News – Page 2178 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Community mural adds color, flair to downtown Newton

info2019-03-22T08:24:19-05:00March 22nd, 2019|

The newest mural in downtown Newton was a community effort. Retired Newton High Schol art teacher Ray Olais said he was approached last year by the owner of a building at Sixth and Main. The building's owner was looking for artists for a mural. Olais and around two dozen others, including high school students and community members completed the sunflower-themed mural over a six week period. "I think they're just trying to promote that this place has possibilities to flourish with more murals and more things happening here," Olais said Thursday. Local artists don't want the momentum to stop at one [...]

Deister retires as County Administrator

info2019-03-22T08:22:50-05:00March 22nd, 2019|

Today is Rita Deister’s final day as a Saline County employee. Deister has served as Saline County Administrator for 18 years. She also has served as the county’s personnel director and assistant administrator. She began working for Saline County in 1991 and has worked there for the last 27 years. During her tenure, Deister has served under 21 county commissioners and 8 separate boards of county commissioners and has seen significant changes during her time in county government, especially in technology. “When I first started, there was one fax machine in the building, and we shared it with the city. That’s [...]

Bill to retroactively approve Finney County sales tax passes out of committee

info2019-03-22T08:20:18-05:00March 22nd, 2019|

A bill that will determine whether Finney County can continue to collect a sales tax meant to fund long-awaited upcoming capital projects passed out of committee Thursday with a key amendment: the sales tax, once lumped together with four counties’ requests for sales tax authorities, will now be considered alone. House Bill 2033, which passed the House by a wide margin last month, originally included requests that the Legislature authorize votes for potential sales taxes in Thomas, Russell, Jackson, Dickinson and Finney counties. Finney stood out in the group — unlike the other four counties, which are requesting state authorization before [...]

Residents try to repopulate first all black settlement with tiny homes

info2019-03-22T08:17:32-05:00March 22nd, 2019|

Off of Highway 24 sits a little Kansas town. “Nicodemus means everything to me,” resident JohnElla Holmes said. And one with rich history. “It was founded in 1877,” she said. “My great-great-great grandparents were one of the first families to come.” Nicodemus was founded by African American ex-slaves moving west. “The slaves came from mainly Kentucky and Tennessee,” Nicodemus contractor Steven Jones said. “They got on a train and came to Ellis and walked to Nicodemus.” At one time, over 900 people called Nicodemus home. They built their own churches, schools and homes. But when the depression hit in the 30’s, [...]

City of Halstead may offer rodeo location

info2019-03-22T08:15:43-05:00March 22nd, 2019|

The Halstead City Council is looking into the possibility of leasing Williams Park to the Halstead Rodeo Committee. This could potentially provide a rodeo location not just during Old Settlers, but also throughout the year for multiple rodeo events to be held. The Rodeo Committee had previously approached the city several times about leasing land in the Industrial Park for this purpose and been told a flat “no.” On Monday night, committee members sat down with the city council, during a work session, to discuss land options, as well as their vision for turning Halstead into a destination for rodeo enthusiasts. [...]

Plots available in Sedgwick community garden

info2019-03-22T08:14:33-05:00March 22nd, 2019|

Last year, nine families planted 14 plots in the Sedgwick Community Garden. Garden organizer Rebekah Morse said the city is allowing them to use land by the east water tower, near Fourth and Harrison streets. “Last year, we had a 60’x70’ fenced-in area,” Morse said. “We can expand, if we need to.” Registration is now open. Plot fees are $25 for the first 6’x10’ plot and $10 for each additional plot. The cost helps cover expenses for water, shared tools and educational learning opportunities. In addition to the plots, this year there will be a community area for $5, a family. [...]

City of Topeka agrees to pay $2,500 in pothole lawsuit

info2019-03-22T08:13:03-05:00March 22nd, 2019|

Topeka’s city government has agreed to pay a $2,500 settlement to Teresa Counts, who said she suffered permanent and serious injury when she fell because of a pothole in front of her Topeka home after she notified the city about it four times. Shawnee County District Judge Teresa Watson on Monday signed an order dismissing the suit with prejudice, meaning it can’t be refiled. The order said a settlement agreement had been reached between Counts and the city. The city agreed to pay Counts $2,500, said Molly Hadfield, the city’s media relations coordinator, on Thursday. Counts filed the suit last August [...]

Sabetha city and hospital officials want further discussions on proposed sales tax

info2019-03-22T07:53:33-05:00March 22nd, 2019|

Sabetha city and hospital officials were not satisfied with the reaction they received at this week’s Brown County Commission meeting when they asked for a portion of the sales tax revenue tagged for the Hiawatha Community Hospital — if approved by special election in May. Norm Schmitt, Sabetha City commissioner and vice president on the Sabetha Community Hospital Board of Trustees, was one of several Sabetha officials who approached the Brown County Commission at Monday’s meeting. Although other city and hospital officials were present, Schmitt spoke to the commission on behalf of the group. The reaction wasn’t exactly as he had [...]

El Dorado City Commission tackles zoning issues

info2019-03-22T07:47:54-05:00March 22nd, 2019|

The last major update to the Zoning Ordinance took place in 2009 when the City of El Dorado adopted the 2030 El Dorado Comprehensive Plan. Since that time, a number of minor changes to the ordinance have been made with the last two changes made in 2016 and 2018 which adjusted fence heights and application fees, respectively. In fall of 2018, the City Commission directed staff and the Planning Commission to review residential accessory structure regulations and to look into the topic of tiny homes. At the City Commission’s request, the Planning Commission meet over the past three months to identify [...]

Augusta Council is challenged with airport expansion

info2019-03-22T07:42:24-05:00March 22nd, 2019|

Planning expansion at the Augusta Municipal Airport has been a challenge for the City Council for a number of years. It hasn’t been easy to shift the community mindset from our local airport being simply an out-of-the-way facility for fair-weather pilots to the idea that it can be an economic driver that can benefit the entire region and stimulate rural development. Another step in accommodating future growth and development of the runway at the airport was on Monday night’s agenda for the council and drew considerable discussion. (Read more: Augusta Gazette)