United in service
As we approach the middle of 2026, we reflect on the great successes of the McPherson Police Department team. This recognition does not highlight the success of one individual but rather the success of the team.
Police Substation
Completed in July of 2025, we are excited to bring a Police presence to the downtown area of our great city. Investigations and Patrol have been working well from this facility. The remodel has made a better work environment for our staff. We are still working towards a Police Headquarters because we are still over crowded at the LEC and need more offices, storage, training room, work spaces, a break area, modern lab, among many other needed equipment and room.
Police Facility and Range
Our range has had many improvements with the expansion of land, addition of fencing, perimeter berm and foundations, cameras, lighting, two pavilions, and a large facility for instruction. We began using steel targets and have opened the range to city employees, special events, and other partners. We are planning on a bathroom upgrade and other improvements at the range in the next few years.
City Cameras
We have installed cameras throughout the city in strategic locations for police investigations. These cameras are on city property and view the roadway. We are thoughtful about privacy and will audit these cameras to ensure our staff is following policy. We have evidence from these cameras for numerous cases already. Our retention on these camera videos are for a few weeks and then they are written over. We do not retain all video recordings. These were purchased with a Congressional Appropriation.
Flock Cameras
Flock cameras are being installed and will be complete in May. We have plans to add two more in 2027. These cameras are used to locate vehicles involved in crimes. We have an audit plan set up for these as well to ensure compliance with policy. Flock has a proven track record for locating stolen vehicles, locating children in Amber Alerts, and identifying travel for suspects. We hope to use this system to solve crimes in McPherson as well as visiting criminals to our community with plans to steal vehicles or commit crimes.
Command Trailer
Our Command Trailer was built by Jet Streams out of Augusta, Kansas. This trailer is to be used during major events, community events, and emergency operations where a command center would be needed. We have used this trailer when McPherson County Communications lost power and they were able to successfully dispatch from the trailer to the county. This was purchased with a Congressional Appropriation.
Training
We have a three-person team working together to complete the Kansas Law Enforcement Accreditation Program. These three members also serve on the KLEAP Board. We have added two MARCAN trained Crime Analysts to our ranks. We also have an officer on FTO which will be released on their own in early June. We are currently hiring for police officer positions.
May 11-17 is National Police Week and May 15 is National Peace Officers Memorial Day. To honor this, the McPherson PD will host a graveside ceremony at the McPherson Cemetery the morning of May 13 and an evening Peace Officers Memorial at 6 p.m. May 13 at the McPherson Community Building.
Battling crime
The Police Department has been very proactive and busy in solving crime and completing follow-ups to present to the County Attorney for prosecution. We have been sending many criminals to prison, and we are keeping McPherson safe. We have a new Investigator receiving training and preparing to work on cases solo or with the team. We welcomed a few officers from another department to our ranks who are doing a great job in investigations, patrol, and at the middle school as an SRO. We have two Drug Recognition Experts and Drone Pilots. We have an Emergency Response Team which is a part of the Special Response Team with the county. We are waiting on a Bearcat to be delivered in June. We have a team of crisis negotiators and a Critical Incident Stress Management Team.
Emerging leaders
Our evidence custodian created a new 501c3 which is the Kansas Association of Property and Evidence. This has brought evidence technicians from across the state together to discuss evidence collection, storage, and submission. Our Animal Control program is going well. Our Admin Support Supervisor is the President of the KACA Kansas Animal Control Association received a major award this year at the National Animal Control Association Conference. The shelter is going well and the staff is doing great. We are planning a crematorium replacement in 2027. Training as always is going well and is required for each officer. They are required to receive a minimum of 40 hours a year. We have officers in Command School completing their CPM, some at FBI-LEEDA, KLETC, and other specialized training in the state and surrounding areas. In September, we are sending another member of MPD to the FBI National Academy in Quantico Virginia.
MIkel Golden, McPherson Police Chief and President of the Kansas Association of Chiefs of Police
All Schools Day is here!
No need to mark the calendar. Everyone knows when it is. It’s one of the most anticipated times of the year. All Schools Day is finally here. What began in 1914 as a way to honor and celebrate eight-grade graduates throughout the county has blossomed into one of the greatest traditions in the state of Kansas. And this year’s festivities continue the trend of raising the bar each and every time. The All Schools Day committee has once again put together an awesome week-long celebration for the community and the thousands who make their way from across the county and nation to celebrate a time-honored tradition. From the May Fete dances, to the carnival, to the parade — and don’t forget the food — this event is truly remarkable and a huge thank you goes out to all who volunteer their time throughout the year and continue to make this event one of a kind. The McPherson Police and Fire Departments — along with several regional and state organizations — will be on hand to make sure things run safely and smoothly. The McPherson Park Department is putting in countless hours to make sure public spaces are clean and in tip-top shape and the parks are ready for all the activities taking place. The McPherson Street Department has been hard at work cleaning up the streets, along with organizing traffic barricades and various necessities. The list really goes on and on. This takes an entire community to make this happen and is truly something that McPherson County should be proud of. Here is some information those attending the festivities through the week should be aware of. Enjoy the week! Don't forget to check out allschoolsday.com for up-to-date information on schedules and activities.
Street closure information
Great Arbor Day!
The McPherson Park Department celebrated Arbor Day on Friday, April 24, 2026, with the fifth-grade class from Eisenhower Elementary School in Lakeside Park. Fifth-grader Isabel Perry was the annual winner in the Arbor Day Foundation Tree Poster contest. Her local-winning poster also was recognized as the state champion, the second year in a row a student from McPherson has taken the state’s top honors. She and her family will travel to Topeka to meet the governor.
Main picture: Commissioner Gary Mehl presents Isabel Perry with a framed copy of her state-winning Arbor Day Tree Poster.
Students learned about the history of Arbor Day from City Forrester Ethan VanDorn, learned about the Bur Oak tree from Tree & Park Board Member Dr. Michael McIrvin, and participated in a tree planting of a Bur Oak donated by Tree & Park Board member Kurt Wagner and wife, Karol. In addition, the McPherson Public Library partnered with the Park Department through Neighborhood Forest to give registered students a free tree to take home and plant. At 48 years, The City of McPherson is one of the longest tenured municipalities to carry the #TreeCityUSA designation, and continues to follow its Tree Master Plan with 26 trees planted in Lakeside Park alone this year.
Around the City
Invest in fire prevention
The McPherson Fire Department relaunched its Fire Safety & Education efforts with a goal in 2026 to raise $5,000 to expand education materials across the community. Work in education and fire prevention is funded by donations each year. These funds are used to purchase things such as coloring books or workbooks for children to hand out during school visits or department tours. Other things such as plastic fire helmets, stickers and other related materials that are used to promote fire safety or risk reduction may be purchased as well.
The fire department has a Venmo account to make a donation or those with questions can contact the department at 620-245-2505 to request more information.
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Former officer honored
Former McPherson Police Department Drug Task Force Detective Matt Van Der Hoeven., a United States Marine Corps veteran, was recognized by the McPherson VFW and Region 5 as the 2026 Officer of the Year. Van Der Hoeven recently resigned his post with the PD and gave a report (below) of his time to the McPherson City Commission upon his resignation. He reported more than 63,000 grams of illegal drugs confiscated during his tenure on the force.
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Chief honored by Sheep Dog IA
City of McPherson Police Chief Mikel Golden in April attended the Kansas/Western Missouri FBI National Academy Associates Spring Conference in Manhattan. The conference featured studies and training on the 2026 Wold Cup to be held in Kansas City, DNA case studies, leadership and digital technology. Golden recently began serving with the Academy as its historian. Golden also attended the Sheep Dog Assistance Heroes Gala. He and his wife were recognized as the Sheep Dog Impact Assistance Ambassadors of the Year. Sheep Dog is a not-for-profit organization that assists military members, veterans, first responders and their families with a “Get off the Couch” programming theme to help them live their best lives.
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State organization recognized
The Kansas Animal Control Association in April was recognized as the National Animal Care & Control Association as the State Association of the Year. McPherson Police Department Administrative Support Supervisor Amber Bowlby is the president of the KACA, which hosted its annual conference earlier this year at the McPherson Community Building. Bowlby also spoke on a panel at the NACCA annual summit in Pittsburgh, Pa.
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The recruiting trail
McPherson Fire Captain Josh Hedlund and Deputy Chief Seth Graham in April attended a career day put on the by the Hutchinson Community College Fire Science Program. The MFD currently has an opening for a firefighter/EMT. Those with interest are encouraged to check out the opportunities on the City's website by clicking here.
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Grants approved
The McPherson Convention & Visitors Bureau Board in April approved three $500 visitor attraction grants for local events. Grants went to the McPherson Swim Club for its swim meet on June 25, the United Way of McPherson County for the 19th annual triathlon on July 25 and the McPherson College C.A.R.S. Club for its 2026 Motoring Festival on May 1 & 2.
To read more about the CVB's available grants, click here.
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Get your kid in the game
Among the plethora of tournaments and daily action at Turkey Creek Golf Course, it’s a perfect time to get kids involved in the game. Registration is open until May 8 for the Turkey Creek Junior Camps. The SNAG (starting new at golf) at Junior Camps are the perfect opportunity to learn the game. Kids can learn new skills, make new friends and just be outside on the course. For more information, click here. Turkey Creek Golf Course is consistently voted as one of the top five public golf courses in the state and just continues to get better. The last two years the course has installed a new, more efficient irrigation system and improved the aesthetics and function of several walls and ponds throughout the course. In addition, the course features a new set of GPS-equipped carts and new cart sheds for guest storage.
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New agenda software
In a continued effort to make more information available in a user-friendly format, the City of McPherson is launching new software for its various public meeting agendas. Previously BoardDocs, the City has made the switch to Diligent and will launch that portal with the agenda for the upcoming May 5 City Commission Meeting and study session. The links on the City website all will be changed. Past meetings also will be searchable and easier to find in the new format. To see the new portal and upcoming meeting agendas when available, click here.
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Peanut butter and “jam out”
The McPherson PLF team is bringing music back to the now-shaded downtown Plaza this spring. The team announced the lineup for Wednesdays at lunch time in May.
Performer lineup
May 6 — Jaydon Evans May 13 — Deluge May 20 — Kashi May 27 — Deflecting Ghosts
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The City of McPherson utilizes Everbridge as its emergency alert notification system. In a continued effort to collaborate with local and area agencies, the City now will be a part of the South Central Kansas regional notification system. Residents in 14 counties — including McPherson — can receive critical emergency alerts and community news by signing up. This system allows allows users to choose how and where they receive notifications, including home, mobile or business phones, email or text messages. You can sign up for alerts by clicking here.
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Just nine left
As of April 30, the Convention & Visitors Bureau had collected all but nine states in its quest to receive USA 250th birthday cards from around the nation. CVB staff is hanging all cards at its entrance at 1111 E. Kansas Avenue, and hopes to collect all 50 by the time it hosts the City’s annual July 4 celebration at Wall Park. Keep an eye on Visit McPherson to find out when the CVB reaches its goal.
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Kick it off
Several City offices will be joining in on the fun when the McPherson Public Library holds its summer kickoff party from 2 to 6 p.m. May 15. Come out and learn about the CVB, the police and fire departments and see what the McPherson Water Park has in store for this summer.
Get in the zone
Understanding zoning districts is more than just a detail. It directly shapes what a person can and can’t do with property. Zoning regulations determine how land can be used, what types of construction is allowed, and what standards a building might need to meet. Those who are planning to build, make upgrades, maybe start a business, should know how zoning works and where their property might be located. To help with this, Planning and Zoning Administrator Lexi Dargiewicz developed an interactive zoning map for the City of McPherson. On this map, owners can highlight their property, see how it’s zoned, and look up the corresponding district for further guidance on certain codes. This knowledge can help streamline the permit process, support long-term planning and maybe even enhance property value. To see the new feature of the City's website, click here.
Project updates
Road reconstruction work is set to begin this summer in the area of Hickory and Hayes Streets. The design is complete and utility relocates have been underway. The City of McPherson Public Works Department hosted a public meeting April 21 — mainly with residents in that area and others interested — to discuss the project goals, scope and phasing with local residents affected by the project. The Hickory Street project is the last in a series of projects identified by citizens survey during the 2017 renewal of a half-cent sales tax, which is 100 percent dedicated to street maintenance and repairs. Eight areas were identified as a top priority during that vote and through last year, seven of them were complete.
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Northview Trail
The most recent phase of the Northview Trail Project is complete, with the final stages completed late March. The project is the result of the latest round of funding received through the Transportation Alternatives Grant through the Kansas Department of Transportation. With this addition, the 10-foot sidewalk runs from Veranda west to the Highway 81 Bypass, then connects to the Meadowlark Trail. This phase of the project also included drainage upgrades along the south side of Northview and a new 5-foot sidewalk from Grimes Street west to Main Street, an upgrade assisted in funding by Disability Supports of the Great Plains. Read more about the TA program by clicking here. This section of trail provides a walkway/bike path from Veranda to the Meadowlark Trail west of town. The Meadowlark Trail is a 13-mile stretch of railway repurposing where people can walk or bike from McPherson north to Lindsborg through scenic countryside.
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First Street
The west portion of First Street was complete in early April with crews finished sealing the patchwork performed last fall and at the beginning of this year.
Travel & Tourism
The McPherson Convention & Visitors Bureau is participating in National Travel & Tourism Week by offering several different activities thorughout the May 3-8. The CVB office gave away free tickets for May 3 and 4 to take a tram ride at the Maxwell Wildlife Refuge. The CVB staff also will give out free popcorn in three parks Tuesday afternoon, May 5, from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Staff will be at Hess Park, Wall Park and Lakeside Park near the playground areas.
On Wednesday, May 6, the CVB will host a McPherson-themed BINGO game at the McPherson Community Building from 3 to 4:30 p.m., before wrapping up the week by participating in several events in conjunction with the All Schools Day celebration.
National Travel & Tourism week is a tradition that promotes and recognizes the importance of travel in powering our local economy and strengthening community.