info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Franchisees explain reasons behind McDonald’s closures in Wichita, Kingman and Anthony

info2023-11-06T11:33:40-06:00November 6th, 2023|

The franchisee of the McDonald’s at 1050 N. Broadway that closed on Tuesday says the decision was made by McDonald’s corporate as part of an occasional “screening” the company does of all of its restaurants. The same process resulted in the closure of the McDonald’s in Kingman on the same day, he said. And Anthony’s McDonald’s also was scheduled to close on Oct. 31, but a fire earlier this month shut it down early. Michael Lane, who owns 11 McDonald’s restaurants in the area, said that the company didn’t share with him all the reasoning that led to its decision, but [...]

Valley Center Recreation and Aquatics Center will add ‘quality-of-life’ amenity for residents, city official says

info2023-11-06T12:12:30-06:00November 6th, 2023|

A project long-discussed in a suburban Wichita community is progressing toward reality. Work on the over 40,000 square-foot Valley Center Recreation and Aquatics Center began in August and is set to wrap by the close of 2024. Valley Center city administrator Brent Clark called the project "transformational" for the city just north of Wichita. "We have a town of nearly 7,500 people, but we also have over 750 residential lots coming online," he said. "When we're attracting residents and new homeowners, they look for quality-of-life amenities." It was not a quick journey to get to this point. Clark said the community [...]

Lawrence school district to seek community input on skills graduates need

info2023-11-06T11:29:14-06:00November 6th, 2023|

The Lawrence school district will hold two public input sessions to get the community’s feedback on how to best prepare graduates for what comes next. During its “Portrait of a Graduate” public input sessions, district leaders hope to learn the experiences and skills that community members think students should possess when they graduate. Patrick Kelly, chief academic officer, said the input will help the district “identify the postsecondary assets our community values and would expect upon graduation.” “In today’s world, the demands for students are tremendous as they move on to college, career, and adult life,” Kelly said via email from [...]

Overland Park to turn old Marty Pool site into a new park

info2023-11-06T11:25:43-06:00November 6th, 2023|

The site of the former Marty Pool in northern Overland Park is set to get a new life as a neighborhood park in the next couple of years. On Wednesday, the Overland Park City Council Community Development Committee voted 5-0 to recommend approval of a contract with landscape architecture firm Confluence to design the new park. Councilmember Sam Passer, who serves as the committee’s vice chair, was absent from the meeting. Overland Park decommissioned the pool near West 75th and Conser streets in 2022 after decades of offering neighborhood families a place to cool off in the summer. Mary Pool’s closure [...]

Affordable housing, size of city council on the line in heated Johnson County election

info2023-11-06T11:23:59-06:00November 6th, 2023|

A chaotic past year in Prairie Village, first sparked by the city discussing affordable housing initiatives, is culminating in one of Johnson County’s most contentious elections this fall. The Nov. 7 election comes as the city considers ways the pricey suburb could allow more affordable housing, a conversation that has sharply divided the community. The debate has transformed into a deeper political battle, leading to two clear factions of candidates running for half of the City Council seats on Tuesday. The city remains tied up in a legal battle with a group of residents who call themselves PV United — first [...]

Pittsburg restores services following cyber attack

info2023-11-06T12:15:45-06:00November 6th, 2023|

The City of Pittsburg is restoring some essential services following the cyber incident that occurred September 16, which caused an IT outage affecting online systems and phones. Utility payment systems, billing systems, and Municipal Court proceedings are now able to resume. City emails and phone systems are still affected, but should be fully functioning soon. The city’s utility payment and billing system is now back online after being unavailable for several weeks. City of Pittsburg Customer Service Department will be issuing bills for the September and October billing cycle. The city is suspending late fees and disconnections during this time. Customers can pay [...]

Rural renewal: KU alumna restores buildings, bustle in Wilson, Kansas

info2023-11-04T13:43:29-05:00November 3rd, 2023|

The Midland Railroad Hotel welcomes visitors to Wilson today in much the same way it did over a century ago, when the town was a midway stop between Kansas City and Denver on the Union Pacific Railroad. Inside the stately, three-story limestone building with the red roof, guests still enjoy cozy accommodations surrounded by refurbished original woodwork and other trappings of a bygone era. But unlike long-ago railroad travelers, many of the Midland’s modern-day patrons consider the hotel itself the destination. “Coming to the Midland is like stepping back in time,” says Melinda Merrill, g’03, who has owned and operated the [...]

Proposed sales tax could improve the city of Olpe

info2023-11-03T13:18:16-05:00November 3rd, 2023|

Olpe residents will soon be voting on a retailers' sales tax in the city. On this year's ballots, residents in Olpe will be voting to approve or deny a sales tax in the city. According to the Lyon County election office, 1/2 of 1% is the amount of sales tax that will be levied in the city of Olpe if this ballot question gets approved. The sales tax will go towards capital improvements to improve the city. Olpe City Clerk Joyce Wilson told 27 News there's a few key projects the money from this sales tax would go to if it gets approved. [...]

Local mural artist turns a new leaf at the Hiawatha Chamber and Wenger wall

info2023-11-03T13:19:02-05:00November 3rd, 2023|

The wall facing the Arrow Twin movie theater features paintings of orange, red, and yellow-colored leaves that appear to be floating on the white wall on the metal building owned by Tim and Arthur Wenger close to Hiawatha Chamber and Visitors Bureau building across the street. Viewers taking in the sight will notice the words in the middle of the wall, which beckon them to “Fall in love with Hiawatha,” which is also the theme the Chamber used to help promote the project and Hiawatha to surrounding areas and even the nation and world at large. Source: hiawathaworldonline.com

Topeka leaders address camping ordinance status

info2023-11-03T13:19:45-05:00November 3rd, 2023|

In less than three weeks, a new camping ordinance will go into effect in Topeka. The ordinance is the City of Topeka's effort to address the city's homeless population, specifically, homeless camping. The ordinance goes into effect on Nov. 17, according to the city, but there is still uncertainty on exactly what it will look like. It outlines where homeless individuals can't go, but not where they can go after it passes. "There are a lot of suggestions, put them here, put them there," Topeka Mayor Michael Padilla said. Source: KSNT 27 News

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