info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Lenexa makes an unusual hire to deal with a landscape problem.

info2021-10-10T23:01:32-05:00October 10th, 2021|

The storm water drain in Lenexa's Sar-Ko-Par Park was teeming with invasive plants. Roughly 60% of the vegetation surrounding the drain was species considered to be threatening to the local ecosystem. Lenexa struck a deal with Goats on the Go KCMO to bring in a herd to tackle the issue. The four-legged eating machines moved across 2.5 acres of rocky terrain and steep slopes mowing through the vegetation. Now, in the wake of the visit, the area lays clear and free of invasive plants. Margaret Chamas of Goats on the Go KCMO oversees the goats and other livestock at Storm Dancer [...]

There’s no legal weed in Kansas yet, but a new Cannabis Chamber of Commerce says that’ll change soon

info2021-10-10T22:59:17-05:00October 10th, 2021|

Kansas is one of three states that has not yet legalized medical marijuana. But, banking on the idea that legalization is inevitable, one organization is gearing up to focus on what the growth of that industry will look like. “It (marijuana) isn't something to be feared. It's something to be regulated,” said Barry Grissom, a former U.S. Attorney for the District of Kansas and member of the Kansas Cannabis Chamber of Commerce. “I'll use Colorado as an example,” Grissom said on Up to Date. “In 2017, total cannabis related sales in that state was $1.5 billion. What that tells me as [...]

Wichita’s water crisis brings aging water infrastructure issues to a boil

info2021-10-10T22:55:50-05:00October 10th, 2021|

What happened Thursday could have been much worse. And it was no surprise. The water main break that threatened to contaminate the whole system, closing schools and hobbling restaurants was a crisis, but it could have happened at any time. The city of Wichita’s water system has been flirting with disaster for years. This time, the failure of a power pole’s insulator, one of the most common, cheapest and most reliable parts of an electrical system, was the trigger point in a cascade of events that broke a corroded, 52-year-old water main near downtown Wichita. A 2017 assessment found 99% of [...]

Boil water advisories over for most Sedgwick, Butler county areas affected by pipe break

info2021-10-10T22:53:53-05:00October 10th, 2021|

The boil water advisories for most areas in Sedgwick and Butler counties affected by a major water pipe break last week are over. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment on Sunday lifted advisories for Bel Aire, Derby, Rose Hill, Benton, Kechi, Valley Center, McConnell Air Force Base and Sedgwick County Rural Water Districts 1 and 3. The city of Wichita’s advisory was lifted Saturday. Residents in Sedgwick County Rural Water District No. 2, however, should continue to boil their tap water before drinking or cooking with it until further notice, the KDHE said. Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle

Wichita water passes KDHE test, boil-water advisory over 36 hours after pipe break

info2021-10-10T22:03:27-05:00October 10th, 2021|

In Wichita, it’s safe to drink the water again. A boil-water advisory that closed Wichita’s schools and hampered many of the city’s restaurants has been lifted, about 36 hours after a water main break that had threatened to contaminate the system. The advisory issued by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment on Thursday afternoon ended after all the city’s water samples turned up negative for contamination. Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle

Galena makes way for new tradition to benefit city project

info2021-10-10T21:57:52-05:00October 10th, 2021|

Downtown Galena was blocked off on Saturday to make way for a celebration as the first "Bloktoberfest" kicked off on Main Street. Proceeds raised from the event will be going towards the construction of a new splash pad in the city. Organizers from the "Galena Parks and Recreation Committee" also wanted to use Bloktoberfest as a way to bring community members downtown to shop locally. "We have quite a few craft vendors in the park. I think that it's good to have everyone come out, especially on a beautiful day like this and check our stuff out," says Renee Charles, Galena [...]

Utility disconnects for Kansas City, Kansas, residents will resume in November

info2021-10-10T21:56:32-05:00October 10th, 2021|

The Kansas City, Kansas, Board of Public Utilities announced it will be lifting the moratorium on disconnects for its utility service for non-payments starting in November. As of Nov. 3, the BPU will start disconnecting those who have yet to pay their utility bill, according to a release. The board will work with customers who are behind on payments to assist them with payment plans. Utility disconnects have been suspended since March 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic began affecting people’s ability to pay their bills, with several businesses closing and others laying off or furloughing workers. Source: KC Star Local News

‘Ready to go to war’: Wind power grows in Kansas and Missouri. Why do some oppose it?

info2021-10-10T21:55:00-05:00October 10th, 2021|

Public officials are fond of pointing out that all of Kansas City International Airport’s electricity is now generated from wind — namely the Cimarron Bend wind farm in Clark County, in far western Kansas. But as wind power development grows across Kansas and Missouri, not everyone is happy. About an hour’s drive north of Kansas City, the Osborn Wind Project has divided neighbors since its 2017 opening. Here, one hears the familiar arguments about wind towers: Some call them eyesores, and some detest the constant noise and flickering red lights at night. Among the strongest opponents has been the nearby Shatto [...]

Saline County Sheriff’s K-9 and deputy win competition

info2021-10-10T10:32:35-05:00October 10th, 2021|

The Saline County Sheriff’s Office announced that its K-9 unit was top dog during a regional competition. Sheriff Roger Soldan said Maggie and her handler, deputy Craig Norris, attended a certification hosted by the Heart of American Police Dog Association in Ankeny, Iowa that ended Oct. 1. “As part of the week that they were there, they had a patrol dog trophy run,” Soldan said. Soldan said Maggie and Norris were among 10 teams to be put through a scenario run of four disciplines. Source: Salina Journal

From Topeka to Bemidji, Minn., localities try to boost populations with offers of cash, free coffee and grandparent stand-ins

info2021-10-10T10:38:22-05:00October 9th, 2021|

Shara Gaona didn’t know much about Topeka when the pandemic struck. But the remote-working United Airlines analyst, untethered from her Chicago office, decided to move to the Kansas capital and collect $10,000 in local government incentives. Topeka is on a growing list of locations—from Bemidji, Minn., to the state of West Virginia—dangling incentives to entice remote workers. Many companies are offering office-free jobs, and some workers are willing to relocate for cash, cheaper housing or other perks. “I’ve had a lot of people ask me, ‘What the hell are you doing in Topeka?’ ” Ms. Gaona said. “Well, they’re giving me [...]

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