info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Going from economic rut to groove in Liberal, Kansas

info2023-12-11T14:36:50-06:00December 11th, 2023|

Is Liberal stuck in a rut? A year and a half ago, José Lara thought so. The U.S. Census showed Liberal and Seward County losing population. There were only about 10 new houses being built each year in town. He wasn’t seeing new businesses open. “Our actual growth at that point was very, very limited. I definitely believe Liberal was in a rut,” he says. “We were not growing at a point that I would be comfortable with.” Lara, 32, an insurance agent who is married with three young kids, decided to get involved in his community. He ran for a [...]

Kansas childcare task force calls for ‘one-stop shop’

info2023-12-11T14:45:09-06:00December 11th, 2023|

A panel of early childhood leaders in Kansas is calling on state leaders to reduce "red tape" regarding the childcare system. Kansas Early Childhood Transition Task Force (ECTTF), established by Governor Laura Kelly through the first executive order of her second term, presented its final report for 2023 on Monday. Gov. Kelly responded to questions about what she'd be able to get done on her "wishlist" for early childhood education during next year's session. "I don't see it as a wishlist. I see it as a roadmap and a blueprint for how we can rearrange programs that we're already providing, but do it [...]

JoCo Notes: Overland Park residents can weigh in on new parks master plan

info2023-12-11T10:40:30-06:00December 11th, 2023|

Overland Park is revising its citywide parks master plan for the first time in a decade, and the public is being invited to weigh in. The city will host a public open house Monday night from 5-7 p.m. at Matt Ross Community Center, 8101 Marty St., in which residents will be able to provide their thoughts on city parks going forward. Residents can also share their feedback through an online survey through the end of December. The master plan revision, dubbed Playbook OP, is billed as way to guide Overland Park’s “efforts to acquire and develop parks and greenways and enhance [...]

City of Hutchinson working to help homeless

info2023-12-11T10:38:00-06:00December 11th, 2023|

The City of Hutchinson is seeing a rise in the homeless population, and community leaders said they want to do what they can to help. People sleeping under bridges is becoming more of a common sight in Hutchinson, but community advocates say this growing issue goes beyond not having a place to stay. "On a larger scale, there's cuts and budgets with health care and mental health concerns and substance abuse so that directly affect homelessness, and that's definitely something that we feel the weight and burden of that right now," Jerome Bernard, the manager at Noel Lodge, said. The United Way of [...]

Kansas opens up vote on new license plate design

info2023-12-11T10:34:35-06:00December 11th, 2023|

Kansans have less than a week to vote on the state's new license plate design. Kansas Governor Laura Kelly shared how Kansans will be able to weigh in on Monday. Kansans have until Friday, Dec. 15, to choose from five designs. Residents can go to KSPlates.kansas.gov to vote for their favorite plate. “Kansans have offered their thoughts on our state’s next license plate through social media and elsewhere, even sending potential designs to my office. Many of these designs were beautiful, but we’re moving forward with this voting process to ensure law enforcement can easily read the selected license plate and to get safer plates [...]

Koester named superintendent of USD 413

info2023-12-11T10:31:37-06:00December 11th, 2023|

The USD 413 Board of Education has hired Matt Koester as the superintendent of USD 413 schools. Koester said he is extremely grateful for this opportunity, noting his love for the school district and community of Chanute. “It just means a lot to me to be able to give back to our system and try to create the best system in the state of Kansas for our kids,” Koester said. Koester most recently served as interim superintendent since July. The board selected him as interim superintendent when Kellen Adams announced his resignation this past March. The USD 413 Board of Education [...]

Lansing officials want to turn old section of state prison into a museum

info2023-12-11T10:27:49-06:00December 11th, 2023|

Local authorities are mulling a proposal to turn a portion of the oldest penitentiary in Kansas into a tourist destination. Lansing officials and the Lansing Historical Society have announced a plan to save a large section of the Lansing Correctional Facility and preserve it as an income-generating piece of history. The plan would preserve the old prison, including some inmate cells and the prison auditorium, where music legend Johnny Cash performed for inmates in 1970. Roughly 24 hundred inmates still reside at the prison. The proposal reportedly still needs approval from the Kansas Department of Corrections before it can move forward. Source: 101.3 KFDI

Dodge City named one of the most welcoming towns in Kansas

info2023-12-11T10:25:38-06:00December 11th, 2023|

The iconic western town of Dodge City has been recognized as One of the Most Welcoming Towns in Kansas by World Atlas, a leading global publisher of travel and serving more than 165 million annual readers. Although once known for saloons, gambling halls, and gunfights, Dodge City has transformed into a peaceful, hospitable community that captivates visitors with its rich history and small-town charm. Nestled on the high plains in southwest Kansas, Dodge City offers travelers the opportunity to experience the spirit of the Old West. Must-see stops include the Boot Hill Museum, the Santa Fe Trail Rut Site, the Home of [...]

Governor Kelly Announces Heartland Flyer Passenger Rail Expansion Moves Forward in Kansas

info2023-12-11T10:24:21-06:00December 11th, 2023|

Governor Laura Kelly today announced the proposed extension of the Heartland Flyer passenger rail corridor is among the projects selected by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) for inclusion in the Corridor Identification and Development (ID) Program. The Corridor ID Program will provide funding for the development of a Service Development Plan (SDP), which is expected to be completed in spring 2024. In this first cycle of Corridor ID Program awards, $500,000 will go to the development of the Heartland Flyer Corridor SDP. The proposed Corridor would connect Amtrak’s existing Heartland Flyer intercity passenger rail service between Fort Worth and Oklahoma City, [...]

Local photographer retires, becomes new utility clerk

info2023-12-08T11:02:42-06:00December 8th, 2023|

Longtime Hiawatha resident Deb Christian started her first full day as the new utility clerk for the City of Hiawatha on Dec. 3. Christian’s official start day was on Dec. 1, which is the same day she retired from photography and operating Deb’s Images. “I’m still finishing out some accounts in my photography business,” Christian said. “But I’m not taking any new clients.” Christian learned about the utility clerk position in the newspaper and saw it on Facebook a few times. “It was a couple of months ago,” Christian recalled. “And I thought ‘I wonder if I am qualified to do [...]

About info