News – Page 1983 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Merriam hosting second annual Merriam Drive Live this weekend

info2019-10-03T21:56:43-05:00October 3rd, 2019|

The city of Merriam is hosting its second annual Merriam Drive Live event this weekend. Merriam Drive Live turns the Merriam Marketplace into a “huge lawn party” with live music on two stages. The event takes place rain or shine from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 5 at Merriam Marketplace, 5740 Merriam Drive. Merriam Drive Live is free and open to the public. “It’s just a way to bring Merriam residents and the surrounding community downtown to Merriam,” said Jenna Gant, communications and public engagement manager for Merriam. “We just really hope to bring people to Merriam, not just our [...]

Wichita Area, Kansas Expected to Add Jobs Next Year

info2019-10-03T21:49:12-05:00October 3rd, 2019|

An employment forecast released Thursday projects continued economic growth for both the Wichita area and Kansas next year. Wichita State University’s Center for Economic Development and Business Research (CEDBR) conducts industry-level employment surveys each year to help formulate its forecasts. CEDBR Director Jeremy Hill says the Wichita area is expected to grow about 0.5% in 2020, adding about 1,600 new jobs. The workforce expanded by 1.3% this year. He says the slow job growth pattern is a turnaround from 2017 when the region lost jobs. "We’re getting a lot of our legs back underneath us," Hill says, "so as we go [...]

Louisburg planning commission recommends approval of treatment facility

info2019-10-03T22:46:37-05:00October 3rd, 2019|

A businessman who would like to put a 24-hour treatment facility in Louisburg to help people with alcohol and chemical addictions has passed the first phase of the application process. The Louisburg Planning Commission voted 8-0 to recommend approval of a special-use permit (SUP) for the Gold Bridge Treatment Center LLC, to be located at 105 E. Amity St. (Kansas Highway 68) in the former Omnivillage building. The matter now goes to the Louisburg City Council which have final approval. The council is scheduled to consider the SUP at its Oct. 21 meeting, according to city documents. Gold Bridge Executive Director [...]

Harvesting hope at Paola Community Garden

info2019-10-03T21:39:58-05:00October 3rd, 2019|

For some, it’s a peaceful respite from the hectic world around them. For others, it’s a place to safely and naturally grow delicious produce. For a few, it’s a memorial to those who are no longer with us. For Alexis Shaw, the Paola Community Garden is the start of what she hopes will be a communitywide effort to promote conservation, organic growing and agricultural education. Shaw and her fellow volunteers have been busy this year revitalizing the garden, which is located on city-owned land along Industrial Park Drive. (Read more: The Miami County Republic)

Renting a scooter in Wichita is easy, and apparently so is tossing one in the river

info2019-10-03T22:55:42-05:00October 3rd, 2019|

When it comes to electric scooters, it seems that people either love them, or want to see them all thrown into a river — literally. On Monday, Dusty Lehman of Wichita posted a video to Facebook showing he discovered seven scooters in the Arkansas River. In the same Facebook post, Lehman wrote that he found at least 14 scooters on that particular bike ride. (Read more: Hutch Post)

Retired city clerk admits to stealing taxpayer money, must pay back $150,000

info2019-10-03T22:54:03-05:00October 3rd, 2019|

The retired clerk of a southeast Kansas town has admitted to stealing from taxpayers. Carole Sue Coker, 70, of Oronogo, Missouri, pleaded guilty Thursday to one count of mail fraud, U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister said in a news release. Coker admitted in her plea that she took money from payments made to the city. As part of her plea deal, Coker agreed to pay more than $150,000 in restitution. Sentencing is schedule for Dec. 19, and Coker faces up to 20 years in federal prison. (Read more: Local News |)

U.S. Attorney General hails Kansas, Wichita law enforcement

info2019-10-03T22:52:09-05:00October 3rd, 2019|

...U.S. Attorney General William Barr hailed Kansas and Wichita-area law enforcement on Wednesday... Barr, who heads the U.S. Justice Department, said Kansas and local law enforcement are significant partners in keeping pressure on gun crime, drugs and gangs. “I wanted to come here to Kansas because this is one of the most successful federal, state and local law enforcement partnerships we have in the country,” Barr said during brief remarks to local media. (Read more: Local News |)

Lawrence City Commission approves new comprehensive plan that includes controversial growth policy

info2019-10-02T22:44:47-05:00October 2nd, 2019|

Lawrence city commissioners approved the city’s new comprehensive plan on Tuesday without making substantial changes, despite the fact that several members had voiced support for loosening the plan’s requirements for annexing new land into the city. At its meeting, the commission voted 4-1, with Commissioner Matthew Herbert opposing, to approve Plan 2040, which covers Lawrence and the unincorporated areas of Douglas County. The plan has a new growth policy that prioritizes infill development and adds requirements for developers who want to expand the city’s boundaries. One requirement is that developers must provide some kind of community benefit if they want to [...]

Douglas County leaders, staff discuss responsibility for ‘abandoned’ cemeteries

info2019-10-02T22:44:13-05:00October 2nd, 2019|

In the rural part of Douglas County, between Lecompton and Lawrence, a cemetery sitting on private land is an important piece of the county’s African American history. But staff told county leaders Wednesday that if the county wants to preserve that history, it will need to work through an issue that has arisen in several “abandoned” cemeteries in unincorporated areas: a lack of clear documentation of the property’s ownership. Read more: LJWorld.com.

Hutch council votes 4-1 for rental licensing

info2019-10-02T22:42:28-05:00October 2nd, 2019|

By a 4-1 vote, the council directed that an ordinance be drafted to establish a Rental License and Inspection Program and fee structure. It would be the successor to the rental registration program. The drafted language is expected to come before the council Oct. 15 for approval.... Dechant is a landlord, and he was one of only two landlords in a packed council chamber who raised his hand when the question was how many landlords would participate in the proposed voluntary city inspection of the interior of rental units to potentially qualify for the best-practice rental unit designation. Under the proposed [...]