info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

$43.6 million museum could be coming to Manhattan

info2021-05-27T06:57:00-05:00May 26th, 2021|

Local developers are proposing constructing a $43,600,000 "Manhattan Museum of Art and Light" near the Flint Hills Discovery Center in Manhattan. The project, still in the early stages of design, will be paid for using STAR Bonds, a program through the Kansas Department of Commerce meant to pay for major tourism development projects in the state. Construction on the project is months away according to Jason Hilgers, Deputy City Manager with the City of Manhattan. Source: KSNT News

Marshall County to receive $1.85 million

info2021-05-27T06:58:03-05:00May 26th, 2021|

Marshall County is seeking a $1.85 million grant through the American Rescue Plan. The federal money is available for pandemic-related expenses and infrastructure projects. This would be the second round of a large influx of aid to the county. On Monday, county commissioners took action to apply for the funds by appointing deputy emergency management director Leslie Jeter as the county’s contact for the grant’s administration. The decision was made after commissioners met with Jeter, emergency management director Bill Schwindamann and County Treasurer Jami Ellenbecker. Source: The Marysville Advocate

Lawrence leaders see police study and recommendations as first step in improvements to policing

info2021-05-26T07:20:25-05:00May 26th, 2021|

City leaders said Tuesday that they saw the recently completed study of the Lawrence Police Department as a first step in a larger process to reconsider the role of police in the community and how the department operates. As part of a special meeting Tuesday, consultants with Citygate Associates presented the findings of the police department study to the City Commission and the public. The commission called for the study and subsequent report last year following national and local protests against police killings of Black people and other people of color and calls for reallocation of some police duties to social [...]

One year after pandemic began, sales tax collections surge to new highs both in Lawrence and statewide

info2021-05-26T07:20:13-05:00May 26th, 2021|

While we haven’t yet been able to rip off those masks, there are new signs that Lawrence’s economy has become unshackled from pandemic-era restrictions. In fact, one set of numbers shows retail spending is now well above pre-pandemic levels. The Kansas Department of Revenue has released its May report on sales tax activity across the state. While the report is labeled as being for May, most of the numbers actually represent sales made in March. That makes it an especially interesting report. If you remember, March 2020 is when things became a little wobbly. (When your head starts spinning faster than [...]

Selden residents assess damage after tornado hits town

info2021-05-26T07:15:28-05:00May 26th, 2021|

A tornado blew through the town of Selden on Monday. Crews have been assessing the damage, which includes large trees that broke through roofs, windows and cars. While taking shelter, homeowners said the tornado sounded like 'loud blasts' flying past their homes. "Thankfully, it didn't last long, but it lasted long enough," said Loran Sulzman, a homeowner in Selden. Sulzman has lived in Selden his whole life, and owns the house he grew up in. Heading downstairs to take shelter during the storm, he did not realize the house, which held so many memories, would be in shambles by the time [...]

Sheridan County firefighters face the danger of tornadoes head-on; 1 rushes in when Selden’s siren fails

info2021-05-26T07:14:34-05:00May 26th, 2021|

Sheridan County Fire Training Chief Steve Hirsch is no stranger to the aftermath of a tornado. Back in 2007, he helped with the response to the deadly Greensburg tornado. "Our state association does training for fire departments across the state, and we actually happened to be in Lakin that night," he said. "So we drove over to Greensburg, got there about midnight. And you know, just complete utter devastation over there." When he responded Monday night to the aftermath of the tornado in Selden, he was prepared for the worst. Source: KSN-TV

Waterville Fire Department rescues family’s pets from house fire

info2021-05-26T07:14:12-05:00May 26th, 2021|

In the small town of Waterville, you are likely to see trucks on their way to somewhere else. Stop by and you will find a local volunteer fire department with the biggest hearts around. On Sunday, the department responded to a house with a fire in the basement. The department was able to put out the fire and everyone inside made it out fine, but the department went the extra mile to save the family's three cats and one dog. "They end up locating the cats. I think the first one that Aaron located was they call her Wilma and brought [...]

Disc golf, food and booze: Wichita commercializes part of abandoned city golf course

info2021-05-26T07:13:10-05:00May 26th, 2021|

Wichita City Hall took the first step Tuesday toward commercializing the park space formerly known as Clapp Golf Course, leasing the clubhouse for a disc-golf store that will also have city permission to sell food and booze. The $300-a-month, no-bid contract will allow disc-golf professional Christopher Dendurent, owner of Duck’s Flying Discs, to set up shop in the currently vacant building at the southwest corner of Harry and Oliver. The grounds have primarily been used for disc sports since the city halted golf operations there in August 2019. Park and Recreation Director Troy Houtman presented the contract to the Wichita City [...]

This new Oskaloosa solar farm could power over 100 homes

info2021-05-26T07:12:52-05:00May 26th, 2021|

FreeState Electric Cooperative is taking a big step into the world of solar energy. The Eastern Kansas co-op has partnered with another company to open a solar energy farm just south of Oskaloosa. The new farm has 3,500 solar energy panels that create enough energy to power 170 homes. CEO Steve Foss said the panels will help customers by producing more energy during the summer. Source: KSNT News

New budget law creates headaches

info2021-05-26T07:01:19-05:00May 26th, 2021|

“That’s going to be a big concern,” County Clerk Donna Zimmerman said. “It is going to be a big deal.” In a nutshell, SB 13 prohibits all taxing entities from increasing their tax collections by more than they did the year previous. This means, if an entity’s valuation (the total value of all property) goes up, the mill rate would have to go down to collect the same amount of taxes. In addition, it establishes a requirement of notices to taxpayers and public hearing for municipalities seeking to collect property taxes exceeding their revenue-neutral rate. This supplants the property tax lid [...]

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