info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Derby firefighter returns back from Hurricane Helene recovery efforts

info2024-10-15T12:47:21-05:00October 15th, 2024|

As more Kansas rescue crews head to Florida to respond to Hurricane Milton, others are just returning home after two weeks of search and rescue after Hurricane Helene. Captain Matt Ludwig with the Derby Fire Department says he would do it again. This is his third deployment for hurricane recovery and relief efforts. “The people that I encountered firsthand that they were all very hopeful and optimistic. They’re very, very kind people and just, you know, thankful for what they have left. And they’re going to they’re going to stay and rebuild,” he said. Captain Ludwig says that the Kansas Task [...]

Downtown improvements will require lowering Arkansas River

info2024-10-15T12:46:02-05:00October 15th, 2024|

The City of Wichita is lowering the Arkansas River as part of a downtown improvement project. The project is along the west bank of the Arkansas River between Douglas and Waterman. The city says the design is similar to the projects to the north in front of the Drury Plaza Broadview Hotel and the River Vista Apartment Complex. The first phase involves constructing a sea wall and concrete cap beside the river, which requires the city to lower the water level. A $6,240,000 BASE grant from the Kansas Department of Commerce is funding the project. At Tuesday’s council meeting, the Wichita [...]

Columbus Day Festival showcases classic cars and community fun

info2024-10-15T12:44:33-05:00October 15th, 2024|

The city of Columbus celebrates day two of its 55th annual Columbus Day Festival. The Columbus Day Festival continued Saturday with a car show and entertainment around the Columbus Square. “I’m always excited because it brings our community together, it brings all different ages. There is something for everyone. And everybody likes to see other people they haven’t seen in a while, it’s just a wonderful event, it really is,” said Becky McDaniel, Columbus Day Festival car show host. Source: KSNF/KODE

What Wichita-area firefighters saw in ‘devastation’ of Hurricane Helene in NC, Florida

info2024-10-15T12:41:33-05:00October 15th, 2024|

When two Sedgwick County firefighters were told they would travel to North Carolina to help with Hurricane Helene relief, they didn’t hesitate. Luke Wiebe, captain for Sedgwick County Fire District 1, and Lt. Tyler Brenneman got the call Sept. 24 that they were being sent to help those impacted by Hurricane Helene. What they assumed would be two weeks full of rescues turned into connecting with the community. “[We] checked on people, door to door, see what they were needing, see if they’re OK, see if they wanted to be evacuated, and then also assess damage on properties, vehicles, pretty much [...]

Sedgwick County is counting homeless deaths for the first time. Here’s what to know.

info2024-10-15T12:39:46-05:00October 15th, 2024|

The deaths of more homeless residents are being counted this year after local officials implemented a formal process to identify them — the latest symptom of the intensifying conversation around homelessness in Wichita. As of September, 46 homeless people had been confirmed dead by Sedgwick County Regional Forensic Science Center investigators. That’s more than the 42 that were counted all of last year through anecdotal numbers compiled via a collaboration between the Wichita Police Department, service providers and homeless advocates. The shift is the latest move to address homelessness in Wichita, following the opening of a new emergency winter shelter in [...]

Girard History Museum expands

info2024-10-15T12:37:44-05:00October 15th, 2024|

Saturday, as participants enjoyed Girard Homecoming and Fall Festival activities, just one block south of the square, the Girard History Museum held a reception to commemorate its recent expansion. Located at 300 S. Summit St., the Girard History Museum relies on community volunteers and members of Friends of Historic Girard to preserve historic sites and educate people about the town’s unique history. Since its opening in 2000, the museum has held tours in the former St. John's Episcopal Church. Recently, however, the museum recently an expansion that created additional space for meetings and restoration. “We were just in the church building [...]

Developers request incentives for ‘ultra-accessible’ amusement park project in Olathe

info2024-10-15T12:35:44-05:00October 15th, 2024|

More details for an “ultra-accessible” entertainment and youth athletic district proposed by members of the Hunt family in Olathe are starting to take shape. The project — proposed at the corner of 119th Street and Renner Boulevard — comes from Loretto Properties, a development company run by Lamar Hunt, Jr., and his son-in-law, James Arkell. They want to use the Kansas Sales Tax and Revenue, or STAR, bond economic development tool, as well as some local incentives. On Monday, the Olathe Planning Commission voted 9-0, finding that the planned Olathe Gateway STAR bond district development conforms with PlanOlathe, the city’s existing [...]

Roeland Park wants to connect park, community center to busy Roe Blvd.

info2024-10-15T12:33:51-05:00October 15th, 2024|

Roeland Park is envisioning more connectivity near its northern city limits. Last week, the Roeland Park City Council unanimously voted to approve expanding an existing tax increment financing, or TIF, district to include Nall Park and the nearby Roeland Park Community Center. By expanding the TIF district, the city can raise funds to help pay for a route to connect the park and community center to busy Roe Boulevard, giving motorists and pedestrians easier access to two of the city’s public amenities. Source: Shawnee Mission Post

What Lawrence’s ballot question on the city’s ‘form of government’ actually means

info2024-10-15T12:32:32-05:00October 15th, 2024|

There’s a lot of confusion around the “form of government” ballot question that, if voters approve, could make the city commission into a four-district city council with a nonvoting, directly elected mayor, among other things. The question (as well as one asking to increase the sales tax to support affordable housing and homelessness initiatives) will be on city voters’ Tuesday, Nov. 5 general election ballots. Here’s the text of the question: “Shall the City of Lawrence, Kansas, abandon the Commission-Manager form of government and adopt a Modified Mayor-Council Manager form of government and become a city operating under a Modified Mayor-Council [...]

Mural is ‘beautiful,’ but not what the council requested

info2024-10-15T12:28:21-05:00October 15th, 2024|

The new Fairview mural, which is catching eyes at the U.S. Highways 36 and 75 crossroads, is “beautiful,” but not what was requested by the Fairview City Council. The artist, Christy Klein-Tross, is a Fairview native and started painting the mural at the beginning of September. However, as Klein-Tross continued painting, some Fairview City Council members started to realize that it wasn’t what they had exactly requested Klein-Tross to paint. While the bottom portion of the mural is the only thing that can be seen by those passing by, the top portion of the sign, which says “FAIRVIEW,” also has been [...]

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