info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Lake Shawnee Campground intentionally free of individual sewer connections

info2018-12-03T12:52:58-06:00December 3rd, 2018|

Shawnee County Parks and Recreation has intentionally left the Lake Shawnee Campground without individual sewer connections to discourage long-term stays there, said department spokesman Mike McLaughlin. He responded to a question a Topeka Capital-Journal reader posed as part of the newspaper’s reader engagement project, ”#TopCity What? You ask. We answer.” The reader, who asked to remain anonymous, asked: “Why won’t the county put in individual sewer hook-ups at the Lake Shawnee Campground? It’s considered a top 10 fishing lake in Kansas.” McLaughlin, the parks and recreation department’s marketing and communications director, said the Lake Shawnee Campground is intended to be a [...]

Lyon County Commissioners hear blizzard response update; praise county employees, city of Emporia and Melvern FD

info2018-12-03T11:50:04-06:00December 3rd, 2018|

Sheriff Jeff Cope and Emergency Manager Jarrod Fell praised the work of local first responders in the midst of Sunday’s blizzard — which resulted in a complete shutdown of a portion of Interstate 35 — during a meeting of the Lyon County Commission Thursday morning at the courthouse. More than 50 wrecks were reported by the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office between 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Sunday, with calls coming in one after the other for the duration of that time. Only four injury events were reported. Emporia Police Adminstrative Sergeant Lisa Sage told The Emporia Gazette in an email that [...]

New Assistant City Administrator eager to get started in Spring Hill

info2018-12-03T11:44:34-06:00December 3rd, 2018|

A people person, team builder and proud Kansas Citian, Spring Hill’s newest leader has found a home in the Public Works and Community Development departments. Jose Leon was appointed by Mayor Steven Ellis at the Nov. 8 City Council meeting to fulfill the role of Assistant City Administrator for Public Works, Community Development and Physical Plant. And he’s eager to begin the new position. “Spring Hill is a very nice community with a great reputation,” Jose said. “It is a growing community and provides the opportunity for me to continue building on the skills and experience I have but also teach [...]

Parsons may buy new public safety radios

info2018-12-03T11:43:42-06:00December 3rd, 2018|

The Parsons police and fire departments may receive new hand-held radios at a cost of over $200,000. Parsons city commissioners plan to consider the request from Fire Chief Jay Hawks and Police Chief Robert Spinks during their Monday evening meeting. Hawks presented the proposal during a Thursday work session. The radios would be purchased from Motorola Solutions at a cost of $212,378.80, which would be paid from a sales tax devoted in part to public safety. Hawks and Spinks want to buy the radios through a state contract to get a discounted price that they otherwise couldn’t find through the city’s [...]

After a rough patch due to former director stealing funds, Lyon County Commissioners hear positive report on Senior Center

info2018-12-03T12:50:40-06:00December 3rd, 2018|

Emporia Senior Center Board President Karen Hartenbower gave Lyon County Commissioners a brief update on how things are running at the center Thursday morning. Hartenbower said the center had been treading water over the last year. Lannie Lyman, former director of the Emporia Senior Center, was charged with stealing more than $100,000 between May 2014 - Sept. 2017 from the organization in July. Hartenbower said Ian Boyd was recently hired as the new director of the Emporia Senior Center, and things are starting to improve. “He’s been with us three-and-a-half months and he’s doing really well because, for a year we [...]

Judicial center to get beefed up security in Labette County

info2018-12-03T07:37:32-06:00December 3rd, 2018|

Later this month, the Labette County Judicial Center in Parsons will undergo a security upgrade in the court clerk’s office, Labette County commissioners heard Friday. Bullet-resistant glass will be added the week of Dec. 17 and the front counters and cabinets replaced to accommodate the heavy material. An existing security door will be moved as part of the upgrade. Advantage Computer of Iola submitted a quote for the work, $37,920. Court Clerk Terri Thurman said she contacted local contractors and none expressed interest in doing the work. Advantage is the computer vendor used by court offices. Now, the clerk’s office is [...]

Hallmark inspired by Ark City fire truck

info2018-12-03T12:54:09-06:00December 3rd, 2018|

A former getaway car used in a bank robbery in the early 1930s is now a Hallmark Christmas ornament. The 1932 Buick Rag Top was set on fire by the robbers and later purchased by the City of Arkansas City and refurbished as a fire truck. After several years of fire service, the truck was retired from the Ark City Fire Department fleet and today it serves as a showpiece for the department. For years it has appeared in special events, including the Arkalalah parade. “Hallmark contacted us in January 2017,” said City Manager Nick Hernandez, who said Hallmark contacted the [...]

Shawnee County residents can now text 911 during an emergency

info2018-12-03T06:53:54-06:00December 3rd, 2018|

Shawnee County residents can now text 911 if there is an emergency, although an official said voice calls remain the top choice. The new NextGen 911 system was installed earlier this week at the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Communications Center. Melanie Bergers, director of the Emergency Communications Center, said the new system will provide a lot of benefits to residents and dispatchers. The new system gives people calling 911 the ability to send a text message to 911 as long as the sender has a data plan and the cellphone isn’t in roaming status. Bergers said the system can be [...]

Manhattan levee awarded $18.4 million in federal funds for improvements

info2018-12-03T06:52:16-06:00December 3rd, 2018|

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has notified the City of Manhattan that $18.4 million is being awarded in fiscal year 2019 to fund improvements to Manhattan’s levee system. The total cost of the project will be approximately $26 million and city officials will have several options to cover the remaining $7.5 million. The levee system provides fortification to 1,600 acres of land, 7,600 residents and protects a total economic impact estimated at $1.2 billion. The project intends to raise the levee along the Big Blue River from the intersection of Casement Road and Hayes Drive, south to the confluence of [...]

Crawford County Commission discusses horse operation

info2018-12-03T06:50:58-06:00December 3rd, 2018|

The Crawford County Commission hosted a work session on Tuesday to discuss a horse rescue operation located in a largely residential area on E 20th St. in Pittsburg. Tensions ran high as Rich Rhuems, a resident near the horse rescue operation owned by Dani Menghini and Jennifer Girth, addressed the commission regarding what Rhuems said are inappropriate conditions for horses, as well as excessive trash on the property. Commissioner Carl Wood was a vocal opponent of maintaining the status quo. He said he’s been hearing complaints about the operation’s property for four years. Zoning Administrator Troy Graham said he’d driven by [...]

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