info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Towns struggle as aquifer dwindles

info2024-01-31T09:59:02-06:00January 31st, 2024|

Brownie Wilson pulls off a remote dirt road right through a steep ditch and onto a farmer’s field. He hops out of his white Silverado pickup, mud covering nearly all of it except the Kansas Geological Survey logo stuck on the side with electrical tape. Dry cornstalks crunch under his work boots as he makes his way to a decommissioned irrigation well. He unspools a steel highway tape measure a few feet at a time and feeds it into the well until gravity takes over. He keeps a thumb on it to control the speed. How much of the tape comes out wet lets [...]

How could Kansas’ new open enrollment law change Johnson County and KCK schools?

info2024-01-31T09:50:15-06:00January 31st, 2024|

After this school year, Kansas students will be allowed to go to any public school district in the state, as long as it has the room. Previously, districts have had discretion over whether to admit students from outside of their attendance areas. But starting this summer, schools are required to do so, which has created a complicated situation for highly ranked districts in Johnson County, which are now scrambling to prepare for a potential influx of students. “Really since the legislation passed, certainly the number of people calling us has increased. We get a few calls every week from people either [...]

Salina remains proactive with ‘forever chemicals’

info2024-01-28T08:41:07-06:00January 28th, 2024|

Substances that are commonly referred to as “forever chemicals” show up in everyday items and as they are now being found in drinking water systems across the United States, cities like Salina are taking steps to figure out what’s next. ... Martha Tasker, director of utilities for the City of Salina, said the city’s public water supply system was first tested for PFAS in 2014, with results returning as “non-detect,” but at the time, they were testing in parts-per billion, and since then the standards for testing have changed. Source: Salina Journal

Smallville may be fictional, but the names of these Kansas cities highlight the ‘ville

info2024-01-28T08:37:49-06:00January 28th, 2024|

In celebration of Kansas Day, here are the 24 incorporated Sunflower State cities identified in U.S. Census records as having names that end in "ville," listed in order of population, plus one in Nemaha County that's unincorporated but nevertheless has 182 people. The list doesn't include "Larryville," a common nickname for Lawrence, or "Aggieville," the Manhattan bar district. Source: CJonline

Chapter closes on JoCo’s oldest library branch, but patrons can visit new spot soon

info2024-01-26T14:26:33-06:00January 26th, 2024|

Vaughnie Tinsley and Darline Cyre are eager to turn to the next chapter of their storied love for a library in Merriam. The two friends are among the readers preparing for the permanent closure of the Antioch Library at 5 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 28. With six decades of operation, the library, at 8700 Shawnee Mission Parkway, is the system’s oldest branch. It is being replaced with the new Merriam Plaza Library at 6120 Slater St., scheduled for an official opening on March 20. Source: Joco 913 News

Overland Park launches effort to address changing College-Metcalf area

info2024-01-26T14:25:53-06:00January 26th, 2024|

Overland Park will study ways to support reinvestment in the busy College Boulevard and Metcalf Avenue “employment hub.” This week, the city is starting the public engagement leg of a months-long process to develop a College & Metcalf Overlay District Study. The resulting document will focus on possible reinvestment in the corridor in the area bounded by I-435 and 119th Street on the north and south and Nall and Metcalf avenues on the east and west Source: Johnson County Post

Can Johnson County residents vote on controversial city park sale? A judge will decide

info2024-01-26T13:43:08-06:00January 26th, 2024|

The city of Westwood is asking a judge to rule that it can move forward with the sale of its only city park for new development — a move that several residents have hoped to stop at the ballot box with a public vote on the matter. The city last week filed a suit in Johnson County District Court, asking a judge to decide whether a resident petition aimed at preventing the sale of the park is legally sufficient to be placed on the ballot. Residents filed the petition after the Westwood City Council in October, following months of debate, voted [...]

BAK riders get set for 50th trip across the state

info2024-01-26T13:40:46-06:00January 26th, 2024|

The 50th Biking Across Kansas tour, the annual celebration of bicycling and the Sunflower State, will hit the highways and byways Saturday through Saturday, June 8-15. BAK organizers revealed this special golden anniversary route at 2 p.m. Saturday, January 20. Online registration will open at 6 a.m. Monday, Jan. 29 at bak.org. “This year marks an amazing half-century for our annual bike tour across the state of Kansas,” said David Rohr, BAK board president. “As we pedal into our 50th year, we want to invite new and veteran BAK cyclists to help us celebrate this milestone. Whether you crossed Kansas with us fifty [...]

Pittsburg Fire and Police Departments participate in Battle of the Badges

info2024-01-26T13:26:13-06:00January 26th, 2024|

The Pittsburg Fire and Police Departments participate in another year of Battle of the Badges Chili Cookoff with the American Red Cross. People donating blood today and tomorrow can try both types of chili and then vote for their favorite. Organizers say the event has brought in more than a hundred sign ups for donations. The Fire and Police Departments both say the competition is heating up this year. Source: KOAM News

City of Emporia begins community survey process on priorities, programs and services

info2024-01-26T13:24:40-06:00January 26th, 2024|

The city of Emporia is into a community survey designed to get “crucial information and feedback” on city priorities, programs and services. The city effort follows a 2022 collaboration with the ETC Institute on a similar survey. The goal with this survey is to compare perspectives on items including but not limited to communications, facilities, streets and sanitation. The city is requesting “candid feedback” for “a deeper understanding of areas for improvement and concerns,” saying survey results will have a big role in upcoming city decisions. Several residents have already received a mailed survey. The survey will go online at a later date. [...]

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