info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Controversial hog farm in Potwin awaits state approval

info2018-10-02T22:11:35-05:00October 2nd, 2018|

There is tension in the small Butler County town of Potwin. Tuesday, neighbors and representative with the state department of health gathered to talk about a proposed hog farm being built. Earlier this year, farmer Doug Claassen opened a hog facility four miles from Potwin. Now, he wants to expand it by building a new facility two miles north of the town. It would house 3,000 head of swine. Residents and the town's mayor say their biggest concern is odor seeping into town. The KDHE will be reviewing the public comments from Tuesday's meeting. It will decide whether to allow the [...]

Kansas City police get $700K innovation grant

info2018-10-02T22:09:14-05:00October 2nd, 2018|

The Kansas City, Kan., police department has received a $700,000 grant designed to support innovative policing programs, a federal prosecutor’s office announced on Tuesday. According to U.S. Attorney for Kansas Stephen McAllister, the grant was made to the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kan.. McAllister said the grant comes from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhood program, which is a centerpiece of the Justice Department’s strategy for reducing violent crime. This week marks the one-year anniversary of the revitalized Project Safe Neighborhood program. “This money will help police test promising crime prevention strategies aimed at reducing [...]

Saline County Commission accepts two grants

info2018-10-02T21:49:00-05:00October 2nd, 2018|

The Saline County Commission accepted two grants Tuesday morning. The commission approved the purchase of a wireless headset system for Rural Fire District 3 from Weis Fire & Safety Equipment for $2,700. Weis Fire submitted the lowest out of four submitted bids. The commission also accepted a Kansas Forestry Grant, which will cover half of the cost of the wireless headset system. The commission accepted a $2,300 grant from the Greater Salina Community Foundation that will completely cover the cost for one Automatic External Defibrillator (AED). Senior Services Director Rosie Walter said the AED will be stored on the first floor [...]

Shift in county truck traffic leads to complaints

info2018-10-02T21:46:12-05:00October 2nd, 2018|

Two South Hutchinson residents living along Avenue F appeared before the County Commission Tuesday to complain about the amount of Reno County Public Works truck traffic on their city street. The traffic has increased significantly on the road since the state inspected a bridge a couple of months ago that’s over a drainage canal on Scott Boulevard south of the county facility and ordered its weight limit lowered, preventing the county trucks from taking that route any longer. (Read more: News - The Hutchinson News)

Reno County Commissioners approve employee weapons policy

info2018-10-02T21:40:41-05:00October 2nd, 2018|

The Reno County Commission approved the two items on its agenda. Commissioners approved a revision of the Violence in the Workplace policy, which basically brings the policy up to speed with the concealed carry policy. This would require an employee who carries a weapon to have it with them at all times and not leave it around where someone else would have access. If they leave it in a county vehicle, it must be out of sight and secured. (Read more: Hutch Post)

Fort Scott hospital, open since 1886, announces they will close by end of year

info2018-10-02T21:38:21-05:00October 2nd, 2018|

Officials say Mercy Hospital in Fort Scott will close by the end of the year. Mercy officials said on Monday that declining patient numbers and reduced reimbursements from government programs, which is the largest source of the hospital’s revenue, led to the decision. The statement said hospital officials tried for months to find a way to keep hospital services in the community of about 7,800 people in southeast Kansas. The hospital, which opened in 1886, is a 46-bed acute care center. It is expected to close Dec. 31. (Read more: Great Bend Post)

Bagged or contaminated recyclables run risk of ending up in landfills, Johnson County warns

info2018-10-02T21:33:14-05:00October 2nd, 2018|

An average of 24.6 percent of items Johnson County residents place in their recycling bins are either bagged in or comprised of non-recyclable materials. That’s according to a 1,000-home recycling-habit survey Johnson County completed after China — where a large portion of the county’s recyclables are exported — tightened restrictions on accepted materials. Earlier this month, Johnson County Recycles launched their seven-week Ditch the Bag campaign aimed to educate residents on how to properly recycle. Through a collaboration of 12 Johnson County cities, the campaign is hoping to teach the importance of “freeing your recycling” and keeping items loose in recycling [...]

Prairie Village’s new design standards for new builds address trees, windows, garages

info2018-10-02T21:30:57-05:00October 2nd, 2018|

The Prairie Village City Council on Monday approved new regulations aimed at the development of large homes within the city. Councilmembers voted 11-2 to adopt a slate of neighborhood design standards, which include rules on tree planting, garage sizes and notifying neighbors. City officials proposed the guidelines to address the rapid increase in recent years of owners tearing down the mid-century ranch and Cape Cod houses that have defined Prairie Village and replacing them with much larger homes. In some cases, residents have complained that the new, larger buildings overshadow their neighbors, cause drainage problems and are out of character with [...]

Overland Park councilmembers accuse developer of ‘bait-and-switch’ after addition of drive-thrus to Galleria 115

info2018-10-02T21:28:43-05:00October 2nd, 2018|

An angry Overland Park City Council sent the latest proposal for the beleaguered Galleria 115 project back to the planning commission Monday night, with several of them calling revisions that would allow drive-thru businesses a “bait and switch” by developer Ken Block. Some council members said they felt betrayed because the changes would alter the entire complexion of a development they envisioned as an important first step to making College Boulevard more welcoming to night life and pedestrians. “I believe the thing we voted incentives on was something special and unique. This is nothing. Nothing,” said Councilmember Dave White. “I’m voting [...]

Great Bend investing time to keep K-96 project alive

info2018-10-03T07:13:22-05:00October 2nd, 2018|

In 1989, the Kansas Legislature approved corridor highway projects that connected Wichita to central Kansas with K-96. In 2012 the Kansas Department of Transportation identified a new diagonal passage for K-96 in Reno and Rice counties as a priority. The new stretch of road would connect Hutchinson to north of Sterling, bypassing Nickerson and Sterling. The project was dropped as K-DOT funding was pulled to balance the Kansas General Budget. Peters hopes the regional support will show the task force that this project is still needed. (Read more: Great Bend Post)

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