent: The Nun II.

Schedule: Friday – Monday at 7 p.m.

Throwback Thursday: Rainman. Show at 7 p.m.

Michael Edgington

By Tracy McCue, Sumner Newscow — Michael Edgington, 24, of Wellington, has been bound over for arraignment on murder in the second degree (reckless), a level 2 felony.

Edgington is accused of shooting his 25-year-old wife, Sydney Lea Ann Palmer, on July 3 at 1316 North A Street in Wellington.

Sydney Palmer

The arraignment hearing will be held on Sept. 28, 2023, at 1:30 p.m. at the Sumner County Courthouse. An arraignment is the first step in a criminal proceeding where the defendant is brought in front of the court to hear the charges against them and enter a plea.

Sumner County District Judge William Mott determined there is enough evidence for trial after a one-hour preliminary hearing held at the courthouse Monday morning.

Edgington allegedly killed Palmer during an argument after brandishing and firing a gun at the victim, who threw a small concrete figurine at him, according to the criminal complaint.

By Amber Countryman, Sumner Newscow —  The Rick Conner family purchased the Drury Park and Dam site in 2019 from the LeeRoy and Kay Fast family to revitalize the area.

On Saturday, the Connors are hosting a “Festival at Drury Dam,” including a pit barbecue, entertainment, and more.

“The reason for the festival, other than to have a good time, is to raise funds to repair the dam,” Rick Conner said.

Drury Dam was once a popular Kansas tourist destination but has seen its day.  But the Connor family hopes the dam can be renovated, returning it to a modern-day version of its former glory. During the past four years, Conner has built a shower house with two showers and a toilet, a one-unit laundry facility, and plans to open an RV park and Drury history museum soon.

The Festival at Drury Dam will be a fundraiser for dam repairs on Saturday, Sept. 23, from noon to 8 p.m. at Drury Park. Live music will be performed by local musicians Jim Bales, John Hutchison, Leonard Rinehart, Grody Riggins, and The Great Moon Hoax.

Rick Connor.

A pit barbeque will be served at 4 p.m. while local historians Jim Bales and Amber Countryman present “A History of Drury.”

By Russ Sturm, Wellington USD 353 Communication Specialist — The Wellington School Board discussed using Emergency and Secondary School Emergency relief funds to give full-time USD 353 employees a one-time retention fee of $1,500 to help pay for the rising cost of living and/or healthcare cost increases.

Employees who are paid monthly will receive a lump sum payment in October while hourly employees and those paid bi-monthly will receive their payment over the course of the school year with an equal increase to each check. This payment is only for the 2023-24 school year.

Tom Henning motioned to approve the use of ESSER funds to help with employee retention in the amount of $1500 per full-time employee. Pat Zeka seconded the motion. All seven board members voted to approve the ESSER request including Henning, Zeka, Chris Buckman, Brandon Earl, Andrea Kreifels, Jason Newberry, and Deanna Garver.

Sumner Newscow report — The Wellington school board voted 4-3 to increase the Revenue Neutral Rate at last week’s meeting. It then approved its 2024 school budget 6-1. The board members voting for the RNR increase were Brandon Earl, Tom Henning, Andrea Kriefels, and Jason Newberry. Those voting against were Chris Buckman, Deanna Garver, and Pat Zeka.

The revenue-neutral rate is the mill levy rate that would generate the same amount of property tax revenue as the year before, using the current tax year’s total assessed valuation. The USD 353 will have a slight decrease in its mill levy. The budget for school districts is unique to that of the city councils and counties because it depends on state reimbursements based on enrollments.

The RNR and budget hearings were held Monday before the regular meeting. The budget was passed after the approval of the RNR increase by a 6-1 margin with Buckman being the only school board member voting against it.

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By Russ Sturm, Wellington Communication Specialist — The following are highlights from the September board meeting:

Saturday’s house fire was a total loss.

Sumner Newscow report — The Wellington Fire/EMS responded to a structure fire at 509 E. 3rd St. on Saturday at 9:12 a.m. There were no injuries.

Firefighters were deployed to the residence owned by Debra Silva, with Virgil Tidwell and Crystal Nolte as occupants.

Upon arrival, the fire and heavy smoke conditions showed from two sides of the house. Firefighters deployed two hand lines to conduct fire extinguishment and a search of the home.

Click to enlarge.

The house is considered a total loss, with an estimated loss of $30,000, including content. The cause of the fire was an electrical malfunction. The occupants had no insurance.