News – Page 1971 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Commissioners approve $2.6 million to Sheriff’s Office

info2019-10-16T19:02:42-05:00October 16th, 2019|

The Sedgwick County Detention Center has a problem that finally reached a financial breaking point. The Sheriff’s office said the costs to operate the facility reached new highs that couldn’t be sustained under the current budget. “This is a spike, this is not a normal trend we’ve been seeing,” Sheriff Jeff Easter said. “Crime in general is up because of methamphetamine. That drives those folks to commit those crimes.” Commissioners approved an additional $2.6 million to help fund the department, because Easter’s deputies are overseeing the welfare of a lot more inmates now. (Read more: KAKE - News)

Wellington chef going for world cooking prize

info2019-10-16T19:00:41-05:00October 16th, 2019|

Self-proclaimed foodie Mike Castaneda is going to represent Kansas and Wellington this week in the Food World Championship in Dallas. Castaneda is one of three Kansans who qualified for the competition. One of those competitors is his brother-in-law Steve Madrigal, who runs Pop’s Catering in Wichita. The food category they will have to cook in is seafood — not Castaneda’s primary style of cooking, but he feels confident about it. If he wins first place in the seafood category, Castaneda will win $10,000 and advance to the “final table” in which he will prepare his own dish. The top prize is [...]

Firm to help find Hutch’s next city manager

info2019-10-16T18:58:55-05:00October 16th, 2019|

The search for a search firm to help the Hutchinson City Council search for the next city manager has ended. The council chose Strategic Government Resources, with offices throughout the country, after inviting six firms to submit a proposal. The service contract cost is not to exceed $26,500. City Manager John Deardoff announced this summer he plans to retire in spring 2020. The city’s goal is to have the next city manager hired by March 1. (Read more: Local - The Hutchinson News)

County Commissioner says new medical examiner facility will meet important need

info2019-10-16T20:56:32-05:00October 16th, 2019|

By this time next year, the county is scheduled to be operating its first ever medical examiner facility. What does this mean for Johnson County? We will have better resources and efficiencies to perform autopsies and death investigations. Public safety will be enhanced because this state-of-the art facility will use best practices and current technology for collecting evidence, optimizing our response to homicides, suspicious deaths and overdose cases. Additionally, our public health teams will be able to access real-time information to identify trends or emerging diseases. Johnson County had long studied the need for our own resource to do this type [...]

Council votes to make the City of Wellington the primary electrical supplier for VNA plant

info2019-10-16T18:55:03-05:00October 16th, 2019|

The Wellington City Council denied a franchise agreement with Sumner-Cowley Electric Cooperative to serve the area that has been annexed by the city for the proposed VNA plant. Instead, the council unanimously approved that electricity will be provided by the city of Wellington. Kip Etter and Jennifer Heersche were not present for the meeting. The plant, if built, will be located at the southeast corner of U.S. 160 and Seneca Road. The entire parcel was annexed into the city of Wellington on August 6, 2019. VNA is proposing to build a biofuel industrial complex that will convert wheat straw into compressed [...]

Wind farm proposed for south-central Marshall County

info2019-10-16T20:57:46-05:00October 16th, 2019|

A NextEra Energy wind farm is proposed for construction possibly as early as next year in south-central Marshall County. NextEra Energy project manager Mark Trumbauer and project director Casey Moye met with county commissioners Barb Kickhaefer and Keith Bramhall and county counselor Jason Brinegar Monday. ... Marshall County Partnership for Growth director Ellen Barber also attended. Trumbauer said NextEra Energy has been working with Barber to make sure people know the Florida-based company is considering building in the area. (Read more: The Marysville Advocate)

City of Merriam Wins State Award from League of Kansas Municipalities

info2019-10-16T18:46:03-05:00October 16th, 2019|

The City of Merriam received a state award in honor of several community grant programs offered to its residents. The League of Kansas Municipalities on Oct. 14 honored the City with its Inspire – Create – Innovate Community Awards for economic development during its annual conference in Overland Park. The award celebrates recent “innovations, programs, community projects, and acknowledge overall excellence in local government.” The League said it recognized Merriam for its three grant programs that help spur economic development. Those grants include the Exterior Home Improvement Grant, Block Party Grant, and Neighborhood Island Grant. (Read more: Merriam, KS news)

Douglas County Commission approves new city-county comprehensive plan

info2019-10-16T20:55:27-05:00October 16th, 2019|

The Douglas County Commission signed off on the implementation of a new city-county comprehensive plan on Wednesday after a discussion about the wording of one of the plan’s provisions. While considering the plan, which outlines how the city and county will consider growth and development in the future, the commissioners said they were confused by a provision about land requirements for development in the county. Read more: LJWorld.com.

Valley Center population, schools and businesses growing

info2019-10-15T21:20:47-05:00October 15th, 2019|

While some small towns in Kansas are shrinking, some are bursting with opportunity. It has a lot do with the community pride. Valley Center saw a more than seven percent population increase from 2010 to 2018. And with that has come more businesses and an expanding school district. ... New business is growing too. That goes for businesses like the Cottage Market on Main Street that opened two years ago. (Read more: KSN-TV)

Ellis Co. administrator will take top job with Saline County

info2019-10-15T21:19:48-05:00October 15th, 2019|

At Tuesday morning’s Saline County commissioners meeting, commissioners approved a contract with Phillip Smith-Hanes, current Ellis County administrator, to serve as the new Saline County administrator. Smith-Hanes comes to Saline County after a career of more than 23 years that has spanned both city and county governments in two different states. He has served as a county administrator since December 2009, first in California and for the last 3-plus years in Ellis County. (Read more: The Salina Post)