Jennifer McDaniel

After a few matches at the Johnson County Fairground, the time has finally come for the Trailblazers Championship Wrestling organization to finally crown its first heavyweight belt champion Saturday, May 18.“We are very excited and honored to be crowning our first ever champion here in Gardner at Trailblazer Gold Rush,” Co-founder Jake King said.

Johnson County has lost its focus on what is important to its residents.Olathe planning commissioner Tony Bergida believes transparency, lowering property taxes and making the county affordable for its lifelong residents are the crucial priorities that have been neglected by the current county commission and reprioritizing these items is the way to restore the focus back to what residents care about in their daily lives.These issues motivated Bergida earlier this year to announce his run for the 6th District seat currently held by Commissioner Shirley Allenbrand.“It feels like the world has gone crazy,” Bergida said.

The city’s five-year capital improvement program through 2029 is approximately $110 million with debt proceeds and $48 million of it in grants.City finance director Matt Wolff presented the city’s CIP at the April 15 city council meeting, highlighting capital projects, small utility system projects, the Gardner Municipal Airport as well as park, electric, water and waste improvements.The Gardner Road Bridge over Interstate 35 is the the next major project for the city.“This has been an ongoing project for years,” Wolff said.

Approximately at 9:15 p.m., Friday, May 10 Gardner and Edgerton residents stepped outside of their homes, (or had traveled to open areas away from light pollution), to see the Aurora Borealis appear through their phones farther south than anyone could remember in their lifetimes.Residents were delighted, excited sky watchers to see what they called a “bucket list” item in their lives.One of the strongest geomagnetic storms in years at a classified G5--the highest-- hit Earth over the weekend beginning Friday.

Photos by Jennifer McDaniel/Gardner News

The USD 231-Gardner Edgerton School Board is currently accepting applications from anyone interested in filling the seat vacated last month by former board member Russ Ellis.Ellis represented District 1, position 1, which covers the Pioneer Ridge Middle School area of Gardner.Superintendent Dr.

Authenticity and family are the two most important things to Manuel Oregel.Oregel used those principles to open a Luchador-themed restaurant in downtown Gardner with the help of his family to give the community he loves authentic, nutritious Mexican food he grew up on from his mother’s recipes.Oregel opened on Cinco de Mayo, and he laughed that his wife and other family members had told him it was a crazy day to open a Mexican restaurant.“At first they didn’t like it,” he said.

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With the election filing deadline less than two weeks away, several local residents have already formally registered their intent to run for office.

Gardner had a fruitful, prosperous 2023 through park renovations, road improvements and new businesses.Mayor Todd Winters highlighted these accomplishments at his third state of the city luncheon May 14 at the Warren Place Venue.“I am still humbled and honored to serve as the Mayor of this great community,” he said.Winters said the state of the city was one of his favorite privileges serving as Mayor.“Sharing the strides our city has recently made and our plans for the future,” he said.Winter said this year’s theme was “Preserving our Past, Embracing our Present and Preparing for our Future.”Winters touched on last year’s theme H.O.M.E.