info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

German woman training with Derby police

info2018-12-06T07:35:52-06:00December 6th, 2018|

Since she was a little girl, Kimberly Klein wanted to be a police officer. Now that dream is coming true. Klein is spending three weeks as an intern with the Derby Police Department, but when she’s done, she won’t be staying here, but taking her newly found knowledge back home near Frankfurt, Germany, some 4,888 miles from Derby. Klein is enjoying her stint in America. “It’s great here, she said. “I really like the culture and all the Americans are always so nice to me.” The 24-year-old is not a total stranger to the U.S. or the Derby area as in [...]

Derby trash service contract up for bid in 2019

info2018-12-06T07:30:10-06:00December 6th, 2018|

The city will be opening its trash and recycling contract to qualified companies next year. That was a change to the City Council’s list of priorities approved at the Nov. 27 council meeting. Derby has a 10-year contract with Waste Connections that is due to expire Dec. 1, 2019. “We need to issue an RFP (request for proposals) soon to ensure other companies have an opportunity to compete,” Sexton said. The objective is to have a contract in place by May, City Manager Kathy Sexton said. The early lead time is necessary because of the equipment required to provide service to [...]

Community provides valuable input on walkable city in Derby

info2018-12-06T07:28:39-06:00December 6th, 2018|

Virtually every day, Charlene Gonzalez gets outside and goes for a walk, usually for four to five miles, so she knows what walking in Derby is all about. That’s why an open house on the city’s Walkable Development Plan was of particular interest to her. But there are issues, including safety, she said at the gathering, which took place from 4 to 6 p.m. Nov. 28 at Madison Avenue Central Park. Gonzalez’s comments and input are just what planners from an outside agency, RDG, were looking for at the workshop. “We’re pleased with it,” said project manager Charlie Cowell of the [...]

Reno county wind farm must be operable before end of 2019 to qualify for federal tax breaks

info2018-12-06T07:22:13-06:00December 6th, 2018|

Forty-five seconds of silence following a motion to impose a moratorium on commercial wind development perhaps resounded louder than two hours of an open mic before the Reno County Commission Tuesday morning. Commissioner Ron Hirst’s motion to impose a six-month moratorium died for lack of a second. No other motion followed. NextEra Energy is now free to file its application for a conditional use permit, which will go before the Reno County Planning Commission. The company previously indicated it planned to do so by mid-December. The planning commission could propose additional restrictions or requirements for NextEra’s Pretty Prairie Wind Farm outside [...]

Bourbon county, Fort Scott sign agreement for ambulance

info2018-12-06T07:19:49-06:00December 6th, 2018|

Bourbon County Commissioners on Tuesday signed an agreement with the City of Fort Scott to provide an ambulance service. Prior to signing the agreement, Bourbon County Counselor Justin Meeks said many people have been involved in the process of organizing a county-city ambulance service. This has been a fairly quick process, all things considered,” Meeks said. The county-city ambulance service will replace the existing Mercy EMS as of April 1, when the county’s contract with Mercy expires. The county learned on Oct. 1 it would be responsible for providing an ambulance service after Mercy Hospital Fort Scott closes on Dec. 31. [...]

Plans for controversial wind farm moving forward in Reno County

info2018-12-06T06:58:40-06:00December 6th, 2018|

Plans for a controversial wind farm in Reno County are moving forward. The county commission Tuesday morning decided not to delay the project by imposing a community-backed moratorium. A moratorium would've delayed the project near Pretty Prairie. Some Reno County residents are trying to stop it from happening. NextEra Energy says it wants to start construction on the wind farm at the beginning of next year in hopes of completing the project by the end of 2019. Because county commissioners for now cleared the project to move forward, those opposed to the project against voiced their concerns Tuesday. But others support [...]

Newton planning board votes against senior living zoning change

info2018-12-06T06:55:42-06:00December 6th, 2018|

In a split vote the Newton Planning and Zoning Board voted against a proposed zoning change to allow for the construction of senior living apartments near Sand Creek Golf Course. Newton Developer Ron Harder asked for a change of the zoning of a combined 13.2 acres to multi-family residential to allow for a 6.73 acre retirement development. The development would be built south of Highway 50, along S. Anderson Drive and North of Summer Drive. That didn’t sit well with nearby residents. According to Newton City Planner Ryan Sellers about 15 people showed up to a public hearing at the meeting [...]

Hutch City Council approves eNGines-LPG incentive package

info2018-12-06T06:50:22-06:00December 6th, 2018|

The Hutchinson City Council gave its approval to the new incentive package for eNGines-LPG, LLC, during Tuesday’s agenda session. The small engine company is preparing to relocate to the old Betts Bakery and begin the assembly of small engines for generators and other industrial applications. The company will receive $56,500 over a five-year period. The incentive is similar to one approved by the County Commission last week. The proof of employment by eNGines-LPG to the city and county will be on the same schedule, making reporting easier for the company. The incentives are employee driven with the company adding 10 jobs [...]

Harvey County moving forward with purchase of armored carrier

info2018-12-06T06:47:50-06:00December 6th, 2018|

The Board of Harvey County Commissioners gave its consent Monday for Sheriff Chad Gay to order a $295,000 armored personnel carrier. Delivery of a custom-built Lenco BearCat will not take place for at least six months, and commissioners can decide how they want to pay for the vehicle at a later date. The three options are to finance the vehicle through Lenco at 3.97 percent interest over five years; search for a lower interest rate from a company that is approved to do lease programs for local governments; or use reserve funds. About one-third of the expense will be covered by [...]

Home on the Range: Smith County historical boosters work to put Kansas and US36 on the map

info2018-12-05T09:40:11-06:00December 5th, 2018|

It’s an iconic tune that has made Kansas--and El Dean Holthus--instantly recognized around the world. But Home on the Range is more than just a song. It also leads listeners to a historic site and an award-winning documentary, things that Holthus hopes will continue to put Kansas, Smith County, and US36 Highway on the map. ... Holthus shares a dream held by other US36 Highway Association boosters in Republic County: that the Home on the Range log cabin and other sites along the highway will draw tourism dollars to North Central Kansas. Paul Kallman, Belleville, is chairman of theUS36 Association. “The [...]

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