info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Camp removal highlights issue of homelessness

info2022-03-06T23:04:46-06:00March 6th, 2022|

A homeless encampment that was cleared last week from the Winfield Fairgrounds had already been abandoned by the time it was removed, officials said this week. Winfield City Manager Taggart Wall said the campsites, consisting of two tents and two campers, were cleared Feb. 25 from the Pecan Grove at the Winfield Fairgrounds after several notices were given to the occupants for non-payment of camping fees. The campers left the fairgrounds and relocated elsewhere, leaving behind items that were then disposed of by city staff. “When the campers left, they left items behind. We removed (the items),” Wall said. Wall said [...]

Lyon County valuations indicate ‘inflationary trend’

info2022-03-06T23:02:43-06:00March 6th, 2022|

The Lyon County Appraiser’s Office has completed the annual revaluation of all real estate property in the county. Lyon County appraiser Ryan Janzen said 2022 Change of Valuation notices began going out on Feb. 25. A study of the residential and commercial real estate market indicated an overall inflationary trend. “For 2022, residential and farmstead properties in Lyon County saw a median valuation increase of 9% compared to their 2021 valuation,” the report read. “Eighty-nine percent of residential and farmstead properties saw an increase in property valuation from 2021 to 2022. Source: Emporia Gazette

Lawson leaving Ark City for Manhattan post

info2022-03-07T07:48:51-06:00March 6th, 2022|

Andrew Lawson, public information officer and special projects coordinator for the City of Arkansas City, is leaving that job to become the public information officer for the City of Manhattan, Kan. Lawson said in an email Friday that he will leave effective March 22, and City Manager Randy Frazer will handle public information duties until a new spokesperson is found. Source: Cowley CourierTraveler

KDOT announces aviation projects selected for funding

info2022-03-06T22:58:00-06:00March 6th, 2022|

Thirty-six projects have been selected for Kansas Airport Improvement Program (KAIP) funding for the purpose of planning, constructing or rehabilitating public use general aviation airports. KAIP receives $5 million annually through the Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Program, known as IKE, and requires airport sponsors to share in the project costs by paying between 5% and 50% of the total project. The Kansas Department of Transportation’s Division of Aviation, which manages the program, considered 145 project applications this year with a combined total project value of over $78 million. Among those projects selected was Rose Hill’s Cook Airfield, which will receive $87,120 for [...]

Commissioners debate charging business license fee

info2022-03-06T22:56:00-06:00March 6th, 2022|

Fort Scott City Commissioners on Tuesday had a lengthy debate about whether the city should require a business license fee. Local business owner Angela Simon said she believes the county should be able to recoup some tax revenue from business that are operating illegally. She said one way to do that is for the city to require business licenses. Source: Fort Scott Tribune

Drought persists in southwest Kansas as fire season begins

info2022-03-06T22:54:09-06:00March 6th, 2022|

Spring is nearly here and there is drought in Finney County and across southwestern Kansas. Jonathan Finch, Meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Dodge City, said extreme western Finney County is in D3, extreme drought, from Garden City moving east it’s in D1, moderate drought, and in between its D2, severe drought. Source: Garden City Telegram

Peabody residents working to renovate only performing arts theater in town

info2022-03-06T22:48:25-06:00March 6th, 2022|

A group in Peabody is working to renovate a local building into a performing arts theater. Members of the Sunflower Theatre Committee say the arts in their rural community are underserved, so they're working to change that. The Sunflower Theatre was built in the 1920s, but was later turned in to a bowling alley, which later closed. The building has been vacant for a few years now. The committee is working on the $1.6 million renovation project to restore it. They've already received an $85,650 Heritage Trust Grant from the Kansas Historical Society. The committee is working to raise the rest [...]

Evacuations ordered as large Reno County fire moves into Harvey County

info2022-03-07T07:47:01-06:00March 6th, 2022|

Evacuations are underway as strong winds push a large grass fire from Reno County into Harvey County. There’s also a smaller fire burning northeast of Towanda, in Butler County. Just before 3 p.m., Harvey County ordered an evacuation between Woodberry and Sand Hill roads from Highway 50 to NW 48th in the northwest part of the county. Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle

Judge overturns Johnson County’s last pit bull ban, allowing Leawood family to reunite with dog

info2022-03-06T22:43:22-06:00March 6th, 2022|

Leawood’s ordinance banning pit bulls, which is believed to be the last in Johnson County, has been ruled unconstitutionally vague by a judge. Johnson County District Judge Thomas Sutherland has decided in favor of Leawood resident Kristi Bond’s appeal to bring her dog, Lucy, back to the family home. Lucy, five years old and now blind, had been living in another city since September of 2020 while Bond’s case was pending. When Bond was charged in Leawood Municipal Court with keeping a “dangerous animal,” Leawood and Overland Park were believed to be the last two major cities in the county and among [...]

Study says Manhattan has a workforce housing problem; commissioners to discuss data Tuesday

info2022-03-06T22:41:00-06:00March 6th, 2022|

As home price growth speeds past income growth, housing in Manhattan is getting more expensive. Manhattan city commissioners will take their first look at a housing market analysis beginning at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at 1101 Poyntz Ave. Meeting documents indicate six observations in the housing market analysis: Manhattan has a workforce housing problem. A worker has to earn $17.50 an hour or $35,000 per year to afford a two-bedroom house of safe and decent quality, plus utilities. There is a mismatch between what people can afford and what housing is being built. The median household income in Manhattan is $51,000, which, [...]

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