info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

‘If you don’t have any sites, you have no projects’: Heermann explains the $1 million land purchase heard around Emporia

info2021-03-01T07:13:08-06:00February 28th, 2021|

The Emporia Gazette received a number of questions after the Emporia City Commission’s split decision to purchase 88 acres of farmland located at 1503 E. Logan Ave. for $1 million, last week. Some residents questioned how the purchase price was reached, while some questioned the need for more land for industrial development. Others wondered why — and how — the deal was pushed through so quickly. We spoke to Kent Heermann, president of the Regional Development Association, to discuss the purchase. Heermann said the purchase is the latest in a long list of examples of the city’s nearly 70-year push for [...]

New health order drops curfew in Sedgwick County, bar owners react

info2021-03-01T07:13:48-06:00February 28th, 2021|

Right in time for the weekend, Sedgwick County released a new health order Friday. The biggest change is that it dropped the midnight curfew that has been placed on bars and clubs for many months now. "I was like wow, that's exactly what we been waiting to hear really for the whole year," said Mike Mansour, Manager of Heroes Sports Bar and Grill. Mansour said the return of normal hours and staying open until 2 a.m. is when they find their most success, "Those two couple extra hours are gonna make a big difference in our sales." After nearly a year [...]

Galena student’s artwork to hang in the United Nations building in New York City

info2021-03-01T07:13:58-06:00February 28th, 2021|

Its always an accomplishment for an artist to be recognized for their work. But when the recognition involves both national and international recognition - well, then you know you've got something special. Dakota Bennett, Galena Middle School Student, said, "Like I still wake up and I'm like, 'I'm thinking this is a dream,' because this is just crazy." Dakota Bennett is your typical middle school student, but she's accomplished something huge. With competition from 600,000 young artists worldwide, she's one of 23 Merit Winners in the Lions Club International Peace Poster Contest. Now her art is heading to a very special [...]

Shawnee County health officials shorten quarantine guidelines

info2021-03-01T07:14:08-06:00February 28th, 2021|

Shawnee County Health Officer Dr. Erin Locke updated the county's quarantine guidance on Friday. The health department said based on recommendations from the state's health department and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people end their quarantine after seven days with a negative COVID-19 test or 10 days without a test. Tests must be completed on or after day 6 and people have to stay in quarantine until results are received, the health department said. Source: KSNT News

Osage City historical downtown property shares in statewide preservation grants

info2021-03-01T07:14:21-06:00February 28th, 2021|

An Osage City property will receive a historic preservation project grant as part of 2021 round of Heritage Trust Fund grant program. The Star Block, a portion of the downtown in Osage City on Market Street, will receive $90,000 of the total of $1,168,492 awarded for 15 historic preservation projects across the state. HTF grants reimburse expenses for projects that preserve or restore qualifying historic properties. The funded projects represent a diverse collection of properties listed in the National Register of Historic Places or the Register of Historic Kansas Places. All awards are contingent upon available funding. Source: Osage County Online

Labette County extends disaster declaration

info2021-03-01T07:15:50-06:00February 28th, 2021|

Labette County commissioners on Friday extended for 14 days a disaster declaration based on the frigid temperatures the area experienced last week. Charlie Morse, Emergency Operations director, introduced the declaration, the second one approved by the commission. The first declaration will expire on Monday. Without keeping such a declaration in place, communities such as Altamont and Chetopa, which are facing the prospect of steep increases in utility bills tied to the frigid temperatures, could not benefit from a federal disaster declaration if one comes. Morse said some Kansas counties have approved declarations as has the state. So far the federal government [...]

Rose Hill chamber launching new promotion in March

info2021-03-01T07:16:12-06:00February 28th, 2021|

Expanding past the Small Business Saturday trend, the Rose Hill Chamber of Commerce is launching a new promotion in March to encourage area residents to shop local. Through the “Shop Local, Win Big” raffle event, customers will have the opportunity to win prizes by shopping in Rose Hill stores – with local businesses getting some exposure as well. “It’s just to stimulate and support our local businesses,” said Rose Hill chamber board member Sharynne Mattingly. “We hope as a chamber that our businesses will get more business." Source: Derby Informer | News

Goddard City Council approves plan to reshape itself

info2021-03-01T07:18:45-06:00February 28th, 2021|

The Goddard city council approved a charter ordinance at its Feb. 16 meeting that changes the composition of the governing body. The ordinance eliminates the position of mayor as an elected, non-voting member of the council. Instead, the city will be governed by a five-member city council, all elected at large and all having a vote. Source: Times-Sentinel Newspapers

Haven students drive to school in farm style to celebrate FFA Week

info2021-02-27T07:49:19-06:00February 27th, 2021|

Each year, Haven High School students drive their tractors — or other farm vehicles — to school to celebrate FFA week. Because these students live on nearby farms, driving these vehicles is second nature to them. The machines come in different colors – dependent on the make. They were also from different decades – from state-of-the-art vehicles to 1990s to a 1947 fixer-upper tractor. “This shows people who don’t live on a farm what we do,” said Grace Sawatzky, 17, of Yoder. Like most of the other students, her family raises wheat, corn, soy, alfalfa and milo. Source: Hutch News.

Child care shortage seen in Garden City, nation

info2021-02-27T07:45:45-06:00February 27th, 2021|

Alack of child care slots and locations exists in Garden City and the wider Finney County area. Lona DuVall, president/CEO of the Finney County Economic Development Corporation, said the lack of child care in the area was noticed by the FCEDC as early as 2012. The problem has since gotten worse, DuVall said. In 2012 there was a shortage of about 485 child care slots, by 2018 shortage had more than doubled to about 1,850 slots. DuVall said they knew there was a shortage, but nobody did anything, FCEDC didn't even get involved until the lack of child care started affecting [...]

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