info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

2,100 students losing bus service in a JoCo school district. Another may do the same

info2023-05-08T10:19:47-05:00May 8th, 2023|

As a Band-Aid solution to address an ongoing shortage of drivers, the Olathe school district will eliminate some bus routes next school year. Just to the west, Blue Valley school officials are considering similar cuts, as other districts in the Kansas City area have already done. And Olathe district officials may eventually revisit a broader, and more controversial, fix for the shortage: changing the times schools start and end. Source: Joco 913 News

You can rent a kayak to use on the Arkansas River via an app now. Here’s what to know

info2023-05-08T10:14:58-05:00May 8th, 2023|

New self-service kayak stations are open in three of Wichita’s riverside parks. These stations will be operated through the Rent.Fun app, which park and recreation partnered with to complete the project. A ribbon cutting ceremony was held at Riverside Tennis Center on Friday, and to continue the celebration the Park and Recreation department is offering a 50% discount on all rentals May 6-12. Entering the promo code “ParkandRec” in the app will automatically add the discount. Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle

What sales taxes on food am I still paying in Johnson County?

info2023-05-08T10:13:17-05:00May 8th, 2023|

Now that the dust has settled from the 2023 session of the Kansas Legislature, it’s time to sort out what, finally, to expect when it comes to the sales tax on food. Although an early end to the state food sales tax was discussed, the idea failed after it was folded into a larger tax bill that would have, among other provisions, set a single rate for individual income tax. That measure passed both chambers of the GOP-dominated Legislature but was vetoed by Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly. Source: Prairie Village Post

Humboldt tackles issues, large and small

info2023-05-08T10:09:01-05:00May 8th, 2023|

For all of its successes — and there are many — Humboldt faces challenges similar to countless other rural communities these days. Local employers are unable to keep fully staffed because of a dearth of quality and affordable housing, a lack of quality daycare centers; and an ongoing “brain drain” wave in which the best and brightest students often go elsewhere to find their niche in life. For that matter, too many youths are the unwitting victims of a digital society, in which they’ve become accustomed to spending hours of screen time instead of play time — and their mental health [...]

Skaters from Lawrence and beyond celebrate new vert ramp at Centennial Park

info2023-05-08T10:05:57-05:00May 8th, 2023|

Corey Lawrence would have loved the vert ramp built in his honor at Centennial Park, several attendees at the ramp’s dedication on Saturday agreed. Lawrence, from the Kansas City area, died in May 2021 after suffering injuries from a fall while skateboarding in Florida. Justin Shiney, of River Rat Print and Skate; Sean Ingram, of Merchtable; Dan Askew, of Escapist Skateboarding; and members of the Lawrence Skate Association raised funds and worked with the city to make the ramp in Lawrence’s honor a reality. The new half pipe is the only one of its kind within a 500-mile radius, project organizers [...]

Finding ways to save rural Kansas hospitals

info2023-05-07T09:02:33-05:00May 7th, 2023|

JoLynn Foster isn’t happy about it, but she’s convinced the only way to save her hometown hospital is to shut part of it down. “There’s no other alternative,” said Foster, a longtime resident of Arkansas City, a town of about 12,000 people south of Wichita. Foster and about 100 other residents of the southeast Kansas town recently attended a meeting about the fate of SCK Health, Arkansas City’s only hospital. They listened as hospital officials explained their decision to restructure SCK Health so that it can qualify for enough federal money to keep it open and delivering limited, but essential services. [...]

Proposal to revamp pay structure for Lawrence teachers calls for $3M to increase salaries

info2023-05-07T09:01:41-05:00May 7th, 2023|

The Lawrence school board will soon get its first look at a proposal to revamp the pay structure for teachers and provide about $3 million in pay increases — amounting to an average raise of about $3,000. Should it move forward, the proposed new salary schedule would increase the earning potential for the district’s most experienced teachers, as well as address other problematic areas of the current salary schedule. As the Journal-World previously reported, a committee that has been studying the issue said that the district has been losing teachers at particular times in their careers due to the structure of [...]

Zoning change triggers neighbors: Proposal for more senior housing in Topeka will get a closer look

info2023-05-04T11:31:36-05:00May 4th, 2023|

Topeka's mayor and city council asked for further analysis late Tuesday when faced with a proposed North Topeka zoning change supported by the Topeka Planning Commission but opposed by residents of the area involved. The measure's passage would help clear the way for Eugene & Paramore LLC to carry out its proposed project to build affordable duplexes and fourplexes, which it intends to primarily rent out to senior citizens. The mayor and council voted to send the proposal back to the planning commission and direct that body to look at four potential concerns raised by neighbors. Source: CJonline

Cultures of Garden City to be showcased at multicultural event Saturday

info2023-05-04T11:30:27-05:00May 4th, 2023|

The people and their different cultures of those that make up southwest Kansas will be honored at the third annual Cinco de Mayo Multicultural Community Celebration this Saturday at Stevens Park. Marco Rodriguez, secretary for the Cultural Empowerment and Development Foundation’s Multicultural Community Celebration Committee, said the event has been a lot of work to put together, it’s all done by volunteers from the community, but he’s really excited for it. Source: GC Telegram

W. Kansas town reminisces 50 years after being featured in ‘Paper Moon’

info2023-05-04T11:24:54-05:00May 4th, 2023|

The town of Wilson is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the movie “Paper Moon.” Locations in the Ellsworth County town served as settings for the movie and some locals are in the movie as extras. This Friday, May 5, the Midland Hotel in Wilson is hosting the 50th anniversary celebration for the movie starring actor Ryan O’Neil and his daughter, actress Tatum O’Neil. “The Midland is very lucky in that we played a major role in what happened in the film, so we can have that here,” said Wilson Tourism Hub Director Melinda Merrill. The hotel was used for filming and [...]

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