info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

As mayor, Lawrence 7th-grader would improve city’s bikeability

info2019-02-04T09:50:24-06:00February 4th, 2019|

If Jack Tell were mayor, Lawrence residents might have to deal with a lot of construction and noise for a little while — but the payoff would be improved bike infrastructure citywide. The Billy Mills Middle School seventh-grader recently finished as a regional winner in the annual Kansas League of Municipalities “If I Were Mayor” memo contest. Jack’s plan to make Lawrence more bike-friendly would include “adding bike paths, bike lanes, bike racks, a bike park” and more, he wrote in his memo. His entry mentioned the health benefits of biking — “It helps your cardiovascular fitness, makes you stronger, decreases [...]

Topeka police receive cultural sensitivity training

info2019-02-04T09:33:13-06:00February 4th, 2019|

Recognize any personal biases you might have and make sure they don’t affect the way you do your job. That was among tips Cain Davis shared with Topeka Police Department employees Friday during a cultural diversity training session held at Topeka’s National Guard Armory. Police Chief Bill Cochran, who was among participants, said he hoped the training would help open up the eyes, hearts and minds of the department’s employees while improving their ability to interact with people from different races, religions and cultural backgrounds. “The better educated and more understanding the officers are, the safer the citizens and the officers [...]

City of Independence employee creates coloring book to prevent inappropriate calls to 911

info2019-02-04T09:48:04-06:00February 4th, 2019|

Alexis Sanders is in our employee spotlight this week. Alexis came to us last July from Montgomery County Sheriff’s Dispatch where she worked for about two and half years. Alexis is a Dispatcher Clerk I. Alexis received repeat 911 calls from a local youngster playing with the phone recently. What Alexis did next really demonstrates the quality of people that work at IPD. Knowing that it is important to reduce the demand on the 911 system, Alexis felt compelled to create a solution to prevent young children from inappropriately dialing 911. She also knew that young children require creative solutions. So, [...]

Topeka implementing downtown parking initiatives

info2019-02-04T09:25:19-06:00February 4th, 2019|

Parking in downtown Topeka could get easier after a variety of planned improvements, including upgrades to parking garage systems, on-street meters and wayfinding technology. A reader recently expressed confusion about parking, asking #TopCity What?: “There is a sign at Centre City Garage that says free parking during (business) hours. Why did I have to pay during the listed hours?” “It would appear the reader misread the signs,” parking manager Brenda Hayes said in a written response, noting that parking is free in the garage after business hours and on weekends. Hayes said if a user is charged incorrectly, he or she [...]

Reno legislators regard wind turbine sites local decision

info2019-02-04T09:22:38-06:00February 4th, 2019|

All five members of Reno County’s delegation in the State Legislature regard siting decisions for a wind farm’s turbines as a local call, aren’t in favor of currently proposed hikes in hunting fees, and think more money is needed for prison staffing. On other issues, the five members split. (Read more: News - The Hutchinson News)

Pawnee County touts local jobs

info2019-02-04T09:20:23-06:00February 4th, 2019|

The Pawnee County Leadership Committee visited the Statehouse Wednesday, and State Rep. Leonard Mastroni, R-LaCrosse, promoted the committee’s visit and efforts to fill jobs at Larned State Hospital. Included in Pawnee County folders provided to lawmakers was a promotion of the website, larnedcares.com, for people interested in jobs there, Mastroni pointed out in comments on the House floor. As of last week, the state listed various job openings at Larned State Hospital and at Larned Correctional Mental Health Facility. They ranged from professional medical care openings to safety and security officer positions - on all three shifts. “One in five Americans [...]

Southwest Kansas sees fewer refugees, shifting agencies

info2019-02-04T09:19:06-06:00February 4th, 2019|

Saleh Mohammed fled his native Myanmar in 2015. “Too much fighting over there,” he said. As a member of the Rohingya ethnic minority, he was in particular peril. His life was in danger. He settled in Garden City. Now 24, he may gain citizenship in a year. That, in turn, will put him in a position to bring over his family and free those loved ones from a refugee camp in Bangladesh. To navigate life in western Kansas — he’s a meat carver in a Tyson packing plant — he’s relied on aid groups in the region. Those organizations have put [...]

Sales tax could go to voters in Winfield

info2019-02-04T09:14:07-06:00February 4th, 2019|

Winfield voters might be asked in June whether to raise the city’s sales tax by .6 of a percent to bankroll a new safety center to house police and fire/EMS, estimated to cost between $16 million to $20 million. A resolution authorizing an election to repeal a .4 percent retail sales tax and replace it with a 1 percent capital improvement sales tax will be on the agenda Monday for Winfield city commissioners. If the resolution authorizing the election passes, it will be held via mail with a June 4 deadline, according to a copy of the resolution provided by interim [...]

Olathe, Overland Park envision building ice hockey arenas

info2019-02-04T09:12:53-06:00February 4th, 2019|

There’s a move to build ice hockey arenas in Olathe and Overland Park. A field near U.S. 69 and 159th Street in Overland Park is slated to become a 300,000-square-foot multisport complex. “All kinds of sports, whether it's basketball, whether it's volleyball, but the big drive is hockey,” said Overland Park City Council member Chris Newlin. Newlin wants the project vision to become a reality -- a 3,500-seat ice arena, basketball courts, and indoor soccer, with nearby office space, apartments, retail, restaurants and entertainment. “There is nothing like this in Johnson County. There is nothing like this in the Kansas City [...]

Proposed $100M development for Indian Springs Mall lot brings excitement to KCK

info2019-02-04T09:11:10-06:00February 4th, 2019|

After years of failed hopes, some say a dream development is headed to KCK. A metro company is ready to give it to them. Scavuzzo's Food Service is planning to develop the old Indian Springs Mall site. The mall was demolished in 2016, and other proposals failed to gain community support. But now many in the community say the time has come. "Oh, I'm very excited," said Jashona Clark, the assistant manager at City G.E.A.R. up the road from the lot. "I'm ready for it." The mall closed its doors in 2001. The same year it was demolished Lane4 proposed a [...]

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