News – Page 2145 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

KDOT announces Kansas airport improvement projects

info2019-05-01T10:46:26-05:00May 1st, 2019|

Forty-one projects totaling a combined award of $5 million have been granted for the Kansas Airport Improvement Program (KAIP) funding for planning, constructing or rehabilitating public use general aviation airports. The aviation industry represents $20.6 billion economic impact and employs more than 92,000 Kansans. In addition, 94 percent of the state’s population is within 30 minutes of air ambulance operations. “We are proud of the collaboration between our department and airport sponsors to increase safety, enhance economic development and support the transportation needs of Kansans,” said Secretary of Transportation Julie Lorenz. The KAIP program requires airport sponsors to share in project [...]

Equifest of Kansas moving to Salina in 2020

info2019-05-01T10:44:39-05:00May 1st, 2019|

After being hosted four years in Topeka, Equifest of Kansas is moving to Salina in 2020. Justin Staten, Kansas Horse Council executive director, said there are several reasons for the move, including impending construction at the Kansas Expocentre. Other reasons include rising costs and declining cash sponsorships, according to a news release from KHC. “We have enjoyed four years in Topeka and become well acquainted with many leaders in Shawnee County and we appreciated the support received,” Staten said. Equifest of Kansas was held in Topeka from 2016 to 2019. A $48 million project is set to begin May 1 to [...]

Parsons seeks StormReady designation

info2019-05-01T10:43:48-05:00May 1st, 2019|

The city of Parsons is preparing to be a StormReady community, a designation that could reduce fatalities and injuries in storms by sharing clear and timely details of storm or flood events. Parsons Police Sgt. Jason Ludwig said he is about midway through the application process with the National Weather Service, which has a 32-page guide for seeking a StormReady designation. Since the program’s inception in Oklahoma in 1999, over 2,000 counties, cities, towns, universities, Indian nations, commercial sites, government facilities and military installations have been recognized as StormReady. The program recognizes emergency management programs that meet the StormReady guidelines, demonstrating [...]

Frontenac, Arma schools included in Apollo Redesign Project

info2019-05-01T10:42:46-05:00May 1st, 2019|

Two local school districts will be taking part in Apollo, the fourth phase of the Kansas Can School Redesign Project. Forty-one schools representing 19 districts across Kansas will take part in Apollo, including local schools, Frontenac Junior High, Frank Layden Elementary and Northeast High School. According to the Kansas Department of Education website, the Kansans Can School Redesign Project, “was announced in 2017 in support of Kansas’ vision for education” created in 2015 based on community and business feedback across the state. The principals at each of the schools said they are excited for the school redesign opportunity. “We want to [...]

Reno County commissioners divided on tax abatement for local company

info2019-05-01T10:35:10-05:00May 1st, 2019|

Reno County commissioners made no decision on whether to grant 10 years tax abatement for Wifco Steel to build a new office building on its property. The plan is to build the 5,400-square-foot office building then tear down the current office space and add space for additional manufacturing. The plan would include adding at least 10 more employees in 2020 with an additional payroll of $250,000. However, the commissioners cannot agree on how long the abatement should last. Commissioner Ron Sellers called it unfair to other taxpayers and wanted the abatement to be less than 100%. Commissioner Ron Hirst says he’s [...]

Recycling supporters address Crawford county commission

info2019-05-01T10:33:48-05:00May 1st, 2019|

Several local residents showed up at Tuesday’s Crawford County Commission meeting to speak in support of Southeast Kansas Recycling, Inc., which recently requested funding from the county to keep its operations up and running. Bert Patrick, of Pittsburg, said that recycling reduces the amount of trash that has to go into the landfill. “The bulk of those items that we do take to the Recycling Center are non-biodegradable, and those items as a consequence are just going to be in that landfill for decades and decades,” Patrick said, “and long-term we don’t know the actual effect that that does have in [...]

City cleans storm drains to stop street flooding

info2019-05-01T07:00:47-05:00May 1st, 2019|

Miguel Rivas has worked for the City of Wichita for close to 15 years. So it doesn't take him and his co-workers any time to clean out clogged storm drains. Once they are dispatched to a drain, they use water to blast the clog free. Then, they take a giant vacuum to suck out the debris, usually consisting of leaves and sticks. In about 30 mintues they have the drain open and move on to the next clogged drain. (Read more: Top Stories | KSNW)

Reno County sets tentative hearing date to take up NextEra permit

info2019-05-01T06:59:53-05:00May 1st, 2019|

The Reno County Commission has tentatively set a special meeting for May 21 to take up the NextEra Energy application for a conditional use permit for its proposed wind farm in southeastern Reno County. The meeting will start at 6:30 p.m. at the Atrium Hotel and Conference Center, 1400 N. Lorraine. No public comment is expected to be taken during the meeting, though county staff will present a report to the commission on whether any new information “that could not have been known” at the time of earlier Reno County Planning Commission public hearings has been presented for consideration. The County [...]

City to reconsider communications tower permit

info2019-05-01T06:57:14-05:00May 1st, 2019|

A proposal to put up a 100-foot communications tower at 513/519 S.W. Taylor remains alive, despite Topeka’s mayor and city council’s having voted 6-4 on April 2 to reject it. The mayor and council did not appropriately dispose of the matter because votes from seven members are required to overturn a recommendation by the Topeka Planning Commission, which recommended they approve the measure, Topeka attorney Glenda Cafer — representing AT&T — noted April 24 in a letter to Topeka City Attorney Lisa Robertson. The mayor and council are consequently scheduled to consider reconsidering the matter when they meet at 6 p.m. [...]

Small tornado damages Paola church, causes cemetery damage

info2019-05-01T06:54:54-05:00May 1st, 2019|

The National Weather Service says a tornado near the eastern Kansas town of Paola was a small one, but it was still enough to cause damage. The Kansas City Star reports that the twister with winds estimated at 80 mph to 85 mph was reported at 4:10 a.m. Monday just south of Paola. Jason Leighton of the National Weather Service says it was an EF-0, 15 yards wide, and lasted three minutes. The tornado damaged the roof of Trinity Lutheran Church and toppled headstones in a nearby cemetery. It also bent a flag pole. No injuries were reported. (Read more: Top [...]