News – Page 1987 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Local firefighters honor those who have died in the line of duty

info2019-09-29T20:44:20-05:00September 29th, 2019|

Sunday afternoon in Wichita, firefighters from all over Kansas gathered to honor and remember those firefighters who have died in the line of duty. This was all part of the 18th "Kansas Fallen Firefighters Memorial" that took place at the Kansas Firefighter Museum. Names of men and women who have died since the 1800's have been added to a wall. The most recent name added was of a firefighter from Wamego who died in the line of duty. His name is now the 125th name added to the wall. (Read more: KWCH News)

Despite concerns, fireballs were expected at Andover fireworks show, fire chief says

info2019-09-29T20:43:22-05:00September 29th, 2019|

Andover firefighters said what were described as fireballs during a fireworks show Saturday night performed as expected, despite public concerns of something more harmful. “Please be assured that nothing unplanned happened and there were no injuries,” Andover Fire Chief Chad Russell said in a statement Sunday morning. “The ‘fireballs’ that have been described were very dramatic, but completely planned. They did exactly what they were expected to do.” The fireballs led to concerns from some people that something dangerous may have happened at the Greater Andover Days fireworks show. Russell said that at around the same time the fireworks show ended, [...]

Donation will build new senior housing in Hutchinson

info2019-09-29T20:42:26-05:00September 29th, 2019|

For several years, Hutchinson residents Gene and Kay Schmidt had been tossing around what they could do with some of their retirement savings to help the city’s south side. The area has seen much of its housing deteriorate or disappear over the years, with little new development. They also wanted to do something, said Gene, former Hutchinson Hospital CEO, that they could physically see happen, yet that might somehow continue to “re-gift” over the years. After discussions with Interfaith Housing and Community Services staff over the past year, foundations of that something are being laid -- literally. Ground was ceremonially broken [...]

Local leaders take exception to bleak forecast for Scott County

info2019-09-30T20:44:29-05:00September 29th, 2019|

The numbers paint a bleak picture of the future for Western Kansas. By 2044, Scott County is projected to see a population decline of 12.6%. Finney County’s population decline is projected at 19.4%. And they’re the lucky ones. The population loss in other area counties is forecast at: Wichita (44.9%), Lane (61.3%), Kearny (32.9%), Logan (32.1%) and Thomas (37.4%). The only counties west of Hays expected to buck that trend are Gray (+5.6%) and Ford (+17.7%). Those are the kind of numbers which might cause a little panic among economic development leaders in the region. Read more: Scott County Record.

E-bicycles Now Legal at Kansas State Parks

info2019-09-29T18:37:00-05:00September 29th, 2019|

In a 5-1 vote, Kansas Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KWPT) Commissioners approved the use of electric-assisted bicycles, or e-bikes, at Kansas state parks. The decision was made during the Commission’s Sept. 19 public hearing at the Kansas Wetlands Education Center in Great Bend. E-bikes, also referred to as pedal-assist bikes, have a small motor that engages when a rider pedals. Once engaged, the motor provides a “boost” of acceleration, allowing the rider to more easily maneuver hills and rough terrain. Only e-bikes that cease to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches a maximum of 20 miles per hour may be used [...]

In JoCo visit, Kansas Sec. of State says office will take measured approach to expanding polling location option

info2019-09-29T18:35:58-05:00September 29th, 2019|

It’s not one hundred percent certain that Kansans will be free to vote at their choice of polling places in time for the 2020 presidential election, says Secretary of State Scott Schwab, because of the many technical and security issues that still have to be worked out. “We’re not in a hurry to screw this up. We want to make sure that the election is an election you get a result you can trust in,” he told Johnson County Commissioners during a brief visit to their Thursday meeting. Schwab was referring to a law passed recently that would uncouple voting from [...]

Coffey County Sheriff Rogers to retire when term ends

info2019-09-29T18:30:30-05:00September 29th, 2019|

Randy Rogers, sheriff of Coffey County since 1997, has announced he will retire when his current term expires in January 2021. Rogers hopes to spend more time with his family, including his grandchildren, he said in a statement posted Wednesday on his department’s Facebook site. “I can’t thank the citizens of Coffey County and the men and women of the sheriff’s office enough for all the support and confidence in me as sheriff,” he said. “I have experienced so much as sheriff and will take those memories with me forever.” (Read more: Local Government - The Topeka Capital-Journal)

Newspaper claims Wichita’s mayor steered contract to friends; Mayor explains that the allegations are simply not true

info2019-09-29T20:32:45-05:00September 29th, 2019|

First, an excerpt from the Wichita Eagle: Wichita Mayor Jeff Longwell steered what could become the largest contract in the city’s history to his political supporters, golf partners and friends, a Wichita Eagle investigation has revealed. The city plans to spend about $524 million to build a new plant to treat drinking water. ... A city selection committee unanimously recommended awarding the contract to Jacobs Engineering, one of the nation’s leading design firms that specializes in water treatment plants. Instead, at Longwell’s urging, the City Council gave it to Wichita Water Partners, a group that has less experience designing large water [...]

NOTO dedicates new courtyard, unveils sculpture

info2019-09-29T18:19:52-05:00September 29th, 2019|

The NOTO Arts and Entertainment District continues to develop areas that people can visit, and Thursday was no different as the district gathered to dedicate its new courtyard. The courtyard, located between the NOTO Arts Center, 935 N. Kansas Ave., and Paper June, 927 N. Kansas Ave., features string lights, painted concrete by Shelly Bedsaul and new landscape. The courtyard officially has been named Teeter Courtyard after Stan and Jody Teeter, who donated money to repair the courtyard. (Read more: Local - The Topeka Capital-Journal)

Douglas County set to sell tax foreclosed properties, six years after the delinquent owners last paid

info2019-09-29T21:30:40-05:00September 29th, 2019|

While the Douglas County government tends to give local property owners a few years to pay back taxes, it could take five years — or even more — before it sells those properties to recoup lost tax revenue. Douglas County will soon offer a tax foreclosure sale on properties that have not paid their taxes. But the properties that will be up for sale include four parcels of land that have not paid county taxes since 2013, about six years ago. Jeff Heiman, a local attorney who processes the tax foreclosure lawsuits for the county, said the process to sell those [...]