info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

SpaceX shipment passes through Pratt

info2023-08-03T09:44:21-05:00August 3rd, 2023|

Most area residents are used to the sights and sounds of big trucks and bumper-to-bumper traffic in Pratt as two major state highways cross right in the middle of town at First and Main Streets. Early Monday morning, however, a few more eyes than usual kept a close check on U.S. Highway 281, also known as Main Street, as a large SpaceX load was scheduled to travel through. “Everyone was all aflutter already on Sunday evening as there were reports of the SpaceX load coming through Great Bend and then St. John,” said Patrice Egging. “We heard it got stuck on the [...]

Pottawatomie County Commission hears update on changes to unified development regulations

info2023-08-02T00:00:24-05:00August 2nd, 2023|

Pottawatomie County Commissioners discussed changes to the county’s unified development regulations during their Monday meeting. County Planner Stephan Metzger tells commissioners they are proposing small changes that serve primarily as clarifications for existing regulations. One of those changes intends to prevent a loophole in their paved road requirements for lot splitting. Another clarification includes a process to determine if land use is agricultural in nature or not. Metzger says this is another attempt to prevent a loophole where a house could be constructed and simply stated to be part of a larger agriculture operation. Source: 1350 KMAN

Kansas community votes not to disorganize their school district

info2023-08-01T23:57:38-05:00August 1st, 2023|

A rural Kansas community has voted not to disorganize their school district after a 7-12 grade school closed. Due to a lack of funding earlier this year, the Central Plains School District closed the school which caused some voters to think disorganizing the district would be the best option. Enough petition signatures were gathered to put the disorganization of USD 112 up for a vote during the August 1st primary election. If it had passed the Board of Education may have divided the land among surrounding districts. "We have about 10 school districts that border us," Superintendent Bill Lowry said. "So, [...]

Wichita approves location for shared WSU-KU biomedical campus

info2023-08-03T11:56:19-05:00August 1st, 2023|

The joint campus will include shared spaces for advanced laboratories, clinical research and technology for students in medical and other health programs from Wichita State, Wichita Tech and the University of Kansas. Wichita State University said in a release Tuesday that "about 3,000 students and 200 faculty and staff will be housed at the center, with opportunities for growth in existing and new programs." Source: KAKE - News

KDOT secretary looking for path out of Kansas’ transportation industry labor shortage

info2023-08-01T23:54:03-05:00August 1st, 2023|

Kansas Department of Transportation secretary Calvin Reed pointed to workforce shortages as a significant challenge to the state’s multibillion-dollar, 10-year Eisenhower transportation program. Reed, nominated by Gov. Laura Kelly and endorsed by the Republican-led Senate Confirmation Oversight Committee, said an aging workforce in core areas of the industry were fundamental problems that government and private-sector employers had to address. Reed highlighted one of those worrisome gaps, especially prominent in western Kansas, between demand and supply of professional land surveyors. Among the state’s nearly 3 million residents, only 258 are licensed land surveyors. The average age of this cadre of people responsible [...]

2 huge projects could transform swaths of Johnson County with apartments, event center

info2023-08-01T00:33:45-05:00August 1st, 2023|

Two huge developments would transform swaths of south Overland Park under plans headed to the City Council next week. On Aug. 7, the council will consider the two projects with hundreds of apartments and commercial space. The first is Metcalf Village, on 40 acres of vacant land on the southeast corner of 159th Street and Metcalf Avenue, where the developer is proposing 900 residential units, including apartments and townhomes, restaurants and retail space, plus parks and pickleball courts. The other project, Schlagel Farms, is at the southeast corner of 175th Street and Pflumm Road, where developers hope to build 300 apartments, [...]

Wichita municipal court begins new policy on cell phones

info2023-08-01T00:32:33-05:00August 1st, 2023|

Wichita Municipal Court has started a new policy to deal with cell phones in the courtroom. The court will require the use of what are known as Yondr bags. People who attend court proceedings will be required to put their cell phone in the Yondr bag, which is a soft, lockable pouch. People can keep their cell phones but they will not be able to have access to the phone. When they leave the courtroom, a clerk will unlock the bag. Court administrator Nathan Emmorey said there have been issues in the past with victims being texted or harassed through their [...]

Small-town life suits John and Tammy Sturn

info2023-08-01T00:29:40-05:00August 1st, 2023|

John and Tammy Sturn live in Ellinwood but can often be found in The Slammer in Lyons. The Slammer (thericecountyslammer.com), located in the Historic Rice County Jail, offers an escape room, historic tour, cellblock venue, a murder mystery dinner and overnight accommodations. “It’s cool. It has been a retirement business that helps preserve an historic building,” John Sturn said. John noted that when the building was the county jail, the sheriff and his wife lived downstairs. Chris McCord bought the building in 2020 with the idea of turning it into an Airbnb-type venue. The escape room opened after Thanksgiving in 2021. [...]

New Newton public library building scheduled to open in July of 2024

info2023-07-31T08:34:38-05:00July 31st, 2023|

At this time next year, Newton will have a brand new library up and functioning, according to an estimate by Director of Public Works and City Engineer Suzanne Loomis. “The entire project is anticipated to be complete by approximately July of 2024,” Loomis said. “Construction is coming along nicely.” She added that possible delays could occur due to supply chain shortages for equipment and building materials, but she and her team remain hopeful that the project will remain on schedule. Source: Harvey County Now

Police address concerns amid Wichita’s deadliest month in at least five years

info2023-07-31T08:33:14-05:00July 31st, 2023|

Amid the city’s deadliest month in at least five years, Wichita police and elected officials are trying to ease concerns about the rise in violent crime. Police have also provided some more details about recent homicides and provided a breakdown about what some of them involved. There have been 11 homicides in July, making it the deadliest month since at least 2018. In 2020, which set a record for the year with 59 homicides, the number each month did not exceed six. There have been 28 homicides so far this year, with 16 of those, or 57%, coming since June 10. [...]

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