info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

High school composting project expands within community

info2022-02-22T00:11:22-06:00February 22nd, 2022|

What started as a high school project has become a force for change across Cherokee County. Compost, the newest form of waste reduction that will soon help make some gardens bloom a little brighter. "It's something that I always wanted to do, but it just gave me time to sit down, plan it out and be like 'Hey! Maybe this would work out," said Emily Welch, Columbus High School student. Welch partnered with fellow senior Casey Soper and quickly the project began coming together. "My teacher told me the K-State Extension office had a grant for composting. I was like 'Oh [...]

Topeka’s Gage Park in motion to get new train

info2022-02-22T07:41:21-06:00February 22nd, 2022|

The Shawnee County Commission approved a request by the Shawnee County Parks and Recreation Department to start looking for bids to purchase a new Gage Park train. "The current train is down regularly a day, a week, when it's in season for repairs. Also, replacing will make it ADA compliant so everyone can ride," Director Tim Laurent said. The train is expected to cost $600,000 to $700,000, however, the money will come from the American Rescue Plan Act. County Commissioner Kevin Cook asked the Parks and Recreation Department if the old train could be put on display. The idea was well [...]

‘We can’t wait 15 years’: Legislative committee works to overhaul Kansas water policy

info2022-02-22T00:05:08-06:00February 22nd, 2022|

Time to protect water in Kansas is running short. Parts of the aquifer in far western Kansas may only have 10 years of water left. Small towns are struggling to provide clean drinking water, and upgrading their facilities would bankrupt them. If the state is going to preserve its water resources, it has to act soon, say proponents of an overhaul to the state’s water regulation. “I don’t like to use the word ‘crisis,’ but our situation in our state is serious,” said Rep. Ron Highland, chairman of the House Water Committee. For years, the state hasn’t fully funded its water [...]

Resident speaks out against license plate camera

info2022-02-21T23:59:26-06:00February 21st, 2022|

At the Garden Plain City Council meeting held last Wednesday, Feb. 9, local resident Sheldon Irwin used the citizens’ comments period to voice his opposition to the idea of adding one or more Flock Safety license plate cameras to the community. Interim police chief Alissa Imperatore had shared some information on Flock Safety cameras at the city council meeting last month. Source: Times-Sentinel Newspapers » Feed

Proposal to ban cities from banning plastic bags pits Sierra Club against Kansas Chamber

info2022-02-21T23:50:23-06:00February 21st, 2022|

Sierra Club lobbyist Zack Pistora told lawmakers he could talk at length about the “big mess” plastic bags have created for aquatic ecosystems, landscape and infrastructure in Kansas. But the real problem with Senate Bill 493, he said, is an assault on democracy. The Kansas Chamber, manufacturers of plastic bags, and service industry representatives asked the Senate Commerce Committee to adopt the legislation, which would ban cities and counties in Kansas from restricting the use of plastic bags and containers. Pistora said the bill is “disingenuous” because it doesn’t provide a way for communities to reduce the accumulation of trash caused [...]

USD 231 selects interim superintendent

info2022-02-22T07:43:31-06:00February 21st, 2022|

James Sutton will serve as the interim superintendent at USD 231 for the next four months. Mark Meyer had served as acting superintendent after the departure of Pam Stranathan last December. Sutton will serve as interim thru July while the board of education conducts an employment search for a permanent replacement. In a statement Sutton said, he is very excited about getting to know everyone in the district and communities as much as possible. He recently retired from Belle Plaine, Kan., after 40 years in education. Sutton was born and raised in Pennsylvania outside Pittsburgh, but his undergraduate degree in elementary [...]

Conway Springs sells final lot in Countryview Addition

info2022-02-22T07:43:57-06:00February 21st, 2022|

The City of Conway Springs is getting out of the housing industry. No, the city has not been building homes, but it had been selling lots in the local subdivision. At their meeting last week, members of the Conway Springs City Council voted to sell the final lot in the Countryview Addition. Because it is the last lot available, and because it was a smaller lot, the city sold the home site for half price. Source: Times-Sentinel Newspapers » Feed

Derby Parks starts gathering input for master plan

info2022-02-22T07:45:23-06:00February 21st, 2022|

Derby parks were feeling the love last week, as the parks department and PROS Consulting held a kickoff event Feb. 15 (at Derby’s Madison Avenue Central Park) to launch the community engagement portion in forming the new Parks Master Plan. The crowd on hand was not shy in giving input, either, which is exactly what PROS representatives said they are looking for throughout the planning process. PROS assisted Derby with its previous master plan and President Leon Younger commended the community’s reputation as a “can-do city.” Considering that, Younger said his company is looking forward to engaging the community once again [...]

President approves disaster assistance for Kansas

info2022-02-21T02:00:32-06:00February 21st, 2022|

Kansas will get federal assistance to help with damage done by devastating wildfires in December. On Friday, President Joe Biden approved Governor Laura Kelly's federal disaster request. The wildfires on Dec. 15, 2021, were driven by high winds gusting between 60 and 100 mph. The fires damaged buildings, crops, pastureland, bridges, roads, and public utilities. The damage estimate is $15 million. Kelly requested public assistance for Barton, Brown, Clay, Cloud, Doniphan, Edwards, Ellis, Ellsworth, Ford, Geary, Gove, Graham, Grant, Gray, Greeley, Hamilton, Haskell, Hodgeman, Jewell, Kearny, Lane, Lincoln, Logan, Marshall, Meade, Mitchell, Morris, Morton, Nemaha, Ness, Osborne, Ottawa, Pawnee, Republic, Rice, Riley, [...]

Maize named fastest growing city in Kansas

info2022-02-22T07:46:29-06:00February 21st, 2022|

A new report from the League of Kansas Municipalities, using data from the 2020 U.S. Census, has named Maize the fastest growing city in Kansas. Residents and city officials said they aren’t surprised at all. “I don’t see how any other community among the state could be any busier,” City Administrator Richard LaMunyon said. “It’s just impossible. And then this came out to kind of justify what we were saying.” LaMunyon has lived in Maize for over 40 years. Residents are used to seeing new homes, apartments, businesses and lots of construction every day. “We can tell,” resident Andrea Graham said. [...]

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