info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

What former Johnson County Manager Hannes Zacharias learned from a 2,000 mile kayak trip

info2018-09-13T10:25:57-05:00September 13th, 2018|

A 2,000 mile float trip down the Arkansas and Mississippi Rivers taught former Johnson County Manager Hannes Zacharias a few lessons. People are nice, generous and kind, no matter where you go. The drought really has dried up many parts of the Arkansas as it cuts through the Midwest from the Rocky Mountains to the Mississippi. And dehydration is definitely a thing. After being unexpectedly ousted from his position late last year, Zacharias decided it was time to fulfill a promise he made to himself more than 40 years ago: that he would one day kayak the entire length of the [...]

Artists turn out to capture Tonganoxie

info2018-09-13T10:23:47-05:00September 13th, 2018|

Though there were many activities happening during the Sunflower Stroll, one might have caught the eye most Labor Day Weekend. Artists could be seen around town painting various buildings and scenes. Whether it was Tonganoxie Water Park, the depot, the pocket park during the street dance or a festive truck outside Midwest Carpet Center, there were many Tonganoxie subjects captured and told through artists’ paintings. Leigh Coffman, Lynette Hayes and Jesse Charles, Sr. organized the first art contest and other art activities for this year’s Sunflower Stroll, the second installment of the new Tonganoxie festival. Coffman said it was a fun [...]

Osawatomie residents voice opinions about trash service

info2018-09-13T10:21:54-05:00September 13th, 2018|

A load of trash collection concerns were dumped at the feet of Osawatomie City Council members during a public hearing Sept. 5 at Memorial Hall, but a decision on who the city’s next service provider will be has yet to be made. City leaders scheduled the public hearing to gather feedback from the community and to hear from representatives of the two companies bidding for the service. The city’s contract with Waste Management is set to expire at year’s end, and Harrisonville-based WCA is vying to pick up the contract for Osawatomie’s solid waste and recycling collection program. Waste Management was [...]

Change would benefit possible micro breweries in Winfield

info2018-09-13T10:16:27-05:00September 13th, 2018|

Microbreweries are one step closer to being allowed in downtown Winfield after the city planning commission recommended zoning changes to encourage their development Monday. The commission recommended changing the required distance that a business receiving 30 percent or more of its annual gross revenue from alcohol sales (including liquor stores, drinking establishments, microbreweries and private clubs) must be from churches, schools, colleges, libraries, hospitals or residential zoning districts. Previously, these businesses had to be at least 300 feet away from the above entities. Now, they have to be only 200 feet away. The planning commission also approved omitting residential districts from [...]

Trekking for treasure: Republic County is epicenter for 400 mile US36 Treasure Hunt this weekend

info2018-09-12T09:26:16-05:00September 12th, 2018|

It’s a big event with a secret mission. Lure shoppers from across the state and nation to northern Kansas with the promise of antiques, collectibles, crafts, garage sale finds and other treasures. But all along US36, communities band together the third weekend in September to introduce potential travelers to the idea that there’s plenty to see and do along a highway that’s easy to travel. Vendors were already setting up in Belleville on Monday for the 12th edition of the US36 Treasure Hunt, which officially runs Friday, Saturday and Sunday, September 14-16. “We had more hits earlier this year on our [...]

Planning commission resists lobbying effort by builders, recommends new design guidelines for Prairie Village homes

info2018-09-12T08:43:05-05:00September 12th, 2018|

For more than an hour on Tuesday, an organized group of home building professionals approached the podium in the Prairie Village council chambers and railed against a set of proposed design standards for new homes in the city. They would discourage people from investing in their homes and the community, the builders said. They would stifle regreening of aging neighborhoods. They would put an onerous burden on the businesses trying to meet demand for modern houses. Builders should have been more involved in the process. It was a standing room only crowd in the council chambers for the hearing on Tuesday. [...]

Grant reduces purchase of Ellis warning sirens by 50%

info2018-09-12T07:31:23-05:00September 12th, 2018|

Thanks to a grant from the Dane G. Hansen Foundation, the city of Ellis was able to replace its 40-year-old outdoor warning sirens with two new sirens at a 50 percent reduced cost. (Read more: Hays Post)

Liberal City Commission hears of AirFair 2018 success

info2018-09-12T07:21:05-05:00September 12th, 2018|

There was an air of positivity in the chambers during the most recent Liberal City Commission meeting Tuesday evening thanks to many of the happenings of the past couple weeks in the community. One particular happening was Saturday’s AirFair, which was brought up near the beginning of the meeting by MAAM Foundation Board Member Nancy Parsons. “I want to thank the City for everything you all did to help make this such a success,” Parsons said. “With the numbers we’ve come up with for both the day and night shows, we came up with approximately 11,750 who were in attendance at [...]

City of Topeka raises starting police officer pay by 14 percent

info2018-09-12T07:17:54-05:00September 12th, 2018|

Topeka next year will raise starting pay for police officers by 14 percent, from $19.44 to $22.08 per hour, under a contract the city’s governing body voted 10-0 to approve Tuesday evening. The nine council members and Mayor Michelle De La Isla spent 40 minutes discussing the agreement behind closed doors in executive session before going back into public session and approving it. Councilwoman Karen Hiller said they had “some serious discussion and some serious angst” as they discussed the contract. “Without going into any details, this is a pretty robust contract,” she said. Hiller asked police officers to help the [...]

Mayor declines to make appointment for “private reasons”

info2018-09-12T07:16:41-05:00September 12th, 2018|

City officials discussed whether Mayor Karl Ryan should decline to recommend appointments based on private reasons, before the Salina City Commission failed to confirm either of two remaining applicants to the Board of Zoning Appeals, which has two current openings. On Monday, Ryan recommended the appointment of Brian Bennett to the Board of Zoning Appeals. Ryan chose not to appoint the other applicant, Mike Trow, of Salina, who currently serves as the Vice Chair of the Board of Zoning Appeals. “I think it’s my prerogative under the guidelines to appoint. I choose not to appoint,” Ryan said. “There is nothing personal, [...]

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