info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Neighbors bring trucks and tractors to help area tornado victims in Overbrook

info2024-04-17T11:15:06-05:00April 17th, 2024|

Ethan Steenback said he was away in the greater Kansas City area when the tornado hit the farm where he lives with Ashley Steenback and their 7-year-old daughter, Paisley. ... He expressed amazement at how many area residents came afterward to check on their family and see how they might be able to help. "There were people I didn't even know," he said. Overbrook resident Rae Colson said it brought tears to her eyes to see how much support she and her husband got from their community. Source: CJonline

Largest Belt Buckle a successful tourist attraction in its first year

info2024-04-17T09:33:07-05:00April 17th, 2024|

“It surpassed my wildest imagination,” said Julie Roller Weeks, Abilene Convention and Visitors Bureau director. Towering beside the rodeo stadium at 19 feet 10 1/2 inches wide and 13 feet 11 1/4 inches tall (even taller since it rests on a frame) is the World’s Largest Belt Buckle. While the buckle outsizes the previous record by several feet, the buckle also was the center of one Kansas’ greatest social media campaigns in 2023. The campaign, run by the Abilene Convention and Visitors Bureau, won Midwest Travel Network’s 2024 best social media campaign. Source: Abilene RC

‘Gunsmoke Trail’ encourages trips to western Kansas towns

info2024-04-17T08:13:40-05:00April 17th, 2024|

Images of cowboys and gunslingers still resonate with the public, long after the Old West came to an end. Tourism professionals for Wichita, Dodge City, Abilene and Hays announced an effort last week seeking to capitalize on that. They said they were launching the "Gunsmoke Trail" to encourage tourists to take a road trip through those four cities, each of which was mentioned on the long-running, Emmy Award-winning TV western series "'Gunsmoke." Source: Hutch News

Investors weighed the path ahead for interest rates

info2024-04-16T09:17:15-05:00April 16th, 2024|

Investors weighed the path ahead for interest rates as they considered the latest economic data and comments from Federal Reserve officials. Retail sales figures for March, which were published Monday, came in far higher than expected at 0.7%... Meanwhile, San Francisco Federal Reserve Bank President Mary Daly said there was "no urgency" for the Fed to cut interest rates. Source: CNBC - Bonds

Meet the two finalists for Topeka City Manager

info2024-04-16T09:12:53-05:00April 16th, 2024|

On Thursday, the City of Topeka announced it had narrowed down the applicants for city manager. The City of Topeka has narrowed down the field of candidates to Alan Howze and Robert Perez. The search started with 42 candidates. Source: KSNT 27 News

Kelly vetoes plastic bag bill second time in three years

info2024-04-16T09:12:18-05:00April 16th, 2024|

For the second time in three years, Gov. Laura Kelly has vetoed a bill barring local governments from regulating plastic grocery bags and other material. "I believe in local control and that local officials should be held accountable by their constituents, stakeholders, and businesses," Kelly said in a statement. "This bill lacks sufficient protection to ensure local units of government are able to play a meaningful role in decision making on issues impacting their communities," she said. Source: Sunflower State Journal

Panasonic plant spurs 800-unit apartment and retail proposal in once-quiet De Soto

info2024-04-15T11:38:34-05:00April 15th, 2024|

A large mixed-use development in De Soto aims at alleviating housing concerns for workers and families near the new Panasonic electric vehicle battery plant. At a meeting last month, the De Soto City Council discussed an Economic Incentive Application from Lawrence-based Williams Management LLC for a $250 million, 78-acre mixed-use development that will include multifamily residential units and commercial retail space. No action was taken by the council. The development is planned for a site along the southwest side of 95th Street, a half-mile west of Lexington Avenue. Adam Williams, owner of Williams Management, said there is a need for housing in De Soto, [...]

Douglas County Commission approves permit for solar farm north of Lawrence

info2024-04-15T11:36:33-05:00April 15th, 2024|

Following a nearly 10-hour meeting Saturday, Douglas County commissioners voted to approve a permit for the Kansas Sky Energy Center, a massive solar farm to be built north of Lawrence. The meeting drew dozens of public commenters. Commissioners planned the special Saturday meeting knowing that there would be numerous members of the public wishing to speak on the topic. A unanimous (3-0) vote was required to approve the project because planning commissioners had tied in their vote and a protest petition had been filed against the project. The 159-megawatt solar farm will be built, owned and operated by Evergy with designs provided by Savion [...]

KDOT holds town hall on K-96 renovations

info2024-04-15T11:35:31-05:00April 15th, 2024|

Richard Zrubek lives in Bel Aire, an area of suburban Wichita that's seen growth in the last few years. "Now it's getting to the point where during rush hour traffic, you'll find pretty much every exit on 96 from Woodlawn, Hillside, Rock Road, and now they're backed up clear to the highway when people are trying to exit the road," Zurbek said. As this growth continues, the Kansas Department of Transportation is proposing several new changes to the K-96 highway. "We're taking seven interchanges; five of them are going to become diverging diamond interchanges. And then toward K 15, where it [...]

Abilene places 3rd in USA Today 10Best Historic Small Towns

info2024-04-15T11:33:31-05:00April 15th, 2024|

Abilene has placed 3rd in USA Today's 10 Best Historic Small Towns. Abilene has placed in the top 10 list for the last 6 six years. “Abilene’s consistent Top 10 ranking is a testament to our community’s relentless commitment to preserving and promoting its history,” says Julie Roller Weeks, Abilene Convention and Visitors Bureau Director in a news release. “Our enthusiasm to promote and share Abilene is contagious and inspires thousands of voters each year to vote for Ike’s hometown.” A USA Today panel of expert submits town nominations each year and then USA Today selects 20 for the public to vote on [...]

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