info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Pickleball noise causing issues at this Prairie Village park

info2023-11-16T08:10:00-06:00November 15th, 2023|

Prairie Village is looking at four different options for alleviating pickleball noise coming from public courts at Windsor Park. Residents near the park at 7200 Windsor St. have shared concerns about the incessant noise of paddles hitting balls at six pickleball courts that were installed at the park in June. ... The Prairie Village City Council last week gave city staff the green light to explore options for four different types of possible sound mitigation at the park. Source: Prairie Village Post

Lawrence Police Department prioritizing calls by solvability; non-officer responders working out well, chief says

info2023-11-16T08:10:31-06:00November 15th, 2023|

The Lawrence Police Department is prioritizing calls by how solvable they are, LPD Chief Rich Lockhart told city commissioners Tuesday, and the addition of four non-officer responders has helped with efficiency. The department is now using a solvability matrix to guide its members’ efforts, he said. They’re going to focus and investigators’ time on violent crimes against people and the most severe and solvable crimes. Emergency dispatch will help classify calls as they’re received, and Lockhart said someone with the department will call people and let them know they’re going to have a delayed response and offer to schedule a time [...]

Pittsburg Community Schools USD 250 Superintendent announces retirement

info2023-11-16T08:10:55-06:00November 15th, 2023|

Pittsburg Community Schools USD 250 Superintendent Richard Proffitt has announced his plans to retire in a statement from the district office on Tuesday morning. Proffitt has served as the USD 250 Superintendent of Schools since 2018, guiding the district through the pandemic and capping off his career with the renovation of the Pittsburg Community Middle School. “It has been my pleasure to have worked with the Board of Education, administration, staff, students and community in Pittsburg,” Proffitt said. “I am proud of the accomplishments that have been made during my tenure and I have been honored to work with such wonderful professionals that [...]

A look into Topeka’s next multimillion dollar park

info2023-11-16T08:11:16-06:00November 15th, 2023|

Shawnee County Parks and Recreation gave county commissioners a sneak peak into the nearly $4 million dollar Southwest Topeka Family Park project. Talks have been in the works for nearly a decade to turn the plot of land at southwest 21st and southwest Urish by the Midwest Health Aquatic Center into Family Park. At Monday's Shawnee County commission meeting, parks and rec were able to show the commissioners what those talks are turning into. The design, which is still an evolving concept, includes a "Destination Playground," pickleball courts and a shelter house. It's the latest phase of a master plan, which [...]

Labette County explores use of repeaters for rural firefighters

info2023-11-16T08:11:40-06:00November 15th, 2023|

Labette County commissioners on Monday heard about a portable repeater that could improve radio communication for rural firefighters. Firefighters have struggled in certain areas of the county to reach the 800 megahertz tower in the center of the county with 2-watt handheld radios. The county received a grant to purchase for firefighters 100 handheld radios programmed to the state’s 800 radio system. The grant brought in $212,500, and the local match will be $37,500. Many fire departments haven’t updated their 800 MHz radios since 2012. Charlie Morse, the county’s emergency management director, brought in two L3Harris radios for testing in the [...]

KDOT to share updated plans for US50/400 expansion

info2023-11-16T08:12:36-06:00November 15th, 2023|

A public meeting for four upcoming U.S. 50/400 expansion projects in Finney and Gray counties will take place on Thursday, November 16, from 5:30 to 7 pm at the Gray County Recreation Center 4-H room. The Kansas Department of Transportation will host the event. The four U.S. 50/400 projects have been divided into two groups for design and construction–a western and eastern group. The two projects in the western group extend from Aerodrome Road in Finney County east to 7 Road in Gray County. The two eastern group projects extend form 7 road east to Cimarron. A brief presentation will begin at 5:45 [...]

Disappearing Main Street: The struggles of finding the next generation of owners

info2023-11-16T08:14:14-06:00November 15th, 2023|

How long do you think it should take to find a buyer for a thriving business? Longer than you might think if you live in small town, Kansas. Don's Place is nestled in the middle of downtown Protection, Kansas whose population was 503 as of 2021. There it's been serving up home cooked goodies for fifty years now, a milestone the entire town celebrated in September. ... But now, the Dellingers are looking to sell. "I'm not quitting because of the business. I'm just quitting because I'm too old to do it," Don said as he flipped burgers on the grill. [...]

Fighting water woes in Kansas

info2023-11-16T08:14:30-06:00November 15th, 2023|

The State of Kansas Governor's water conference is this week. It's an effort to save water in the wake of a drought in parts of Kansas, along with aquifers that are drying up. "I always say the sky is not falling. But today is our opportunity to keep it from falling," said Susan Metzger with Kansas State University. Metzger is announcing a water institute at Kansas State at the university level this week as well that coincided with the state water conference. "The future is critical, and if we don't protect our water resources here in Kansas, well then our communities, [...]

Pottawatomie County ponders next steps after sales tax proposal fails for second time

info2023-11-16T08:15:38-06:00November 15th, 2023|

For two consecutive years, Pottawatomie County voters have turned down a proposal to raise sales tax by a quarter percent to fund certain county road projects. Commissioners on Monday pointed to a lack of ability to educate the public as to the benefits of these projects. County Counselor John Watt says commissioners can’t actively push ballot issues because of state statute, something Dee McKee says she doesn’t agree with. Commissioner Greg Riat believed the issue could’ve been helped if an outside group threw its support around it. County Administrator Chad Kinsley says a big discussion will be needed ahead of next year’s budget. Source: [...]

City of Newton working to boost tree sales

info2023-11-16T08:16:58-06:00November 15th, 2023|

The City of Newton is giving out coupons to residents for 50 percent off trees through the end of the month or until supplies last. Currently, the city has given out about a third of the available coupons. Coupons can be picked up at the third floor of City Hall, located at 201 E Sixth Street, and will have a list of participating greenhouses. Erin McDaniels, the city’s communication’s director, said the city does this each spring and autumn as part of its tree city program. “Having trees and green space and parks, these are things that improve the quality of life for [...]

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