info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Courthouse use fee waived for non-profits, school districts

info2024-06-04T12:07:59-05:00June 4th, 2024|

The new hourly fee to use the Jackson County Courthouse grounds and facilities, such as the bathrooms or meeting room, for special events has been waived for non-profit organizations and school districts. The $40 per hour fee (per custodian), which was approved earlier this year, was recently challenged by local community members and members of the Holton/Jackson County Chamber of Commerce and the Jackson County Community Foundation. The fee was imposed to cover the cost of overtime and benefits for the custodial staff, which includes two employees. There is no fee required just to use the grounds. The fee is imposed [...]

Goessel hears wind farm concerns and opposition to firing

info2024-06-04T12:04:58-05:00June 4th, 2024|

The Goessel city council met on May 20 and heard a request from resident Brian Stucky about setting a no-wind generator zone around the City of Goessel. He suggested a three-mile buffer zone. He mentioned the Sunflower wind project and the Diamond Vista wind farm company in the northern part of the county. The plan is to install 600-foot-tall wind turbines near Goessel. The townships of West Branch, East Branch, Menno and Liberty could be impacted. The project is proposed by Orsted, a foreign company from Denmark. Stucky said there are “pros and cons” to wind turbines. He grew up near [...]

Local forum held to discuss future of City Park and indoor aquatics

info2024-06-04T12:01:20-05:00June 4th, 2024|

A public forum was hosted Thursday night by the League of Women Voters of Manhattan/Riley County to allow the public to learn more about a possible overhaul of City Park and a new indoor aquatics center concept that could end up in front of voters this fall. Local officials close to the project took part in a forum Thursday evening at the Manhattan Public Library, hosted by the League of Women Voters. The League shared its own concerns about City Park as the potential location for an indoor water facility concept. David Dzewaltowski, Professor Emeritus of Kinesiology at Kansas State University, [...]

Governor Kelly Directs Flags be Flown at Half-Staff in Honor of Kansas House of Representatives Assistant Majority Leader Les Mason

info2024-06-04T11:59:57-05:00June 4th, 2024|

Today, in accordance with Executive Order #20-30, Governor Laura Kelly has directed flags be lowered to half-staff on all state buildings, grounds, and facilities effective immediately until sundown on the day of interment in honor of Kansas House of Representatives Assistant Majority Leader Les Mason. He represented Kansas House District 73 of McPherson for 10 years. “Assistant Majority Leader Mason was a devoted public servant,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “For the last decade, he represented his constituents and the McPherson community with honor. My thoughts are with his family and loved ones during this difficult time.” This flag order will be [...]

Governor Kelly Announces Nearly $4M Awarded through Broadband ADOPT Program

info2024-06-04T11:55:40-05:00June 4th, 2024|

Governor Laura Kelly announced today that seven organizations will receive a combined $3.9 million in grants through the Advancing Digital Opportunities to Promote Technology (ADOPT) program. ADOPT supports the Kelly administration’s work to connect more Kansans to high-speed internet by making public Wi-Fi accessible and distributing devices in underserved areas. “Kansans rely on technology for work, school, health care, and connecting to each other,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “The ADOPT grants support community organizations in our shared mission to connect more people to the internet and critical digital skills.” The program helps organizations serving Kansans move forward by ensuring that communities [...]

Wichita offering homes under new housing fund program

info2024-06-04T11:49:55-05:00June 4th, 2024|

The City of Wichita is looking for buyers for 57 homes under the city’s new Affordable Housing Fund. The fund was created to improve the quality of existing housing stock, expand affordable housing options, and promote neighborhood stability. There are 41 homes being offered in northeast Wichita, along Minnesota, Ash, Piatt and Madison streets, between 25th and 26th Streets. There are also 16 homes in southwest Wichita, in the area of Pawnee and Meridian. Bidders can purchase available units within these areas, propose a per-unit scope of work for necessary renovations, request up to $40,000 per housing unit for renovation, and [...]

Wichita teens working on beautification project

info2024-06-04T11:46:45-05:00June 4th, 2024|

Teens from the Wichita area are working this week to paint nine houses, and they’re also working on projects at Carpenter Place, a local children’s home. The Wichita WorkCamp summer service project is marking its 17th anniversary, and it involves 75 teenagers and college students from across the nation, plus 75 adult volunteers. Each volunteer pays a fee to participate and that helps to cover the cost of the supplies, allowing the group to offer services free of charge. The WorkCamp is hosted by the Northside Church of Christ and it is also sponsored by a number of local businesses. Source: [...]

Governor Kelly Announces Nearly $3M to Improve Digital Literacy in Kansas

info2024-06-04T11:45:30-05:00June 4th, 2024|

Governor Laura Kelly announced today that $2.8 million is being invested in 15 organizations through the Digital Opportunities to Connect Kansans (DOCK) program. The DOCK grants will improve the digital skills of Kansans who have not yet been able to fully capitalize on the power of the internet. “The DOCK program demonstrates our commitment to provide the digital tools Kansans need to drive innovation and compete in the global market,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “These awards are a critical investment to connect all Kansans and support their success in the future economy.” These investments provide Kansans the digital literacy skills necessary [...]

“Little House on the Prairie” cast to gather in Independence

info2024-05-29T16:48:56-05:00May 29th, 2024|

The cast from the popular television program “Little House on the Prairie,” which aired on NBC television in the 1970s and 1980s, are hitching up the wagons and headed to Independence on May 31-June 2 for a reunion experience with fans. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the popular television show that was based on the children’s novel by the same written by Laura Ingalls Wilder. The book, which is a fictional account of early-day pioneers in Kansas, is based on the Ingalls family’s years in Montgomery County. The Ingalls family lived in Rutland Township from 1868 to 1871. Source: [...]

Kansas communities begin cleanup, damage surveys after storms rip off roofs, down trees

info2024-05-24T09:21:21-05:00May 24th, 2024|

The National Weather Service had survey teams out Monday assessing storm damage in Halstead, Newton and Russell after severe storms hit central Kansas on Sunday night. Those storms brought rain, large hail, strong wind gusts and a few reported tornadoes, according to the National Weather Service. The strongest wind gusts in the state were recorded at 100 mph at the Salina airport. The Newton and Halstead areas saw 60 mph winds gusts, according to the NWS. The NWS received 15 reports of tornadoes Sunday in Kansas, Oklahoma and Colorado, with six of those reported in Russell, Ellsworth, Lincoln and Osage County. [...]

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