News – Page 1936 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Hundreds turn out to welcome Big Boy steam locomotive to Topeka

info2019-11-19T19:56:36-06:00November 19th, 2019|

Dozens of people stood on large piles of rocks, while others craned their necks, hoping to get the first view of steam from a last-of-its-kind locomotive Tuesday afternoon as it approached the Great Overland Station in North Topeka on the Union Pacific railroad tracks. The steam locomotive, known as the Big Boy, started the day near Union Station in Kansas City, Mo. It was about a half-hour behind schedule when it arrived about 12:15 p.m. at the Great Overland Station, 701 N. Kansas Ave. No one seemed to mind the wait on the sun-splashed day, with the noon temperature hovering around [...]

South central Kansans provide input at local consult meetings

info2019-11-19T19:55:04-06:00November 19th, 2019|

Take care of our existing infrastructure and have flexibility for the future.That was the key theme delivered by nearly 200 south central Kansans at Wichita and Great Bend Local Consult meetings.“I liked what I heard today about a two-year process. Things are just moving too fast to get locked into a 10-year process.” - Andrew Lawson, City of Arkansas CityKDOT used the input gathered at the first round of Local Consult meetings in August to shape not only the public input sessions currently underway, but also the next major state transportation plan— known as FORWARD. The second round of meetings are [...]

Waiting for Big Boy: Historical train moves across the country, stops in Kansas

info2019-11-19T19:54:34-06:00November 19th, 2019|

Audience members wait for the arrival of Big Boy No. 4014 as it enters Coffeyville.It was 3 p.m. Saturday, and they were waiting at the Coffeyville depot. Parents with babies in strollers. Older folks, some using walkers. Young people with their coffee. Couples with curious dogs. High-spirited youth who scrambled to collect leftover railroad spikes from rocky areas along the tracks. Locals and out-of-towners, a few setting up lawn chairs and settling in. People who had chased the train as it made previous stops in Oklahoma. The gathering had begun.The cause of all this excitement was the anticipated arrival of Union [...]

Garden City breaks ground on new sports complex with state leaders in attendance

info2019-11-19T19:53:21-06:00November 19th, 2019|

On Tuesday, Garden City broke ground on an all-new sports complex with state leaders in attendance. “This is an extraordinary project,” said Kansas Department of Commerce Secretary David Toland. Governor Laura Kelly, Commerce Secretary David Toland, and other state and local officials came together to break ground on the almost $800,000 STAR Bond project. “It’s going to bring new dollars into Garden City and Southwest Kansas that aren’t already here and so that’s why we’ve got this tool, it’s to be an attraction,” said Toland. This tournament and outdoor entertainment space will feature a hotel, restaurant, outdoor space, and multiple courts [...]

Reno County OKs RR cross-arms, supports TECH transportation grant

info2019-11-19T19:53:01-06:00November 19th, 2019|

New automated railroad cross arms will be going up on a rural crossing off K-61 southwest of Turon. The Reno County Commission on Tuesday approved an agreement with Union Pacific Railroad and the Kansas Department of Transportation allowing the devices to be installed on Salt Marsh Road, also known as Northeast 150th Avenue, just north of K-61.The crossing is about 2 miles southwest of Turon and just south of the large Ronald Schwertfeger farm. (Read more: Local - The Hutchinson News)

City of Topeka to retain option of plowing snow on residential streets

info2019-11-19T19:52:38-06:00November 19th, 2019|

Topeka's city government at times last year went against its established snow and ice removal plan by plowing residential streets when less than six inches llen.The city will retain the option of deviating from that plan this cold-weather season, public works director Jason Peek told Topeka's mayor and city council Tuesday evening. "We won't respond to local streets all the time, but we may if the conditions warrant that," he said. (Read more: Local - The Topeka Capital-Journal)

Hays Fire Department simulation provides cross-training

info2019-11-19T19:51:45-06:00November 19th, 2019|

Black smoke billowed into the clear blue sky south of town Tuesday morning as Hays firefighters practiced extinguishing a burning car at their training facility off Old Highway 40.The simulation exercise, which the Hays Fire Department holds twice a year, also included using the Jaws of Life to extract a victim trapped by a vehicle rollover. “We do this twice a year now, spring and fall,” said Hays Fire Chief Ryan Hagans... (Read more: News - The Hays Daily News)

Council votes to purchase new Derby Dash bus

info2019-11-19T17:11:51-06:00November 19th, 2019|

As part of the consent agenda at last week’s City Council meeting, the Council voted to purchase a new Derby Dash bus from the Kansas Truck Equipment Company for $75,369. The purchase would replace a 2006 bus with 180,000 miles, which normally serves as a backup to a 2014 bus, but is sometimes needed when demand is high. The bus purchase was originally planned for 2021, but engine problems led to the Council voting to purchase a new bus earlier. The cost of repair would have been around $10,000, according to documents included in the Council agenda. (Read more: Derby News [...]

Education commissioner visits Frontenac to present awards

info2019-11-19T17:08:46-06:00November 19th, 2019|

Kansas Commissioner of Education Randy Watson made a local appearance Tuesday, visiting Frontenac for a special assembly to present several awards to the school district. Frontenac Unified School District 249 was presented with the Commissioner’s Award with Highest Distinction, as well as two Kansas Can Gold Star Awards — one for its graduation rate and one for post-secondary effectiveness — and a Kansas Can Copper Star Award for preparing students for post-secondary success. “We calculate for every school district public and private in Kansas. The fact is that we know that you have to overcome to do well,” Watson said in [...]

Olathe recognized as one of the Healthiest 100 Workplaces in America

info2019-11-19T17:06:34-06:00November 19th, 2019|

The city of Olathe has been recognized as one of the Healthiest 100 Workplaces in America by the Health Intelligence company Springbuk. The announcement concludes a year-long wellness awards program in more than 45 U.S. cities. The winners are recognized for investing in the health and well-being of their employers and for the effectiveness of those initiatives. Other local names on the list include Burns & McDonnell, J.E. Dunn Construction, CBIZ, the Raytown School District and KCP&L, which is now Evergy. Applicants were evaluated across six key categories: culture and leadership commitment, foundational components, strategic planning, marketing and communications, programming and [...]