info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Hutch, Reno County show population dips

info2019-05-24T13:36:20-05:00May 24th, 2019|

The latest city and county population estimates released by the U.S. Census Bureau show Kansas’ overall population rose - to 2,911,505 as of July 1, 2018, from 2,910,689 the previous year - but populations in Hutchinson and Reno County continued to slip. In the last federal census in April 2010, Reno County had 64,511 residents and Hutchinson, 42,080. The latest estimates for mid-2018 put Reno County at 62,342 residents and Hutchinson at 40,623. Population declines in western Kansas cities were common but not universal. The mid-2018 estimates for Dodge City, 27,329; Garden City, 26,546; Great Bend, 15,170; Liberal, 19,495; Hays, 20,852; [...]

Water meter project: City to install steel poles at four sites in Topeka

info2019-05-24T13:34:27-05:00May 24th, 2019|

Sixty-foot-tall steel poles will be put up at four sites in Topeka as part of a project that will enable the city’s utilities department to read all of the city’s 57,000 water meters by radio, the city announced Thursday. City officials announced last October that the mayor and council had earmarked about $12.5 million to finance the project to put in replacement water meters, which will transmit water readings through a wireless device on a licensed radio frequency to collectors placed throughout the city. (Read more: Local - The Topeka Capital-Journal)

Merriam council to discuss sidewalk infill program after West Vernon Place residents voice opposition

info2019-05-24T13:31:32-05:00May 24th, 2019|

The streets in the West Vernon Place neighborhood of Merriam are slated to get sidewalks in the coming months — but some residents who live there are organizing to convince the city council to halt the project. More than a dozen neighbors voiced their opposition to the project at the city’s May 13 council meeting. Most who spoke against the city adding sidewalks to West Vernon Place said their neighborhood has always been quiet and safe for them to walk on the street. “It will just destroy the neighborhood, as far as I’m concerned,” said Mary Thomas, a resident of West [...]

Commission learns wail of tornado sirens Tuesday took some by surprise

info2019-05-24T13:25:26-05:00May 24th, 2019|

The wail of tornado sirens took some Shawnee County residents by surprise early Tuesday evening, Shawnee County commissioners learned Thursday. After the National Weather Service issued tornado warnings affecting the northeast and northwest parts of the county, the county’s emergency management department followed its standard practice of initially setting off outdoor sirens for three minutes countywide to get the public’s attention, said emergency management director Dusty Nichols. After that, the department sounded those sirens in only the warned areas, Nichols told Commissioners Bob Archer, Bill Riphahn and Kevin Cook at their morning meeting. “A lot of people really liked it because [...]

Garden City moves forward with city’s electric distribution system improvements

info2019-05-24T13:24:14-05:00May 24th, 2019|

The Garden City Commission on Tuesday unanimously approved an ordinance authorizing improvements to the city’s electric distribution system and the general obligation bonds intended to fund them, the most recent step in an ongoing project with Sunflower Power Corp. and Wheatland Electric Cooperative. The city’s electric department has for months prepared for improvements to some of its substations and expansion of its distribution system. Currently, Sunflower’s system distributes Garden City’s electric power supply to substations owned by Wheatland, which charged the city $535,000 last year to transfer the power to city distribution facilities, said Mike Muirhead, the city’s public utilities director. [...]

McPherson County denies wind project regulation change request

info2019-05-24T13:20:31-05:00May 24th, 2019|

In the end, nothing changed, despite pleas from many county residents to implement stricter setback regulations on commercial wind energy turbines. It began with a zoning amendment request by Jason Wright to make changes in the county’s current Commercial Wind Energy Project regulations, which were originally written when the maximum height on wind turbines was 250 feet. The P&Z board eliminated that height restriction in 2017, but did not adjust its setback requirements. Wright’s request in February was delayed until the P&Z board’s May meeting to allow time for members to research and consider the request. A robust variety of viewpoints [...]

Even if it rains or floods, La Cygne preparing for 150th anniversary celebration

info2019-05-24T13:19:02-05:00May 24th, 2019|

Broadway St. in La Cygne, Kansas is empty now. But community organizers say they hope to see it packed this weekend for the town's 150th anniversary celebration. "We’re really excited. We’ve been planning as the historical society for about two years," La Cygne Historical Society President Janet Reynolds said. But rain and potential flooding may paint a different scene, drawing in fewer people. "I would be very upset. It’s like you plan for something and if it doesn’t happen, then you have a real reason to be disappointed," La Cygne Historical Museum Curator Ruth Reynolds said. There's only four ways to [...]

Derby will get new fire chief in July

info2019-05-24T13:18:06-05:00May 24th, 2019|

A veteran Wichita Fire Department leader will take over as Derby’s new fire chief on July 1. John Turner, most recently a Wichita battalion chief and division commander, will be chief in Derby as Brad Smith retires. Turner and his wife, Bridget, live in Wichita and are relocating to Derby. Turner, 50, said he’s excited to get going at the job. “I’m very fortunate to have this opportunity,” he said. He called Derby “a great community,” and said that both the department and the city government itself have stellar reputations. (Read more: Derby News | derbyinformer.com)

City approves downtown sound system

info2019-05-24T13:16:36-05:00May 24th, 2019|

Downtown Emporia will soon sport a new sound system. The Emporia City Commission officially accepted an agreement between the city and Emporia Main Street for the project Wednesday morning. The system will be used to play music and relay messages downtown. It may also be used to announce emergencies during events. Main Street Director Casey Woods told commissioners last month that he had been working with Cody Maxfield of Audio Lite to find an expandable wireless speaker system for the downtown area. The proposed system would install two units per block in the 600 — 900 blocks of Commercial Street. The [...]

Film festival coming to Emporia

info2019-05-24T13:15:10-05:00May 24th, 2019|

Sundance, Cannes and now, Emporia. The No Coast Film Festival is coming to the Granada Theatre on Aug. 31. The festival promotes the short film genre through the gathering of local, national and international filmmakers. This is the festival’s first year. New, independent films will run alongside award-winning films from other international festivals. One of the themed programs focuses on “Unseen Kansas.” The current submission price is $15, and attendance is free. Earlier this week, there were eight submissions, though the committee is hoping for 30 or so. They plan to put films into block screenings, with time afterward to hold [...]

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