info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Hutchinson’s Westar Energy plant preparing for the future with $25M upgrade

info2018-08-02T10:05:30-05:00August 2nd, 2018|

The expansion of renewable energy in Kansas has led to a shift in the role of Westar’s Hutchinson Energy Center and a massive $25 million upgrade. Most of the changes are not noticeable to motorists passing by the longtime electrical generation plant, since they involve primarily retrofitting diesel-powered turbines housed in relatively low-slung tan buildings near the back of the 144-acre property to run off natural gas and biofuels, The Hutchinson News reported. However, they’ll become quite apparent in the coming months as the company works to demolish and remove the massive cooling towers and original steam generation plant closer to [...]

City of Newton releases full pool survey results

info2018-08-02T10:03:00-05:00August 2nd, 2018|

he official survey results are in and Newton residents want more features at the municipal pool. A total of 1,100 residents responded to a City of Newton survey conducted June 27 through July 6 regarding the city pool. The final results, which the city released last week, will be discussed at a joint meeting at City Hall on Aug. 7, between the Newton Recreation Commission and Newton City Commission. The meeting is set for 7 p.m. Of the 1,100 survey respondents, 58 percent said they used the Newton municipal pool. That was 21 percent lower than the number of respondents that [...]

Russell County farms eligible for industrial hemp pilot project

info2018-08-02T10:01:27-05:00August 2nd, 2018|

Russell County farmers Dean Haselhorst and Troy Waymaster are still trying to decide if they’ll participate in an industrial hemp pilot project led by the Kansas Department of Agriculture. “I am thinking about it. I’ve been attending the meetings,” said the 54-year-old Haselhorst, who grew up on a farm and has been a farmer all his life, growing wheat, milo and corn. “It’s all still very preliminary, but it’s potentially better than growing wheat. The price of wheat is so low.” Waymaster, state representative for the 109th District, which includes Russell County, advocated before the Legislature for the pilot project research [...]

University of Kansas Health System buys Great Bend Regional Hospital and affiliated clinics

info2018-08-02T09:59:55-05:00August 2nd, 2018|

The University of Kansas Health System announced Wednesday it had completed the purchase of Great Bend Regional Hospital and its affiliated clinics, including Central Kansas Family Practice and Heartland Regional. Plans are to rename the hospital The University of Kansas Health System Great Bend Campus, but the current workforce will be “substantially remaining in place,” and patients will continue to receive care from their current doctors and practices, according to a news release from KU. Officials did not disclose terms of the sale. Great Bend Regional historically competed with HaysMed, St. Rose and Pawnee Valley Community Hospital for patients and market [...]

Council reaches agreement with owners of Louisburg farm to pay for decade old sewer line

info2018-08-02T09:57:44-05:00August 2nd, 2018|

Louisburg city officials reached an agreement with the owners of a nearly 150-acre farm to pay for the installation of a sewer line more than a decade ago. Larry Barker, Teresa Barker Sturm and Bill Barker own LTB Farm, 147.8 acres that stretch from Metcalf Road on the west close to Summerfield Drive on the east and 274th Street on the north to the United Methodist Church property on the south. The farm was passed down to the siblings after their mother died in 1988. In 2005, the housing market was booming and it looked like a good time to try [...]

Zoning board considers new towers for windfarm

info2018-08-02T09:55:19-05:00August 2nd, 2018|

The county zoning board is pursuing a plan for two new meteorological towers, which could lead to new wind turbines. The proposed sites lie midway between Marion and Peabody, with one between 140th Rd. and Old Mill Rd., and the other between 100th and Mustang. Even if the towers are constructed, it does not mean wind turbines will follow. “A met tower itself is just a data collection tower,” zoning board assistant Sharon Omstead said. “It doesn’t collect wind, it doesn’t do any of that. It just takes readings.” If approved, National Renewable Solutions will build the structures and collect data [...]

City raises a stink over silage on edge of town

info2018-08-02T09:52:20-05:00August 2nd, 2018|

A mountain of silage delivered to property owned by a county commission candidate resulted in a letter from the city of Marion telling him remove the pile or file a written request for a hearing within 10 days. Marion police delivered the notice July 24, the same day silage began arriving on Mike Beneke’s Marion property at 601 W. Main St., the former Straub’s International location. “We served it, but it was issued by city hall,” Police Chief Tyler Mermis said. City attorney Susan Robson said the situation was for “a nuisance issue.” The property is zoned for commercial use, not [...]

City offices to return to Civic Center this month in Spring Hill

info2018-08-02T09:47:35-05:00August 2nd, 2018|

After a stay in a historic downtown Spring Hill building, we’re returning to the Spring Hill Civic Center this month! In the early months of 2017, construction to renovate the decades-old Civic Center — formerly an elementary school — began. Over the course of a year, the extensive renovation included a new City Council chamber and Municipal Courtroom, new rentable spaces including a completely-renovated gymnasium and performance stage paving the way for extended programming, new customer service areas, fresh landscaping and new City Hall offices. While we’ve enjoyed our stay in the oldest building downtown, 102 S. Main St., with proximity [...]

Haysville residents oppose tiny home development

info2018-08-02T09:45:27-05:00August 2nd, 2018|

Around 40 people attended last week’s Haysville City Council meeting to express opposition to the idea of a tiny home development near Haysville or to support those expressing opposition. Several speakers opposed the idea of a tiny home community for homeless people, many of whom presumably would come from Wichita or other surrounding areas. Mayor Bruce Armstrong stressed at the meeting that while there are media reports about the idea of a tiny home committee, no plans have been presented to the City of Haysville. Armstrong noted at the meeting that the Haysville City Council would have no jurisdiction over a [...]

Seven cool things about Johnson County’s newest library

info2018-08-02T09:42:18-05:00August 2nd, 2018|

Johnson County unveils its first new library of the 21st century, the Monticello branch in western Shawnee, at a grand opening from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. The $18.1 million facility, designed by Clark Enersen Partners and built by McCownGordon Construction, aims to serve a booming western Johnson County area that has wanted a new library since the 1990s. As library director Sean Casserley surveyed crews putting the finishing touches Thursday on the first brand-new library built in the county since 2000, he said it reflects not the librarians’ wishes but the community’s vision. It’s designed to emphasize community gathering spaces, [...]

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